It was with a feeling of sadness that I read recently that Simon Willis has decided to draw to a close his series of podcasts over on Sea Kayak Podcasts.

I know that a great many people have enjoyed Simon’s series of interviews with some fascinating Sea Kayakers and covering a wide range of topics. For me personally they have had a huge impact on my life.

It was listening to one of Simon’s early podcasts that sparked a conversation with my Wife about the fact I had almost dropped out of paddling completely due to work commitments and geographical location. That conversation continued for a day or so on and off and led to us deciding to relocate to the coast. Three weeks later we had moved our, at that time, new family into a new house and I’d started the Solent Sea Kayaking website.

I dropped Simon an email to thank him for the podcasts and shared this story which prompted a swift reply of thanks and proved to be the start of a ongoing friendship.

Thankfully, Simon intends to keep the library of podcasts archived online for folks to discover and continue to enjoy.

I’d like to take the opportunity to thank Simon for all his hard work putting the podcasts together and knowing Simon, am sure there will be another project in the pipeline soon!

Happy New Years

After a hugely eventful and busy 2011, I’m already looking forward to and making plans for 2012. I’d like to wish all of you a happy, prosperous and enjoyable 2012 whatever your paddling and non-paddling plans are.

All the very best, Duncan.

It seems like ages since I went out Sea Kayaking. In reality it’s only 3 or so weeks but having got used to such frequent paddling over the late Summer and Autumn, a 3 week lay off seems an eternity. A busy period at work and the seemingly constant windy conditions have conspired to keep my paddling gear packed away in my kit bags.

Boats Moored For Winter

After a very short paddle last Sunday I was hungry for more and yesterday delivered firstly with a two session blast up and down the Beaulieu River. The tide was flowing pretty strongly but the shelter from any wind left lovely flat calm conditions for stroke work followed by a nice fast paced paddle. At the end of the session I spent some time just bobbing about watching the wildlife and enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

Duck Taking Off

Back at the launch point I indulged in 15 minutes of messing about with the camera set up on a jetty on a timer to try and grab a new profile picture for social media sites and for the ‘about’ section of this website. Whilst it may seem vain, I struggle with the usual issue of always being the person behind the lens so rarely get access to pictures with me on the water hence an impromptu ‘modelling’ session.

New Profile Picture

It was then time to head back to ‘family duties’ – out to collect then decorate the Christmas tree with the kids and the whole bedtime routine. However, I had half an eye on the Bramble Bank Weather station which proved fortuitous as the wind died down below expected levels. As 8pm rolled around I was back out to Calshot and pulled off a stunning night paddle along the coast, past Lepe and part way towards Lymington before turning around to head back all under a bright full moon. It was about as calm as it gets and such a departure from recent windy nights and despite the cold, provided a fantastically relaxed way to end the day.

Stunning Night Paddle

So the 1st of December is just around the corner and it is time for what has become an annual blogpost on Christmas gift ideas. For those new to the blog, it’s worth taking a look at the 2009 and 2010 Christmas gift blogposts to see other suggestions.

This year the Christmas gift list has grown again with a few more goodies included. Be warned, I’ve also decided to break my ‘affordable’ budget rule for the list with a couple of much more pricey items, however the core of the lists remains in the ‘more affordable’ price range.

1. Sea Kayak With Gordon Brown DVD: Volume 2

The second DVD from duo Gordon Brown and Simon Willis and firmly focused on Rescues but packed with other content – 2 hours worth to be precise. A superb DVD and worth it’s weight in cold for BCU 4* & 5* candidates or those leading groups. £19.95

Available here

2. Sea Kayak Essentials DVD

From Nick Cunliffe and Matt Giblin comes the second ‘Essentials’ DVD focused on Sea Kayaking technique for intermeadiate to advanced paddlers. A nice range of techniques are covered from the Fundamentals to more advanced and featuring some excellent filming and production quality. £19.95

Available here

3. First Aid Kit Dry Bags

Mentioned earlier in the year in this blogpost, these handy little dry bags are in the internationally recognised green colour with white first aid cross symbol on them. This helps distinguish them from other kit in an emergency. Perfect sizes for main first aid kit and for a PFD pocket ‘ouch pouch’. £7.99

Available here

4. Petzl e+LITE Headtorch

A superb, small headtorch with a variety of LED light settings, including white and red. Tiny and compact in it’s own small carry case. A shelf life of 10 years in storage makes it perfect for storing in an emergency kit bag or first aid kit ‘just in case’. £25

Available Here

5. Kari-Tek Coverall

This top is quite simply a potential lifesaver. It’s a simple nylon, over the head cagoule designed to fit over the top of all your paddling kit – including buoyancy aid/helmet etc. The bottom hem is large enough to fit around the cockpit rim, over the top of the spray deck. Really small when packed it stows nicely and makes a dramatic difference to warmth when you put it on. Superb bit of safety kit. £76.50

Available here (Scroll down to mid way through page)

6. Pogies

A couple of years ago I listed neoprene gloves as a gift idea. I’m now adding pogies due to the benefit in combatting wind chill. So small and lightweight, it’s a no-brainer to carry them on Winter paddles. I have a couple of pairs – one set for me and one in my spare clothing kit dry bag. £27

Available here

7. Fat Paddler Book

I’m ashamed to say I’m still only 4/5 of the way through this book (too much night paddling!) and determined to complete it by Christmas. What I have read so far is superb. This is not so much a ‘sea kayaking book’ rather a book about an amazing individual who sea kayaks. I have yet to read anything other than a glowing review. $29 (AUD)

Available here

8. A Course

Ok, this might seem a bit of a wooly idea but after a hectic 12 months preparing for or attending various skills, training or assessment courses in both Sea Kayaking and First Aid I’ve been reflecting on how much my techniques and knowledge have improved. I had money towards these as Birthday presents this year and will be doing the same over Christmas and it makes for a very practical gift idea – ‘teach a man to fish’ and all that! £ various

9. Airbags

I always used to see airbags as something for my WW boat or open canoeing. However carrying them in a sea kayak makes total sense. Inflated in empty compartments in case a hatch cover pops and as part of your emergency kit in case a member of your group holes a boat or loses a hatch. The larger the better! From £15

Available here

10. 5.10 Canyoneer 2 Boots

If these will fit in your cockpit of the Sea Kayak they are simply superb. Very comfortable and awesome for any sort of terrain once you land. Particularly useful in more technical landings which involve clambering around on rocky shorelines. Pricey, but extremely hard wearing. £85

Available here (Third down the page)

11. A Laminator

A superb tool to have access to. I use mine for laminating all sorts of crib cards for coaching or leading, navigation aids, maps, kit lists, group lists and so forth. If possible get a decent make and always go for good quality, thicker laminate sheets. From £25

Available here

12. North Water Turtle Deck Bag

I’m lucky that my own kayak has a deck hatch, however, when paddling boats without one I rely on a lovely North Water Turtle Deck bag. Small and compact but big enough for the essentials you need to hand. £40

Available here (2/3 of way down page)

13. Sea Kayak Navigation Book

Sea Kayak Navigation by Franco Ferrero (published by Pesda Press) is a superb manual for navigation for Sea Kayakers. Small and compact is is easy to carry around and features superb diagrams and graphics. A must have book and very affordable. £9.99

Available here

14. Peak Semi Shortie Cag

I had one too many paddles this year where a thermal T-shirt was too cool but a long sleeve cag was too hot to wear so have invested in a short sleeved cag. (NB: Full disclosure – as a Peak Professional Partner, I am able to purchase Peak UK kit at a reduced rate). £75

Available here

15. Silva Expedition 4 Compass

I’ve had one of these since the early 1990′s. My original one packed in after 21 years of loyal service having seen me through my Mountain Leaders Award and Orienteering Instructors Award. I replaced it with the same model. A superb piece of kit and worth every penny for deck and land based navigation. £22.50

Available here

16. Valley Etain 17.5 Sea Kayak

I’m very lucky through my work with Ocean Paddler Magazine to get to paddle a large range of boats. The new Valley Etain, in particular the Valley Etain 17.5, was without a doubt one of the nicest boats I have paddled. If I was buying a boat tomorrow this would be the one. Large enough for extended trips but remaining highly agile on the water I simply fell in love with it! For larger paddlers/big expeditions the 17.7 is worth a look and the 17.7 Plastic version is also superb.£2245

Available here

Conclusion

Hopefully this years list will provide some inspiration for folks shopping for christmas gifts for the Sea kayaker in their lives. As ever, if there is something you feel should be on the list please add a comment to this post and share your thoughts. Alternatively, simply print out the article, highlght the item/s you want and leave copies strategically position around the house as a not-so-subtle hint!

I’ve just spent the last 4 days based in North Wales on the REC First Aid Instructor Training course. Our base for the duration was Llandegla Forest and the awesome One Planet Adventure Mountain Bike Centre. The course was delivered by Leo Hoare and Nicole Henrikson of Getafix Ltd and was quite simply superb.

Shooting off from work on Wednesday, my car decided to get it’s revenge for being forced to lug Sea Kayaks and wet smelly paddling kit around 24/7 and promptly broke down delaying my start by a good 3 hours. However by 9:30pm I was on the road and arrived on the outskirts of Wrexham at 2:30am. After a much needed kip in a lay-by on the A5 I arrived at the Centre for a much needed coffee and ready to hit the ground running.

Classroom - Our Base For The Week

What followed was four days of intensive training in all aspects of delivering REC First Aid Courses. We looked at first aid techniques and knowledge, teaching and coaching styles, presentation techniques, scenario setting and assessment. Each evening we were presented with homework, usually in the form of lesson planning for sessions to be delivered, observed and then critiqued the next day.

Despite long days I never once found myself willing a day to end, rather I found myself willing the days to be longer as the process was so engaging. I think all candidates found the course similarly inspiring and the difference in lessons delivered from Day 1 to day 4 was marked as we became tuned into the REC ethos and style of delivery.

Outdoor Scenarios

Acting As A Casualty

Home for the duration was the back of my estate car – back seats removed and a large inflatable mattress provided a comfortable bed whilst a power inverter allowed me to power my laptop from the cigarette lighter socket and churn out lesson plans. I parked up by Leo’s home so the view from the back of the car was directly onto the River Dee, upstream from Llangollen. Food and drink primarily came from the awesome cafe at One Planet Adventure with my MSR stove keeping me in mugs of tea and supper each night.

Having completed this course I am now in a ‘logbook’ period observing and assisting on courses before booking an assessment which will involve running a complete course under the watchful gaze of an assessor.

Huge thanks go to Nicole and Leo from Getafix for their excellent delivery of the course. Their obvious enthusiasm for what they do was infectious and they managed to foster a supportive atmosphere, providing huge amounts of salient feedback and advice throughout the four days. Huge thanks also to Dave, Ian and Archie – the other candidates for making a very intense and tiring process so much fun.

Useful Links

Getafix Coaching – Getafix First Aid Course & Paddlesports Coaching website

One Planet Adventure – Mountain Bike Centre Llandegla

The balance exercises are great for increasing confidence and stability in the boat and as a useful aid to moving onto self rescue techniques with beginners. Done with a group they are superb fun and always good for a laugh and some interesting photos. Underlying this, however, they provide a nice route into getting students comfortable with the concept of climbing around on the boat and develop key balance skills which are important when using a straddle self rescue.

The video only shows a couple of balance exercises before showing a couple of self rescues, however there a numerous different balance exercises that you could try. Ideally, build some form of progression of difficulty into the different tasks you set yourself or others as well as move from calm water to rougher conditions. A few possibilities could be:

1. Sit On Back Deck – feet in boat
2. Sit on back deck – feet in water (keep legs stretched out like ‘outriggers’)
3. Do a seated 360 spin on back deck (in video)
4. Lie on front of boat and ‘kiss’ the bow
5. Stand up on seat and back to seated position (on video)
6. Standing 360 on seat
7. Lie across back deck and roll away from cockpit and return

As you can see from the couple of efforts in my footage I’m still quite tentative with some of the exercises and need more work to become smooth with the drills. If you want to see a master at work it is worth checking out the Balance Exercises section of the new Gordon Brown DVD – Sea Kayak With Gordon Brown Vol 2 to see a master at work. Gordon has phenomenal balance, particularly in rough water!

So for next few days the Solent descends into organised chaos as Cowes Week gets under way. The Solent can be extremely busy on a normal weekend. Add to the mix all the races and associated spectators and things get a tad messy.

The Yacht in this video from yesterday, appears to have cut things fine trying to cross in front of a Super Tanker which is constrained by draft AND moving at a faster pace than he is. Tracking the incident it seems the story has made it onto the BBC News website which indicates that two of the crew were thrown from the yacht and required rescuing by Rhib Vigilant and the Hamble Rescue Team before being given medical attention.

Thankfully both men appear to be none the worse for the ordeal which could have been very nasty indeed. Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week (the organisers of Cowes Week) are launching an official inquiry in due course.

The MCA website report states:

At just after twenty past three this afternoon Solent Coastguard were informed by Hamble Rescue that the yacht Atlanta of Chester had collided with the tanker Hanne Knutsen off Egypt Point, Isle of Wight.

Two people were thrown overboard by the collison and the yacht lost its mast and rigging. The RHIB Vigilant took one of the people back to shore for medical attention whilst the Southampton Patrol Boat and Hamble Rescue took the second person to a waiting ambulance at Trinity Pontoon.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the MCA Duty Surveyor have been informed. The tanker continued to its destination at Fawley and the yacht has been towed to the UKSA berths at Cowes.

For Sea Kayakers heading to the Solent Area during Cowes Week, the increased volume of traffic makes crossings to the Isle of Wight from some of the more common locations a much more tricky undertaking and extra research and planning are advised.

One of the fun aspects of reviewing sea kayaking kit for Ocean Paddler Magazine is the chance to try some interesting, exciting and at times unusual equipment. One of the boats I’m just about to start paddling for a forthcoming review is the Zegul Baidarka.

This is certainly going to be an interesting boat to try out and unlike anything I’ve paddled to date. I’m in the process of doing background research on the Zegul Baidarka and came across the following video shot by Mark Sundin from Australian company Expedition Kayaks.

Over the past few weeks I’ve had the pleasure of paddling during some stunning sunsets. Last night was no exception. I had headed down to Calshot to run through my training programme and decided to two review boats, the Valley Etain 17-5 and Valley Etain RM in order to switch boats half way through the session and provide some comparative feedback for the forthcoming review.

I’d got out earlier than expected so as I was finishing up the session, the sun was starting to set and provided a beautiful golden display over Southampton Water. I couldn’t resist staying on for an hour or so taking photos. Seem’s I wasn’t the only person with that idea and a number of other folk had stopped by to enjoy the view, including paddling friend Jackie Ward from New Forest Kayak and Canoe Club.

Despite the industrial back drop of Fawley Refinery and Oil Terminal the view was just magical.

Golden Days

Today was a perfect example of a Golden Day. I spent most of it at Calshot Spit with my family playing on the beach and watching the huge array of different water craft making the most of the glorious Bank Holiday weather.

In particular my daughter (age 5) expressed here first real interest in having a go in Daddy’s kayak leading to an impromtu lesson. Whilst the sea kayak and paddle were hugely oversized for her, we spent a fabulous 40 minutes or so with her paddling up and down the shore front whilst I waded along next to her. I kept the boat and my daughter between me and the shoreline and used a line clipped to the rear of the boat to help keep it running straight without her feeling that Daddy was holding the boat and doing the steering.

By the end of the session she had got to grips with the the basic idea of forward and backward paddling and turning the kayak using repeated strokes on one side of the kayak. She also picked up some of the ‘technical jargon’ and proudly told her mum all about the blade and shaft of the paddle as well as the bow and stern of the kayak. Although her strokes were obviously very timid and lacking in any sort of good technique seeing her sense of pride and enjoyment at being able to make the kayak go forward and backwards as well as the giggling that followed the kayak bouncing in very small swell from passing boats was a wonderful thing to share.

I also managed to squeeze in 45 minutes or so of rolling and self rescue practice much to the amusement of my children who found the sight of Daddy throwing himself out of his kayak and clambering back in hysterical. I spent quite a bit of time really thinking through the most effective method for my straddle re-entry, breaking the technique down into steps and seeing the effect of subtle change (hand holding a different section of the cockpit coaming, section of the stern to climb onto etc) until I had it down to a repeatably swift stepped process. I’ll outline this in detail in a future post.

In the evening, I shot back down to Calshot to head out for a sunset paddle. I headed out to the furthest channel marker by Calshot to wave to family I knew were on the 7:30 Red Funnel Ferry after a day on the Island before turning back face Calshot and try to capture a few shots of the Sunset. After a hard paced paddle down to Stansmore Point and back I finished up with some stroke practice just off my launch point.

All in all, a truly Golden Day in every sense!