 |
Four Star Sea Test
CLOSED
COCKPIT KAYAK
AIM
The purpose of this test is to ensure that the candidate has suffi cient
knowledge and skill to enable him or her to take a kayak safely to sea
in moderate conditions under a competent leader. Holding the 4 Star Test
is a requirement for attending a training course for the
qualification of Level 3 Coach - Sea.
PRE-REQUISITES
BCU 3-Star test. Where a candidate does not hold this test a cross-section
of the requirements of the 1-3 Star tests should be incorporated at the
assessor’s discretion. The candidate must have taken part in at
least three one day expeditions at sea. To rate as a qualifying expedition,
the journey must have been on open water (i.e. where it is possible to
be three miles from land in any direction). The journey may, however,
be inshore close to a simple coastline not involving overfalls, tidal
races, diffi cult landings or open crossings. Winds not exceedingForce
4. Not more than one trip shall be carried out on an estuary. The journey
must have involved four hours travelling, with a lunch break in which
the candidate
was self-sufficient for food and drink. At least one journey must be on
an entirely different stretch of coast to the other two.
ASSESSMENT AND VENUE
The test must be taken at sea, under moderate conditions (wind or sea
state 2-4) ideally during a day trip. Allowance will be made by the assessor
if conditions are rough, but the kayak skills must be performed in a competent
manner. For reasons of safety three kayaks will participate. The test
will not be taken in a flat calm.
ASSESSOR
Level 3 Sea Coach or higher, who is an A1* Sea Assessor.
THEORY
The candidate should be able to answer questions on the following:
Equipment
Show a good knowledge of kayak, paddle and personal equipment.
Safety
Be aware of: Safety precautions applying particularly to the kayak at
sea.
The general effects of tide, current and wind/.
National Coastguard organisation and rescue services.
Local waters and conditions.
Potential hazards,(especially busy estuaries and water ways).
Basic collision regulations and sound signals.
Hypothermia / First Aid.
Show a good understanding of immersion hypothermia, its causes and symptoms.
Be able to deal with basic fi rst aid incidents - eg; a cut forehead or
hand - or hold a first aid certificate.
Access
Be aware of our basic freedom to paddle on the sea, but also of the need
not to bring the sport into disrepute through irresponsible behaviour.
Be aware that some harbour authorities have the right to charge canoeists,
and do so.
Environment
Be aware of the policy set out in the BCU leaflet ‘Earning a Welcome’
and show appreciation of the need to avoid obvious disturbance to wildlife
such as playing ‘hide and seek’ around rock pools.
Planning
Be able to determine from a chart:
Depths and drying heights
Simple recognition of hazards - i.e. tide races, overfalls
Basic recognition of main buoyage
Simple tidal predictions by the tidal constant method
Demonstrate an ability to use a simple compass to follow an escape route.
Weather
Be aware of the sources of weather forecasts and the effect of the weather
on the sea environment.
General
The candidate should have a good understanding of the types of canoeing
in which they are involved, and know something about the range of activities
which the sport incorporates, together with an awareness of one or more
of the competitive forms of canoeing which have World Championships or
Olympic status, and Britain’s performance in them.
Group awareness
Show group awareness and self-control consistent with a 4 Star standard
journey on the sea.
The candidate should be able to align a map, work out the distance between
two points, and identify any particular features which would indicate
position, comprehend compass ‘variation’, and have an understanding
of how to use a transit when paddling on open water.
CANDIDATE’S KAYAK AND EQUIPMENT
Each candidate will present him or herself suitably equipped, for the
test. Borrowed equipment will be judged as though it was the candidate’s
own.
The following items, which must be both suitable and serviceable, must
be presented for inspection:
1. *Kayak and paddle. Kayaks must be provided with end
grabs suitable for carrying out rescues without trapping the hand. Safety
lines and/or painters (if fitted) must be taut and not capable of becoming
loose accidentally, or fouling the cockpit area. Fitted buoyancy must
be securely fixed and fill all available space apart from cockpit in suitably
customised ‘general purpose’ kayaks. Sealed bulkheads are
regarded as sufficient in themselves for sea kayaks.
2. Personal clothing. Personal clothing should be appropriate
to the expected conditions, and should include windproof and water-proof
outer garments.
3. Buoyancy aid, appropriate headgear and spray deck.
A buoyancy aid of minimum 50N inherent buoyancy should be worn. A lifejacket
may be substituted, in which case the candidate should know under what
conditions it should be inflated, and should demonstrate its inflation
and deflation. A brightly coloured helmet or woolly or other hat is recommended.
The spray deck must be fitted with an efficient release strap.
4. Simple first aid kit and repair kit. The first aid
kit should be appropriate to the level of first aid knowledge required
under the Theory section. The repair kit should be appropriate to the
type of kayak used.
5. Spare clothing. Adequate spare clothing should be
carried. The clothing should be applicable to the prevailing conditions
and suitable for use in a bivvy bag to prevent hypothermia.
6. Packed lunch. A packed lunch and equipment for providing
a hot drink (may be a vacuum fl ask) should be carried.
7. Emergency equipment for personal use. This should
include: simple compass;emergency food; whistle; exposure (bivvy) bag
of minimum size 1.8m x 0.9m (6’ by 3’); torch; matches or
lighter; flares or other suitable means of pinpointing position if in
the water.
8. Waterproof kit bag(s). Spare equipment must be stored
in appropriately secured, waterproof kit carriers and must remain dry
even after a capsize.
* The award may be taken in any kayak, provided it is suitably fi tted
out and the
candidate can meet the requirements of the test.
PRACTICAL ON FLAT WATER
1. Rolling. Where the kayak is of appropriate design the candidate should
be
able to demonstrate a roll. It is permissible to allow the candidate to
set him
or herself up before capsizing. A roll on one side only is required. Provided
the rest of the candidate’s performance is sound, an inability to
roll is not a
fail factor in itself.
PRACTICAL ON OPEN WATER
1. Launching The candidate should demonstrate launching techniques appropriate
for the conditions
2. Efficient paddling technique, forwards and backwards. The assessor
will look for: correct dynamic seating position; correct entry and exit
of the blade; ability to keep the boat straight; suffi cient power in
the stroke to paddle against wind or current; trunk rotation; correct
width of paddle grip.
3. Turning the kayak 360 degrees. In both directions by using alternate
forward and reverse sweep strokes. Paddle blade just covered, reaching
out to full arm extension, elbow slightly bent. Paddle drawing well into
the stern with the forward arm pushing across the body. Body turning to
place the paddle in the water at the stern of the kayak. If the kayak
is fi tted with a rudder, it must be turned again in both directions,
this time steering with the rudder only.
4. Emergency stops. Forwards and backwards. Reverse direction should be
inevidence within 4 strokes.
5. Drawing the kayak sideways in both directions. Top arm high, blade
deep. The boat must keep a straight line sideways through the water in
both directions.
6. High and low recovery strokes. To be performed on both sides. For high
braces the water must reach the paddler’s waist, with a strong pull
and associated hip flick to recover.
7. Paddle brace. High and low on the left and right. Where wave conditions
are not suitable the candidate must paddle hard forwards then glide with
the blade flat on the surface at right angles to the kayak. For a high
brace, the water must reach the paddler’s waist at the onset of
the
stroke.
8. Stern Rudder. The paddle blade should be placed in the water upright,
well back to the stern. Candidate should be able to keep the kayak running
straight, downwind on small waves, with the paddle kept on one side of
the boat.
9. Landing Bring the kayak into a beach forwards, sideways and backwards
(forwards only if kayak is fitted with rudder). This is controlled, not
a ‘surf’ landing. Holding position in order to allow for the
waves.
10.Capsize and rescue. Perform capsize drill, followed by a deep water
rescue with partners. Take charge of a rescue and then act as a capsized
victim. Any sign at all of fear or panic, and failure to retain the kayak
during the drill will automatically result in failure of the test. The
capsize must be ‘accidental’ with spray deck in place - either
whilst paddling or in an attempted recovery stroke or sculling for support.
11.Handling waves. Demonstrate an ability to paddle into a head sea, with
a following sea and in a beam sea.
12.Negotiate moderate surf. Demonstrate an ability to handle moderate
surf (maximum 1m/ 3ft ) in order to safely commence a journey or achieve
a landing.
13.Knots. Tie the following knots: Bowline, Figure of eight, Round turn
and two half hitches, Clove hitch and demonstrate and explain their uses.
Journeying
1. Provide evidence of having taken part in at least 3 one-day expeditions
at sea as stated under Pre-requisites.
|
 |
