Surf, sunshine and a windy day - Bespoke sea kayak

With Sundays forecast at F6-8 and heavy rain id cancelled the day. Saturday was F4/5, NW and Keith was on for a bespoke day of 1:2:1 coaching and doing some work in wind, swell and surf, made so much sense.

Trearddour Bay was perfect, enough shelter as the wind was more F3/4 and some good steep waves, that were a good working with size. 

Once out through the surf we did a couple of runs across the bay, allowing the wind to assist on our turns and running down wind with the swell.  We did this a couple of times.

As Keith began to feel more comfortable in his new kayak, I then moved to the beach and got a bigger lens out ... we talked through leaning forward as you approach a wave with speed (to anchor the bow) and punch through, while also reaching forward and planting the paddle to gain a grip, with forward momentum.

Keith certainly had some good opportunities to feel what his kayak was like ....

Getting a fast diagonal run in ...

Top day and a couple of really good runs, with one in particular (shot above).  Good control was demonstrated with time taken on the wave, to make minor adjustments.

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

anglesey sea kayaking
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sea kayak surfing

Just for you - Bespoke sea kayaking

Al and Briggett were over for a few days from Switzerland and the main focus was working with Briggett and developing her forward paddling, to be more effective.

We began with an hour in the cafe, discussing over a coffee, the best venue and clarifying what they both wanted.  Then looking at a video clip on effective forward paddling, to break down the elements, before we got on the water.

The Straits were perfect, some wind, some flow and and good tide to take us through into the Swellies and then the flood tide to bring us back. 

Moving into the main channel and flow, with a small amount f wind against tide ...

Making the most of one of the sheltered areas ...

Under Menai Bridge and working with eddy turns ...

Briggett generating good forward power ....

And really beginning to commit to a lean

Al exploring and enjoying the gentle flow ....

We paddled on down to Plas Newedd, National Trust property and then turned and worked the gentle wind, and the last of the ebb against us, with outside edged turns and forward sweeps and stern rudders, to control the kayaks.  As we headed back to the start, we reflected on the day and the good results.

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayaking courses

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sea kayak north wales

A windy week - IntroMediate sea kayaking

John and Keith were back for another 4 days sea kayaking and I like to thank Barry once more for stepping up and working the whole course to allow my chest infection to improve and move closer to full recovery.

Now the week was wet and windy expect for friday when the sun did show its self. so both did extremely well, in making something of the week.

The course aims to introduce individuals to swell, wind, current, and small surf.  Conditions that are likely to be discovered around the UK coastline and working through the techniques used in these conditions.

John on the left and Keith on the right and I believe the car was on the slip way, and the hand brake wasn't on/failed ....

John under Britannia Bridge ....

 Moelfre on the East coast ...

Back to the Straits ....

A week finished, with smiles and enjoying the sunshine.

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayak courses
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north wales sea kayaking

Sunny seas ...discover sea kayaking

This weekends course had been organised by Sarah back in February, and it was mainly a social gathering were previous sea kayaking experience was limited. The plan was to run a Discover sea kayaking course, as an introduction and then modify and adapt as appropriate.  We meet at Waitrose, Meani Bridge to grab a coffee and talk through the day, before driving over to the west coast to access Trearddur Bay.  On the beach I went through a land based assisted rescue, so this was clear in peoples minds, and they could have a go and then ....

Foot peg adjustment ....

Allen and Karen above ....

It was a magic, sunny day and just what you want for a first day ... and even got a cave, but the swell was a little confused from time to time, so one at a time to the entrance.

On the way back we came across a group of lads that i think were as just as surprised to see us ....

The following day was colder and the winds were due to increase, so Cemais bay on the North coast of Anglesey was the destination and putting the previous days skills into a new context ...

Sam focused after swopping into a different sea kayak ....

We paddled on towards the left hand side of the headland, picking up more swell as we did ...

At the main break and all wrapped up .... and from left to right ... Allen, Karen, Julie (who was observing/assisting), Laura, Sarah, Sam and Tom.

Sarah and Tom as we head back after a variety of weather and good spirited people.  My thanks to Julie for helping out and I wish you all the best with your future assessment.

A couple of hours after saying good buy I got a great text of Sarah - Just wanted to say thank you so much for a great weekend. We've all really enjoyed it and learnt loads, and fingers crossed will be back next year! 

Happy days ....

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

discover sea kayaking
and introduction to sea kayaking

IntroMediate sea kayaking - Improve

5 days IntroMediate sea kayaking had Mark, Martin, Katherine and joining for two days at the start, Graham and then John for two days at the end. The course aims to introduce swell, current, surf and wind and techniques and skills to work effectively in theses environments ...

The only problem was on Sunday night before the courses I had a high temperature with shivers and coughing ...next morning it was a call to Barry Shaw, to see if he could work the day (how naive I was, to think id be better after a day!!).  Barry kindly stepped up with 2 hours notice and took the following photos .... over the 5 days

It had been a windy week, but with a few sunny spells and a good mix of conditions to allow individuals to progress ...as one of the group expressed below:

I really enjoyed myself ... Barry who was instructing the group was great, his explanations and demonstrations were clear. I have improved my understanding of how various strokes can tie together. I had been by the suspension bridge before, breaking in and out but no real control  of what I was doing. I was apprehensive of going back there but Barry gave me the confidence to break in and out here. Unfortunately  I wasn't able to continue with the rest of the week, but I will be looking forward to attend another course in the near future..... 

Thank you and especially Barry for making the course highly enjoyable, I really enjoyed my self and it has given me the confidence to improve the skills I already have and  those I learnt on the course.

BIG thanks to Barry for working the week and 10 days later I'm closer to getting my full lung capacity back!!

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayaking north wales
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intromediate sea kayaking

Just as you like it ...bespoke sea kayaking

It was great to see Tracy and Andy again and following a coffee and some planning, working in wind and some surf would hit the mark.  Tracy was also had a Tiderace sea kayak on demo so was keen to take it through its paces. 

With a F4-6 and gusting F7 latter Treaddour Bay made so much sense!! 

It was s super day, working the surf and getting clean landings, choose which way and controlling the kayak to go that way through body positioning and wait transfer.

We did a few runs across the bay and worked with increasing cadence, with a shorter stroke, skeg and keeping head up and vision wide.  We finished off with a couple of runs from the swell being forced through a narrow channel .... Andy above, getting a feel for his new Tiderace!!

We wrapped up the day with me loading a load of photos on to my lap top, and looking back through the day.  Highlighting areas to improve and what was going well, so as to continue ...

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

Bespoke sea kayaking
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North wales sea kayak

Surfs up ...Xplore sea kayaking

Xplore sea kayaking is our Intermediate sea kayaking course and we had a windy forecast for Monday so back into the Straits and as we were neaps, some eddy hoping to work our way up to Britannia Bridge was the goal.

Andy above with Britannia Bridge and misty rainy stuff .. it was quite cold ....

Glenn, was in for polishing up those skills and was clearly comfortable in his sea kayak ...

A short break on some comfortable bubbles of sea weed ...

Rolls and self rescue and some fun and balance, with Rob showing how its done ....

It could have been Feb..!!

Day 2 had a windy but brighter outlook and Treaddour Bay on the West coast after some coffee and planning was our destination ...

Rob got really stuck into the surf, which was occasionally just under 2mts and sunny ...whoop, whoop!!

Rob above ...circuits were set ...after a couple of demos and then my job was to get the shots!!

 

It had been a fantastic day with everyone catch a ride and more ...

Day 3 and with lots of swell moving about I was keen to mix current, swell and wind ... so Puffin Island was our destination ...

Andy Glen and Rob from left to right and Anglesey and Penmon Point in the back ground.

Caves I love them, so at least on an intermediate course we got one and a light house one the same trip!!

For some reason i cant get to the bottom of this page ...it was a windy few days, but well done to one and all, it was great to see progression and enthusiasm.

Roger