On the Way!

Here's the first blog for the RDX 2012!
With all 4 boats on the van from Penrith they've headed up to Scotland enjoying the views along the way... lets hope the weather stays so they can paddle off the chips, coffees and irnbru that have been consumed on the journey north.

Views from the van.

I'm looking forward to the updates, and am really excited for the team... weather looks good for the next few days too...

Surf, Islands and the Llyn - North Wales sea kayaking

For the final day, Kath, Simon and Douglas were left and a journey down to the Llyn, seemed a good idea. However there was a 1mt swell forecast for Aberdaron, so I wasn't totally sure what to expect further to the East at LLanbedrog, but hoped for a gentle start ... we were not disappointed!

Douglas leading us out of the bay on silky seas!

Kath and Simon, taking in the view as we use transit markers to assist our journey our and across to the islands ...

We saw 6-8 of these Barrel Jellyfish, which were quite beautiful, although when I was looking for further information I came up with an interesting project which is attempting to track these Jellyfish. I quote ... Jellyfish may be taking over the oceans due to commercial fishing ... For more information visit here

After reaching the East Tudwal, we paddle down to the far end and picked up the tide flowing off the end ...and some gentle swell

Popped into a small cave, and here were looking across to West Tudwal with the main land in the background ...

Taking a break in the heat and pondering the next move as we can now see the surf thundering into the right hand side of the beach and a dozen or so surfers making the most of it ..

We head to the left hand side looking for some smaller waves and between 2/3 bigger sets, there was 4-6 smaller sets ... for some reason I couldn't up load the SLR surf shots ...will try latter

The modern girl at lunch!

We then headed back to our start point, the team leading and considering best lines, as the current was still on the ebb and flowing gently against us. Back in the bay, with 20k behind, ice creams and a brew, before loading the trailer and heading back to Menai Bridge.

Super 4 days, amazing weather and great to see people again and their progress.

www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayaking north wales

intermediate sea kayaking

Stacks of sunshine - Intermediate sea kayaking course

With such a super forecast and good timings with the ebb The Stacks was on for a paddle from Soldiers Point to Porth Dafarch. Meet the team ...

Rich trying out Zoes Romany on the early stages of North Stack race ...

Simon enjoying himself, in the gentle flow ...

Kath having time to say a few words!

Douglas ...
Sue ...
and Neil ...
The swell in Gogarth Bay was fairly significant making a landing at parliament house cave a NO GO ... however we managed to get into a couple of the caves, two at a time and hear the dragon!

A couple of Shags nested up in a hole ...

And some close quartering after careful observation of rise and fall!

South Stack light house and the girls!!

Rich and a contemplative moment ...

After lunch we headed out of Abrahams Bosum, towards Pen Rhynmawr, with a strong ebb behind us and into the approaching swell, which with the low lying rocks and shelves made for an exciting headland ... before rounding the corner and into the calm of the bay.

A gentle swell was rolling in, so while a shuttle was done (BIG thanks to Neil) the guys enjoyed a rewarding finish.

Once loaded we then headed off to the RSPB cafe at South Stack for ice creams and a view of what we had paddled. What made it even more worthwhile was South Stack race was clearly working, eddy lines and flow could be seen and this further helped to support the benefits of effective tidal planning!

roger chandler

L5 Coach Sea

www.coastalspirit.com

north wales sea kayaking

Introducing Di... RDX blogger!

Hi, I'm Di, and was lucky enough to paddle around Wales with Coastal Spirit last April, so this time last year I was busy with final preparations... and I guess Roger will be pleased to see this post appear on his blog so he can tick another job off the list!

I'll be updating the blog (and probably be getting very jealous), while the team are out on this year's RDX। I've known Roger and Sonja for awhile and have shared great days on the sea, entertaining evenings in camp and the odd day wind bound... forced to eat bacon butties and ice creams... so I'm certain that along with the rest of the team they are on for an amazing trip.

Hopefully they'll be lots of evenings like the one above!

I'll do my best to send them good weather forecasts, and will be receiving photos and information on how they're doing to keep you all updated। I have my fingers crossed for good conditions and well behaved technology!

Looking forward to keeping you all updated.... it's not long now!

Blue skies and silky seas!

This weekend was the last of our Winter Skills programme, but with temperatures in double figures it was more like a super summers day!!

Sat saw us off to Rhoscolyn to get some tide/current and out in some distance ...

Jon on one of the narrower rocky channels

As we paddled towards Rhoscolyn head, the ebb had begun, but only just which allowed us to paddle through. There was a reasonable swell running so the various cave sna darches were out of the question ... but the sun was great!

and at times the swell pushing up over the shallower sea bed gave some exciting moments!

Sue keeping her eyes open and looking out for bigger swell ...

Sunday and another forecast of light winds and a stable high!!
Leaving Cemais bay on the way to the brick works ...

Douglas taking the far side of middle mouse and the last hour or so of the flood ..

Jon working the far side flow, which we stayed with for 20 minutes ...

Zoe getting to grips with her NEW boat ...

Kath ...
Rich ...

and Keith ...the photo says it all!!

We then headed back to Anglesey, using the last of the flood to push us up the coast ...

Jon and Middle mouse in the distance and a few porpoise sightings!!

The brick works and lunch ...
On the way back we kept closer in, exploring the channels and experimenting with strokes ...

Keith even found a channel which was new to me!!

Super weekend and what amazing weather ... I LOVE my job!!

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayaking anglesey

&

north wales sea kayaking

Sunshine, following seas, Ice creams + an Octopus!

This weekends Xplore saw Tracy and Andy, Keith and Gary. Gary had just pick up his Cetus Mv, so was keen to get it on the salty stuff. After coffee and tidal planning, SW corner of Anglesey, Cable Bay was our start point. This allowed for some work in a gentle swell and a following sea, with some lovely sandy beaches along the way.

Day 1

Keith and Tracy refreshing there stern rudders ...

Keith moving into some more swell and looking confident ... with Rhoscolyn in the distance ...

After a couple of circuits we headed across the bay, with Andy leading us and looking out for a bay .. a brief leg stretch and a lunch break part 1 and then we were off again, this time with Gary leading us, as we paddled towards Rhosneigr and then towards Silver bay

At Silver bay, there was a gentle swell pushing on to the beach, and due to the level of the tide, the waves were running in smooth. Andy getting a good run in above ...

Gary getting the 2nd wave, with the Llyn Peninsular in the back ground ..

We then headed back across the bay. The light and colours during the day had been so varied and bright ...
Thankfully this bank of cloud passed us by to the left and over the main land ...latter we found out it had hailed in Menai Bridge!!

Super finish to the day ...

Day 2

Menai Straits to Penmom Point

Sunday was a super sunny day and although windy to start this dropped off after a couple of hours on the water ...

Heron patiently waiting in the shallows ... with the Great Orme in the distance

Penmon Sound had a good solid 1 - 1.5 mt swell pushing through, so we did a couple of circuits into the swell and then running down wind. The emphasis was on keeping a rhythm. When the stern lifted, up your cadence and as the stern drops slow down and then repeat. Speed enables greater control and puts you one stroke closer to catching that wave!

We then crossed the Sound to the red concrete bouy and then to the island ...

A few seals making the most of the sunshine ... on the northern side of the island the water was more confused, but the wind had really dropped off as we paddled back up, with Gary leading and pointing out the main flow and eddy stream.

Andy then led us across the sound to the Southern side of Penmon Point, for a break and some lunch ...

While having lunch this little fella, crawled out of the water, surprising us all ... we thought he may have been embarrassed by his surf landing! He then started to bury himself ...

changing his colour as he did! It was a first for me and quite amazing ...

Back on the water and an all in for Andy and Tracy (their request) and a couple of final runs to the red beacon and back for Gary and Keith ... before returning to our start and stopping off in Beaumaris for ice creams!!

www.coastalspirit.com

info@coastalspirit.com

roger chandler

sea kayaking anglesey &

north wales sea kayaking