Springing Forwards with Coastal Spirit

Its been a great start to 2016, with a number of Advanced sea kayaking courses, InterMediate, 3 star
training/assessment courses and InterMediate Plus.  A few Bespoke private courses, during the week and with a near full callender up until late May.

With Summer just around the corner its a good time to start focusing on what you want from 2016 and those early wishes you may have made in January, to actually action!

Here is a list below of what is available currently.

• Introduction to sea kayaking private and unique.  Available during the week, with details available here

• IntroMediate aimed at those who want to progress their sea kayaking skills with a gentle introduction to swell, current, wind and waves - 11/12th June, 9/10th July at £160.  Have a look here

• InterMediate working towards 3 * performance skills - 28/29th May, 2/3rd July, 30/31st July at £160 p/p and during the week 19-22nd July at £270.  Have a look here

• InterMediate Plus, is aimed at 4 star leader and performance skills, while working in moderate conditions - 18/19th June, 6/7th August at £160.  Have a look here.

• Advanced sea kayaking is aimed at 5 star Leader and performance skills and at a ratio of 1:4 - 25/26th June, 23/24th July and 20/21st August at £160.  Have a look here

• Coaching the Mind - for leaders, coaches and paddlers who want to increase their understanding, confidence and performance.  Sports Psychology in action, with the first day of theory and work shops, which also can be used as a coaching up date and the 2nd day on the water putting theory into practice.  Ratio of 1:4 and delivered by Lee Pooley and Roger Chandler.  At £180 - have a look here for more information 

• 4 star leader training with coastal navigation and tidal planning - 25-28th July at £270.  Have a look here

• Orkney sea kayaking for top end Intermediate paddlers 8-16th August at £655.  Have a look here

• 5 star leader training with open water navigation and tidal planning 17-21st September at £330 and only one place left.  Have a look here

Bespoke opportunities are available form early June.  A day is set at your pace, based on what you want and need.  A great way to progress further and gain more form your time on the water.  More information can be found here

For further information on the above either follow the links or email me direct at roger@coastalspirit.com

I hope to see you on the water

Thanks, 

Roger

Bespoke sea kayaking - North Wales, Anglesey

Keith and John were back for another year and a few days Bespoke sea kayaking.  Normally late September/October was there time, but with the last couple of years wind and rain dominated.  July they hoped would provide sunshine and blue skies ....  Well Monday didn't and I had no camera!! so we spent the day in The Menai Straits going through low braced turns and stern rudders - inside and out side edge.  This was going to set us up for the next couple of days ...  

My photos have come out a little jumbled, but as you will see we got that sunny blue sky days  ... ;)

Last day at Rhoscolyn and looking down towards the Lleyn above, and some rock hoping, putting our turns into practise, below.

2nd day was the 10k one way paddle of the Stacks - we went against the Ebb, so only had South Stack to work with, which we went through at slackish water.  saying that the guys worked really well with a couple of active back eddies, flowing against a N f2/3 wind, gave a 1ft of swell and confused water ...

Looking back at South Stack light house above and some super rock scenery, around Elyn's tower.  the birds to were loving the sunny day ...

Landing for lunch below at Silver Bay on the 3rd and last day ...

It had been lovely that the sun had come out, and that the wind had allowed both Keith and John to paddle the Stacks.  A classic, stunning and committing trip.  One I'm sure will be remembered for a few years yet!!

Hi Roger

Just to say big thanks for your efforts with John and I. 

Superb time — tired today!

Very much appreciated.

Keith

Happy days  ....  Bespoke days are set at your pace, address your specific wants and needs, allowing you to achieve more and accelerate your learning.  August is now full for Bespoke days and September is begging to fill up.  Contact me now if you want more information or would like to arrange an informal chat.  Thanks, Roger.

info@coastalspirit.com

Bespoke Sea Kayaking - For individuals, couples, friends, groups and clubs

Bespoke is tailor made for you, set at your pace and mainly during the week.  Its a private course and weekends can be done if more than 4 people make up the booking.  Days and weekend range from an Introduction to sea kayaking, rescue skills and incident management, improving performance and effectiveness, 4 and 5 star leader preparation, expedition preparation, open crossings and for kayak clubs, that mainly do river white water kayaking an opportunity to get out on the sea.  

Sadly my compact waterproof camera has broken and has gone back to Pentax and I hope I will have it back soon.  Photos that I have are from clients cameras or my phone, when conditions are quieter and I'm not jumping in and out of the water!!

Last weekend I was working with Jon's kayak club, who having no to little sea kayak experience but a fair amount of white water kayaking was perfect.  Rhoscolyn on the Saturday with a flooding tide and a light wind, made the race perfect and brought out the smiles and comments like 'wow, I just didn't know the sea could be like this ...'

And it would be rude not to include a cave, gully or arch at some time over the weekend!!

Sunday and F4/5 saw us head for the Straits and take eddies in this white water world in sea kayaks!!  We got the flood tide up to Menai Bridge, had lunch and then caught the ebb tide back.  Delaying a little, so that the tide could build and create some waves under the A55 bridge, with wind against tide ...

The team above and BIG thanks to Jon below for organising the weekend ... ;)

A Bespoke Introduction to sea kayaking as a birthday gift to Alan, form Yvonne was another one of the days.  And with a f4 SW forecast and Alan's first day on a sea kayak we looked for the shelter of the  lagoons on the Straits.  Alan has paddled a sit on top for a number of years and enjoyed the sleek and smooth feel of the sea kayak cutting through the water.

And we were even treated to a seal which was hauled out in the shallows.  This was a first one for me in the Straits and just perfect.  I've seen from time to time a bull seal either end of the Swellies, although more commonly the A55 end, but never one resting up on the edge of a bay.  Lets hope thats a new beginning!!

we worked on outside edge, forward paddling and stern rudders, with a journey to the Gazelle Inn and after lunch Alan transferred to the Romany surf a composite sea kayak, lighter and more responsive.  Inside leaned turns under the bridge arches and as the Swellies were close to slack we entered and watched the Herons and Egrets.  Or were they watching us!!

Alan finished off with a controlled capsize and talk of doing more ....

Keith was out for 2 days and was looking for rough water and with a F4/5 SW forecast, Trearddur Bay, was our location.  That was after a coffee!!

Into wind, a down wind circuit, with a good few runs and then around Ravens Point and a good 2ft confused swell.  Lunch at Porth y Garan, and it was then time to head back to the bay.  There was the occasional good set of waves that pushed into the bay and we enjoyed a surf, before finishing up for the day.  It had been a cool drizzle type day and my phone just didn't want to unlock its self, what with my cold wet fingers ... so only the one shot, from the day

The following day was much better.  Well it was dry, brighter and despite a F4/5 off shore wind, we gained alot of protection.  Cough's seemed to be abundant and a brief porpoise was spotted.

Lunch looking out to Middle Mouse and the birds, zipping back and forth ...

We kept close to the coastline working our way in and out of the gullies and the main cave on this section of the coast.

Back in Bull Bay and Keith was keen to try a re-entry and roll, paddle float self rescue and a few of these completed the day.

Apologies to Allan, Frank and Tracy, that I have no photos ...  doing rescues and the risk of leaving my phone in my dry suit pocket, was just to risky!!

Further information on Bespoke days can be found here and remember a Bespoke Intro sea kayaking course gets £20 off any further Coastal Spirit course, and is valid for 1 year.  If you want specific information on a day or more then,  just email me.

Roger

Roger Chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
roger@coastalspirit.com

Bespoke Sea Kayaking - North Wales, Anglesey

Bespoke sea kayaking is for you and set at your pace.  Its specific based on what you want and need to achieve your goals.  Its a great way to fast track your skill, ability, confidence, knowledge and understanding.  For example, Andrew started sea kayaking on a Bespoke Intro course, last August 2014 and after only four Bespoke sea kayaking days, he's really getting to grips with it all.  Having recently bought a sea kayak that works really well for him and he's comfortable with.  He's now looking forward to spending more time on the water

Puffin Island seemed the right and best location, with some wind (but also protected), gentle swell, 3.5-4 knots of current, bird life and not to forget the seals!

Eddy turns, ferry glides and stern rudders ... 

We saw over a dozen Puffins and these 3 got close enough for a photo ....

Bespoke can also be for a small group of friends or a club. This can be a general social activity or it can have a specific focus.  Mandy organised a weekend for her kayak club and booked some super sunny weather too ...  this has been a fairly regular year event.  This year, due to calmer seas and a sunny blue sky, more current and flow could be experienced.

Rhoscolyn the first day and eddy turns, with keeping momentum ... Mandy below, enjoying the moment ...

Cliff moving down through the gentle race ... and after 3 years of not being in a sea kayak!

Denzil ....

Simon working his way towards the eddy, at Rhoscolyn Beacon ...

Then on to caves, gullies and arches ...

After a reflection on the day and a ponder of Sundays forecast.  Puffin Island seemed like a super location.  NW wind Bf 3/4 and the current flooding for best part of the day - wind with tide ... seals and lots of birds zooming about ...

A big flock of Oyster Catchers, were just stunning to watch.  With there red beaks bobbing up and down ...

It had been a super weekend and there's even talk of a weeks sea kayaking in Scotland for next year ... Happy days .. ;)

Currently I have a few mid week days which are available for Bespoke sea kayak coaching in June.  Contact me for more information or to find a suitable day.

Thanks,
Roger

www.coastalspirit.com
info@coastalspirit.com