Stag & Hen 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 soon 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.

The storm raged for the following 3 days and 3 nights forcing the crew to weather it out in a nearby 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?

STAG PARTIES & HEN PARTIES

You’ll be challenged on every level in a myriad of wilderness bushcraft & adventure scenarios. These will include wild swimming, coasteering, survival skills and navigating a rescue craft back to shore. It’s no easy feat and to become a true Cornwall Castaway you must successfully complete every wilderness & adventure challenge. Have you got what it takes?

On arrival at the Newquay Activity Centre one of our qualified experienced instructors will kit your group out in Rip Curl wetsuits, buoyancy aids and safety helmets before leading you to the beginning of your Cornwall Castaway adventure.

CHALLENGE ONE: MAKING DRY LAND (COASTEERING)

Shortly after being ‘shipwrecked’, your objective is to make dry land by means of wild sea swimming, traversing your way along rocks, low-level climbing and riding nature’s natural rapids. Get the excitement of your stag or hen party going with incredible leaps into deep-water plunge pools and see who has the nerve to go the highest!

CHALLENGE TWO: CAVE SURVIVAL (BUSHCRAFT)

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 (SUPER SUP)

Once your belly is full and your energy recharged, it’s time for your stag or hen party to escape Dead man’s cove. Fortunately for your group, 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!