North Wales sea kayaking courses - Improve ( intro-mediate)

With a super sunny and calm forecast, Bull Bay - Cemais was the journey, with the aim of being effective with turning strokes and emphasis on moving in and out of current.

As we were at high water we soon got stuck into a cave, working on those reverse strokes, which we tend to use one in a while!

A little further on and then another bigger cave, with super clarity and light... Becky leading out

Tess, was demoing a boat she had arranged to hire from Pete Barrs www.summit to sea.co.uk, (pilgrim expedition)

After some lunch at the brick works, we paddled into hells mouth and then on to the North point of Anglesey and did some eddy turns and introduced for some the concept and practice with a ferry glide. Super light and colour as we then began our paddle out to Middle Mouse.

Back in the bay and an opportunity to mess about ... and cool off ... Richard keeping it together!

Sunday was a windier day, f3/4 and much cooler, so into Treadour Bay and working with the swell, making turns in the wind and swell and then running down wind. Sally with Frank in the back ground!

Zoe working with some swell and Sonja

Frank taking his Delphin for a ride!

The weekend provide a real mix of conditions, providing good learning opportunities and with super company!

Big thanks to Sonja for her help and in-particular, working through deep water rescues and back deck self rescues with Tess and Becky.

North Wales sea kayaking

www.coastalspirit.com

Bespoke discover sea kayaking - North Wales, Anglesey

Treadour Bay on Anglesey, with Gary and Nick on a Bespoke days sea kayaking, with a super gentle sea state. Gary had done some paddling before while Nick, very little. Saying that Nick picked up the strokes and use of body to control the boat very quickly, and they were soon a well matched pair.

This allowed us to cross the bay and get into some rock gardening, and exploring some caves, putting those turning strokes into context.

and some narrow channels with super rock formations

Well done guys!

north wales sea kayaking courses

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xplore - Rhoscolyn Head & Beacon, North Wales Sea Kayaking

We worked in the inner channel to begin with as it was wind against tide the outer race was fairly big and this gave us enough to work with. Stern rudders and using the body to trim the kayak, was the main task.

With 1.5 hours before slack water we then paddled out to the Beacon and ran the outer race, were a good swell was running!

This time only Bens Paddle blade!

After a few runs and turning in the current and swell we headed into the wind and paddled up the coast to the headland and into a cave, with some good reflective small waves.

For July it was a cool day, with a N wind and some showers ... hot chocolates in the White Eagle as the right finish to the day!

Sea kayaking courses Anglesey.

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Improve + Puffin Island, Anglesey - Sea kayaking North Wales

This was day 3 for Alan, Ben and Katie and Puffin Island was our destination. Its one of my top trips, each time its so varied and has a little of every thing, with currents, calm and rough water, steep beaches and rocky ledges to practice landing on and not forgetting the super wild life.

We got on a low water, and as the current began to flood, we had wind with tide.

The north bay had some swell, and both Katie and Ben had a go at self launching through some surf.

On the North side of the Island the reflective waves, provided some excitement for a moment or to, before settling down again.

A young Shag, making the most of the sun!

After passing the main bunch of seals we then came closer in and had a super time with 3 seals which were so easy going and just posing for the camera and us.

How good is that!

They followed us up to the beach and one even came out to sun on the rocks close to our kayaks.

Ben and Katie then had the task to get us back across. The current was now faster and allowed a useful opportunity to put into practice their ferry glides and work out the changing angle required to cross the flow. Puffin sound is super for this task as there are many potential markers which can be used as transits.

Alan with a successful back deck round the world.

Katie, Alan, Ben and myself after a super day on the water.

North Wales Sea Kayaking courses.

www.coastalspirit.com

Improve + Cemais Bay - Hells Mouth, Middle Mouse & back

This was day 4 for Alan, and the first day for Tracy and Andy (although I had paddled and worked with them before). North coast, with some wind against tide, so a rougher start and then a return paddle with wind with tide and a paddle out to Middle Mouse, using transits to adjust angle and assess speed.

Hells Mouth and a calm bay.

Middle Mouse, with the Razor bills having flown their nests and only a few cormorants and gulls left behind.

Some paddling in and out of the rocky channels, Alan leading the way.

Choose from 1-5 days on any of our sea kayaking courses.

North Wales Sea Kayaking, feel the difference a Level 5 Coach can make to your paddling.

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xplore - intermediate sea kayaking, North Wales, Anglesey

With a NE forecast F3/4 and Penrhyn Mawr on the flood, this was the first time for Tracey and Andy. A warm up at Oyster Catcher rock, feeling the gentle current and swell, provided a super intro, getting used to body rotation, trim and stern rudders.

We then went on a journey in and out of the many rocky channels and landed for some lunch, this would also allow the fastest flow of water to pass, as it was looking fairly big and confused.

We paddled through the inner shoot and took the eddy on the right and moved across closer to the mainland and worked the smaller inner channels, looking at SPANGLE, speed and angle, for ferry glides and eddy turns. Soon Andy was setting his own tasks and Tracey was gaining more confidence.
The last 40 minutes before slack water, we moved out into the initial shoot we had paddled down. This was open to more swell, had steeper waves and was nosier, but soon both Tracey and Andy, were crossing this flow and then ridding the waves back to the top. A super day with a lot achieved.

Sea kayaking courses, Anglesey, North Wales

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Bespoke sea kayaking - Discover to Improve - 5 days, North Wales sea kayaking

Bespoke sea kayaking and a private course for Diana, Steven, Eloise and Matt and what super weather we had!

Day 1: A journey down on the Llyn, from Trevor and working in the bay and then along the coast, in and out of the rocks, getting a good view of the sea birds.

A break before moving further along

Then the cliffs begin to get bigger and more dramatic!

Day 2: Anglesey and Treadour bay and a gentle mobility session led by Sonja, before working and embedding further in side and out side turns

With Eli and Matt, taking turns to led as along the rock shore in and out of various channels

Some lunch and then deep water rescues, before returning to our start

Day 3: Rhoscolyn - some mobility work on the water and then with draw strokes, adding to turns. This was also a good opportunity for a gentle intro to paddling in current and crossing current and also popping into a BIG cave

With current we tend to find seals and as we were at low water, a great opportunity to see some of the seals

Day 4: Puffin Island and the puffins were out, which was just great as it was a 1st for Diana and then the seals, just great!

Super sunny blue sky day, on the South side

After some lunch on the island we had an exciting run back, through and across the sound. Sonja then worked with Diana and Steven, as they were keen to go back through deep water rescues and have a go at a self rescue. I took Eli and Matt back into the sound for some more rough water, with eddy turns and ferry glides and each of them taking a turn in leading across the sound.
Matt finishing off with a stern dip!

Day 5: As the wind was f4/5 we went to the Menai Straits, just a 5 minute walk from the boat yard and a short paddle into one of the lagoons. Diana demonstrating a cross deck bow rudder

Some of the local inhabitants ... Oyster Catchers

Then after a break and following the fastest flow having passed through, we paddled into the Swellies the section of water between the bridges, to experience more confused water, building on the previous days work. Due to the main current, the eddy flows one way and then the other, beginning to relax and going with the flow and then correcting, is part of what its about. A ferry glide back across and then a paddle back to the boat yard.

The week was finished off, with hot chocolates and coffees looking back at the photos over a super week of weather. Big thanks to Sonja who was able to join us, this week.

Sea kayaking courses for all abilities - North Wales, Anglesey. For further information:

www.coastalspirit.com

07873 132999

Discover sea kayaking, day 1 -Anglesey, North Wales

From Moelfre to Benlech and back was our destination with, emphasis on edging and awareness of each other.

Robert with Ynis Moelfre, in the back ground.

A break for some lunch and a change of position.

The sun then came out ...

after ice creams at Benlech we returned, using stern rudders to assist with direction.

The sea was a super jade green in places and amazing clarity.

We finish the day, with another ice cream for some and mugs of tea for the others, reflecting on the day and enjoying the late afternoon sunshine.

North Wales sea kayaking courses

www.coastalspirit.com