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Sea kayak award training and assessment: candidates required UPDATED *2
I am going through the process to become a British Canoeing sea kayak award provider. As part of this I need to run a SK award assessment that is observed by an accredited provider.
I am looking for up to four paddlers who would like to take the assessment, and who are willing to assist me with the process. I envisage this will require
• A training day when I practise the format for an assessment. The paddlers will have the opportunity to practise the requirements of the syllabus.
• An assessment, where I run it, and an accredited provider observes, and hopefully signs me off.
If you are at the appropriate standard to take the assessment, and are willing to help, please reply to this thread. Please say what days you can make.
Potentially into January, once I have information on the observer’s availability. The weather may cause some changes of date, particularly if it is too windy.
Because it is winter, good paddling clothing is required; a wet suit and cagoule is the minimum that is appropriate.
The SK award syllabus can be found on this page.
https://www.britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/new-personal-performance-awards/
The SK award requires a paddler to be confident in planning and undertaking journeys on the sea, in winds up to and including force 3 and/or tides up to 1 Knot.
Please note that I need paddlers who are substantially at the SK award standard. This includes the ability to roll in the sea. People who are not yet at this standard will have an opportunity to join suitable club training courses during 2023. There may also be people who have reasons why they are unable to roll. This can also be considered during 2023, but is not something I wish to deal with during my attempt at accreditation.
UPDATE
Sat 4 Feb sea kayak award assessment
Booked
Darren
Alex
Tom
I could do with two more people, particularly people who are perhaps not yet at the standard, to help the assessors and me to consider the boundary of the award. If you can come please reply to this thread.
I will provide details of the location in the next couple of days, but it is most likely to be Kingswear.
Based on a review of the syllabus we will be working towards
Skills to be shown
Comfortable paddling in SK award conditions, including a following sea
Manoeuvring the sea kayak, eg during rock hopping, showing use of a variety of paddle strokes
Turning, edging
Support strokes
Use of skeg
Rescue and be rescued
Self rescue, which can be demonstrated by an eskimo rescue, paddle float, cowboy scramble, or re-entry and roll etc
Towing and quick release of tow, repacking of towline.
Contact towing including positioning the sea kayak in the most useful position when being towed
Other matters
Aim of being a useful member of a sea kayak group, signals
Knowledge of the tide times and tidal stream for the location of the paddle, weather forecast
Environmental awareness eg avoid disturbance of seals.
Knowledge of how to communicate with emergency services eg VHF (possession of a VHF is not required), Coastwatch
Securing a sea kayak to a roof rack
Equipment
Towline
Personal paddling kit, food and drink, warm clothes
Any equipment required for a self rescue, eg paddle float
Helmets
Comments
I could do the 18th. Possibly the 10/11th too. Thanks
i can do 4th 10th and 11th if able to. Thanks
Thank you for the positive responses. I am working to see what date will work with the assessor. 11 December looks to be too cold to go on the sea . I'll keep you updated, but no date planned yet.
Hi Jane, I just wanted to check this is not going ahead on Sunday? Happy to go out in the cold, I am paddling every week anyway so no difference for me:)
I am otherwise happy to consider any dates in Jan too - on weekends. I just need a little notice to plan the trip.
Hi Darren, no it isn't on for this weekend. I am waiting to take to the assessor and hopefully we can plan a date.
Hi Darren
Yes I have provisional dates, see the bottom of the opening post.
Great, thanks Jane. Both of those dates should be fine for me.
I can do 4/5th March. I can also do 4th Feb if back in Exeter by about 3 pm. Thanks
Hey Jane, just checking if this is still on ? I can do Saturday but unfortunately something has come up for Sunday. Still good for march though.
I think the weather looks good for this weekend: Saturday has better wind, and the temp is warmer which is good.
I sent an email to the assessor last night saying I wanted it to go ahead. Hopefully they will confirm soon. Please work on Saturday being the day.
Great, I will assume Saturday is going ahead.
Saturday is confirmed. Please can the potential paddlers confirm if they can still do that day. My current plan is to go to Kingswear, but will confirm nearer to Saturday. I'll also provide details of what teh day will involve.
Hi jane yes i can do this sunday
Hi Jane, I can do this Sunday. Cheers.
Confirmed for me.
To be clear I confirm for Saturday. I can also do Sunday now too if needed.
Im sorry jane i think i typed it wrong if the assessment day is on Saturday i can come. not sunday.
Excellent, that makes it 3 people for Saturday.
Alex, we can take a boat for you, as long as you can make your own way to the venue.
I'm dropping out, but best of luck for Saturday!
All def going ahead. The assessors arrive c 8-9pm this evening.
I'll post instructions shortly.
Meet at the club on Saturday at 8.30am, or 9.45am at Kingswear, slipway next to the sailing club. The slipways is very small so suggest people come to the club if they can, so we can minimise the number of cars.
jane if you could it would be easier for me to direct if you could can you please take a boat (blue LV and a 210 paddle please )for me i could take it back if needed
Alex, yes we can do this. Please can you drive to the car park, and then walk to the slipway. Car park TQ6 0AA, you drive almost to the lower ferry and just before it turn right, under an arch next to the Kingswear railway station.
The slipway is next to Royal Dart Yacht Club, Priory St, TQ6 0AB. It is on the other side of the road from the Kingswear railway station.