Introduction

We are attending Drogheda institute of further education doing the outdoor sport & recreation. In this course we take part in different activities such as power-boating, windsurfing, kayaking, hill walking and other outdoor activities. We also study first aid, outdoor recreation, communications and exercise and fitness classes. This will help us to get the qualifications we want and gain skills and employment in the future. On our first week of doing activities we are going sailing in Carlingford and the kayaking and windsurfing in Malahide.

On Monday the 17th of September, we are going out to Carlingford Adventure Centre as part of our outdoor sport & recreation course to do power boating. We are leaving Dife at 9 o’clock in the morning and returning back to the college at 3 in the afternoon. we needed to organise equipment to bring with us; wet suit, life jacket, first aid kit, a phone, spare change of clothes, towel and lunch . The wet suit is needed to keep us warm in cold water, a life jacket in case one of goes over board, first aid kit in case of emergencies as well as a phone in case we need to ring for  emergency services, spare change of clothes,  runners and a towel for after we finish the activity.

 

On Tuesday the 18th of September we are going to Malahide Adventure Centre to do kayaking and windsurfing. We will need the same equipment as we needed for power boating but we will also need to bring the kayaks, paddles and helmets from the college. We will also need to make sure the kayaks are in working condition and fit to be used.  We will be shown different skills in kayaking that we can use in case we get into danger such as the Eskimo roll as seen in this clip.

 

On Monday we learned how to steer a power boat forwards, backwards and turning in confined spaces, how to attach the engine to the transom and how to take the boat down to the water and off hook it. We had to ensure that there was enough fuel in the boat and we had all the right equipment before getting into the water. Unfortunately on Tuesday we weren’t able to go to Malahide because of bad weather conditions, we stayed in the college and done theory work instead.