Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning

Open Water Navigation. A buoy in open water.

The British Canoeing Awarding Body Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning training is designed for paddlers carrying out open water journeys including islands over 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of strong tidal movement of 3+ knots and/or including winds of up to force 5. It gives candidates the skills to be able to plan and navigate safely in advanced water environments through the use of practical planning.

Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning Overview

Duration

8 hours

Prerequisites

Candidates wishing to attend the British Canoeing Awarding Body Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning course must have attended a Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning course or equivalent.

For more details on recognised equivalencies, please refer to our Alternative Qualifications for Navigation and Tidal Planning Courses document.

Finding an Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning Course

To find a course in your area, contact your Delivery Centre by clicking the relevant logo at the bottom of this page

Course Documents

To view the associated documents with this course, click here.

Core Skills Covered

The content of this course builds directly on the themes covered in the Coastal and Tidal Planning training and seeks to develop the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of the areas below as applied in an advanced water environment:

  • To interpret sources of relevant information including maps, charts, coastal pilots, tide tables and tidal stream atlases
  • To apply the above relevant information in calculating vectors and negotiating open crossings and/or coastlines with no landing zones and/or tide races and overfalls
  • To develop the necessary knowledge to navigate on the water using advanced pilotage techniques in poor visibility or hours of darkness

By the end of the course, each candidate should have planned at least 2 open crossings that they can take home as references for further trip planning.

Candidates should also be aware of the range of resources they require to plan trips in any sea area.

For more information on the content covered, please read the Syllabus.

Certification

Attendance certificates are issued to successful candidates by their Delivery Centre following a recommendation from the course provider.

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Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course

This course was launched on the 4th January and aims to provide paddlers with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely and be able to deal with common problems in a sheltered water environment.

The course content focuses on rescuing from the paddlers specific craft and covers equipment, safety frameworks, as well as a range of rescues such as contact and towing rescues, self-rescues and deep water rescues.

Find out more about this course!

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Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor

This course was launched on the 4th January and aims to support Instructors running SUP taster/starter sessions and short journeys in very sheltered water environments.

The 2 day course helps to prepare candidates for their first SUP instructing role, ensuring they are ‘primed and ready’ to deliver safe and enjoyable sessions for people new to paddleboarding, within the safety management systems of clubs, centres or other organisations.

Find out more about this course!

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Inclusive Language eLearning

This eLearning was launched on the 11th January and will cover the importance of using inclusive language and the impact it can have on those around you.

This module provides an understanding of key terms, definitions and examples of inclusive language; supports learners on how to identify and tackle inappropriate or exclusive language such as banter and microaggressions; and how to challenge it when it happens.

Find out more!

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International Webinars

We have held several International webinars throughout the year the first being Paddling in France which was on 15th February 2023, this was then followed by the United States of America on 15th March 2023 we then had Nepal, Norway and the latest one Austria which was on 21st June 2023. 

If any resources were used in the webinar you can now find them on the BCAB Digital Library along with the recording of the webinars. Unfortunately Paddling in Norway wasn\’t recorded so that wont be on the Digital Library.

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Manual Handling eLearning

This eLearning was launched on the 31st January and will cover different types of manual handling, how we can consider and manage risk and shows the steps we can take when manual handling to better protect our bodies. 

Throughout paddlesport, there are many occasions when we are lifting, carrying and moving craft, as well as performing rescues.  It’s essential we reflect on current practice and consider whether we are putting ourselves and others in potential danger of damaging joints and muscles, particularly when moving or lifting equipment or people.

Find out more!

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