5-day sea kayaking course in the Calanques National Park in Marseille

Day 1

- Meeting at the youth hostel.
- Presentation of the course and its objectives.
- Preparation of the equipment.
- Departure by minibus for the day trip, carpooling if there are not enough seats in the minibus (8 seats).
- Choice of boarding site according to the weather and the level of each person.
- Introduction session, picnic and practice day.
- Return to the hostel to debrief.

J2

- Relaxed excursion in the "petites calanques".
- Mid-course debriefing.

J3

- Boarding in Cassis.
- Itinerary along the Calanques.
- Return to the hostel.

J4

- Boarding in Cassis.
- Itinerary Cap Canaille.
- Return to the hostel.
- Course on how to read a weather report with a marine chart.

J5

- Boarding at Callelongue.
- Map reading and choice of itinerary.
- Itinerary of the Riou Archipelago with moments of birds observation.
- Return to the hostel.
- Tidying up the equipment.
- Debriefing of the course: projects and validation of levels.

Accommodation and breakfast at Balaéna:
Optional, you can be hosted at the hosting partner who offers shared rooms of 4 people where usually the trainees meet. This centre is a 10 minute walk from the kayak base. You arrive the day before the course and breakfast is included.
Recommended formula, 5 nights and 5 breakfasts: Price 131 €. When you make your reservation for the kayak course, you will be contacted by the accommodation provider if you formalise your request for accommodation.

Evening meals at the kayak base: (except for the one on your arrival the day before, not included)
Also optional, Raskas Kayak organises a caterer at the kayak base, who provides us with superb meals.
Recommended formula: 4 evening meals: 64€ (to be booked in advance but to be paid on site)

Picnics:
On the first day of the course, you must bring your own lunch in order to save time on this day. On the following days, the instructors will organise a common box to prepare the day's picnics between students. (budget Max 6€/day)

Please contact the instructor after booking for more information.

This course validates all the skills of the beginner level and all or part of the intermediate level.

Details of the skills you'll acquire per day:

Day 1: Adjustments and installation in the kayak, use of the paddle, notions of balance and simple manoeuvres: Propulsion, retro-pulsion, circular and notion of heel. First safety gestures, desalting. Validation of the first skills of the beginner level.

Day 2: Economy propulsion, efficiency of movement. Lateral displacement, techniques for recovering a desalted person.

Day 3: Technical solutions for manoeuvring, turning, changing direction easily (heeling), more complex manoeuvres (incidence calls and towed calls). Introduction to turning manoeuvres with the help of the wind (trim and paddle placement)

Day 4: Review of the week's manoeuvres and application to the day's course. Fine navigation and close to the rocks. Initiation to the reading of the weather report, wind direction, notion of shelters and exposures.

Day 5: Introduction to Eskimo roll. Reminder of the week's manoeuvres, fixing what you have learnt. Some techniques can be practised in greater depth in order to validate a maximum of points for your Intermediate level.

Minimum weight: 45kg.

Maximum weight: 100kg.

Ability to swim and immerse.

Be in good health and practice sport regularly.

Itineraries may be subject to change, depending on the weather conditions, the level of the participants and the technical topics covered during the course.

Please do not bring any electronic equipment without personal waterproof protection.

If there are more than 8 participants, carpooling will be organised with participants who have a car.