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Thursday, 28 February 2008
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Committee Meeting and Training
The SRA committee met this week. This was the 5th time this year. The committee meet 6 times a year. (we have one more meeting before the AGM) We discuss all matters regarding Scottish Rafting from Access to Qualifications and Training. The committee has been made up from the same few people for a while now and they really could do with some help in their projects. They all do it for the love and it is a voluntary post. It would be great to get some fresh blood in the committee in 2008. You do not need to take a named post.
Over the last year they have been involve on your behalf with Upper River Tay Agreements and Spey Access issues. All these issues help the companies giving you your jobs so it is worth while. The comittee have worked with the SRA Trainers to add some courses to the calender and develop the training scheme in line with the IRF. Check the IRF website here to see your qualifications are recognised in all IRF countries. 3 Trainers have also developed some great Power Point Presentations for the 6 day courses. The SRA has also invested in a Laptop and Projector to deliver these presentations.
The SRA are looking for new trainers. If you are a Level 3 Unrestricted Trip Leader and have been for at least 1 year then please get in touch with Cam Allan srarafttraining@aol.com and find out how to get involved.
The SRA has approved 4 Six Day Raft Guide Training Courses in the last year. We are running our own one in March 2008. The committee are keen to find out if Raft Companies would be interested in running more SRA Approved courses. Please get in touch with Cam Allan sraratftraining@aol.com
The SRA Training Officer Cam Allan enjoying his job on a six Guide Course.
Over the last year they have been involve on your behalf with Upper River Tay Agreements and Spey Access issues. All these issues help the companies giving you your jobs so it is worth while. The comittee have worked with the SRA Trainers to add some courses to the calender and develop the training scheme in line with the IRF. Check the IRF website here to see your qualifications are recognised in all IRF countries. 3 Trainers have also developed some great Power Point Presentations for the 6 day courses. The SRA has also invested in a Laptop and Projector to deliver these presentations.
The SRA are looking for new trainers. If you are a Level 3 Unrestricted Trip Leader and have been for at least 1 year then please get in touch with Cam Allan srarafttraining@aol.com and find out how to get involved.
The SRA has approved 4 Six Day Raft Guide Training Courses in the last year. We are running our own one in March 2008. The committee are keen to find out if Raft Companies would be interested in running more SRA Approved courses. Please get in touch with Cam Allan sraratftraining@aol.com
The SRA Training Officer Cam Allan enjoying his job on a six Guide Course.
Sore Tooth on the Orchy Guide Training Course September 2007 Trainer Cam Allan
Sheep Trolley Gorge on the Orchy. Guide Training Course September 2007. Trainer Bruce Low
River Tay
We got this message in today from Steve at Freespirits. The house in question is here. So please can you all be aware when you are on the Tay.
This is a great comment for us Rafters so lets keep it up in 2008
This is a great comment for us Rafters so lets keep it up in 2008
Dear All
RAFTING AND BOAT OF CLUNY
I wrote to you all on St Patrick's Day last year asking you to request your guides to restrict water games adjacent to my home at Boat of Cluny, the only waterside property between Aberfeldy and Grandully. With the increasing numbers of rafts passing daily a few scant yards from my front door, I was suffering from noise pollution and occasional cat-calling. Often I found myself ducking for cover whenever a group of rafts came close....
I want to thank you all for the extremely positive response to my cri de coeur. Instead of going into hiding, I was often able to exchange a cheery wave with the guides as the boats went quietly by. One of you had come round to assure me that there was no reason why the rafters should not be back in the rafts, paddling quietly, by the time they reached the house. This seemed to be the common approach.... It made such a difference to the quiet enjoyment of my property.
If there was a continuing problem, it only arose as the season wore on and the guides changed or were added to. Calling out to the rafts was always for me a last resort on only two or three occasions during the year after repetitions of noisy activities right in front of the house by the same group of rafts. Usually I called 'But your boss said this wouldn't happen....' The response was invariably 'Sorry, we had not been briefed about this.' And things improved.....
I appreciate that there are occasionally other rafting companies on the river who may be culprits, but I would like to ask all you local folk to respond again this coming season in the same positive spirit as last year. I would be most grateful.
Finally, may I wish you all a successful season, notwithstanding that the punters' purses may be less well filled this year!
Yours aye,
Richard Jarvis
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Findhorn
We have just had this in from Jim up at Ace Adventures. So if you are heading up to the Findhorn it is worth a look.
There was recently a community meeting for Furness which supposedly raised concerns regards rafting on the Findhorn, I did not attend as was unaware of the meeting and found out when interviewed by the editor of the Nairn Post. The issues raised were; Access Points and the supposed damage caused, defecation at access points, client safety. I have not heard anything back from my statements and not pursued the matter further as we have a good working relationship with the landowners that we are concerned with and they are all pretty happy. I am intending to initiate a similar work group for users of the river that Dave Craig has done for the Spey with the view to gain better understanding and working relationships between all parties.
One point to be raised is that the access point at Randolph’s leap that is used by rafters, which is us mainly and Full On Adventure seldomly, is starting to show signs of erosion and that it would be advised not to use this put in any more or find another way of getting boats down to the pool after the final drop at Randolphs Leap. The consequence of bad erosion to the bank at this point will be the destruction of the path that runs along the face of the cliff. It would be totally irresponsible for rafting to cause what would be the demise of this scenic and well used path. My suggestion for access at Randolphs would be to put the boats in above Randolphs Leap where a track leads to a suitable rock slab put in and then have the boats lined down Randolphs. It ads about 30 minutes to the start of a trip.
Another point is that one of the put ins for the Top section which is accessed via driving through private land on a private track which is used by Fishers who have permission has been used in the past and might still be used by FOA. This is on Cawdor Estate and to my knowledge no one has asked or been given permission for access. I originally spoke with Euan Broadie of Lethen Estate regards permission to use this access point and he pointed out that it was not his land. The Put in for the Top section is as what is described I the SCA guide book and it would be advised not to drive to the ford without permission. When the ground is soft vehicles can cause a lot of mess in the field.
The best access points for rafting on the Findhorn are;
Top – Put In, as per SCA guide book. Take Out, Dulsie Bridge but you will have to haul the rafts up the side of the bridge which is no mean feat.
Upper – Put In, Dulsie Bridge. Take Out, Ardclach or Logie Bridge
Middle – Put In, Ardclach or Logie Bridge. Take Out, Daltulich Bridge or Randolphs Leap
Lower – Put In, Daltulich Bridge or Randolphs Leap. Take Out, Mains of Sluie (Not the Kayak takeout as this causes unnecessary erosion of the river bank) A track leads all the way to the shingle beach at the next bend approx 800m downstream.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Jim
Ace Adventure
111 Grampian Road, Aviemore, PH22 1RH
Tel: 01479 810 510
Mob: 07792 034 291
http://www.aceadventures.co.uk/
There was recently a community meeting for Furness which supposedly raised concerns regards rafting on the Findhorn, I did not attend as was unaware of the meeting and found out when interviewed by the editor of the Nairn Post. The issues raised were; Access Points and the supposed damage caused, defecation at access points, client safety. I have not heard anything back from my statements and not pursued the matter further as we have a good working relationship with the landowners that we are concerned with and they are all pretty happy. I am intending to initiate a similar work group for users of the river that Dave Craig has done for the Spey with the view to gain better understanding and working relationships between all parties.
One point to be raised is that the access point at Randolph’s leap that is used by rafters, which is us mainly and Full On Adventure seldomly, is starting to show signs of erosion and that it would be advised not to use this put in any more or find another way of getting boats down to the pool after the final drop at Randolphs Leap. The consequence of bad erosion to the bank at this point will be the destruction of the path that runs along the face of the cliff. It would be totally irresponsible for rafting to cause what would be the demise of this scenic and well used path. My suggestion for access at Randolphs would be to put the boats in above Randolphs Leap where a track leads to a suitable rock slab put in and then have the boats lined down Randolphs. It ads about 30 minutes to the start of a trip.
Another point is that one of the put ins for the Top section which is accessed via driving through private land on a private track which is used by Fishers who have permission has been used in the past and might still be used by FOA. This is on Cawdor Estate and to my knowledge no one has asked or been given permission for access. I originally spoke with Euan Broadie of Lethen Estate regards permission to use this access point and he pointed out that it was not his land. The Put in for the Top section is as what is described I the SCA guide book and it would be advised not to drive to the ford without permission. When the ground is soft vehicles can cause a lot of mess in the field.
The best access points for rafting on the Findhorn are;
Top – Put In, as per SCA guide book. Take Out, Dulsie Bridge but you will have to haul the rafts up the side of the bridge which is no mean feat.
Upper – Put In, Dulsie Bridge. Take Out, Ardclach or Logie Bridge
Middle – Put In, Ardclach or Logie Bridge. Take Out, Daltulich Bridge or Randolphs Leap
Lower – Put In, Daltulich Bridge or Randolphs Leap. Take Out, Mains of Sluie (Not the Kayak takeout as this causes unnecessary erosion of the river bank) A track leads all the way to the shingle beach at the next bend approx 800m downstream.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Jim
Ace Adventure
111 Grampian Road, Aviemore, PH22 1RH
Tel: 01479 810 510
Mob: 07792 034 291
http://www.aceadventures.co.uk/
Friday, 8 February 2008
Note from the SCA regarding Grandtully Events
Just to let you all know, we recieved the slalom calendar for 2008 SCA slalom and race events last week.
As in the past, it has been requested if we could all ensure that raft guides are briefed accordingly.
The majority affect us only at Grandtully but 2 events, the 1st March and 3rd and 5th May are white water races and will affect us further upstream.
On the ww race dates, could you please make sure all guides are aware of racers:
If they see them at the start point, allow racer to set off before going through.
Once through, keep an eye behind for further racers coming through and give way to them. (they will be trying to take the line of the fastest flow.)
Particular attention should be given on approach to Grandtully. If a racer is in sight behind you before you round the final corner, please eddy out and allow them to pass prior to continuing down Grandtully.
For the slalom events:
Could all rafters please stop at the top of Grandtully and await a signal to proceed from the person on the start gate.
Events will take a lunch break between 12.00 and 13.00 but should still leave a signaller on the start gate and could all rafts still stop until signalled.
Where ever possible, please attempt to avoid the slalom gates whilst descending Grandtully, but in particular the start and finish gates as these have the timing mechanisms attached.
I am awaiting confirmation that all events will have the same lunch break, what type of signal will be used and what side the starters will be sat on for each event and will update you when event organisers confirm this to me.
Dates are:
1st March WW Race
22/23 March Div 1+2 Slalom. Pan Celtic International
29/30 March Premier double
31st March (TBC) Div 4
3rd + 5th May WW Race
23/24 Aug Div 1 + 2 Double
4 Oct Scottish championships.
Please also all be aware that parking at Grandtully is going to be quite tight, especially on the 29/30 March as Freespirits have a (very) large charity event on.
Cheers all
Steve Thomas
Freespirits Owner.
Freespirits Owner.
Friday, 1 February 2008
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