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Jon W · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 129

OK - the nagging has worked and I'm finally proposing a weekend of messing about on the sea/sea kayaking.
At the moment I just want to gather people's opinions of what they have in mind. Dates book up quickly so it's best to get something provisionally booked early.
Some people have expressed an interest in a formal trip run by an independent provider (with proper sea kayaks) whilst others have suggested a casual trip using our own boats.
I propose Anglessey as it's not too far away and it has some great coastline. I'd certainly want to do a weekend trip with camping/bunk barns/University Halls for an accommodation option. May to October are probably the best times of the year for this kind of thing....more chance of a (rare) warm sunny day!
As for a formal trip, I've used a company called Coastal Spirit before and they were excellent. It's a small two-person operation and they provide all the gear for a weekend of sea kayaking (cags, paddles, sea kayaks etc). Cost is normally around £120 for the weekend (excl. accommodation). Check out the website at
http://www.coastalspirit.com
They can tailor a tour to whatever you want to do. Last time we had seals climbing on board the kayaks around Puffin Island and then practised some breaking in and out of tidal races.
As for a more informal trip, we could camp soemwhere along the coast (perhaps Outdoor Alternative at Rhoscolyn) and do some in-shore trips around the coastline and out to close offshore islands. There's also the option of Three Mile Bridge where the tidal flow leads to a some decent whitewater surfing opportunities.
If there's enough interest for both types of trip I'm happy to organise them.
So....what do people think?

CarlS · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:12 pm Post subject:

Sounds really good will get some stugeron.

Carl

Mel Stoddart · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 207

Thanks Jon, this'll be a really good trip. The only dates (so far) I can't do are the 23rd April - 15th May.
I'd be happy to use costal spirit again, the boats were excellent and our guide was very knowledgeble about the best parts of the coastline to see.
If we went on our own I'd have to see about hiring a sea kayak, think I'd be quite far behind everyone else in my little boat!

CarlS · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject:

Brookbank will hire sea kayaks at around £25 for a day and £45 for a weekend (see website).
Carl

Mel Stoddart · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 207

Thanks Carl, that'd certainly bring the cost of the weekend down a bit

It does say that they may hire them to suitably experienced paddlers, could someone write me a reference?

GrahamS · Joined: 13 Dec 2007 Posts: 182 Location: Warrington

I'm looking forward to this trip - keep me posted!

Cheers

Graham

Mel Stoddart · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 207

Is this going to be a second weekend of the month trip? If so, there are a few that I can do if they suit everyone else.
11th / 12th July
8th / 9th August
12th / 13th September
10th / 11th October

What are peoples plans for the year?

Jon W · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 129

I would prefer later in the year when sea temperatures are at their best (in case of mishaps!). I can't do the 12/13th September but I don't think we should restrict ourselves to the second weekend of the month.
I propose the 19th/20th of September or the 22/23nd August. I know it may be tricky for people with kids of school age and planning their own holidays so I'm open to other suggestions for dates.
If we can get a date sorted then we can sort out the fine details.
I'll try and get a voting form with dates on the forum and we'll see which is the most popular date.

Steve T · Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:49 am Post subject:

I have voted for the September date for exactly the reason Jon has suggested, to get it out of the way of our likely August holiday dates.

However, I'd also like to do the Liffey descent on 5 September, and would be unlikely to do both in the same month. This would of course depend on raising enough interest in the trip to Dublin and I have failed on that count previously so that's less definite than your sea trip, which already has a few takers.

Steve
_________________
Steve Thomas
Secretary & Website Editor

www.westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk
website@westhoughtoncanoeclub.org.uk

Mel Stoddart · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 207

Any weekend in September is OK for me, if we could manage to do both, that would be pretty good

CarlS · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

Likewise, September should see warmer sea temperatures as well (all Summer to warm up?)
Carl

grahambrooks · Treasurer Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 30

I have made contact with Anglesey Outdoors[/b] http://www.angleseyoutdoors.com/index.php
based at Trearrdur Bay near Holyhead who have camping and bunkhouse accommodation, £4 and £10 per night respectively.

They recommend several local companies for kayak hire and coaching/guiding.

Thanks for your enquiry Graham.

You are probably best organising the canoe hire directly to make sure
you get the right types and sizes of boats. They are all locally
based and all offer hire and instruction or guiding.

The contact details for these are:

Rockpool Kayaks - Mike Webb.
Workshop: 01407 764422
Mike Webb: 07970 298985
email: sales@rockpoolkayaks.com
web: www.rockpoolkayaks.com

Sea Kayaking UK - Phil Clegg
Contact: info@seakayakinguk.com
Tel.:+44 (0)1407 762425 or 765550
web: www.seakayakinguk.com

Adventure Elemnts - James Stevenson
Tel: 01248 680 636
07986992254
web: www.adventureelements.com
e mail: info@adventureelements.com

Hope this helps.
Should you require any more information on availability or any other
details please do not hesitate to contact us..
Regards

Penny - Anglesey Outdoors

I have e-mailed Rockpool and are awaiting their reply -

Westhoughton Canoe Club located near Bolton are considering a sea kayaking weekend in late September based at Anglesey Outdoors. There will be a group of approximately 8 paddlers all of whom will have some level of Whitewater experience only. We intend to camp or use the bunkhouse at the centre.

Please quote costs for a days coaching to include sea kayak hire.

Graham Brooks - L3 Club Coach
_________________
Graham Brooks - Club Coach

Jon W · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 129

Thanks for that Graham.
I'll also contact a good guide I know and see if a) he's interested and b) how much it would be.

With 6 votes for the 19/20th September let's go for that date. Get it in your diaries and we'll sort out the finer details in the meantime.

grahambrooks · Treasurer Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 30

Jon and all other interested paddlers

Here is the latest thread from the company that you planned your trip with. As Brookbank charge £25 per day and you have to put a deposit down, then this offer of £60 per person for a days hire and coaching seems to be very good value for money!

We could book them for one day and then use our own white water kayaks for surfing on the second day.
Thoughts please from all interested paddlers.

I will post replies re deposit required.

Graham

Roger,

Thank You for your prompt response.

How long is the £60/person group offer valid for and what deposit would you require to hold it? When would final payment be required?

Regards,

Graham Brooks
-------Original Message-------

From: Coastal Spirit
Date: 26/01/2009 11:20:15
To: Graham Brooks
Subject: Re: Sea Kayaking Anglesey

Hi Graham,

Our standard rate for a day is £80 per person, which also includes sea kayak hire, a selection of nine glass fibre nigel dennis designed sea kayaks. However I can better that price as at the moment we have a number offers on and can reduce each place to £60 and this is also incl of sea kayak hire. Based on a group size of no less than six people.

Being a group of eight you will also get two coaches for the day, an aspirant level 5 sea coach and a level 5 sea coach. We can work as two sub groups, so the coaching will be more specific and individualised, this way the group can get more from the day and their money.

Thanks for you enquiry and I lookforward to your reply.

Regards

Roger

roger chandler & sonja ezergailis
coastal spirit
explore, dream, discover

www.coastalspirit.com
0044 (0)7873 132999
0044 (0)1248 605056

----- Original Message -----
From: Graham Brooks
To: info@coastalspirit.com
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 11:33 PM
Subject: Sea Kayaking Anglesey

Westhoughton Canoe Club located near Bolton are considering a sea kayaking weekend in late September based at Anglesey Outdoors. There will be a group of approximately 8 paddlers all of whom will have some level of Whitewater experience only. We intend to camp or use the bunkhouse at the centre.

Please quote costs for a days coaching to include sea kayak hire.

Graham Brooks - L3 Club Coach

P.S. One of our club members, Jon Wilson, recommends you from a previous enjoyable weekends experience last year.
_________________
Graham Brooks - Club Coach

Jon W · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 129

You could have told me you'd contacted Roger at Coastal Spirit! I sent him a separate email yesterday!
Anyways - I agree with Graham that it's good value for money. It's worth having a guide for the day in case of dodgy conditions when local knowledge would help find alternative spots that may be more sheltered from the elements. Roger's an excellent coach and guide and I'd recommend him highly. His gear is top notch.
I've given him the date we were interested in and he didn't seem to think it was a problem.

So....what does everyone think?