Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning
Is this for you?
Do you wish to develop your planning and decision making?
Do you know where to gather relevant information from and subsequently how to construct a reliable trip plan?
Are you seeking your British Canoeing Sea Kayak Leader award OR wishing to undertake a journey along a coastal environment?
For more details see the Coastal Navigation Syllabus.
What to expect...
This is a one day, classroom based course. Specifically designed for paddlers wanting to carry out coastal journeys including islands up to 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of tidal movement up to 2 knots and winds of up to Beaufort Force 4. This course will provide you with the building blocks for a reflective, flexible and dynamic decision making process. In addition this course will allow you to develop your situational awareness whilst journeying around our unique coastline.
We will cover
Interpreting sources of information including maps, charts, coastal pilots and tide tables.
How to navigate on the water using visual references and simple pilotage techniques, e.g. transits and dead reckoning.
Effective use of a compass.
How to be able to source, interpret and apply weather information to the coastal environment.
How to be able to understand and predict the effect of wind on tidal flow and swell conditions.
Knowledge of the range of resources required to plan trips in the coastal environment.
Students should be made aware of the role of the Coastguard and the value of liaising with them.
At the end of the course the students will have developed a reflective practice whilst creating a decision making process that is adaptable and reactive.
Situational Awareness and its importance in decision making in this dynamic environment.
By the end of the course, each student should have planned at least 2 coastal journeys that they can take home as references for further trip planning.