Coaching Moderate Water Skills for Sea Kayak Award Paddlers
Coaches: Russell Henderson (Author), Roddy Mcdowell (Mentor)
Paddlers: Shishir Nagaraja, Graeme Tough, Malky Kerr, Dave Crampton
Forecast & Tide:
SSW F4-6 | HW 12:30 | CE 42 | Range: 2.7m
VHF Channels:
We used CH 77 initially for our group, however it was in fairly constant use by a sailing race in the vicinity. We switched to 72, however users should be aware that it is also the Ship to Ship channel used by Forth Pilots. CH 6 & 8 are available to us, but can be very busy in this area. Other key channels to be aware of are:
CH 16 Call Channel & Coastguard
CH 71 Forth & Tay Navigation
CH 72 Forth Pilots
CH 80 Port Edgar Marina
Location: North Queensferry (NQF)
The forecast of F4+ winds in combination with just below average Neap Tides offered an excellent environment for developing Moderate Water skills in the Firth of Forth. LSKC’s facilities at North Queensferry provided the perfect launch spot and the SSW winds meant the harbour area would be a safe classroom to develop initial skills before venturing out to play in more exposed conditions.
Skills Development Session
The Buoys (& associated structures) in the harbour at North Queensferry are a superb series of features for practising and developing skills with. Asking paddlers to complete figures of 8 around buoys in F4+ winds, is a great way to quickly surface issues for development. We are all different in shape & size and our craft are similarly varied, not least in hull shape and tendency to weathercock. This meant there was no “one size fits all” answer to the challenges set; however we explored commonalities such as the effect of Edge, Trim & Speed – both Forwards & Backwards. 90 minutes or so of this, solidified personal control of craft and gave everyone the basis for tactical applications in the journey to follow.
Journey – Skills in Practice
Overfalls develop off the West end of Inchgarvie on an Ebb Tide, starting from 1hr or so after HW. This can extend for quite some distance, however the area under the Forth Rail Bridge can be particularly interesting. This then was our destination for the Tactical part of our session. We departed as a group from North Queensferry and immediately felt the pull of the tide into the main channel. Inchgarvie’s North side was in lee of the wind, offering an ideal location for regrouping. We then headed West to sit under the Rail Bridge, taking it in turns to do loops of the foundations. The South West corner had wind against tide, creating some bounce to put all that we had learned into practice. After a few rounds, we headed back across to NQF before a substantial squall hit.
The return journey was a cross downwind paddle in a gusting F5 and the challenge was set to make the crossing without the use of skeg and only using forward strokes. In the bouncy conditions this allowed everyone to put the edge, trim, sweep (& support) strokes they had developed earlier to great use.
Review
Upon return to NQF we gathered in the harbour bay to reflect on what we had achieved. A further round of figures of 8 demonstrated that the skills practised were now part of everyone’s toolkit. Some increasingly brave applications led naturally to a series of rescue drills with rolls, self rescues, re-entry rolls, assisted rescues & back deck seated paddling on all display!
This was a superb day with a great team of paddlers. See more photos of the day here. Massive thanks to Roddy for encouraging us all to get on the water and for his enthusiastic support & generously shared knowledge.
Sea Kayak & Coastal Sea Kayak Award
If you are interested in training for either the Sea Kayak Award (SKA), or Coastal Sea Kayak Award (CSKA), please contact Ian Patterson via Training@LSKC.org or at irf.patterson@btinternet.com.