4 Star Leader Training Sea and More!

The 4 Star Leadership award with the British Canoe Union (BCU) is an award which allows a qualified paddler to lead and guide other competent paddlers (have the skills but not the experience to operate self sufficiently) in moderate conditions - .  Moderate sea conditions are define by the BCU as:

'A stretch of coastline with landings every 1 to 2 miles or 1 hour paddling, including difficult landings. Crossings of no more than 2 NM, up to 2 kns of current, Bf F4 winds and paddling in sea state 3/4 (1.5 mt) launching and landing in surf up to 1mt.'    

Julian, Noel, Mike and Alan were up for the 4 days - 2 days training, 1 day coastal navigation and tidal planning theory.  With Debs - 5 star leader trained, observing/assisting and able to offer a perspective form having been through the 4 star leader assessment process.  

The final day was focused loosely around each individuals action plan's as well as another chance to have ago at a couple of the techniques used or seen earlier on the course.  It also allows an opportunity to understand what areas are out of remit and why.

For some reason my photos have loaded back to front ... and Im not going to try and reload them!  

Day 4!

Just around form Penrhyn Mawr, on the last day and one of the super sections of rock formations.  A great opportunity for rock hoping, leadership and exploring ...

Alan above and Mike below in Penrhyn Mawr, beginning to feel the current on the flood and enjoying a blue sky!!

Alan agin below and one of the locals enjoying the sunshine too!

The first day after looking and discussing the syllabus and forecasts, was at Rhoscolyn and an introduction to flow, eddy turns ferry glides, rolling, self and assisted rescues, contact tows and rafted tows ...

Noel leading down with Mike above and Julian below ...

Day two was a journey from Cemais Bay, out to Middle Mouse island and on to Bull Bay.  Leadership sections with an incident or a scenario were offered to each individual and feedback both from the group and my self was available.  Plus an introduction to rocky landings as an individual and the use of the towline and managing a group.

It had been a super sunny week with largely gentle conditions, but a lot had been explored, discussed, experimented with and tried.  Food for thought and clear action plans saw each on there way.

Thanks, Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

The Skerries and The Stacks - Intermediate Plus Sea Kayaking, Anglesey.

The intermediate plus sea kayaking course are for those who have completed the 3 star award, can roll, paddle independently from a coach or club and are keen to work in a moderate sea environment - F4 winds, moving water (3 knots minimum) and 1metre plus surf.  Its the ideal course for those who have done the 4 star leader training course or are paddling at that level.

Rich, Douglas, Tracy, David, Mark and Amanda made up the group and after coffee and discussions based around what each person wanted from the weekend and considering the forecast.  We headed out for the west coast of Anglesey, to catch the flood time for a paddle out to The Skerries.  A paddle David was very pleased to be part of.

Conditions were magic .... surfing, rescues, self and assisted was programmed for the following day, but we managed to get some tide-race surfing in .....

We headed back, in the fading light to our start point ...

Sunday we met at Porth Dafach, to be on the water early and we went through contact tows, bow and stern, before dropping down into Penrhyn Mawr ....

Douglas going for that wave ...

David in my demo Aries 155

Amanda leading on through ...

Mark in his Delphin ...

We moved up through the flow for lunch at Porth Ruffydd and then dropped back down for rescues and incident management, before heading back up through the last of the flood and on to Porth Dafach.

Tracy below in some super Winter light ...

It had been a weekend of pretty much perfect weather and super conditions, with a team that made the most of what was presented.  Nice one guys and girls ...

Roger
www.coastalspirit.com

Surf, flow and rough water - 4 star leader training, Anglesey,

Rich, Douglas, David, Hazel and Leif were joining me on a 4 star leader training course.  Both Leif and Hazel had done the previous days Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning theory day.  In brief the 4 star focus on personal performance and leadership in a moderate environment.  Some people end up doing just the training and some times a year later another training, choosing not to go any further, but having gaining skills, awareness and techniques.  

While other chose to work towards an assessment. To quote Canoe wales   -  "Successful performance at this level indicates that you have the skill level required to lead a group of 4 competent paddlers (Paddlers who do not require coaching to be in/on that environment.) for a short journeys (6-8 miles), up to "moderate conditions" (winds up to force 4 or sea state 4). The award shows that you can judge the conditions and the standard of the group to make appropriate decisions, understanding the need to modify plans when required. 

Well after discussions, planning and coffee we headed NW to Trearddur Bay, for some surf and working in wind.  Working in 3 small teams, we went through rolls, and rescues (keeping the water in the boat to shorten the rescue time) and then self rescues.  Then putting them into the conditions, which were super .... and pretty chunky closer to the flag pole.

Then surfing with purpose ...

We rounded up the day with a rocky landing or two, from the kayak (no towline) and body surfing the kayak back out to swimming in on a towline and focus on careful management of line and quick release on the front.
 

The 2nd day we went to the Menai Straits and the Swellies for work in current, leadership and scenarios ...

Rich finishing the day off ... before individual debriefs and action plans ...

Leif and Hazel were on for another two days and so we worked again to avoid the wind but get some conditions. Point Lynas gave us just that ...  rolling and surfing for Leif, then back in the bay more complex rocky landings and gully and rocky rescues working with contact tows and towlines ...

and Hazel got her roll back ...  ;)

4th day was back in the Swellies, and personal skills on eddy turns, ferry glides, rolling in flow, self rescue and not to be out done ... Leif pulled off standing up in a kayak ... ;)

Great few days and the next 4 star leader training is down for the  10-14th April - (CNTP 10th, 11/12th 4 star leader training and also 2 further days training/development on 13/14th April).

Thanks,
Roger


north wales sea kayaking
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anglesey sea kayaking