Paddle Orkney - Sea Kayak Symposium and some pre paddles

It was about 16 months ago when I looked across to Orkney from the light house on Duncansby Head and said to my self ... 'I need to go and paddle over there'.   On returning home I soon came across a link to the Paddle Orkney Symposium and was then in contact with Nick Blowfield, the organiser.  I had my place on the weekends event in 2015 and something significant to look forward to.

Oliver Sanders was also working on the event, so the plan was to go up earlier and get a couple of pre event paddles in, so we could get a better feel for the area.  11.5 hours drive, shared with Sonja and we got lucky with 10 minutes to go at the ferry terminal.  They were happy to transfer our morning ferry ticket to the evening, so we were on the way to the islands.  Over 70 islands make up Orkney and it was clear as we crossed how big and vast the area was.

The following morning we had met up with Zoe and a N F5/6 so we headed to South Ronaldsay, and Burwick to explore the cave's, arches, Geo's (long gullies) and get a gentle feel for the flow ...  the clarity of the water was amazing.

The following day the winds were gentler so we headed out from the top of South Ronaldsay at the Churchill barrier and down the East coast.  From Newark Bay it really started getting interesting ...

The above was a super blow hole just before Halcro Head.  The following head land was very impressive, Old Head.  This flowed for 10 hours in a Southerly direction and had a speed of 6 knots. After 8 hours it was still going like a train and despite a small swell running the race was pretty messy!

The Friday before the event we managed to get out on to the North coast from Evie to  the small island of Eynhallow.  Eynhallow Sound and the narrow channels either side flow at 7kn and we had the last couple of hours of the flood.  Nice flow but not much action.  We headed over to the bigger island of Rousay, for some super caves, arches and exploring ... 

A couple of the caves and arches were fairly active ...

On our return to Evie sands the ebb had begun 50 mins before, it was due to begin, so we had a paddle into flow and a gentle breeze.  While changing in the car park I looked back on our paddle and was amazed and the white water that was now being created.  Wow ... ok this was a venue that worked mainly on the ebb and picked up conditions fast!

That evening we went across to the Rugby club, met up with Nick and signed up for our work shops.  A coastal journey which was between Olly, Kate and my self.  We pitched two trips for the participants to choose. One a longer 20k trip as an A-B and with less exploring.   And another 9k with more exploring and an A-A.  Newark Bay had good parking, so the plan was into a gentle breeze to begin with and down to Wind Wick and catch the increasing wind back, perfect!!

I had a super group, who were just so happy to soak up the surroundings, exploring the occasional cave, reversing into gullies and watching the Fulmars glide on bye.

The cave above had some super Stalactite's and limestone features .... and below a gentle following sea, to help us on our way ...

Back at the Rugby club Nicks wife had made scones for a delicious cream tea ... fairplay.  They certainly went down well.  Food followed for every one in a big hall, which was tasty and enough of it and then into the bar for drinks.  A couple of talented local guys played some super tunes into the evening and winded up a lovely day.

Sunday and the last day of the symposium and i signed up for rough water paddling, with Kate and Olly again.  Stromness head and sound we headed for.  I had a middling group so we went over rescues, rolling and self rescues, before lunch.  We managed to move up the Sound and get a good vantage point to look down and across the race.  It was impressive.  Again it had turned 40-50 minutes early and during this time it had been gentle, with a fair swell rolling through.  Every 10 minutes it changed.

We started with a run through and then worked in two teams of 3.  One in the eddy, while I worked the other team through the edge of the race again.  Back in the eddy we swooped over and we were off again.

We headed back to the Rugby Club, for more tea and cakes and then another super meal, drinks in the bar and a talk from Olly on his Arctic adventures wrapped up the day.

It had been a super weekend, which had been well organised from my perspective,  with a good mellow atmosphere.  Well done Nick and his team.  Next year is Shetland and 2017 its back to Orkney.  Its a long way, so spending more time up is worthwhile and it also means your more likely to get some settle weather.

Roger

roger chandler
info@coastalspirit.com
www.coastalspirit.com

Tide Races, Cave's Sunshine and 12 from Denmark

What a fantastic few days and the feeling that this is what summers are about.  This group form Denmark was new to tide race work and fast flow, but were keen to experience what Anglesey could offer.  Id say the youngest was mid 50's and up to early 70's ... its never to late!

Photos have come out back to front, so the last 3rd actual day is first below.

Day 3 - the good weather forecast had  held and a day at the Stacks was looking good.  The Stacks is an advanced sea kayaking journey with, a committing and spectacular rocky coastline, with tall rock walls, strong tidal streams and significant back eddies.

It was a great day and in some ways what the two days previously was all about, developing the skills and abilities to paddle a trip like the Stacks.

Day 2 started with a windier forecast and as eddy line work was needed time in the Menai Straits, made sense.  We began with the last of the ebb, so the current was slow and as we reached slack water we did various rescues and had lunch.  As the flood picked up we did a few reverse eddy turns, ones with eyes closed and then some fun and balance eddy turns and ferry glides.

We finished with some good runs back to Menai Bridge an din the sunshine ...

Day 1 - Rhoscolyn.  As it was on the ebb, all was gentle to begin with and turning and stern rudders were focused on.  These were then put into various contexts, such as down wind runs and narrow channels and blending into a turn ...

The wind picked up at one point and soon passed through, as we sat down for lunch to allow the flood current to pick up.  The flood was into a F3 so it was soon, providing what we wanted ...

Thanks to Steve Miles for his help and it was great to share a few days with a super bunch of people, with great conditions and some Anglesey, North wales sunshine ...

Roger

north wales sea kayaking
+
anglesey sea kayak course

Private and Individualised Sea Kayaking

The last week has been busy with individual Bespoke sea kayaking days and below is a brief insight on three different days.

Kamala is in the first two photos and as it was a windy day we launched from Menai Bridge slipway.  Kamala has been marathon racing for 15 years or so and it was clear from her forward paddling, she had carried this across into her sea kayaking. Yep I had to work to keep up with her .... 

A journey with elements of coaching interspersed throughout the day and with a brief time in the Swellies, working on eddy turns made up the day.  This also provided Kamala with some home work with flat water out side and inside turns.  Committing more to edge and maintaining it ... and as Kamala mentioned she had also found two new locations for hot chocolate!

I hadn't seen Erin for a year, so it was good to catch up. Some rough water and a journey was on the wish list.  Point lynas looked like it could provide us with some exciting and gentle tidal flow, due to less swell and we were getting close to high water slack.  Plus a journey to Ynis Dulas and the seals ....

We headed out during the last two hours of the flood, and there was enough to have a gentle play and as the current slowed 4 porpoises showed them selves .... happy days ...

Ynis Dulas was great and a few seals came out and greeted us.  We choose not to land as we were close to high water and its close to the seals having there pups ...  We headed back across to Anglesey for some lunch and to allow the ebb to build.

Sue was over from Ireland and was very clear about what she wanted. Sue had been over in March on a mid week group Bespoke with 3 other friends and when I paddled around Ireland she invited us for a meal.

Sue wanted to be able to cross eddy lines and in particular ferry glides, without a wobble.  The day was very atmospheric, with thick fog and then bright patches of sunshine.

We started on out side edged turns and then inside and Sue's commitment to edge was great and a big improvement on March.  Time in her boat with purposeful practise had paid off.  She was soon doing eddy turns and it all began to make sense to her ... keeping the low brace out for 7-10 seconds, meant she held her edge for longer, speed meant she could carry this through the turn ....

We moved from eddy to eddy and soon Sue was leading.  Menai Bridge provided the best smooth flow i'd seen for along time .. it was perfect.  With specific tasks set  Sues confidence and belief was clearly growing ... now to move it up a notch ... now do it with your eyes closed.  With understandable hesitancy Sue paddled out of the eddy into the flow, eyes closed and with a couple of strokes, she was in the opposite eddy with a beaming smile ....

We had some lunch and reflected on the morning and about 30 mins into the ebb we paddle back on through the arches with Sue leading all the way back to the van on the far side of Britannia Bridge.  We headed off to a cafe to reflect further on the video clips I had taken and capture her learning from the day.  Before she headed off to Holyhead for the fast ferry back home.  Sues account of her day can be seen here.

Bespoke and private sea kayaking can move a person on leaps and bounds.  There's no hiding and its all about you.  My job is to pace the day with progressions, find the best venue for you to work in and set you tasks for when you go away.  The more you know what you want, the easier it will be for me to consider what you may also need and get the best from you. Individualised coaching is just like that tailored suit or designer dress, made to measure and individualised.  Available during the week at £170 per day.

Roger

individual coaching
+
north wale sea kayaking

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

intro sea kayaking
+
sea kayak north wales