Trip Reports – Page 8 – P&H Custom Sea Kayaks Blog

Atlantic Paddle Symposium 2012

On May 28, 2012

Photo of Christopher Lockyer Taken by: Clif Pratt

Liscombe Lodge http://www.liscombelodge.ca/ is hidden gem located outside a small village about two and a half hours away from Halifax. It is one of only three resorts owned and operated by the Province of Nova Scotia.

On May 11 of this year 75 paddlers traveled from as far away as England and Seattle to gather for the 5^th Annual Atlantic Paddle Symposium. www.atlanticpaddlesymposium.com . Light winds, warm dry weather, and easy swell made for three extremely pleasant days on the water.

The Atlantic Paddle Symposium is our region’s premier paddling event. The Atlantic Canada paddling community meets for a 4-day event focusing on skill development, outdoor, leadership, education and paddling safety. The Symposium facilitates relationship building, both within our regional paddling community and allows us to forge relationships with some of the best known paddlers and instructors in the world.

The schedule, as it has been in previous years, was packed with a variety of skills sessions for all levels, covering each of the four paddling styles supported by Paddle Canada paddling programs. Stand Up Paddling sessions were added (and enthusiastically received) to our roster of sessions for canoe, sea kayak and white water kayak.

The venue offered us great locations and a variery of conditions. Sean Morley, Christopher Lockyer and Mat Nelson ran rock hopping, sea kayak surfing, and Incident management sessions.

Highlights from this year’s event were:

Zac Crouse’s opened the event with a presentation on the Paddle to the Ocean project mixing skillful muscianship with his story telling to keep the group engaged. Big thanks to Zac and Ian for the great music.!
Andrew Westwood is a true ambassador of the sport of canoeing. His presentation on keeping instruction relevant, current, engaging and fun was inspiring, timely, and well received.
Sean Morley’s presentation about paddling around Great Britain, Vancouver Island as well as some of the coast of California.
We were blessed with sun shine, light winds and a bit of swell for the event.

Photo by: Ryan Brake

Without the support from our sponsor this year we would not have been able to make the event so accessible and also would not have been able to have such a talented group of coaches.

Special Thanks to Sean Morley and Matt Nelson for making the trip to Nova Scotia. Hope to see you both back next year.

Picture gallery can be found at:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150905072819706.430161.269008074705&type=3&l=f9877313a5

Sponsor a Coach:

Lendal Paddle (Christopher Lockyer), P&H sea kayaks (Matt Nelson)

Submitted by Christopher Lockyer www.committed2thecore.com

Taking advantage of the great weather…..

By Sid Sinfield

On May 26, 2012

In Trip Reports

Found myself with some time off of work and a great forecast so jumped in the car and headed for the Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland.
Load the Cetus MV with 3 days food and camping equipment and headed out from Elgol. We launched at about 8pm and headed to the foot of the Black Cullin Mountains for our first camp. Over the next 3 days we had some stunning scenery as our backdrop, met a Basking Shark, saw otters, sea eagles, Puffins and more.
The paddling was great lots of sea stacks, caves and natural arches combined with 250m+ cliffs. Truely a trip to remember. I hope you like the photos. Which are all courtesy of Karl Midlane my paddling partner for the trip.

Cheers Sid

View from Elgol

The paddle to camp 1

The Black Cullin as the sun sets

Idyllic paddling at the foot of the mountains

An evening paddle to cherish

Basking shark of Wiay island as we approach camp 2

He didn't seem bothered by us. We sat still and he would return as he filtered the sea

About to land for camp 2

Macleod's Maidens at about 8am

The light house at Neist point

Sea Cliffs beyond Neist point

Early morning view of Fladda-ChuainAnother tough day at the office!

Another tough day at the office!

: The distant hills of Harris act as a back drop to Fladda-Chuain

Approaching Eilean Trodday

Sea Stacks off of Eilean Trodday

About to turn the last corner and make the final crossing to end our quick hit.

The trusty steed at rest after a great trip!

Scottish Women’s Paddle Symposium

By Kate Duffus

On May 25, 2012

In Trip Reports

Having neither tartan blood nor living north of the wall, I was very pleased to have been invited once again to coach at the Scottish Women’s paddle Symposium. The event was based around the Royal Findhorn Yacht Club making good use of the sheltered water of Findhorn bay and more exposed rocky coastline between Burghead and Lossiemouth.

The event caters for sea kayakers, canoeists, surf and white water paddlers. Check out the Pyranha paddlers blog for Fran’s account of the white water side of things.

As well as coaching, I took a selection of P&H demo boats for participants to try out, the most popular being the Cetus LV and MV. These were liked by all who tried them.

The Stacks – Anglesey Sea Symposium 2012.

By P And H Sea Kayaks

On May 10, 2012

In Trip Reports

Jimski and friends paddling from Porth Dafarch to Soldiers Point around South and North Stack on the weekend of the Anglesey Sea Symposium 2012.

Sea Kayaking Flamborough Head

By P And H Sea Kayaks

On April 26, 2012

In Trip Reports

A sea kayaking day trip along the Yorkshire coast between the seaside town of Filey and South Landing at Flamborough Head from Jim Krewiecki.

More guides can be found in Northern England and the Isle of Man Guide Book

Expedition Skills DVD Review

By Jim Krawiecki

On April 2, 2012

In Trip Reports

This is a DVD produced by two sea kayaking experts who have organized countless pioneering expeditions worldwide. The cover boasts nearly 4 hours viewing time, which at first sounds a little overwhelming. However, the viewing is broken down into 7 chapters and the DVD’s format and clear layout make it quick and easy to access the content.

· Intro – What Expeditioning Means to Me

· Planning

· Expedition Kit

· Food, Fuel, Fluids

· Looking After Yourself

· Safety and Communications

· Appendices

Each of the chapters contain a series of bite-sized articles fronted by Nige Robinson, Olly Sanders along with a whole host of other sea kayak expedition experts that make guest appearances throughout. As well as simple but detailed advice, there are excellent anecdotes and inspiring footage from recent forays to far-flung corners of the world.

The sections on kit and planning are excellent but less obvious issues such as psychology, morale and team selection (which are often forgotten) are dealt with particularly well.

It could be said that some of the filming for this DVD could have benefited form a higher level of production. However, it is important to remember that much of this was filmed ‘on the hoof’ during recent expeditions. In any case, top tips and information crucial to planning your next expedition come across well.

Watching DVDs can never replace going on a training course or attending a symposium seminar or workshop, but this DVD brings valuable knowledge hard-won by extensive experience, into the comfort of your living room.

Copies of the Expedition Skills DVD can be bought direct from ‘Rock and Sea Productions’ or your local canoe and kayak store.

Bardsey Spring

By Jim Krawiecki

On March 26, 2012

In Trip Reports

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

By P And H Sea Kayaks

On March 15, 2012

In Trip Reports

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

By P And H Sea Kayaks

On March 9, 2012

In Trip Reports

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.