Intermediate sea kayaking - 5 day course, Anglesey, North Wales

This was the 2nd 5 day InterMediate sea kayaking courses this year and Keith was booked on for the whole week, while I had Alice, Erin and Paul on for the first two days and then Craig and David were joining Keith on the last 3 days.

The last time I'd seen both Alice and Erin together was about two years ago when we crossed the English Channel and they both went on to achieve their goal of paddling to Finland within 3 months.  

It was a windy forecast for Anglesey, so we went to the North coast, Cemais Bay to have some protection form the wind and pick up some tidal flow at the same time.  Assisted rescues and surfing made up the day ...

With the wind still F4 SE and due to increase, we went from Gallows Point to Y Felinheli and back to Menai Bridge were Paul gave me a shuttle back to the van.  It was a good down wind run and every one did super well ...

A real sign of the change of months is the oyster catchers collecting and flocking in the Straits.  I also counted 12 egrets in the trees ...

Keith was happy to go back to the North coast as Craig and David joined and we worked on leadership positioning, some rock hoping and rescues and incident management ...

Thursday was a top day, with F5-6 and some super swell in Trearddur Bay, for down wind runs, surfing, rolls, self and assisted rescues ... and more surfing .... It was just so warm and super sunny .. ;)

The final day was forecasted F5-7 SW, so to be honest I wasn't shore what to expect at the Mermaid Inn at the West end of the Menai Straits.  But it was blowing a F4 and every one was happy to get on and make the most of it ... a couple of leadership legs, rolls in the wind, current and swell and a couple of assisted rescues, saw us at Britannia Bridge for lunch.

As the current began to ebb we worked with ferry glides, and eddy turns and moving up against the flow, until we decided it was time to go while we could!  Back at Menai Bridge and the flooded car park.

The course before an Intermediate is an IntroMediate and the last 5 day course this year is in a few weeks time: 15-19th September.

The next interMediate is 20/21st September and currently has a couple of places available.

Thanks,
Roger


north wales sea kayak courses
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InterMediate Plus Sea Kayaking Course - Anglesey, North Wales, UK

A week back now As I considered packing my kit for the Expedition around Anglesey. Bertha was on the way, with very strong winds and lots of rain, forecasted.   It just made sense to cancel the expedition, but continue with the course.  Anita was joining form Switzerland, with Richard joining on day 2 and then Craig for a couple of days.

Over a coffee I talked through with Anita what she wanted from her day and considered the forecast, which was NE and then NW F6-7!  The north coast and Point Lynas would provide some chunky conditions ... we were not disappointed!!

We did a couple of runs down through the race getting a feel for it, working on eddy turns and acceleration ... then moved into the race to catch some waves .. 

It had been a top day and Anita had done really well and also had pulled off seven rolls each.  Why seven, well it was all part of making it fun.  At the start of the day I'd written one number on four pieces of paper, screwed them up and then asked Anita to chose a piece of paper.  The one she chose had the number 7 on.  So seven rolls we both had to do!   This started a conversation about rolling in rough water ...  We practise all of our other strokes and rescues in various conditions, yet rarely our roll.  And when we do it tends to be back in the calm bay we started from.  Why are we then surprised if we are worried about our roll not working! This ended up being a theme for the week.

Rich joined us on day 2 and we headed out to Trearddur Bay for some work in swell, wind and surf.  It was a W F5/6 and there was super conditions in the bay, with enough shelter to return to.  Although with a solid 9.5+ tide there was little beach left as high water approached.  So we set about turning in the wind and down wind runs ...  The glorious sunshine, really added to the day ....

Below is a short video clip taken from my compact water proof camera of a down wind run, which gives a better perspective ...

As more beach began to expose its self we headed in to catch some waves ...

Craig joined us today and we went for a down wind run from the Mermaid Inn, area to Menai Bridge ... working on stern rudders and maintaining speed.

Lunch at Menai Bridge then back, on a fast ebbing tide ...

Day 4 and a F4-5 NW and Puffin Island was our location.  On the way out it was lovely to see 4 egrets on the shore.  We had the calm of the Straits and then the chunky swell in the sound.  Rich was demoing a Gemini (thanks Barry), and was really getting to grips with it.  Rolls, assisted rescue and an impressive scramble aboard self-rescue form Anita, in good swell.

Then time to work on catching those waves ... ;)

We paddled back close to the shore and watched a flock of Oyster catchers ...

The last day of the course and Craig was back out with us - F4 NW forecast, Rhoscolyn was our destination and the outer tide race ... Craig and Rich running through a messy race ...

Both Rich and Anita carried out a rescue on each other, returning the favour!!

Craig did a super re entry and roll after a surfing capsize and all took some top waves ... we headed back in as the current eased and did some rock hoping and close quartering, before heading back into the bay, tired but with BIG smiles.

InterMediate Plus is for those who hold the BCU 3 star performance award and paddle independently and as with each course, there's a bespoke element where Roger shapes the courses around what you want and need, so as to be able to get there.  The longer the course the greater chance of increasing conditions.  The above is a good example of what both Anita and Rich achieved during the week.

The next InterMediate course (the course below this one), is 25-29th August and 20/21st September, while InterMediate Plus is 29/30th November.

Roger

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sea kayaking rough water  

InterMediate sea kayaking course - North Wales, Anglesey

This weeks 4 day InterMediate sea kayaking course had a BCU 3 star performance emphasis and Jonathan was keen to pursue this award.  While Phil needed to develop his roll, but was also keen to go through the process.  Rhoscolyn was the first day and at the end of the flood on the Beacon, with a fair but gentle swell.  Working through angles, eddy turns, ferry glides and surfing in a race ... finishing off with self rescues back in the bay ...

Tuesday and Andy joined us, for the North coast. We had a good swell, close set, so the coastline conditions were a little confused, but again fairly light winds and more sunshine ...  contact tows, push/pull, in line towing rafted tows, assisted rafted and then some gentle play in the ebbing current at Middle Mouse ...

We were just 45 minutes into the ebb, but the race was beginning to look good .. another hour and it would have been really super.  Dag setting him self up for a run ...

Wednesday was a greyer and windier day and a super opportunity to really nail eddy turns, feeling and responding.  We got on at Menai Bridge and eddy hoped up into the Swellies ...

The final day and we were back at Rhoscolyn with a gentle F4 westerly blowing and after self rescues, and a couple of circuits, working with onside stern rudders we headed down to Sliver Bay ...

Which was just perfect to begin with ... and a magic view for lunch!

Andy with the task of controlling back surfing ...

We headed back to our start point and on the edge of the bay in gentle swell the three of them jumped in and worked on their self rescues, with great effect.  It had been a super few days with lots of energy and effort applied form the guys.  Congratulations to Jonathan for passing the 3 star award and I wish you all the very best with your paddling adventures ...

Roger

InterMediate sea kayaking course
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north wales sea kayaking course