Outrigger Water Change Clinic 
CORA and Adrienne Scott, July 23 2006 

Important things to remember: 

1. Safety, safety, safety. 
2. WATER CHANGES CAN BE FUN! Attitude can make all the difference about 
whether you get in the boat or you get left behind. Think you can and you will! 
Step 1: The approach 

• Escort boat should come alongside and notify the canoe of seat #s that will be 
changing next. 
• Steersman looks ahead, signals for drop from escort boat. 
• Escort boat drifts across their line and drops paddlers into the water. 
• Paddlers in the water signal to the canoe by splashing and yelling seat numbers to 
confirm the seats they are aiming for. They stay properly spaced on the line and 
let the canoe come to them. They focus on the canoe and their body position. 
Step 2: The exit 

• If you have a sprayskirt you will have to unzip it one person at a time (call 
yourself out). 
• Stow your paddle against the right side of the canoe. 
• It is very important that everyone gets out at exactly the same time. This avoids 
people landing on other people (see important thing to remember #1). What is 
your system to guarantee this? (“Stow and go”) 
• Try to exit without disturbing the run of the boat- don’t push off the gunnel or 
bottom. Roll or fall out instead. 
• STAY DOWN with one arm over your head so that you don’t get hit by the boat 
or a paddle. 
Step 3- The entrance 

• Style (dolphin or hook) 
• Focus on your grabbing point. Mark it with tape before the race? 
• Get in (finer details in demo). 
• Other paddlers raise their paddles overhead if you are in their way of a stroke. 
• Start paddling in time with other paddlers. 
Water change accessories: 

Coolers- 1 dry and 1 cold/wet. Dry cooler should have well marked group or
individual food so that a helper could grab it. Wet cooler also should have well
marked water/juice bottles.
Dry bags for warm clothes, towels, sarong for shade etc.


Things to avoid: 

Baggy clothing or most jewelry.
Sunscreen on your hands (it’s slippery- get someone else to apply it).
Food you have not tested outside of a race- e.g. stick to pretzels if you’re not used
to Powerbars.


See Resources section at www.canadianoutrigger.com for more helpful tips.