Page 88 - Wish Stream Year of 2019

Exercise SURFAR CADET
OCdt Johnson
This past December, a group of 22 Platoon Burma Company Officer Cadets embarked on a surf kayaking Adventurous Training expedition to the southern coast of Portugal. Six cadets were able to enjoy a week away chal- lenging and developing ourselves both physically and mentally, while also taking advantage of the local sights and weather. We left the UK on the 14th of December, arrived at Faro Airport, drove our rental cars to our accommodation in Carra- pateira for the night and prepared ourselves for the next six days.
With an early start, our first full day in the coun- try involved searching the local area for poten- tial suitable beaches around Carrapateira and Sagres. Beaches closer to the accommodation were slightly too rough for novices, with scat- tered rocky outcrops making them unsuitable for surf kayaking but excellent for sightseeing. We liaised with local surf kayakers and found a suit- able beach, Praia de Martinhal, just southeast of Sagres on the southern coast. This beach had a small lagoon for practicing rolls and rescues, and suitable surf for the groups experience levels. Once back at the accommodation, the group went over safety points and best practice for Surf Kayaking. Everyone adjusted their kit appropri- ately and checked that none of it had been dam- aged on the way over. After all the initial teaching and kit checks, the group had a team building evening enjoying the warm weather of Portugal.
Due to inclement weather, the surf on Praia de Martinhal was much rougher than anticipated. Waves were crashing closer into the shore, offer- ing a challenge to the more novice kayakers of the group. We started the day with some practice in the small lagoon to the rear of the beach, trying
various sizes and types of kayak made available to us by the rental company. After settling into our kayaks and practicing rolls and rescues, the group moved on to try and catch some waves on the main beach around midday. Everyone worked hard and managed to catch a wave or two even with the less than optimal conditions.
The next day we headed to Praia de Luz for a change of pace. There was good parking on hard standing close to the beach, allowing us to get changed and manage our kit without getting the rental cars too dirty. This beach also had free showers for wash down, and ample local shops and cafes for rest between sessions. The weather was much better than the day before. Sunny clear skies, and lots of locals out surfing as well. Praia de Luz has a wide beach, waves breaking a rea- sonable distance away from shore, with adequate room to avoid crashing into each other. After a challenging training curve the day before, the group was able to put their best foot forward in the favourable conditions and enjoy a good day of Surf Kayaking. Even the beginners amongst us managed to catch multiple waves and able to stay out on the water into the late afternoon.
We returned to the same beach the next day, but the weather had declined. The surf was a bit more challenging, but, due to the confidence gained the day before, the group was able to go from strength to strength, catching more dif- ficult waves. We learnt to turn on the waves and anticipate their movements. In the mid-afternoon it began to rain, but this did not dampen the group’s spirits. The six of us continued to chal- lenge ourselves and improved our skills even fur- ther over the course of the day.
On the third day we found the surf much more dif- ficult but embraced the challenge. The group took the opportunity to practice rolls and rescues in the rough and choppy waters. Everyone went from strength to strength and continued to improve their personal skills and confidence on the water.
After packing up and handing over the accom- modation on the final day, we left for Praia de São Roque, arriving around 1100hrs. A short drive outside the centre of Lagos and conveniently on
86 SANDHURST