Sea Kayak Leader Assessment (North Coast)

You must have a stamped Leadership Registration  Form (LR) from the CANI office. These can be downloaded from the CANI website and must be submitted to CANI for approval at least 3 weeks before the course commences to ensure you have it back in time. Your LR form is valid for 1 year. If you come to the course without a LR form you will be unable to take part in the assessment and will forfeit your course fee.

• Recognised first aid award, minimum of eight hours including CPR
• Evidence of having attended Sea Kayak Leader Award (or 4 Star Leader Award) training
• Marine band VHF transceiver operators licence (UK residents only)
• Evidence of having attended a one-day coastal navigation training day or equivalent

Previous experience: Provide documented evidence of a minimum of 10 sea trips each, a minumum of 4 hours in duration.  

This Sea kayak Leader Assessment course will be based on our North coast, utilising the Causeway coast, its caves, rock formations, rock hopping and an array of surf beaches. Achieving your Sea Kayak Leader assessment is recognition of having the skill level and understanding to lead other competent paddlers on sections of moderate waters. The Sea Kayak Leader assessment is an ideal award for those club paddlers who are leading club trips. The award is also a prerequisite to attending your Level 2 Coach Moderate Endorsement. The assessment will run over two days and most of the ‘on the water’ activity will take place in a moderate environment. The course will focus on the following key areas: Efficient and affective application of the following sea kayaking skills to the moderate environment such as:

• Ability to adapt their forward paddling style to suit the changing environment and demands whilst afloat
• Relaxed, controlled boat handling in wind and waves
• Bracing and balancing
• Ability to paddling up- across- and downwind in force 5

Safety and rescue such as:

• Dealing with a capsize - i.e. deep water rescues, including self-rescue
• Having a range of ways of dealing with a swimmer
• Towing techniques including strategies for sea sickness, exhaustion etc
• Safety equipment, application of VHF, GPS
• Protocol for leasing without side agencies i.e. coast guard
• Boat repair, dealing with a damaged boat afloat and at the campsite
• Ability to communicate key points of core sea kayaking skills in an effort to support a struggling group member and get them home

Trip planning such as:

• Use of maps and charts including symbol recognition orientation
• Navigation including taking a bearing, getting a fix and following a compass course
• Weather - Interpretation of the weather forecast and the ability to apply to the coastal environment
• Tide - Understanding of tide including speed direction, high/low, springs neaps, and its interaction with the coastal environment

Group management such as:

• Leadership skills and styles
• Incident management and risk assessments
• Duty of care and responsibilities
• Selection of suitable kit and equipment

This programme is aimed at those wishing to lead a group of 4 (not including themselves) journeys in a moderate sea environment – up to and including force 4 open water. The Sea Kayak Leader Award is a prerequisite for those Level 2 Coaches wishing to attain their moderate endorsement.

You must have the appropriate resources to plan and navigate within the area where the course is being held. This includes having: Appropriate maps and charts Tide times for standard and local ports Pilots / guides and tidal stream atlas Compass, note book and pencil You need to bring all other appropriate equipment to lead a group efficiently and effectively on the sea in the prevailing conditions.

The course fee includes in course transport, coaching, food and accommodation.

BCU Coaching Handbook – Published by Pesda Press