Guidelines on grading a Club Trip

Guidelines on coordinating or running a club trip

When describing trips we use the international river grading system or Sea grading system used in many guidebooks. However, these grades can change greatly with weather conditions. Please take account of high water levels or gusty or changing weather systems. Club trips are usually sheltered or moderate water grades 1-3 / A-B but occasionally with very experienced leaders include grade 4 / C. (Grades 5 and 6 (C+) are only included here for reference)

River Grading System used to describe LCC trips		Sea and Open Water Grading System used to describe LCC trips
Sheltered Water Novice Paddlers	Open to novice or less expericed paddlers with suitable equipment. Ungraded sections of slow moving rivers where the group could paddle upstream against the flow (not involving the shooting of, or playing on, weirs or running rapids). Eg lower River Dee from Farndon	Sheltered Water Novice Paddlers	Open to novice or less expericed paddlers with suitable equipment. Closed or protected water. Usually a basic skills instruction session or social gathering. No more than 200m from shore. Maximum Force 2, 5 knots wind or 0 m sea Eg Inland Sea
Moderate Water Grade II Improver paddlers	Waves, small stoppers and other minor obstructions to avoid. Eddies and cushion waves may be strong. Eg The River Washburn,	Moderate Water Grade A Improver paddlers	For improvers with some paddling experience. Up to 15 km per day on estuaries and lakes or other protected waters. Maximum Force 3 10 knots wind or 0.5 m sea Eg Hilbre Island or Conway Estuary in good conditions.
Moderate Water Grade III Intermediate paddlers	Waves, stoppers and technical difficulties are more severe. There may be drops and powerful constrictions. The main distinguishing factor of Grade 3 water is that the paddler will have to follow a recognisable route to avoid obstacles and hazards. Eg The Lower River Tryweryn	Moderate Water Grade B Intermediate paddlers	For improvers with some skills including assisted rescue, bracing, towing, and entry & exit through small surf. Up to 20 km per day, primarily on estuaries or sheltered coastlines, occasionally along less accessible coastlines for training purposes. Maximum Force 4, 15 knot winds or 1 metre seas Eg Rhoscolyn to Porth Dafarch, Sheltered North Coast of Anglesey in good conditions.
Advanced Water Grade IV: Advanced paddlers	Severe waves, drops, stoppers and other obstructions. The route is not easily recognisable and will usually require careful inspection from the boat or bank. Grade 4 encompasses a wide range of rivers, from those with pool-drop rapids to those with extended continuous rapids; so there is a huge variation in difficulty. It is common to distinguish easier grade 4 rapids by grading them as 4- and harder rapids as 4+ (or in some cases, 3/4 or 4/5). Eg Afon Ogwen or Upper River Dart in Devon	Advanced Water Grade C Advanced paddlers	For proficient paddlers, 3 or 4 Star Standard. Capable of sustained speeds of 4-6 km/h. 25 -30 km per day - Landings may be impossible. A good roll should be in evidence. Maximum Force 5 20 knots wind or 2 metre sea Eg Carmel Head, The Orms in good conditions.
Advanced Water Grade V: Expert paddlers	Extremely difficult rapids with precise and technically demanding routes to be followed. Stoppers, currents and waves will be powerful and inspection is essential. Paddlers know their limits. Eg: The River Moriston in Scotland on a high release	Advanced WaterGrade C+ Expert paddlers	For advanced paddlers. 5 Star standard. Ability to self rescue in all situations. Very reliable rolling, surfing and rescue skills in severe conditions. Up to 40 km per day at speeds above 6 km/h with long open crossing or unlandable stretches. Paddlers know their limits. Eg The Stacks or Skerries on springs or open crossing (Isle of Man)
Grade VI Extreme and Exploratory paddling	All of the above carried to extremes. Grade 6 usually means unrunnable rapids, which may just be possible in certain conditions. Eg This warm-up rapid on the Abhainn Righ in Scotland probably conforms to most people's idea of 'unrunnable'. The paddler wound up in hospital...	Extreme and Exploratory paddling	For expeditionary paddlers. Extreme voyages in potentially severe conditions. Invitation only. Paddlers will know their limits

Members are reminded that when they joined the club they would have read and accepted the warning that "canoeing is an assumed risk activity." In particular, attention is drawn to paragraph 14.2 from our constitution.

14.2. In participating in activities related to outdoor pursuits, members and prospective Members are responsible for their own safety and well-being. The club as a body, the officers of the Club and the members and prospective Members will not be held responsible in law should accident, injury or death befall Members or prospective Members voluntarily enjoining in such activities. Before becoming a Prospective Member a waiver of any claim against the club must be signed by applicants who must also agree to abide by the club constitution and guide lines. Individuals are advised to seek advice related to insuring themselves against mishap.

If in doubt about the suitability of the trip, please ask the coordinator / organiser or a club member you trust. If you don’t see what you want – organise it!
If you are not sure where to go for a venue, look on the venues page of the website or look at past trips in the newsletters. Alternatively ask other club members for advice.

If you don’t feel like a full trip, small venues like Llangollen / Chester or sheltered beaches or Estuaries - Llandudno / Conway make great practice venues! Also, don’t just paddle, work it! Catch the eddies, surf the waves and play in the hole. Remember, a lot of knowledge we learn from our peers and by simply doing!