Rough Water Handling - Sea Kayaking: 2 Days - £160

Courtesy of Sea Kayak Guides Based on the North Devon Coast, you will benefit from lots of kayaking instruction but also enjoy some of the finest sea kayaking in the South West as we explore the wonderful coastline in this area. The first day we will look at equipment and then get on the water. The group will have a high instructor to client ratio so you will receive personal kayak coaching throughout the course from our highly qualified and experienced sea kayak guides. North Devon is a wonderful destination for sea kayaking, and this course is the perfect introduction to some of its more exciting waters.

The Right Course?

This course is for any sea paddler who is confident in calm conditions but would like to gain the confidence and skills needed to start enjoying rougher conditions including waves, surf, tide races and overfalls. You should be reasonably fit and have a sense of adventure ! You will be required to fill in a medical questionnaire when booking your course.

Course Outline

We will choose from numerous beautiful moving water locations. Each will be selected to allow a gradual introduction to the conditions, progressing in the level of challenge as your skills develop, but always ensuring confidence building and safety. The first day will be spent revising sea kayak specific skills such as those listed below in calm water before adapting these to the moving water environment.

Launching & landing – including surf and rock landings where appropriate
Turning a sea kayak in difficult conditions
Efficient forwards paddling in wind and waves
Coping with a beam sea and a following sea
Towing in moving water
Reading the water
Safety and rescue
Incident management
Basic navigation, planning & tides
The Coastguard service

You will not be "made to capsize" but if it happens anyway (it usually does on this course), you will already know what to do and we will be there to make sure that you come to no harm. The second day will be a chance to practice your new sea kayaking skills as we journey along the North Devon Coast, timing our trip to allow play in surf and tide races as these arise. With its rugged cliffs, golden sandy beaches and quaint harbours, North Devon has to be one of the most picturesque coastlines in the UK. By far the best way to see this stunning scenery is by sea kayak, no engine noise, no pollution and the satisfaction of providing your own power.

Timings

For these trips, we usually start about 9.30am and finish about 4:30pm depending on tides, weather and how keen you are ! We start the day by checking tide and weather conditions. A coastal journey will be planned to provide a memorable and exciting day on the North Devon Coast. An average of 4 to 5 hours on the water each day ensures that a quality paddle is achieved, with plenty of time for instruction and practice your new found skills or just enjoy the chance to explore this lovely part of the South West. Sea Kayaking South West will supply modern sea kayaks and safety equipment.

What To Bring

We encourage intermediate paddlers to bring their own kit where possible, but we have everything you should need for the course. We would recommend the following:

Wetsuit (or dry suit) is essential in all but the warmest weather
PFD – Buoyancy aid
Helmet
Sea Specific Towline
Knife
Other clothes to paddle in – normally thermals and paddling top. Please check the weather before your trip with us and dress accordingly
A change of clothes - to put on after your days paddling
A pair of old trainers / sandals / wetsuit boots etc – to paddle in
Sunscreen & sun hat
Packed lunch and a drink / some money for ice cream, coffee etc