Welcome to my Sea Kayaking (b)log
The Etain is a conscious departure from previous Valley designs. Valley kayaks were traditionally more “fish-form” i.e. widest point slightly forward of centre. The Etain is more neutral, in fact very slightly Swede form i.e. widest point rear of centre. Swede form kayaks have a different feel, slightly more glide and a perception of speed that is more noticeable because you are now paddling in a narrower part of the boat. The paddling stroke is also less encumbered and there is a general feeling of having less boat between you and the water.
For more info goto : http://www.valleyseakayaks.com/ or on facebook https://www.facebook.com/ValleySeaKayaks
Day two started with us meeting at 10:00 am to decide where to paddle. The tides and wind combination were not once again ideal, with us ending up once again paddling into the wind, but with a little tidal assistance. We carried on from where we left off at Porth Eilian and paddled down...
Having met my paddling buddy at 10:00 am, we consulted with the excellent Welsh Sea Kayaking guide book, checked the weather and the tides, and decided to paddle from Cemlyn Bay to Porth Eilian. This did mean we would be battling into the wind, but at least the tidal flow should help cancel the...
Having spent much of December and the start of the New Year working in Indianapolis, I was desperate for a paddle. In the States everything was frozen solid with record minus temperatures and back in the UK everything was flooded. So with a window in the weather looking promising for the weekend, I posted...
Following a quick chat with Gareth Jones on Facebook, we decided to meet up at Bangor Services for 9:00am. The forecast looked ok, with N/NE winds forecast, so we decided to do Moelfre to Puffin Island. Having met Gareth in the services and watched him devour a full English, we set off to run...
This was definitely a weekend of two halves! The Saturday was a glorious day, but the Sunday was a complete change with gales of force 7-8! Someone suggested to me earlier in the year that I join Liverpool Canoe Club, as unlike my local club in Nottingham HPPCC, they are very active on the...
The day after the Oban Sea Kayak Race, I headed north to Arisaig. Rob and his family were off to Gigha for the week, but as I was short of time and the weather forecast for the next couple of days looked excellent, I decided to drive to Arisaig and paddle out to Eigg,...
During our previous couple of paddles together, Rob and I had been talking about doing this race. And so on the August Bank Holiday weekend we both travelled north to Oban for the forth Oban Sea kayak Race. It is said by some that the Oban Sea Kayak Race is 20km of sheer fun!...
A near perfect day saw Rob and myself paddle around Flamborough Head to the Bempton Arch and back. With only the occassional wisp of wind and little or no swell, this was an epic trip. We set off from South Landing, having parked in the car park (pay and display) and trolley'ed our boats...
Having recently joined Liverpool Canoe Club, I replied to a message from Helen Bolister asking for any paddlers interested in free sea coaching! Helen needed paddlers to practice on as she had her coaching assessment coming up. An 6.00am early start saw me once again at Rhoscolyn for 8:30am, where I met Gareth Jones,...
With the weather forecast looking really good, Rob and I decided to head off to North Wales and more or less decided on route, to paddle the Ormes. We parked up on the front at Rhos on Sea and it wasn't long before we were heading off with a little tidal assistance to Little...
1st April 2013 saw a good days coaching with Roger Chandler of Coastal Spirit. Also it was my first day on the sea in my new "podless" Valley Etain 17-7I met Roger for a coffee and a chat about what I needed help on and then we decided where to go. The weather was a...
A days 1-2-1 coaching with Tony Hammock of Seafreedom kayak. Seafreedom are a mobile sea kayak resource based near Oban, on the West Coast of Scotland. They provide sea kayak instruction, coaching, guided day trips, tours and rental. They can also offer superb "paddler friendly" bed and breakfast accommodation near Oban We paddled from...
I was recently very fortunate to be lent a Valley Gemini SP, by Valley in Nottingham. As you can see from the pictures below it is a lovely looking boat with a blue glitter top and a funky white stripe. The Gemini SP is at the opposite end of the length scale to my...
Now sold!!...
I use to carry my spare paddles on the rear deck. I have now since moved the paddles to the front deck, so as not to get in your way when performing Cowboy self rescues. I also ditched the tubes for commercial paddle holders, such as the ones from Reed Chillcheater or North Water...
I had been thinking for a while I needed a nice graphic for the bow of my boat, but I couldn't really decide exactly what I wanted. I thought about having something like the Turnbull coat of arms, but that idea didn't quite sit right with me. Maybe it was the Viking genes in...
I am often asked how I get my sea kayak on the roof of my Fiat Ducato based campervan. Here is a video I've made on how it is done. First of all I had better mention the I am using the rectangular Thule roof bars (called square by Thule) with the following fitting...
