The Roof of Britain Coastal Spirit Rapid Development Expedition 2015

Day 1. 18th April, Skye Bridge to Rubha na h-Uamba, 10km

We were unsure whether to start at Helmsdale on the E coast or at the Skye Bridge. The good forecast though convinced us to start on the west. Dropped cars at either end of the canal section. Seals saw us off at the Skye Bridge and then paddled 10km in beautiful sunshine to camp at the bothy.

Day 2. 19 April, Ribha na h-Umba to Longa Island, 48km

Golden sand and golden sunshine with a F2-3 headwind. Heard and saw many Great Northern Divers.

Day 3. 20 April, Longa to Tanera Mor, 47km

Saw our first otter as we left camp and the first puffins of many shortly after. A day of tailwinds and surf behind making really good time. Short stop at Priest Island, beautiful spot with many Storm Petrels. 

Day 4. 21 April, Tanera Mor to Oldany Island, 48km

Bouncy, lively conditions for our first big headlands made this our best day yet! Nice bit of tide race surfing off the headland just before the Point of Stoer then through an awesome channel between the Old Man of Stoer and the mainland. Finished with some great ditch crawling and exploration at Oldany Island, our most picturesque campsite yet and very tropical. 

Day 5. 22 April. Oldany Island to near Kinberlochbervie, 35km

To Scourie to get weather info and plan Cape Wrath. The only window is Saturday and this means a 4.15am on the water start to get around. So onward through the Bad Call Islands to position us as far north as we can. A pod of dolphins here made our day!

Day 6. 23 April. Kinberlochbervie.

A day off for us all. (Except Roger, who woke up at 3.30am and then each 30 mins to see what time it will be light for us to leave tomorrow). Currently in a warm hotel in Kinberlochbie contemplating deserts. Life is good!!

Winter Sunshine and InterMediate Sea Kayaking

North coast and Cemais Bay, with some super Winter sunshine was the start of this weekends InterMediate sea kayaking course which was made up of - Leif, Keith, Noel, Graham and Mandy.

Out side and inside edged turns, down wind runs, contact tows and some surfing .... 

Mandy having caught a nice wave in ... ;)

And then a journey across the bay and into some bigger swell.  Towing, in-line, rafted and assisted tows
...

Sunday and a gloomier, wintry forecast and the Straits form Moel y Don to Menai Bridge and back.  There was a super push of the tide as we surged under Britannia Bridge!

Loads of eddy turns and ferry glides and as the flow slowed, working on really getting that body working and emphasising the turn ... some eyes closed work too!  Lunch and then a return journey with wind against tide and a super run.  Closer to the end we pulled over and got some fair rides and surfs back up the flow ...

Leif below looking for that wave ...

And now Noel and Leif heading for Moel Y Don ...

Congratulations to Graham for passing the 3 star performance award.

The next InterMediate sea kayaking course, which currently has places on is the 27/28th June.

Have fun out there ...

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

Winter Sea Kayaking Anglesey - InterMediate Plus

It was a mixed weekend of weather with blue skies and sunshine, hail and strong winds ...  The InterMediate Plus sea kayaking course is aimed at those who have either the 3 star award or good 3 star skills, either way each person needs to paddling independently already.  As the aim is working in a moderate environment its also suitable for those who have completed the 4 star leader award.  This allows a good breath of experience.

Leif, Jon, David, Gordon, Tracy and Gary assisting made up the weekends team.  Sat forecast was a F5/6 dropping Westerly wind, which was more like a F4/3 when we actually got on and paddled out of Cemais bay on the North Coast.  There was a good 1.5-2mt swell running and as the tide was in the last hour of the ebb there was some good wind against tide, action .... and super sunshine!

On the main Northerly headland the sea was far more confused and a broad 3mt or so swell was pushing through which clearly focused each persons actions.  The team did really well, working with their buddies and we headed on to the Brickworks for lunch  ...

Sunday was one of those tricky forecasts ... suggesting it was ramping up to a F6/7 by 1200, but with a really light wind and blue sky start!  The Swellies and eddy turns, ferry glides (reverse ones too) and then some towing later was the plan ....

The wind just started to pick up around lunch time, we got some hail and we lost the sunshine ... yeah, it was cold.

We worked through inline rafted and assisted tows, and then when closer to the brides contact tows, on bow or stern ...

As we got closer to Meani Bridge  we had some wind against tide and few strong gusts, funnelling down the Straits ... Time to play some more ...

Im very pleased the sun shone and it was super good to see each person managing them selves well in Saturdays bigger seas.  A great start to the year ....

The next available course's are form May, so contact me if you need more information and want to increase your confidence and progress your skills.


Roger

info@coastalspirit.com
+44 7873 13299

www.coastalspirit.com

Sea Kayaking Holiday - Isle of Skye

This years Costal Spirit sea kayaking holiday was to the Isle of Skye, with quality self catering accommodation as our base.  Hot showers, comfy beds and good food ...  Andy and Tracy, Douglas, Ann, Rob and Marion (from Ireland), with Sonja in support made up the team.  

Five days sea kayaking with a day off to use as you wished and the week's weather forecast was looking fairly good.  The first day we set of for Macleod's Maidens, on the West coast and although in the distance we spotted two eagles (later i was informed that two sea eagles were nesting in the area).  There was a good ground swell running, so despite light winds we couldn't get in close ... but the light was fantastic ...

The following day was set for Loch Currisk and Soay island if the winds behaved!!  Looking into the Cullin's

We found a magic little beach and after some lunch walked over to the Loch ...

That evening we were treated to a super sunset from the window of our accommodation .. ;)

Day 3 and the Northerly headland of Rubha Hunish was the plan.  Conditions were magic, with the Outer Hebrides, seen clearly in the distance.  The sea had that oily calm and visibility under the surface, was stunning.  It was a magic paddle and we managed to get in close early on and explore some caves and channels.  The rock structure was super ...

While we came round to the East coast a gentle swell was picking up and this reef provide a few exciting runs ...

The weather was now on the turn, but hey three magic days on Skye, had already been had.  Kyle Atkin towards Plockton and back and a few down wind circuits working on stern rudders ... and more use of body to direction ...  and our best two otter sighting, which must have been a good 10-15 minutes ...

Day off and I fancied a surf or to see if there was any ... Tracy and Marion were keen to join me and we had a few gentle runs ... I paddled the P&H Hammer which I really enjoyed.  Its very deep so its very different from what I've paddled before, in relation to a sea kayak.  More time needed in some bigger conditions ...

One of the four self catered team meals ... and fantastic it was ...

Friday our last day, saw a solid F6/7 descending on us.  We headed across to Dunvagen and  it soon became clear we were not going to leave the bay today.  Down wind circuits using trim to assist with turning into and away from the wind and some super surfing action from all ...

The following morning we said our good byes and Sonja and myself headed off to find alternative accommodation.  The next few days had more wind and rain so we managed to get a small self catering cottage and I got a paddle in round the Point of Sleat and we got a paddle in together round Neist point and back.  It was topped by sighting a BIG 3.5 mt bottle nosed dolphin, mellowly feeding as we watched on ... a top finish to an amazing week ..

Details on the above sea kayaking holiday can be found here and keep your eyes open for next years Isle of Skye and our Connemara sea kayaking holiday.

Roger

Roger Chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
Level 5 coach sea

Anglesey sea kayaking courses
+
North Wales specialist sea kayaking