Bespoke Sea Kayaking ... Just as you want it

Its been a great week of Bespoke sea kayaking courses, were you set the pace, the focus is you and I consider the best venue to achieve what you want and need.

Earlier in the week Tavi, who had been on the advanced sea kayaking weekend, wanted to transfer her roll into rough water and work on some rough water handling skills.  After a coffee and a discussion, the North coast, Cemais Bay and out to Middle Mouse and back looked like it would fit with a forecast.  Mid day it was going N f5/6, and with the tide on the ebb we could eddy hop and then ferry glide out, have a play and catch the tide back to the bay.

First photo is looking down the early stages of Middle Mouse race ... Tavi pulled off a good dynamic roll, and as the wind was increasing we headed back to the bay.  A couple of down wind circuits, before we reached the edge of the bay ...

Here it tends to create a strong eddy stream, which was flowing into the wind and provided some further rough water ...

By now we had some small surf running on to the beach so we took advantage of this and I got a video, to share latter and provide some feedback.

In the shelter of a cove we worked on a couple of self rescues, the paddle float one Tavi could do in under 30 seconds ... time to put it into the rougher stuff.  It was blowing top end F4 in the bay and Tavi again was in her boat under 30 sec!!

Top tips are : 1) start with the stern into wind - if the bow is then as soon as you get on the rear deck it blows off the wind and the paddler tends to fall off!  2) if an air bag paddle float consider how many breaths are needed - Tavi only needed five. 3) consider storing the air bag paddle float behind your seat already inflated, and then its ready to be fitted. 4) generally a great self rescue for light and agile paddlers.

We then headed to a cafe to look over a number of video clips on my mini tablet, while Tavi worked through and created an action plan.  Great productive day.

Wednesday and Thursday saw Kath and Sedge returning and Jon was along to assist and observe.

Rhoscolyn and much calmer weather and an opportunity to have a good paddle ...with caves, a couple of seals, eddy turns and moving in and out of the rocky channels ...

The day finished off with Kath saying she would like to have a go at a roll, which she has been practising on and off for a few years.  It was great to hear her positive attitude, and just the day before I had put a face mask in the van ... after about 20+ attempts Kath pulled off a half roll ... Happy days!!

The following day we were off to Puffin Island, as the wind was SW and Sedge had never been there ... honest!!

It probably was one of the best days of wild life, certainly by what I caught on camera ... with our classic seals, porpoises and a few oyster catchers ....

With the photo below you can just see a Porpoise in the distance just below the motor boat ... ;)

Its a great section of coastline at high water as you can really get in close .... and this exploration had allowed the ebb tide to reach its first 90% flow, which provided some good sport to finish the day off with ...

Clouds were just beginning to build as we headed back to the mainland after another super day ...  time for hot chocolates and a refection on the last two days ...

Friday saw me on the water with Zoe, on another Bespoke sea kayaking day. Zoe was keen to work on rough water handling and specifically surfing and self rescues.

Morning was spent catching waves and working dynamically in them, while the afternoon was putting self rescues into rough water and fair-play, Zoe could do the cowboy, paddle float and re entry and roll paddle float all under 30 sec!!

It was a good sunny day, so the air felt warm, despite the wind.  At lunch time we had a visitor from this fella ...  end of day we found some wear for a drink to reflect on the productive day, looking back over the photos and video clips.

Top week with great people and all progressing their skills, abilities and confidence.  Remember, Bespoke sea kayaking is specifically for you, at your pace and just as you want it ...

Roger

www.coastalspirit.com
info@coastalspirit.com
07873 132999


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Day 32 Ireland

Toast just tastes so good! We had a leisurely start after our later night. 24nm and camped West of Melmore Head. We had 2 hours into a headwind this morning and then the wind eased. We landed on Inishbofin for lunch and even found a table to use! The island though was very quiet and it had an uneasy feeling about it. We've tended to have current against us and by late afternoon I was feeling sluggish. Andy used their 1:50000 to locate a narrow channel which had good level grass close to the beach. We've just repacked the boats for a 0530 start to attempt to get around Malin Head just after midday ahead of the bad weather.

Thursday night and close to our camp

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

Day 20 Ireland

After a super evening and night cap with Harold, Betty was up cooking us an Irish breakfast to set us up for the day. Big thanks for looking after us so well. We were on the water after 9am and started our first crossing to Kerry Head. We had a F4 against us and an ebbing tide.........oh hum.......! Sometimes that's just how it is. We took a longer break at the headland before crossing the Snannon. There was a good swell running as we crossed and much steeper waves as we got closer to Loop Head. The cliffs, rock formations and birds were stunning. At 4pm we came across a potential landing and camp but we now had tide with us! We paddled on..................It wasn't until after 7pm that we found another suitable site! 3.5 hours of paddling in reflected waves and clapotis today. Very tiring and the longest Ive paddled in before. Wind is supossed to be going west tomorrow so this could help us up to the cliffs of Moher.

Leaving our hosts Harold and Betty Whelan at Fahamore













Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 17 Ireland Circumnavigation

Were off the sea today as the forecast of a northwesterly F5 and 6 is here! Noel O Leary from Irish Adventures found us and offered us a bed for the night last night so we took the tents down...how could we refuse?!! Thank you so much Noel. Were here again tonight...awesome!

My new friend...!


This evening Noel kindly took us out to find Fungie the local resident Dolphin. It was blowing out of Dingle Harbour F5/6 and we were borrowing paddles, kit and kayaks. The kayaks were 1 metre shorter than what we had been paddling which proved great for surfing! It was on the way back that Fungi made a brief appearance!!

Looking for Fungie


Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Bespoke sea kayaking

It must have been about a year or so ago when Debbie booked a Gift Voucher for a days sea kayaking for Ian and herself and time had flown until this moment.  It was a windy forecast, so after a coffee and a chat it was decided to go inland to llyn Padarn, a large lake on the edge of Llanberis and at the foot of Snowdon.

We spent some time working on outside edge, clarifying the difference between edging and leaning, which is then required for inside edged turns.  The lake was perfect, with good shelter which also allowed the two of them to progress well.

Happy and pleased with current progress ....

After introducing use of skeg and a couple of down wind runs, we paddle up towards the head of the lake ... and did an initial mid way run back and then went over stern rudders ..

It was a good finish to the day and both had progressed really well, with controlling the sea kayaks in a blustery f3 and some gentle swell.

Roger
roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

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Dolphins ;) Bespoke sea kayaking

This was what its about, blue skies, sunshine, wildlife, some swell and a light breeze ... Garys group had a better nights sleep, following the stormy weather on Friday night and with the warm start to the day were up for it.  Puffin Island was our destination, which would put a lot of the skills we had gone over the day before into context. This was a bespoke weekends sea kayaking course, which was aimed at intro-mediate level our Improve sea kayaking course.

Heading out of the top of the Straits, with Puffin Island hidden ... the Great Orme, is on the far right.  There was some swell running through the sound so we crossed high, to reach the Southern side and to use the flow to travel along the island, watching the many birds getting on with their day ...

The seals were about and we kept some distance as they lounged in the sunshine ...and then as I looked out from the point, 150-200mt away a fin rose sharply up, a porpoise and then another and then a dive out of the water, "Dolphins, over their" I shouted.  They were soon joined by 4 gannets and looked as if they many have been hunting a large motor boat came past and two of the dolphins joined the craft with ridding the bow wave ...fantastic, their were smiles every where! but way to fast to even get my camera out!

At the end of the Island with Jason Carl and Emma ...

And a curious seal ...

We took a break on the beach keeping low and away from the various sea birds, watching the current ebbing past.

Gary leading out with Jason and Phil.  Gary has done his 4 star leader training so I set him a number of tasks to manage, which meant getting involved with the rougher water!!  

Carl then set out with Emma and Julie in pursuit as we did a down current run.  We worked in two smaller groups and then partly joined at the central channel buoy.  The sound got very busy for a moment, with some crazy fool coming way to fast through the sound ...  we then re grouped and began the paddle back to the start ..

Assisted rescues were mentioned, so as a gentle introduction various balances and tasks were presented... which would likely mean an eventful capsize!  Emma having completed the first stage and now, close to completing the 2nd, and she's smiling!! 

Gary finished off the day, with a balance round the cockpit of the sea kayak and provided a swimmer for Phil to rescue.  Ice creams in Beaumaris wrapped up a super day and a varied weekend of weather.  BIG thanks to Gary for organising the weekend.

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

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