Firstly Id like to thanks Richard Uren of Paddle Crest Coaching for inviting me down to run a 5 star leader training and Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning (OWNTP) course, down in Cornwall where he is based.
With the OWNTP on the Saturday and sunny weather, it was interesting down at Penzance Harbour to see the gradual change in the weather. With Ben, Christian, Mike, John and Richard. By Sunday morning the forecasted F5-6 N/NE had arrived and was sure to provide exciting conditions .... After coffee and a review of plans we set out from the Southern point, round Gwennap Head, working into a head/cross wind and picking out shelter as we went.
Looking out at Longships Lighthouse and working on buddy rescues ...
Once the ebb had set in conditions started to build and were ideal. We could move in and out of the rough stuff and the wind, discussing ideas in the coastal shelter and then put them into context. I was keen to hold on to my voice ...
The coastline looked dramatic, maybe even more so in the grey and atmospheric conditions. John below working with Richard ...
While setting the various tasks and rescues, I kept one eye on what was happening and another on the rocky coastline looking for a suitable rocky landing area ... just when I thought id found one 2 or 3 huge sets thundered through ... So we headed for a more sheltered and practical area for some lunch and further reflections ...
Id always though of Cornwall as a super surfing area, but hadn't taken in the amazing rocky arches, small stacks and channels. Add in a good swell, and we had a very exciting and dynamic environment ... and one that needed great respect!
We relocated into Penzance Bay for the night navigation and leadership and for the early part of the night had the glow of St Michael's Mount ....
On the Monday we headed out form Sennen Cove as the winds had swung SE F4/5, and some time latter in the surf just had to be done.
Short leadership sections, with some focused work on contact tows (just holding on) and getting a swimmer quickly into their kayak - water in or water out and the thinking behind this. Leader involved and then handing over and leader directing, was worked and discussed ...
Christian, having lead us through a super rocky channel with a good swell wrapping round ....
We worked our way back up the current and towards Sennen, for lunch and then some beach surfing, before wrapping up with a debrief and action plans in the chip shop on the front.
The weather had delivered, super conditions and despite having paddled in Cornwall before, my eyes had been opened further to what this area can offer.
Roger
www.coastalspirit.com
5 star leader training sea
+
rough water handeling
An excellent weekend, and one I will be doing again once I have polished my skills, Roger has a certain aura of calm this is obviously due to his experience, I on the other hand tend to lose the plot if things are not going to well.
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