Beauty and the Beast - by Jon Wilson

This is one of the first of what I hope is many Blog's from a few of Coastal Spirit's early and active clients.   Providing an insight to the depth and breath of what individuals are up to.  A core element of Coastal Spirit is enabling and facilitating individuals, to be able progress and move towards independence.   BIG thanks to Jon for this.  

Given some recent long journeys in cars and with a burning desire to get out and about in a sea kayak, I decided to look for some trips close to home in North Manchester. Following a quick search on the Canoe-England website I plumped for a trip on the Bridgwater Canal from Worsley to Manchester city centre, a round-trip of 16 miles. It is believed to be the first canal built in the UK and is over 250 years old. Canals are often given bad press as being boring but I decided that I could use the trip to see areas I know well from a different angle, practice my forward paddling technique and build up some stamina for upcoming sea trips.

Starting at Worsley (the ‘beauty’), I paddled through the orange coloured water, (orange from the old mine workings in the area), passing 18^th century buildings such as the Packet House.

After overtaking a few canal boats and getting some funny looks from the locals who were obviously not use to seeing someone in a kayak, I soon got into a rhythm and arrived at the Barton aqueduct, built over the Manchester Ship canal in 1893:

A few miles further on and I soon encountered signs of ‘the beast’ i.e. industrial Manchester, the smell of malt as I passed the Kellogs factory making me feel hungry. Old Trafford soon loomed into view and I knew I wasn’t far from my destination. I arrived at Potato Wharf in Castlefield still feeling fairly fresh after 8 miles, so after a few minutes exploring the area passing bars and pubs I’ve often frequented (sadly no canalside service!), I turned round and headed back. On my return I saw Kingfishers, herons, swans and leaping fish despite the urban environment and at times you could forget where you were.

After a brief lunch stop to refuel (under a scenic road bridge to shelter from the rain!), I was soon back at the start. It was a great trip and I’d recommend anyone to check out what is close to home – canals can be interesting places, can provide a good workout and still be places to practice paddling skills.

Jon Wilson

Advanced Sea Kayaking Course, Anglesey, North Wales.

Advanced sea kayaking Anglesey and a F4/5 SW, with 2 mt swell forecasted, is happy days.  Rob had mentioned he had a 3 piece sea kayak (the 2nd one Ive seen now in 3 weeks), but what was fantastic my friend Francesco had brought it across form Sicily when he had attended a 4 star leader assessment 3 years ago.  Francesco passed and went on to do the 5 star leader training.  He sold his kayak, rather than fly home with it and Rob bought it!

Rob, Tracy, Simon and Gareth were on the course and we started with working in the wind, down wind circuits and rolling.  This was while being shadowed by a buddy who's job was to pick up the pieces if a roll failed.  Each person was encouraged to have two goes at a roll as what I've experienced and noticed is if knocked over by a wave, the first roll can be rushed and unsuccessful, partly due to the surprise.  The 2nd go tends to be more meaningful and errors, amended ...

We headed out of the bay to pick up on the chunky swell and rescues in open water ...

The group were then given the task of planning a Stacks trip or the Skerries.  The Stacks was chosen and after a short discussion an A-B was planned.  We headed out from Porth Dafach towards Castle rock and a narrow channel which accelerates the flow, was working well.  Penrhyn Mawr looked huge ...  It was decided to work the channel, by surfing back up and then running down, with capsize and rolling now drilled in.  And a couple of rescues, before a last run down with decks off and legs out.  Yep, some fun and balance in flow, to further emphasis all was OK and the more relaxed we are the more we achieve ...

After a lunch time chat it was clear that with 1.5 hours before slack water, we would do a run down into Penrhyn Mawr and then return to Port Dafach at the end of the day.  The races, 1 hour before slack were puuuurfect ... ;)

It had been another great weekend, toped off with an ice cream ... fantastic

The next advanced course that currently has places is the 10/11th January and part of the Winter sea kayaking programme.  The course before this one is an InterMediate Plus and currently there is a a couple of places left on the 29/30 November, also as part of the Winter sea kayaking programme which aims to keep you active and developing in the colder months.

Thanks,
Roger

sea kayaking north wales
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rough water handling

Advanced Sea Kayaking Course - Anglesey, UK.

It seemed that Anglesey escaped the weekends downpour, and with a forecast of light winds we on to the Stacks.  Work on Eddy turns, ferry glides, catching that wave and rescues made up the bulk of the day.  With the main emphasis on use of body.

Penrhyn Mawr remain fairly calm and as the main push passed we headed on for some lunch and then on to South Stack and some rock hoping and exploring.  Saw about 20 Puffins, the most ive seen in the area and then jumped on an eddy stream to assist us on the way back.  Penrhyn Mawr was still working fairly well and according to Phil of sea kayak anglesey, it had got bigger after lunch and the faster period.  Thats the sea for you!!

Katie, Amanda and Mark, made up the team with Zoe assisting in support/observation, for the day. 

David joined the team today and we headed out to Carmel Head on the Sunday, to be greeted with a bank of Fog.  This stretch for about 1km, so we did some limited visibility navigation and then it really closed in to 50-60 mt visibility, so we headed back to Carmel Head and worked on the race.  Self-rescue and incident management, was the theme for the day ...

The fog kindly lifted although briefly and provided us with a good sunny lunch break ...

The cafe at Church Bay, as we arrived just after 5pm kindly provided us with take aways so we sat in the sun reflecting on the day and weekend, ensuring clarity and any questions could be reflected upon and answered before heading back to Menai Bridge.   We had some good conditions, over the weekend, although gentler than expected.  This was made use of and can help to get skills tighter and more polished.  Well done all.

Roger
www.coastalspirit.com

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4 star leader refresher

Bespoke sea kayaking courses - North Wales, Anglesey

Its been a busy few weeks with Bespoke sea kayaking course's.  Bespoke sea kayaking is specific to you, set and your pace, addressing your wants and based on your needs.  It can be for an individual, friends, group or club working on specific skills or just a private journey ..

Keith was wanting to focus on leadership, decision making, incident management and rescues - so that when he next goes out with his partner Debbie, he feels better prepared ... we had mixed weather but had a great journey on the North coast, with a good few sightings of porpoises ... all the best for your next paddle with Deb's ...

Many has paddled on and off for the last few years and recently bought a sea kayak and was keen to develop confidence, understanding and skills.  Mandy did a couple of great tidal plans, a key skills in sea kayaking and we had a super trip again on the North coast taking in the island of Middle Mouse ... and then due to the winds and a needs to work on tidal flow, we went into the Menai Straits and finished with a couple of balance exercises ... all the very best with the Great Orme's paddle this weekend .. ;)

Kevin and father wanted a days paddle at Moelfre, on the east coast, so he bought a sea kayaking birthday gift voucher and joined his dad.  They used to holiday as children here and we had a cracking forecast and a gentle sea ... and even got Ynis Moelfre (the small island of the headland) in .. with some gentle tidal flow ...

Brun from Tasmania originally contacted me, as her friend Jo was up.  And Floss you lives on the island and works with her parents at Anglesey Outdoors - which has a super bunkhouse with a camp site  ... also joined us for the day ... the photos tell the story ...

Its been a great variety of private and specific sea kayaking days ... for more information, have a look at this link.

Thanks, Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

north wales sea kayaking course's
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bespoke sea kayaking course's anglesey

Introduction to Sea Kayaking - a Bank Holiday weekend ...

This weekends Introduction to sea kayaking saw Paola and Peter independently booking on the two days, with Glynis who has  paddled before joining us for the Sunday.

I was keen to begin with a calm surface so the West side of the Menai Straits was perfect, no wind blown swell, although boat traffic was busy and swell from them!  And below were going through a dry land assisted rescue.

Work on turns and forward paddling was the focus, and putting into a short journey ...

Day 2 and sunshine ... it was a F3 northerly wind with a bit of East in it so Cable Bay, was chosen again to reduce the swell and the main effect of the wind ... plus  access which was likly to be better and less Jet Ski's!!

We did some good down wind circuits using the stern rudder and in preparation for our return journey. Plus blending strokes from - forward power, sweep stoke to stern rudder and then back to power ...

The 2nd beach we landed at had a gentle swell pushing in which was perfect for us to use  ....with the aim of controlling a successful landing.  It was great to feel the sun but that Northerly breeze was cool!

We had our 2nd break and then we were back on a paddling round a headland to Cable Bay, where we had begun.  Certainly a mixture of conditions, ever changing, beautiful colours and one of the reasons I love sea kayaking ...

Roger

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sea kayak north wales