That Is The rafting or rafting
Rafting an extreme sport where skill and spirit of adventure are combined .
The rafting is a sport and recreational activity which consists of walking the course of rivers in flow direction ( downstream) and is usually on some kind of boat.
The vessels most commonly used are the raft, canoe or kayak , which can be rigid or inflatable.
Types rivers
Generally navigated rivers and rivers are also called "white water " or "fast" have some degree of turmoil and difficulty, on this basis are divided into:
Rivers of flat water . Refers to where the river has a substantially flat surface , eddies , holes and waves are not dangerous.
Class I. Here the degree of difficulty is very low, the water is almost flat , very little turbulence and waves are small . The rivers of this class are fully navigable.
Class II. The navigate these rivers is easy, its waters are a bit more turbulent than the previous class , has gaps and holes no more than 25 cm , plus swirls are small and without danger to a swimmer.
From Class Three rivers , are considered fast , white water or whitewater .
Class III. Intermediate : The water is turbulent with waves and medium gaps of no more than 1 m, and its eddies are caring for a swimmer and some consideration for a boat . This navigation requires good technique and knowledge of the river .
Class IV. The navigate these rivers is more difficult because its white waters are turbulent but also predictable. The holes and waves are up to two meters and its eddies have to be taken into account for a boat . In rivers of this kind can be found waterfalls where you should navigate with caution , very good technique and knowledge of the river , there are narrow passages where you need to put in complicated technical progress .
Class V. This kind of rivers requires skilled people to navigate them. The white water is very turbulent , unpredictable waves and holes and more than two meters. Swirls and waterfalls are dangerous , so you need to have people with experience and very good knowledge of the river , so the maneuvers are made will have to be very technical .
Class VI. This categpria refers to rivers that are extremely difficult or not navigable.
It is noteworthy that rapid river has one class in its entirety, in several sections may have different degrees of difficulty to navigate .
Most of the rafting activity is done in classes III and IV , and for class V rivers need of experts to visit them .
The equipment needed
For rafting or rafting , you need to have the right equipment and knowledge of basic técinicas paddling and rescue , even if have an expert guide or someone who does not have much experience .
Therefore the equipment needed to navigate a river is:
- * Specialized rowing boat and rafting.
- * A guide that is also called helmsman , who has experience and knowledge of the rapids and their classes.
- * The helmsman must carry a whistle .
- * The team that everyone in the boat must wear are :
- * Vest, helmet , clothing, suitable footwear and when necessary a wetsuit . As additional safety and rescue equipment , each member must have: Knife River , extensible belt or harness and cow tail .
- * Overall should carry additional equipment consisting of: rescue ropes , dry bags , food and beverage , air pump , rings and kit .
- technical
- Any person who performs this activity must meet at least the following techniques:
- * Basic paddling instructions and execution , " forward", " back " , "right" , "left" and "high" .
- * You must correctly use basic personal equipment : helmet, vest and paddle.
- * You should know what to do if dropped in water or how to help a comrade who has fallen for incorporation into the boat.
- For his part, guide a boat for rafting must master the following technical aspects :
- * Know very well the whole management team rafting.
- * Learn to "read the river" , ie properly interpret its turbulence . Waves, holes, eddies , etc. , in order to steer the boat in the right places.
- * Learn the basic communication signals .
- * Learn rescue techniques , both of people and boats.
- * Must know how to move fast in the fall and if autoreincorporarse to the boat .
- There are also some visual signs that are essential to maintain communication between vessels and safety when navigating the rapids :
- * Man Overboard.
- * Alto.
- * Go ahead.
- * Meeting. It is used for two or more vessels.
- * Danger, requires extreme caution and pull over .
- * Another security measure is not sail alone, it is advisable to descend a river in groups of two or more vessels.