Tuesday a few of us from HCL went to do some moving water training. We were lucky to still have 1 gate open at Hurley.
Hurley is one of the premier white water playboating locations in the UK. There are 4 large gates next to each other that create holes or waves depending on water levels.
Below Barbra and Linda doing rather well!
The peak season will be with us soon.
The beach lifeguards working on the south coast over the summer start on Monday. We have two weeks of various types of training, including an advanced first aid course before starting on the beach fulltime.
I am sure it will be a great two weeks with lots to take in and learn!
The first part of the training is at the Lifeboat Training College, a place I cant wait to experience.
It is fast approaching peak holiday season.
A plea to you all, if you are on the beach and going in to the sea please look at where you are supposed to be.
For your safety on many beaches there will be red and yellow flags. This is the area you should swim and body board in. The area is monitored by the lifeguards.
If you have a hard craft such as a kayak or surfboard please stay out of the red and yellow flagged area and head towards the quartered black and white flag area.
A red and yellow flag, showing the area monitored by lifeguards.
If you see red flags flying please do not enter the water, the conditions are not suitable for swimming!
Today was the elite 10K men’s and women’s swim races.
With 12 Canoe Lifeguards and many powerboats watching over the competitors, they swam four, 250 metre laps around the Albert dock. Travelling parallel to London City Airport runway for a majority of the course.
It’s quite disconcerting having large passenger planes hurtling down the runway seemingly metres from the swimmers.
The noise from the planes also makes communication between the lifeguards more difficult.
Just as we got off the water and were sorting our boats out, the medals were being awarded.
In the men’s race, gold for Australia, silver for GBR and bronze for USA.
Like the Shark a Selki is a specially designed kayak for lifeguarding. It is described as an estuary craft because of its similar shape to a sea kayak, long, thin and pointy!
Selkis are less stable than Sharks but far quicker.
Below is a picture of our two new Selkies, just before the start of the 10k swim at the Royal Albert Dock.
The large rear deck can be used to carry a casualty while on the water, but can also be used as a stretcher on dry land.
… practice.
Monday night we practiced searching and rescuing a variety of craft including bell boats, and dragon boats.
Above is a picture of an upturned drag boat. We all took it in turns to go under the dragon boat and rescue a tapped little Annie. (Annie is the name of our infant re-sus manikin.)
Open water swimming over huge distances is not something I enjoy. I prefer to watch!
This weekend is the ASA open water swim at the Royal Albert Docks. Another event that HCL provide lifeguards for. The swim distances are up to 10k, which is no sprint race!
The weather forecast is not that good at the moment, hopefully that will change!
Sandy Bay is close to Exmouth. At low tide you can walk from Exmouth beach to sandy bay between the rocks. As the tide comes in people can become trapped between the rocky outcrops. Unaware that the sea is surging forwards.
Looking towards the start of Sandy Bay from Exmouth.
Looking towards Exmouth from Sandy Bay, just as the outgoing tide is uncovering the last of the rocks.
Congratulations have to go to HCL rookies who recently got two large grants from the local authority to buy some shiny new boats and radios.
Some of our old boats are starting to look a bit tired, having served us well for a couple of decades! Retiring the old boats will make space for the new.
Blenheim went well, with 24 Canoe Lifeguards on the water, several powerboats and lifeguards provided by the Potters Bar Lifeguard unit. Throughout the weekend over 4000 people enter and exit the water safely, with only 11 being removed from the water due to tiredness or cramp.
Blenheim Palace is a fantastic location for a triathlon event. The whole event is contained within the palace grounds.
All races start on mass, with competitors entering the water within a set time period, then lining up on the start line. One group of Canoe Lifeguards follow the swimmers around the course while others line the inside of the course.
Below, two of the powerboats practicing evacuations from the water.
Thank you to all the lifeguards who helped over the weekend.
