WaterTribe^TM Skills Assessment

Overview

WaterTribe events are difficult and dangerous. Anyone entering these events must be an expert in his or her chosen small craft. We require that you certify your experience at the expert level when you register for any WaterTribe event. However, we have found that sometimes self certified experts do not have some of the skills that would normally be assumed for experts.

Often we find boats that are loaded beyond their design limits. Or sometimes boats are loaded within the design limits, but they are not loaded properly.

We have also discovered very experienced people who have not practiced the required skills recently or who have equipment that has not been used for a long time. When was the last time you practiced a capsize and recovery or put your bilge pump to a test?

Another problem that is rampant in the kayaking world is to learn rolling, self rescue, and assisted rescues in kayaks that are not fully loaded. If you are certified in these skills in an unloaded boat, you may be very surprised when you try to use those skills in a fully loaded boat.

Just like kayakers, sailors have their own problems that are rampant in their community. Many sailors have never taken a sailing class. Most that have taken a class are in classes that focus on sailing faster, pointing higher, reading the wind and tide, and other skills not focused on survival. Most of these classes don't deal with self rescue, assisted rescues or hypothermia. If you had a class that did cover these skills, great! But you still need to practice them regularly.

By learning and practicing these skills and others appropriate for your boat,you will be more likely to survive a WaterTribe Challenge.

It is up to each WaterTriber to know the skills listed for your boat class and to practice all those skills prior to showing up at any WaterTribe event. You must certify that you have done so in the WaterTribe Entrance Requirement Document during registration at the event.

WaterTribe will not be conducting Skill Assessments. That is up to you.

Class 1 Skill Assessment

Reminder! Your safety is up to you. You will do your own skill assessment.

Here are some questions you will need to answer for yourself as part of your own skills assessment. Some of these questions may be asked during your equipment inspection.

• What is the designed maximum load for your kayak or canoe including captain and crew (if any)?
• What is the weight of your gear, food, water, captain, and crew (if any)? Note that the limit for this is 80% or less of the maximum designed load. Note that depending on how obvious this is we may weigh your entire load.
• How much flotation do you have in the kayak? It should be more than enough to float the loaded boat high enough to allow bailing. Assume your hatches have been compromised and your entire kayak is flooded.
• If your kayak is completely flooded, is there enough flotation to allow you to bail it out and keep going?
• Is all of your gear secured such that a capsize will not result in lost gear?
• Have you practiced capsize and recovery with your fully loaded kayak recently?
• Do you have towing insurance and is it linked to your SPOT Help Message? This is not required for kayaks or canoes, but it is something to consider.

We do suggest that you practice capsize and recovery with a fully loaded kayak in a controlled and safe environment before signing up for a Watertribe event. Also, practice with each storage compartment completely flooded.

These are some of the skills you should practice:

• Gear Inspection - You must have all Required Equipment and know how to use it.
• Your gear must be loaded properly with flotation at the ends and all equipment in waterproof bags or containers.
• Make sure that the loaded kayak is showing proper trim.
• If you have a class 1 sail, show how it is deployed and retrieved. Can this be done in strong winds? Can this be done in side winds? Have you practiced this?
• If you have a class 1 sail, show how it can be reefed if it has reefs. Can this be done in strong winds? Can this be done in side winds? Have you practiced this?
• If you can roll your loaded kayak, do a roll on each side. Note that a roll is not required to pass the test, but do them if you can.
• Capsize and do a wet exit. Then re-enter using a paddle float and recover.
• Capsize and do a wet exit. Then re-enter using any other method and recover.
• If you have a sail, capsize with the sail deployed and do a wet exit. Then re-enter using any method of your choice and recover.
• Flood the forward compartment and paddle to shore. How would you fix the problem of a lost hatch cover?
• Flood the rear compartment and paddle to shore. How would you fix the problem of a lost hatch cover?
• What other skills should you practice for your boat?

Class 2 Skill Assessment

Reminder! Your safety is up to you. You will do your own skill assessment.

Here are some questions you will need to answer for yourself as part of your own skills assessment. Some of these questions may be asked during your equipment inspection.

• What is the designed maximum load for your kayak or canoe including captain and crew (if any)?
• What is the weight of your gear, food, water, captain, and crew (if any)? Note that the limit for this is 80% or less of the maximum designed load. Note that depending on how obvious this is we may weigh your entire load.
• How much flotation do you have in the kayak? It should be more than enough to float the loaded boat high enough to allow bailing. Assume your hatches have been compromised and your entire kayak is flooded.
• If your kayak is completely flooded, is there enough flotation to allow you to bail it out and keep going?
• Is all of your gear secured such that a capsize will not result in lost gear?
• Have you practiced capsize and recovery with your fully loaded kayak recently?
• Do you have towing insurance and is it linked to your SPOT Help Message? This is not required for kayaks or canoes, but it is something to consider.

We do suggest that you practice capsize and recovery with a fully loaded kayak in a controlled and safe environment before signing up for a Watertribe event. Also, practice with each storage compartment completely flooded.

These are some of the skills you should practice:

• Gear Inspection - You must have all Required Equipment and know how to use it.
• Your gear must be loaded properly with flotation at the ends and all equipment in waterproof bags or containers.
• Make sure that the loaded kayak is showing proper trim.
• Surf skiis and other kayaks with low volume will have to show that their loaded kayak has sufficient initial stability. I have seen kayaks with so much stuff on the deck that the kayak rolls if nobody is in/on the kayak. If this is a problem, you should get a different kayak for these events.
• If you can roll your loaded kayak, do a roll on each side. Note that a roll is not required, but do them if you can.
• Capsize and do a wet exit. Then re-enter using a paddle float and recover.
• Capsize and do a wet exit. Then re-enter using any other method and recover.
• Flood the forward compartment and paddle to shore. How would you fix the problem of a lost hatch cover?
• Flood the rear compartment and paddle to shore. How would you fix the problem of a lost hatch cover?
• What other skills should you practice for your boat?

Class 3 Skill Assessment

Reminder! Your safety is up to you. You will do your own skill assessment.

Here are some questions you will need to answer for yourself as part of your own skills assessment. Some of these questions may be asked during your equipment inspection.

• What is the designed maximum load for your boat including captain and crew (if any)?
• What is the weight of your gear, food, water, captain, and crew (if any)? Note that the limit for this is 80% or less of the maximum designed load. Note that depending on how obvious this is we may weigh your entire load.
• How much flotation do you have in the boat? It should be more than enough to float the loaded boat high enough to allow bailing. If not, see the last line of this list.
• If your boat is completely flooded, is there enough flotation to allow you to bail it out and keep going?
• Is your boat self righting? Most class 3 boats are not.
• Is it possible to turtle your boat such that you cannot get it right side up? If so, what steps can you take to prevent turtling? You might want to consider masthead floats or maybe a different boat. Most class 3 boats can remove one ama and get their boat right side up. Can you?
• Is all of your gear secured such that a knockdown will not result in lost gear?
• Can you sail or otherwise navigate your boat if your rudder breaks?
• Is "Reef Early and Reef Often" tattooed on your forehead?
• Have you practiced capsize and knockdown recovery recently?
• Do you have towing insurance and is it linked to your SPOT Help Message? This may or may not be required depending on your answers to some of the above question.

Reminder! Reefing Rules Apply to ALL Class 3 Boats.

You need to examine and understand the reefing rules found in WaterTribe Boat Classes document. Here is a shortened version of the reefing rules:

• ALL sails greater than 12 sqft and less than or equal to 36 sqft must have a minimum of 1 reef.
• ALL sails greater than 36 sqft must have a minimum of 2 reefs.
• Instead of reef points any standing sail can use roller reefing.
• ALL standing sails must have a dousing and retrieving system that can be safely operated from the cockpit or main trampoline.
• Headsails my use roller furling, roller reefing, or dousing and retrieval systems that can be operated from the cockpit or main trampoline. However, I strongly recommend that you do not use headsails.
• Cruising spinnakers and screechers are allowed keeping in mind the roller furling, roller reefing, or dousing and retrieval systems that can be operated from the cockpit or main trampoline. However, I strongly recommend that you do not use spinnakers or screechers.
• Remember that a class 3 boat should not go crazy with sails. A single should limit sails to one main sail. A double might get away with adding a mizzen. Although we do not forbid head sails, we strongly recommend that you keep it simple. Remember that it all has to go inside or on the boat in a seaworthy manner, and you have to be able to reef and douse the sail from the cockpit. Keep it simple.
• You must actually know how to set your reefs. Believe it or not, we have had some show up at inspection day and not know how to set their reefs because they were installed at the last minute and never actually used while sailing - NOT GOOD.

These are some of the skills you should practice:

• Gear Inspection - You must have all Required Equipment and know how to use it.
• Make sure that the loaded boat is showing proper trim.
• Single reef your sail(s)
• Double reef your sail(s)
• Remove your mast(s) and row, peddle, or paddle a short distance - this is for going under bridges
• Reinstall your mast(s)
• Captain exits boat and gets assisted inside by crew
• Crew exits boat and gets assisted inside by captain
• Both captain and crew exit boat and get back inside
• Do primary and backup bailing - Note, you don't have to fill your boat to do this, but you do have to add enough water to show that your bailing system works. This goes for cockpit too.
• What other skills should you practice for your boat?

Class 4 Skill Assessment

Reminder! Your safety is up to you. You will do your own skill assessment.

Here are some questions you will need to answer for yourself as part of your own skills assessment. Some of these questions may be asked during your equipment inspection.

• What is the designed maximum load for your boat including captain and crew (if any)?
• What is the weight of your gear, food, water, captain, and crew (if any)? Note that the limit for this is 80% or less of the maximum designed load. Note that depending on how obvious this is we may weigh your entire load.
• How much flotation do you have in the boat? It should be more than enough to float the loaded boat high enough to allow bailing. If not, see the last line of this list.
• If your boat is completely flooded, is there enough flotation to allow you to bail it out and keep going?
• Is your boat self righting?
• Is it possible to turtle your boat such that you cannot get it right side up? If so, what steps can you take to prevent turtling? You might want to consider masthead floats or maybe a different boat.
• Is all of your gear secured such that a knockdown will not result in lost gear?
• Can you sail or otherwise navigate your boat if your rudder breaks?
• Is "Reef Early and Reef Often" tattooed on your forehead?
• Have you practiced capsize and knockdown recovery recently?
• Do you have towing insurance and is it linked to your SPOT Help Message? This may or may not be required depending on your answers to some of the above question.

Reminder! Reefing Rules Apply to ALL Class 4 Boats.

You need to examine and understand the reefing rules found in WaterTribe Boat Classes document. Here is a shortened version of the reefing rules:

• ALL sails greater than 12 sqft and less than or equal to 36 sqft must have a minimum of 1 reef.
• ALL sails greater than 36 sqft must have a minimum of 2 reefs.
• Instead of reef points any standing sail can use roller reefing.
• ALL standing sails must have a dousing and retrieving system that can be safely operated from the cockpit or main trampoline.
• Headsails my use roller furling, roller reefing, or dousing and retrieval systems that can be operated from the cockpit or main trampoline.
• Cruising spinnakers and screechers are allowed keeping in mind the roller furling, roller reefing, or dousing and retrieval systems that can be operated from the cockpit or main trampoline.
• You must actually know how to set your reefs. Believe it or not, we have had some show up at inspection day and not know how to set their reefs because they were installed at the last minute and never actually used while sailing - NOT GOOD.

These are some of the skills you should practice:

• Gear Inspection - You must have all Required Equipment and know how to use it.
• Make sure that the loaded boat is showing proper trim.
• Single reef your sails
• Double reef your sails
• Remove your mast(s) and row, peddle, or paddle a short distance - this is for going under bridges
• Reinstall your mast(s)
• Captain exits boat and gets assisted inside by crew
• Crew exits boat and gets assisted inside by captain
• Both captain and crew exit boat and get back inside
• Do primary and backup bailing - Note, you don't have to fill your boat to do this, but you do have to add enough water to show that your bailing system works. This goes for cockpit and cabin (if any).
• What other skills should you practice for your boat?

Class 5 Skill Assessment

Reminder! Your safety is up to you. You will do your own skill assessment.

Here are some questions you will need to answer for yourself as part of your own skills assessment. Some of these questions may be asked during your equipment inspection.

• What is the designed maximum load for your boat including captain and crew (if any)?
• What is the weight of your gear, food, water, captain, and crew (if any)? Note that the limit for this is 80% or less of the maximum designed load. Note that depending on how obvious this is we may weigh your entire load.
• How much flotation do you have in the boat? It should be more than enough to float the loaded boat high enough to allow bailing. If not, see the last line of this list. If one ama is flooded will the boat still float?
• Is your cat or tri self righting? Most multihulls are not, but some might be.
• Is it possible to turtle your cat or tri such that you cannot get it right side up? If so, what steps can you take to prevent turtling? You might want to consider masthead floats or maybe a different boat.
• Is all of your gear secured such that a knockdown will not result in lost gear?
• Can you sail or otherwise navigate your boat if your rudder breaks? What about zero wind?
• Is "Reef Early and Reef Often" tattooed on your forehead?
• Have you practiced capsize and knockdown recovery recently?
• Do you have towing insurance and is it linked to your SPOT Help Message? This may or may not be required depending on your answers to some of the above question.

Reminder! Reefing Rules Apply to ALL Class 5 Boats.

You need to examine and understand the reefing rules found in the WaterTribe Boat Classes document. Here is a shortened version of the reefing rules:

• ALL sails greater than 12 sqft and less than or equal to 36 sqft must have a minimum of 1 reef.
• ALL sails greater than 36 sqft must have a minimum of 2 reefs.
• Instead of reef points any standing sail can use roller reefing.
• ALL standing sails must have a dousing and retrieving system that can be safely operated from the cockpit or main trampoline.
• Headsails my use roller furling, roller reefing, or dousing and retrieval systems that can be operated from the cockpit or main trampoline.
• Cruising spinnakers and screechers are allowed keeping in mind the roller furling, roller reefing, or dousing and retrieval systems that can be operated from the cockpit or main trampoline.
• You must actually know how to set your reefs. Believe it or not, we have had some show up at inspection day and not know how to set their reefs because they were installed at the last minute and never actually used while sailing - NOT GOOD.

These are some of the skills you should practice:

• Gear Inspection - You must have all Required Equipment and know how to use it.
• Make sure that the loaded boat is showing proper trim.
• Single reef your sails
• Double reef your sails
• Remove your mast(s) and row, peddle, or paddle a short distance - this is for going under bridges
• Reinstall your mast(s)
• Captain exits boat and gets assisted inside by crew
• Crew exits boat and gets assisted inside by captain
• Both captain and crew exit boat and get back inside
• Do primary and backup bailing - Note, you don't have to fill your boat to do this, but you do have to add enough water to show that your bailing system works. This goes for cockpit and cabin (if any). Note that bailing doesn't apply to some cats and tris, but it does apply to others.
• What other skills should you practice for your boat?