Cornwall Castaway

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 used for smuggling tea, brandy and silk – all heavily taxed at the time. Do you think you’d have the mettle to traverse Newquay’s craggy cliffs while the Atlantic swells crash beneath you?

The storm raged for the following 3 days and 3 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.

Would you have the knowledge 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 one of our experienced instructors will kit you out in a wetsuit, buoyancy aid and helmet 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.

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.

CHALLENGE THREE: RAFT ESCAPE

Once your belly is full and energies recharged it is 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), steer & control the craft and navigate our craggy coastline back to the safety of the shore.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

It’s not just action, adrenaline and heaps of fun, but you will walk away having learnt invaluable coastal survival skills and a tall tale to tell for the next 100 years!