Advanced Sea Kayak Leader (tidal) Assessment (British Canoeing)
Feeling ready to lead in advanced conditions on the sea?
By offering a 1:1 assessment we promise to make the assessment environment as organic and stress-free as possible – allowing you to focus on providing the best day possible for the people you’ll be leading.
1-2 day assessment
All equipment can be provided
Maximum candidates: 1
On-site camping and Accommodation
£260 + 6% booking fee
12 hours
1 day and evening (second day if needed) – Exact start and end time will depend on the time of year.
Details & Itinerary
Typical assessment:
We will endeavour to complete the Advanced Sea Kayak Leader (tidal) assessment in one day – if, for whatever reason, the assessment is incomplete at the end of the first day we will look to complete any missing aspects the following day.
Arriving at the Academy on the morning of your assessment, you will meet the assessor, complete an open water navigation exercise, meet and greet your group members, discuss the plan, organise the kit, and go paddling.
On the water, you will be responsible for leading the group and we will endeavour not to interfere with this; it will be up to you to provide a fun, worthwhile and suitably challenging experience for them
In the evening there will be a break for dinner while we wait for dark to begin our night navigation exercise. Once landed we will provide you with your result at the soonest opportunity to allow you to process this before any debriefing commences. We then farewell the group members, debrief, return any kit borrowed, and then you can finally go home and enjoy a well-earned beverage of your choice!
What we will cover:
During the day you will need to have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in four key areas:
Personal paddling; you will be expected to demonstrate appropriate paddling ability to fulfil your leadership role.
Safety, leadership and group management; maintain control and safely lead your group in advanced sea conditions.
Rescues; are either naturally occurring or invented (but realistic) scenarios.
Theory; display a core level of understanding of sea kayaking, its history and the environment to ensure a comfortable and entertaining day for your group members.
Once the day’s paddling has concluded we will endeavour to provide you with your result at the soonest opportunity to allow you to process this before any debriefing commences.
Previous experience required?
Full National Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) British Canoeing Awarding Body recognised 2-day First Aid Award
Valid (within 3 years) Safeguarding Training recognised by British Canoeing Awarding Body
The British Canoeing Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning course (or equivalent) is a pre-requisite to the Assessment.
Prior to the assessment, you will need to register for your assessment with your home nation.
What you should bring:
Essential:
- Lunch is not provided, please bring your own packed lunch and any other snacks you require for the day/course (in a suitable container to be taken on the kayaks i.e plastic food container)
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Drinking water
- Hat
On cold days: Bring a jumper or fleece that you don’t mind getting wet.
On hot days: You might wish to bring clothes to wear kayaking that you don’t mind getting wet (much more comfortable than a wetsuit). The kayak coach will advise on this during the introductory talk.
What we provide:
An experienced assessor who endeavours to remove as much of the stress from the process as possible.
We will endeavour to find group members for you to lead during your assessment but if you know people of an appropriate level who you would like to bring please let us know. 3 to 4 group members are required for the assessment.
We can provide all equipment you will need for your assessment.
You should fully familiarise yourself with any borrowed equipment as, for the duration of the assessment, this equipment will be considered your own and you will be expected to know what you have, how it works and when to use it.
We will have available:
- Kayaks
- Paddles
- Wetsuits
- Windproofs
- Drysuits (in winter and on particularly cold days)
- Buoyancy Aids
- Spray Skirts
- Dry Bags
- Helmets
- Towlines
- Map Cases
- Leadership Kits – Repair Kit, First Aid Kit etc.
Want to get on the water the day before your assessment? Need some last-minute revision? Consider booking the optional extra Advanced Sea Kayak Leader Pre-Assessment Paddle where we give you the opportunity to spend a day with one of our coaches going over anything you feel you would like to cover before your assessment – even if it’s just going out for a bit of a paddle!
Minimum participants to run: 1
All of our courses are guaranteed to run with only one person booking.
You can book your course safe in the knowledge that it will run, even if it’s only yourself booked on!
Want to know why we’re operating this way?
We have many years of experience in the kayaking world and we have all been frustrated when we book a course and make plans around it, only to be told shortly before that the course will not be running due to low participant numbers.
We want to be as customer-focused as possible. We have committed to running all courses even if only one person has booked.
Yes, this does mean we are operating at a loss in these instances, but we think you’ll be so impressed with the service we offer that you will be returning and bringing friends with you in the future!
And it’s a day out at sea doing something that we are passionate about, so we all win!
More FAQs...
Taught By Experts
A passionate team that is dedicated to helping customers on their personal journey in kayaking.
Small instructor to group ratios to ensure you get the personal attention you need.
All Kayaking Equipment Included
We can provide everything you need including wetsuits, windproofs, paddles, buoyancy aids and kayaks. Your coach will discuss this with you when meeting you and get anything extra you require.
Join us!
