4* Leader Sea Kayak Training - Day 1

Today was Day 1 of my BCU 4* Sea Kayak Leader training with Richard Uren from Paddlecrest. The course is based out of the Penzance area in South West Cornwall for the two days. Before coming on this course you have to go on the BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning (CNTP) course which I attended yesterday at Porthpean Outdoor Centre. This course was also run by Richard Uren.

The main emphasis of today with the sea conditions was to cover the personal skills element of the 4* training and also start to look at leadership. These areas would be covered during a trip that Mark and myself planned during yesterdays course. Porth Gwarra would be our entry and egress. The images above don't actually do the sea state the justice it deserves. Following yesterdays winds there was a big rolling swell coming in off the Atlantic. The swell period made for easy going one away from the coastline but did minimise the landing opportunities due to the surf hitting beaches and small rock coves. Today would have been on the 4* Leaders limit.

A great days Sea Kayaking overall with clear blue skies, 8 -10 mph winds and some wildlife (Grey Seals, Porpoises and Sea birds). 

Tomorrow the plan is to head East for slightly more sheltered water to work with some candidates from Penzance Canoe Club and also cover all of the Rescue techniques. 

Industry Awareness at Land and Wave

 

Yesterday I took the Level 3 Outdoor Education students to Swanage to visit the team at Land and Wave for an Outdoor Industry awareness day.

 

The 2 hour drive each way was well worth it.

 

The morning session was spent in a presentation delivered by the directors of the business. This presentation went into detail about the Outdoor Activity Industry, the ethos/background of Land and Wave as a company and the employment/training opportunities that are available at Land and Wave and within the industry as a whole.

 

 

After lunch the students were shown around the stores at Land and Wave with an emphasis on showing them how the equipment is stored, checked, maintained and retired.

 

For the last part of the day we headed down to Dancing Ledge for a couple of hours coasteering. The students have all done this activity before at other venues but this venue had some different features and with the swell level the staff had to use some leadership techniques that were different to those the group had seen before.

 

All in all a really good for the students and staff.