| Level 5 Sea Proficiency Award |
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From Wednesday, 03 September 2008
To Thursday, 31 December 2009
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Please Contact us to arrange . Min. Number 4 People.
General aims of the Level 5 Sea Kayaking Proficiency Award
The purpose of the Level 5 Sea Proficiency course and assessment is to encourage, train and qualify sea kayakers wishing to lead others on advanced sea journeys.
The course also aims to provide the candidates with the necessary skills and knowledge to help develop sea kayaking and help promote awareness of safety procedures with the groups they lead.
Course Outline
The course for the Level 5 Sea Proficiency may be held on one or two weekends. Training on an Level 5 Sea Proficiency Training course prior to assessment is necessary.
Requirements for the Level 5 Sea Kayaking Proficiency Award
On presenting themselves for assessment the candidate must show in their log book, evidence of having completed six quality canoeing trips (see notes on qualifying trips) in a variety of locations with no more than two on the East coast of Ireland.
In addition, one other trip with at least one hour in darkness must be shown, this can take place in any section of the coast.
The candidate must have an advanced first aid certificate such as the REC or an equivalent.
It is expected that the candidate makes safety a priority in the planning of the sea trips and that the candidate seeks to increase their experience by a measured approach. Proper attention to preparation and safety should be in evidence in the candidate's log.
Given that the advanced paddler will, in the course of their sea kayaking, be paddling and leading others with sea kayaks it is essential that the assessment be undertaken in a sea kayak.
On the logged or additional trips, evidence of having been exposed to the following should be shown:
* 3.01 Open crossing of at least 7 miles, 3 miles of which should be one mile from the coast
* 3.02 Navigation in poor visibility
* 3.03 Wind of at least Force 4
* 3.04 Tidal Streams of at least 2 knots
* 3.05 Exposure to no landing zones
* 3.06 Overfalls and clapotis
* 3.07 One of the trips should include an overnight reached by carrying all the equipment in the canoes, this camp should preferably be an island.
It is necessary to hold the Level 4 Sea Proficiency Certificate before applying for assessment.
All trips must be logged and sent to the Sea Kayaking Officer 10 days prior to the assessment.
First Aid Certificates must also be sent to the Sea Kayaking Officer 10 days prior to the assessment.
Assessment for the Level 5 Sea Kayaking Proficiency Award
* 4.01 The candidate will pack the kayak with suitable equipment for an overnight camp in preparation for a two-day journey. The assessment will be carried out with kayaks thus loaded and may include an overnight camp. The candidate must be prepared for the paddling to continue into darkness, and must be able to navigate their kayak in hours of darkness.
* 4.02 Flares must be easily accessible and the candidate must be conversant with the procedures for firing them.
* 4.03 The candidate must demonstrate an ability to keep a compass course on open water and make good a course across a tide stream using transits. He/she must demonstrate an ability to take bearings on known features.
* 4.04 Candidates must demonstrate an ability to plan from a chart an alternative route to a safe landing whilst afloat on a journey, in the event of a change in weather or emergency, taking into consideration the tide stream.
* 4.05 The candidate must demonstrate an ability to effect successful landings and launchings in a variety of situations. The ability to handle their kayak competently in 1-2 metres of surf including the full range of turning manoeuvres and rolling must be demonstrated in either breaking waves, tide races or overfalls.
* The following skills must be demonstrated in an area of choppy water as these are the conditions in which they are most likely to be needed:
* 4.06 Capsize and exit from a kayak followed by a successful solo re entry and retreat to calmer water to bail out. Rafted assistance may be given to empty out the kayak.
* 4.07 Demonstrate an Eskimo Roll after capsizing to the left and to the right.
* 4.08 Tow a capsized casualty and kayak from an area of disturbed water into a calmer area for a rescue.
* 4.09 Show sufficient leadership skills under a variety of situations.
Whilst afloat a candidate must demonstrate their ability to cope with problems of the following kind:
* 4.10 Repairing a hold kayak
* 4.11 Towing an incapacitated person. (Dislocated shoulder)
* 4.12 Safely landing an injured paddler
* 4.13 Demonstrate an approved method of resuscitation
* 4.14 Produce spare paddles
* 4.15 Produce whistle, emergency food, and bivvy bag or preferably kissue
* 4.17 They must be prepared to deal with likely emergency situations or incidents.
* 4.18 Produce flares that are easily accessible.
5.00 Theory - Answer questions on the following:
* 5.01 Repairs and maintenance of sea kayaks
* 5.02 General knowledge of sea kayaking, its history, kayak design and equipment.
* 5.03 Sea conditions and the effects of wind, particularly on: Shelving Bottoms, Lee Shore, Rips, Overfalls, Tide Races. In addition the causes of tides and tidal streams, how to allow for them, and the cause and effect of clapotis.
* 5.04 Weather forecasting from observation of cloud formation e.g. recognising approaching fronts and line squalls, and the means of obtaining and understanding weather forecasts.
* 5.05 Group Leadership and Control.
* 5.06 Estuary Canoeing to include buoyage, understanding of chart symbols, light and sound signals, particular dangers such as moorings, moorings in tide ways, and movement of shipping.
* 5.07 The Irish coastline and marine environment.
6.00 Chartwork
* 6.01 Plan an advanced sea journey using an unfamiliar chart, pilot tidestream atlas, and tide tables.
* 6.02 A weather forecast will be given which may take the form of a shipping forecast.
* 6.03 The prepared journey should be summarised to a form whereby it may be simply explained to a group as instructions for a day's paddle. Instructions should include the following information:
* Estimated paddling speed, compass bearings, and times estimated allowances made for wind.
* Tidal considerations.
* Places of interest (scenic or seascape).
* Transits for gauging progress.
* Departure and estimated time of arrival.
* Sound and light signals in the area.
* Information for shore contact.
7.00 Lecture
* 7.01 As part of the assessment candidates will be given a 'lecturette' topic at least one week in advance, and will have to prepare a 10 minute lecture on this topic and answer any relevant questions those present.
Level 5 Sea Proficiency Award Guidelines
The assessment should take place in a location where sea conditions are likely to be moderate i.e. choppy. All personal skills must be assessed under these conditions. If the conditions do not present themselves on the day reference may be made to logged experience. If possible an area with some tidal interest should be chosen. |
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