Bouley Bay 3 Star

Bouley Bay was once considered for a major harbour development due to the deep, sheltered water but the lack of suitable land for buildings prevented the project progressing and so the only sheltered anchorage is behind the small pier which was built in 1828 to meet the needs of the oyster fishermen.  The bay was always seen as vulnerable to attack, in fact in 1549 French invaders were repulsed at Jardin d'Olivet, therefore the bay is defended by a couple of Forts.

With a south easterly wind forecast it was selected as the venue for a 3 Star as provided both sheltered conditions as well as some more challenging water if necessary.

Bouley Bay on a warm summers day is one of the most appealing places to launch a sea kayak, sadly yesterday wasn't a warm summers day so conditions were essentially less pleasant.

Heading out of Bouley Bay yesterday.  The white mark of the pier head is just visible through the November murk. 

 Landing just to the east of Tour de Rozel.  Time to check personal equipment and to cover the theory side of 3 Star.  For the first time in months there was a real chill in the air.

 When we launched the tidal stream had changed direction so as expected, the sea state increased quite dramatically, due to wind against tide, this was only for 100 metres or so but it created some entertaining conditions.  Johan powered through the waves with remarkable ease, the Taran really is a quick kayak.

Sean enjoyed the surfing in the tidal run, but sadly it was all too soon to head to more sheltered waters to continue with the assessment.  A good day on the water.

Advanced Sea Kayaking Again

I came across an Advanced Sea Kayak Syllabus from 1971 which made interesting reading but I have since come across an even earlier version of the Award. This one is from July 1960 and it is fascinating to see how things have evolved. I particularly liked the requirement to exit the kayak, leaving it upright, swim around it and then climb back in unaided.

What is interesting is how few people actually took the award, only 3 in 1962. The BCU has persevered over the years with the Tests and Awards to produce a comprehensive range of awards in a range of craft and disciplines for kayakers of all levels although at times we must all wonder about a return to a less complicated era.

Andy attempting to climb back into his Nordkapp after having swum around his kayak!

Advanced Test

Syllabus
1. The candidate wishing to take the Advanced Test is either Kayak or Canadian Canoe must have previously passed the Elementary Test in the same type of canoe.
2. He must have a good working knowledge of safety measures on the water, be able to make simple knots and be familiar with their proper use.
3. He must know and be able to demonstrate all the strokes normally used in the canoe that he is using (Kayak or Canadian)
4. The candidate must be able to leave the canoe in midstream without upsetting it, and after swimming round his craft, to re-embark from deep water. He must also, in the case of the Kayak, be able to do an Eskimo roll.
5. He must know the contents of a repair kit appropriate to the canoe he is using, and be able to carry out repairs to his canoe.
6. He must know the international grading system for rapid rivers and be familiar with rapid river techniques needed on rivers up to grade Ⅲ. He must be competent to take his canoe on canals, on coastal waters and estuaries.
7. He must have a general knowledge of matters appertaining to the practice of the sport of canoeing, including the principles of slalom and racing.
8. He must be able to carry out proper routine maintenance of his canoe.
9. He must be able to give a good demonstration of pairs technique with a competent partner.
10. He must have a good general knowledge of the types of canoe in use, essential equipment, and should have made canoe expeditions of an advanced nature.

July 1960

January 1963 Canoeing in Britain stated that 3 people had passed the Advanced Test the year before taking the total number of people who had passed since it was introduced in 1952 to 5.

Some sea kayakers were clearly undertaking major sea kayaking trips, for example, paddlers were regularly crossing the English Channel and it was only a couple of years later that Hamish and Anne Gow paddled out to St Kilda, reflecting the high standard of kayaking at this time in Scotland.

It was some time though before the high standards being achieved by some kayakers filtered through to the BCU Coaching Scheme.

Advanced Sea Kayaking

Searching through some of my sea kayaking literature this week I came across a small booklet which described all of the British Canoe Union Tests and Awards. What was particularly interesting was how the top level personal award in sea kayaking has changed over the last 40 years. Download the BCU 5 Star Award and see how the scheme has evolved.

Advanced Sea Test - - - Kayak only

The purpose of this test is to ensure that the successful candidate has sufficient knowledge and skill to take parties on advanced sea journeys with safety. He must give evidence (e.g. log book) to satisfy the examiner that he has taken part in at least eight advanced trips, and have assisted the leader on two of these. He must already hold the Sea Proficiency Certificate, which he will produce at the time of testing. The test will be conducted on the sea in an advanced situation.
The candidate will : -
1. Pack his canoe for a one day sea trip, including the following items : -
spare clothing, repair kit, packed lunch, equipment for preparing a hot drink. emergency
food, flares, whistle, first aid, torch, matches or lighter, polythene bag of minimum size 6' x
3' for use in case of exposure, compass.
2. Demonstrate advanced surfing techniques: i.e. manoeuvring on waves forwards, sideways
and backwards; rolling under breaking waves.
3. Demonstrate and take charge of, with partners, a deep water rescue and an Eskimo rescue.
4. Demonstrate an approved method of resuscitation.
5. Answer questions on the the following, with the aid of a chart if necessary : -
a. Repairs and maintenance
b. The causes of tides and tidal streams, and how to allow for them.
c. The use of transits, taking bearings on known features and the use of the compass.
d. Sea conditions and the effects of wind, particularly on :-
(1) Shelving bottom (2) Lee shore
(3) Rips (4) Overfalls
(5) Tide races
e. Weather forecasting from observation of cloud formations, and the means of
obtaining, and understanding, weather forecasts.
f. Group leadership and control
g. Estuary canoeing
h. Types of canoe and equipment
i. General canoeing knowledge including competition.
6. Plan a sea canoeing expedition of two to three day's duration, in detail, from
an unfamiliar chart in conjunction with the pilot book and tide tables.

January 1971

This is one the earliest photos that I have scanned in from the early years of my paddling career. Derek Hairon at the Ecrehous, our first trip on the August Bank Holiday weekend 1974. For us this was the era of home made kayaks and paddles, BS3595 lifejackets and using empty water containers as buoyancy for the kayak. Although commercially available sea kayaks were coming onto the market they hadn't reached Britain's South Sea Island (Jersey), so in 1974 we were still paddling our modified KW 7's. A few years later I took my Advanced Sea at Bardsey with Ray Rowe and I was still paddling a GP kayak. How things have changed I don't think I paddled a GP kayak once last year.