Intermediate Sea Kayaking

If you have mastered the basics and you are ready to take your sea kayak into more adventurous locations then this course will provide that vital step-up in knowledge and skill that will allow you to safely progress your sea kayak paddling competencies and range of activities.

Course Content

The content of the course will suit you if you have around 5-10 sea kayaking trips under your belt, with some experience of being in force 4 winds and moderate sea states.

• We will improve your fundamental techniques and tactics to increase your ability to deal with more challenging winds, swells and tidal flows.
• We will increase your confidence in planning more exciting trips by developing your tidal planning understanding and skills.
• We will give you simple solutions to the small problems that can arise on trips and make sure you are ready to deal with any more problematic incidents.

Course options:

2 day adventure using the Cumbrian Coastline

The Cumbrian coastline has a variety of brilliant sea kayaking venues. The venues we could use could range from Walney Island on the south coast, to Whitehaven on the north west coast. It is going to be weather dependent as to which venues are used which days, but some examples of days we might do include:

• Crossing the flows in the Walney channel to explore Piel Island and continuing around the remote south west point of the island, learning skills in the tidal race often forming on the ebb off the point.
• Utilising the tidal flows to venture round the remote north end of the island, a special remote area  with sandy beaches and dunes, but also a spot we are likely to find fun sea conditions or perhaps some surf to play with.
• A journey from St.Bees to Whitehaven, passing underneath steep sandstone cliffs up to 100m high. Some great rock hopping potential can be had in and amongst the rocks here and there are always great sea conditions to play in off St. Bees Head. Perhaps a brilliant downwind paddle with the prevailing south westerlies.
• An adventure utilising the tide up or down the leven estuary, playing in the exciting tidal flows and waves forming by the leven viaduct.

5 day adventure on Anglesey

Over the 5 days, there will be a mixture of on land navigation and planning work that we will put into practice on the water. There will be a constant focus on skills development as well as some practical incident management and rescue sessions.
The weather and tides will affect our choices of where we paddle each day, but we will hopefully paddle some of the many exciting and inspiring coastal trips in Anglesey. Some examples of trips we might cover are:

• Crossing to and circumnavigating the beautiful puffin island, perhaps enjoying playing in the tidal race in between
• A journey round the remote dunes and headlands of the south west corner of Anglesey, with the possibility of finding some enjoyable surf to play in.
• A trip from Porth Dafrach to Rhoscolyn, passing the many cliffs and caves with a chance to play in the lumpy and fun tidal waters around Rhoscolyn Beacon.
• With good weather we could perhaps paddle the classic stacks trip, with towering limestone cliffs, caves and the notorious tidal races. A world class trip and undoubtedly on every sea kayakers list.
• The north coast of Anglesey gives some brilliant options of dipping in and out of the lumpy waters and tide races, with the multiple bays and headlands. There are many mixes of journeys or ‘park and play’ options, or longer more exciting trips such as around the waters of Carmel Head.
• A rollercoaster trip through the fast flowing waters of the Menai Strait.