A Paddler

COACHES KNOW EVERYTHING, RIGHT?

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We all know that coaches know everything about kayaking, right? Well,,,,, up to a point. We do know what’s needed to get you onto the water safely, how to paddle, sometimes in a straight line and get you back home again, but even those who think they know everything can learn from the best. So some of us coaches recently took a busman’s holiday to Southwater Park in the leafy Surrey Hills and got some … Read more

Giant fish & chips, ammonites, a birthday and a missing lighthouse.

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Sea kayaking camping weekend 17th & 18th of July 2021 Birthday party on Dancing Ledge, Rock hopping and Cave dwelling. Tent testing and beer tasting. Sun bathing. Shape throwing. Spaghetti sea weed. Rolling rock monsters. Rocking roll monsters. Sea kayak galore. A really lovely weekend with Elaine, Eliza, Frank, Glen, Julia and Carlos. With acceptable weather conditions and a bit of sun. Wonderful group dynamics and awesome tidal planning by Elaine which helped inform Sunday’s … Read more

South Coast Camping Weekend

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10th, 11th, 12th & 13th of June 2021 (extended weekend)with Harriet, Safi, Michelle, James, Tudor, Frank & Eliza, with Carlos (as additional coach) Old Harry, Swanage, Kimmeridge, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, more Old Harry,Corfe Castle, The New Inn, Knowle Church, Lidl Wareham Rock hopping, trips, tide racing, eating & drinking. Nerding out on sea kayaking, camping gear, paddles, bicycles, ales… What can I say: It’s always good to know there are options for when the … Read more

Sea Kayaking Training Session

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Saturday 05th of June 2021 A trip to the White Swan followed by session working on rescues and self rescues. In terms of weather and temperatures quite a good day to have done this. A completely self motivated team (Michelle, Leon, Eliza & Frank) – I had so much fun observing and making pictures. An absolute wonderful day. (Again) Super day. Lovely team. Great skills. Time add a few waves.

Thames 2 Sea

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29th of May 2021 – CPCC to Teddington & back01st of June 2021 – Ringstead Bay to Lulworth Cove & back 2 focused 1:1 sessions with Glen The weather was with us (Yay!). We tested our strength and stamina with a long-ish paddle on the Thames 2 days before we committed to the long drive to Ringstead and the sea. With the ease of lockdown and warmer temperaturesI was able to run a handful of … Read more

Old Harry Rocks

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22nd of May 2021

South coast trip 2021, #01

    Finally!

    We got ourselves a weather window (still sort of gray and rainy but we had a much more agreeable sea state), a fantastically flexible, pro-active and helpful team (thank you so much).
    So – off we went.
    It is a long drive for a few hours of Neptune worship but we had a blast. 

    • Fantastically helpful team:
      (Of course Frank knew all along the kayaks would fit… I wasn’t sure…)

    I was so happy to be back. The sea. Big ocean skies. Waves and wind. Salt. And of course an ace team:
    F., Frank, Eliza, Carlos (Yay!)

    • Old Harry – splashed

    A short-ish trip to Swanage. A cave. A hole in the wall.

    • Reversing into cave
    • Cavewoman
    • Eliza
    • Hole in the wall

    Rescue training in cold but clean water. Funny… ‘ Once we went into the water – we sort of just carried on doing loads of rescues… started getting really good at them too.

    • Carlos rescuing Eliza

    Some fears were set to rest, confidence was built upon and there seems to be a hunger/thirst (salt water?) for more…

    What a day!

    • The sun came out after our rescue training
    • shortish trip: 14.6 km = 7.8 nautical miles

    Night Paddles

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    (Paddle & pint) 18th, 19th & 20th of May 2021 with Judy, Rebecca, Glen, James, Dee & Siobhan Super enthusiastic & strong participants: Distance records, first time night paddlers, first time paddling in strong winds… Nautical manoeuvres in the dark. Of course the real experience starts after sundown when darkness sets in and the birds settle down. After leaving the pub and embarking on the journey back to the pier the river is completely empty … Read more

    Sea Kayak taster session…

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    Sunday 25/04/2021 Super relaxed session with a perfect mix of comfort zone defying explorers. Strong winds, sun & team. With Neil, Rhiannon – with Tom, David & Seb. Loads of smiles and happiness. Sunday afternoon Thames perfection.

    Paddling through the Night

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    20/04/2021 & 21/04/2021
    with Elaine, Safi, Harriet, Leigh, James, Frank, Eliza & Federico.
    Chiswick Pier to Richmond and back. Enjoying each other’s company,
    the river (which was all ours), our kayaks, the silence, the sounds, moonlight and stars.

    Federico, Elaine & Harriet – styling it…

    Swans without lights… (clearly amateurs) and Kew Bridge.



    Eliza & Safi – colour coordinated

    Life is worth living again… First pint by the river (for some of us), Lovely staff… A fairly steep ramp to get out of…


    We are still a little limited in terms of pubs and toilet breaks – but we got ‘lucky’ on the second evening due to indepth research of our scouting division.

    Back home.
    Brilliant fun! Big ‘thank you’ to everyone. Hopefully soon again.

    Additional pictures by Frank.

    Training day

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    We had a pretty bad forecast for our paddle to Teddington but a great team of highly motivated sea kayakers. We had to work pretty hard through strong winds and heavy rain… …Character building, team building, paddling and manoeuvring through wind and rain… testing gear and hats… On our way back to Chiswick: Dark, gloomy and still very stormy… But the sun came through and bits of blue sky. Thames prettiness… ….and a last beautiful … Read more