The sea kayak leader pathway is for those who wish to lead groups of sea kayakers in a moderate tidal environment. It recognises the experience you have paddling on the sea, allowing you to support your club or lead commercially.
The Sea Kayak Leader award is open to anyone with experience of paddling in moderate tidal water with winds not exceeding Beaufort force 4. The award will enable you to lead fun, safe and enjoyable sea kayaking trips for groups of sea kayakers.
The Sea Kayak Leader award is used by clubs, outdoor centres and organisations to support their sea kayak journeys on moderate tidal water. This includes short, single or multi-day journeys in appropriate conditions.
Sea Kayaking Cornwall run both training courses and assessments throughout the year. If you’d like to be trained or assessed in your local area, get in touch (outlining your requirements) and we’ll see if we can help!
SEA KAYAK LEADER ASSESSMENT
We do everything we can to take the stress out of assessments. We are focused on the journey and not the destination. The experience we aim to provide will be safe, engaging and enjoyable, with you at the heart of the process, involving you in as much of the decision making as possible.
During the assessment you will have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in four areas:
- Personal paddling skills
- Rescue skills
- Safety, leadership and group skills
- Theory (including navigation and trip planning)
The assessment will include leading a suitably sized group of paddlers (minimum of 3) on a stretch of coastline with the following characteristics:
- Straightforward landing points a maximum of two nautical miles apart
- Crossing not exceeding two nautical miles
- Up to 2 knots of tide (but not involving tide race or overfalls)
- Wind strengths do not exceed BFT 4
- Launching and landing through surf (up to 1 meter)
Cornwall is the perfect location for Sea Kayak Leader Assessment offering a variety of conditions along a spectacular coastline. However, assessments are required to take place in conditions appropriate to the top end of the award. If the conditions on the day aren’t appropriate assessment conditions we reserve the right to postpone or cancel the assessment until a date in which they are appropriate.
*Prior to signing up for an assessment candidates must be registered for assessment with Paddle UK
What's included?
- Sea Kayaking Cornwall’s experienced coach with area knowledge offering coaching, assistance, planning and safety throughout the course.
- Kayak – we supply suitable sea kayaks. You are welcome to bring your own kayak which we will gladly place on our trailer and transport and store for you during the duration of your course.
- Spray decks.
- Buoyancy aids /PFD.
- Paddling kit – We can supply wind proof jackets (cags), thermal rash vests, wetsuits, and helmets. Please advise us of your kit requirements prior to arrival.
- Kayak storage and under cover drying area in our barn.
What's not included?
- Transport to start locations in Cornwall. We have a limited number of passenger seats available in our van; please advise if you require transport from our site to launch locations before your arrival.
- Food and beverages during the trip.
- Accommodation
- Suitable footwear.
Time and Location
Meet at our base at 9:15 am on the first day of your course:
Sea Kayaking Cornwall
Tregedna Farm
Maenporth
Falmouth
TR11 5HL
We will brief and debrief each day at our warm and fully equipped log cabin at Tregedna Farm with a welcoming cup of coffee or tea and free Wi-Fi to source our weather forecasts (or to check mails).
We will plan each day around what we need to learn and achieve in conjunction with what the weather allows us to do.
What to bring
- Travel insurance.
- Food & drinks. Packed lunches, snacks, hot drinks, water etc.
- Dry bags – various sizes for lunch, valuables and dry clothes to change into at the end of the day.
- Paddling kit – suitable for cold-water paddling.
- We supply suitable and appropriate entry level paddling kit, however we do advise that you bring your own paddling kit that you would normally use for a comfortable paddling experience relevant to the advanced level that you are training at.
- Please contact us if you are uncertain that you have the correct gear. We can supply windproof jackets, thermal rash vests, and wetsuits.
- Suitable footwear: Wetsuit booties / water shoes / old trainers.
- Sun cream.
- Sunglasses and hat.
- Personal medication and first aid kit.
- Money, as there is cafes and restaurants to visit.
- Safety kit – if you wish to learn or practice with kit you have, we would suggest that you bring it along to familiarize and train with during the week, a group can never have too much safety kit.
Accommodation
This course consists of individual days of training from our Cornwall base while enjoying accommodation of your choice.
The best option if you have your own transport is our neighbourly lodge and campsite at Tregedna Farm –Tregedna Farm Holidays
Please enquire and book directly with Tregedna Farm holidays http://www.tregednafarmholidays.co.uk/
Further accommodation options can be found at
http://seakayakingcornwall.com/accommodation/
Travel
http://seakayakingcornwall.com/about-us/getting-here/
Bespoke Option
This course can be booked as a bespoke week / weekend / day at anytime of the year for a group, club or family provided we have space in our calendar to accommodate your required dates.
Please contact us on info@seakayakingcornwall.com for your bespoke booking requirements.
At a Glance..
- Price: £150 per person
- Dates: 16th -17th March 2024
What experience do I need?
To get the most out of the course you should be fit and comfortable swimming, floating and capsizing (assisted by a flotation device) in deep and dynamic moving water. All participants will be required to complete a full medical questionnaire.
This course is suitable for kayakers who have completed formal training to an intermediate level and a have fair amount of experience in a variety of ocean environments as a competent group member with their own paddling and safety kit.
You must have an understanding of the different strokes and basic rescues and how to use them in moderate to windy conditions up to force 4 and have experienced conditions associated with force 5.
The objective you should have for doing this course is to leave with a structured understanding of sea kayaking, sea safety and developing leadership at sea. Knowing your areas of weakness or strengths with the goal of progressing to doing/leading/assisting on expeditions or multi day trips and to have some fun.
We would expect to cover distances of between 10 – 20 km (7 hours) a day depending on conditions.
If you have any questions regarding the required ability please feel free to contact us on info@seakayakingcornwall.com.
Contact Us
Please give us a call if you have any queries or wish to discuss any of our courses or expeditions:
0044 (0)1326 250889 (office)
0044 (0) 7555 763695 (Shaun Rodgers)
0044 (0) 7455 884482 (James Roberts)