Monday 26 November 2012

A window in the weather

This was the first IntroMediate Winter Skills sea kayaking weekend ...phew ... bit of a mouth full and I was extremely pleased to see a favourable forecast.  With a wild week of wind, rain and flooding the week before and much the same forecast for Monday the weekend was looking stunning!  SE 3/4 increasing latter and 5/6 over night with rain.  And then F2/3 variable winds with sunshine on Sunday ..

This weekend was aimed midway to top at this level, due to some previous experience working at the level. 

After meeting Helen and Peter and Andrew (on holiday from New Zealand) and Rebbecca, we created a plan, which involved swell, current and some wind.  Cemais Bay, to Middle mouse, all being well and back. 



Doing a few circuits, as people get a feeling for the boats and Peter enjoys his coffee!!


Andy above in the first of the rough water ...



Rebbecca on the out side and Helen closer ...


We worked a few short circuits with the aim of using the body to assist a turn, and then as we were very close to slack water headed out to Middle Mouse.  We could see the whole of the North coast of Anglesey and as the wind began to gust more we headed back. The boys leaving the eddy of Middle Mouse above


We laded for some welcomed lunch keeping it brief and were soon back out and working a great inner flow, which earlier had been a gentle eddy stream and now was moving and being drawn out by the main flow, producing a good moderate sea.

Rebbecca and Peter, were given ferry glide out and ride the swell and surf up against the flow.  Then paddle back down and repeat.  While I worked more with Helen and Andy on eddy turns and then ferry glides using an imaginary clock face to work out the direction of the flow, to then assist with the angle to paddle out, to achieve the goal.  All were working particularly hard and Andy took a particularly chunky piece of swell that capsized him and moments latter he was back in his boat.

The sun had never really come out and it had the feel of a Winters day, but it didn't stop us ...

Sunday - After a reflection on the previous day and two potential locations, the one with more swell and surf was chosen ... Rhoscolyn.



Now this was a surprise start to the day with gorgeous sunshine, although we were all in dry suits and boiling!  We did some forward paddling work and circuits, and focused on inside turns and low brace.  Used these as we headed for Silver Bay, hoping for some surf, we did some rock hoping as we moved along the coast.  There was another team who had thought of the same idea, with Simon and Mark, who I new.

Surfing a sea kayak can be tricky, everything happens fast and theres lots to process and think about. But its a great way to progress skills quickly, as long as your OK with a few capsizes along the way ...


It was super and just right .. Helen above catching her first wave ...


Pete who has a strong and broad white water background enjoying the waves ...


And some more ....


Rather than one big break people snacked and took what they needed, which also meant their was often two on the water, which allowed space and those on the beach to watch and further assist them with their learning process ...


Rebbecca taking a bigger wave ...and enjoying herself ...


The sun was still fighting but loosing the battle as we headed back out to Rhoscolyn, to go through assisted rescues and self rescues ... Yep a keen bunch!



Helen with some fun and balance to begin with ... then a back deck self rescue ..


Andy doing a back deck (cowboy) self rescue, which had been demonstrated by Rebbecca.  While I worked with Pete, who had a strong roll and completed it first time.

It was a super weekend, with keenness and enthusiasm adding to it all!

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

north wales sea kayaking
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winter sea kayaking

Wednesday 14 November 2012

3 seasons in a weekend ...

It was the start of the Winter Skills Xplore - Intermediate sea kayaking weekend, sadly Keith was unwell, so he had to cancel on the Friday.  This left Douglas, Rich and Tavi and over a coffee and a couple of plans were discussed and created.  This plan mainly was a big longer day working with forward paddling and then a rescue rough water day ... Sunday was due to be rougher, so the longer paddle day made sense on Saturday.


Moelfre to Point Lynas and back was the outline idea and above we have Douglas striking out, Tavi and then Rich.


With one hour before low water slack Point Lynas was sleeping, so we landed round the corner, had lunch and then as the flood began to build, we eddy hoped our way further along the coast to East Mouse, ferry glided out and then jumped on the flood tide back to the point ...
 

The rain arrived, heavy at times ....


And as we got closer to Moelfre the sun came out and silky seas arrived ...


Sunday and a F4/5 NW and a desire to get rough, saw us at Cemlyn Bay doing some tows in the swell,  before heading out towards the outer race of Harry Furlongs, with some wind against tide and confused sea state ...



We did a couple of runs through, across and then back up ..with assisted rescues, rolling in swell and then swell and flow, using the group to assist and towing to pull the rescue out of the flow ...


With some catching waves and lapping up the winter sunshine as we went ... back in the bay, their was an option for practising self rescues, before loading the van and returning to Menai Bridge and saying our good byes.

ps: hope your feeling better and more rested now Keith

www.coastalspirit.com
winter sea kayaking
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rough water sea kayaking


Tuesday 6 November 2012

A misty days sea kayaking ....

A westerly wind of F5/6 was forecast and it was as calm as a calm thing at Menai Bridge when i met Chris, to talk through the day.  Moelfre on the East coast would provide shelter and suitable conditions, for the day.


It was a damp and misty day, unlike the previous day ...


Landing at one of the beaches along this stretch of coastline...


We finished off the day with a drive across too summit to sea so Chris could talk through sea kayaks and arranged a demo day, with Pete.  Despite the weather it had been a useful day with Chris having a number of options as he progresses towards his future goal of a sea kayak journey on the west coast of Scotland.

www.coastalspirit.com 

A Magic Winters day Sea Kayaking

I met Kelly and Craig at Trearddur Bay hotel for a coffee and chat about their days Bespoke sea kayaking.  Forecast was F4/5 N, but all was much lighter, it was bright and a great calm sea state.  Rhoscolyn facing South offered protection and so was to be our location.  A journey was the aim, so after  some brief work on inside/out side turns, it was putting these into context moving in and out of the rocky channels.  



This was the first time for Kelly in a sea kayak and on the sea, and she did super, right throughout the day. A big well done ...


The weather threaten at times to follow the forecast, but thankfully never really arrived ...



And we were treated to super winter light and some amazing reflection ...


Briefly met one of the locals ...a grey seal at the Beacon, snoozing and making the most of the Winter sunshine.


and at times some amazing and stunning colours ...


One of my favourite caves, with a gentle rolling swell creating super conditions and disturbing the beast which lied within ... round Rhoscolyn head and on to a small cove for our 2nd break of the day.

With the tide now just into the ebb, we had enough time to paddle round to the White Arch, before jumping back on the tide, to assist us back to our starting point.


Craig up front looking on towards the Lleyn Peninsula after a top winters day sea kayaking and one I'm sure they will both remember ... and what a start for Kelly ....

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

winter sea kayaking
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bespoke opportunities