"150 (nautical) miles up the Western Isles"
Planning Activities
The planning activities for the expedition can be divided into activities on the water and off the water.
Off the water
My main activities off the water have been: 1) researching survival skills 2) practicing survival skills 3) purchasing equipment for the expedition and getting used to using it.
1) Researching survival skills
> Finding out what you can and can't eat.
> Planning route and schedule to tie in with nice places, good places for food, places with internet for updating blog, and dates to meet media people.
2) PRACTICING SURVIVAL SKILLS
> Making tinder and kindling.
> Lighting fires using a spark, toilet roll, tinder, kindling - pretty hard!
> Cooking on an open fire.
> I've worked as a guide for Clearwater Paddling for 5 years now, so I feel quite happy in the outdoors. That experience has really been invaluable and I'm thankful to Chris for the employment. Neither my kayaking or my outdoor skills would have developed as quickly, if at all, if it wasn't for the job!
3) PURCHASING EQUIPMENT AND GETTING USED TO IT
> Bought flares, and know how to use them now.
> Going to buy a VHF, and have spoken to Stornoway about what to say when I'm in trouble, and when I need a weather forecast.
> Bought a wind up radio and got glued a list of all the weather forecast times on VHF and BBC Radio 4.
On the water
I've been practicing and developing skills and experience in increasingly more challenging environments. For example, here's a progression that I have used for self rescues:
1. Practice self rescues in the pool
2. Practice self rescues in Castlebay in the sea with no wind
3. Practice self rescues in Castlebay in the sea with an onshore light wind
4. Practice self rescues in Castlebay in the sea with a F8 onshore wind
5. Practice self rescues in Castlebay in the sea with a F4 offshore wind
6. Practice self rescues in the open ocean in light wind
7. Practice self rescues in the open water in strong winds
It comes from coaching technique that I like, of building on success after success, which is good for confidence. Not to say I haven't been scared. I haven't got to practicing number 6/7 yet, not out on the west coast of Barra at least. But this is what I'm working too. I want to be completely happy with the following self rescues out in the open ocean on my own:
> Roll (C-to-C is my preference as I find it the easiest) on both sides
> Sculling roll
> Re-entry and roll
> Jump on the back deck and shuffle up
> Paddle float rescue
> Rough water landing and launch using tow line
It's really about developing slowly for me as I think that's the most reliable way of learning and developing. I'm just glad that I've taken quite a lot of time to prepare, especially when I think about what it would have been like if I tried to do it in October 2007 which was my original plan! I think I've come a long way since then.
If you have any ideas for things that we could do on the website, or if you would like to know more about the expeditions, or if you would like to get involved then please get in touch, or if you want to get in touch for any other reason please e-mail info@sustainableexpeditions.org
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