Page 58 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

Exercise WET CADET
OCdt Hobbs
DAY 1
We set off on on time with all vehicles and OCdts on on on board Mr Langford arrived first from our accommodation and and and sorted us out with locks and and and rooms With everyone accounted for and and and our instructor picked up from Littleborough sta- tion we met at a a a a a a a local pub for for an an evening meal A quick trip to to our hot tub before bed and every- one was ready to to go for for a a a a a a a day of kayaking DAY 2
We had a a a a good brief on the the background to organising AT including the the the different elements of a a a a a a a a risk assessment assessment and how to do some weather predictions There was a a a a a a a a a a a a quick assessment assessment of the the the kit and appropriate wear before we we headed down to the the the local canal Addressing the the the specific needs of of of kayaking in in in in this area many of of of us us got into kayaks for for the first time and pushed off After learning learning how to to assess for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a kayaking day we started by learning learning a a a a a a a a a a a a a specific drill: Area Bound- ary Capsize Danger Emergency After some intuitive instruction on on how to traverse forward backwards and sideways we began a a a a a a a a a few races With two teams set up the games began with a a a a a a a a a a contentious back and forth ball game game which was only briefly interrupted with the the exped leader capsizing during one of the the the goals An early attempt at at a a a a a a a a a a a a regain under our instructor kept the the the day going After a a a a a a a a a a a a final relay race between the the two teams we we we got back in fin in to purchase our food for the week DAY 3
A A longer day day with with plans to build upon the the the training of the the the previous day day We entered the the the canal with with increased confidence and an an an an ability to manoeu- vre for some some some more intense games Following some some some some near capsizes from some some some some good spirited competition it it it was time to learn some some some capsize capsize drills fortunately we had plans outside of of the freezing waters of of of South Yorkshire in in Decem- ber After a a a a a a a a a thorough clean down down of of our kayaks and a a a a a a a a a quick lunch we we headed down down to a a a a a a a a a pre- booked swimming pool in in Rotherham Here we we learnt the the fundamentals of capsize drills which were becoming increasingly important and with some white water coming coming the the next day we we we we were were were all aware that these drills were were were important Many were were were partner-based and so teamwork was definitely tested as as as we we relied on our partners to provide the platform for for recovery of an upturned kayak Eventually we each became quite con- fident and enjoyed the prospect of holding our breath for longer periods testing out different methods DAY 4
A A slightly more daunting day for for some as we we were taken out of our our comfortable environment and had our our skills put to the test on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a controlled but more realistic scenario at at at at at Burrs National Park in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a river that culminated in in in in what appeared to be a a a a a a a a a a a a fast-flowing weir Luckily the flow flow where we we we started was quite relaxed and so we we we got com- fortable with our our new situation before progress- ing under the the the direction of our our instructor Most noticeable was the the the fact that the the the river created areas with different flows of water which needed controlled entry and exits by us as as as kayakers Our most incidental moment was practising cross- ing ing ing a a a a a a a a a a a river facing upstream across different flows and where three OCdts managed to capsize notably a a a a a a a a a confident Mr Langford twice! Many of these incidents were captured on on video for for our amusement We did however learn that cap- size drills are more complicated with shallower depths and and obstacles in fin in in place The final weir crossing was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a satisfying end and and not nearly as as as as eventful as as as as we had assumed from our observa- tion tion on on on the the the bridge previously Having linked up with the the the the other expedition to to exchange stories we also planned a a a a a a shared meal for the the the evening DAY 5
The final long long day of of kayaking kayaking involved a a a a a a a a a a a bit of of long long distance kayaking kayaking over a a a a a a a a a a a a a a few few canal locks mastering a a a a a a a a a few few final skills with turns but more 56 SANDHURST