BCU 4 Star Sea Training With CNTP: March 30 to April 3, Anglesey

Date: March 30 - April 3, 2015.

Location: Anglesey

Cost: £350 non-residential

Includes: 4 Star Sea Training & Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning.

Description: This five-day training course will cover the necessary elements of leadership, group safety and seamanship skills, as well as developing personal performance as set out in the BCU 4 Star Sea and CNTP syllabi.

Completion of the training course will lead to a personalised action plan in preparation for the BCU 4 Star assessment. The course will cover:

Personal Paddling Skills

• Lifting, carrying and launching/landing
• Efficient and effective sea paddling skills
• Forward paddling
• Reversing and stopping
• Maintaining direction
• Changing direction
• Moving sideways
• Support strokes
• Rolling
• Practical navigation

Rescue Skills, Safety, Leadership and Group Management

• Boat and shore based safety and rescue skills
• Incident management and first aid in the 4 star environment
• Being an effective team leader and team member in rescues/incidents
• Application of leadership
• Leadership strategies, judgement and decision making
• Safety awareness and risk management
• Group control and management
• Equipment

Theory

• Safety (includes coastguard and rescue services)
• Weather
• Hypothermia/first aid
• Access
• Planning
• Group awareness and management
• Navigation
• Etiquette (includes collision regulations and signals)
• General (and historical)
• Leadership responsibilities
• Water features/hazards

Prerequisites: BCU 3 Star standard skills.

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, write to us at info@greenlandorbust.org

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BCU Course: 5 Star Sea Assessment

We offer a number of BCU training and assessment courses across the UK, US and Europe. Please visit our Events page to see when classes you can join in on might be running. These programmes are also available on demand for groups of friends and clubs so get in touch to discuss dates. Here is one such course we provide - 5 Star Sea Assessment.

Dates: Please see our events page for published dates.

Location: Various

Description: This two-day discipline specific assessment is designed to show that a successful candidate has the appropriate level of skill to safely lead a group of paddlers on challenging journeys in advanced tidal waters and dynamic weather conditions typified by the Climate of the British Isles. This award is intended for paddlers who journey on the sea in areas where tidal races, headlands, open crossings, swell and overfalls will be encountered.

Achieving the award demonstrates that a candidate is competent to judge the conditions and the standard of the group to make appropriate decisions on the water as part of a planned route, while showing an understanding of the need to modify plans when required. The assessment will be against criteria set out in the BCU 5 Star Sea syllabus and will examine the following areas:

Personal Paddling Skills

• Launching and landing

• Efficient forward paddling

• Effective manoeuvring and boat control

• Navigation on the water and in poor visibility

• A range of self-rescues

• Rolling in rough water

Rescue Skills

• Application of appropriate rescue skills

• Different towing methods

Safety, Leadership and Group Skills

• Leadership, judgement and decision making processes

• Safety awareness and risk management

• Group care and management tactics

• Paddler welfare and community building

• Ability to handle a range of incidents

Theory

• Equipment

• Safety (includes coastguard and rescue services)

• Weather

• Hypothermia/ First aid

• Access

• Planning

• Group awareness and management

• Navigation

• General (and historical)

• Leadership responsibilities

• Water features/hazards

Prerequisites: Endorsed LR form; BCU 4 Star Sea; BCU 5 Sea Star training (or equivalent evidence); BCU Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning (or equivalent course); a valid first-aid award (minimum 16 hours); 25 days logged experience in 3 different sea areas.

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, course fees or to register, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

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BCU Course: 5 Star Sea Training

We offer a number of BCU training and assessment courses across the UK, US and Europe. Please visit our Events page to see when classes you can join in on might be running. These programmes are also available on demand for groups of friends and clubs so get in touch to discuss dates. Here is one such course we provide - 5 Star Sea Training.

Dates: Please see our events page for published dates.

Location: Various

Description: This two-day training course will cover the necessary elements of leadership, group safety and seamanship skills, as well as developing personal performance as set out in the BCU 5 Star Sea syllabus. This award is intended for paddlers who journey and lead others on the sea in areas where tidal races, headlands, open crossings, swell and challenging coastlines will be encountered. Completion of the training course will lead to a personalised action plan in preparation for the BCU 5 Star assessment. The course will cover:

Personal Paddling Skills

• Launching and landing
• Efficient forward paddling
• Effective manoeuvring and boat control
• Navigation on the water and in poor visibility
• A range of self-rescues
• Rolling in rough water

Rescue Skills

• Application of appropriate rescue skills
• Different towing methods

Safety, Leadership and Group Skills

• Application of leadership principles
• Leadership strategies, judgement and decision making
• Safety awareness and risk management
• Group control and management tactics
• Paddler welfare and community building
• Incident management

Theory

• Equipment
• Safety (includes coastguard and rescue services)
• Weather
• Hypothermia/ First aid
• Access
• Planning
• Group awareness and management
• Navigation
• General (and historical)
• Leadership responsibilities
• Water features/hazards

Prerequisites: BCU 4 Star Award or the 'old' Level 3 Sea Award.

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, course fees or to register, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

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BCU Course: 4 Star Sea Assessment

We offer a number of BCU training and assessment courses across the UK, US and Europe. Please visit our Events page to see when classes you can join in on might be running. These programmes are also available on demand for groups of friends and clubs so get in touch to discuss dates. Here is one such course we provide - 4 Star Sea Assessment.

Dates: Please see our events page for published dates.

Location: Various

Description: This two-day discipline specific assessment is designed to show that a successful candidate has the appropriate level of skill to safely lead competent paddlers on coastal journeys in moderate water conditions. 

Achieving the award demonstrates that a candidate is competent to judge the conditions and the standard of the group to make appropriate decisions on the water as part of a planned route, while showing an understanding of the need to modify plans when required. The assessment will be against criteria set out in the BCU 4 Star Sea syllabus and will cover the following areas:

Personal Paddling Skills

• Lifting, carrying and launching/landing

• Efficient and effective sea paddling skills

• Forward paddling

• Reversing and stopping

• Maintaining direction

• Changing direction

• Moving sideways

• Support strokes

• Rolling

• Practical navigation

Rescue Skills, Safety, Leadership and Group Management

• Boat and shore based safety and rescue skills

• Incident management and first aid in the 4 star environment

• Being an effective team leader and team member in rescues/incidents

• Application of leadership

• Leadership strategies, judgement and decision making

• Safety awareness and risk management

• Group control and management

• Equipment

Theory

• Safety (includes coastguard and rescue services)

• Weather

• Hypothermia/first aid

• Access

• Planning

• Group awareness and management

• Navigation

• Etiquette (includes collision regulations and signals)

• General (and historical)

• Leadership responsibilities

• Water features/hazards

Prerequisites: Be 16 or over; endorsed LR form; BCU 3 Star Sea; BCU 4 Sea Star training (or equivalent evidence); BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning (or equivalent course); a recognised first-aid award (minimum 16 hours); 10 days logged experience.

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, course fees or to register, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

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BCU Course: 4 Star Sea Training

We offer a number of BCU training and assessment courses across the UK, US and Europe. Please visit our Events page to see when classes you can join in on might be running. These programmes are also available on demand for groups of friends and clubs so get in touch to discuss dates. Here is one such course we provide - 4 Star Sea Training.

Dates: Please see our events page for published dates.

Location: Various

Description: This two-day training course will cover the necessary elements of leadership, group safety and seamanship skills, as well as developing personal performance as set out in the BCU 4 Star Sea syllabus. Completion of the training course will lead to a personalised action plan in preparation for the BCU 4 Star assessment. The course will cover:

Personal Paddling Skills

• Lifting, carrying and launching/landing

• Efficient and effective sea paddling skills

• Forward paddling

• Reversing and stopping

• Maintaining direction

• Changing direction

• Moving sideways

• Support strokes

• Rolling

• Practical navigation

Rescue Skills, Safety, Leadership and Group Management

• Boat and shore based safety and rescue skills

• Incident management and first aid in the 4 star environment

• Being an effective team leader and team member in rescues/incidents

• Application of leadership

• Leadership strategies, judgement and decision making

• Safety awareness and risk management

• Group control and management

• Equipment

Theory

• Safety (includes coastguard and rescue services)

• Weather

• Hypothermia/first aid

• Access

• Planning

• Group awareness and management

• Navigation

• Etiquette (includes collision regulations and signals)

• General (and historical)

• Leadership responsibilities

• Water features/hazards

Prerequisites: Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning. Be of 3 Star Sea Standard.

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, course fees or to register, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

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BCU Course: 3 Star Sea Assessment

We offer a number of BCU training and assessment courses across the UK, US and Europe. Please visit our Events page to see when classes you can join in on might be running. These programmes are also available on demand for groups of friends and clubs so get in touch to discuss dates. Here is one such course we provide - 3 Star Sea Assessment.

Dates: Please see our events page for published dates.

Location: Various

Description: This one day discipline specific test is designed to show that a successful candidate has the appropriate level of skill to paddle safely in moderate water conditions on coastal journeys, and they may consider themselves an intermediate sea kayaker. They can do this in a competent manner as part of a led group and have the knowledge and ability to help the smooth running of a trip in this environment. The assessment will be against criteria set out in the BCU 3 Star Sea syllabus and will cover the following:

Personal Paddling Skills

• Lifting, carrying and launching/landing
• Efficient forward paddling
• Reverse paddling, stopping
• Maintaining direction
• Changing direction
• Moving sideways
• Supporting
• Rolling
• Securing

Rescue Skills

• Deep-water rescue
• Contact tows and use of tow line
• Eskimo rescue (self rescue sit on top)

Safety, Leadership and Group Skills

• Personal risk management
• Awareness of others
• Paddle as part of a led group

Theory

• Equipment
• Sea safety
• Weather
• Hypothermia/First Aid
• Access
• Environment
• Planning
• Group awareness
• General knowledge
• Navigation

Prerequisites: BCU 2 Star Award, or equivalent

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, course fees or to register, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

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BCU Course: 3 Star Sea Training

We offer a number of BCU training and assessment courses across the UK, US and Europe. Please visit our Events page to see when classes you can join in on might be running. These programmes are also available on demand for groups of friends and clubs so get in touch to discuss dates. Here is one such course we provide - 3 Star Sea Training.

Dates: Please see our events page for published dates.

Location: Various

Description: This two training day course will address all the necessary elements of boat handling, group safety and seamanship skills, as well as developing personal performance, as set out in the BCU 3 Star Sea syllabus. Completion of the training course will lead to a personalized action plan in preparation for the BCU 3 Star Sea assessment. The course will cover:

Personal Paddling Skills

• Lifting, carrying and launching/landing

• Efficient forward paddling

• Reverse paddling, stopping

• Maintaining direction

• Changing direction

• Moving sideways

• Supporting

• Rolling

• Securing

Rescue Skills

• Deep-water rescue

• Contact tows and use of tow line

• Eskimo rescue (self rescue sit on top)

Safety, Leadership and Group Skills

• Personal risk management

• Awareness of others

• Paddle as part of a led group

Theory

• Equipment

• Sea safety

• Weather

• Hypothermia/First Aid

• Access

• Environment

• Planning

• Group awareness

• General knowledge

• Navigation

Prerequisites: BCU 2 Star Award, or equivalent

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, course fees or to register, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

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BCU Course: Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning

We offer a number of BCU training and assessment courses across the UK, US and Europe. Please visit our Events page to see when classes you can join in on might be running. These programmes are also available on demand for groups of friends and clubs so get in touch to discuss dates. Here is one such course we provide - Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning.

Dates: Please see our events page for published dates.

Location: Various

Description: The aim of this one-day classroom based training programme is to give participants the necessary tools to plan and navigate effectively on open water journeys in advanced sea conditions. It is suitable for paddlers wishing to improve their seamanship knowledge and ocean awareness in order to undertake challenging journeys that may include islands over 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of strong tidal movement of 3+ knots and/or winds of up to force 5 . 

Upon completion, each participant should have planned at least two journeys involving open crossings that they can take home as reference for further personal trip planning. This course is designed to compliment areas covered in the BCU 5 Star Sea Award training and is a prerequisite for the BCU 5 Star Sea assessment. 

The course will include the following aspects:

• Interpreting sources of information required to plan trips.

• Vector calculations and applying them to open crossings.

• Tactics for negotiating coastlines with no landing zones and/or tide races and overfalls.

• Advanced pilotage techniques in poor visibility or hours of darkness.

• The role of the coastguard

• Planning tasks and practical exercises

Prerequisites: Completion of a BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning course, or recognised equivalent.

Essential Student Resources: Participants need to bring the following items - Silva Type 4 compass or similar. 2B Pencils & Eraser. 30 cm Ruler. Note pad. Personal charts and Topographic maps. Sea kayak navigation aid.

Recommended Reading:  Please feel free to bring any other books that have helped you with this subject

• BCU Coaching Handbook (Chapter 15 - Sea Kayaking) - Franco Ferrero, Pesda Press.

• Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation - David Burch, Globe Pequot.

• Sea Kayak Navigation - Franco Ferrero, Pesda Press.

• Welsh Sea Kayaking - Jim Krawiecki & Andy Biggs, Pesda Press.

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, course fees or to register, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

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BCU Course: Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning

We offer a number of BCU training and assessment courses across the UK, US and Europe. Please visit our Events page to see when classes you can join in on might be running. These programmes are also available on demand for groups of friends and clubs so get in touch to discuss dates. Here is one such course we provide - Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning.

Dates: Please see our events page for published dates.

Location: Various

Description: The aim of this one-day classroom based program is to give participants the necessary tools to plan and navigate effectively on coastal journeys in moderate ocean conditions. It is suitable for paddlers wishing to improve their seamanship knowledge and ocean awareness in order to carrying out coastal journeys including islands up to 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of tidal movement of 2 knots and winds of up to force 4. 

Upon completion, each student should have planned at least two coastal journeys that they can take home as reference for further personal trip planning. This course is designed to compliment areas covered in the BCU 4 Star Sea Award training and is a prerequisite for the BCU 4 Star Sea assessment. 

The course will include the following aspects:

• Obtaining a weather forecast

• Understanding tides and currents

• Identifying conditions and their effects on a journey

• Interpreting sources of information required to plan trips

• Simple pilotage techniques

• The role of the coastguard

• Planning tasks and practical exercises

Prerequisites: An understanding of chartwork and practical navigation.

Essential Student Resources: Participants need to bring the following items - Silva Type 4 compass or similar. 2B Pencils & Eraser. 30 cm Ruler. Note pad. Personal charts and Topographic maps. Sea kayak navigation aid.

Recommended Reading: Please feel free to bring any other books that have helped you with this subject

• BCU Coaching Handbook (Chapter 15 - Sea Kayaking) - Franco Ferrero, Pesda Press.
• Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation - David Burch, Globe Pequot.
• Sea Kayak Navigation - Franco Ferrero, Pesda Press.
• Welsh Sea Kayaking - Jim Krawiecki & Andy Biggs, Pesda Press.

BCU Information: For syllabus details, visit the BCU website.

Contact: For more information, course fees or to register, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

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Sea Kayak Navigation Aid

The Sea Kayak Navigation Aid (pronounced “SKANA”) by Howard Jeffs, which retails at £14.95, has been designed to bridge the gap between professional “Chart Table” navigational instruments such as the Bretton Plotter & Dividers and/or the SILVA (Type 4) Mountaineering style compass used commonly by outdoor enthusiasts. 

Sea kayakers frequently travel along coastlines and they require not only detailed land information that is usually found on Ordinance Survey / topo maps, but also specific nautical information such as tidal streams, safe passage areas, drying heights etc which can be found on marine charts.

As such, a sea kayaker's chart table is their spraydeck and foredeck, the rigidity of the Breton Plotter and the sharp points of the dividers are not practical here. However the base plate of many mountaineering compasses is frequently too short to draw out an extended course or measure distance quickly and easily. The ability to transfer from one scale (Kilometres) to another (Nautical Miles) is essential!

The SKANA addresses all these points in a simple, effective and robust manner. The base is made of a flexible clear plastic which copes with the undulations and flexibility of the cockpit area. The range of scales and specific dimensions of the instrument allow measurement of distance quickly and accurately. The Compass Rose and Bearing Cord allow angles and/or indented coastline to be measured with ease. 

The clear plastic plate is made of UV stable material. The scales and markings etched into the plastic are scratch resistant and also made of UV resilient ink. Its flat profile allows storage under deck elastics and the additional lanyard reduces the possibility of loss. It also makes an excellent kayak repair patch if you are really pushed!

For more information, visit Howard Jeff's website.

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Sea Kayak Navigation

When sea kayaking, we often need to work out how long it will take to paddle a set distance as part of our trip planning, or when we need to change our plan during the journey. Assuming that we are not affected by wind or tide we can use the following quick calculation which is easy even when underway.

Remember, these calculations are for the average sea kayaker who paddles at approximately 3 knots (3 Nm/hour). You should check your own speed before applying the following formula. On your chart or map, measure the distance you are going to paddle. Take this measurement and multiply it by 2, then multiply this figure by 10 to give the number of minutes it will take to reach your destination.

Example 1, to paddle 3 Nm -

3 x 2 = 6, 6 x 10 = 60 minutes.

Example 2, to paddle 5.5 Nm -

5.5 x 2 = 11, 11 x 10 = 110 minutes.

Sea kayak navigation can seem complicated at first, but there are plenty of quick tricks like this which make the mental arithmetic very easy. You can learn many of these by enrolling on a BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning course with Greenland or Bust.

The aim of this one-day classroom based program is to give participants the necessary tools to plan and navigate effectively on coastal journeys in moderate ocean conditions. Upon completion, each student should have planned at least two coastal journeys that they can take home as reference for further personal trip planning. This course is designed to compliment areas covered in the BCU 4 Star Sea Award training and is a prerequisite for assessment. 

Get in touch if you are interested in completing a similar training course or just wish to look at your skills development in a boat.

Buoyage - Cardinal Markers

Cardinal marks are used to indicate safe and deep water in relation to a hazard. The lighthouse authority will only place as many cardinal marks as are needed to mark the hazard in relation to the shipping channel, this is often only one. There are various ways of recognising the various buoys, the first method is the cones placed on the top - the North and South cone’s point in their respective directions. The west cones, some say looks like a wine glass hence west or a ‘W’ if it was lying on its side and the leftover one must be East! The other ways of recognising the different buoys are their colour banding (look closely and compare them) and their lighting pattern, which is like a clock.

Buoyage - Safe Water & Isolated Danger

A Safe Water Mark, as defined by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, is a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate the end of a channel implying that open, deep and safe water lies ahead. The marker is also sometimes known as a Fairway Buoy.

Safe Water Marks are painted half red and half white, vertically, and commonly bear a top-sign in shape of a red ball. Lighted buoys flash white either morse code 'A', isophase (Iso), occulting (Occ) or single long flash every 10 seconds (LFl 10s).

An Isolated Danger Mark, as defined by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, is a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate a hazard to shipping such as a partially submerged rock. It is recognisable by its black and red bands and top-mark of two black balls. A light, when fitted, is white showing groups of two flashes (Gp Fl 2).

Buoyage - Lateral Markers

Photograph: Pesda Press

A lateral buoy, lateral post or lateral mark, as defined by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities, is a sea mark used in maritime pilotage to indicate the edge of a channel.

Each mark indicates the edge of the safe water channel in terms of port (left-hand) or starboard (right-hand). These directions are relative to the direction of buoyage; this is usually a nominally upstream direction. In a river, the direction of buoyage is towards the river's source; in a harbour, the direction of buoyage is into the harbour from the sea. Where there may be doubt, it will be labelled on the appropriate chart.

A vessel heading in the direction of buoyage (eg into a harbour) and wishing to keep in the main channel should:

* keep port marks to its port (left), and

* keep starboard marks to its right.

For historical reasons, two different schemes are in use worldwide, differing in their use of colour.
Previously there had been 30 different buoyage systems, prior to IALA introducing the rationalised system.

The IALA defines them as System A and System B:

* System A is used by nations in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, parts of Africa and most of Asia other than the Philippines, Japan and Korea.

* System B is used by nations in North America, Central America and South America, the Philippines, Japan and Korea

Buoyage - Sea Kayaking

Photograph: Pesda Press

Sea Kayak Trip Planning – Overview

Choose a paddling area
- Consider sea and land features, exposure to tidal streams, no landing zones, busy harbours

Obtain a weather forecast

- Choose a suitable source, using the most recent issue
- Consider the weather patterns of the previous 48 hours

Look at the tidal picture
- Interpret the sources of information to gain an impression of the likely conditions

Consider the day’s objectives
- Time available, distance to travel (journeying v exploration), type of trip – A to B or return

Work out a detailed paddling plan
- Start/ finish points, emergency bays
- Alternative routes or paddling activities
- Expected tidal stream, slack water times, existence of tidal gates
- Distances, expected times of departure and arrival
- Compass bearings

Prepare a list of personal/ group equipment

- Always take warm clothing, food and a hot drink, survival bag
- Along with first aid kit, repair kit, flares, towline and spare paddles

Notify a shore contact of intended trip
- Include details of route card, numbers in group (people/ boats), ETD and ETA
- Notify shore contact again at the end of the day

- Consider when you might want to contact HM Coastguard

Double-check everything!

Enjoy the day :o)

Navigation - Some Essentials

Handrails

When folk first start navigating, they use handrail features all the time. Handrails are linear features such as paths, fences or streams. They are excellent navigational aids providing safe routes between points. You simply follow the feature without having to keep looking at the map or compass.

Attack Points

When you are homing in on a small target such as the tent or snow hole you plan to spend the night in you want to maximise your chances of finding it first time. To do this it is good to identify a well defined feature near your target and use this as a starting or attack point to find your objective. By approaching your destination like this, if you do not find it first time you can easily return to your known attack point and start again.

Aiming Off

It is foolish to always aim directly at an objective when walking on a bearing in poor visibility as it is highly likely that errors will creep in and you will end up to one side or the other of the target. In this case you will not know which side you are on so it will be guess work to locate the objective. Aiming off describes the technique of purposefully taking a bearing to one side and is commonly used when the objective is a linear feature such as a a stream, path, wall or ridge.

Estimating Distance

As important as the ability to walk on a bearing is the need to accurately estimate distance travelled. Pacing and timing are techniques that require practice in varied conditions before becoming an integral part of your personal toolbag of skills. If you can make it so that effective estimation of distance travelled becomes second nature then it helps free your concentration to make important mountaineering decisions when visibility is poor. Remember that you will need to be able to estimate distances going up, down and across slopes on grass, rocks or snow...

Avoiding Hazards in Poor Visibility

Where a hazard exists which presents a real danger - such as a cliff, cornice, avalanche prone slope or snow covered water for example - then you need a foolproof method of walking around it without losing your overall sense of direction. Doglegs or boxing are two easy techniques for doing this.

By doing a dogleg you simply go along two sides of a triangle rather than along the single long side. This will mean that you have travelled further, but the method will take you clear of the unseen hazard you identified on the map that was presenting a risk.

Boxing is used when you have to avoid a hazard when walking on a bearing. Instead of following a straight line route you walk around three sides of a box as shown in the illustration. By walking to the side at 90 degrees all you have to do is turn the compass until the needle is aligned with east (or west) without changing the important main bearing. Walk for a distance that is easy to remember (say 100m), continue on the main bearing for the desired distance, then turn west (or east) for 100m to be back on line again.

Identifying your Position in Poor Visibility

The aspect of slope underfoot is often a really useful piece of information which helps you identify where you are. In whiteout conditions any sense of horizon is lost and it may be difficult to be sure whether you are travelling up down or across a slope. Rolling a snowball can help you identify the fall-line which is an imaginary line running straight down the hillside. On the map this line runs at 90 degrees to the contour lines.

Establish the direction of the fall-line and take a compass bearing down it. Adjust this magnetic reading to a grid bearing and align the compass on the map until the edge is at 90 degrees to the contours.

This technique does not give you an exact position, but it does provide an additional piece for the jigsaw by confirming which slope you are on.

Navigation - Grid References

Considering their importance in navigation, grid references are comparatively simple. First of all, what are they? Grid references are a numerical system of identifying a given point on a map. The numbers (when used with the right map) are applicable to only one area on that map.

A four figure grid reference will give a position within a kilometre square. This, though useful, is often too big. So generally navigators go further and use six figure references which brings the area down to a 100 metre square.

How do they work? There are a few rules to remember when using a reference. Get them right and there should be no more problems. The numbers, when referred to, identify a grid line on the map.

So first and foremost find the number along the bottom of the map and identify the grid line - Eastings. Then look for the number up the side - Northings. Run a finger up the vertical line and one along the horizontal line until they meet. That should put you at the intersection of two lines forming a cross. Now, which of the four squares do the numbers relate to ? This is the second rule. When using the numbers along the bottom look to the right of the vertical line. when using the numbers on the side look above the horizontal line, at the intersection.

The same rules apply to the six figure grid references. One additional rule is that the first column on the left is zero and the last column is nine. The bottom row is zero and the top row is nine.

Navigation - The National Grid

The National Grid is a system of squares devised to enable the map makers to have a point of reference, although it is imaginary, to create an index system allowing parts of the country to be identified. This is different from using latitude and longitude.

This National Grid System consists of a frame of 100 kilometre squares laid over the Ordnance Survey Maps of Great Britain. Each 100 km square has a two letter code and is numbered 00 to 99 from West to East and from South to North. It is important to realise that a six figure reference will appear every 100 km and it is essential to quote the two letter prefix will refer to a square (see image).

Beyond knowing that the National Grid System exists and how to order maps using it, the average hill walker and navigator will have very little need of any additional information.

Navigation - The 6 Principles

Destination
- Where do you want to go?

Direction
- Which way are you going?

Distance
- How far is it?

Duration
- How long will it take?

Description
- What will we see on the way and when we get there?

Demonstrate
- Can you show this is the right place now you are here?