Paddle 2010

Paddle 2010 – Scotland’s Annual Canoe & Kayak Show will take place on Saturday October 23rd & Sunday October 24th 2010 at Bell’s Sport Centre, Perth.

continuing from previous years, this year the show will have:

  • the largest collection of canoe and kayak stands in a UK show
  • workshop sessions
  • guest speakers
  • exhibitors and manufacturers
  • annual touring photo competition
  • saturday evening ceilidh

The show will take place in conjuction with a new event – The Tay Descent on Sat 23rd Oct.  This event has a tour and races covering 3 different courses.  Race classes will cover different ages, abilities and types of boat.

More information can on Paddle 2010 and the Tay Descent can be found on the Scottish Canoe Association website http://www.canoescotland.org/events/ScotlandsCanoeShow.aspx.

Come and Try Day

Where:         Luss Beach

When:          Sunday 17th October 10am to 4 pm

Bring:          Change of Clothing, Trainers (to get wet), Waterproof, Towel, Packed Lunch

Activities:     Try different boats,

Ask about (and see) equipment for Trips

Expert Advice on what and where to buy

Go on a trip on the loch

Cost:           The day is free

Register:      At the “Helensburgh 2010” Show

At the Pool, 8pm Tuesday

By email riddington89@hotmail.com

Best Photos 2009

Loch Goil
River Teith
Heading for Canna
Caves, West Rum
Eigg
Muck
Sea Cave, Turkey

River Ba and Sea Kayak (Rannoch Moor)

Eigg and Rum

Departing from Largs for Cumbraes
Training Camp; Rob Roy Field Loch Lomond
Ben Starav (Loch Etive)
Looking North to Glencoe (Etive Trip)
Lunch Break on Rum
The Cuillins from Rum
Midnight on Canna
Meeting with solo kayaker, West Rum

Sea Kayak Trip/Training Sept 14th

With winds forecast at between force 6 and force 8, the trip evolved into a rough water training session in a relatively safe environment. The chosen location was  a Goldilocks affair. Original choices; Largs, Fairlie and Seamill were thought to be too calm. Replacement choice, Irvine was just too wild. Eventually we settled on the excellent Ardrossan South beach which looked just right. In fact the very high winds generated very frequent and very steep waves that did not look too large but made the kayaking very difficult.

Main finding; it is virtually impossible to do any rescues in surf. Rafting is potentially lethal, re-entry virtually impossible and pumping out without a spray deck completely on, pointless. However the experience was both useful and extremely good fun. We will be back when the surf is up.

Sue, Seylan, Hugh and Alan (Photos: Geoff)
Sue, Seylan, Hugh and Alan (Photos: Geoff)

Hugh and Sue make their way out through the surf

Alan in a quiet spot
Spot Seylan and try rafting!
Seylan
It's behind you!

Sue investigates the underwater view

Success for Sue and Ruth in Race around Kerrera

The round Kerrera Race from Oban took place last weekend (4th Sept) and I am delighted to report the success of Sue Smith and Ruth Clark. Sue became the veteran ladies champion and took 2nd place in the Open Ladies category  in a remarkable time of 2hrs 40mins for the 20km paddle (took me all day). Ruth was close behind and took third place in 2hrs 46mins. Many congratulations

Trips & Events, September & October 2010

September Trips

Wednesday 15th: An early start (7.30) for a prompt return (by 7.00). Destination TBC dependent upon weather but likely to be Kerrera or Lismore in Firth of Lorne.

Weekend 1st-5th October. Again destination tbc but possibly dolphin watching in Moray Firth

T.B.C. We are anxious to run a river trip during September on either the Teith or Tay

Other Events

Wed 6th to Sat 9th October:  Helensburgh 2010. We have a stand at the ten yearly “Clubs and Societies Show”. Offers to man stand gratefully accepted but in any case come along with friends and relatives to see what we have done and are planning to do.

Weekend 23rd/24th October: Paddle 2010. The Scottish Canoe Show in Perth which, this year, includes a Tay descent. See SCA pages (http://www.canoescotland.org/events/ScotlandsCanoeShow.aspx) for more details. Lots of gear, talks and demos. A must do for anyone remotely serious about the sport.

Sunday 24th October: Come and Try Day. A follow up from Helensburgh 2010 for newcomers to come and try different canoes and kayaks

Training Autumn 2010

We are offering 3 courses in September and October

1. Basic Skills. This is intended for members with little or no experience and consists of 7 pool sessions starting Sept 14th and 3 open water sessions on 18th Sept, 10th October and 23rd October with a 2 BCU Star/ Paddlepower assessment for those who want provisionally on the 30th October. There are up to 8 places. Minimum age 12. Cost is £20 plus assessment costs. Register before 14th September by email or at the pool on the 7th (tonight). Pay on the 14th.  Membership forms available at pool.

2. Advanced Sea Skills. This is intended for experienced sea kayakers developing safety and rescue techniques (including rolling). Please contact Hugh

3. Open Canoe Skills. This is intended for adult members who want to develop skills in open boats. Particularly relevant to those who do or would like to coach youngsters. 4 sessions starting this Saturday 11th and on the 25th September and 9th October. Register at the pool.

In November we expect to start 2 further courses

1. Sea Kayak Expedition Training. Intended for those who want to take part in and organise expeditions. Covers basic safety and rescue skills (including self rescue and rolling), equipment (emergency, camping and clothing) and navigation (understanding tides and charts, planning)

2. Rescue and Rolling. A follow up for those who have acquired the Basic Skills.

Pool Sessions

A pool session is available at the Helensburgh Pool on a Tuesday from 8.15 to 9pm. Meet outside by 8pm.

You will need to be a member and the cost is £3 per session. You may bring your own boat provided it is spotlessly clean.

Loch Awe, Weekend 27th-29th August 2010

The trip was the bad weather alternative and a strong westerly wind force 3-5  was the dominant feature of the trip. Loch Awe is the longest loch in Scotland (longer than both Loch Ness and Loch Lomond) but had few outstanding features. Previous trips had explored the north so the group headed south west into the wind. The Friday evening paddle covered 6km to an excellent site at Inverinan.

Around the Camp Fire
The fire without the flash
The Site

Cold, wet and windy, the highlight of the following day was the remarkable Innis Chonnel castle. In many ways much better than its partner to the north (Kilchurn) but much less well known because of its island location.

At the entrance to the castle
Mick beneath the main tower of the castle

Lunch on Liever Island followed by a river trip down to Ford then a long paddle back up the loch to a glade site at Barr Point a toal of 36.8 km (21miles) in less than ideal conditions. An excellent fire before heavy rain drove us to bed.

Campsite at Barr Point

Sunday proved to be bright and breezy. An attractive paddle up the loch with short breaks for elevenses and lunch and back to Portsonnachan for 3pm. A pleasant if rather unexciting trip in excellent company.

Heading north with Cruachan in the distance
The group: Stewart, Geoff, Ken, Ruth, Mick, Hugh and David