Wow ... what a Swell weekend!

The weekend was aimed at Improve - Xplore, as I new Keith, Chris and Richard and Ian was new ... 

With a mixed a wind forecast I was pleased that Saturday was due to be gentler f3 winds and that both days were due to be sunny!!

After  some initial circuits in the bay as Rhoscolyn and refreshing  skills such as edging and stern rudders, we moved on the small island at the edge of the bay which had a gentle flow pushing past, and provide a super opportunity to work with eddy turns and ferry glides.  Emphasis was on driving the boat, eyes up ... 

Ian and his 1st time in a sea kayak ... were his good white water experience has seemed to fast track his learning  effectively to a sea kayak ... well done

Chris, in red and moving up against the flow ...

We moved on along the coast towards Silver Bay, enjoy the rocky gullies and channels that we came across ...

Chris above ...

After a break at Silver Bay we paddled on to the entrance to the Cymyran Strait ( between Holy Island and Anglesey) and used the opportunity to work with longer ferry glides and eddy turns ...

To finish off the day and with the last hour of the flood we paddled out to the Beacon and did a couple of runs on the outer race .. Richard above with the mountains of the Lleyn in the back ground.

 
To wrap up the day, Rich was feeling particularly adventurous and so we did  ... I mean, he did 3 different balances, very well and then a back deck self rescue.

Sunday -

f4/5 and gusting up to f6/7 SW ... well after such a good day I was confident a down wind run from the sea salt place on Anglesey to Menai Bridge would be a good run and the tides were perfect ...

Keith leading out ... in f3/4 winds

Chris working with a following sea ... f4

Well the wind really did pick up and to be fair this photo doesn't give it justice ... were just beyond Y Felinheli, which was really interesting .... lots of small sailing dinghies doing amazingly well and I guess due to the gusts, lots of capsizes ... we took a couple of short breaks to let the safety boats collect the dinghies and once they were out of the way, paddled on.  That is until the swell and wind  was pushing hard against the mainland shore and I decided some aqua rambling was more appropriate and safer!!

From this break we then crossed to the Anglesey side, cutting across the wind, until gaining some shelter and then turning and running with it, passed Plas Newydd.  So as to avoid getting pinned in by Admiral Lord Nelsons Statue, we crossed back to the main land side and the guys produced some super paddling,  with great positioning and awareness of each other.

It was now well passed lunch, and I felt we had made some important investments and now could make a withdrawal ... we were now only a few kilometres to the boat yard and the wind was more f4 with a occasional punchy f5 gusts, and the flow although more significant between the bridges was now much slower.  We kept to the mainland side and I could see Ian keen to explore the eddies and the rougher water ... another day for that ...  we were soon at the boatyard and thanks to Ian for giving Keith a lift back to his car and for Keith helping with the shuttle in the first place ... wow, what a weekend!

Roger
roger chandler
north wales sea kayaking
&
sea kayak anglesey

caves & arches - Bespoke sea kayaking

I met Sally & Frank last year so it was great to be out paddling with them both again, particularly in there new sea kayaks.  The forecast was some what mixed NE f2/3 then increasing to f3/4 and with gusts of f5 also forecast.  So some shelter from the wind and journey along a new piece of coast for them both, would hit the mark.

Sandy bay to Church Bay, on the west coast of Anglesey was our destination ...  

Sally manoeuvring her Rockpool sea kayak, through one of the slimmer and early arches  ...one of the benefits of getting on an hour or so before high water ...

Frank discovering how long his Anglesey stick measures!!

Having a good break at church bay ..

We then decided to paddle on round the next two small headlands, towards Carmel Head, and discovered a couple of super gullies and caves ...

Looking across at North Stack (to the right off Frank).  We then began our paddle back with the assistance of a f3 stern wind and with occasional eddy stream flow against us, provided something more to work with.

Just before our bay we had noticed a huge boat on the headland and then as we approached this super bench ... the small blue flowers were a type of bluebell ... not sure if this was on private land or what ...but I want one!!

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayaking anglesey
&
north wales sea kayaking

Happy birthday Mark ... bespoke sea kayaking

Well it was another birthday sea kayaking day, from Emily to Mark and with a mix of British weather ... sunny spells, clouds and some drizzle.  The Menai Straits provided a good location with enough shelter as well as some exposure to wind and gentle current.  After a few circuits of edging and turns, while forward paddling it was time to put it all into a journey ...  

Mark birthday boy lead the way, and was greeted by Shell Ducks, Terns and the ever noisy Oyster Catchers along the way ...

Emily enjoying a sunny spell ...

After a short break we then headed on into the distance, keeping out of the main flow and using further points to assist in keeping vision up and then with edge adjusting angle ...

After another short break we turn back and went through use of skeg to assist in keeping the kayak on track, and used the eddy streams inshore to assist us on our journey back to the start.

To wrap up the day we did some work on side ways movement and then the rain really came in and it was time to load the trailer once more ... we certainly had the best of the day ...

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

north wales sea kayaking
&
bespoke sea kayak courses

Seals, flow & sea kayaking - discover - Improve

With Laura and James on the 2nd day of our Discover sea kayaking course, a super calm forecast and with both picking up the skills well ... we had some decisions and it was for some work on current and when I mentioned birds and seals, there eyes lit up ... we were now moving up into our 2nd level course Improve which is also know as an intro - mediate course.

I also tried James in another kayak, which was bigger and more roomy for his legs, which worked well.  the crossing to Puffin Island was really smooth and the birds were just soaking up the sunshine ...

and then we came to a few stars of the day ... the seals ... we just sat out and slowly, the came closer and then even ....

... closer ... super moments, which I never tire off

 I think she like the sparkle of the Cetus ....

Laura and a close encounter ....

We then paddled slowly round to the beach on the island and saw some Eider ducks and the tide now had a good flow with it ...

We then headed back across the sound, enjoying the excitement of the flow and bouncy of the waves and a short video clip of James leading with Laura, just below: 

We then did some eddy turns and turns in the flow closer to the main land, before landing for a break and a welcomed cuppa!!  We were soon back on and moving up against the flow and eddy hoping our way back up to the start.  Kayaks back on the trailer and an ice cream in Beaumaris, wrapped up a super day.

A big well done to both Laura and James for their effort and for being up for it, on a day which I'm sure they will remember for some time to come ...

roger chandler
sea kayak wales
&
sea kayak courses, north wales

Sea, sunshine, sand and cookies - discover sea kayaking

This was our first weekend Taster and Discover Sea kayaking course, and what a super group of people, bring some good weather with them, despite the cold wind!

We headed to Rhosneigr, to make the most of the rocky islands, sandy shore and to avoid the wind... with Murray & George, Laura & James, Becky & Jason, who all had done of a mixture of being in boats in the past.

One at the beach we spent some time going through dry land drills ... from some paddle work, to what happens if you end up in the water (Becky & Jason above) and going through a dry land how to get back in your kayak and then demos on the sand of looking the way you want to go to create a good and effective edge.

We spent a good hour or so, working  with using edge, across the bay, down wind and back round into wind.  And then looked at using edge to keep the kayak moving in the right direction with less paddle work ... and some skeg down breeze work ...  a break out of what was a cold wind and then on to our destination, with the aim of putting the strokes into practice and a new context.

There was enough wind to keep people focused and at the same time provide something to work with and consider ...

The mountains on the Lleyn, looked super, climbing right out of the sea ... this photo just dosent really tell the picture ...

Worth mentioning this was a gift  for Murray from his partner, Christine nice one! and also that it was the first day out for the Mitchell Blades!

After a super hot spot out of the wind and in full sun... it was important to move on .... we explored the various rocky inlets and channels experiencing more of the wind and aiming to reduce the use of the skeg ...

We crossed the bay heading back to the start, and after a few carries boats were back on the trailer and we were driving of to the village of Rhosneigr, to find a suitable spot for a drink and an opportunity to reflect on the day!

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
intro sea kayaking courses
&
north wales sea kayaking

3 star sea training - North Wales sea kayaking

After meeting Kevin at Menai Bridge and transferring kayaks we went for a coffee and to talk over the syllabus of the 3 star award.  After a short tidal planning exercise, we headed off to Cemais Bay to look for appropriate conditions to work with, such as a following sea, confused water, eddies and wind!

The main current was on the ebb and this had created a super eddy stream flowing out of the East corner of the bay, which provided a good and useful shoot of rougher water and then once turned and heading back, great following sea conditions.

We did a couple of runs and then moved into a calmer bay to put some adjustments on the stern rudder and use of edge/body to assist.

Kevin produced a couple of good rolls in the conditions and was getting a good idea on what he needed to put some further work into ...

The sun was great and we did a couple of pull/push contact tows and as we paddled back to the bay, an in line tow.  Here consideration was given to best place to clip, ensure belt quick release is easy accessible, access to knife, clip up or down and so on.  We finished off with me capsizing and Kevin putting me back in, and looked at an option of using the person in the water to assist with the rescue.

Back at Menai Bridge we managed to find a good table in the sun and worked through his action plan, to assist his progress towards achieving the 3 star sea award!

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
3 star sea kayak training
&
sea kayaking north wales

Bardsey Island courier ... + an otter!

  Its a long story but the shorter version begins like this .... I was waiting down at the boatyard for a client, to provide a bespoke sea kayaking day, when I got a phone call, that due to personal difficulties he was no longer able to make it.  It was a super sunny day and I was looking forward to getting out and topping up my vitamin d intake.  So I pondered for a moment and thought lets go for a paddle and ill make a call and see if Barry was interested, as I fancied the Skerries or Bardsey Island.  

Well I created a problem for Barry as he was working on his house and was caught between saying yes and getting on with the work he needed to do ... he suggested Justine ... depending on her decision he might then change his mind!  A quick call to Justine caught her packing and sorting out kit for the drive up to the Kari -Tek symposium and her side was still tender ... but could I deliver a copy of "this is the roll" to Steve Porter, the farmer on Bardsey.  Fantastic, I now had a mission and a clear purpose, so a bag of apples latter, a news paper and I was on my way.

I went from Porth Oer, on the West coast of the Lleyn due to the Flood beginning round about 1300, so this hopefully would allow for a good paddle back, plus id only been from Porth Oer, once before and on the ebb, so I was keen to see what this was like.

Wind was a light F2 and just a gentle swell, with loads of sunshine ... and then I saw an otter ... it was just in the shade and I had my sunglasses on, so I didn't see it until the last moment, but what a moment and my 2nd one in Wales and on the Lleyn!  

I decided to keep close to the headland and paddle up towards Carreg Ddu, (the Aberdaron side) and then do a ferry glide towards Bardsey, then turn and paddle round the west side and round the Island, which despite having been to Bardsey 7/8 times before id only paddled round the whole island once before!

Small group of seals watching me closely ...

and this one just snoozing away the day ...

After a couple of stronger eddy streams, flowing against me, I was soon at Pen Diban on the Southern end and looking forward to a hopeful cup of tea with Steve!

I soon spotted him out on his quad checking on the cows, which are close to calving ... 

Slip way and then on for tea and delivery completed!!

The wind had picked up to a stiff breeze and yet it was a head wind, with wind against tide ... I took a couple of photos and the following short video clip, before attempting to settle down into a rhythm ...

I was pleased that as I got closer to the mainland, the wind began to drop.  Whether it was now gaining more friction from the coast ... and the wind had picked up more speed crossing the sound, due to less friction ... I'm not sure ... but I was pleased and decided to stay out making the maximum of the flow, before paddling back into the beautiful Porth Oer.

I was tired and hungry, but satisfied and pleased with my day and I was also in  good time for a Pizza!!

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
sea kayak wales
&
sea kayaking courses anglesey