STEERSPERSON RESOURCES
RIGGING LAUNCHING NAVIGATION
BBOP encourages all members to learn to steer an OC6! We have an active steerer training program facilitated by Coach Jill Komoto. Whether your goal is to steer races and practices or just want to sharpen your boating and paddling skills, learning to steer will make you a more valuable crew member.
Weekly steering practices are on Monday nights. Schedules and sign ups are on TeamSnap. Novice steers can learn from certified steers, and certified steers can advance their training level.
Non-steers are needed to fill canoes - sign up and get an extra paddle in!
Steering Drills and Tips
Navigation Rules
USGS Rules of he Road - Jill's notes from presentation. Open PDF
Launching Protocol
Steersperson is in charge of launching the OC6 and calling all instructions. Open PDF
Steers Meeting Minutes
Coaches meet with club steerspersons each spring to review protocols. Minutes attached from April 2022 meeting. See PDF
BBOP Steers Certification Criteria
Coming soon
Weather Links
Steersperson Coaching Video
Canadian Outrigger Racing Association provides this 1 hour session on YouTube. Coaching
Role of Seat 6 in the Canoe
Canoe Checklist
It is the steers responsibility to check the canoe for safety items before launching. Read Here
Huli Instructions
Leading a practice huli recovery is a required element of steers certification. Read Here
Rigging Instructions (spec canoes)
All paddlers can participate and lead rigging. Open PDF
CANOE CHECKLIST - STEERSPERSON CHECK BEFORE LAUNCHING CANOE:
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Check for a minimum of 2 bailers (secured) and bucket
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Every paddler has a PFD
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Make sure you have a whistle on you
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Safety bag and marine radio in the canoe
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Check rigging to ensure it is tight enough. Is the rigging sound? This includes the straps (check the condition, as well as the ropes)
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Make sure plugs are in ama/canoe (some canoes have plugs)
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Stepping ladder/rope is attached to wye
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Extra rubber either added to the strapping or in the safety bag
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Extra paddle (behind seat 6)
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Place the bumper in the stern of the canoe
BBOP STEERSPERSON CRITERIA
I. DEFINITIONS
Adult Steers: Any paddler may practice steering with a certified steers in seat 5.
LEVEL 1: Novice steers. New steers who can steer in a practice. Another fully certified steers must be present (but not necessarily in that canoe).
LEVEL 2: Basic Certified Steers. A basic-certified steers has the required experience and skills and is approved by a coach (in consultation with Level 3 steers) to steer during practice without another steers present.
LEVEL 3: Advanced Certified Steers. A steers whose range of experience and skills allow them to steer in more challenging conditions.
Keiki Steers: A certified keiki (youth) steers can steer a keiki race or practice under supervision and with approval of keiki coach
II. STEERSPERSON CERTIFICATION
• All levels of steers must demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in rigging, safety, and emergency procedures.
• Level 1 Novice Steers develop skills and experience steering under the direct supervision of certified steers. A certified steers and/or coach must approve each novice steers practice based on the experience of the novice and water/weather conditions.
• Level 2 Certified steers continue to build skills and experience, after having met a basic set of criteria. Coaches and Level 3 steers can certify a Level 2 Steers in consultation with other Certified Steers. A level 2 steers has met the following criteria:
Control of the canoe
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Demonstrates ability to maneuver the canoe (in the desired direction) in a variety of mild to moderate conditions (including consideration of wind, current, tides) with small waves
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Demonstrates ability to execute a safe approach to a dock or beach
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Demonstrates ability to make an emergency stop or an evasive maneuver in open water
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Demonstrates ability to ask other seats for appropriate assistance
Safety of canoe and crew
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Conducts check of required equipment and rigging before paddling
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Ability to coordinate the crew for safe launching and haul-out of canoes
BBOP STEERSPERSON CRITERIA
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Knowledge of obstacles/hazards in local waters, and ability to gain similar knowledge when steering in other waters
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Ability to communicate and successfully direct the steps in a huli recovery
• Level 3 Steers
Has solid experience at the basic level and has paddled in bigger waves and more complicated situations with assistance; and other steers confirm that the steers is prepared for more challenge
BBOP Huli Procedure 5/24/22
The steersperson will call commands and may make changes on the fly according to paddlers’ strengths and the conditions. Be flexible and pay attention. Once you have done this a couple times it’s a piece of cake.
• Cover your head until the huli is over and you are at the surface.
• Check on your partner. Seats 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6. Call out if someone is not OK.
• Steers will have paddlers call off starting with seat 1
• Forward 3 paddlers pass paddles to seat 3. Aft 3 paddlers pass paddles to seat 5.
• Seat 1- Stay at the front of the canoe. If possible work to maneuver the boat into the wind so that when the canoe is righted it is not broadside to the waves and taking on water. When the ama is at it’s zenith and pauses, seats 1 and 6 may give a slight lift to the hull to remove as much water as possible.
• Seats 2 and 4 Climb up on the hull to prepare to pull the ama over. Once the ama is at it’s zenith you will work to slow it’s decent.
• 3 and 5 go to the ama and get ready to lift.
• Seat 6- Direct the recovery process. Help maneuver the canoe into position. When the ama is at it’s zenith and pauses, give a slight lift to remove as much water as possible. At the steersperson’s call, 2 and 4 pull up on the iako while 3 and 5 push the ama upwards.
The steers will call out who gets in the canoe first. Usually that will be seats 2 and 4 but may change with abilities and conditions. ALWAYS GET IN ON THE AMA SIDE. The first two in the canoe will begin bailing rapidly toward the ama side. As the water level drops more paddlers may climb in as directed. Those that aren’t bailing should begin paddling. The steers will determine whether to continue the paddle or head back to the launch site.
This procedure will be modified after pool practices as improvements may be made.
SEAT ROLE, SEAT 6, The Steers:
This seat is usually your most experienced paddler. The steersman is the captain and leader of the canoe. This position controls the entire crew, and only this person should be heard talking while paddling unless the steer asks seat 3 to make the calls. The FIRST responsibility of Seat 6 is crew safety, the second is canoe safety and third is steering and navigation. Seat 6 also keeps the crew in time, focused and motivated. After that, Seat 6 is a paddler. The steersman will call out rate change or timing to keep everyone in sync with each other. Steers motivate the crew, providing positivity, direction, and feedback. Their ability to read the water and identify the best line to navigate can be the difference between a good team and a great team. Steering requires an intuitive feel for the canoe and a high level of skill (it is not easy) especially in ocean conditions. The steer still needs to contribute to the power of the canoe and needs to be able to balance the requirements of steering and paddling. steers carry a larger paddle and can deliver short, powerful bursts of power when required, however if this power is not delivered in a smooth fashion and in time with the rest of the canoe then it will destroy the run, rhythm, and timing of the entire boat. Poorly delivered power from the steer will cause the canoe to surge, weave, and jump. It cannot be stated strongly enough that the steer must ensure they are in time and rhythm before trying to provide power to the canoe. A steer needs good intuition and must be able to predict what the canoe will do and proactively use small, light corrections to guide the canoe rather than reactively correcting the canoe with heavy steering inputs. The moment a steer feels heavy pressure from a steering input then he/she knows they have destroyed the run of their canoe. steers must be confident, good communicators and understand that their prime role is to respect and not waste all the effort and work of the 5 paddlers that form the team in front of them.
Read about all seat roles