mark tozer's blog

Upcoming Events and Programs in February

2012-01-25T12:25:00.027Z

BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue Training: Sunday, February 12, Big Lagoon, California

Explore North Coast Member Night: February 13, Eureka, California

BCU 4 Star Sea Assessment (before the GGSKS): February 15 to 16, Sausalito, California

Developing Greenland Skills (during the GGSKS): February 17, Sausalito, California

Developing Greenland Skills (during the GGSKS): February 18, Sausalito, California

Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium (GGSKS): February 17 to 19, Sausalito, California

BCU Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning (during the GGSKS): February 17, Sausalito, California

BCU 4 Star Sea Training (during the GGSKS): February 18 to 19, Sausalito, California

Performance Paddling Clinic: February 25, Big Lagoon, California

ENC Trinidad Paddle: February 26, Trinidad, California

Our attendance at other symposiums and upcoming classes for the year can be found on the events page at www.greenlandorbust.org.

Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium 2012

2012-01-18T12:04:00.010Z

For those of you thinking of attending, Helen will be running Greenland skills development classes during this years Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium. Mark will be running three BCU programs - 4* Sea Assessment, 4* Sea Training and Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning. Visit the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium website, for updates and availability. Looking forward to see you there!

Our attendance at other symposiums and our own upcoming classes can be found on the events page at www.greenlandorbust.org.

Sea Kayaking the Redwood Coast by Explore North Coast

2012-01-11T11:18:00.012Z

This book is a sea kayaker’s resource for exploring the California redwood coast and includes thirty-five routes in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Designed for beginner to expert paddlers, this guide provides detailed directions to launch areas, descriptions of routes, facilities, potential hazards, informative sidebars and detailed maps.

Available for purchase at: www.greenlandorbust.org.

2012-01-04T11:13:00.012Z

Our mission at Greenland or Bust is to promote kayaking using both traditional and contemporary skills. Quality presentations, instruction, rolling demonstrations and BCU certification programs are provided worldwide. Helen Wilson is internationally known for her rolling and traditional skills instruction, while Mark Tozer is equally recognized for holding the highest BCU credentials possible.

Our website, www.greenlandorbust.org, includes an active blog, a question and answer section and an online store, which features the DVD "Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson".

Happy Holidays

2011-12-28T11:26:00.001Z

We hope that 2011 was a wonderful year for you, and wish you a 2012 filled with adventure, fun and lots of salty water. Happy Holidays!

The Invisible Paddle Demo

2011-12-21T11:30:00.003Z

Helen doing a rolling demo in Thunder Bay for the Superior Kayak & Canoe Club, 2010

2011-12-14T12:58:00.015Z

Come and embrace the elements with Greenland or Bust in 2012. Keep updated about programs and events by signing up for our monthly newsletter. Get in touch via the website - www.greenlandorbust.org

Greenland Time-Lapse Reel

2011-12-07T12:53:00.000Z

Greenland Time-Lapse Reel from Murray Fredericks on Vimeo.

Sea Kayak Navigation

2011-11-30T18:22:00.005Z

When sea kayaking, we often need to work out how long it will take to paddle a set distance as part of our trip planning, or when we need to change our plan during the journey. Assuming that we are not affected by wind or tide we can use the following quick calculation which is easy even when underway.

Remember, these calculations are for the average sea kayaker who paddles at approximately 3 knots (3 Nm/hour). You should check your own speed before applying the following formula. On your chart or map, measure the distance you are going to paddle. Take this measurement and multiply it by 2, then multiply this figure by 10 to give the number of minutes it will take to reach your destination.

Example 1, to paddle 3 Nm -

3 x 2 = 6, 6 x 10 = 60 minutes.

Example 2, to paddle 5.5 Nm -

5.5 x 2 = 11, 11 x 10 = 110 minutes.

Sea kayak navigation can seem complicated at first, but there are plenty of quick tricks like this which make the mental arithmetic very easy. You can learn many of these by enrolling on a BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning course with Greenland or Bust.

The aim of this one-day classroom based program is to give participants the necessary tools to plan and navigate effectively on coastal journeys in moderate ocean conditions. Upon completion, each student should have planned at least two coastal journeys that they can take home as reference for further personal trip planning. This course is designed to compliment areas covered in the BCU 4 Star Sea Award training and is a prerequisite for assessment.

Get in touch if you are interested in completing a similar training course or just wish to look at your skills development in a boat.

Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson

2011-11-23T11:47:00.047Z

This is a preview of the DVD: Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson. A multi-level guide to learning, troubleshooting and progressing through an ancient Greenland technique. You can order this at Greenland or Bust It was filmed by Bryant Burkhardt Kayaking.

For DVD Trade or Dealer inquires in the U.S. contact Active Paddles

For DVD Trade or Dealer inquires in Europe contact Tahe Marine Sweden

For DVD Trade or Dealer inquires in Australia or New Zealand, contact Sean Smith, c/o Fat Paddler

For DVD Trade or Dealer inquires in Canada, visit Joe O’ Paddles

G or B Upcoming Events & Programs

2011-11-16T11:32:00.004Z

Visit the website for our current event attendance and scheduled programs in 2011 and 2012, with more to be added soon - www.greenlandorbust.org.

UKSG6: Organiser's Report

2011-11-09T19:19:00.013Z

Following on from the traditions of coastal Scandinavian fishing communities, Storm Gatherings have become a means for like-minded people to get together and celebrate a fruitful and rewarding summer on the water with some excellent paddling in often challenging conditions and unparalleled entertainment in the evenings before the long winter nights take hold.

The 6th UK Storm Gathering took place on Anglesey in October, and was followed by BCU Week that included both BCU 4 and 5 star trainings and assessment courses. The weather was true to form and kicked up a fuss with southerly Force 6 winds building to Gale 8 in preparation for the weekend. Undeterred, however, 90 paddlers from across the UK and Europe including participants from Switzerland, Sicily, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden converged on Anglesey Outdoors for an action-packed symposium.

The coaching team was also expansive in terms of nationalities and experience. Helen Wilson, Paul Kuthe and Warren Parker from the US along with Axel Schoevers from Holland joined the likes of Jeff Allen, Justine Curgenven, Steve Graham, Ollie Jay, James Stevenson and Phil Clegg in providing some excellent on the water workshops. A special mention goes to Nick Cunliffe, who tackled the tremendously difficult task of coordinating participants and coaches each morning based on some very exciting sea conditions.

Locations such as Rhosneigr, Trearddur Bay, Penmon, Bull Bay, the Menai Straits and even Llyn Padarn where used for a variety of workshops including incident management, open water rolling, rough water handling and surfing amongst. Participants were stretched and challenged, but tired smiles and laughter over a beer in the Paddler’s Return suggested that the event was living up to expectations. Paddlers were clearly thrilled that they had faced conditions that they would not normally have gone out in.

Each evening was filled with activities and entertainment too. Friday night saw Jim Krawiecki, with the help of Barry Shaw, Kate Duffus, Andy Morgan and Roger Chandler presented a series of short films and slideshows to get people in the mood as they arrived. Nick Cunliffe and Matt Giblin put on a sea kayakers pub quiz on Saturday night that combined elements of a celebrity quiz show, trivia rounds and various embarrassing party games. Sunday night had everyone gather at Rhoscolyn School to hear Jeff Allen present ‘Into The Wind’, the epic account of a record breaking circumnavigation of Ireland he completed with Harry Whelan earlier this year.

A tremendous thanks go to Kokatat, Tahne Marine and Tiderace Sea Kayaks for supporting the event in a numbers of ways including raffle prizes, demo boats and promotional services. Appreciation also goes out to Joe O’ Paddles, the Fat Paddler, Mitchell Blades and Bluewater Kayak Works for donating some wonderful prizes to the raffle also.

Well done to Jim Krawiecki and Journey Man for winning the prizes donated by Fat Paddler. To Alan Trevarton for winning the T-stick and Norsaq donated by Joe O' Paddles.To Graham Dudley for winning the MisFit Tor PFD donated by Kokatat Watersports Wear. To Mark Eldridge for winning the Freedom 500 pump donated by Bluewater Kayak Works. Finally to Sarah Wootton for winning the Atlantis paddles that was donated by Mitchell Blades. Neil Turnbull was the lucky recpeint of a Kokatat Storm Cag after his video diary of the events was judged to be the winning entry.

Overall, it was great to see everyone getting stuck in and relishing the opportunity to experience some really rough water. The UK Storm Gathering symposiums are gradually becoming the event to attend for anyone looking to paddle in some amazingly dynamic waters in the company of some superb coaches. See you all on the water again soon.

UKSG6: Blog Reports

2011-11-02T11:20:00.003Z

The following guest coaches and participants have shared their thoughts and perspectives on the 6th UK Storm Gathering. Have a read and maybe get inspired to come along next time :o)

Here is a link to Steve Godfrey's photo album of his event experiences

Other comments and pictures can be found in the UK Storm Gathering Facebook group

Photos by Paul Kuthe

UKSG6: Video Reports

2011-10-26T11:23:00.001+01:00

Footage courtesy of Neil Turnbull

Footage courtesy of Ken Oliver

UKSG6 - Fund Raising

2011-10-19T14:31:00.000+01:00

The organisers would like to inform you that we hope to do some fundraising at this year's Storm Gathering.

The intention is to raise money for the RNLI and Qajaq Japan's Tsumani Relief Fund.

Prizes have been donated by Kokatat, Blue Water Kayak Works, Fat Paddler, Joe O Paddles and Mitchell Blades.

Look out for ticket sellers over the weekend and the draw will occur on Monday morning.

UKSG6 - BCU Week

2011-10-12T14:34:00.006+01:00

BCU Paddlesports Performance Awards are planned to run from the 25th - 30th October. These courses and optional trips will happen when workable numbers are reached. Please check the BCU website for full syllabus details and prerequisites. These are all non-residential and priced accordingly.

Options include:

3* Sea Training - Tuesday 25th October

This will be a one day course covering the 3* Sea syllabus and will cost £75

3* Sea Assessment - Wednesday 26th October

This will be a one day assessment covering the 3* Sea syllabus and will cost £75

4* Training - Tuesday 25th & Wednesday 26th October

This two day course will cover the necessary syllabus elements of leadership, safety and navigation skills required before progressing to assessment. The course will cost £150.

4* Assessment - Thursday 27th & Friday 28th October

This two day assessment will examine leadership, planning and incident management skills as well as personal performance as set out in the 4* Sea syllabus. Success at this level indicates that a candidate has the skills required to lead a group of competent paddlers in appropriate locations, up to moderate conditions. The course will cost £150.

5* Training - Tuesday 25th & Wednesday 26th October

This two day course will cover the necessary syllabus elements of leadership, safety and navigation skills required before progressing to 5* Sea assessment. There will be a night navigation element. The course will cost £175.

5* Assessment - Thursday 27th & Friday 28th October

This two day assessment will examine leadership, planning and incident management skills as well as personal performance as set out in the 5* Sea syllabus. Success at this level indicates that a candidate has the skills required to lead a group of competent paddlers in advanced conditions.

There will be a night navigation element and a written paper.

The course will cost £175.

BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning* - Tuesday 25th October

This one day classroom based course has been designed by the BCU for all sea kayakers who want to develop their understanding and skills in tidal planning and navigation. It is also a pre-requisite for the BCU 4* Sea Leader Award, as well as being suitable for any coastal paddler wanting tidal planning knowledge. The course will cost £50

BCU Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning* - Tuesday 25th October

This one day classroom based course will give participants the tools needed to plan and navigate effectively on open water journeys in advanced conditions. It will increase the knowledge and awareness of the paddler and improve their seamanship. It is a pre-requisite for the BCU 5* Sea Leader Award, as well as being suitable for any ocean paddler wanting detailed tidal planning knowledge. The course will cost £50

*Those wishing to do either the 4* or 5* training have the option of completing the corresponding navigation course on Monday 24th instead at no extra cost, if they are registered for the main event. Those not attending the 6th UK Storm Gathering but wanting the Monday option will need to pay the full course fee of £50.

There is a degree flexibility to complete some awards on different days including the 29th and 30th October. Other course that could be offered include the 3* Touring and Foundation Safety & Rescue Training.

Get in touch with Mark if you would like a booking form or have any questions or queries.

UKSG6 - Cackle TV Special Offer

2011-10-05T14:47:00.009+01:00

If you are a fan of digital downloads, or never tried and want to give it a go, I recommend you call in at Cackle TV to see what's on offer. Justine Curgenven has begun to provide many of her superb and expertly made sea kayaking films from the award-winning This Is The Sea DVD series as digital downloads. With over 40 films available with some never before seen footage, there is plenty of choice.

Justine is an award winning adventure filmmaker and expedition sea kayaker with an established reputation for creating professional, innovative and inspirational sea kayaking movies. Some her personal accomplishments have involved a number of challenging expeditions around the globe including a crossing of the Bass Strait, circumnavigating South Island of New Zealand, Tasmania and the Queen Charlotte Islands.

I am pleased to announce that Justine is offering a special discount to anyone visiting the UK Storm Gathering Sea Kayak Symposium blog on two selected films. Buy one or both of the following digital downloads and get 20% off the already incredibly good value prices. All you need to do is enter 'UKSG' at the check-out.

This is the Sea 1 - Penrhyn Mawr

Penrhyn Mawr is North Wales’ most famous tidal race. This film is a short introduction to the race with some explanation of it’s location and how the waves form. Filming from onboard the kayak gives a sense of scale. 5 minutes . Price: UK £0.99 (UKSG6 discount - £0.79)

This is the Sea 2 - Penrhyn Mawr

More action from the inner and outer races at Penrhyn Mawr tidal race on Anglesey. Skilful paddling (and good recoveries!) from Aled Williams, Phil Clegg, Simon Osborne, Harry Whealan & others. This was originally 2 separate films on “This is the Sea 2″ but brought together into 1 film here. 8 minutes. . Price: UK £1.99 (UKSG6 discount - £1.59)

Download today and get inspired to plan your own adventure, wherever that might be :o)

www.cackletv.com/digital-downloads/

UKSG6 - Logos

2011-09-28T15:00:00.005+01:00

The logos have landed...

Greenland Rolls and Stupid Paddle Tricks

2011-09-21T12:33:00.002+01:00

Helen demonstrates a variety of traditional Greenlandic capsize recovery maneuvers in a skin-on-frame kayak. Helen competed in the 2008 Greenland National Kayaking Championship, and received first place medals in individual rolling, group rolling and the distance harpoon throw. Filmed by Andrew Elizaga.

Our website, www.greenlandorbust.org, includes an active blog, a question and answer section and an online store, which features the DVD "Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson".

Objects of Desire

2011-09-14T21:13:00.039+01:00

Tahe Marine, who are one of the biggest kayak manufacturers in Northern Europe, and who sponsor my partner Helen, have generously provided her with a Greenland OC to use at the 6th UK Storm Gathering and for future events/ clinics in the UK.

Tahe Marine, who are based in Estonia, are enjoying a growing reputation around the world as a strong and reliable company who does not compromise on a single detail. Helen was impressed by the attention to detail she saw whilst visiting the Tahe Marine factory this summer. Certainly seeing this beauty emerge from the wrappings, one would agree that dedicated craftsmen put this together :o)

G or B Rolling and Rescues Day

2011-09-07T20:31:00.020+01:00

On Sunday, I met up with Claire and Dave at Summit to Sea on Anglesey for a one day coaching programme. Claire had contacted me about putting something together for the pair of them in order to build up boat confidence after a break from paddling. It was great to be able to offer them what they wanted and be delivering as Greenland or Bust in the UK for the first time. However, one key element was missing in that Helen, my partner, was in Thunder Bay teaching at the Superior Kayak & Canoe Club Paddlefest on this occasion. After delivering several workshops and clinics with her this summer, it did feel strange not having Helen around.

Nonetheless, after chatting through their key goals for the day and leaving Pete (owner of Summit to Sea) to get the store ready for the day, we headed to the relatively sheltered waters of Borthwen. The plan was to take Dave and Claire through some effective rolling progressions that Helen has created before taking them out into more challenging waters for rescues and 'combat' rolling (doing it for real!).

We began with developing body movement awareness before moving onto balance braces using paddles floats for assistance. Once they had begun to understand the principles of 'Lift, Tilt and Slide', I progressed Dave and Claire on to practicing their rolling and trying to apply these key elements. After which we took a break as there is only so much water a person can store up their nose.

Once back on the water, the three of us headed out towards Rhoscolyn Beacon to practice in more interesting conditions what we had covered in the morning. It was clear that both of them had worked hard in the morning but it was essential to cover the fundamentals of deep water rescues because people do swim from time to time and an effective rescue between peers is a good skill to have.

Once both Claire and Dave were confident they could rescue each other with some efficiency, should anything go wrong, we headed out to the tideraces that occur around Rhoscolyn Beacon. This was their chance to try it all out for real, and to see how far they had progressed . Claire in particular was keen to tear up the waves and her confidence visibly grew as the day went on with her rolling successfully several time in the rougher waters. It was great to see them land with big smiles, and after debriefing the day Dave decided to invest in Helen's DVD "Simplifying The Roll". It was also nice to make plans for future coaching sessions also. And after going our separate ways my thoughts returned to Helen...

Helen is currently teaching at the Traditional Paddlers Gathering in Minnesota as hosted by the Northern Lights Qajaq Society, before then flying to Japan for the Greenland-Stick Users’ Trial Stages (GUTS 2011) which has been organised by Qajaq Japan. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the 6th UK Storm Gathering that is being held in October.

Check the Greenland or Bust Events page for future scheduled courses and symposium appearances, and if we can provide a programme or be of service, get in touch wherever you are in the world :o)

Pictures of the day can be found here.

Menai Straits Challenge

2011-08-31T11:42:00.000+01:00

Objects of Desire

2011-07-27T17:10:00.035+01:00

I've been using Barz sunglasses and goggles even since I came across them at the New York Kayak company in 2003. However, as is the way of things, I do tend to 'misplace' my glasses from time to time. So having contacted Kevin, he very promptly sent me out a pair Naurus (see above and blow) and I decided to go for broke and get a pairs of Floaters and a pair of Seaways too.

Barz Optics is an Australian based family company located at Burleigh Heads in Queensland on the east coast of Australia. The Company was established in 1996 by Kevin Barr - a former surfing champion with 30 years experience in the surf, snow ski and sailboard industries.

Having used each pair in rotation this summer, and as someone who works outdoors in all sorts of conditions and environments, I can't stress enough how important good eye protection is. So even if your local retailer doesn't stock Barz, I would recommend investing in quality glasses for the long term care of your peepers :o)

Photographs by Mark Tozer and Helen Wilson

Anatomy of a Bad Decision - Moulton Avery

2011-07-20T14:51:00.002+01:00

Randy Morgart’s article “Cold and Alone on an Icy River” in the August 2010 issue of Sea Kayaker magazine drew a response from Moulton Avery, an expert in environmental physiology and the author of the frequently cited article “Cold Shock” from the Spring 1991 issue of Sea Kayaker magazine. Here he looks at a psychology of decision-making that helps explain how an experienced paddler can make a mistake that we would expect of a novice paddler.

It takes a lot of courage to publicly write about making a really big mistake, and Randy Morgart has my respect and gratitude for his willingness to share his terrifying near-death experience following an unexpected February capsize on the freezing Mississippi River. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from his experience, and he did a great job discussing them. I want to add one more to his list.

Reason vs. Emotion

Recent studies of human emotion, cognition, and behavioral psychology have shed considerable light on the age-old tug of war between reason and emotion that underlies decision making and so much of human behavior. If you participate in a sport like sea kayaking and value your life, this process is worth a closer look, because in our sport, realistically and accurately assessing a situation and making a sound decision about how to proceed is fundamental to staying out of trouble.

When it comes to making important decisions, most people will tell you they decide what to do by carefully and rationally weighing the pros and cons of the situation. More often than not, however, rationality is just a bit player in the game; the real decision-maker is emotion. It's a subtle but absolutely critical point, particularly if you want to understand how an experienced paddler like Randy could suddenly find himself in such a terrible predicament. After all, rationally speaking, he knew better than to leave his wetsuit at home.

In the aftermath of many accidents and disasters, people often see a landscape littered with obvious warning signs and wonder about the mental capacity of the victims; saying, in effect, "What the hell were they thinking?" This really stands out in cases in which the victims were experienced rather than clueless newbies. In far too many cases, the short but stunning answer is: Whether they knew better, or whether the danger was right in front of their eyes isn't the point, because they never saw it. And they missed it precisely because they weren't thinking at all; their actions were based solely on a gut reaction – on a feeling.

Setting the Trap

For many accident victims who “should have known better,” the landscape is littered with examples of this non-rational process in action. It's a regular feature of accident reports about tragedies that occur in the great outdoors in everything from mountaineering to cave diving. A sea kayaker can end up leaving the wetsuit or drysuit at home, or not own one to begin with, not because of some rational process, but because—when he or she took a quick mental peek at the situation—it just felt like a perfectly reasonable thing to do. In other words, it felt right.

This danger of overlooking the obvious has been greatly enhanced in sea kayaking, because unfortunately, for over thirty years, thousands upon thousands of sea kayakers have been told that, if you don't plan on capsizing, if your level of skill is sufficient to safely handle the conditions in which you expect to paddle, you don't need to worry about dressing for the water temperature. I've paraphrased that message below. Pay close attention when you read it because it's complete hogwash, and it provides paddlers who take it seriously with a safety net that whales could swim through:

You don't really have to dress for the water temperature every single time you go paddling on cold water. Unless you “plan on encountering challenging conditions", it's perfectly fine to forget about wetsuits and drysuits, and dress instead as if you were going for a hike in the woods.

Which, of course, is precisely what Randy did. He set the trap that almost cost him his life by dressing for the air temperature. It's an easy trap to fall in to, particularly if you don't have a personal “no exceptions” policy when it comes to cold-water safety.

The "challenging conditions" argument is really insidious, and it undermines cold-water safety precisely because it encourages paddlers to equivocate, make excuses, or rationalize a decision not to dress for the water temperature. Capsizing on cold water without a wetsuit or drysuit is the direct cause of at least 90% of sea-kayaking fatalities, and it's safe to say that none of the paddlers who died this way ever, in their wildest dreams, anticipated encountering conditions "challenging" enough to kill them when they went paddling on that final occasion.

Emotional decision-making is often a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing—subtle, but very powerful at initiating or inhibiting action. It can be particularly dangerous in situations where making a wrong decision added to a small mistake equals an excellent chance of winding up badly injured or dead. It also presents a great argument for being conservative and cautious, and for leaving yourself as big a margin for error as possible any time you venture into the great outdoors. No paddler is immune to making mistakes, or has the magical power to see into the future.

The unsettling truth is that rational, clear, impartial, error-free, Mr. Spock-type-thinking is the exception rather than the rule in life. Most, if not all, of us are just not very good at it. On the other hand, what we're really skilled at is rationalization, justification, and wishful thinking. What's more, we make mistakes and unwise decisions all the time. We seldom take notice, because more often than not, the stakes are so low that being wrong makes no appreciable difference to our daily lives. We misplace car keys, TV remotes, and cell phones, don't remember to back up files and return calls, forget to buy things at the grocery store, have one beer too many, underestimate how long something is going to take, overestimate our physical abilities, make resolutions we don't keep, eat junk food, purchase stuff we don't need, commit errors while driving to the put-in, and do all sorts of things that come back, in one way or another, to bite us in the backside. The list goes on and on.

Going with your feelings isn't always bad, of course. The mental process we customarily think of as intuition has kept many a paddler out of harm’s way. A common response for not leaping into the Great White's jaws being: “I don't know, I just had a really bad feeling about it.” In those cases, listening for, paying attention to, and acting on the “wee, small voice” can be a really, really good thing to do.

This subtle, often complicated emotional terrain is something best negotiated cautiously and with eyes wide open. When you find yourself on the threshold of a potentially important decision, like, say, whether or not to paddle solo in fog on an exposed and rocky coast towards which huge ocean swells from a distant hurricane are heading – it's really helpful to pause for a moment and ask yourself: “Why do I feel the way I do about taking this particular course of action? What is my motivation for wanting to do this? Does it make sense?” And, of course: “Is it safe?” After all, a candid examination of your own feelings and motivations is central to one of the most important pieces of advice in life: Know thyself. To that every wise sea kayaker will add: “Know thy environment” and “Watch thy step.” Viewed in this light, two articles in the October edition of Sea Kayaker—“Lost at Sea” by Michael Powers and “Aftermath of an Accident” by Saul Kinderis—take on even greater meaning.”

Skills vs. Challenging Conditions

Randy Morgart was no wet-behind-the-ears newbie. He started canoeing in 1972, he'd spent a lot of time on flat water in his sea kayak, and had a lot of confidence in his flatwater roll. And unless the river was really shallow and he was bouncing off the bottom, he had a pretty reliable whitewater roll as well. It had been a long time since he unintentionally capsized his sea kayak, and even longer since he'd had to wet exit. He knew about self-rescues, and had even conducted paddle-float demonstrations for his local paddling club. In the event that he did need help, he carried both a cell phone and a VHF radio. When it came to the mighty Mississippi, he had both solo and group experience on the section of river he planned to paddle. And from his perspective, the paddling conditions were tame, in his words: "…calm, slow-moving water, sheltered from the main channel by a string of islands." It wasn't windy or raining, just a little cold, and he'd had plenty of experience dealing with cold weather. You'd be really hard pressed to find anyone who would describe the paddling conditions Randy encountered as “challenging” for someone with his level of experience.

Zero Margin for Error

It was Randy's fleeting mental comparison of his paddling skills versus the seemingly benign river conditions that allowed him to be comfortable with his near-lethal decision to dress for the air rather than the water temperature. And although he might never have heard someone make the often repeated “challenging conditions” argument I referred to earlier, he was definitely following its flawed logic. It's a hard message to miss in our sport, because it's been woven into a lot of sea kayaking brochures, books, and instructional programs. Randy knew it was riskier paddling alone, and that a cold-water capsize could be dangerous, yet he chose to leave his wetsuit at home, figuring that he simply "wouldn't need one for a flatwater paddle." At the time, of course, his decision didn't seem at all reckless or ill advised. As he wisely and candidly notes in retrospect: "It's easy to dismiss these concerns because we have no intention of swimming."

When Randy reached the launch site, the deceptively tranquil conditions on the river offered up nothing to change his mind. The water exhibited that seductively peaceful, flat-calm look that an intermittent 1/4 inch layer of ice imparts to a big, slow-moving river. Unfortunately, it only looked non-threatening. With the water temperature near freezing, his forget-about-the-wetsuit decision left him with absolutely no margin for error, guaranteeing that any capsize would instantly morph into a life-threatening event—a desperate race against time and the terribly lethal power of cold water. All it took to set that race in motion was a tiny miscalculation on his part, a little slip of his paddle on some ice.

Far more often than we'd like to admit, our moments of decision are overwhelmed by emotion and the power of memory and feeling. Randy had a lot of really wonderful memories of paddling and how great it felt to be out on the water in his boat. By contrast, he had zero memories of how excruciatingly painful and terrifying it is to be suddenly immersed in near-freezing water. At best, all he had was some dry information about cold water safety. When it came to decision time, it was no contest.

Here's the scary part: That kind of mental gymnastics happens all the time in life. A valuable conclusion we can draw – and use to our advantage – from recent scientific discoveries, is the sobering fact that in many situations you really don't think at all – a bad idea can pop up and before you have time to think, you can act on it based solely on your feelings. You don't so much fall for it as go for it.

In nature, many conditions have the potential to change with amazing speed and little or no warning. One thing, however, that won't change during the course of your outing is the water temperature. And when it comes to cold water, experienced, safety-conscious paddlers have developed an elegant work-around for this entire reason-versus-emotion, skills-versus-conditions problem. It's a simple, easy to follow rule: When paddling on cold water, they always dress for the water temperature. No exceptions! I suspect Randy would be the first to tell you what a great idea that is.

Moulton Avery directed the Center for Environmental Physiology in Washington, DC for 10 years, and spent 6 years running a wilderness school in North Carolina. He's an authority on cold water safety, and a former ACA Sea Kayaking Instructor, and SK Instructor Trainer.

Suggested reading: Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales

Social Networking

2011-07-13T14:10:00.147+01:00

One of the things I believe in is that sea kayaking is more than just a personal adventure. For me sea kayaking is also a vast social network from which we can all learn from and be part of. Examples of that network include when folk gather at symposiums and share common experiences. With another being when strangers become friends after attending the same skills development programme.

I, for one, feel very fortunate to be able to make a living from sea kayaking and it has provided me with some great opportunities to travel the globe on expeditions, as well as teaching far and wide. So as payback for those rewards or perhaps just simply because I like to share the experience, I tend to make the offer that if someone finds themselves in my neck of the woods, be that North Wales or my adopted waters of Trinidad in Northern California where my partner Helen lives, then they should get in touch and go paddling for the day. I made such an offer at the 3rd Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium in February, and one such person who took me up on that offer was John 'Jack' Du Bois.

Jack is a professor of linguistics at Berkley, as well as an enthusiastic sea kayaker form Southern California who is fortunate enough to call the waters of Israel his paddling home too. Jack got in touch because he was attending a conference in Manchester and had some time between that and another meeting in the south of England. It was great to hear from Jack who was in one of my classes at GGSK '11, and it was even more fortunate that I was free when he was.

So we arranged to meet up in Holyhead, after Jack had finished his conference. The weather and sea state lent itself to one of the classic Anglesey trips I have written about previously, that being Trearrdur Bay to Borthwen via Rhoscolyn Beacon. We took our time to explore the coastline as well chat about common elements of our lives that went beyond sea kayaking. As much as I offered Jack insights into paddling opportunities in Wales, he gave me some interesting perspectives on splitting a life between two countries (the US and Israel in Jack's case). I'm sure we wouldn't have shared so much had this been a course.

It was fun, it was relaxed, it was a great day to be social and to network. Jack was wonderful company and we even finished the day with an ice cream, superb! So the offer stands. Wherever I am, if I am free, and you want to paddle, get in touch. Let's help the network grow :o)

Pictures of the day can be found here

UKSG6 - Event Flyer

2011-07-06T15:39:00.000+01:00

There will be a Greenland style paddling theme to this years 6th UK Storm Gathering and we are pleased to announce that Helen Wilson - www.greenlandorbust.org - will be running rolling clinics and boat handling sessions as part of the symposium timetable

Remember...register by August 1st 2011 and enjoy the early bird rate of £100.

Get in touch with Mark if you would like a booking form.

Sea Kayak Rolling Traditions

2011-06-29T23:14:00.006+01:00

The ability to roll one's kayak is probably the single most effective rescue technique there is in the event of a capsize at sea. By learning and practicing a wide variety of rolling progressions, a paddler's confidence, safety and thus enjoyment of being on the ocean can improve immensely. One of the key principles to bear in mind is that it is the body, rather than the boat or blade, which controls the roll. However, having an appreciation of how rolling has evolved is of value too.

When time is taken to study historical records and well documented text such as Eastern Arctic Kayaks: History, Design, Technique by John Heath and Eugene Arima (2004) or Kayaks of Greenland by Harvey Golden (2006), it is possible to relate to and gain insights about how the rolling skills we teach and utilise today owe so much to our paddling ancestors from the Arctic regions, with Greenland being of particular importance. So regardless of which school of thought you follow in terms of learning how to roll, its worth taking the time to appreciate the heritage behind it.

The Inuit have used 'qajaqs' as a means of hunting and fishing for centuries. Tradition being that a qajaq would be made of seal skin stretched over a wooden frame. These qajaqs tended to be extremely buoyant as well easy to self-right in the event of turning completely over. Rolling a qajaq was considered an essential self-rescue skill that was learned and practiced on a regular basis. As a consequence, various rolls were developed to handle any and all situations that might arise. This included being entangled in fishing lines, losing a paddle and perhaps needing to roll using the available hunting equipment.

David Crantz, writing his book History of Greenland in 1767, describes a number of methods by which an Inuit righted his craft, including full and half-paddle rolls, and rolls using the harpoon or hands. And not only were these skills observed by explorers and visitors but practiced also. Records show that the first non-Inuit known to have learned to roll was the Austrian, Edi Pawlata, who taught himself in 1927 after reading accounts by the explorers Nansen and Jophansen. An English explorer, Gino Watkins, learned directly from the Inuit in 1930, though unfortunately he disappeared on a trip to the Arctic soon afterwards.

Ironically, as rolling became popularised within a number of recreational paddling disciplines across Europe and America at the start of the 20th century, kayaking itself was loosing its value amongst the Greenlandic people as power boats became the chosen vessel to hunt from. This decline in use of the qajaq meant a whole generation was growing up with almost no knowledge of the craft or the associated skills and concern grew that the history and culture associated with the qajaq could be lost forever. So it was, in 1984, the Greenlanders started kayaking clubs across several regions and Qaannat Kattuffiat, the Greenland Kayaking Association became established.

The Greenland Kayaking Association is dedicated to keeping the traditional kayaking skills alive. This includes rolling, paddling techniques, kayak building, tuilik making and other aspects of the Greenland kayaking culture. Qaannat Kattuffiat holds regular training camps where this knowledge is taught and practiced, and organises an annual championship. Today there are approximately 25 local Greenland "qajaq" clubs affiliated with Qaannat Kattuffiat. There is also a chapter in Copenhagen (Qajaq Copenhagen) and the United States (Qajaq USA). The word "qaannat" is the plural of qajaq (kayaks) and Kattuffiat means "club or organization". Therefore the term Qaannat Kattuffiat literally means the kayaks' club.

The Greenland National Kayaking Championship takes place over the course of a week with all ages from children to the elderly competing. The event include racing, harpoon throwing, rolling and rope gymnastics. The purpose of these competitions is to keep tradition alive, and to teach the skills that the Greenlanders have used for so many years. Perhaps the discipline that draws the most attention is the rolling of which there are 35 listed techniques of increasing difficulty and hence points awarded. You can read more about each manoeuvre and the competition rules on the Qajaq USA website.

So whether you prefer the quick and forceful recovery of the C-to-C roll or choose to practice rolling techniques that rely more on flexibility and finesse, try to remember that both were born out of sea kayaking imperatives where reliability of technique for survival was paramount. For the Inuit hunters whose lives depended on their kayaking skills wet exits were just not an option in the frigid arctic waters. By way of contrast, modern day kayakers roll as much for the sheer pleasure of mastering an array of techniques as they do out of necessity to prevent an inglorious swim. However you chose to do it, take care and enjoy.

Sources and acknowledgements

Helen Wilson - Greenland or Bust

Greg Stamer - Kayak Vagabond

Mark Whitaker - Columbia River Kayaking

Qajaq USA - American Chapter of the Greenland Kayak Association

The Conway Ascent

2011-06-22T00:43:00.089+01:00

The Conwy Ascent is an upstream canoeing event, taking advantage of the flood tide to start in the Deganwy Narrows and finish at Dolgarrog Bridge approximately 15km away. The river offers many challenges in reading water and weather conditions as well as being is rich in wildlife and beautiful scenery such as the imposing Conwy Castle.

The event is run by Dyffryn Conwy Paddlers and comprises both a marathon race and a tour, and paddlers may race or tour in any canoe or kayak of their choice. Following the successful introduction at the 2009 Conwy Ascent, there is also a race for Stand Up Paddleboards.

I found myself with a rare Saturday off from work and so decided to enter the tour, rather than the race, to give myself a chance to blow the cobwebs away. Its been a while since I have paddled competitively and I didn't really fancy the 'Le Mans' start, but registering for the event and wearing the bib did remind me of days gone by as a sprint and marathon paddler with West Cumbria Canoe Club.

The Afon Conwy is a beautiful river in North Wales flowing through the picturesque Conwy valley from the Snowdonia National Park to the sea. It meets the sea at Deganwy after passing under the walls of the 13th century castle and through the harbour at Conwy.

Paddling my Tiderace Xcite and using a Greenland paddle, I was pleased with my progress and completed the ascent in 1 hour, 24 minutes. I was surprised at how competitive I got after having passed several paddlers in the early stages. Maybe next year I'll give the race a go.

And for those who are looking for a bit more punch to their paddling then consider participating in the Menai Challenge as established by John Willacy, an accomplished racer and Anglesey circumnavigator. There is also the ‘Swellies Extreme’ Sea Kayak Race to participate in over 29th/30th October weekend organised by Kayak Essentials.

Pictures of the 2011 ascent can be found here.

MCA Annual Canoe & Kayak Report

2011-06-15T02:33:00.031+01:00

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has just published its annual canoeing and kayaking report which gives national statistics for 2010.

Last year there were 456 canoeing and kayaking incidents in the UK. These included incidents where people got into difficulty due to underestimating weather and tidal conditions, lacked skill or were ill prepared. Abandoned kayaks and false alarms are incorporated within this statistic. Sadly, nine fatalities are also included.

Report highlights include:

If boat owners put contact details on their craft and joined the CG66 small boat safety scheme the coastguard would be able to identify owners quickly and easily. This would result in fewer needless searches.

Kayakers and canoeists are encouraged to report their proposed activities to the appropriate coastguard maritime rescue coordination centre by routine telephone call or marine band radio.

If canoeists and kayakers are planning to leave their vehicles in public places for more than two days they should contact the coastguard.

The coastguard is receiving increasing reports of paddlers in difficulty which turn out to be kayakers fishing. If people are fishing they should contact the coastguard, by VHF radio if they have one or by telephone using the routine telephone number, to avoid wasted searches.

Some canoeists and kayakers are not wearing buoyancy aids or lifejackets – these are essential safety kit.

Participants who hired canoes and kayaks got into difficulty because they did not check weather and sea conditions.

Considering the total number of incidents throughout the year and the increasing number of paddling sport participants there were relatively few fatalities related to canoeing or kayaking incidents.

You can download the complete report here

The following statistic were recently published within a thread on UK Sea Kayak Guidebook by an RNLI representative

2010: RNLI launched to paddlers 253 times out of a total of 8,713.
2009: RNLI launched to paddlers 274 times out of a total of 9,223.
2008: RNLI launched to paddlers 241 times out of a total of 8,293.

And here's a break down of the causes of those launches to paddlers:

2010 launches to paddlers:Adverse weather and conditions 114
Equipment failure 0
Man over board 24
Stranding/collision/nav failure 11
Person in difficulty 1
Other 103

2009 launches to paddlers:
Adverse weather and conditions 138
Equipment failure 0
Man over board 26
Stranding/collision/nav failure 13
Person in difficulty 6
Other 91

2008 launches to paddlers:
Adverse weather and conditions 116
Equipment failure 2
Man over board 24
Stranding/collision/nav failure 6
Person in difficulty 9
Other 84

The 'other' category includes false alarms with good intent and malicious hoax calls, assistance by other people, searches where the casualty is not found or found by others, and incidents where the casualty has sorted out the situation themselves.

Leaders...Born Of Nature or Practice?

2011-06-08T00:41:00.012+01:00

Leaders, born or made? Scholar Richard Arvey found that among twins, leadership is 30 percent genetic/born and 70 percent learned/environmental. A pretty interesting thought to start with. We can also turn to the work of K. Anders Ericsson and his colleagues which may get to the heart of developing leadership in yourself and others…

“People believe that because expert performance is qualitatively different from normal performance the expert performer must be endowed with characteristics qualitatively different from those of normal adults. This view has discouraged scientists from systematically examining expert performers and accounting for their performance in terms of the laws and principles of general psychology. We agree that expert performance is qualitatively different from normal performance and even that expert performers have characteristics and abilities that are qualitatively different from or at least outside the range of those of normal adults. However, we deny that these differences are immutable, that is, due to innate talent. Only a few exceptions, most notably height, are genetically prescribed. Instead, we argue that the differences between expert performers and normal adults reflect a lifelong period of deliberate effort to improve performance in a specific domain” (Ericsson, Krampe, & Tesch-Romer, 1993, pp. 399-400).

One key seems to be intentionality and one problem is that many people are not deliberately “practicing” effective leadership. There is often no coach and it’s hard to get a real perspective on effectiveness, and even more difficult to get unfiltered perceptions of others. Feedback (personal, 360, coaching from supervisor or consultant) is one way to gauge progress. However, the interventions listed above are somewhat rare in organisational life. For instance, other than the annual performance review, what kind of ongoing coaching do you receive from your supervisor? Hopefully, a lot. Maybe not though.

Do some have a certain level of natural talent? Likely. Can others get better over time? Sure. Are you practicing the right stuff? Hopefully.

6th UK Storm Gathering - Contributors

2011-06-01T16:38:00.010+01:00

The following people have offered their services to help coach and guide at the 6th UK Storm Gathering that will held on Anglesey this October.

I would recommend spending time on the water with any of them if you wish to expand your skills or increase your knowledge of sea kayaking.

Nick Cunliffe - Kayak Essentials

Helen Wilson - Greenland or Bust

Phil Clegg - Professional Paddlesports Ambassador

Roger Chandler - Coastal Spirit

Paul Kuthe - Professional Paddlesports Ambassador

Jeff Allen - Sea Kayaking Cornwall

Warren Parker - Professional Paddlesports Ambassador

James Stevenson - Adventure Elements

Taino Almestica - Professional Paddlesports Ambassador

Tony Hammock - Sea Freedom Kayak

Steve Graham - East Barnby Outdoor Centre

Ollie Jay - Active4Seasons

Dave Simpson - Plas y Brenin

Axel Schoevers - Professional Paddlesports Ambassador

Aled Williams - Tiderace Sea Kayaks

Richard Rogers - Professional Paddlesports Ambassador

Richard McEvoy - Professional Paddlesports Ambassador

Ali Othen - Oswestry School Adventure Education

......and finally, but by no means least

Jim Krawiecki - Master Raconteur and Pompetous of Wit

In the coming weeks their profiles and picture will appear on the UK Storm Gathering blog to give you an insight into the folk who will be on the water with you, and more guest coaches are expected soon.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

2011-05-27T13:02:00.042+01:00

This important and educational article was written by Mario Vittone and should be shared globally.

The Incident - The new captain jumped from the cockpit, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he headed straight for the owners who were swimming between their anchored sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks you’re drowning,” the husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other and she had screamed but now they were just standing, neck-deep on the sand bar. “We’re fine, what is he doing?” she asked, a little annoyed. “We’re fine!” the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard. ”Move!” he barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not ten feet away, their nine-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into tears, “Daddy!”

How did this captain know? – from fifty feet away – what the father couldn’t recognize from just ten? Drowning is not the violent, splashing, call for help that most people expect. The captain was trained to recognize drowning by experts and years of experience. The father, on the other hand, had learned what drowning looks like by watching television. If you spend time on or near the water (hint: that’s all of us) then you should make sure that you and your crew knows what to look for whenever people enter the water. Until she cried a tearful, “Daddy,” she hadn’t made a sound. As a former Coast Guard rescue swimmer, I wasn’t surprised at all by this story. Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving, splashing, and yelling that dramatic conditioning prepares us to look for, is rarely seen in real life.

The Instinctive Drowning Response (IDR) – so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) – of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC). Drowning does not look like drowning – Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine, described the instinctive drowning response like this:

"Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.

Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly before their mouths start to sink below the surface again.

Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Doing this permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.

Throughout the IDR, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.

From beginning to end of the IDR people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs".

Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006: 14

This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble – they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the instinctive drowning response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long – but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.

Other signs of drowning on the water:

Head low in the water, mouth at water level
Head tilted back with mouth open
Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
Eyes closed
Hair over forehead or eyes
Not using legs – Vertical
Hyperventilating or gasping
Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
Trying to roll over on the back
Ladder climb, rarely out of the water.

So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks OK – don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents – children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

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6th UK Storm Gathering Symposium - News

2011-05-25T15:00:00.040+01:00

The 6th UK Storm Gathering Sea Kayak Symposium will be held on the Isle of Anglesey over the weekend beginning Saturday 22nd and running through to Monday 24th October 2011. The aim of this symposium is to bring together intermediate and advanced kayakers with similar passions and provide a practical programme with an emphasis on challenging conditions, commitment and open crossings.

The registration fee for attending includes access to all workshops, evening lectures, social events, raffle ticket, delegate pack and a symposium souvenir.

There will be a daily rate during the event subject to available places.

The symposium will be based at Anglesey Outdoors and workshops/ journeys will launch from the surrounding bays and harbours. The venue offers us a great deal of flexibility and a number of workable options dependent on the weather.

Participants will need to arrange their own accommodation. An information sheet listing options, above and beyond that which Anglesey Outdoors has on offer, will be available on request.

On the water clinics are likely to be based around the following themes - Performance Rolling - Seamanship & Navigation - What if...? (Incident Management) - Rescues - Moving Water - Tidal Races and Overfalls - Crash and Bash (Kayak Repair) - Forward Paddling - and led by guest coaches from within the UK and further afield.

Day trips, land based workshops and lecturettes will be scheduled as appropriate, and based on participant demand.

BCU Paddlesports Performance Awards, trips and further coaching opportunities are planned to run from 25th - 28th October. BCU courses and trips will run when workable numbers are reached. Costs will be published in a separate post.

The intention is to attract a number of well known brands from the sea kayaking world to exhibit at this event including Kokatat Watersports Wear and Tiderace Sea Kayaks, as well as show support for local retailers such as Summit to Sea.

A booking form is now available on request.

Please e-mail Mark should you wish to discuss matters relating to the 6th UK Storm Gathering Sea Kayak Symposium

Incident Report

2011-05-20T11:35:00.018+01:00

Humber Coastguard requested the launch of both Bridlington RNLI lifeboats on Saturday 14 May, after receiving a call that two kayak-type boats were in trouble off the coast at Barmston.

The inshore lifeboat (ILB) Windsor Spirit made its way quickly to the area with Helmsman Grant Walkington and Crew Members Pete Jones and Jason Stephenson aboard.

On arrival in the area a 10-year-old boy could be seen in the water trying to hold on to his father's kayak. The boy's father was trying to paddle back to the beach but was not making any head way in the gusting offshore winds.

After lifting the young boy from the sea the ILB crew quickly wrapped him up. The boy's father - who was still not making any head way - also asked to be taken ashore. The ILB beached with father, son and one kayak. The young boy was given more covering against the cold until further help arrived.

Helmsman Walkington said: 'They were both well equipped with wet suits, helmets and lifejackets but the wind caught them out. The lad just could not get back in his boat and his dad was unable to help him.'

Meanwhile, the RNLI volunteers on the all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer searched for the second kayak, which was found a great distance away due to strong winds.

Support the RNLI by becoming a member or making a donation.

BCU 5* Award - Training

2011-05-18T22:32:00.379+01:00

Last weekend saw me travel to Pembrokeshire to work alongside Nigel Robinson of Sea Kayak Guides in St David's on a 5* Sea Training course. I have known Nigel for some time as a BCU trainer and assessor as well as fellow symposium coach but this was the first time for us as colleagues on the water. As this course was forming part of my 5* Assessor pathway, I took the opportunity to observe Nigel closely with Jim, Kelly, Chris and Stuart who made up the candidate team.

We began on Saturday morning with a session discussing the 'whys and wherefores' of the 5* sea, before Nigel set the team a planning task for the day. We chose to launch from Porthclais with the intention of not returning until well after night fall. And while the intention was not to camp out, the team was expected to paddle with boats packed for such an eventuality. Once on the water, each of the students took turns to lead the group towards Ramsey Sound, followed by an analysis of their approach to the role and their decision making processes.

Having travelled into the Sound, we crossed over to Ramsey Island itself and took time to watch each paddler perform in the tiderace known as the Twll that forms between Ynys Cantwr and the southern end of Ramsey. After which the group journeyed up the outside of the island, facing a number of scenarios on the way including emergency landings as well as exploring leadership principles such as positioning and shaping a course. The day continued after a break at the harbour near Pont y Geist with the candidates then venturing into the Bitches, a notorious and popular tidal playspot. Here we explored eddyline crossings, use of contact tows, surfing and upstream progressions.

One more stop at Porthlysgi Bay had Jim, Kelly, Chris and Stuart as well as myself and Nigel settle down for a hearty feed, swapping expedition top tips and tales of adventure on the high sea over a driftwood fire as we waited for dark. The night element of the training is used to emphasise the strategies a leader needs to employ to get a group back safely when a late return is going to occur due to delays in the day. These include such things as numbering group members; use of glow sticks; tight group management; and navigation techniques such as aiming off, handrailing and using catchment features as well as stressing the need for accuracy in timing and judging distance to travel.

Sunday was a prompt start that had us reviewing the past 24 hours and planning once again for the day ahead. This time we set off from Porthgain with the intention of landing at Abereiddy. Though the day was moderately shorter, plenty of time was spent looking at rough water boat handling as well as personal rolling and group rescues in the nearby tideraces. As the day progressed a number of incidents occurred for each leader to deal, all requiring sensible solutions and good situational management. After lunch at Traeth Llyfn, we explored surf launches and landings, contact tows in the surf and anchored surf landings. The key tip from Nigel being double the length of your towline. The team then made its way to Abereiddy, with some simple rock hopping thrown in for good measure, and on to Nigel's for tea, tiffin and de-briefs.

An expression that got used over the course of the training was 'Talk Loud, Talk Tough'. This was used as means of emphasising the times when a leader needs to demonstrate command over a situation by being clear and direct in their instructions when the wind is howling and waves are crashing while a capsized paddler is getting cold and soaked. Once an incident has been resolved and the whole group is back on track then the time for 'Talk Softly, Talk Kindly' may be more appropriate.

There was some discussion over the weekend that there is no such thing as an advanced skill and instead there are only the fundamentals which are performed well in a more advanced situation. Another point raised was that when looking at advanced skills we should perhaps more concerned with a paddler's state of mind. That is, how they handle themselves as much as their boat in challenging conditions. So when it comes to assessing an 'advanced leader' perhaps it is their whole demeanour, both on and off the water, that needs looking at as carefully as well as their ability to do 360° turns on a wave train.

Another topic that came up was that of respect. A good 5* leader ought to show respect to, and also take responsibility for, the participants they are paddling with as well as the environment in which they operate. In addition, it was agreed that a leader should engender respect for any equipment being used as the trainees considered the 'What If's...?' facing a group of paddlers that suffers a major equipment failure, maybe on the remote side of an island, due to an individual's mistreatment of their boat and gear.

It was interesting to see how Nigel allowed matters to evolve over the duration of the course, rather than running to a set timetable. Raising issues and asking questions as opposed to being directive and enforcing hard rules or mandates. It was refreshing to be with a fellow coach who avoids gimmicks and set pieces to make a point as to how a leader should be. Instead, Nigel was very adept at introducing topics and letting discussion grow, drawing out an individual's understanding and filling in knowledge gaps both discretely and through peer contribution.

Get in touch if you are interested in completing a BCU training course or just wish to look at your skills development in a boat.

More pictures of this course available here

Incident Report

2011-05-13T11:55:00.011+01:00

A canoeist has died after being pulled from the sea off the coast of Eigg.

A passing vessel alerted the coastguard at about 1700 BST on Sunday after a person was spotted in the water. The crew pulled the man, who has not been named, on board and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Mallaig lifeboat and coastguard helicopter based at Stornoway were involved in the operation. The man's body was taken to Mallaig harbour then by ambulance to hospital in Fort William.

A spokeswoman for Northern Constabulary said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Support the RNLI by becoming a member or making a donation.

BCU Assessment Weekend

2011-05-11T23:21:00.229+01:00

Whilst I've been active over the winter months with various personal paddling adventures, running bespoke coaching sessions for a number of established clients and providing BCU Level 5 mentoring time for Phil Clegg, who I am proud to say was successful in gaining the award a few weeks ago, things have somewhat quiet on the assessment front so far in 2011 after what was a busy autumn delivering a several BCU 4* and Level 3 Coach courses. However, momentum has picked up once more starting with a trip out to Denmark last weekend and with several more assessments set in the calendar for the remainder of the year.

So at the request of Nick Cunliffe of Kayak Essentials with whom I have work alongside on several BCU courses in the past, and organised by Michael Schuh of Kayak Gaarden, I travelled out to Rømø in the central Jutland region to staff a BCU 4* Sea assessment. As a consequence, I had the pleasure of being out in a new paddling area in the company of Michael, Rene, Michael, Jens-Pavia, Morten and Ingolf along with Nick as course provider.

Day one had us launching from the beach at Sønderby, which involved what has to be the longest carry to the shoreline I have had to do for some time! Once on the water, the team were put through their paces taking on several leadership and navigation legs followed by a number of incident management scenarios. An novel element to the day was the 3 km crossing between Rømø and the island of Syllt, which lies in German jurisdiction. The waters between the two islands offered up some interesting tidal flow for us to play around in as well.

Havenby harbour was the setting for the second day of the assessment and the weather provided us with suitable wind conditions to further test the paddling performance of candidates. It was clear that each one of the team was competent and capable, regardless of whether they used a Greenland 'stick' or Euro 'blade'. Nick and I decided to conclude the course with a group incident to deal with, which they completed well with a coordinated effort and good humour.

Its always a good moment at the end of an assessment to announce to everyone that they have been successful bar none. Then, after big handshakes all round and individual feedback dispensed, Michael kindly took Nick and myself back to Billund airport, a journey filled with stories, sight seeing and plan making. I would like to thank Michael also for ensuring I got to paddle an Tiderace Xcite for the two days as well as use of his Mitchell Atlantis paddles and Greenland stick.

Get in touch if you are interested in completing a BCU assessment course or just wish to look at your skills development in a boat.

More pictures of this course available here

Incident Report

2011-05-06T12:34:00.002+01:00

A man and a woman are recovering this evening after they were found with their sailing dinghy on Loch Bracadale.

Stornoway Coastguard were contacted by Falmouth Coastguard at 9.20 pm this evening to report that a personal locator beacon (PLB) was transmitting from a position in the Isle of Skye area. Stornoway Coastguard made some enquiries and discovered that the PLB belonged to a 49-year old local man. They spoke to his father who told them that his son was an experienced kayaker. A short while later the husband of a woman made a 999 call to the Coastguard reporting that his wife, who had gone out dinghy sailing with a friend in the same area had not returned and he was concerned for her safety.

Whilst the Coastguard pieced all of this information together, they also scrambled the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter and requested the launch of the Mallaig RNLI lifeboat. They also discussed the incident with the Dunvegan Coastguard Rescue Team, who reported that one of their members had seen the dinghy in question earlier in the evening. The team were therefore sent to spot the vessel from the shore. A police officer from Portree Police also attended the scene.

Due to the locator beacon, the helicopter and lifeboat were able to find the pair with ease. They had been sailing a wayfarer sailing dinghy which had capsized and had problems with its sails. When the helicopter arrived they were attempting to row the dinghy to shore. The helicopter airlifted the pair to Broadford Hospital landing site. They were then taken on to hospital where they were treated for mild hypothermia.

Carol Collins, Stornoway Coastguard Watch Manager says..."It is unusual for us to receive personal locator beacon hits, but in this case, this was the ideal piece of communications equipment for these people to be carrying. It meant that we were able to locate them swiftly and ensure that we got the right help to them quickly".

Support the RNLI by becoming a member or making a donation.

Anglesey Symposium 2011

2011-05-04T17:33:00.001+01:00

Spring has sprung and with it comes the annual event of the Anglesey Sea Kayak Symposium, organised by Nigel Dennis and based out of Anglesey Outdoors near Holyhead. This year saw the gathering endure unrelenting Easterly winds which made for interesting paddling conditions and the need for flexible venue choices. Nonetheless, despite the weather, everyone was in high spirits and keen to experience all that Anglesey and the numerous guest coaches had to offer. Some participants even speculated over whether we might stumble across William and Kate walking on a beach after their big day.

After the morning meeting on Saturday, I was teamed up with Jen Kleck, Phil Hadley and Sonja Ewen to run a day long 'moving water' workshop. With the conditions as they were, the decision was made to head over to the Menai Straits and take advantage of the tidal flow there. Once at the Porth Daniel slipway we split into small teams so that we could each make best use of the Straits and enhance the experience for those paddlers who had signed up. And so it was that Rosie, Andreas, Tony, Jens and Anna got to work on wind wave turns, break ins, break outs, ferry glides and even some trick manoeuvres before I allowed them to break for lunch. After which, the team was encouraged to practice an number of 'get wet' routines before finishing with some surfing.

In contrast, on Sunday I joined up with my good friend Aled Williams of Tiderace Sea Kayaks notoriety, along with Nico Middlekoop, to run another day long clinic this time going by the title of "Intermediate Tideraces and Overfalls". Aled's unique style of 'on the water' group management came into play as the three of us lead / guided / cajoled nineteen paddlers around the Stacks and onto Porth Dafarch, having launched from Soldiers Point. In essence, we each managed a handful of paddlers which gave time for small pods to play in the races but when journeying between locations it may have looked like a ungainly flotilla of sea kayaks at times.

As with all such events, the enjoyment not only comes from being on the water but also the time spent socialising with fellow paddlers from all over the globe. Most notably this year with folk from Spain, Germany and Denmark. Saturday night had Eila Wilkinson, possibly the most effervescent sea kayaker I know, present to a full house about her exploits with Sonja Ewen when they set off to circumnavigate Ireland last year. And such things need to be followed by a sound evening in the newly refurbished Paddler's Return with the like of Jim Krawiecki, that great pompitous of wit, for company over a beer.

Monday was an entirely different proposition for me. Whilst some folk were going on trips and others were experiencing Greenland games with Marc Alcober from Cataluna down at Porth Dafarch, I got to work with Greg, Rene, Mattias, Eila and Tom who have all started upon the pathway that will lead them to becoming BCU 4* Sea Assessors. The first part of their apprenticeship involves attending a BCU Generic Assessor Training day that is concerned with exploring issues that arise within the syllabus and assessment processes. After which they can go on to completing a discipline specific training day. With the breadth of experience in the room and worldy insights from active coaches operating in Connecticut, Switzerland, Sweden and Tyneside as well as Anglesey, the discussions were healthy, activities lively and no-one appeared to mind being indoors for most of it.

With this event now over I begin to turn my attention to future symposiums that I will be contributing to this year - Paddle Orkney '11, as well as organising - 6th UK Storm Gathering Symposium. In the meantime, I would like to thank Kokatat, Tiderace and Mitchell Blades for whom I am an ambassador for and am appreciative of their support of me with the equipment they provide that enables me to do a good job on the water as a leader and coach.

More pictures of the Anglesey Symposium 2011 can be found here

If You Wish...

2011-04-29T12:58:00.001+01:00

If you wish to be respected, then be ever respectful.

If you wish to be understood, then sincerely understand others.

If you wish to be appreciated, then be ever grateful.

If you wish to be loved, then give love in each moment.

If you wish to be wealthy, then act to create real value.

If you wish to learn, then take time to teach.

If you wish to climb higher, then life others up.

If you wish to be wise, then share what you know.

Whatever you wish, life will surely give it.

What you must do, though, is to truly live it.

There is so much to live for and so much to see.

You will have whatever you are willing to be.

~ Ralph Marston ~

Sea Kayak Fitness

2011-04-27T15:35:00.001+01:00

Having emerged from a semi-active winter and aware of the effects being desk bound has had on me, I thought there might be some value in exploring how our beloved pastime of sea kayaking can help us get into shape and paddle fit.

Sea kayaking is considered to be a relatively low-impact activity that can contribute to improved cardiovascular health. It is also possible to build the muscles of the back, chest and arms through the action of paddling if done on a regular basis. A paddler’s torso and legs may also get a workout while sea kayaking if they are used to apply pressure that powers and maintains balance and control of the boat. Research shows that an ideal aerobic exercise establishes regular, rhythmic contractions in the large muscle groups. Paddling a sea kayak smoothly meets this definition, using the large muscles of your chest, back and core.

Core Strength

Developing core strength should be an important element for sea kayakers. This can be developed through exercises that enhance the muscles required for rotational movements of the trunk and abdominal areas. For example, you can build strength in your lower body by using squats and leg extensions. For abdominal strength and torso rotation try crunches using a balance ball. Performing plank, a yoga-based posture, forces you to rely on your core to remain balanced on your toes and elbows while you are stretched out parallel to the floor. Use triceps dips and bicep curls help to work the arms.

Cardiovascular Training

Sea kayaking is very much an endurance activity that engages the heart and the lungs. Preparing your cardiovascular system for kayaking requires some discipline specific training so consider the duration and distance you trips. For example, plan to kayak 10 to 12 miles by paddling 5 or 6 miles in one direction and returning to your starting point. This will account for wind resistance and not having to arrange for a car shuttle. During the paddle, aim for a consistent cadence of stroke, or pace. Use smooth forward strokes that rely on the torso rotation rather than shoulder strength. This allows you go the distance set and begin to build up to longer distances without soreness or injury. Incorporating staged bursts of speed, either for a set time or number of paddle strokes, will also help you to get faster.

Cross Training

As with any activity that requires cardiovascular endurance, cross-training using high-intensity aerobic exercises, such as mountain biking and running, can improve fitness levels. While the movement patterns for biking or running do not simulate kayaking movements, developing endurance ensures you won't be stranded on the water too tired to paddle to safety or back to shore.

Benefits

Getting fit for sea kayaking offers many benefits. A balanced training programme develops good cardio fitness and upper body strength while adding finesse to your paddling efficiency. Effective stroke techniques increase as you put more time in the water paddling. Like any form of regular exercise, sea kayaking can contribute to weight lose as part of a calorie controlled diet.

According to Harvard Health Publications, a paddler who weighs 125 lbs. burns 150 calories while sea kayaking for 30 minutes. For a person weighing 155 lbs, the same 30 minutes of sea kayaking burns 186 calories. A 185-lb. person burns 222 calories during a half-hour of sea kayaking. Factors other than weight that influence the calories you burn while kayaking include your speed and environmental conditions, such as wind and currents.

So whilst its good to get and get active, doing it with a plan and with purpose is even better for your overall well-being. More in-depth articles are available here:

Fitness for Kayaking - Myths and Hard Realities by Trevor Gardner, New South Wales Sea Kayak Club

Food For Thought - How To Maximise Your Paddling Energy by Sharon Trueman, New South Wales Sea Kayak Club

Life is...

2011-04-22T13:08:00.000+01:00

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is bliss, taste it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

~ Mother Teresa ~

Sea Kayak Essentials

2011-04-20T09:39:00.000+01:00

Sea Kayak Essentials from Kayak Essentials on Vimeo.

Sea Kayak Essentials is a new instructional DVD that focuses on solid foundation skills for advanced performance with structured chapters covering the essentials of boat speed; angle and trim; body position; and stroke linking. Sea Kayak Essentials addresses the fundamentals of posture, connectivity, feel and power transfer as well as the core skills of forward paddling, balancing and turning, use of the skeg and boat awareness exercises.

Sea Kayak Essentials is presented and performed by Nick Cunliffe, an active and experienced BCU level 5 sea kayak coach. Technical analysis and coaching progressions are provided by Nick throughout the DVD.

The DVD is currently available for pre-order at £19.95, including free postage within the United Kingdom. Comprehensive technical notes that accompany Sea Kayak Essentials can be downloaded here as a PDF file.

Kokatat Sponsors Sara Outen

2011-04-14T16:51:00.015+01:00

Kokatat is proud to sponsor Sara Outen’s “London 2 London: Via the World” expedition. Departing from London on April 1st 2011, Outen will circumnavigate the globe using only human-powered transportation.

At 24-years old, Outen was the first woman, and youngest person ever, to row solo across the Indian Ocean. The “London 2 London” expedition is a significantly larger undertaking. She will cover 20,000-miles, across two oceans and three continents. Her only forms of transportation will be a specialized rowing boat, a bike and a kayak.

Though Sarah will be the only person to complete the round-the-world journey in its entirety, Justine Curgenven - award winning adventure filmmaker and expedition sea kayaker - will join her for several kayaking stages. These two Kokatat-sponsored athletes continue to challenge the limits of the human psyche and of physical expectations. Kokatat are providing Sarah with, amongst other items, a Expedition Dry Suit, Polartec® Power Dry® Liner and a Guide PFD.

The pair set off on Friday 1st April from Tower Bridge and arrived in Dover on Sunday. Having heard that bad weather was predicted, they opted for a night crossing to Calais. Sarah and Justine successfully crossed the 21 nautical miles of the English Channel in 10 hours. Sarah will now cycle across Europe to Russia and, as closely as possible, her round the world journey will follow this course:

• London to France by kayak: 102 nautical miles

• France to Russia by bike: 7,800 miles

• Russia to Japan by bike and kayak: 1,100 miles

• Japan to Canada by rowing boat: 4,300 nautical miles

• Canada to Nova Scotia by bike and kayak: 3,000 miles

• North Atlantic Ocean to UK by rowing boat: 2,500 nautical miles

• UK landing point to Thames Bridge, London, by kayak and bike

Sarah expects to finish her adventure in the London, in the fall of 2013. Follow her progress on her personal blog and at the Kokatat blog.

About Kokatat Watersports Wear

Celebrating 40 years of innovation, Kokatat is an independently operated, US manufacturer of technical apparel and accessories for water sports. Handcrafted in Arcata, California, Kokatat employees are focused on building the finest functional product for people who work and play on water. Our gear is designed for paddlers, by paddlers, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience on the water all year long and in all weather conditions.

As always, Kokatat continues to support experienced paddlers attempting first descents and expeditions. The company proudly provides the athletes with the best paddling gear in the whitewater industry.

Please visit www.kokatat.com and follow Kokatat on Twitter “@kokatat”

Kokatat Celebrates 40th Anniversary

2011-04-12T12:37:00.004+01:00

In today’s marketplace, it is rare to see a manufacturing company celebrating 40 years as an independent, environmentally minded business. Kokatat is proud to be operating in the same town, where it all began. Under the stewardship of founder Steve O’Meara, Kokatat Watersports Wear has been manufacturing industry-leading watersports apparel and gear in Arcata, California since its inception in 1971.

Steve guides the company with an extraordinary vision and mission to create innovative paddle wear and accessories for paddling enthusiasts, from recreational paddlers to extreme kayakers. Over the decades, he has preserved Kokatat as a fun, independent company with a forward-thinking, eco-conscious perspective that inevitably has retained a contented workforce of longstanding employees.

In 2009, Kokatat earned an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 certificate, validating their commitment to providing top-quality products and customer satisfaction under the guidance of a superior management system.

Most recently, Kokatat installed a 26-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system, expected to provide 100-percent of the energy required to power the company’s 40+ sewing machines. In 2010, Kokatat was named Arcata’s Green Business of the Year, recognizing Kokatat’s proactive green practices, social equality and economic vitality to their Humboldt County region. Beyond the company’s environmental stewardship to manufacture domestically and integrate recycled materials into their product line, Kokatat’s employees also regularly participate in community development and maintenance projects.

“The evolution of Kokatat would not be where it is today without our amazing & creative team or the support of our friends and patrons,” said O’Meara. “The beautiful natural environment and loyal community of Arcata has inspired our green & social equity business practices.”

Here is a link to an interesting article about the history of the drysuit based on an interview conducted by David H. Johnston with Steve O'Meara, Founder and CEO of Kokatat.

2011-04-08T15:12:00.001+01:00

Two kayakers were rescued by Redcar RNLI after the pair began drifting towards rocks when one lost a paddle and the second tried to help.

One of the kayakers used a mobile phone to dial 999 to raise the alarm and Humber Coastguard tasked the Redcar RNLI lifeboat to go to their assistance. The two men, both from Redcar, were picked up within two minutes of the lifeboat launching and returned to the beach unharmed.

Dave Cocks from Redcar RNLI said: 'The two were fishing off Redcar when it appears that one of the kayakers either lost or damaged his paddle. The other went to assist but they both found themselves drifting towards the rocks. The seas weren't very rough but they were concerned for their own safety so they did the right thing by calling for help.

'They were equipped with life jackets and we're always pleased to see that when we get alongside.

'The advice is to take a marine VHF radio when anybody goes to sea. A mobile phone may not always get a signal and the coastguard can direction-find a VHF radio signal.

'We had an incident a few weeks ago when another kayaker tried to use his mobile phone to raise the alarm and it became waterlogged. Fortunately on that occasion he was spotted from the shore and the alarm was raised.'

Support the RNLI by becoming a member or making a donation.

Sea Kayak Playboating

2011-04-06T18:26:00.114+01:00

North Wales is blessed with impressively powerful tidal streams, the famous headlands of Penrhyn Mawr and North Stack are a testimony to the huge volumes of water that sluice past our coastline every day. This is clearly great news for sea kayakers who are prepared to seek a thrill in these offshore tide races. However, there are a number of other venues on Anglesey that can provide the eager paddler with some great lunar-powered play spots, as highlighted recently by Justine and Barry's trip to the Swellies.

The Menai Straits divide Anglesey from the mainland, and the Swellies exist as the stretch of moving water between the Menai and the Britannia suspension bridges that span the Straits. The Swellies are notoriously hard to navigate because of numerous shoals, whirlpools and surges with tides that can accelerate to speeds in excess of 8 knots. The Swellies have been the scene of many mysterious shipwreck and celtic legends are abound. One of the most well known incidents occurred when the wooden training ship HMS Conway ran aground on the Platters Reef.

The great thing about the Swellies, which are spread out over a mile-long stretch of water, is that paddlers are presented with a number of accessible and enjoyable white water features that form and disappear according to the strength and height of the tide. The following is a brief summary of the principal information needed to enjoy a number of play areas including Swellie Wave (as pictured by Justine Curgenven).

Drive into the town of Menai Bridge, where a number of access points are available. The town slipway is convenient, but requires a ten-minute paddle to reach the Swellies. Better still, drive the narrow road that passes directly under the bridge on the Anglesey shore. With luck, you'll find one of the few parking spaces still empty. Here you can either scramble over the wall and launch directly under the bridge (a good choice at High Water), or from the beach 100 metres north of the bridge. If launching at Low Water, walk up the road away from the bridge in a southerly direction. At the brow of the hill, take the footpath that leads directly down to a muddy beach 200 metres south of the bridge.

The Swellies can be paddled on either the flood of the ebb - most paddlers aim to arrive at either of High or Low Water Slack, which occurs in the Swellies 2 hours before High Water or Low Water Liverpool. The Flood tide runs in a north-east direction in this part of the Menai Strait (right to left when looking across to the mainland from Anglesey), while the Ebb runs south-west.

On Spring tides, local High Water is usually around the middle of the day, while local Low Water is generally in the morning and evening. Thus, on Spring tides, locals can grab a paddle on the Flood before or after work, while visitors can enjoy the Ebb while everyone else is earning a crust.

Incident Report

2011-04-01T14:40:00.001+01:00

Howth RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) launched this afternoon to reports of five endangered kayakers whose kayak had over turned.

The lifeboat crew assisted in the search for the endangered kayakers, who were in the water off Malahide, while a full gale force wind blew. With sea conditions being so rough, the coastguard helicopter also attended, eventually winching two of the kayakers on board.

The remaining kayakers managed to scramble onto the north beach at Malahide. The helicopter subsequently winched them to safety, and transferred them to awaiting ambulances at Dublin Airport.

It has been a busy period for Howth Lifeboat crew, who have been tasked three times this week alone. The pleasant weather has increased number of people using the sea for pleasure, simultaneously increasing the demand for the 24 hour rescue service the RNLI provides.

Howth Lifeboat Operations Manager Rupert Jeffares says...“It is imperative to check the weather before putting to sea for any reason, these kayakers were extremely lucky today given the rough conditions”.

Support the RNLI by becoming a member or making a donation.

Sea Kayak Adventures

2011-03-30T16:31:00.385+01:00

I was asked recently by someone who intends to visit North Wales this summer about potential sea kayaking trips that I would recommend and this got me thinking about the breadth of options available to them. As it so happens there were five trips I did over the winter that stand out to me as being some of the better ones to choose from. I list them here, not in any rank order, with some description of the location and tidal information. To assist with any planning, I would recommend getting a copy of Welsh Sea Kayaking by Jim Krawiecki and Andy Biggs, which is available direct from Pesda Press.

The Ormes

Great Ormes Head is one of the most identifiable landmarks on the North Wales coast, and can be seen clearly from the A55. The imposing limestone cliffs teem with bird life and contrast the somewhat flat features of Llandudno, a popular seaside resort established in the Victorian era. Further east across Llandudno Bay is Little Ormes Head, which can feel equally dramatic when paddling beneath it. Although a trip around these cliffs can feel serious because of long stretches without suitable egress, the tidal planning is straightforward and the currents are relatively weak. The trip can be a short one, from West Shore to North Shore or even extended beyond the Little Orme to Rhos on Sea.

High water occurs 30 minutes before Liverpool. The west going stream begins after 30 minutes after HWL, whilst the east going stream begins 6 hours before HWL. The spring rate is no more than 3 knots.

The Stacks

The western extremities of Anglesey are referred to as the Stacks and any trip around these noble outposts of pre-cambrian rock that jut into the Irish sea can be rewarding, breathtaking and at times ferocious. The Stacks are exposed to the most storm and tide, as well as possibly the highest wind and wave action. As such, the coastline is popular with those sea kayakers wishing to advance their skills. Passage around the Stacks should be well planned to account for the tide races and overfalls that exist at North Stack, South Stack and Penryhn Mawr. Either that so they can be used to maximum effect for playing, or to ensure more moderate waters to allow for rock hopping and bird watching. Soldiers Point, east side of Holyhead and Porth Dafarch, east of Treardurr Bay are popular launch sites depending on which way round you wish to go.

High water at Holyhead occurs 50 minutes before Liverpool. High water in Penrhos Bay occurs 1.30 hours before Liverpool. At North Stack, the north-east going stream begins 5 hours after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 2 hours before HWL. At South Stack, the north-north-east stream begins 4 hour 50 minutes after HWL, whilst the south-south-west stream begins 1 hour 10 minutes before HWL. At Penrhyn Mawr, the north-west going stream begins 3 hours and 30 minutes after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 1 hour and 15 minutes before HWL. The spring rate can exceed 6 knots.

The Skerries

A trip to the Skerries is a North Wales classic. It is a committing offshore paddle that requires sound tidal planning, as well as good skills to deal with the ever present overfalls. The Skerries are a cluster of barren rocky islets exposed to the full might of the Irish Sea. They are overlooked by a prominent lighthouse on the largest of the islands and are a breeding ground for a variety of seabirds. Again, this is seen as an advanced trip due to the exposed nature of the paddling. Popular access and egress points include Church Bay on the west coast, below Carmel Head and Cemlyn Bay on the north coast, east of Carmel Head.

High water occurs 45 minutes before Liverpool. The north-west going stream begins 5 hours and 15 minutes after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 45 minutes before HWL. The spring rate can exceed 6 knots around the Skerries and in Carmel Sound.

Rhoscolyn

The journey from Borthwen around Rhoscolyn Beacon and past the Head into Penrhos Bay is one of the most appealing trips available on Anglesey. An indented coastline offers up caves, arches and passageways than can provide a variety of options for those keen to explore. The cliffs are not too imposing, though at times landing or escape are not easy. Strong tidal movement can be felt in the Sound and overfalls are present on the southern side of the Beacon. Depending on the direction the trips takes you can end up with ice creams in Treardurr Bay or a beer at the White Eagle near Borthwen.

High water occurs 1 hour 30 minutes before Liverpool. Off shore from Rhoscolyn, the north-west going stream begins 4 hours and 30 minutes after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 1 hour 30 minutes before HWL. In Rhoscolyn Sound, the north-west going stream begins 3 hours after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 1 hour 30 minutes before HWL. The spring rate is around 4 knots at Rhoscolyn Beacon and Rhoscolyn Head

Puffin Island

The easternmost point of Anglesey is marked by a precipitous mass of rock that is home to a host of nesting seabirds including the much vaunted puffin. The island goes by several names but most refer to it as Puffin Island, though Ynys Seirol is not an uncommon reference. St Seirol established a monastery on the island, and folklore has it that he was referred to as the pale saint. The popularity of this trip stems from its ease of access, the wildlife that is present here and that it can be completed in a variety of craft. However, the Sound itself can provide interesting conditions depending on the state of the tide. It is possible to gain access from Penmon Point but a toll needs to be paid at the Priory, so many park and launch in the layby before it. One advantage of setting off from the shingle beech at the Point are the rewards available from the tea shop which is open in the summer months.

High water occurs 30 minutes before Liverpool. The tide goes north through Puffin Sound and then runs north-west 30 minutes before HWL, whilst the south-east going stream runs 5.30 hours after HWL. The spring rate is no more than 3 knots.

If you wish to have a guided sea kayak experience, either on any of the trips listed or wish to visit some of the more esoteric gems on the Anglesey coastline such as Llandwyn Island (above), then get in touch.

Incident Report

2011-03-25T15:48:00.009Z

A kayaker was rescued from the sea off Redcar by RNLI lifeboat after he capsized, leaving him clinging to the upturned craft.

The alarm was raised just after 4pm when the kayak was seen to be upturned by waves, approximately a quarter of a mile from the lifeboat station on the Esplanade, Redcar.

Coastwatch Redcar contacted Humber Coastguard who requested the launch of the Redcar RNLI inshore lifeboat Jacky Hunsley.

The man was quickly found and brought ashore to the lifeboat station where crew members and the RNLI doctor gave first aid and carried out medical checks.

Dave Cocks from Redcar RNLI said: 'The man was picked up about a quarter of a mile out from the lifeboat station. The incoming tide was causing a bit of a jumble of waves and his kayak was hit side-on by a wave, making it overturn.

'Luckily he was spotted and the lifeboat was quickly on scene.

'He was shivering violently and he told the crew he had inhaled some seawater, so we called for our doctor to give him a check-over. Fortunately his lungs were clear.'

The man, aged 55 years from Middlesbrough, told the RNLI crew he had been fishing from the kayak when the wave struck. He had been immersed in the sea for around 10 minutes, clinging to the capsized kayak, before he was able to right it and climb back on board.

Dave Cocks added: 'The man was well equipped as far as wearing a buoyancy aid and wetsuit, but he only had a mobile phone to raise the alarm and that had become waterlogged.

'We always advise anyone who goes out on the sea to take a waterproof marine VHF radio to raise the alarm, and to get proper training in how to use it. The radio puts the person in trouble in direct contact with the coastguards who can then direction-find their location, making rescue much more straightforward.'

Support the RNLI by becoming a member or making a donation.

BCU 5* Sea Award - Thoughts

2011-03-23T17:09:00.012Z

As I work towards what is possibly the last component of becoming a complete BCU Level 5 Coach, that being an endorsed 5* Trainer and Assessor, I thought it might be good to pencil out a few on-going thoughts. Whilst the BCU 5* Sea may seem to be the least defined of all the awards, there are ways of passing this award comfortably.

Know the area where you will be tested. Paddle it a few times in different weather/tidal conditions. This does not have to be a stressful on-the-spot scouting test, your chart is there as a backup not as your primary means of knowing your location.

Be aware of the Assessor's agenda, they will have their own! Some like a lot of chartwork, some like weather, some like silly tricks performed inverted, some like paddling for miles and miles at 6 knots. The rest is down to judgment and skill. All Assessors will have scenarios and locations where they like things to happen.

You need 'plans' in your head at any one time: a 5 min plan, a 30 min plan and a 1 hour plan. You'll be implementing the 5 min plan, working towards the 30 min plan, and keeping the 1 hour plan in perspective. Some scenarios are unfeasible; accept ones you can cope with, decline silly challenges. you’ll be debriefed at the end on whether your standard is acceptable for this grade.

If you are 'experienced' then it stands to reason that you will draw confidence from having built up a breadth of personal experience, thus enabling you to make sound judgment calls as and when they are required. An Assessor will be happy in the knowledge that you have a good perspective over the whole proceedings.

If you are not so 'experienced' then you need a bombproof game plan or live on your wits – scary! You need to dress-rehearse all the scenarios. This is the hardest way of passing; a good Assessor will detect a candidates lack of flexibility and adeptness and will try to force judgment calls, and potentially forcing mistakes to be made. After all, they need to see if a candidate is safe in any situation.

Don't be put off by other candidates making a right hash of things, stick to what you know and how you want to run things. When the other candidate makes a 'fluff' and you have to take over, brief the Assessor with your account of the situation and what you are planning to do next. Stop the rot, and take decisive action, don’t accept a bad inheritance.

Remember, you may need to use your towline more than once, often in quick succession. Sort out an effective roll and be ready with a quick re-entry; this is a set piece and really highlights good paddling skill, or lack of. Make sure the kit you have is functional, accessible but also easily stowed or secured.

Get in touch if you are interested in starting you 5* pathway or just wish to look at your skills development in a boat.

Disaster In Japan (2)

2011-03-17T20:54:00.013Z

Make A Donation

2011-03-16T19:00:00.005Z

In light of recent events in Japan, you may wish to make a donation to show your support. One way this can be done is via Qajaq JPN who will ensure all funds go to the Japanese Red Cross - http://www.qajaq.jp/

Qajaq JPN is an association of traditional Greenland style kayakers in Japan and members of Qaannat Kattuffiat. Officers of this organization are collecting international money donations as well as supplies by mail. If you have any questions, please contact the Qajaq JPN President, Eiichi Ito: wyvern@mtd.biglobe.ne.jp

Spread the word and build hope

Disaster In Japan (1)

2011-03-15T20:46:00.020Z

The Ocean Has A Heartbeat

2011-03-09T18:36:00.002Z

This blog entry, written by Helen Wilson, was first published on 27 September 2007 in the North Coast Journal's Off The Pavement section. An edited version has been reproduced here.

It was April 23, 2006, when I first realized that the ocean has a heartbeat. I was participating in a Godwit Days tour of Trinidad Bay led by Marna Powell, owner of Kayak Zaks, and Michael Morris, a local birder. I had been in a kayak before, but this was my first time on the ocean. As Marna pushed my kayak past the small surf break, I could instantly feel it, the rhythm of the sea. I was captivated by the intense pounding, and with each small swell I could hear it and feel it more, as if it were embracing me, and beckoning me out farther into its waters.

I don’t remember seeing any birds that day, but I do remember hearing the sound of the water as it swished around the rocks, the thump of the kelp as it hit the bottom of the boat and the sound of water dripping off the paddle. I was in love. I had discovered a new world that I needed to explore and become a part of, which is why I was so thrilled to discover Explore North Coast, a local sea kayaking association.

Through Explore North Coast, I have met some wonderful people, many of whom I now paddle with on a weekly basis. These people introduced me to many of our local paddling areas, including Trinidad, which is a gem that we are blessed to live so close to.

One of the greatest things about sea kayaking is that the ocean is constantly changing. A set of rocks during low tide can offer colorful, tide-pooling opportunities. The same set of rocks during high tide might provide passages to move through, and exciting places to explore. The water moving between a set of rocks can be still and flat, or resemble the water in a washing machine. Often these changes occur instantly....

....it was a calm day, and a group of friends had decided to do a sunset paddle off the coast of Trinidad. Being new and naive, I didn’t hesitate to follow three of my friends through a narrow but long slot between a large split rock. As I made my way through I became mesmerized by the huge walls on either side of me, and suddenly I heard a noise. It was the sound of water being sucked away. I quickly realized that the water was dropping out of the slot, and starfish and sea anemones were being exposed that had been underwater seconds before.

Instinct told me that the water that had left would come back in quickly, and it did. With the sound of rushing water I felt myself getting hit from behind, and I realized that I was surfing, directly toward the sloping rock on my left. I felt the front of my kayak hit and, in what seemed like slow motion, I rolled over to my right. I quickly grabbed the loop on my sprayskirt and tore it off, exiting the boat. Following my friend Damon’s instructions, I swam out of the slot, pushing the boat in front of me, and performed what is commonly called a T Rescue, an assisted rescue performed in deep water.

This experience was humbling to me. The three friends that had entered the slot before me had not encountered any rough water, and after my rescue I didn’t see another wave move through in the same manner. It was a reminder that the ocean is not predictable and that its personalities cannot be ignored. I developed a deep respect for the ocean that day, and it was several months before I went anywhere near that slot again.

Sea kayaking is not just about the water, it’s also about the marine mammals that make the ocean their home. Harbor seals, river otters and harbor porpoises are common visitors to Trinidad, and although my friends and I are careful to give them their space, they often follow us, poking their heads out of the water just feet away. Stellers and California Sea Lions are common in the deeper water surrounding Trinidad Head. Looking at these majestic creatures I often feel both fright and wonder as they bark ownership of the rocks. Their presence is so empowering, that I, as a kayaker, often feel blessed that they allow me to paddle where they reside.

Sea kayaking has changed my life. Whether it be for a calm paddle, an exciting experience or just a time to trap out the stresses that life often throws at us, I’ve found solitude in the ocean. I’ve learned to trust that the ocean is unpredictable, and have found comfort in this. I’ve also never stopped hearing its heartbeat, and I hope I never do.

Helen is a sea kayaker out of Arcata, California. She enjoys open ocean paddling in her skin-on-frame qajaq and can be found playing off the Northern California coastline and in the nearby lagoons several times a week. She is never far from water and enjoys being underwater as much as being on the surface.

Helen specializes in traditional paddling skills using traditional equipment. She competed in the Greenland National Kayaking Championship in 2008 (Qaqortoq, Greenland) and 2010 (Nuuk, Greenland), receiving five medals in four disciplines.

Helen’s website, www.greenlandorbust.org, is very active and contains a popular blog that she uses to document her travels and a question and answer section that her students use frequently.

Breath Again

2011-03-02T13:14:00.000Z

Inhale the air,

Smell the salt in the sea,

Hear the thunder of the surf,

Feel the thrill in your stomach,

Ride the big roller,

Look away,

Look back,

Breathe again...

3rd Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium

2011-02-23T22:31:00.419Z

On the eve of the 3rd Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium based in San Francisco Bay, the mood of the Pacific Ocean was decidedly wild. With 35-40 knot winds from the south howling through the Eucalyptus trees and big swell pounding the coastline Sean Morley, who co-organized the event with Matt Palmariello, was predicting some 'interesting' conditions for the weekend ahead.

This was to be my second appearance as a guest coach at a US sea kayak event. My first being the successful Storm Gathering USA held in New York last autumn. I must admit to being somewhat awe struck by the illustrious turn out of American All-Star coaches including the likes of Helen Wilson, Ben Lawry, Rob Avery, Tom Bergh, Tom Pogson, Jeff Laxier, Duane Strosaker, Marcé Wise along with San Juan Islands-based instructors Leon Somme and Shawna Franklin, to mention just a few. Such characters as Eric Soares - longtime member of the infamous Tsunami Rangers and Reg Lake - renowned paddler and boat design innovator also joined us on the water.

For GGSK ‘11 organizers Sean and Matt, however, assembling such a collection of paddling luminaries was only part of the equation for creating an event that focuses on skills development for intermediate and advanced paddlers in rough water conditions, not unlike the philosophy behind the UK Storm Gatherings. The other part of the equation is clearly about what the waters of San Francisco Bay can offer in terms of a healthy mix of big sea, surf beaches and rocky coastline.

Prior to the main event, I had the opportunity to observe and work along side the somewhat legendary Nigel Dennis on a BCU 5* Sea training which was combined with an Open Water Navigation course also. Nigel is clearly a true impresario when it comes ocean kayaking anecdotes and ‘lesson learned’ from the sea, as well being highly respected as a 5* trainer on both sides of the Atlantic. He is quite erudite in expressing what he feels is the right level to be at for achieving the award, which is not about 'balls-and-brawn' in his opinion. Nigel was clear to point out that the 5* is about making the right decisions so as not to get ‘pasted’ in the first place which to him means handling moving water expertly, leading a group overtly, and having a keen sense of awareness about where to draw the line. In the end, the students had their fair share of gnarly conditions including chaotic seas on an ebbing tide beneath the Golden Gate, a couple of near misses in the surf zone, as well as a hail storm plagued night navigation session along with rescue practice and incident management. With such a master paddler as Nigel Dennis on the water, the students gained plenty of useful insights along the way.

As one might expect from a symposium such as this, the weekend was brimming with workshops looking at boat handling in tides, practical navigation, rescues and incident managment as well as more wacky sounding workshops such as 'Debacle Deterence & Chaos Control'. The event was timed to coincide with a large spring tide to ramp up conditions in what is noted to be one of the strongest tidal areas on the Pacific coast. However, what the Bay may lack in terms of boisterous conditions compared our more infamous tideraces and overfalls in the UK, it makes up for other things in spades. As Sean Morley remarked “Who wouldn’t want to paddle under such an iconic structure as the Golden Gate Bridge or ride the tide past Alcatraz?”.

One of the great things about being a guest coach at such events is you get to work with some interesting folk like Duane Strosaker who I co-ran a 'Ride the Tides' workshop with on the Friday. Duane favours Greenland style blades but is as happy with contemporary 'BCU' paddle techniques. In 2010, he crossed to all 23 Southern California offshore oil rigs to raise awareness of them, and survived a great white shark attack in the process! Dan Arbuckle made for great company also as our safety boater as we paddled that day first to Racoon Strait by Angel Island and then to Yellow Bluffs to find some tidal action for the participants to play in. After a good day on the water, everyone rounded off with the P & H sponsored party at the Presido Yacht Club where the South City Blues Band played well into the night.

Saturday had me team up with Duane again and the superb force of nature that is Helen Wilson for 'Fun, Balance, Games & Rolling' in Horseshoe Cove. Helen lives in Arcata, California and has gained renown for her Greenland paddling skills using traditional equipment. Most noteworthy, in what may be perceived as a relatively short paddling career, are her successes from competing in the Greenland National Kayaking Championship in Qaqortoq 2008 and Nuuk 2010, in which she has gained four medals in five disciplines.

However, accolades aside, what impressed me about Helen was her clear, calm manner when teaching and her abundant joy for sea kayaking regardless of craft or blade style. She regards herself as a relative novice when it comes to coaching but Helen's innovative and enthusiastic style strikes an obvious cord with her students. It is so refreshing to come across someone who has a natural capacity to help others learn, without having gone through some formal indoctrination and certification process. Certainly, her approach to teaching and her mastery of the various traditional rolling techniques puts Helen in a unique position to help other improve what they do. This is nowhere more obvious than the superb 'Simplifying the Roll' DVD that Helen has produced and come highly recommended.

Saturday evening was spent relaxing in convivial company at the Marin Headlands Hostel where most of the attendees and coaches where staying. There was a chance to try a hand (and body) at Inuit rope games courtesy of Duane and Helen, before listening to a number of entertaining presentations. The night was brought to a close by Eric Soares, Commander and co-founder of the legendary Tsunami Rangers giving the key-note speaker talk entitled “Tsunami Rangers Retrospective”. A talk that was an intense thrill ride in itself! So when Sunday dawned, it was with great relief it brought about a change in the weather conditions. Having endured rain, hail, wind and almost snow, though there was a covering on Mt Tamalpais, it was nice to see sunshine and feel warmth again. Especially as on this day I was teamed up with the equally bright Marcé Wise along with Reg Lake and Tom Reilly as we set of with a team to ride more tides but this time around Alcatraz and Angel Island. When paddling with Marcé expect some glamour on the water as she brings with her a sunny smile, pink dry-top, purple kayak and matching fingernails. She is handy on a wave too!

Once again, it was a wonderful experience to be a guest coach and a privilege to be part of such a great symposium. Special thanks go to Helen Wilson for providing me with fresh insights into Greenland style paddling as well as our discussions about the inspirational and therapeutic dimensions of sea kayaking. Bob Burnett, professional kayaker and social catalyst, for providing me with an Xcite HC to use and guidance throughout. Ed Hand, Rob Avery, Tom Bergh and Reg Lake for their wisdom and kindness. My sponsors Kokatat for providing me with new Ronin Pro for the season ahead, as well as some solid paddling shoes. And by no means least, all the folk I got to share time with on the water during GGSK '11, some very cool people indeed.

More pictures of GGSK '11 are available here, here, here and here

Social Intelligence and Leadership

2011-02-16T18:40:00.050Z

It has been observed that while some people may have strong intellectual abilities, they seem to struggle to master social skills which enable them to interact successfully with other people. This ability to 'get along' with others has been recognised amongst scholars as a form of competency or even a specific type of intelligence: social intelligence.

Social intelligence can be described as a combination of abilities: the first is a basic understanding of people (ie. a kind of strategic social awareness) and the second is the skills needed for interacting successfully with them. In other words, the ability to get along with other and to encourage them to cooperate with you.

Social intelligence can be thought of as encompassing five dimensions:

Presence – your external image or sense of self that is perceived by others, eg, confidence, self-respect or self-worth

Clarity – your ability to express yourself clearly, explain concepts clearly and using language effectively, while persuading with ideas

Awareness – your ability to understand social contexts that influence behaviour (ie. “read situations”) and to choose the behavioural strategies most likely to be successful.

Authenticity – the way of behaviour which gives a perception of honesty.

Empathy – your ability to create a sense of connection with others and to encourage them to cooperate with you, rather than work against you, as well as an appreciation for the emotions and experiences of others

The likes of Daniel Goleman argue that social intelligence alongside emotional intelligence are leadership competencies which are often overlooked, when considering how skilful a leader might be. So by embracing these dimensions of intelligence, and understanding the effect that leaders have on others, may influence how you approach future leadership interactions and as a consequence create overtly positive experiences for both parties. This is something that can be learned, although it can be hard to do so without appropriate self awareness or the help of others.

If you found reading this interesting, here are a further four suggestions: Are You Born Intelligent or Does It Develop Socially? and What is Emotional Intelligence? and Can Intelligence be Improved? and Learning Disabilities and Intelligence.

Kokatat Supports Sea Kayak Cornwall

2011-02-09T11:53:00.002Z

Kokatat, the 40 year-old independent paddle wear and accessories company, is proud to support the expedition efforts of Kokatat Ambassadors Simon Osborne and Jeff Allen, owners of Sea Kayaking Cornwall, an adventure kayak guiding company. Osborne will depart Feb. 15 for the “Kayaking Korea” expedition, while Allen will depart April 22 for the “Round Ireland” circumnavigation.

Simon and expedition partner Marin Medak will attempt to become the first people to successfully paddle the coast of South Korea. The expedition is expected to take 4-6 weeks and cover over 1200 kilometers. Regional political instability could present challenges to the duo, not to mention average winter temperatures below zero.

“With the cold wintery climate and completely new culture this is set to be one of the greatest challenges to date,” said Osborne.

On April 22, Team Expedition Paddler, comprised of Jeff, Chris Millington and Harry Whelan will commence their record attempt to circumnavigate Ireland by sea kayak. In 1990, Mick O’Meara and team set the current record time of 33 days; Allen and team are aiming to complete their expedition in 28 days.

“Ireland is a special kind of challenge,” said Allen. “Besides the challenge of establishing a new speed record we will also have to journey down Ireland’s remote and exposed west coast, high cliffs, heavy surf and strong winds. It will test the team’s commitment to the full.”

The team has dedicated their expedition to raise money and awareness for the Ovarian Cancer Action Charity. Check out the website for more info: http://www.expeditionpaddler.com/

Kokatat is proud to sponsor both expeditions and will provide select key gear including the GORE-TEX® Expedition Dry Suit to survive the expected cold and variable weather conditions.

About Kokatat Watersports Wear

For the past 40 years, Kokatat has built a reputation as a friendly company of paddling enthusiasts, dedicated to creating innovative paddlewear and accessories. Kokatat is a highly trusted brand known for its independence, high level of quality in addition to an extremely well respected, service-driven business model. Kokatat is an incredibly strong brand and is known for authenticity and launching game changing paddling products.

Please visit www.kokatat.com and follow Kokatat on Twitter “@kokatat” or via the blog

Spiritual Intelligence and Leadership

2011-02-02T18:11:00.008Z

Danah Zohar and Ian Marshall, in their co-authored book Spiritual Intelligence - The Ultimate Intelligence [2001], suggests that empirical evidence is available for the existence of spiritual intelligence and for the existence of a "God spot" in the brain. This not about proving the existence of God but rather of a distinct type of intelligence within the human brain, alongside cognitive intelligence and emotional intelligence.

Danah Zohar sees SQ as the intelligence that unifies experience, seeks meaning and drives us towards transcending and transforming our current reality. In other words, it is SQ that pushes us towards creativity. Therefore, according to Zohar, creativity is fundamentally a part of every human being. Much of her research incorporates reports gleaned from the reflections of acknowledged creators - artists, composers, sculptors, discoverers, scientists - who speak of the moment of creation as being akin to a spiritual experience.

Zohar distinguishes between the three types of intelligence thus:

IQ: cognitive intelligence is generally acknowledged by academia and education. It is essentially serial in nature, being logical and deductive; it is goal-oriented in nature, accurate, precise and reliable.

EQ: emotional intelligence, identified by Daniel Goleman [1996], and recognised as associative in nature. It makes links between emotions, between emotions and bodily feelings and enables us to recognise patterns like faces or smells, as well as to learn skills and to interact with others in social contexts. It is influenced by experience by virtue of being pattern-related. It becomes tacit learning, in that the experience, through practice, becomes part of the person.

SQ: according to Zohar spiritual intelligence is meaning-giving, contextualising and transformative. Understanding is essentially holistic and is linked to this unitive thinking. From here it is possible to rethink, to recontextualise and to create. Zohar sets out a number of dimensions:

1. Self-Awareness: you know who you really are and you know that you are connected to the whole universe.

2. Vision & Values Led: or Idealism. Children naturally want to serve, and so do we. Being vision and values led is definitive of our humanity.

3. The Capacity to Face and Use Adversity: owning our mistakes and adversity to learn

4. To be Holistic: seeing the connections between things. Being open to and interested in everything.

5. Diversity: thriving in and celebrating diversity. I look at you and see what is different in you and I say "Thank you for that!"

6. Field Independence: a term from psychology that means the courage not to bend to external forces but to remain independent.

7. The Tendency to Ask Why?: Questions are infinite. In Quantum Physics questions create reality.

8. The Ability to Re-Frame: putting things into a wider meaning.

9. Spontaneity: this is not about acting on a whim…it comes from the same Latin roots as response and responsibility. It is appropriately "responsive to" the world.

What does this add to our understanding of ourselves, our creativity and others? Just this: spiritual intelligence as the basis for all creativity - however great or small - means that the creative process is neither accidental nor trivial. Thus creativity is fundamental to the nature of human beings. It can be linked to our search for higher meaning. If high-level creativity is situated at the edge between order and chaos then perhaps we need a higher level of intelligence, that of spiritual intelligence, to help us navigate through the process.

Thus, far from being at the margins of our lives, creativity is central to who and what we are - and we need to be aware of this in our work, our play, our relationships and our development of self.

If all of this now seems a little too beyond the pale, it is worth remembering that Maslow's concept of self-actualisation suggests something very similar, though without the scientific framework offered by Zohar and Marshall. Jung's ideas of consciousness resonate with a similar idea to the concept of transformative thinking and transcendence.

The potential importance of this concept for the workplace lies in the emphasis that an organisation might place on values, principles and ethics. At a leadership level, the implications are interesting. If a high IQ does not guarantee a good leader and high EQ has been correlated with success. What then if SQ is added to the melting pot. A practitioner may wish to consider taking a deeper approach to knowing themselves by accounting of their values and a sense of spirituality. However, the application of SQ in a leadership setting has yet to be fully tested and as such should is still very much open to debate and discussion.

The Art of Followership

2011-01-26T02:10:00.005Z

Followership theory is an area that has seen minimal treatment in the academic literature and is an under-appreciated topic amongst leadership practitioners. Although it has received attention in the past (e.g. Chalef, 2003; Kelley, 1992), the study of followership is emerging once more as a critical notion for consideration with the advent of the information age and dramatic changes in organisational settings (Kellerman, 2008).

The idea that leadership is a relationship based on mutual exchange between leaders and followers is not new. Edwin Hollander (1958) suggested that leadership is a two-way influence and social exchange between leaders and followers. Building on these ideas, Robert Greenleaf (1977) went on to encapsulate the leader’s obligation to any followership with the idea that leaders should strive to be ‘servants’. In return, followers ideally provide leaders with a wide variety of positives including focus and self-direction, gratitude and loyalty, commitment and effort, as well as cooperation and sacrifice.

Reflecting this reciprocal approach, Messick (2005) describes leadership as a mutually beneficial predicated exchange in which leaders ideally strive to provide their followers with an equally varied subset of paybacks, including vision and direction, protection and security, achievement and effectiveness, as well as inclusion and belongingness. In similar fashion, Hollander (2008) also promotes a process of active followership, emphasising follower needs and expectations, with the guiding principle of "doing things with people, not to people”. Of course, it is rare that all of these factors are either met or even required by both leaders and followers. Nevertheless, some particular subset of these ‘rewards’ would usually be apparent in any leader-follower relationship, with the exact combination varying according to some combination of both participant characteristics and the environmental/goal context

As long as there have been leaders, there have been followers, and leaders cannot accomplish what they do without followers (Kelley, 1992). Newell (2002) suggested that a growing trend in leadership is to inspire followership, and to this end, coaching and mentoring outdoor practitioners to transform participants into good followers should be considered an essential skill in today’s environment. Outdoor leaders must actively contribute to the forming of good leader-follower relationships (Vince, 2002) if they are to benefit from the leader-member exchange and promote the sharing of group goals personal beliefs and values consistent with the axioms that exist in the outdoors. Finally, Banutu-Gomez’s (2004) contention that leaders must teach their followers to be good followers requires the development of concepts consistent with leader-follower exchanges that place leadership in the hands of the followers.

Spring Rolling

2011-01-19T12:00:00.001Z

Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson of Kayak Ways will be coming to Wales and offering 2 days of coaching on 7th and 8th May 2011. The classes will be on Llyn Padarn, Llanberis and are a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to learn to roll. Click on the above image to enlarge it for more information.

They use ‘skinny sticks’ (Greenland paddles), but you don’t have to use a Greenland paddle to benefit from the teaching. I’ve had a bit of coaching from Cheri & Turner and they are excellent teachers. This is what they do all the time and it shows. They are quick to spot what people are doing wrong and have lots of tips for correcting it. They are also lovely people with plenty of interesting stories about competing in the rolling competition in Greenland, making their own kayaks and paddles, and getting out on the water all over the world.

Places are limited to 8 people per day, so contact Cheri and Turner if you have any questions, or to book your place e-mail them at: info @ kayakways.net

Acknowledgements: text and main image courtesy of Justine Curgenven

2011-01-14T14:35:00.001Z

Falmouth Coastguard received several 999 calls after a red flare was spotted between Falmouth and the Helford River (MCA Press Release)

Falmouth Coastguard sent the volunteer Coastguards from Falmouth Coastguard Rescue team to search the shoreline and the RNLI All-weather Lifeboat and Inshore Boat from Falmouth to search the water. The Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter from RNAS Culdrose was also sent to join in the search.

In heavy seas with poor visibility, and with the support of the Tanker Cape Daly which was anchored in Falmouth Bay, the inshore boat quickly located one kayaker who had capsized and was in the sea. He told the crew of the Inshore Lifeboat that a second kayaker was also missing. He was found minutes later by the helicopter out of his boat and in the water. He was winched by the helicopter and both kayakers were then flown to hospital in Truro with suspected hypothermia.

The Falmouth All-weather Lifeboat was able to recover both kayaks and one of the paddles to avoid any confusion should they be spotted in the sea or washed ashore.

Falmouth Coastguard Watch Manager Peter Bullard said we understand they are experienced kayakers and were well equipped but they're still lucky that in such poor weather their distress flare was seen.

We always advise anyone venturing onto the sea in such challenging conditions to be realistic about their abilities and always advise their nearest Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre of their intentions.

Support the RNLI by becoming a member or making a donation.

Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium

2011-01-12T12:00:00.001Z

The Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium, which is running from the 18th to 20th February 2011, is a skills event that aims to deliver a fun and exciting weekend of sea kayaking in one of the most spectacular and dynamic locations in the world — the Marin Headlands and San Francisco Bay. This event is dedicated to the sheer joy of paddling well and paddling safe. Participants will find a little ACA and BCU in the program, but the goal is to address paddling for the pure fun of it. Some of the best coaches in the world will be in attendance.

Spring tides and powerful Pacific swells will ensure challenging conditions for even the most seasoned paddlers. The area has beautiful surf, rock gardens, tide races, flatwater, challenging navigation and more. Not to mention that all around you are Mt. Tam, the Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Skyline, Berkeley, Alcatraz, Angel Island, the Bay Bridge and more…

Go to the news page for the latest updates for this year’s symposium

Golden Gate Sea Kayaking Symposium from Kim Grandfield on Vimeo.

Incident Report

2011-01-07T14:23:00.004Z

Sixteen kayakers have been rescued from strong tides off Portland Bill, Dorset, after getting into difficulties (MCA Press Release).

The group, from Upper Hamble Canoe Club in Hampshire, made two mayday calls about 1600 GMT, saying they were in trouble.

A rescue helicopter and two lifeboats were sent from Weymouth. All 16 kayakers were rescued onto the boats.

Two were then airlifted to hospital, one very seasick and the other with suspected hypothermia and shock.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the group - two leaders and 14 members - had been well-equipped, and had a mobile phone and radio with them.

However, he was unsure if they were aware of the particular conditions in the Race, where tides on both sides of the promontory meet at the tip of Portland Bill and cause very turbulent water.

The group had become separated into two groups, one group of which had been swept into the Race itself.

"If people get stuck in there it can be very dangerous, especially for smaller vessels and kayakers," the spokesman said.

He described the rescue as "fairly complicated" because of the encroaching darkness. Two rescue helicopters used their floodlights to illuminate the rescue.

Support the RNLI by becoming a member or making a donation.

Kayaking in the Florida Keys

2011-01-05T12:51:00.003Z

There are many kayaking tours that are available for exploring the Florida Keys and whether you are a beginner or experienced, there is a tour for every skill level. There are a number of different venues to accommodate every taste so if paddling on the sea in a tropical paradise is the adventure you’ve been looking for, sea kayaking in the Florida Keys may just be what you’ve been searching for while vacationing in the state. Most of the tours are strategically located to enable a kayaking adventure in the Everglades and the Florida Keys so you are sure to find one that facilitates your adventurous needs.

There are also numerous kayaking tours that are eco-friendly, geared towards families, and nature kayaking tours. You’ll be able to enjoy cruising shorelines that are protected and out of the wind that you would normally have to deal with when cruising the open beach areas. You can enjoy the crystal clear waters while observing some of the Florida wildlife in the process. Most of the tours proceed at a leisurely pace so that you can easily enjoy the scenery and take all the photos that you want. Most of the tours are also limited to the number in the party so that the experience is more enjoyable.

The waters of the Florida Keys have remained virtually unchanged for decades thanks to the efforts of local and national organisations such as national parks, national wildlife refuges, and other state parks. There are a number of mangrove islands set in clear waters that enable you to observe the indigenous marine life and wildlife in their natural habitat. The backcountry waters and oceanside flats add to the experience whenever you are observing the wildlife in this unique environment. Just be aware that there are a number of endangered species that live here.

The wildlife in the Florida Keys is nothing short of diverse. It is exotic, mysterious, and tropical. It is a stopping point for birds journeying further south to their final destination in South America as well as the home to a variety of sea creatures that you will never find in the colder waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There is a deer refuge as well as West Indies marine life such as the West Indian manatee and the West Indies spiny lobster. Birds such as the osprey and roseate spoonbill are common here as well. One way or the other, there is more marine life and wildlife here than what you have ever imagined.

Getting There

If you’ve recently been considering travelling to Florida on holiday or for an extended vacation, you should consider visiting the city of Orlando and touring the Florida Keys. There are a number of cheap flights to Orlando currently available as well as package deals that include your flight and lodging once you arrive there. Aside from Walt Disney World and other notable theme parks in Orlando, many people venture down to the Florida Keys to enjoy a memorable kayaking adventure, very popular water sport that many locals and tourists participate in.

Two Days We Should Not Worry About

2010-12-29T12:13:00.003Z

There are two days in every week, which we should not worry about,

Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with all its mistakes and cares,

Its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday.

We cannot undo a single act we performed;

We cannot erase a single word we said.

Yesterday is gone forever.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow

With all its possible adversities, its burdens,

Its large promise and its poor performance;

Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow’s sun will rise,

Either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise.

Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow,

For it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today.

Any person can fight the battle of just one day.

It is when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities

Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad,

It is the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday

and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

Let us, therefore,

Live but one day at a time.