A Quick Paddle around Bridlington Bay

With strong northely winds and swell there was only really one place to launch safely today, in the shelter of Bridlington Bay, launching from South Landing.



Paddled up to the head were the rath of the northerly swell was evident as it carved around the headland. Back down towards Bridlington with a bit of company



Plenty of anglers fishing the European Open Match



And a few more further up near the landing





Back in mid afternoon after a play in the surf



Ten miles on the GPS but feeling like much more



Not the most exciting paddle ever but a few miles under the belt and maybe helping towards paddle fitness.

A Bit of Coaching Experience

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be added to Kingston Kayak Clubs Coaching roster and am now helping out with pool sessions on a Monday evening at Albert Avenue Baths. At first I was very nervous being the 'new boy' but I soon relaxed and had great fun coaching and helping the youngsters with their paddling.



Today was really special. The club occasionally plays host to small groups of under privileged young adults and I was asked if I would like to attend and coach some of them. Well today was spent on the outside pool, this morning on open boats and then this afternoon in kayaks. A bit of learning new skills for the group and then lots of fun and games on the water. What an enjoyable day it has been.

Fishing from a Canadian Canoe

Took possession of an old Euro Kayak Trapper 500 a couple of days ago so yesterday was spent sorting it out, actioning a couple of small repairs, fitting a bit of bouyancy and then lacing it all together.

Today we decided to add water and took the boat to a local lake where we met Ian the proprietor of the site. My son was really excited and it was so nice to introduce him to open boating, I think we have started something here...



I thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours messing about on the lake - so pleased that the tuition I received from Kim Bull ten days or so ago had stuck..





Then this afternoon I decided to see what it was like to fish off one of these boat - and I was pleasantly surprised



A drogue was definately required though, just a little breeze had us drifting too fast to fish, once set the drogue did its job very well.







Well, I think I'm sold, any freshwater fishing afloat from now onwards will be done in the open boat if possible....and with the company of my son.

First Step onto the Coaching Ladder

Having wanting to get involved in coaching for a while I booked onto a UKCC Level 1 coaching course with Paul & Matt of After Adventures http://www.afteradventures.com/ . It would be great to get involved with coaching the youngsters at our local club and also with SOT kayak fishing taking off like it is it would be nice to assist new anglers to the hobby get onto the water safely.

The course was to be run over two consecutive weekends in January. It involved classroom work plus much practical work out on the water. Ice on the lake was always going to make the deep water rescues challenging.



The course was attended by six of us aspirant level one coaches, a mixed but lovely bunch of lads and lasses.

We were honoured to have the teaching conducted by Kim Bull, a Level 5 Canoe & Level 4 Inland/Sea coach, Kim is also a BCU Coach Educator and a UKCC BCU Level 1 and Level 2 Coach Course Director. http://kimbull.co.uk/

It was a wonderful four days of learning new coaching skills. Personally my own open boating skills were always going to be questionable and the course demands all attendees to be competent in two disciplines.

What was required was a day’s tuition with Kim in the art of paddling an open boat. I arranged to meet him at Hexham on a lovely stretch of the Tyne. Kim was able to offer exceptionally good training and within a period of eight hours I was paddling like a competent open boater, this was more to do with Kim’s teaching skills than my own ability at learning new things.

It was quite an emotional rollercoaster and today I'm feeling quite battered and bruised but finally I had achieved my goal and was awarded the status of level One coach.