Once the glow of our Level 3 success had subsided, it was time to start thinking about the Level 4 challenge ahead. For us, its primary purpose was to provide the focus and motivation needed to systematically advance our sea kayaking skills and competencies.
The first step was to review the Canoeing Ireland L4 Paddler Profile: its 35 pages of instructions, checklists, and requirements certainly looked daunting! Where to start?
Without a doubt, the biggest benefit of the club is the easy access to individuals with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. So, conversations were had, and priorities established. The shore-based trip planning, equipment knowledge, and environmental awareness skills could be most easily tackled first. Friday evenings now involved collating tide times, flows, and coefficients, weather and sea state forecasts, and chart information, preparing our own SHEETS plans for comparison on the Saturday morning club trips.
Indeed, much of the necessary L4 knowledge and skills were accessible on regular club trips. By keeping our eyes and ears open, we could learn about nature and environmental protection, equipment needs and uses, teamwork and trip management, and all other manner of relevant topics, including how to manage incidents. Sure, books, the internet, and YouTube have their place, but ultimately, it’s about putting everything into practice in real conditions with real people. Also, taking a bit of time out at the end of a trip to roll, self-rescue, and practice boat handling is a great habit, especially in the spring and autumn when the water is warmer. So, all in all, club trips were the central learning events.
In September 2024, the club organized L4 training in Howth. However, conditions just weren’t up to L4 standard, so we focused on some rescue techniques and awareness of weather, sea state, and the group. Little was signed off, and some frustration set in. In truth, we still had significant progress to make on a number of modules, so a small group of us who were at similar skill and motivational levels decided to collaborate and force the pace; in hindsight, this was a great initiative.
We arranged L4 training and assessment in Roundstone with Shane McElligott for March 2025; we had a deadline! We now focused on addressing our main remaining weaknesses: scenario management, team rescues, navigation, and surfing, among others. And the club stepped in to help us out. Mick Carroll generously agreed to run a comprehensive incident management training session. Gavan and Alan led surfing days in Malahide and Bray, with Denis on hand to help with technique. Margaret used lousy weather to work on paddling in the wind. And there was always quality rock hopping and boat handling between Bray and Greystones.
On top of that, the group organized peer paddles in L4 conditions to work on trip planning and management, and various skills such as rolling and boat handling. These developed confidence and awareness.
Finally, Roundstone was days away. All eyes were on the forecasts, which were looking good. By Friday, it was clear we would get almost perfect conditions: a day of easterlies F4-6 with 0.6m sea, followed by a relatively calm (and sunny!) day with 1.5m swell/10s period. Day 1’s plan was boat handling, navigation, rescues, rolls, and paddling rocky shores. Day 2 was surfing and moving water. While Shane put us through our paces, it was done in a very relaxed way which immediately put us at ease, with new nuggets of information interspersed throughout. Sunday’s surfing at Doonloughan was a mighty experience with a power never experienced on the east coast. Nevertheless, our Irish Sea training stood to us and, with Shane’s guidance, we survived the onslaught!
Standing in the spring sunshine on the beautiful west coast off Slyne Head, exhausted after hours of surfing, Shane topped off a most enjoyable and exhilarating weekend with the news of our Level 4 achievements. It was a moment to savour before the long trip home and the continuation of our kayaking journey.
Aidan, Emer, Lukasz, and Paul