ACA L4 Open Water Coastal Kayak Skills Assessment

Date: Saturday, January 16, 2027
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (tentative, based on conditions)
Location: Horseshoe Cove/Travis Marina (Sausalito) or Bolinas, depending on conditions. The final location will be confirmed with candidates closer to the date.
Cost: $250
Group size: Minimum 2, maximum 4 candidates

Ready to show what you've got in open coastal conditions? This one-day assessment evaluates your paddling against the ACA Level 4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking skills criteria. It's a great next step for advanced paddlers, and it's a prerequisite for our L4 Instructor Certification Workshop on February 1–4, 2027.

The assessment takes place in an open coast environment within 2 nautical miles of shore, with candidates demonstrating skills in at least 3 of the following conditions:

15 – 20 knot winds
3 – 5 foot waves (chop)
3 – 4 foot surf
2 – 4 knots of current

Assessing Instructor: Laura Zulliger (L5 AOWCK Instructor, L4 Instructor Trainer)

Prerequisites
Current ACA membership and solid L3 open-water skills.

Please Note
The cost does not include kayak or gear rental. Boats can be reserved in advance.