Download a copy of the Huli Drill here

SOONER OR LATER YOU WILL HULI

It is an AOCRA requirement that all paddlers annually COMPLETE A CLUB ORGANISED HULI, 400m SWIM and TREAD WATER for 5 minutes.

ALWAYS BE READY TO SWIM, DO NOT CARRY ANYTHING IN THE CANOE that you are not prepared to lose (phones, Keys, Wallets, Watches, Sunglasses, Jewelry).

At some point you will find yourself in the water unexpectedly.

 

HULI PRACTICE DRILL

At ALL times, listen for instruction from your steers person.

Be relaxed, fall with the canoe.

Hold onto your paddle, DO NOT push away from the canoe as it goes over.

The ama will be passing over your heads and you need to go DEEP and stay close to the canoe to ensure you do not get hit.

Once upside down, push your legs against the bottom of the canoe and your body will go down away from the canoe and you will surface close to the hull.

DO NOT leave the canoe, this is your floatation. Don’t swim away to get gear e.g. paddle, water bottle etc.

If you are wearing a PFD, be aware it keeps you buoyant, but may make it harder to re-enter the canoe. The ocean and bar conditions may dictate that you have your PFD on.

If waves are big or breaking, ALL paddlers HELP to position the canoe nose or tail into the swells / waves before Huli recovery.

If the canoe is parallel to incoming breaking water, ENSURE all paddlers are on the seaside of the canoe to prevent being hit by the canoe.

If the water is turbulent, it can be extremely hard to manoeuvre and will require help from all paddlers. Always be careful of your own safety and team mates.

If you Huli in the bar, sometimes the only option is to wait for the current/tide to take you into the river or out into the ocean where the conditions are calmer and righting the canoe is easier.

 

RIGHTING THE CANOE

Steers person is in charge. It is imperative that the steers person account for everyone and will call a head count,particularly as occasionally a person will come up on the opposite side of the canoe to most. Each paddler calls theirseat in sequential order beginning with seat 1. A buddy system is also recommended i.e. 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6.

Paddles are then passed to seat 1 and 6 (steerer) to manage or just push them into the canoe if capsized.

Once overturned, do not hang onto the canoe as this will allow more water to enter. Instead hold on to the Ama as this will provide stability and prevent the canoe from capsizing again.

There are two methods for righting a capsized canoe and both will be practiced.

Method 1 (preferred)

This method is applicable to the Haupus and light weight canoes.

  • Two persons on either side of the front and rear Iakos (generally seat #2 and #3 on the front and seats #4 and #5 on the rear Iako),
  • Reach under the canoe and grab the Muku.
  • In unison paddlers pull the muku down and push the ama up.

This method is both quicker and safer than method 2 and can also be used for Mirages and possibly Matahinas.

Method 2 

The tasks for each seat can change if a paddler is not confident with the task given.

  • SEATS 1 & 6: Control the position of the canoe based on currents, wind, swells
  • SEATS 3 & 4: Climb on top of the canoe by stepping on the IAKO straddling the canoe. Whilst standing onthe MUKU (small section of Iako projecting out the opposite side to ama) reach across to the ama side Iako and pull whilst putting your weight on the MUKU to right the canoe.
  • SEATS 2 & 5: Help push the ama up when 3 and 4 are trying to flip it.

At all times all paddlers stay clear of the ama being righted as you can be injured.

Try to ease the Ama down so that it does not smash on to the water, causing it to split.

 

BAILING

The two lightest people should get into the canoe from the Ama side ALWAYS and bail.

Bail quickly. There is a lot of water to get out; the longer the canoe was upside down, the more water was taken on board. A full canoe will take approximately 400 bailer scoops to empty.

Throw bailed water in the air, preferably leeward.

Take turns and hand the bailer to someone else as you tire as you will need to be paddling again soon.

 

GETTING IN

You do not need to wait until the canoe is completely bailed before getting in. The remaining paddlers get in thecanoe, starting with the steers person who will control the canoe and judge when others can get back in.

Getting into the canoe takes practice and the more you do it the better you will become.

NOTE: Be mindful NOT to get your ribs up on the gunnel whilst entering the canoe as it has the potential to cause rib injuries.

As the bulk of the water is in the middle, 3 & 4 continue to bail and everyone else paddles.

NOTE: If covers are on canoes BE MINDFUL not to be zipped in too tight so that a quick exit can be made if a Huli happens unexpectedly.

If wearing a waist Hydration Pack make sure it sits on top of the covers, NOT caught under the covers.

 

STATIONARY CANOES

When close to canoes on the beach and partly in the water, ALWAYS be careful not to be on the beach side of acanoe at an angle to the waves or parallel to the beach as the smallest of waves can push the canoe onto you causing you to fall, jam your foot, or even worse cause breakage of bone(s) in your foot.