sea kayaking round the Isle of Wight (IOW)

A good friend ask about 3 months ago about doing planning a journey, with a couple of changed dates we arrived on the last week of September, chuffed with the potential forecast we set of for the IOW. 6 hours latter and many ...stops we arrived at Keyhaven and lovely small village and protected harbour, with a long spit and a castle on the end. A drive about soon identified our put on for the morning and place to park and leave the van for the time away and for our sleep in it overnight. After some food a walk to the local seemed a good idea!

The night before and looking out from the main land at the Needles (IOW)

We were on the water for a relaxed 1000 and saw loads of birds in this protected inlet, many egrets (lens not big enough to capture them) on the way out

Approaching the Needles near the start of the ebb ...

The Needles and two guys up top painting the light house ... im sure their really pleased with the forecast!!

On the way to Freshwater, with a wow ... section of stunning coastline and some good swell, running

Arrival at our camp, after a few moments checking tides and re checking that all would work for the morning!

Having completed about 33k and with another 3 hours of day light and a super beach to camp on, we settled down for a the evening.

We were up at 0530 and away at 0645, and strait away we had current ... and as we headed on around St Catherine's Point, we were greeted by a small glowing ball rising out of the sea, a truly amazing sunrise ...

Heading for a distant headland with a good push on the tide...

One of a number of passenger ferries that passed us, thankfully this was the closest!

Cowes was proper busy and as the SW sea kayaking guide book says, it can be challenging when boats are coming in and out of the main channel and you have current pushing you forward ... exciting!

We arrived back after approx 98k, with two amazing days of super weather, stunning coast line and we also got on as well, bonus!

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sea kayaking in current- The Swellies, Menai Straits, North Wales

With the winds due to increase to a gusting f7/8 and the Straits working near perfect for us, we got on at Menai Bridge just a walk across the road from were we met, couldn't be easier. Unfortunately Tom was unable to join us, due a sustained back problem, we wish you well

As a couple of the guys were swooping kayaks we did some initial ferry glide/eddy turn work and then headed down towards the bridge and some wind against tide. The Swellies is a super spot, with a changing environment and no swell, so working out current is much easier, and clearer to see.

Dave leading us into the first eddy with a gentle wind against us

Steve showing how to do a good low brace turn with a super look into the turn.

The four wise monkeys ... jason, gary, phil and dave ...

As the gusts picked up we headed back up, moving close in to avoid the main flow ... and i jumped in to give the group a scenario to practise, and was picked up quickly by Dave and a tow clipped on by Gary.

Back at menai slipway a few more deep water (or not so deep as the case may be!) rescues were practised, with a cowboy self rescue and re entry and roll with some super attempts and a couple of good results!

Big thanks again to Gary for organising the weekend, nice 1.

sea kayaking north wales, anglesey

L5 coach sea - roger chandler

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xplore. dream. discover.

Improve + sea kayaking Anglesey, North wales

What a super sunny day ... well my trailer is out of action due a wheel bearing exploding at the end of last week, so it was kayaks on roofs! Gary and his team met me at the boat yard and soon kayaks were on roofs and we were driving off in the rain with hope and promises of sunshine ... by the time we got to Bull Bay, North coast, Anglesey the sun was out : -)

The group mainly comprised of white water paddlers with some keen and enthusiastic open boaters, as a private course this was aimed at Improve +, winds were f4

and due to drop off ...

Lots of close quartering using bow rudders and cross deck bow rudders, on the way out with lunch at the brick works and then on to hells mouth and then out to middle mouse to feel more of the current ... and then back on the conveyor belt to Bull Bay and some liquid refreshment, while soaking up the sunshine!

Sunday looks rather ?? so pleased to have made the most of it today. Rumour has it, that we have an indian summer on the way ... happy days!

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north wales sea kayaking

sea kayak wales - 5 star leader sea

After some contemplation ive decided to work towards becoming a 5 star leader sea trainer and assessor. This means I need to observe assist and be signed off as doing this and then put in to be assessed doing this before im set free to run my own. Its a long process, as most courses you need a minimum of 3 candidates, for it to be viable and with the 4 star leader award, fewer candidates decide to progress further.

Well some photos which tell their own story of a super weekend, which was mainly windy ...but with some super conditions on the night nav ... the wind dropped off and a long drive to Dale, for some good shelter and the journey leadership day. The wind was there but much lighter at F4/5 and some good swell left over from the previous days strong winds.

Day 1

After a break various scenarios were given, some individual others as a group.

Day 2

The bitches above running on the last couple of the hours...

A super run down wind, around the headland and into the bay

A break before approaching Whitesands and some bigger more powerful surf!

I would like to express my thanks to both Nige Robinson of sea kayak guides for the opportunity and the hospitality and Howard Jeffs who headed up the course. look out in 2012 for 5 star sea leader training and assessment courses and open water navigation courses we will be running jointly with Olly Sanders from Rock & Sea Adventures.

sea kayaking north wales

courses throughout the year www.coastalspirit.com

Improve sea kayaking - sea kayaking course north wales

With a mixed week of weather forecast, for our intro-mediate sea kayak course, conditions were due to be exciting. For some it was refreshing skills, for others it was an introduction, enjoy.

The first day was really rough out at sea, so we went inland to a large lake, with more shelter.

Kath working on stern rudders, in the shelter of one of the bays, mainly used to control the sea kayak in a following sea.

Keith on Llyn Padarn, with the mountains and the clouds .... a super moody day as we avoid the main anger of the wind! f7 gusting f8/9 on the West coast ; (

A seal taking a snooooze .... on the straits, day 2.

Guy bringing his kayak around ...

Keith on the menai straits with some wind against tide ...

The team at Treadour bay ... day 3

Some work in the swell and moving into the bigger stuff ... Keith and Kath

Guy about to make a turn ...

Birgit and Henning, from Germany, enjoying the sunshine.

Passing middle mouse with blue skies and seas ... day 4

Hells mouth and some super light ...

Keith enjoying the North coast and close quartering ...

Guy taking some lunch, putting some fuel in ...

The girls showing how its done ...

North coast and a bigger, super cave ...

The team upfront, moving out into the gentle back eddy, flowing out of bull bay.

Paddling back into Bullbay, after a super day on the North coast, with Douglas pushing on.

Looking at east mouse, with super light, colour ... and the wind picking up : (

Day 5 - During the evening both Keith and Douglas created 2 plans to paddle, and due to increasing winds, a modification was made to their 1st plan, which included a tide race. This brings the course into xplore, our intermediate level, so an out and back from Point Lynas, was the plan, working on the last 2 hours of the flood.

Douglas under power

Keith with the light house in the back ground ...

and then the rain arrived .... and it really poured down ... as we came back around, at slack water. a couple of pods of porpoises and a super display from a dozen gannets feeding and diving into the sea, although to far away for my camera.

At the end some messing about in boats and Douglas pulls off a full roll with a paddle float on his hand, & it looked so ease. Some good support and coaching from Sonja.

Well like every course and over 150 photos to consider, ive aimed to select those that, highlight and focus on elements of the weeks sea kayaking and adventure. Be safe and have fun out there.

sea kayaking courses north wales

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roger & sonja

xplore. dream. discover