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

The Roof of Britain with Coastal Spirit.....Series Catch up Episode 4!

Day 14. Friday 1st May 2015. 62km.
Thurso to Staxigoe via the Pentland Firth and Duncansby Head.

Long awaited, the Pentland Firth and the Men of Mey. Our biggest day so far, but even so we had a 4 hour siesta in the sun. It was a day that didn't go to plan. We started early 05:45 to round Dunnet Head at 08.00. All good, we had the flow with us and we were ahead of plan. Dunnet Head was golden in the sunshine. Happy days!

We paddled to the beach at Little Clett and had a short break on the pretty beach. From here on though despite the main tide flowing to the east we were in continual back eddies against us and the planned timings began to unravel.

Heading for the Merry Men of Mey tiderace it was clear we were going to be late. We worked hard against flow. Beasting #1! 20 minutes late at the tiderace and 40 minutes before slack and there was no tiderace to be seen, just rocks. Disappointing!

From here we could see that the main Firth was already flowing against us so we worked along the shore hoping we could sneak around Duncansby Head against the flow. Arriving 50 minutes after the tide turned it was clear we had no chance: the flow was moving like an express train right next to the headland. We retreated for that enforced siesta in the sun at the bay of Sannick.

We went for a stroll up to the lighthouse and saw our first glimpses of the east coast. It looked stunning!

We decided to head up to Duncansby Head an hour an a quarter before the tide turned to flow with us fully expecting to sit in the eddy waiting. Surprisingly flow had moved offshore and while the main tiderace was still pumping we paddled around the headland easily.

Duncansby Head is the most AMAZING gateway to the east coast. Stunning stacks, magical channels, caves to die for and arches. Simply mind blowing!! Can't recommend this section of coast highly enough!!!

But for us onwards, first to Skirza Head and then at 18:00 a suggestion, shall we just paddle towards the headland Noss Head in the distance? It has over falls and is a tidal gateway and would be open. It looked a long way off. We decided to go for it and reassess after 90 minutes. But to be honest there was no plan B as a major surf beach stretched along the shore... We had to make it!

And so we started the 2nd beasting of the day! Luckily I had a good stock of snacks for our hourly breaks including one that turned out to be rocket fuel, a dark chocolate and marzipan bar! Mmm!

Just over an hour and a half later and we were there, and then onwards around the headland into Staxigoe just before dark. A lovely campsite with flat grass, picnic benches and sand. Despite the 14 hour day we were to stay here for less than 10 hours before setting off again. The weather isn't being kind to us, but we're really using what we have. We were all really pleased with the 62km mileage. A record for most of us. Again the day ended with big smiles and a few aching muscles!

Day 15 Saturday 2nd May 2015

"We are up early again to beat the wind to getting to Helmsdale or as far as we can get. Ice in our mugs shows that temperatures were well below 0 in the night. The sun is welcome on the horizon as we pack boats and head south. The wind is light to start with, pushing us gently - but forecasts report 5 Bft. and swell from East for the afternoon. The colours are amazing today, sunshine, and various blues in sky and water. The cliffs reflect the waves creating clapotis and haystacks that explode in the air. We plough through in our loaded kayaks. The cliffs in many shades of brown, lots of greens with yellow flashes of gorse bushes on the hills. Waterfalls come down, adding to the perfect scene. We stop at Lybster harbour - lunch at the coffee shop in the sun!! Once a busy fishing harbour it's a quiet place today. We also fill up our water supplies before we head on.
At Dunbeath we decide to push on. Its 2pm and the wind is picking up a bit, but we want to try and reach Helmsdale. The 20km that follow are exciting paddling! The stacks and cliffs awesome, thousands of seabirds soaring around us, the waves and swell keep us alert, ready to brace or accelerate at the right moment.
Anita spots 2 dolphins close to her boat! The last 5 km are in a tail wind of F5 - with breakers crashing onto the reefs to our right. All of a sudden Sarah sees Tavi's boat upside down - she got knocked over by a big breaker. On the 3rd attempt she rolls up -after 50km, with a loaded boat, having a big waterbag in the cockpit and the helmet on the backdeck! - well done Tavi!!
We reach Helmsdale just as the wind picks up more. We land and find a campsite spot out of the wind behind a bridge pillar. What a day! 57 km in these conditions - sea kayaking at its best!
And what's more, we are now half way around the Roof. Celebratory fish and chips with a beer for all!"


Sarah, Anita and Tavi.

Magic moments ... with stacks of fun

I was due to meet up with a client at the end of the day on Holy Island, to talk through a plan for the next two days.  It was mainly my day off and I was ahead of the game by mid morning and the forecast was just so good.  Enough swell, a very light wind and a neap tide, plus some sunshine....  pretty perfect ...

Catching time for me in July is a rare thing, so 2 hours plus,  at Penrhyn Mawr was magic ... a couple of Gannets cruised on by, checking me out and the big old seal kept an eye on me.  I arrived just before the main push, which allowed me to settle into the lift and fall of the swell, and the speed of the current.  The light was great .... it was fairly regular and then an occasional ofset chunky swell forced its way through ...

I'm a big believer in time for self and keeping a balance, with out and input ... today was all about input and sharpening the saw .. ;)

It was great to be able to respond to the moment.  I got back to Porth Dafach early evening and the guys Im working with were just getting off the water.  Fantastic ...



Roger

north wales sea kayaking
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rough water paddling

5 star leader training sea

The weekends course was made up with Phil, Ed and Gwyn.  The 5 star leader award is an advanced leadership award and we had good although variable conditions.  After coffee and a look through the updated syllabus, we looked at the weather and looking for some current, head off towards the North coast.  Harry Furlongs race provide some exciting conditions, without the real commitment of  a couple of the other locations and we had some good wind against tide and steep waves.

After some surfing, rescues, contact tows and leadership positioning, we did a rocky landing for some lunch.  The sun was doing its best to warm the day while a good f5 blew form the WSW.  Once back on the water we did a couple of short navigation legs out to fixed buoys and then did a run down to West Mouse  ...

Due to the forecast specifically saying a f6 arriving later, I decided despite the wind was now a f3, to relocate to the East coast for the night navigation.  It was a lovely night, with a good sized moon, and I wish Id taken my camera as the sunset, was super ....

Following morning, some close quartering and working in the rocks, emphasising judgement and leadership positioning.  More in- depth towline work, with rafted tows and turning that into an assisted, gully rescues with out and with tow lines.

Then on to South Stack and moving up against a stiff flow at Annie's Arch and on to the race.  We were at the end of the 4th hour, so although the waves were big, they were more chunky, than steep ...
We finished off the day working in pairs with an all in rescue, before heading back to to the start.

The day was wrapped up with action plans created and 3 happy looking people ...

Roger

www.coastalspirit.com
north wales sea kayaking
+
sea kayaking Anglesey

5 star leader training sea

More South Stack Magic ...

With the winds dropping off to F2 and from various westerly direction The Stacks was the plan.  From Porth Dafarch to North Stack and back was about 20k, and with the hop of catching South Stack race just right ...

ladder assisted rescues, can work really well in rough water, although it does mean the swimmer needs to know what their doing and not much good if an anchored tow is needed.  But great to have another style of rescue ...  Zoe and Gary above

Tavi on the last of the flood form Pen Rhyn Mawr ...

Gary and some working in the rocky channels ...

Andy and just before Lighthouse Arete and South Stack lighthouse ....

Gary making the most from his hood  ... after some lunch and then on to North Stack.

Zoe showing super fine balance at North Stack, with a few steep and confused waves

Leaving North Stack and looking back ...

Approaching South Stack ... with a F2/3 southerly breeze and some wind against tide ...

Zoe getting power, speed and timing spot on ... with South Stack lighthouse in the background

Tavi descending a wave with Parliament House cave and North stack in view ...

With the wind now blowing more F3 and due to increase it made sense to paddle on towards our start point, another porpoise popped up and we were soon back at the beach having used the ebbing conveyor belt, to assist us.

A super weekends paddling ...

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

north wales sea kayaking
+
advanced sea kayaking

Advanced sea kayaking and the Euro Paddle Pass

Monday to Thursday Ive been working with Olly Sanders who runs Rock and Sea Adventures and helping to deliver the Euro Paddle Pass, black paddle 5 training course, their advanced award.  Details can be found on this website and at the end of the day it resembles our advanced 5 Star Leadership award.

Five Danes were across for the week and seemed well prepared.  Following Ollys intro and outline for the day I followed on with tidal planing for the Stacks, as the guys were also working on the BCU Open Water award.  A few sore heads latter and we had a plan, to paddle from Soldiers point to South Stack and back.  The only down or upside was that we would hit North Stack at max flow and on a big spring tide, with a NW swell and now a F3 wind ...yep it was going to be exciting and some!!

We took the top eddy and did some eddy turns, before running down the main race.  It was fairly confused and the guys did super well ...

The main race was great, with some big smooth rollers and then steeper snarling curling ones ....

I then led a session exploring the caves, consider good leader positioning and

Seals were on the beach at Parliament House cave and as its  near to pupping time we decided to paddle on towards South Stack ....

It was a fast ride and we were soon there ...almost to soon and driving down into a ferry glide to miss the steep middle section ... with Chris suddenly getting caught and riding side surf before being left to continue his journey ...

We had 10 mins at South Stack and then found a rocky cove for some lunch before paddling back round to North Stack.  It still had an hour or so but we easily paddled up through and what a super start to a week!

2nd day was on the Straits and for some reasons my photos have migrated ... needless to say ..."it was going like a train"  Lots of personal skills with eddy turns, ferry glides and reading water to use features to move out on to waves.  Only one capsize which the group managed and provide lots of useful learning with a number of small mistakes, that had large impact!

Lots of initial chart work to begin with  and then tidal planning for Point Lynas.  F4-6 S and the tide changing just after mid day, put us in a good place and today we worked in two small groups, with lots of leadership, positioning, rescues, towing, rocky landings, surfing, rolling, self rescues and scenarios ...

Rolling in some flow, while one of the group covers him ...

Day 4 and with a swell forecast of 3 metres Treaddur Bay, with swell and surf was our destination.  That is after a couple of hours on open crossings. This helped in delaying and allowing a cold front to pass, with its heavy rain and as it was due to ebb round 1230, allow us some beach ... well we needed more for the 7 of us than the above!!

Lunch and 45 minutes latter and we were on, working on the entrance of the bay doing circuits and a couple of rescues, that needed to be quick due to the wind blowing towards the rocks.

And then into leading a group back through surf ...and some personal surfing ....

The guys worked really hard and as Ive experienced before, Europeans tend to be strong when it comes to surfing as this is their main form of sport, what with the small tides.  So when the wind blows there out ..."surfs up"

For me, being my last day it was a great way to finish and I'm sure ill be seeing some of these guys again in the near future ...

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayak north wales
+
advanced sea kayak courses