Open water crossing

Any crossing between two points of land for a distance of greater than about 1 mi (1.6 km) should be considered open water. At this distance it is too far to swim to safety if you should lose your kayak and wind and current may effect the conditions. At this distance a fast moving weather front may come in before you have time to return to safety.

Travel across an open bay or strait, when the closest safe landing is either directly in front of you or behind you. Open water crossings should be attempted only when skills and experience make certain the safety of the crossing.

When the crossing is across a strait, currents may affect the difficulty because they add to the distance paddled and or because they affect the sea state.

Crossings across straits are often crossings of shipping channels. Understanding the weather, tides, sea state, and traffic is important in such crossings.

Crossings may involve considerable distance from possible landing. Dressing for the water temperature and secondly for the air temperature is important to avoid injury or death from hypothermia.