Sea Kayaking Articles from P&H Staff, Team Paddlers, and Friends

Month: March 2012

Bardsey Spring

Spring tides and springtime brought the best out in Bardsey Island, north Wales last weekend. The combination of swell from the south, along with powerful tidal streams brought the surrounding waters dramatically to life all along the rocky shores.

Kev and Gill along with Matt and Chris made the crossing in canoes packed with buoyancy and supplies. The remaining four paddlers carried their cargo in sea kayaks.

Away from the rocks and reefs the sea was pleasantly calm although the booming of the waves pounding the shore was a relentless reminder of the ocean’s might. The golden hazy light and the unusually warm temperatures felt more like mid June than late March.

meadow pipit

Bird life is getting busy all over the island. The sea birds arriving in huge numbers including the Manx shearwaters. In the hedgerows, amongst the flowering gorse and along the stone walls all manner of small brown birds like wren and dunnock are enjoying rich pickings.

Having spent the night in one of the cottages there was just enough time for a short morning walk before heading back to the mainland.

Paddle Challenge – England to Finland

This summer Alice Lawson, Erin Dunn and Mark Waddoups will paddle from the UK to Finland. The team from Warwick University plan to kayak the 1600 miles from Dover to Helsinki, the route will take them across the British Channel to France around in the European Coast, along the side of the North Sea, before taking the Kiel Canal through Germany, then continuing along the coast of Denmark and Sweden, before finally arriving in Finland.

The team are usually found on the white water rivers of the UK but will be using the Cetus and Cetus LV for their expedition and are currently training with P&H paddler Roger Chandler on Anglesey.

Leaving – Dover, July 2012

Arriving – Helsinki, September 2012

http://paddlingchallenge.co.uk

Rough Water Handling – Guide to Play the Sea

P&H Team paddler Doug Cooper has recently released his new book, Rough Water Handling. Featuring stunning shots of the Expedition Cetus and the unique Delphin Sea Playboat in action Doug uses his extensive personal and coaching experience to show you how to master sea kayak handling skills and techniques in high winds, surf and tide races, and the mental and physical prep needed for open crossings.


  

Doug is a BCU Level 5 Sea and Inland Coach, Level 4 Surf Coach and Head of Paddlesports at Glenmore Lodge. He has been a P&H team paddler since 1997 and has coached and paddled all over the world.

   

If you want to take your sea kayak to the next level and really ‘Play the Sea’, this is essential reading!

Photos by Doug Cooper and Lara Tipper

Expeditions Skills DVD now available

This brand new DVD features clips from a wide range of locations and expeditions and advice from some of the best coaches and expedition paddlers.

http://www.rockandseaproductions.co.uk/

 

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