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

5 Star Leader Training - South Devon

A couple of months back, I had an invite to provide and work with Lee Pooley, providing a 5 star leader training and open water navigation and tidal planning course.  This was down in South Devon and the Salcombe area.  Its an area I know fairly well and have paddled a lot, but never worked in - I was looking forward to it.  We just needed the right conditions...

The first day was out to Start Point a race that flows at about 4knots.  It was a calm wind forecast and to be honest, it was ideal for the group to get a feel for conditions and learning new skills.

It was a beautiful location, with a beach close by and some super rock hoping, which provided great leadership sections.

Some fun and balance below and eddying into the flow .... before a self rescue ..
 

The second day was out form South Sands, with a good F4/5 wind.  Focus was on longer leadership sections, scenarios and putting into place, previous learnt skills.  A lot of time was also spent on incident management and gully/rock rescues and rocky landings ... Derrick below being a super active swimmer ...

We chose a super sheltered beach to cook up our food, had a snooze ... ;) ... in preparation for the night navigation ...

All in all it was a super course, with up for it students, some super sunshine, appropriate conditions and in a new location for me.

Im running two further 5 star leader training courses later in the year - Anglesey based and currently places are available.  Email me for further information at info@coastalspirit.com

Roger

5 star leader training
+
sea kayaking courses uk

Day 40 Circumnavigation of Ireland

It took just over 3 hours to cross the bay, on a silky sea, with no wind. Shearwaters were out in big numbers, zooming about and rafted in big groups bobbing about. We could even see the Isle of Man this morning. 

We pulled up on to the beach and Justine called Susanna on her mobile. Her and Willy were on the way.

They both had sorted out a place for us to leave our sea kayaks, on the harbour front. And then we whisked off too their house for welcome showers and coffee. Currently sat in a sunny lounge, enjoying a rest. Mmmmmm, lunch is on the way...

Crossing to Annalong with the Morne Mountains in the background



Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 27 Ireland 7th June 2013

A farmer cam down early evening to warn us about the cows and showed us a smaller area but workable, to the East side of the beach.
After a relaxed start I was blown away by the beauty of the coastline. Huge cliffs, arches and rock structures and the sun shining on the rock really made it stand out. The wind picked up at Downpatrick Head. Camped at Lackan Bay in the dunes, and our first surf landing. 24nm completed. Hope that the surf has settled down by the morning.

Boats on the beach at Lackan Bay

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

1st June, Day 21 Ireland Circumnavigation and Happy Birthday to me!

It was a struggle getting out of my sleeping bag this morning and there was a cold wind funnelling up our valley. The entrance to our cove had surf blocking the exit and the wind was stronger than yesterday. 2-3 metres of swell rolled through as we passed another arch or cave from a distance. We landed on Mutton Island for a break unsure if we would get another. We noticed two people on the beach and then a kayak. It was Jane and Andy Morton who are paddling around the UK. They are camping on the island and invited us over for a brew. After lunch and a good lemon cake from Justine and Barry we talked through our options. With it also being a Bank Holiday places were likely to be busy plus the cliffs of Moher could be very exciting! We stayed!

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 11/12 Around Ireland Cicumnavigation

Barry managed to get a bowl of porridge down but still felt sick. The West Cork Hotel would give us a significantly reduced cost second night so we chose to stay! Following morning we all met at breakfast and had delicious eggy bread with Maple syrup, bananas and roasted almonds. Barry was also looking much better! Jim picked us up and dropped us back at our boats and soon we were off again with Barry leading and setting a fair old pace!! The flood tide had begun and could be felt at the headland off of Toe Head, the wind was blowing offshore with a few strong gusts. At 1pm we took a lunch break and shortly after found a camp spot, super small but grassy and flat. 12nm and 4 hours on the water.

Is it a boat, is it SOT, is it a kayak...? NO its a bath!!!

And a fantastic one too courtesy of the West Cork Hotel

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

Day 3 Ireland

Woke to a sore back and on closer inspection I realised it was bruised! Probably due to the extra rotation I was throwing in! I decided to cut the waist band of my fleece trousers which I thought was the likely culprit! It worked! Fun and games continued though with me further snapping a tent pole as I shook the sand out of it whilst breaking camp! Fortunately had a repair sleeve so could fix it straight away! Lovely bright morning with the day bringing much better weather and lighter winds than forecast. About 25 nautical miles covered today.

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Discover to Improve sea kayaking courses, Anglesey

Richard, Gary and Shaun, were now on to there 2nd day and a journey down the Straits was planned, from Gallows Point to Britannia Bridge, so more flow could be experienced and based on the 3 of them were picking up skills effectively, the previous day.

Practising taking legs out of the cockpit, for a storm landing to protect the kayak.

Practising a eddy turn, with commitment to the blade.

The boys after a super day paddling and lots of learning.

North Wales Sea Kayaking

www.coastalspirit.com