Skills for Water-Based Adventurous Activities

In this report I will be explaining the specific skills, personal abilities, generic skills and personal
fitness for two different water-based outdoor activities, kayaking and sailing. I will also be
comparing the skills of these two activities before evaluating the different skills and techniques.
Finally, I will be reflecting my performance in carrying out these two activities in the form of a
logbook, and set goals for improvement.
Skills and Abilities: Sailing
Specific/Advanced Techniques

- Steering/Helming Boat - Being able to steer the boat on course and in the correct direction.
This includes using the steering wheel.

- Reefing Sails - Being able to reef the sails when the environment and wind is suitable for reefed
-

sails. This is essentially lowering the sail to match with the speed of the wind and gusts, altering
the speed of the boat.
Tacking - Being able to tack the sail when direction change of wind occurs. Making judgements
based on the winds. This includes letting the boom come across the boat to allow the mast to
shift the direction of the sail.
Hoisting Sails - Being able to initially hoist the sails to begin to be able to start sailing. This is to
allow the sails to catch wind and propel the boat as necessary.
De-hoisting Sails - Being able to bring the sails down when necessary (when anchoring or when
using the motor).
Starting the Engine - Effectively and safely being able to start the boats engine, and to turn it
off when it is no longer needed.
Tying Knots - To tie sheets to the deck and poles. This allows the sails and jibs to stay in place
and not come loose. In addition, items such as buoyancy aids can also be tied to the boat using
knots.
Planning Route - Using charts for planning and estimating time. Planning should include
working out where the intended destination is, how long it will take to get there and the best
(and safest) route to get there.
Determining Traffic - Being able to keep an eye on traffic and work out the best route to cross
channels. Safety considerations must be made carefully for this as heavy channels can be
dangerous places.
Keeping Track of Headwind - To determine when the best time to put up the sails is and to
determine speed of the vessel when the motor is off.
Mooring - This is the action of tying the boat to a mooring, where the boat is usually parked. A
mooring is essentially a structure in the sea that is tied to the bottom of the sea in that area.
This allows the boat to be restricted from drifting away, whilst not completely restricting it to
one position.
Docking - This is the process of bringing the boat into a dock, pier or other land-fixed locations
and tying it to the respective structure. This is usually for the purpose of getting on/off the boat,
as well as collecting items for the boat/trip.
Anchoring - This is the process of lowering the boats anchor to the bottom of the seabed
where the boat is located to fix the boat into place and to restrict the boats movement when
the vessel is idle and not moving (where the sails are down and the motor is off).

- Rules of Sailing - It is important to know the basic rules of sailing, such as giving way to larger

vessels when going out on a sailboat to ensure techniques are carried out correctly and marine
law is being complied with.
- Knowledge of Boat - Knowing the boat is important when sailing to ensure that everything can
be accessed easily through awareness of different parts of the boat (I.E where the sheets are for
the mast, or where the release switch for the anchor is.
Personal Abilities

- Keeping Log Book - To record actions and times. This was done so that I could reflect on the

groups decisions, as well as my own. It also allowed the team to track back previous decisions
and to look back at the plan when headed to a destination.
- Using Map - To determine location of vessel. This was done to work out our location against
where we wanted to sail to.
- Controlling Speed - Using the on-board speedometer to select the speed of the vessel. Also,
using it to speed up or slow down where necessary (I.E. increasing the speed when crossing the
channel). This was very important when other vessels needed to pass, and when passing by a
busy location.
- Hoisting Sail - Quickly hoisting the sail so that wind can be caught, and distance could be
made. I often took the role of hoisting and de-hoisting the sail where necessary to catch the
wind and gusts to allow us to propel forwards without using the motor.
Personal Fitness and Generic Skills

- Muscular Strength - Ability to hoist sails when pulling down on sheets. Needed when reefing jib
-

as well as when tacking.

Muscular Endurance - Endurance is needed when continuously pulling on a sheet until the sail
is hoisted.
Balance - Being able to balance on the boat deck when manoeuvring around whilst the boat is
in motion.
Coordination - Being able to use two or more body parts together, for instance when pulling on
a sheet whilst manoeuvring around the boat.
Awareness - Being able to identify the risks at any given time and how to avoid them.

Skills and Abilities: Kayaking

Specific/Advanced Techniques

- Paddling Straight - Being able to paddle in a straight line to be able to travel forwards.
- Braking - Using the paddles by quickly hitting the water on both sides, in a backward motion to
stop the kayak.

- Turning - Being able to turn the kayak where necessary to go round other vessels and buoys.
- Reversing - Being able to reverse by paddling in a backwards motion.
- Capsising - Being able to safely capsize from the kayak. This is done intentionally by leaning
over the edge of either side of the kayak and keeping hold of the paddle.

- Rafting Up - Being able to raft up to other kayaks and bind.

- H Rescue - Being able to perform an H rescue, which is essentially where two people in
individual kayaks enter an H formation (two on either the sides vertically). The two kayakers

grab hold of a capsized kayak, empties the front or back of the capsized kayak to empty out the
water and allow the kayak to float.
- X Rescue - Being able to perform an X rescue, which is basically where one person rescues a
capsized kayaker by grabbing hold of their kayak, pulling it over their own kayak, then pushes
down on both sides of that kayak to release the water.
Personal Abilities
As a result of having to attain all of the criteria for the certification, I managed to achieve all of the
specific and advanced techniques for kayaking. This includes all of the manoeuvring (including
paddling forwards and backwards, as well as stopping and turning). Also, I managed to perform
the criteria as a patient, capsizing safely and following the procedure for the X and H rescue as a
patient, as well as being able to carry out the rescue for both X and H rescues on the kayak.
Personal Fitness and Generic Skills

- Muscular Strength - Ability to lift up a kayak full of water when performing an X or H rescue.
-

Also needed to get back into boat after a rescue as a patient.

Muscular Endurance - This is needed when continuously paddling for a prolonged period of
time.
Balance - Being able to balance on the kayak when paddling, rescuing and being idle.
Awareness - Being able to identify the risks at any given time and how to avoid them.
Cardiovascular Endurance - Being able to continue exerting energy over a long period of time
whilst continuously paddling.

SWOT: Sailing

Strengths

Weaknesses

Effective communication with other members Inability to tie effective knots.

of the team.
Not understanding exactly when tacking is
Awareness
of
wind
change
when
hoisting/de
necessary.
hoisting jib and sail.
Not being aware of all of the basic sailing
Being able to quickly hoist the sail and jib
rules and marine laws.
when necessary.
Being able to steer the boat in the correct
direction and adjust motor speeds when the
wind is weak.

Opportunities
Taking part in the school/university sailing
team in the future.
Joining other marine sports such as
windsurfing or rowing to increase marine
knowledge.

Threats
Lack of passion and interest in the sport.
Lack of time availability.

SWOT: Kayaking

Strengths
Ability to perform all manoeuvres well.
Ability to capsize safely.
Ability to perform both H and X rescues
correctly and safely.
Ability to get back into the kayak quickly
after a rescue.

Opportunities
Through kayaking regularly, which is made
easier as a result of certification.
Practicing in a swimming pool.

Weaknesses
Inability to paddle very quickly.
Inability to take long strokes.
Inability to make sharp turns.

Threats
Lack of motivation due to interest in other
sports/hobbies.
Lack of time availability.

Skills and Abilities: Comparison

In this section I will be contrasting the similarities and differences between my two water-based
outdoor adventurous activities, sailing and kayaking.
Acceleration/Manoeuvring - The similarities in regards to how the vessel moves in both sailing and
kayaking is that there is a means of power for both sports that do not require an engine or motor
meaning that actual movement and activity must be performed by participants of each sport to
allow for movement of the vessel (when sailing without an engine). However whilst sailing requires
many more skills due to components such as hoisting the sail, hoisting the jib, steering, tacking, as
well as skills such as teamwork and communication, kayaking can be done with just one individual
and one paddle to do all of the acceleration. Being able to just go out with one kayak and a
paddle makes kayaking the easier outdoor activity to practice regularly as a whole crew is not
needed and training is not dependant on the wind.
Steering - The steering itself on a sailboat requires just one individual at a steering wheel, whilst
for kayaking all of this is done manually with a paddle. Although in both activities, manoeuvres
can be made forwards, backwards, left and right, this is a far easier skill in sailing as a simple turn
of the wheel turns the entire boat whilst in kayaking an actual effort needs to be made to make a
turn with the paddle using muscular endurance.
Braking - In regards to breaking, whilst this can physically be done when kayaking to stop at any
desired location, this is a lot more difficult for sailing. There is not physical way to halt the vessel at
a specific location (for most sailboats) as a result de-hoisting may have to be planned further out
to allow the boat to stop around a desired location. Bringing the mainsail down early will allow for
the boat to slow down and hopefully come to a complete stop. Another method to ensure that it

stops is to put the anchor down. This skill is more specific to kayaking as in sailing there is rarely a
need to stop other than when reaching the destination. However for kayaking, braking is very
necessary when performing rescues.
Determining Traffic - Keeping consideration of other vessels whilst performing both activities is
crucial. In sailing, it is very important that the correct procedures are carried out when crossing a
channel or busy motorised vessel location. On the contrary, it is never advised for kayaks to be far
enough out as a channel and to be near any large vessels as a kayak is small and vulnerable.
However, kayakers should still be ware of their surroundings and give way to motorised vessels
where possible. This skill however is more important to sailing, especially in a boat of this size.
Planning Route - Producing a physical plan for the route can be important to both of these
activities in different ways. Whilst sailing requires far more precision, with maps, charts and
measuring tools, kayakers need to understand their location purely to be aware of their
surroundings and the environment in that location. Huge waves out at sea is never a good place
for kayakers to be, especially alone. Due to the higher complexity of sailing through determining
distance against speed, it is clear that this skill is far more prominent for sailing.
Docking - Both activities require a way out for the participants of the activity and for a way for the
vessel to reach land for cleaning, storage and maintenance. Whilst for both sports, the process of
this includes getting the vessels as closely to land as possible, it is a far easier task for kayaking
than for sailing. This is because in kayaking the participant can easily kayak straight to shore on a
beach or by kayaking other land and lifting the kayak up, out of the water. However this is far
more difficult and prominent for sailing as the process of landing the boat accurately parallel to a
dock, getting close enough and then tying the vessel to the dock.
Muscular Strength - Muscular strength is a personal fitness factor that is required in both activities
in some shape or form. Muscular strength in sailing is important when pulling sheets, hoisting and
de-hoisting the sails and jib and pulling the boat to the dock to keep it close. For kayaking,
muscular strength is important when performing rescues to lift up the kayak and when being
rescued to get back into the boat. I believe that it can be argued that both activities require
muscular strength equally, however sailing requires this more for the actual activity whilst it is
required in kayaking mostly for rescues portraying that it is more prominent for sailing.
Muscular Endurance - Muscular endurance is another personal fitness factor that is needed in both
of the activities. In sailing it is needed when continuously pulling the sheets to hoist or de-hoist
the sail and jib. However it is needed far more in kayaking as it is required for acceleration.
Muscles must be used continuously in order to keep moving forward for a long period of time.
Balance - As both activities are water-based and on vessels, balance is a very important generic
skill. It is important that crew members retain balance on a sailboat as having a man-overboard in
a busy location can be extremely dangerous and performing a rescue would not be easy. This is
equally as important in kayaking as at any moment a participant can capsize. Should they be
kayaking alone, they will have no choice but to drag the kayak back to land if they do not retain
balance.
Cooperation - Both activities require at least a hint of cooperation. In sailing a boat of this size,
teamwork is extremely important to ensure that the performance and speed is maximised as well

as everything is safe on the boat. It is also important that when the individual hoisting the sail
communicates with the steerer to ensure the engine is off and that they are prepared to steer to
avoid a possible capsize. On the other hand this is only important in kayaking during H rescues to
avoid mistake and capsizing all of the kayaks.
Awareness - It is important that he participants of both activities are able to identify risks and
safety breaches at any time. In sailing, it is important to communicate risks to the rest of the crew
to be able to come to a consensus of the best strategy to avoid/decrease/stop it. However in
kayaking, it is important that individuals make informed and quick decisions when there are risks
present to avoid getting hurt. I believe this is equally as important for both activities.
Skills Evaluation
In this section I will be evaluating the specific skills and abilities to successfully perform my two
activities, sailing and kayaking.
Sailing
Being able to helm the sailboat is an extremely important skill as it is the most effective way of
manoeuvring the boat. It is a crucial and beneficial skill for the activity as in order to get to the
planned destination, steering needs to be done to put the boat in the correct direction at any
given time to move the rudder and allow the boat to steer. Steering is not a difficult skill to obtain
or perform in sailing as it is purely the process of turning a wheel to turn the entire vessel.
Hoisting the sail is a crucial skill to have for sailing as this action allows the boats sails to catch
onto the wind and allow the wind to propel the boat without using a motor, which is essentially
what sailing is. De-hoisting the sails is equally as important as it is needed as a safety measure
when the boat needs to be idle (I.E. when parked/anchored/docked). The process of hoisting and
de-hoisting a sail is more advanced than skills such a steering as it involves ensuring the correct
sheets are pulled, ensuring that all the clips are on and how to respond when and if the sail gets
stuck. Reefing the sails of the boat is purely a performance skill and is not 100% crucial, especially
not at all times. This is purely useful for maximising the speed of the boat in relation to the
windspeed. However, reefing the sails is a relatively easy skill to perform.
Being able to tack and being able to determine when to tack (by determining headwind) is a very
important skill in sailing. The activity is all about catching the wind with the sail, and being able to
determine when the wind direction changes, is absolutely important. However this is not a
required skill when the vessel is using the motor for acceleration and propulsion. This is a very
advanced skill and is not an easy skill to be obtained by beginners. It requires a good amount of
experience in sailing to really be able to determine the changes in the wind and how to respond
accordingly. However being able to shift the boom to the other side of the boat on command is
an easier skill than can easily be obtained by beginners.
Being able to tie knots is very important if you are responsible for sheets of any kind. Tying
effective knots that can be undone easily, but are strong is not an easy task but makes the process
of tying down sheets much easier. Although it is not the most crucial skill in sailing, it is important
when performance or speed is key and sheets need to be tied down and removed quickly. The
level of knot tying can come with experience, with the most effective of knots being an advanced
skill to acquire.

Planning the route to when a destination is chosen is incredibly important. Planning and analysing
a route allows the crew to see where they may face issues such as difficult/dangerous
environments and heavy traffic. It also allows them to determine how long it will take them to
reach their destination and what speeds they must attempt to maintain to reach that destination
at a given time. Although planning a route and looking at the arrival time can be basic
mathematics, determining how safe that route is, is an advanced skill and is a crucial skill for
anyone looking to go out to deep sea.
Whilst mooring, docking and anchoring are all skills that are not directly associated with
performance and the actual activity. They are very important skills for boat maintenance and
logistics. These skills are very simple and easy to obtain as a lot of the time they purely require
placing a hooped rope onto a pole to keep the boat in place, or the press of a button to lower
the anchor to the seabed.
Controlling the speed of the throttle in sailing is incredibly useful when needing to move quickly
though a certain zone (such as a shipping channel). This is needed when the sails do not provide
enough propulsion for the vessel and the crew need to move out of a specific zone quickly.
Although this is not a skill directly associated with the sailing aspect of the activity, it is a skill that
is required as a safety measure to ensure the vessel is safe from harm when in a busy location.
Muscular endurance is very important when the mainsail and jib need to be hoisted or de-hoisted.
Being able to continuously pull on sheets over a continuos period of time is crucial to get the sails
up as quickly as possible and to catch the wind/gusts in a timely manner. Failure to quickly hoist a
sale could cause the crew to completely miss a gust and to move slower, whilst failing to de-hoist
a sail could result in potential capsizing of the entire vessel when the winds are very strong. This
ability can be obtained by training muscular endurance in the gym by performing low weight but
high intensity weight exercises.
Awareness is one of, if not the most prominent generic ability for sailing. It is needed for almost
every decision on the vessel including when to tack, when to hoist the sails, when to de-hoist,
when to reef the sails, when to use the motor, when to use the jib and much more. Being aware of
the surroundings and acting upon that is a crucial skill of any good sailor. Being aware of
surroundings is also a crucial skill for being safe. Whilst being aware of sea conditions and
strength of the wind can be a basic-to-intermediate skill, being able to identify greater, more
specific risks and seeing the wind shift is a far more advanced skill.
Kayaking
Being able to manoeuvre is possibly the most basic but most important skill in kayaking. As the
activity requires the participant to manoeuvre the vessel, it is important that participants are
proficient in this skill. Using a paddle to move forwards and backwards is needed to allow the
kayak to move. This is a very basic skill in kayaking and can easily be obtained. Unlike sailing,
kayaking only requires one component to do the acceleration and the manoeuvring of the boat.
Steering is equally as important in kayaking than in sailing. Using the paddle to be able to turn left
and right is still a basic skill, however becomes more advanced for sharp turns and narrow spaces.
Braking is crucial for kayaking, especially for rescues where the rescuers are required to stop to
attend to the capsized patient. Stopping, or braking, is a relatively easy skill as it simply requires

the kayaker to tap the water in a backwards motion continuously on both sides of the kayak using
the paddle. In regards to performance, like being in a race, being able to brake is far more
irrelevant as there would rarely be an opportunity for the participants to stop deliberately.
Being able to safely capsize is a must for ensuring personal safety for when real capsizes are to
occur as a result of poor balance, rough waters or other factors. Capsizing safely when
intentionally capsizing will act as muscle memory for when the real thing is to occur. Having this
skill is important to avoid injuries such as concussions. This is again an easy skill to obtain and
carry out. Like braking, this is not a skill directly associated with performance however it will act as
a safety measure should that participant capsize during a race.
Although rescuing in kayaking are advanced skills, they are nothing short of important for the
activity. Should some kayakers go out for a leisurely kayaking trip, like in any adventurous sport
there is room for error and danger. As a result it is important that at least one member is aware of
how to carry out a rescue, whether that be using the H rescue or X rescue method. Being able to
succeed in the activity can only be done if it is safe, and taking the safety precaution of
understanding how these rescues work is important for success.
Muscular endurance is needed for continuously paddling through the water. Having a high level of
muscular endurance is extremely important in kayaking as it is a sport that requires continuos
moving to keep going. Not having a good level of this can result in less distance being made or a
far longer time spent getting to a destination. In a performance situation (I.E. a race) having this
muscular endurance is very important if the participant is interested in winning. If the participants
muscles become tired that can hinder his/her performance and place in that race.
Even though muscular strength is only used during rescues, regardless of the fact if you are a
patient or rescuer, it is significant that any participant of kayaking has a satisfactory level of
muscular strength in the sense that they can lift up a kayak and get themselves back into the
kayak after a capsize.
Balance is very crucial for keeping the boat afloat and to minimise the chances of capsizing the
boat. This is an important ability to have at all times when being on the kayak, whether its
paddling to manoeuvre the boat or when rescuing a patient. This is not an easy ability to have
complete control over, especially as a beginner but can develop over time.
Awareness in kayaking is important in the sense that a kayak is a very small vessel in comparison
to motorised vehicles and kayakers have to b very aware of their surroundings to ensure their
personal safety. In addition to this, when kayaking in a group, kayakers must be aware of other
kayakers to ensure they are safe and in their kayaks and should act accordingly if and when
someone capsizes. Again, this is an ability that develops over time, however should always in
consideration.
Cardiovascular Endurance is a performance-based skill for kayaking by allowing kayakers to keep
paddling for a prolonged period of time. Cardiovascular endurance is crucial for races and long
distance events where the kayaker has to continue to allow the kayak to accelerate trough
paddling. This can only be developed through regular and consistent training.

Logbook: Sailing

Activities
Day 1

In our initial session, we spent an hour and a half viewing, assessing and familiarising ourselves
with the boat. Firstly, we spent time obtaining knowledge of the boat to better understand the
boat when bringing it out for our sailing days. We got to understand exactly what each of the
main components of the boat were including the sail, jib, mast, boom, rudder, steering wheel
and much more. We also looked at the various risks that could be seen around the boat and
indicated them. This allowed us to more effectively draw out precautionary safety measures for
our trip, and it allowed us to better formulate our risk assessments. In this session we did not
really manage to develop any key skills for the sport, however we formed our basis knowledge
on the vessel.

Day 2

During our session outing to the boat, we obtained many of the key skills required for the
sailing day that we had planned ahead. In this session, we learned how to hoist, reef and dehoist the sail on the mast and the jibs. We also were briefed and demonstrated on the
procedure for turning on the motor of the vessel, and the method of fixing the motor should
there be a jam or similar issues. We went down to the motor room to get a better look. After
this, we took a look at the different dials and displays that the boat had to offer, assessing and
understanding each component (such as the speed). Also, we were shown how to tie knots for
the different sheets found on the boat. We were shown the best technique for tying and
untying knots. Finally, we had the chance to take the boat off the moor, do some steering and
finally we docked the boat. In regards to personal abilities, I think that I performed well in
understanding the boat by closely looking at each component and asking questions. I also
believe that I did well in hoisting and de-hoisting the sail quickly and effectively. On the other
hand, I did not perform well tying knots as many of the sheets that I tied became loose and
were not strong. As a result, I could improve by practicing my knots with strings and shoelaces
in the days leading up to the full sailing day to ensure that my knots are as good as they can
be and to minimise the chances of them coming undone.

Activities
Day 3

On our final, and main, sailing day we were exposed to a whole range of skills through
performing a myriad of tasks and activities. The trip was carried out professionally and
everyone had a designated role at any given time. As we boarded the vessel, we had a safety
briefing to ensure that all the points made in the risk assessment were addressed and all the
methods to decrease the chances of that were addressed. We then went ahead to install the
buoyancy aids on either side of the boat, as well as the back in order to take precaution for
man-overboard. After this, we took out a map, rope and charts to plan our trip to turtle cove,
which we ended up estimating to take an hour and 45 minutes. For the first hour, I was
responsible for tightening and loosening the jib as necessary to the wind speed and gusts.
After starting off with the motor, we obtained a better position and was able to hoist the sail,
which I assisted with. As a team, we kept the boat pointed at the headwind to be able to use
the sail and the jib to their full potential. We continued with the sail up for approximately 50
minutes before reaching the Lamma channel. To cross the channel, we had to de-hoist the sail
to allow us to motor through the channel quickly, keeping a distance from larger vessels and
allowing us to pass through quickly. After we passed the channel, I acquired the role of
tightening and loosening the sheets for the mainsail, allowing us to tack when needing to
change direction and to catch the wind. I found this to be a more challenging task than simply
tightening and loosening the jib as the mainsail was what allowed the boat to propel, whilst
the jib was only to add to that, I found this task a little difficult at times as I struggled to
identify the best times to tack. On numerous occasions I tacked when it was not necessary, and
caused us to go off course too much. As we reached our destination at turtle cove, 12 minutes
before our estimated our arrival time, we looked for the best location to anchor our boat to
have our lunch break. Using a special anchoring machine, we were shown how to lower the
anchor to allow the boat to fix its position when a mooring or dock is not available. After our
lunch and break, we took up the anchor and turned on the engine. At this point, I took control
of the wheel and had the role of steering the boat. The wind at this point was very weak, so I
was mostly in control of the boat when the motor was used, with an exception of 5 minutes
where we reached the other side of the island, with more wind. I throughly enjoyed the job as I
had complete control in the direction we were travelling at, as well as the speed as we were
using the motor and all it took was change to the throttle to change the speed. I believe that I
performed well in this task by staying on course to our original plan and ensuring that we were
well away from other sea vessels. After we re-crossed the channel, I took the role of locking
and unlocking the sheets into place when my team members were loosening and tightening
the sheets for the mainsail and the jib. I found the task extremely simple as most of the time
this included lifting up and locking a buckle. I believe that I performed well in this role as I
communicated with my team well and allowed them to smoothly change the height of the sail
by unlocking the sheets quickly as needed. As we approached our starting location at Middle
Island, we prepared ourselves to tie the boat to the mooring by preparing the ropes at the
front of the boat to avoid letting the boat drift off when we were in a marina amongst other
vessels. Overall during this trip, I believe that I performed the best in ether steering the boat
or when loosening and tightening the sheets for the jib, even though at time I found it difficult
to tie the necessary knots. On the contrary I believe that I struggled with being in charge of
tacking and the mainsail as I found it very difficult to indicate the best time to tack as a result
of wind change. To improve on this skill, I could practice on a smaller sailboat, with no motor
where I would be forced to understand the wind changes to allow me to tack and continue
propelling the boat. Learning on a smaller boat will provide me with the basic skills needed to
understand a bigger boat (like this one).

Logbook: Kayaking

Activities
Day 1

Todays session was the first time we got practical use of the kayaks. We performed this first
activity in the school pool where we could understand the basics of kayaking, before starting in
the sea to provide a safer environment for learning. We learned different manoeuvre
techniques such as how to paddle forwards, backwards and how to turn the kayak. I believe
that although I was able to perform these skills to a satisfactory standard, I was not kayaking in
a straight line a lot of the time, causing me to drift off at times. To improve I could watch
videos on good techniques and attempt to employ them myself in the pool, in attempt to be
able to paddle in a more streamlined motion.

Day 2

In our second session in our school pool we moved onto slightly more advanced techniques,
such as how to capsize, how to turn around buoys and how to empty the water from the kayak
on land. In these tasks I believe I performed better with capsizing and carrying out the
procedure to rescue myself than in performing the turns. I was not able to make sharp turns,
causing me to waste a great deal of time when we were doing time trials. To improve on my
turns, I can again watch videos on techniques and watch others who can turn their kayaks
faster before going back to try it myself.

Day 3

Our third session for kayaking took place on a beach rather than in our school swimming pool.
In addition, this was also the start of our three-day course in kayaking to obtain a certificate
showing proficiency. Today we reinforced our skills on performing manoeuvres such as moving
forwards and backwards except we had to get used to doing it in the sea, where there are
waves and currents. In addition to this we also performed capsizes in the sea and practiced our
turning. At the end of the day, we were given an exam on our manoeuvres to test our eligibility
for our level-one certificates, which I managed to obtain on a second try as I was initially
unable to stop on the mark. This shows that there is room for improvement in the skill of
actually stopping the motion of the kayak. To improve I could continue to perform the task of
kayaking 50 meters as quickly as I could before stopping and measuring the time it takes me
to come to a complete stop. The lower I get this time, the better.

Day 4

Today, we went back to the same beach to kayak out to more open sea to learn and practice
our level-two criteria, the H rescue. This is essentially where a capsized individual is rescued by
two people in individual kayaks enter an H formation (two on either the sides vertically). The
two kayakers grab hold of a capsized kayak, empties the front or back of the capsized kayak to
empty out the water and allow the kayak to float. The patient in this process must hold onto
their paddle in this rescue so that the commander (individual in charge of rescue) can grab
hold of the patients paddle, and allow them to hold onto the side of their kayak whilst theirs is
being emptied. Once the patients kayak is free of water, the rescuers are to help the patient
get back into their kayak by keeping it in an H formation, allowing for entry. At the end of the
day we were given an exam to test our eligibility for level 2, which I managed to pass on the
first go. I believe that I performed well as both the rescuer and the patient as I was able to flip
the patients boat round easily enough whilst managing to easily get back into my boat as the
patient. I did however struggle at times when being the rescuer through not being able to
easily get the patient into their boat, sometimes causing that kayak to flip again and fill with
water. I can improve upon this by increasing my muscular strength to allow me to better assist
the patient in getting into their boat.

Activities
Day 5

In our final session, we went back to the beach to obtain the skills for our final level of the
certification, level 3 which is proficiency in carryout out an X rescue. This is where one person
rescues a capsized kayaker by grabbing hold of their kayak, pulling it over their own kayak,
then pushes down on both sides of that kayak to release the water. Like the H rescue the
patient must hold onto the side of the rescuers kayak whilst their kayak is being empty.
However, getting back into the kayak for the X rescue is far more difficult as there is less
support and there is a good chance of both the patient and the rescuer falling into the water.
My strengths for this task is that as both a patient and a rescuer, I was able to do the rescue in
under the one-minute mark which is needed for the level three. However, at times due to a
lack of balance I fell into the water when rescuing which is a huge issue. To overcome this I
should practice having wait on my kayak by trying to paddle the boat with another person on
board. This should increase by ability to balance better.

Target Setting: Sailing

Target One
To increase my ability to tie knots by learning five new effective knots and being able to do them
by the end of 2016.
Objectives To become better at tying knots
To avoid knots coming undone during sailing
Milestones By May 2016 - First knot to be learned and I should successfully proficient
By July 2016 - Second knot to be learned and I should successfully proficient
By September 2016 - Third knot to be learned and I should successfully proficient
By November - Fourth knot to be learned and I should successfully proficient
By End of December - Fifth and Final knot to be learned and I should successfully proficient
Resources Needed Youtube and other online sources to view tutorials
Websites to explain step by step process
Websites to explain effectiveness of knots
Shoelace to tie example knots and to practice tying
Target Two
To increase my knowledge on wind changes and tacking by attending at least two one-day
sailing taster courses by the end of 2016.
Objectives To obtain more sailing knowledge
To better understand the wind changes
To better understand when the best time to tack is
Milestones By September 2016 - First taster course to be complete
By December 2016 - Second taster course to be complete
Resources Needed Sailing facilities
Sail boat
Instructors
Target Setting: Kayaking
Target One
To rent a kayak and perform time trials on at least two occasions to improve paddling speed by
the end of summer 2016, in September

Objectives To become faster at paddling in kayaking

To become more proficient with manoeuvring the kayak
Milestones By July 2016 - First kayaking session to be complete
By September 2016 - Second kayaking session to be complete
Resources Needed Kayak
Timer
Target Two
To partake in a level four certification two-day course to improve turns and strokes by March
2017
Objectives To become better at steering the kayak
To gain more control over the kayak
To obtain more kayaking skills
Milestones By January 2017 - Application for course to be complete
By March 2017 - To partake in level 4 course
By March 2017 - To physically receive the level 4 certificate
Resources Needed Kayak
Instructor
Kayaking facilities