Club sea kayaking weekend 29-30 June 2024, Poole/Purbecks area

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About this trip

Would you like to try sea kayaking or refresh your basic skills? 

• This will be a fun, active weekend for Club members where kayaking skills are learnt or refreshed over two days under the expert guidance of local coaches.  
• We’re linking up with an activity provider so single sea kayaks and essential kit will be provided along with the coaching team who will tailor activity to our needs and abilities.  
• There will be an optional Friday meet up for dinner before we enjoy two days paddling.  This will enable us to build skills and leave with a feeling accomplishment on the water.
• It will be a good introduction or refresher to sea kayaking for those considering the Club kayaking trip to Greece later in the summer.

Why kayaking?

Kayaking is a full body, low impact exercise which is especially good for your core and upper body.  It’s no surprise that many Nordic skiers are also kayakers like one of our regular on-snow coaches, Peter Moysey, and Eurosport commentator/ski coach, Patrick Winterton.

Who the trip is for

The plan is to split the group according to ability/experience:
1.    Beginner/novice– for those who have not kayaked before or have limited paddling experience and want an introduction to sea kayaking.
[Although you will wear a buoyancy aid, you should be able to swim and be ‘water confident’.]
2.    Improver with basic skills and some experience of sea kayaks.

The trip is planned based on maximum of 12 Club members as described above, it’s not designed for advanced or highly experienced paddlers, nor is it suitable for those aged under 16.

What will the groups do?

Activities will be tailored to each group on both days following this format:
Day 1
Learn to sea kayak introducing the boats and skills needed to manoeuvre in sheltered water, or
a day on the sea building and refreshing the group’s previous experience.

Day 2
Day out on the coastal sea putting everything you’ve learnt into practice on a journey.
or
Following on from day 1 building peoples’ skills and comfort levels - rescues, rock hopping and journey skills depending on what the group wants.

Start/finish times can be flexible, usually 0930 and off the water between 1500/1630 depending on group energy/preferences/day.

Itineraries will be planned according to weather and sea conditions, and rain won’t stop us paddling!

The location – Poole Harbour/Purbecks area

Poole harbour is a large natural area of sheltered water making it ideal for water sports.  It contains several islands, the most famous of which is Brownsea, the birthplace of the scouting movement and one of the last homes in SE England for red squirrels.  It borders three national nature reserves and is an important area for wildlife conservation.
The nearby Purbecks area offers a stunning coastline and more adventurous paddling opportunities.

COSTS

Kayaking: 2 days kayaking inc equipment [single seater boat, paddle, buoyancy aid]: £153.00 per person.

Those confirmed on the trip have paid 50% of the kayaking cost [£76.50pp] as a deposit and the Club has passed these deposits to the supplier.  In late May 24 participants will be asked to reconfirm participation and pay the remaining 50% balance for kayaking by 7 June. 

Accommodation: 2 nights Friday & Saturday [unless you want to drive down on Saturday morning]– there are self-catering and b&b options in the area, you can book your own or join up with others to share rooms or a property – please indicate your preferences on the response form.  This could be coordinated depending on responses.  There are also campsites in the area.
Transport:  
By car – cars are likely to be needed to get to launch points.   Sharing can be coordinated.
Public transport: SW Trains from London Waterloo or National Express coaches.
Other expenses to budget for:
Meals & refreshments.

What to do next

Numbers have been confirmed for the trip and deposits paid but if you missed the initial booking deadline, you can still complete this online form and be added to the reserve list.  Places will become available if anyone has to drop out, or the supplier agrees to additional numbers.

NB  Should the supplier need to cancel due to dangerous and/or unsuitable conditions for the activities, the Club would be offered the choice of a full refund, vouchers to the same value or another booking on a different date.

Any questions?

Please contact the organiser Mary Wray