Welcome – we are delighted you want to learn or improve your kayaking =:)

British Canoeing (BC) develops the syllabus for a range of different personal performance, leadership, coaching and safety awards available for adults. Please see British Canoeing Paddler pathway to identify the right development courses for you, and also to find links to current providers.

Both informal and formal skill development is recommended. Pool sessions and “Wet sessions” in clean/cleaner water are good places to practice, for example capsizing, self-rescues, rescuing others and towing. Battersea Canoe Club runs pool sessions Sundays at Clapham Leisure centre pool – sign up is essential you can do so here.

Or visit Lee Valley whitewater centre where you can learn skills in shorter kayaks. Many of these skills can be transferred to longer seakayaks.

CKC is currently organising the following

Introductory Paddlesport Awards

CKC will be running BC Discover Paddling Award – next dates Sat 2 Oct 2021

More information about the award can be found here and the course will enable you to have a fun and safe time on the water. You will learn key strokes, as well as what to do in the unlikely event that you capsize and how you will be helped back into your sea kayak.

The course is run on the Thames at Shepperton Lock from 9:30am & will be finished before 6pm. It is sometimes possible to get a lift from Kew Bridge to Shepperton. Otherwise it is ~25minute walk from Shepperton station, or you can drive and park near Shepperton Lock. Participants need to wear clothes & shoes they are happy to get wet in, and bring water, packed lunch, towel and a change of clothes.

The cost of Discover Paddling course is £95 and this includes your  CKC membership fee, because we need all members to have at least these skills to be able to safely join in club trips and activities. If you want  a certificate for getting your British Canoeing Discover Paddling award a small fee needs to be paid to British Canoeing & this can be organised with the coach on the day.

After completing this course – then most paddlers will have the skills to join CKC’s paddles on the Thames & some A-graded sea trips.

It is essential to book by email (info @ chelseakayakclub.co.uk) and have joined as a member in advance, to secure your place (click on orange  “Join Us/Renew” on membership webpage).
Please also advise when booking i) how you plan to get to Shepperton Lock and ii) if you can help with loading up and transporting kayaks on a roofrack or trailer. (We assume you need a sea kayak & associated kit to be taken to the training venue at Shepperton Lock for you.)

BC Explore on the sea – contact Rich H & Elsa who are coordinating a group for Autumn 2021

CKC has booked South East Kayaking to run BC Explore award on the sea, to help transition CKC members who have completed their BC Discover award to paddling on the sea, before going for Sea Kayak award. Please contact Rosie who is coordinating CKC members attending this course.

Acquatic first Aid – 2 day course – TBC

Andrew Barras (a paramedic & kayaker) will be running  first aid course which has been designed specifically for paddlers. This 2 day course is recognised by BC and needed for those aiming for BC Sea Leader award, and recommended for those leading trips – including on the Thames. More info https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/uploads/courseDownloads/British-Canoeing-First-Aid-Policy-V3-5-Feb19.pdf
TBC – Kew

Medical & Trama Incident management –  POSTPONED

Andrew Barras (a paramedic & kayaker – https://www.andrewbarrascoaching.co.uk/ ) will be running 1day incident management & first aid on the sea course which has been designed specifically for paddlers.

• Venue: Solent
• Dates: TBC
• Prerequisites: BC Sea Kayak Award or equivalent, first aid certificate in date
• Cost: £60 for CKC members – pay in advance

Safety – Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning Training – next date TBC

This course is designed for those paddlers carrying out coastal journeys including islands up to 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of tidal movement up to 2 knots and winds of up to force 4.

CKC normally run this course on a Sunday November, at Brentford Boating Arch, Kew Bridge (North-East side of the road bridge) w4 3NG (near Kew Bridge rail station). Cost is £65 for CKC members and £75 for non-members.

More information can be found  on British Canoeing website here.

Some RYA qualifications can be used as alternatives for the BC Navigation and Tidal Planning Courses.

It is essential to book by email (info @ chelseakayakclub.co.uk) and pay for your course in advance, to secure your place.

Kayak Repair course – aka “Smash & Bash” – next date TBC

CKC normally run this course on a Saturday in November each, at Brentford Boating Arch, Kew Bridge (North-East side of the road bridge) w4 3NG (near Kew Bridge rail station). Cost is £65 for CKC members and £75 for non-members.

More information can be found here.

It is essential to book by email (info @ chelseakayakclub.co.uk) and pay for your course in advance, to secure your place.

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Contact our training officer (via info @ chelseakayakclub.co.uk)  if you are a member & would welcome CKC coordinating more/different training.

OTHER Courses we recommend members consider

Foundation Safety and Rescue Training

Fundamentally this course is designed for all paddlers irrespective of craft. The objective is to teach simple and safe skills that can be applied appropriately.

The course aims to provide the student with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely in a sheltered water environment and to be able to deal with common emergencies.  These skills will then form the basis of all safety and rescue training throughout the BC Scheme.

VHF Radio Short Range Certificate

The Short Range Certificate is the qualification required by law if you operate a VHF radio fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on any British vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio. The club owns a radio for use on club paddles.

For further information refer to the following RYA webpage.