Bespoke sea kayaking - North Wales, Anglesey

Keith and John were back for another year and a few days Bespoke sea kayaking.  Normally late September/October was there time, but with the last couple of years wind and rain dominated.  July they hoped would provide sunshine and blue skies ....  Well Monday didn't and I had no camera!! so we spent the day in The Menai Straits going through low braced turns and stern rudders - inside and out side edge.  This was going to set us up for the next couple of days ...  

My photos have come out a little jumbled, but as you will see we got that sunny blue sky days  ... ;)

Last day at Rhoscolyn and looking down towards the Lleyn above, and some rock hoping, putting our turns into practise, below.

2nd day was the 10k one way paddle of the Stacks - we went against the Ebb, so only had South Stack to work with, which we went through at slackish water.  saying that the guys worked really well with a couple of active back eddies, flowing against a N f2/3 wind, gave a 1ft of swell and confused water ...

Looking back at South Stack light house above and some super rock scenery, around Elyn's tower.  the birds to were loving the sunny day ...

Landing for lunch below at Silver Bay on the 3rd and last day ...

It had been lovely that the sun had come out, and that the wind had allowed both Keith and John to paddle the Stacks.  A classic, stunning and committing trip.  One I'm sure will be remembered for a few years yet!!

Hi Roger

Just to say big thanks for your efforts with John and I. 

Superb time — tired today!

Very much appreciated.

Keith

Happy days  ....  Bespoke days are set at your pace, address your specific wants and needs, allowing you to achieve more and accelerate your learning.  August is now full for Bespoke days and September is begging to fill up.  Contact me now if you want more information or would like to arrange an informal chat.  Thanks, Roger.

info@coastalspirit.com

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

Bespoke sea kayaking course's

Its been a busy week of Bespoke sea kayaking course's for individuals and a group of eight.  Last week saw me out with Julian and with a light wind forecast and some rough water  wanted we set off for The Skerrie's, an island of the NW of Anglesey.  A couple of puffins were spotted, but no terns on the island as yet  ... and loads of grey seals basking in the sunshine.  

It was really good to see the time that Julian had put into getting out was paying off, as he managed a couple of ferry glides and turns in the rough water ...  focus was on dropping down the gears to increase speed and acceleration ...

Glynis has booked on a Scottish sea kayaking holiday, with another company and was keen to put some mileage down, in preparation and we looked at being efficient and effective with forward paddling, edged turns and stern rudders.  Emphasis was on BODY, Boat and blade ...

We finished of the day on the Straits, with a couple of down wind circuits, working back up into wind, trimming body forward to weight the bow and anchor it.   Plus a smooth and quick application of the stern rudder, so as to correct and maintain forward speed.  15k latter and a refection over a hot chocolate, Glynis was certainly in a good place ...

Colin had been the organiser of this group of eight, all from the same village. Each year the group chose a challenge to complete.  This year it was a walk up Snowdon, a 40k bike ride and sea kayaking on the Menai Straits.  After a couple of hours skills training (and a dip!) .... we set off just after slack water so we had gentle flow behind us, through 'The Swellies' ...

The guys looked fairly happy so we pulled out of the main flow and then started back up, attempting to surf the sea kayaks in the waves ... lots of whoops and smiles ... and only one swim!

Bespoke is private to you, as an individual wanting to fast track and gain more from my focused attention and feedback or a couple or group wanting something specific.  Its your day or weekend, set at your pace and addresses your wants and needs ...

More details can be found here

Roger
www.coastalspirit.com

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Bespoke Sea Kayaking Anglesey - Introductory to Advanced

Monday and Tuesday saw me out with Christine and John, who had only done a couple of days sea kayaking before but had done a fair amount of cycling.  The forecast was from the SE so we headed to Trearddur Bay and paddle to Porh Dafach and back.  There still was some swell about and misty drizzle start to the day, but otherwise calm and smooth ... 

Day two:  Having bagged an entrance to a cave and a couple of gullies, it was now time to see if i could get them some seals!!  Newbrough and out to Llanddwyn Island was a possible  option and one of the calmer locations, and with the wind from the SE all looked good ..

The wind picked up after lunch so we had a section of aqua rambling, before we could go through an introduction to surfing ... a big well done ...

Wednesday and Thursday was a 5 star leader sea refresher course.  With The Stacks looking good and building towards a spring tide we headed off to North Stack ... Steve, Bent and Michael from Denmark ...made up the first day and it was mainly directed by what they wanted to go through ... so rescues, leadership sections, rolling and self rescues ....

Lunch time with so many seals hauled out, we decided to look for a rocky landing ...

And then out to South stack race ....

Thursday and Nigel joined the group and incident management with rock hoping was worked on.  A fab location just close to the get in was working really well.

Then out to North Stack, to work the race again ...

A great week of variety ....

Roger

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Bespoke Sea Kayaking ... Just as you want it

Its been a great week of Bespoke sea kayaking courses, were you set the pace, the focus is you and I consider the best venue to achieve what you want and need.

Earlier in the week Tavi, who had been on the advanced sea kayaking weekend, wanted to transfer her roll into rough water and work on some rough water handling skills.  After a coffee and a discussion, the North coast, Cemais Bay and out to Middle Mouse and back looked like it would fit with a forecast.  Mid day it was going N f5/6, and with the tide on the ebb we could eddy hop and then ferry glide out, have a play and catch the tide back to the bay.

First photo is looking down the early stages of Middle Mouse race ... Tavi pulled off a good dynamic roll, and as the wind was increasing we headed back to the bay.  A couple of down wind circuits, before we reached the edge of the bay ...

Here it tends to create a strong eddy stream, which was flowing into the wind and provided some further rough water ...

By now we had some small surf running on to the beach so we took advantage of this and I got a video, to share latter and provide some feedback.

In the shelter of a cove we worked on a couple of self rescues, the paddle float one Tavi could do in under 30 seconds ... time to put it into the rougher stuff.  It was blowing top end F4 in the bay and Tavi again was in her boat under 30 sec!!

Top tips are : 1) start with the stern into wind - if the bow is then as soon as you get on the rear deck it blows off the wind and the paddler tends to fall off!  2) if an air bag paddle float consider how many breaths are needed - Tavi only needed five. 3) consider storing the air bag paddle float behind your seat already inflated, and then its ready to be fitted. 4) generally a great self rescue for light and agile paddlers.

We then headed to a cafe to look over a number of video clips on my mini tablet, while Tavi worked through and created an action plan.  Great productive day.

Wednesday and Thursday saw Kath and Sedge returning and Jon was along to assist and observe.

Rhoscolyn and much calmer weather and an opportunity to have a good paddle ...with caves, a couple of seals, eddy turns and moving in and out of the rocky channels ...

The day finished off with Kath saying she would like to have a go at a roll, which she has been practising on and off for a few years.  It was great to hear her positive attitude, and just the day before I had put a face mask in the van ... after about 20+ attempts Kath pulled off a half roll ... Happy days!!

The following day we were off to Puffin Island, as the wind was SW and Sedge had never been there ... honest!!

It probably was one of the best days of wild life, certainly by what I caught on camera ... with our classic seals, porpoises and a few oyster catchers ....

With the photo below you can just see a Porpoise in the distance just below the motor boat ... ;)

Its a great section of coastline at high water as you can really get in close .... and this exploration had allowed the ebb tide to reach its first 90% flow, which provided some good sport to finish the day off with ...

Clouds were just beginning to build as we headed back to the mainland after another super day ...  time for hot chocolates and a refection on the last two days ...

Friday saw me on the water with Zoe, on another Bespoke sea kayaking day. Zoe was keen to work on rough water handling and specifically surfing and self rescues.

Morning was spent catching waves and working dynamically in them, while the afternoon was putting self rescues into rough water and fair-play, Zoe could do the cowboy, paddle float and re entry and roll paddle float all under 30 sec!!

It was a good sunny day, so the air felt warm, despite the wind.  At lunch time we had a visitor from this fella ...  end of day we found some wear for a drink to reflect on the productive day, looking back over the photos and video clips.

Top week with great people and all progressing their skills, abilities and confidence.  Remember, Bespoke sea kayaking is specifically for you, at your pace and just as you want it ...

Roger

www.coastalspirit.com
info@coastalspirit.com
07873 132999


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