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Three Star Test
CLOSED
COCKPIT KAYAK
AIM
Successful performance at this level indicates that candidates can consider
themselves as intermediate canoeists rather than beginners.
3 Star level is required for attending a course for the qualifi cation
of Level 2 Coach.
PRE-REQUISITES
BCU 2 Star Test. Where a candidate does not hold this award a small cross-section
of
the 1 Star and 2 Star techniques should be incorporated at the assessor’s
discretion.
VENUE
Sheltered water (not a swimming pool) but see paragraph 17 of the Introductory
Notes.
ASSESSOR
Level 3 Kayak Coach or higher, in the appropriate discipline.
THEORY
- a question or two of a similar level should be asked under each heading
Equipment
Sample questions:
What materials are most modern ‘general purpose’ boats made
from?
What advantage does a spray deck made from neoprene give?
What is the main difference between a ‘dry cag’ and a ‘wet
suit top’?
Safety
Sample questions:
What would you pay special attention to if you were going out kayaking
in the winter?
Why can a rapid or fast moving water be dangerous ?
Hypothermia/first aid
Sample questions:
What are the signs that someone is becoming hypothermic?
What are the most important things to do if someone suffers a bad injury?
Access
Sample questions:
What is an ‘access agreement’?
What sort of behaviour is most likely to upset an access agreement?
What is meant by ‘a navigation’?
Environment
What is the most distressing/disturbing wildlife encounter you have had
whilst canoeing?
Who would you contact if you came across signs of serious pollution -
eg oil, sewage, foul smells, dead fish and birds?
Planning
Sample questions:
What average speed do you think you can travel at over a 4-hour journey
in your kayak without any current or strong wind to help or hinder you
?
What questions would you ask the leader if, as a 3 Star paddler, you were
invited to take part in a day tour travelling about 12 miles down river
?
General
Sample questions:
Name two manufacturers of kayaks in Britain?
How does joining the British Canoe Union help you and help canoeing generally?
Have you heard of Rob Roy MacGregor?
Group Awareness
Sample questions:
On which side of a navigable river or canal should you paddle?
How would you raise the alarm if you were paddling at the back of a group
and the person ahead of you capsized?
Map and compass
Sample questions:
Why is it important to have a compass with you when on a journey?
What sort of map is the best one to have with you for a journey on a river
or canal?
PRACTICAL ‘A’
1. Lifting, carrying and launching. Demonstrate good safe lifting and
carrying techniques appropriate to getting a kayak from or to a car roof
rack or a trailer, with assistance if available. The candidate should
be able to launch safely and efficiently from any reasonable launching
spot. e.g. pier, steps, high river bank.
2. Efficient forward paddling. Evidence of effi cient forward paddling.
Good trunk
rotation, extended front arm, reasonably high paddling action (dependent
on boat).
Are the knees/legs cycling? The demonstration will be over a distance
of about 500m
(throughout the test) and will show good speed and control.
3. Reverse over a figure-of-8 course. Accurate and efficient backward
paddling over a
prescribed figure-of-8 course.
4. Turning whilst on the move. Turn the kayak quickly with the minimum
loss of forward speed by means of a low brace turn, and by a bow rudder.
Low brace turn. The turn to be induced by applying a sweep stroke on the
opposite
side to the turn, followed by a confident edge into the turn. Back of
paddle blade trailing on surface ready for support. Perform both left
and right.
Bow rudder. rudder The intention is to indicate that the kayak can be
pivoted around the paddle. The turn to be induced by applying a sweep
stroke on the opposite side to the turn. The blade should then be planted
in the water at a comfortable distance from the gunwale, about level with
the knees, with the drive face towards the boat but the leading edge angled
away from the bow. Trunk rotation should be in evidence, the top arm across
the top of the forehead. The boat is driven around the paddle by use of
the opposite knee.
5. Moving sideways, both static and on the move. Move the kayak sideways
in both
directions by means of sculling draw, draw on the move and hanging draw.
Sculling draw . Body well rotated. Paddle shaft vertical, blade deep in
the water. An
effective sideways movement must be in evidence without the kayak turning.
Draw on the move. The kayak, whilst moving forward, is to be pulled sideways
from
its course without turning (as if to avoid an obstacle) using a draw stroke.
Hanging draw. draw The kayak to be moved sideways over a greater distance
than that of a draw stroke on the move. With the kayak moving forward
at a good speed, the paddle should be placed out to the side, level with
or just behind hip, The kayak should move sideways without the paddle
moving in relation to the boat, or the kayak turning. (It may be necessary
for the bow to be held at a slight angle away from the paddle.)
6. Supporting. Candidates should possess a range of support techniques
in order to
maintain balance in varied circumstances. Demonstrations should include
low and
high recovery strokes as well as low and high sculling for support on
both sides.
Sculling for support. support The paddle to be kept low, nearly horizontal,
with evidence of confident committal to the paddle.
Recovery strokes. Both high and low recovery strokes be demonstrated with
the
kayak well off balance. To be performed on the move, and forward paddling
to be
maintained thereafter.
7. Securing. Secure the kayak to trailer, canoe rack or roof rack using
a rope. Any
practical system is acceptable but must use an efficient, recognised knot.
8. Tilting to assist turning. Exercise to be set showing good edging control
that assists
turning.
PRACTICAL ‘B’
1. Deep water rescue. An effective rescue of another canoeist, returning
him or her
to their kayak in deep water. The capsized paddler may assist as instructed
by the
candidate. It is recommended that boats should be equipped with total
buoyancy (eg,
airbags)
2. Towing and use of tow line. Candidate
to show a knowledge of a way to tow a
kayak using a line without assistance. The tow must be released as for
an emergency.
The candidate must indicate that he or she is aware of the inherent dangers
of towing.
3. Eskimo rescue. A confident capsize and banging on the hull, with the
rescuer
moving in from 5 metres distance. A fi rst time recovery must follow,
but two attempts
maybe made. Candidate to act as both rescuer and victim. Both styles of
Eskimo rescue to be shown i.e. bow presentation and paddle presentation.
The rescuer must not approach at right angles to where the hands or body
are located.
Demonstrate satisfactory beginnings in:
1. Rolling The candidate should come up within three attempts, during
each of which
the assessor may guide or hold the blade of the paddle, but not touch
the boat or paddler.
A half roll is acceptable (i.e. down and up on the same side).
Journeying
1. Provide evidence of at least 3 journeys of 10km (about 3 hours duration
each).
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