3 star sea assessment ... North Wales sea kayaking

Having met Roger at the boat yard, we set off for the cafe and to go through the 3* sea syllabus. He was then given a brief exercise to plan the tides for the area we were going to paddle which was Rhoscolyn. Winds were forecast F2 and from the S/SW, so any chance of rougher water and wind would be good!

We made our way to the edge of the bay and worked one of the smaller channels by the island, which provide a super little shoot, with some gentle wind against tide, a clear eddy and a poor one over the far side. This provide a good opportunity for eddy turns, high and low and then ferry glides, attempting to read the current and check kayak angle and speed.

Roger even manage to get a cheeky little surf in!

It was then out to the Beacon and the outer race to find some moderate conditions. We were approaching Neap tides and had a couple of hours of the flood left, plus with the current flowing against the wind ... all was good!

It was clear that Roger was happy, he was looking around and could manage his boat. It was great to see some one who had really prepared for an assessment. He caught a couple of good fast runs and this seemed a good place to move on ...

From the Beacon Roger led and navigated me to a few locations, clearly (although i didn't know at the time ... he had been with Ogwen mountain rescue as a dog handler for many years) able to navigate, paddle and talk!!

As we were approaching hw, this provided a super opportunity with paddling through the white an black arch ...

Before doing some towing back round to our lunch break ... after lunch contact tows and then assisted rescues close to the rocks and a demonstration of a roll. Back in the bay, to wrap up the day, Roger performed a self rescue which he choose as a re-entry and roll ...

Setting him self up and getting his lower body secure and well positioned in the kayak, before returning to his paddle ...

and rolling up ...

He had a strong pass, so congratulations ... once loaded and changed we headed of to Trearddur Bay hotel for a debrief, completion of his action plan and a warm up over a couple of hot chocolates!

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayaking anglesey

Paddle Challenge bunch - get their P&H sea kayaks!

After some tidal planning a review of the previous weeks surfing we soon received a call from Liz of P&H sea kayaks, who was delivering the 3 sea kayaks the team were going to use.

Alice is in a Cetus lv in turquoise blue, Erin in a Cetus with an Orange deck and Mark in a Cetus with dark blue deck and all in glitter!!

Setting off from the Northern end of the Menai Straits, Anglesey, North Wales and checking their route ...

Some work in some gentle flow and get a feel for their new sea kayaks ... Alice above

Erin working her way up the flow ...

Our Northern Hemisphere Penguins have just arrived and were a super sight!!

Flocks of them despite our distance, flying of the cliffs ...

We then crossed the sound and worked the central beacon, which provide a good eddy to work with ...

Mark working the other side ...

We crossed back to Anglesey, landed on the main beach and had lunch, before returning to the central beacon with a good 3.5k of tide pushing past ... mainly to further assist our earlier planning exercise

Back in the bay ... after a couple of assisted rescues each person finished off with a back deck self rescue, which all managed successfully and smoothly ...

The star of the moment ...

The paddle challenge bunch plan to paddle from England to Finland and begin their journey, by crossing the English channel early July. You can see their Blog of the day here and follow their progress at www.paddlingchallenge.co.uk

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayak north wales

& sea kayaking anglesey

Puffin Island and North Coast - Sea Kayaking Anglesey

This was one of our Intro-Mediate sea kayaking weekends, with the aim of introducing tidal flow, swell, surf and rough water. With a coffee and a breakfast roll for those who had driven the furthest .. we got down to some useful tidal planning. Simon had already come with an idea, which fitted well and was well thought out. He then took Becky and Neil through what he had done.

The plan was to paddle from the Eat end of the Menai Straits, to Puffin Island and back.

Neil setting out ...

There was 100 or so Oyster Catchers, which were quite stunning ...

Becky in the main channel with increasing confused water ...

Simon and Neil up front and then we were joined by an additional member ... she surfed and followed us across the sound ... great to just see her playing and loving it!

Working our way back and looking for a good sheltered lunch spot ... 10/12 seals were on the beach on the island, so we headed back across the sound.

And it really was rather comfy ... looking out along the beach to the Great Orme in the distance and on the left Puffin Island.

After some eddy turns we then paddle back into the Straits, eddy hoping as we went, passing the Oyster Catchers as we went ...

It was a super sight ....

Day 2

With Becky, Simon and Sonja joined us. After a coffee and some more planning it was the North coast and a paddle from Cemais bay to the Brickwork's and then back.

Simon in the flow ...

we worked the main Northerly point of Anglesey, which although it was fast it was also quite gentle and was great for increasing awareness of the bigger picture ...

Becky and Sonja ... yep it was colder than what we thought it was going to be ....

Heading back into the bay ... were through choice Becky decided to go for a capsize and have ago at a self rescue (back deck) which was very smooth, controlled and successful!

After loading the trailer and sorting out kit, we drove back towards Menai Bridge, for some hot chocolates and a chat about the day and weekend ...

roger chandler

north wales sea kayaking

Surfs up - the paddling challenge bunch

With a F5/6 nw I was hoping for some surf at Trearddur Bay, as Mark had never surfed before and Erin had only body boarded, so Alice had some experience in a river kayak ( I think that's right?), so i was keen to putting them through there paces ... that is after they had eaten their cooked breakfast, well they had driven from Warwick that morning!

On arrival I wasn't disappointed and the wind was more 3/4 in the bay. So some surfing it was ...

Erin taking an early ride and getting a good brace in ...

Alice getting out front and catching enough time to see the pile approach!

Erin getting a super brace in, ready for the explosion of energy, when it breaks ...

Nice work ....

Mark getting a good run in and working his stern rudder ....

Alice paddling in the back ground and me getting arty!!

On our way to Porth Dafarch to feel the open sea, some navigation and finding a lunch spot. On the way back we moved closer inshore and I was boomers (low lying rocks which can force the sea up or be lying under the surface and catch some one out) well lets just say my boat has a larger day hatch now ;-)

Back on Focus and another bay to find, which again looked closed off this time as angles changed, the bay opened up and provided a clear channel. After a short break we headed back to the Bay and went through landing under control, using reverse strokes, good timing and chasing in the back of a wave, before some more surfing to wrap up the day ...

Alice on another good diagonal run and a sequence to follow ...

Keeping well balanced ...

Alice enjoying the stable ride of the Cetus mv and coming out well ...

Erin finishing off the day in some of the bigger sets .... nice work

All in all a truly super day with 3 really lovely students who were prepared to take a few hard knocks and get back into the swell and surf, and reap the benefits of some super rides ... I love my job ...have I ever mentioned this!!

View there blog here

roger chandler

L5 coach sea

www.coastalspirit.com

north wales sea kayaking

Windy Straits - Paddling Challenge

A few weeks back I was contacted by one of the group about some specific coaching sessions, to fast track them towards their chosen paddling challenge ... to sea kayak from Britain to Finland. Keen and excited by their plan I was happy to see were I could help. So after meeting and chatting over a coffee, with the forecast of F6/7 SW the Straits was the best option. The aim of the day as I saw it was to refresh skills and introduce new ones, plus get them navigating and locating points, while sticking together, working as a team and in some rough conditions!

Checking out the venue ... Mark, Erin and Alice

We started gentle, working on core skills and then navigating and looking for good features ...

A crossing from the Gazelle to Bangor pier, produced an exciting channel with wind against tide, which they each managed really well and kept good positioning.

Mark and Bangor pier ...

Having had some lunch it was time to work our way back and visit the Swellies!!

They worked really hard with the nav and showed good involvement ...

And it really did rain, and look like this!!

Their blog can be seen here

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

anglesey sea kayaking

Rapid Development Xpedition (RDX) - overnight wild camp

After some planning on Sat morning and re checking the forecast, all was looking up after the strong winds to begin with and a dry bright evening .... So Menai Bridge to Abermeani Point (the SW end of the Straits) was our camp. Tide wasn't really working for us, so our tidal gate was the swellies and getting through before the flood, became to strong!

A few strong gusts blasted us during the day at f5, and a really nasty squall, with stronger winds and rain, pushed on through and thankfully disappeared again! we worked the breaks on the hour, attempting to get snacks in to keep fuel up and engines working ...

Abermenai Point tents up, fresh but some super bright sunny skies and a first camp from a sea kayak for some ... couldn't really ask for more!!

Fire starter Sonja soon had some warmth generated and a great fire, as the stars began to show them selves

The team taking on some heat ...

A few smooth stones were positioned and then carefully removed to warm sleeping bags!!

With rain overnight and another heavy squall, it was still a surprise to see the snow on the hills in the morning, but what a setting ...

and not a bad bedroom view ...

we were soon off, with a couple of hours of the ebb tide against us, we crossed the Strait to the mainland and worked our way along the shore, in super silky conditions

The light was great, but something was brewing ....

A couple more breaks, some contemplation, paddling into short section of wind and then we were back at Meani Bridge. Boats were soon unpacked, on trailers and roofs and we were driving off for mugs of tea!

Both Shamim and Zoe are on our RDX, and this was our last training weekend. April will see 16 days hopefully up in Scotland, with the initial plan to paddle round Mull and on around Ardnamurchan Point.

Di Lee will be keeping you up dated with the blog and you will here more from her soon!

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

north wales sea kayaking