Monday 23 March 2015

The Roof of Britain - One BIG Adventure!

On the 18th April we begin our journey to paddle around the 'Roof of Britain' a journey of 400 nm and with some of Britain's most exciting, committing and beautiful coastline.   Basically its the top half of mainland Scotland.  The team is made up of Tavi from Swansea, with Anita and Sarah from Switzerland.

We meet up early December and had 4 days intensive training and what a super few days it was with the Stacks, big swell day on the east coast, Bardsey Island and Holy Island Circumnavigation.  Since then action plans have been worked on and emails have flown back and forth.  

Where we will start will depend on the weather at the time and for the forecast for the following week. We have 4 weeks in total to work with We will keep a weekly Blog on our progress, so you can follow and keep updated, if you want to.   Plus on Facebook, I'll send a Tweet and a photo more regularly.

If you want to know more about the 'RoB' then there is a couple of Blogs from previous teams, which can be viewed here






Tavi up front with Sarah and then Anita, on the East coast of Anglesey with a big swell running and a NW dropping F5 wind ....



PS:  Thanks Tavi for the RoB logo!

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
+44 7873 132999

Bespoke Sea Kayaking Anglesey, North Wales.

Bespoke sea kayaking can really enable you to achieve what you need and want.  In a much shorter time scale, because the day is dedicated to you and set at your pace .. just imagine that!

A good example is Andrew below, who having done the new Introduction to Sea Kayaking course last summer, really got the bug and booked on two further discounted Bespoke days at the end of last year (due to the £20 saving on each course) and after the Winter off  he was keen as mustard to get back on the water.  Working in wind, swell and gentle current was the focus and as you can see below, with photo 2 and 3 there was a fair swell running!

The sun came out and created some super light ... and then for an introduction for some tide race surfing ... We finished reflecting back on the day and Andrew started talking about different sea kayaks and buying his own paddle kit.   Its highly likely if Andrew continues the way he has begun he will have achieved what he set out, to become - independent!






Andrew above at Rhoscolyn beacon getting to grips with some gentle tide race surfing ....

Becky below is back after 18 months off to have a child!  Becky was originally due to paddle around Skye on the Rapid Development eXpedition (RDX) in 2013, but announced she was pregnant.  It was good to see her and catch up and she came with two paddling plans and expressed her desire to paddle around Anglesey solo this summer.

We had a light wind forecast for the day and the decision to paddle to the Skerries, which Becky had planned, was an easy one ...

We played on the edge of Harry Furlongs race first, warming up the skills and enjoying the gentle waves.  Then headed out to the various cardinal marks, to shape a course out to the Skerries, a small island off the NW corner of Anglesey.  It was great to see clearly Becky was enjoying being in her kayak again.  It was another top day, with glorious sunshine ....






Bespoke coaching is available during the week and will often involve some video work if its felt this will assist an individuals progress and feedback.  Photos are a part of any course and allow some memories to be captured and shared with others at home.  Be warned your often set home work, to work on towards the next session ... this way you also get more form the course and experience!

So if you want to progress your skills and get closer to becoming independent as Andrew does or have a specific goal as Becky does to paddle solo around Anglesey.  Bespoke sea kayaking hits the mark and WILL enable you through support, coaching, guidance, training and feedback to achieve what you set out for.  You need to apply the time, commitment and effort ...


Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
info@coastalspirit.com

+44 7873 132999


InterMediate Sea Kayaking North Wales, Anglesey

This was the last weekend of the Winter programme of InterMediate Sea Kayaking courses and it was good to see Keith, Stephen, Stella, Mandy and Kim.  Winds were mainly form the North, so the air was cold and partial shelter was one of each days aims!

Rhoscolyn on the West coast of Holy Island on the first day.  We worked on turns and stern rudders ... with the main focus on BODY, Boat and blade.  Really trying to ensure lower and upper boat were working together to get the best result ...  Out to the Beacon on the last couple of hours of the flood, provided some nice bouncy water ....

Sunday saw us on Anglesey and the West coast close to Carmel Head.  Faster and more confused tidal flow and looking at identifying texture and trying to anticipate, what was likely to happen.  Work with paddling up against the flow and trying to use appropriate angle and speed finished the day and weekend.

Tatiana joined us for the weekend to observe and assist me working as she is working towards a UKCC British Canoe Union (BCU) level 3 Coach assessment.  Clearly the air temperature was a challenge to her!!  Good to meet you Tatiana and I wish you all the very best.  An account of the weekend form her perspective can be seen here.









The next InterMediate the currently has places on is mid week form the 15-18th June; 27/28th June on a weekend and 22/23rd August.  Have a look at my website or email me for further details.

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
info@coastalspirit.com

+44 7873 132999http://tatiyak.blogspot.it/2015/03/observing-roger-chandler-in.htmlhttp://tatiyak.blogspot.it/2015/03/observing-roger-chandler-in.html