Military Cornwall Castaway

PERFECT FOR FILLING ADVENTUROUS TRAINING GAPS

Are you a military instructor running out of AT ideas for your new trainees? Whether you’re training troops in the Army, Royal Air Force or Royal Navy, we have the ideal solution for you. Here at Newquay Activity Centre, we can appreciate there’s often some down-time between basic and trade training. If you’re scratching your head thinking how best to keep your newly-inducted troops active, look no further than our Military Cornwall Castaway challenge!

Read on to find out the fascinating story behind our inspiration, and get in touch today to hear how we can keep the boredom at bay!

AS LEGEND HAS IT…

In December 1917 a terrible storm battered the coast of Newquay. The Osten, a local fishing boat, got caught in the storm and was washed over the notoriously dangerous Cribbar reef – a modern day big wave surf spot where waves of up to 40ft break over shallow jagged rocks.

The alarm was raised and horses pulled the lifeboat to the slipway on Towan Headland. However, on arrival at the scene, the lifeboat’s new coxswain refused to launch in such weather and waves. Despite the coxswains orders, former cox Gill resisted saying he had been out in worse and formed a maverick crew of volunteers to rescue the Osten.

Much to the delight of onlookers, the lifeboat set sail under Gill’s command but the boat was quickly tipped by huge waves. Her sails quickly filled with water so she could not self-right and the crew were washed overboard and into the cliffs.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SURVIVE?

Using their local knowledge of the coastline, the crew traversed their way to the relative safety of a cave known as the Tea Caverns. This was a smugglers cave in use from the 17th – 18th century for smuggling tea, brandy and silk – all heavily taxed at the time.

Would your troops have the mettle to traverse Newquay’s craggy cliffs while the Atlantic swell crashes beneath them?

The storm raged for the following three days and three nights forcing the crew to weather it out in the cave. The men foraged for seagull eggs, crabs and shellfish and built fires from driftwood to cook and fend off the onset of hypothermia. When the storm finally passed, the crew were rescued and awarded RNLI gallantry medals on their return to land.

Test your military training and see if you have what it takes to survive in such an unforgiving environment?

ULTIMATE WILDERNESS CHALLENGE

You’ll be challenged on every level in a myriad of wilderness & adventure scenarios: wild swimming, coasteering, survival skills and navigating a rescue raft back to shore.

It’s no easy feat and to become a true Cornwall Castaway, you must successfully complete every wilderness & adventure challenge on offer. On arrival at the Newquay Activity Centre, our experienced instructors will kit your team out in wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets and lead you to the beginning of your Castaway adventure.

WHATS NEXT?

CHALLENGE ONE: MAKING DRY LAND 

Shortly after being ‘shipwrecked’, your objective is to make dry land by means of wild sea swimming, climbing and traversing your way along the rocks, riding sluices (nature’s natural rapids) and diving into deep water plunge pools.

This stage of the activity draws on a number of physical and technical skills, as well as boosting mental capabilities such as confidence and fear management.

CHALLENGE TWO: CAVE SURVIVAL

On making it to Dead man’s cove, you’ll take on a host of wilderness & adventure survival skills. Here you will forage, collect fuel to build a fire and also learn how to identify our fascinating marine and bird life.

The survival skills covered on this leadership programme are directly transferable to operational capabilities and lend themselves well to testing your troops resourcefulness and moral building attributes.

CHALLENGE THREE: RAFT ESCAPE

Once your bellies are full and energies recharged, it’s time to escape Dead man’s cove. Fortunately for you, a life raft (a.k.a our huge Super Stand Up Paddleboard) will be somewhere in the vicinity as a means of escape. Here, working as a team, you’ll learn how to launch & land the castaway raft, perform efficient paddle strokes (both standing up and kneeling down) as well as steering & controlling the craft towards your next task.

The troops will also be given a point-to-point navigation exercise to complete before returning to shore. By this late stage of the course, the troops’ stamina and mental endurance is called upon one last time. Our Cornwall Castaway challenge draws on team work, communication and orienteering skills; all attributes transferable to operational effectiveness.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

The Cornwall Castaway is a well rounded leadership programme that offers a little bit of everything and more; a good blend of physical and mental challenges that will push personal boundaries to their limits. But most of all it’s a really fun day out!