Charles Hayes: Spreading the Joy of Paddlesports

Spreading the Joy of Paddlesports: Auxiliarist Charles Hayes Teaches Paddlesports One Member at a Time.

By Dorothy Riley (Reprinted from INTERCOM, fall 2022, the newsletter for Division 7 Tampa Bay)

For Charles ‘Chuck” Hayes, spending a weekend across the state from his home to teach paddlesports is not an uncommon thing to do. A member of Flotilla 14-2, Arlington (in the Jacksonville area), Hayes spent the weekend of May 21 in Tampa Bay teaching Clark Pittman from Flotilla 74, Brandon, how to safely operate a kayak. That date also coincided with the opening of National Safe Boating Week, so Hayes participated in Flotilla 74’s activities.

Hayes retired from the Navy after twenty years. An engineer, he specialized in on-the-water propulsion systems in everything from canoes to cruisers. But, before he joined the Navy, young Chuck Hayes was a member of the Boy Scouts who, at the age of 13, was a camp counselor-in-training working towards his scout badge in water sports. The badge included every water-related sport, from swimming to canoe. Between Navy duties and family, Hayes spent little time with paddlesports until after retirement. Hayes joined the Auxiliary in 2006. Beginning in 2015, he put his American Canoe Association Level II Kayak training to use within the budding Auxiliary Paddle Craft (AUXPAD) program, teaching paddlecraft safety to both Auxiliary members and recreational boaters. One can hear Hayes’ passion for paddlesports and safety when he talks about the AUXPAD program. Additionally, Hayes is an Instructor for Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety Public Education programs and teaches ‘Boat America’ in his flotilla. The need for paddlecraft safety is growing, primarily due to COVID. Paddlesports are an ideal activity for people to get outdoors while still maintaining a safe social distance. Hayes reports that about 21% of all boating fatalities are paddlecraft accidents and that the three top reasons are 1.) not wearing a lifejacket or wearing it incorrectly, 2.) lack of training in paddlecraft operation and safety, and 3.) inattentiveness to surroundings (situational awareness). Hayes has trained approximately 50 Auxiliary members in paddlesport operation and safety. District 7 has twelve certified AUXPAD operators and three AUXPAD qualified instructors. AUXPAD Qualifiers (AQ) must have achieved at least Level II kayak instructor certification from the American Canoe Association as well as being First Aid and CPR certified. Ω

RIVERVIEW, Fla.—Charles Hayes, a member of Flotilla 14-2, Arlington, prepares to leave Williams Park in Riverview, Fla. May 22, 2022. Hayes was in the Tampa Bay area to teach Clark Pittman, a member of Flotilla 74, Brandon, how to safely operate a kayak and participated in Flotilla 74’s National Safe Boating Week activities. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Dorothy Riley