Whilst 1:25 and 1:50 Ordnance Survey maps are superb for Sea Kayak route planning and navigation, Nautical charts offer another ‘view’ of the coastal landscape. ‘Understanding A Nautical Chart‘ by Paul Boissier is a new release from Wiley Nautical aimed squarely at helping people read and understand the huge array of data contained in a nautical chart.

I should be clear that this book does not teach the reader how to navigate. Instead it looks in great detail at what a nautical chart is, how they are created and then how to read and interpret the data within them.

Initial chapters set the scene of nautical charts: what they are, how they are created, basic history and types of projections. This is followed by a series of chapters, each dedicated chapters to different aspects of the information provided in a nautical chart.

The book makes use of a huge number of colour diagrams and sections of charts to illustrate the subject matter. The last section of the book contains a detailed, illustrated key to all the Admiralty Chart symbols and abbreviations as a quick reference.

Understanding A Nautical Chart is authored by Paul Bossier, an ex-senior Admiral in the Navy and now Chief Executive of the RNLI. It is obvious from the book that he really knows his stuff but what I also liked is the accessible style of his writing. The subject matter, may to some, seem quite dry but I found the book very engaging to read.

It would be all too obvious to state this book is for newcomers to Nautical Charts. However, the audience for this book is far greater. The book has more than enough detail to provide new information chart users of any experience and would provide a superb reference guide. At an A4, paperback size, it’s unlikely to be something you would carry on a trip rather, it would make a nice tool to utilise during the pre-trip planning. At £16-99 it’s not a cheap book (although Amazon currently have it on offer at £11-99) but certainly worth the investment if you are interested in expanding your understanding of Nautical Charts.

Final thoughts would be that, for those paddlers considering attending either of the BCU Navigation Courses, this would be a useful text to develop your knowledge of charts. It’s also worth considering knowing that 50p donation from every sale goes directly to the RNLI.

Useful Links
Understanding a Nautical Chart
– Amazon Bookstore Page
Wiley Nautical – Wiley Nautical Website
RNLI – RNLI Website

Paul Caffyn Book Cover

His book of the trip, ‘Dreamtime Voyage’ has just been republished, having been out of print for a significant period of time. Those interested should contact Paul directly at kayakpc@xtra.co.nz for ordering information.

There are many books out there that cover all aspects of Sea Kayaking within one publication. Sea Kayak Handling is different. It foucses purely on developing kayak handling skills through detailed, yet concise coverage of strokes and associated techniques.

Written by Doug Cooper – a BCU Level 5 Sea Coach, and Head of Paddlesports at Glenmore Lodge, Sea Kayak Handling looks in detail at each of the strokes or combinations of strokes we use to propel, turn and control our Sea Kayaks.

Clear Photographs

The book follows a logical route through the strokes using clear photographs of each stage of the stroke along with step by step instructions on how to perform the stroke correctly. The photographs are numbered and referenced within the written instructions so you know which image to refer.

Instructions are concise and easy to understand yet provide more than enough detail. In my first glance through the book I picked up to things I have been doing wrong for a number of years and was able to apply Doug’s advice on my next paddle to good effect.

For example, cross bow rudder is a stroke I have played with a lot but never felt really comfortable with. It transpires I have been angling the paddle too low down rather than keeping it as vertical as possible.

Similarly, I fall into the category of paddlers who deploy the skeg with no real understanding of when or how much skeg to deploy. One page of Sea Kayak handling is devoted to a superb diagram which has demystified skeg use for me.

Sweep Edged Turn

Pesda Press have also provided a set of videos which can be viewed online at their website. The videos are clear and very good quality and are a huge help in visualising what you are trying to achieve. These are available whether or not you buy the book, however the combination of Doug’s expert writing and the videos is the a real winner.

Although the book is focused primarily on stroke technique, each section has information on ‘equipment considerations’ and ‘environment considerations’ where the affect of differing equipment and weather/sea conditions on stroke execution is examined.

The book is also smattered with ‘top tips’ which build on the basic stroke technique described by looking at ‘extension’ activities/drills or alternative ways developing your technique.

Handy Small Form Factor

The relatively small form factor of the book is very welcome ensuring it could be carried wherever and whenever you feel you may want to refer to it. I’ll admit to being ‘geeky’ enough to have carried it on a paddle and when I stopped for coffee dipped into it to check on a couple of techniques I had been practising while out on the water.

Overall, I think Doug’s book is potentially worth it’s weight in gold for paddlers who are looking to develop their handling skills. I class myself as an enthusiastic intermediate paddler and have learnt a lot over the last week, picking up ideas and techniques which I am already trying to integrate into my paddling.

Sea kayak Handling will not provide a beginner or other paddler with an all round introduction into Sea kayaking. For this I would always refer beginners to something like Paddle Your Own Kayak or intermediate paddlers and above the Sea kayak: A manual.

What Sea Kayak handling will provide is a fantastic, user friendly manual to developing your own paddling skills and when combined with the online videos provide a resource I believe you will come back to time and time again.

Sea kayak handling is published by Pesda Press and is available direct from their website for £9.99 (my copy arrived within 36 hours of being ordered) or from your local Paddling Store.

Sea Kayak Handling, a new title from Pesda Press, is due to be published on 28th March. Written by Doug Cooper, Head of Paddlesport at Glenmore Lodge, the book is a practical guide aimed at beginners and intermediate paddlers.

Pesda Press have a knack or publishing superb books, be it technique or guide based, from fantastic authors. If this book has the same quality of layout, design and content as the other Pesda titles I own it will be a ‘must have’.

Doug Cooper is known to many paddlers via his work at Glenmore Lodge or from his involvement with P&H Sea Kayaks and Peak Uk. He recently appear in the series of online videos released by P&H and a recent article he wrote can be found in the January copy of Ocean Paddler Magazine.

From the publisher:

Sea Kayak Handling

A practical guide that will help the reader to master the skills needed to manoeuvre a sea kayak efficiently. For beginner and intermediate paddlers. Doug draws on his personal and coaching experience to help the reader master sea kayak handling skills and techniques. Accurate sequential photos and simple concise language make the descriptions easy to follow and understand.

The foundation skills of posture, connectivity (how your body is connected to the kayak), power transfer and learning to ‘feel’ how the boat responds, are explored initially. The author then goes on to tackle forward paddling, keeping the kayak on course, reverse paddling, edging, turning on the spot, forward turns on the move, reverse turns on the move, stern rudders, moving sideways, support strokes, and the use of skegs and rudders.

Sea Kayak Handling is recommended as support material for the British Canoe Union 3 and 4 Star (Sea) awards. (The 1 star is a novice ‘encouragement’ award, the 2 star covers basic generic kayak skills, the 3 star basic/intermediate sea specific skills and experience, and the 4 star covers intermediate sea specific skills and leadership in moderate conditions).

Paddle Your Own Kayak by Gary and Joanie McGuffin, published by Boston Mills Press, is subtitled ‘an illustrated guide to the art of kayaking’. This subtitle really highlights one of the major selling points of this book, and the reason I impulsively purchased it, the superb and inspiring photography.

Paddle Your Own Kayak contains 207 pages and beautiful colour photographs and diagrams adorne every page. This coupled with well written and insightful content make this ‘coffee table’ style book a prized possession.

Joanie McGuffin

Paddle Your Own Kayak makes no reference to Sea Kayaking specifically in either its name or introduction. In fact certain sections cover basic white water technique however every boat shown within the book is a sea kayak of some description. It is in fact an guide/introduction to kayak paddling from a touring/sea kayaking perspective.

It takes readers from absolute basics to more advanced techniques as well as covering theory and practical advice for navigation, equipment and camping/touring. One of the final chapters even shows Joanie McGuffin building a sea kayak using the stitch and glue, plywood method – the finished boat is superb.

Clear Diagrams

In terms of the technique sections, I have yet to find such a well illustrated book. Most strokes are covered via a step by step write up illustrated with clear photographs of each stage of the stroke.In places annotations or arrows show key information such as force of water, path or boat and force of paddle.

For the more visual learner this proves very useful and the large size of the book lends itself perfectly to this style layout.

Rescue Technique

For Uk based paddlers, some of the terminology may seem alien as it stems from the American/Canadian system (ACA – American Canoe Association) however this is never a barrier or issue to understanding the technique described. For example what we know as Breaking In and Breaking Out of the current is referred to as Peeling and reference is made to J Leans and U-turns which was new terminology for me.

Boat Building Course

I was pleased to see a modern approach to the equipment section of the book. Gear described and photographed is up to date and relevant. Useful lists of first aid/emergency and repair kits provide are useful and well illustrated. An interesting point is to see the selection of manufacturers and items chosen, some of which are less well known on this side of the pond. The selection of types of kayaks available covers everything from expedition sea kayaks through day touring boats and sit on tops.

I would never be without Franco Ferrero’s Sea Kayak Navigation book, however, Paddle Your Own Kayak contains a well written and again well illustrated section on navigation technique and a chapter on Weather, Winds and Tides.

Stunning Photography

Whilst the technique sections of the book are comprehensive and well executed, they provide only part of the appeal of this book. As a parent and someone looking to share my love of sea kayaking and the outdoors in general with my relatively new family in years to come, the plethora of inspirational photography cannot fail to delight. In particular, the books contains many images of the McGuffin family making the most of the their ‘natural playground’ for trips and expeditions with their daughter. Their obvious love of paddling and the benefits of seeing the great outdoors from the cockpit of a sea kayak is infectious.

Inspirational Images

For beginners, Paddle Your Own kayak offers an excellent introduction to Sea Kayaking. For more seasoned paddlers it provides a good starting resource for examining and developing your technique. Instructors could find the excellent images a powerful teaching aid for bank based instruction. However, I firmly believe all paddlers will find the superb photography a source of great inspiration and would heartily recommend this book.

Paddle Your Own Kayak: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Kayaking can be purchased from Amazon or from Borders bookstore in the UK.

From the Publishers:

Paddle Your Own Canoe set a new standard for how-to-canoe books. In this much-anticipated follow-up, Gary and Joanie McGuffin use the same model for the art of kayaking. The authors discuss the kayak’s Inuit history, types of kayaking, recommended kayak sizes and shapes, and proper gear and clothing. They also offer expert, step-by-step instructions on all of the sport’s essential techniques.
Illustrated with more than 600 color photographs and illustrations, Paddle Your Own Kayak is designed for both seasoned and novice kayaker, offering guidance on:

1. Balancing the body
2. Strokes and maneuvers
3. Paddling fundamentals
4. Recoveries and rescues
5. Carrying and launching
6. Weather and water conditions techniques
7. Staying centered
8. Navigation methods.

A special section on kayak camping provides good advice on what to look for in a destination, how to select a site, packing your kayak, setting up tents and shelters, meal preparation, water filtration, first aid and much more.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Boston Mills Press (May 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550464647
• ISBN-13: 978-1550464641
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.7 inches