Advanced sea kayaking weekend - Sunshine, waves and wind!

Advanced sea kayaking is aimed at those who hold the 4 star leader award, or are 5 star leader trained or have similar skills and abilities.  It's a great way to keep those skills toped up and also to prepare and focus on particular areas prior to a 5 star leader assessment.

Daren, Tavi (seen in this photo) and Leif and Pat, were up for the weekend and what a super forecast we had.  Saturdays forecast was  Bf 5-8, SW and with a 2.0 mt swell running.  We headed to Trearddur Bay after coffee and a discussion on individuals wants and needs.  

After Tavi led us off form the beach, we worked on down wind circuits with a buddy, contact tows (and experimenting with the person on the bow or stern), rolling and self rescues.

Just before lunch we finished with Darren leading a section with Leif, Tavi and Pat and a rescue to perform.  And then after 1400 and as the tide began to ebb we started to work the surf ...

With some great carved turns from Leif ( next 3 photos are on the same run) ...

Darren, just timing it right for a super run, with just enough power on take off ... sadly my camera couldn't keep up!!

And a good steep wave for Tavi and an ender, with a successful roll, seen below ...

Sunday had a lighter wind forecast and Penrhyn Mawr was a keen choose.  With swell and wind against tide it was likely to be chunky and exciting ... And it certainly was ...  Daren led a super session down into the race and then a mix of eddy turns, crossing channels, rolling and self rescues, as what each individual preferred.

Leif below performing a successful re entry and roll with buddy cover form Tavi ...

We then headed off to fine a bay for some lunch ...

The next Advanced course with spaces currently is 26/27th September and then 24/25th October (note this is also a 5 star leader training).  These advanced course also run throughout the Winter too.

5 star leader training on the 28/9- 1st October and 24th -28th October.
5 star leader assessment - 3/4th October
4 star leader training 10th - 14th October.

Contact for more information - info@coastalspirit.com

Thanks, Roger

Intermediate sea kayaking - 5 day course, Anglesey, North Wales

This was the 2nd 5 day InterMediate sea kayaking courses this year and Keith was booked on for the whole week, while I had Alice, Erin and Paul on for the first two days and then Craig and David were joining Keith on the last 3 days.

The last time I'd seen both Alice and Erin together was about two years ago when we crossed the English Channel and they both went on to achieve their goal of paddling to Finland within 3 months.  

It was a windy forecast for Anglesey, so we went to the North coast, Cemais Bay to have some protection form the wind and pick up some tidal flow at the same time.  Assisted rescues and surfing made up the day ...

With the wind still F4 SE and due to increase, we went from Gallows Point to Y Felinheli and back to Menai Bridge were Paul gave me a shuttle back to the van.  It was a good down wind run and every one did super well ...

A real sign of the change of months is the oyster catchers collecting and flocking in the Straits.  I also counted 12 egrets in the trees ...

Keith was happy to go back to the North coast as Craig and David joined and we worked on leadership positioning, some rock hoping and rescues and incident management ...

Thursday was a top day, with F5-6 and some super swell in Trearddur Bay, for down wind runs, surfing, rolls, self and assisted rescues ... and more surfing .... It was just so warm and super sunny .. ;)

The final day was forecasted F5-7 SW, so to be honest I wasn't shore what to expect at the Mermaid Inn at the West end of the Menai Straits.  But it was blowing a F4 and every one was happy to get on and make the most of it ... a couple of leadership legs, rolls in the wind, current and swell and a couple of assisted rescues, saw us at Britannia Bridge for lunch.

As the current began to ebb we worked with ferry glides, and eddy turns and moving up against the flow, until we decided it was time to go while we could!  Back at Menai Bridge and the flooded car park.

The course before an Intermediate is an IntroMediate and the last 5 day course this year is in a few weeks time: 15-19th September.

The next interMediate is 20/21st September and currently has a couple of places available.

Thanks,
Roger


north wales sea kayak courses
+ sea kayaking anglesey

InterMediate sea kayaking course - North Wales, Anglesey

This weeks 4 day InterMediate sea kayaking course had a BCU 3 star performance emphasis and Jonathan was keen to pursue this award.  While Phil needed to develop his roll, but was also keen to go through the process.  Rhoscolyn was the first day and at the end of the flood on the Beacon, with a fair but gentle swell.  Working through angles, eddy turns, ferry glides and surfing in a race ... finishing off with self rescues back in the bay ...

Tuesday and Andy joined us, for the North coast. We had a good swell, close set, so the coastline conditions were a little confused, but again fairly light winds and more sunshine ...  contact tows, push/pull, in line towing rafted tows, assisted rafted and then some gentle play in the ebbing current at Middle Mouse ...

We were just 45 minutes into the ebb, but the race was beginning to look good .. another hour and it would have been really super.  Dag setting him self up for a run ...

Wednesday was a greyer and windier day and a super opportunity to really nail eddy turns, feeling and responding.  We got on at Menai Bridge and eddy hoped up into the Swellies ...

The final day and we were back at Rhoscolyn with a gentle F4 westerly blowing and after self rescues, and a couple of circuits, working with onside stern rudders we headed down to Sliver Bay ...

Which was just perfect to begin with ... and a magic view for lunch!

Andy with the task of controlling back surfing ...

We headed back to our start point and on the edge of the bay in gentle swell the three of them jumped in and worked on their self rescues, with great effect.  It had been a super few days with lots of energy and effort applied form the guys.  Congratulations to Jonathan for passing the 3 star award and I wish you all the very best with your paddling adventures ...

Roger

InterMediate sea kayaking course
+
north wales sea kayaking course