Page 36 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

Exercise AMPHIBIOUS CADET
OCdt Cavaciuti
Water, December, and kayaks. The person that put these together must have been mad (it’s me). Alas, this was the AT activ- ity that we chose to challenge ourselves on.
Taking place in the Lake District, Cumbria, we couldn’t have chosen a more perfect place, with big lakes and plenty of opportunity to develop kayaking skills. After ensuring the kit fitted cor- rectly and was serviceable, our first exposure to the water started with the dreaded capsize drills. These are completed to ensure we can rescue each other quickly and safely. This consisted of intentionally rolling the boat so that we were upside down whilst the rest of the team moved into position to retrieve us.
After the initial cold-water shock, the res- cue process was simple. Needless to say, we didn’t spend very long on the water after being exposed to the freezing temperature that day. From there we learnt to develop our skills on the next day which involved turning the kayak quickly, emergency stopping and keeping the kayak straight into the water using a rudder. We put this to practice by paddling the mouth of the river Brathay against the flow of water where the instructor taught us to ‘eddy’ in and out of static water from the flow. This is where we experienced our first official capsize of the trip. Thankfully the water was shallow enough that the person could recover themselves, but it was interesting; one minute they are in a straight line and the next upside down. This was repeated by the same person on the next day where they capsized in another lake, this time relying on the team to rescue them.
Everyone put their new skills into action and quickly recovered the person, the kayak, and the paddle.
Our week culminated with technique develop- ment and further capsize drills but this time in drysuits to see the difference in the temperature when the water can’t get into the body. Despite the time of year, everyone in the team thoroughly enjoyed the AT and we felt we had developed a new transferable skill especially leadership in challenging situations from leading legs on the lakes and river.
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