InterMediate Sea Kayaking Course - North Wales, Anglesey.

This weekends InterMediate sea kayaking and what a super forecast of F3/4 we had.  More sun than expected and less wind - providing some super gentle wind against tide conditions.  Pretty perfect for the weekends course.  Keith, Steve, Phil and Karen made up the group with Jon assisting as part of my commitment to 4 star trained leaders.

Rhoscolyn on the flood, from Trearddur Bay and back gave us lots of variety with conditions, eddy streams, main current, rock hoping, arches, caves and super sunshine ...

The main race with Keith leading us through ... the eddy was super calm and stable so it provided a great platform for individuals to watch and take a break before working on eddy turns or moving out into the flow ..

Karen and Phil below, rough water handling ...

Heaing back in for some lunch and the Llyn in the background ...

Closer to high water we kept in close on the way back and explored as we went ....

Sunday and the Stacks, with a similar gentle forecast ... just had to be done...

Jon below having led, Steve, Karen and Keith down through the Inner race ...

After some lunch we headed on to Gogarth Bay, Steve below ...

One of the big arches ....

It had a been a super weekend with great conditions.  The next InterMediate sea kayaking course is on the weekend of the 26/27th July and mid week on the 25-29th August. Both currently have places, email me for further information at info@coastalspirit.com.

Roger

north wales sea kayaking
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sea kayaking anglesey 

IntroMediate Sea Kayaking Course - Anglesey, North Wales

IntroMediate sea kayaking is about moving on those skills into a more dynamic environment.  Whether that's swell, current, surf or wind and some times all of the above!!  The emphasis is based on a gentle approach and introduction.  

Glynis was in preparation for a longer  sea kayaking holiday in Scotland with another company, so was keen to continue with be effective and efficient and Guy was keen to really get a feel for what sea kayaking was about and what the island holds. 

Working on outside edge turns and being efficient and then as we had the chance .. some reversing into a long narrow gully

And one of my favourite caves on the island due to the atmosphere (there's always some swell rumbling into the cave) and the dragon was quite subdued today!!

Then after lunch we worked our way back on inside turns and through the rock gardens ...

Sunday and a more settled forecast, we headed out to Puffin Island hoping for some seal action .. and more flow ...

Puffin Island is what looks like the headland on the end.

We pulled in to a bay before the main headland as guy was trying a different sea kayak and worked on eddy turns, using inside turn/low brace and carved turns - by using good edge and lean, while keeping the power on to achieve the turn.

The seals were out but a little shy and quickly disappeared ...

Well I got a cave, a gully and a light house on camera and both experienced some rougher water water and made some good turns and progressed well.  The sun came out and all in all it was a good weekend!

The next IntroMediate sea kayaking course is:  9-11th June and the 2/3rd August.  Both courses are going ahead and currently have places on.  Email me on info@coastalspirit.com for more information or to book your place ...

Thanks,  Roger

www.coastalspirit.com
Level 5 Coach Sea

north wales sea kayaking courses
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Sea kayaking Anglesey

Bespoke sea kayaking and a 3 star assessment ... Anglesey, North Wales.

Earlier in the week I had a super day out with Keith who was keen to overcome working through mixed and confused eddy lines, in the Swellies and with lighter winds, eddy lines would be easy to see.  The Swellies is a magic sea kayaking venue we have on Anglesey and a super venue to build the skills needed for paddling tideraces as they tend to display similar features.  The big advantage with the Swellies is the area tends to have no swell and sheltered from the wind.  Plus its not so open, or exposed - so it can feel like a river, with a bank on either side.

We warmed up with a few gentle low brace turns, working on bringing the body forward, paddle shaft into the belly button and waiting for the turn 6-8 seconds ... fantastic ...

It was a bright sunny day and with a good push of flow now, I suggested swimming through one of the bridge arches, so he new what it was like .... I mentioned to two female paddlers what we were about to do, so there was no drama's and one said could she join us ...ah, let me swim with Keith first and then I'll do it again ... put me to shame as I was wrapped up in my drysuit and she slipped into the water wearing a swimming costume and not even a murmur about the cold!!

It was a top day, with Keith finishing off doing a successful self rescue in the last of the ebb ...

Mike had contacted me a few months back about running a 3 star assessment, and then just last week, Bobby who had done a day with me 3 years ago was back for a top up and rough water was what he wanted ... so moderate conditions was what were looking for.  With winds backing to NW and increasing to F4, the North coast was perfect....

Mike setting up a contact tow ....

Bobby working on generating speed and stern rudders ... just on the Eastern edge of the bay, with the occasional chunky bit of swell pushing through.

Congratulations to Mike on a successful assessment, well done.  Although don't mention his van keys ... and to Bobby for applying himself over the day and coming to the decision that the kayak he has is not suitable for what he wants to do ...

Today I was out with Dave and he was focused on a skills update and a look at being efficient, prior going to Sardinia.  It was a N wind and due to get very windy, so we headed out  form Menai Bridge on to the Menai Straits.  The elements of effective Forward paddling I moved in and out of during the day, and out side edged turns was our main initial focus.

Dave was progressing well and after a first break was now looking for more challenge.  We headed back towards Menai Bridge with the flow behind, a gentle breeze on our backs, while working with stern rudders and the skeg.

The Swellies was now in the last two hours of the ebb and with some brief work on eddy turns we headed under the first bridge .. it was great to see Dave's face as every thing moved around him.  We took a couple of eddies and then kept in the main flow ...  a short break and some ferry glide work, using transits then time to eddy hop our way back ... 

The A55 bridge and looking back into the Swellies ....

Roger

bespoke sea kayaking
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north wales sea kayaking

Arrival in Ireland

Up at 7, breakfast of toast, honey and a banana. Then up to Justine & Barry's to pick them up and then back down to pick up Craig, who had kindly driven across to help with the drive? Into Holyhead with lots of time to spare, and a helpful Stena Line ferry staff, the process of checking in was very smooth. Big thanks to Craig (the one on the right) for then driving my van back home, so Sonja has it.

It felt great to be on the way and seeing North Stack from another perspective. Soon the mountains of Ireland were coming into view, and the coastline beginning to shape up. It's been a windy day, with rain and showers of hail ... With some super sunny periods.

We were welcomed by two friends of Des and Sonja's (another one), helped with all the kit and where able to the kayaks and food in a lock up, right close to a slip way. Then taken back to Des and Sonja's place to settle in.

I'm nervous and excited .. I've done as much as I can to prepare and feel both
physically and physiological strong. And it will be interesting to see how I manage the next few weeks and months, which I'm looking forward to.

Hungry now and we are soon to be off to the local pub, for food, a pint of the dark stuff and Justine has a presentation to deliver ... Early to bed, maybe?!? But at least we have a gentle start and hope to be on the water for 1100. Winds have improved although gone initially into a head wind before going westerly. Westerly is good, NW would be great ....

Roger

The long wait .... Skye RDX 2013

This morning ..Wednesday I set off after a wet and breezy night to get an up date and a detailed forecast, for the next couple of days. The 10k walk was soon reduced after 10 minutes when I got lucky with a bus, and then back at the Old Inn for Wifi and a breakfast. The later had finished ... But a bacon and egg roll with a coffee was OK.. Happy days!

After many discussions and creative thinking both Zoe and Gary have decided to stick where we are and aim to get as far as we can. Rather than me go for the van and relocate, and attempt to make the most of each day.

Big thanks to Sonja for relaying the Blog updates and texting us weather forecasts, which have helped greatly with decisions. So how are we doing? Both Zoe and Gary have been doing a super job with the tidal planning, keeping hold of the big picture and looking at specifics at the same time. I was very impressed, on the evening of my demise while both ends of my body were expelling there contents, how they kept an open mind and created various plans and ideas. Really based on what I would be like in the morning!!

The tricky part now is not getting to comfortable in our strong and warm tents. Like that big climbing hold, you don't want to let go of ... unsure of the ground ahead and balancing decisions. For us its about keeping a close watch on any opportunities ..like Weds morning? There's a small window, which we currently intend to push our noses against and see what it looks like around the corner. It will be a head wind and big swell, but we have the option of returning to our camp if we're not happy. Then Thursday looks like its no paddle day and then good on Friday.

With about 130k to go to complete the loop, we need at least two good days, which currently looks like we haven't got .. Oh hum ....so our aim is to get to Eigol (?) and make the most of Fridays better forecast and explore the remainder of this stunning coastline ... hopefully ;)

So overall we are still hopeful, warm, refreshed, relaxed, reading and eating lots and hungry for some settled weather ...

Roger
roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

Sea kayaking course's
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Sea kayak eXpedition training and development

Prep for Around Skye

With the kayaks now on the van and my bags almost packed, Friday is for ensuring my admin is as tight as it can be, read a page or two of my book, grab a coffee and await for Gary's arrival. Food then bed and leave in Sat morning for the drive North, which will be about 7 hours. Where booked into a cabin for the night, so food and a couple of beers before bed and sleep.

Sunday Zoe arrives, last stop for any bread type stuff and looking more closely at weather and potential start points. Weather is due to become warmer, but wet ... oh hum ... But I'm sure it will soon sort it self out and we will have some of that super warm sunshine as we did back in April 2011. Do you remember that month and fantastic settled weather ....

While I'm away Sonja will be up dating the Blog, keeping us informed with weather up dates and managing Coastal Spirit booking's. if mobile reception is poor or batteries are low we my manage a tweet, which now can be found on the right of the Blog.

Roger

roger chandler
Www.coastalspirit.com

Easters, bespoke sea kayaking

Wednesday - to Good Friday I was working with Sue, Niamh (sounds like Neeve), Paul and Rob, all from Ireland.  Rob had been on a course last September and he had organised a few days Bespoke sea kayaking with some of his friends, pre Easter.  The weather was improving, from the earlier part of the week but it was still cold.

We had  met for a coffee and a chat so i could understand what they each wanted and then a decision about the paddling venue.  I was keen, and so was they to avoid the f4/5 easterly wind so we went to the west coast and Porth Dafach, to paddle to South Stack area, as the tide was on the ebb, we could sneak up into the bay and explore the various caves, gullies and rocky channels...  

Working with some gentle tidal flow ...

Rob above taking some shelter from the snow, despite stunning sunshine ...

The light was great ...

And the rock formations, I guess are a Geologists dream ... from left to right.  Paul, Rob, Niamh and Sue.

Looking across at South Stack and enjoying a top buffet below ...

Day two and a journey on the Straits, from Gallows Point to Moel-y-don.  We had some initial wind assisting us as the tide began to build and soon were at the Swellies.  I set the boys who had more tidal flow experience, a couple of different eddies to collect while I worked with the  girls.

The girls in the eddy and keen to know whats next ...  we crossed back to Anglesey and the girls took a break while I set the guys a few tasks.  We then headed off again with the boys having to make decisions on collecting 4 eddies before the final bridge.  The flow was fast and confused in places and all did extremely well.  I'm sure lunch must have felt even better afterwards ....

The girls after the Swellies, working on a ferry glide ...


Day three was now pulling together the previous two days and Rhoscolyn was our destination.  The beacon can be seen in the background.

The sun came out and brought a smile to all of our faces ,,,

We found 1/2ft surf at Rhosneigr and I set the boys on a couple of tasks and worked with the girls in the shallows.  Low brace recovery and then set them to work covering and working with each other.  It was a super end to the three days, with something for every one.

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

bespoke sea kayaking
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sea kayak course north wales