The Challenge Badges, Click on them for their requirements

This is the Top Award of the Scout Section - The Chief Scouts Gold Award

There are many activity badges that can prove to be particularly suited to Sea Scouts to recognise their achievements or the following of an activity for a period of time. In addition there are the three Nautical Skills activity badges which combine a number of activities together with maritime tradition and associated skills.

• Basic Nautical Skills

The Scout must complete these eight activities.

1. Swim 50 metres and stay afloat for five minutes.
2. Explain the safety rules that apply to boating, and the effects of winds, tide and current.
3. Explain the difference between a buoyancy aid and a life-jacket. Adjust one to fit them and wear it to enter the water from a height of one metre.
4. Complete the following:
   1. Row a dinghy single-handed and carry out basic manoeuvres.
   2. And one of the following four activities:
      1. Scull a dinghy over the stern and carry out basic manoeuvres.
      2. Sail a figure-of-eight course.
      3. Qualify for the BCU One Star Test.

      4. Qualify for the RYA National Dinghy Certificate Scheme Dinghy Level 1 - Start Sailing or Youth Sailing Scheme - Start Sailing Stage 1.

5. Carry out an activity using a knot, a bend, a hitch, and a lashing and demonstrate rope sealing.
6. Take part in a half-day expedition or exercise afloat.
7. From the list of nautical skills training activities, complete four items, each one from a different section.
8. Keep a log of the water activities they complete.

• Nautical Skills

1. Hold the Basic Nautical Skills Badge, or be at least 11½ and complete requirements 1, 2, 3, 4a, 5 and 6 of the Basic Nautical Skills Badge.
2. Have some knowledge of rescue by boat or canoe and be able to carry out a simple rescue exercise.
3. Heave a lifeline from a boat, to land within reach of a target six metres away, within two attempts.
4. Know the steering and sailing rules and apply these to the craft being used.
5. Plan and take part in a one-day expedition or exercise afloat.
6. Complete from the list of nautical skills training activities:
   1. One item from the Practical Skills section.
   2. One item from the Safety section.
   3. Two items from the rules of the road and communications section.
   4. A further five items from the remaining five sections.
7. Keep a log of the water activities they complete

• Advanced Nautical Skills

The Scout must complete all these activities.

1. Hold the Nautical Skills Badge, or be at least 13 and complete requirements 1 to 5 of the Nautical Skills Badge.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of pilotage, navigation lights, sound signals, tides, currents and eddies, as relevant to their local waters.
3. Take care of and maintain a boat or canoe for a period of at least three months.
4. Know how to get local weather forecasts, understand their importance and be able to recognise signs of changing weather.
5. Choose one of the following two activities
   1. Gain the Pulling Coxswain Award, or take charge of a pulling boat and carry out a range of manoeuvres including: getting underway, man overboard, picking up a buoy, anchoring and coming alongside. Show a working knowledge of the pulling orders and be able to demonstrate them to less experienced members of the crew.

   2. Gain the RYA Dinghy Level 2 - Basic Skills or Young Sailing Scheme - Start Sailing Stage 3, or take charge of two other people in a sailing boat and demonstrate crew management and a range of sailing skills including: launching and recovery, getting underway, coming alongside, tacking and gybing, man overboard, picking up a buoy, anchoring and capsize recovery.

6. Take part in an expedition afloat with a minimum 24 hour duration.
7. Obtain an authorisation to undertake water activities (Form W).
8. Complete from the list of nautical skills training activities:
   1. One further item from the Practical Skills section, making sure that at least two skill areas have been covered.
   2. Two further items from the Safety section.
   3. One further item from the Rules of the road and communications section.
   4. Three further items from the remaining five sections.
9. Keep a log of the water activities they complete.

There are also some that are specifically aimed at water activities:

• Canoeist - Level 2 BCU Qualification

• Dinghy Sailor - RYA Dingy Sailor Level 2

• Dragon Boating

• Power Coxswain - Level 1 Powerboat

• Pulling

• Racing Helm

• Water Sports

Other activity badges which can be based around water include:

• Angler

• Community

• Craft

• DIY

• Global Conservation

• Guide

• Heritage

• Hobbies

• Lifesaver

• Mechanic

• Meteorologist

• Model maker

• Naturalist

• Navigator

• Nights Away

• Photographer

• Physical Recreation

• Pioneer

• Radio Communicator

• Survival Skills