So;   you See a club trip in the newsletter and it sounds like a place you'd like to go but you're not sure whether the destination is difficult to get to in fact, you're not even sure how far it is; or how long it would take to get to it.

We as a club, have devised a system for helping to take some of the guesswork out of these questions.

Generally; there are two components to take into consideration when classifying a trip:

Degree of Strenuousness

  A    Not Strenuous - Daily paddling limited to less than three hours and/or distances of six nautical miles Ample sheltered spots for resting and easy landings.

  B   Moderately Strenuous. - Daily paddling typically between three and live hours and/or distances of six to ten nautical miles. Some sheltered spots for resting and landing.

  C   Strenuous - Daily paddling time typically between five and six hours and/or distances often to 15 nautical miles. Infrequent shelter or landing Spots.

  D    Very Strenuous - Daily paddling time exceeding six hours and/or distances of 15 nautical miles May be little or no shelter and very few landing points)

The main characteristics in each of these classes are time and distance. Winds or currents can dramatically alter our progress, either in our favour (yahoo'), or exhaustingly against us We can fairly accurately predict the currents by using tide and current tables, but the presence of wind can easily increase the strenuousness of a "B" rated trip to a "C"; or cven make progress almost impossible.

Degree of difficulty

   1   Easy  - Requires basic paddling skills, Expect protected waters, little or no current, and easy landings.

  2    Moderate   - Requires good paddling skills including the ability to brace. Expect minimal exposure, small crossings (I mile or less), weak to moderate currents, and easy to moderate landings-

  3   Difficult  - Requires good paddling and seamanship skills. Expect some exposed water and moderate crossings of 1 to 3 miles moderate to strong currents, ocean swells surf and difficult landings.

  4    Very Difficult   - Requires advanced paddling and seamanship skills Be prepared for long open crossings rugged and exposed coast, large swells, surf strong currents turbulent water, difficult landings and the possibility of extreme weather.

'Note that the selection of the appropriate grade is indicated by the occurrence of one Or more of the criteria; not all of the criteria must be met.

So, what we've done is to select a letter from the Strenuousness category and a number from the Technical Difficulty category and come up with an Alpha-Numeric combination So an Al trip is technically quite easy and requires limited endurance and strength, quite appropriate for beginners.

A B2 trip would be more challenging, involving crossings, exposure, or currents, or a combination of these, and would be a greater distance than the Al trip, with fewer opportunities to get out for a rest.

When reading the trip classification always remember that weather and water conditions on a particular day can make a trip more difficult and strenuous than indicated.

When selecting a trip, read the classification and determine whether you have the skills and strength to successfully and comfortably complete it. If you get to the launch site and the wind/weather/water conditions cause you to reconsider, don't be embarrassed to stay behind. Only you can decide whether the trip is within your skill and endurance limits.