Sunday, 23 May 2010
Yorkshire Cod Arrive in Numbers
Paddled out from North Landing with good friend Dave earlier this week in search of the Spring run of cod in the clearing waters. I'm glad to say we were not to be dissapointed.
Monday, 17 May 2010
A Week Away-The lakes, Skye & Northumbria
Had arranged to meet friends Dave, Marion, Neil and Brian up on the Isle of Skye for several days tuition with Level 5 coach Gordon Brown of Skyak Adventures.
Seeing that it was a week long trip thought it prudent to take the family. We headed up to the Lakes for a brief stop-over and a little bit of open boating. We even managed to get Angela in the boat.
Sunday we then shot up to Skye. Not content with catching the ferry from Malaig I sent Angela over with the car and I planned the paddle across.
There was a force 4/5 wind pushing down the Sound so it was necessary to paddle up across Loch Nevis before taking the crossing, one of the hardest paddles I've done in a long while but very rewarding.
The following day was a chillout day and I did what any good sea kayaker would do on a day off the water - Visit the local distillery for free whisky.
Day 1 with Gordon Brown saw us on flat water progressing our techniques
Day 2 and the wind whipped up south westerly 5 to 6, perfect for rough water training. Into the van and down to the bottom tip of the island. Amazing stuff and it had us all well out of our comfort zone, paddling, turning and rolling in the dark water close to features had us all buzzing.
Day 3 was just a little more subdued and saw us playing in the tidal race of Kyle Rhea. So pleased as I made great progress on applying the cross bow rudder then into a reverse sweep - ok a little sad I know.
Gordon showing off...and rightly so
A wonderful week with good food, mighty fine whisky and great friends. Homewards we had a day in Northumbria and Holy Island, what a beautiful area.
Home and shattered but a brilliant week. Had a good look over at the Farne Islands, I'm sure it won't be long until we are all paddling around them.
Seeing that it was a week long trip thought it prudent to take the family. We headed up to the Lakes for a brief stop-over and a little bit of open boating. We even managed to get Angela in the boat.
Sunday we then shot up to Skye. Not content with catching the ferry from Malaig I sent Angela over with the car and I planned the paddle across.
There was a force 4/5 wind pushing down the Sound so it was necessary to paddle up across Loch Nevis before taking the crossing, one of the hardest paddles I've done in a long while but very rewarding.
The following day was a chillout day and I did what any good sea kayaker would do on a day off the water - Visit the local distillery for free whisky.
Day 1 with Gordon Brown saw us on flat water progressing our techniques
Day 2 and the wind whipped up south westerly 5 to 6, perfect for rough water training. Into the van and down to the bottom tip of the island. Amazing stuff and it had us all well out of our comfort zone, paddling, turning and rolling in the dark water close to features had us all buzzing.
Day 3 was just a little more subdued and saw us playing in the tidal race of Kyle Rhea. So pleased as I made great progress on applying the cross bow rudder then into a reverse sweep - ok a little sad I know.
Gordon showing off...and rightly so
A wonderful week with good food, mighty fine whisky and great friends. Homewards we had a day in Northumbria and Holy Island, what a beautiful area.
Home and shattered but a brilliant week. Had a good look over at the Farne Islands, I'm sure it won't be long until we are all paddling around them.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Sea Kayak Symposium - Wales
Had the pleasure of joining friends Simon and George on Anglesey over the May Bank Holiday for the Symposium. Our main aim was to get the Kaskazi Fleet of boats on the beach for people to demo alongside the big names such as Valley, NDK, Rockpool etc.
It was a lovely day and the real highlight for me was being allowed to go for a 'chuck about' in John Willacy's new prototype Rockpool Taran racer. The grin from ear to ear as I came off the water said it all, what an amazing boat it really is.
You can see more of Johns' Rockpool prototype Taran here
Saturday evening lead to the odd beer and a walk up to the Penryn Mawr tidal race - we all had opinions as to the best route through and what would be the best wave to play on.
Back at base and we joined in the after school party, its amazing who you meet on the dance floor at these events.......accomplished international paddler Freya Hoffmeister. See Freyas' site here
The following day both myself and George were a little too hung over to attempt a launch but good old Simon didn't let the team down and headed out for a fish from Cable Bay.
A lovely weekend and another top visit to Anglesey. I'm sure we will be back over there very soon.
It was a lovely day and the real highlight for me was being allowed to go for a 'chuck about' in John Willacy's new prototype Rockpool Taran racer. The grin from ear to ear as I came off the water said it all, what an amazing boat it really is.
You can see more of Johns' Rockpool prototype Taran here
Saturday evening lead to the odd beer and a walk up to the Penryn Mawr tidal race - we all had opinions as to the best route through and what would be the best wave to play on.
Back at base and we joined in the after school party, its amazing who you meet on the dance floor at these events.......accomplished international paddler Freya Hoffmeister. See Freyas' site here
The following day both myself and George were a little too hung over to attempt a launch but good old Simon didn't let the team down and headed out for a fish from Cable Bay.
A lovely weekend and another top visit to Anglesey. I'm sure we will be back over there very soon.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
A Catchless Report
Met up with Dave this lunch time down in Robin Hoods Bay. Weather predictions were not too bad, SW winds, 2 to 3 with the chance of them building later. We hastily got onto the water and tuned into the weather report on the VHF. This confirmed much the same for the next 24 hours...2 to 3 SW now, building to 4 or 5 later
We shot out to some ground that has been kind to us in the past, our hopes were high as there was a couple of other small boats sat out there. Drogues were deployed and big shads were lowered to the sea bed...
It soon become obvious the wind was building sooner rather than later and more from the South than SW, the big tides were making presentation difficult too.
Nothing was happening on the far mark and the other two boats soon dissapeared, we decided to head back to the inshore grounds
The wind had really started whipping up around the headland, coming closer in was the right move
Dave took a couple of videos of my paddling for me to scrutinise
We shot out to some ground that has been kind to us in the past, our hopes were high as there was a couple of other small boats sat out there. Drogues were deployed and big shads were lowered to the sea bed...
It soon become obvious the wind was building sooner rather than later and more from the South than SW, the big tides were making presentation difficult too.
Nothing was happening on the far mark and the other two boats soon dissapeared, we decided to head back to the inshore grounds
The wind had really started whipping up around the headland, coming closer in was the right move
Dave took a couple of videos of my paddling for me to scrutinise
Sunday, 25 April 2010
More Learning in Fabulous Surroundings Pt 2
This weekend was the final sessions of Level 2 Coach training with Saun and Harry of Wild River.
What a brilliant course that has now opened up so many more questions...........
The real work starts now, wish me luck.............
Ken
What a brilliant course that has now opened up so many more questions...........
The real work starts now, wish me luck.............
Ken
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