Sea Kayak

Sea Kayak Leader training, Cumbria

Foreboding skies and sub zero temperatures greeted us at Roa Island on Saturday for the first day of a Sea Kayak Leader training course. Well wrapped up we headed out into the 2 knot current to practice group management and navigation in the December chill. Steve supported the candidates to explore a range of appropriate approaches over the day with plenty of Sea Leader level challenge provided by the conditions. Day 2 saw us at St. Bees after an overnight temperature of -8! Fortunately, the sun shone and it crept above freezing to allow us an excellent day along this spectacular cliff coastline. We covered appropriate equipment and boat set up, leading and managing clients on rocky shores, dealing with distant surf breaks and dumping surf, personal paddling as well as a range of incident and rescue situations. Another fulsome day!

If you are interested in improving your sea kayaking or in working towards sea kayak qualifications, whatever your standard, Steve will be pleased to hear from you and happy to help. Get in touch on 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|December 12th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Coastal Navigation Course in Cumbria

Steve ran a Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course for four aspirant Sea Kayak Leaders. We covered appropriate weather and associated conditions in a variety of environments; tide and the gathering of tidal information to enable safe and effective planning and trips; practical trip planning and navigation methods; pilotage; buoyage and more besides. It was a full, interesting and beneficial day for all concerned.

With the regular stream of media stories concerning people paddling on the sea having problems with conditions they weren’t aware of or expecting, this course is ideal for novice and competent paddlers alike, whatever their craft, to raise awareness and to assist with good decision making.

Steve runs the Coastal Navigation course regularly over the year and will be happy to support paddlers from all disciplines who wish to learn more so they can stay safe on the sea. The next dates are 6th March 2023 and 21st March 2023. If you’d like to know more or book on please get in touch on 07796 213817 or steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|December 12th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Sea Kayak Leader training, Cumbria

We ran a Sea Kayak Leader training course over two days in South Cumbria last week. With two clients along to take the training and two who were attending as a refresher before assessment, a positive and beneficial two days was had by all. To add to the experience available for the trainees to tap into, Steve also invited two qualified leaders along to provide their perspective.

If you are interested in developing your knowledge and understanding of operating more safely on the sea either with peers, friends or as the leader of a group, this course will provide all you need. Contact Steve for a chat and see the website for dates. 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|November 16th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course, Cumbria

Steve ran a Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course last week for five sea paddlers keen to expand their knowledge and to improve their ability to plan safe trips on the sea. For the first time ever sea kayakers were outnumbered by paddleboarders. Steve has adjusted the course to better accommodate this new and rapidly growing activity. As the experience range of attendees is now significantly broader he’s made the course more practical and has moved some of the interesting, though not critical, theory to the Open Water Navigation course to make space for this. Everyone was pleased with the content and coverage. Steve will continue to refine the course to provide the best possible day for all concerned.

If you are paddling on the sea in any craft this course will make you aware of many critical issues you need to consider to help you make better decisions and to stay as safe as possible during your adventures. Steve advertises regular dates for the CN&TP course and also offers the Open Water Navigation course for those interested in more exciting environments and enhanced knowledge. He’s also happy to put on bespoke dates as required. If you’re interested in either event please check the website for dates or get in touch to discuss your needs: 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|November 16th, 2022|Sea Kayak, SUP|Comments Off

Sea paddling navigation & planning courses for SUP and Sit on Top kayakers

Long the domain of sea kayakers with their fast, specialised craft festooned with safety equipment, the sea is now just as likely to have people out paddling on Stand Up Paddleboards and Sit on Top kayaks – certainly in nice weather and on popular coastlines. The rapid rise in popularity of these craft has, unfortunately, led to many newcomers, inadvertently, finding themselves in challenging situations on rivers and on the sea.

British Canoeing’s Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course is a one-day classroom based event which Steve has run for many years for sea kayakers and which he is now adapting to encompass the expanded range of craft and paddler experience found on seas around the UK. If you are a sea kayaker, stand up paddleboarder or sit on top kayaker who would like to improve their maritime knowledge so as to be able to make sound decisions and to plan safe trips on the sea then this course should be very beneficial.

Steve’s next courses dates are Nov 8th and Dec 9th 2022. If you would like to check if the right course for you please get in touch for a chat: 07796 21381 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|October 17th, 2022|Sea Kayak, SUP|Comments Off

Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course in Cumbria

Steve has two Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning courses coming up over the next few months – November 8th and December 9th. These indoor, theory based courses have traditionally been the preserve of sea kayakers seeking to be safer and more knowledgeable both for personal paddling and to prepare for leadership qualifications. Whilst sea kayakers still form the bulk of participants, we are now also seeing people attending who are paddling on sit on tops and stand up paddleboards on the sea. We’re very pleased to be able to support this relatively new group of sea paddlers, especially as the explosion in interest in these craft has led to many folk going out onto the sea ill-equipped in terms of knowledge and equipment. Hopefully the CN&TP course will be a great way to help improve all paddlers’ safety on the sea.

If you are keen to improve and develop your maritime knowledge and understanding so you can enjoy your craft in greater safety Steve will be delighted to help. If you’d like to know more about the course or to book onto one of the existing dates please get in touch at steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk or 07796 213817.

By Steve|September 28th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Sea Kayak Leader training in Cumbria

As Autumn draws near, the time for a wide variety of professional outdoor training courses arrives with the more varied, seasonal conditions. For sea kayakers Steve has put on three Sea Kayak Leader training courses over the next few months, all based on the Cumbrian coast. He is happy to put on additional, bespoke dates if needed. Current course dates are 10th-11th Sept; 9th-10th Nov & 10th-11th Dec. All have the Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course on the preceding day.

Steve is one of the country’s most experienced and expert trainers with decades of varied and high level sea kayaking. He is also a national trainer for this discipline so is responsible for training and assessing the trainers and assessors as British Canoeing require.

If you are interested in becoming a safer and more effective sea kayaker or wish to gain a leadership qualification in this discipline please get in touch with Steve. He’ll be pleased to hear from you and happy to assist: 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 7th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Cumbria Sea Kayak Leader assessment

Steve ran a further Sea Kayak Leader assessment on the Cumbrian coast, this time at St Bees. We had a sea state at the very top of the remit all day with force 4 wind and a long surf break to negotiate out and back to shore. The candidate did a good job of paddling in the conditions and managed the clients very well – they had a great day out!

If you would like support with your sea kayaking at any level from beginner to advanced, or help with leadership qualifications, Cumbria provides some excellent venues and Steve will be delighted to assist you. Please get in touch for a discussion about your needs: 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|July 8th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Sea Kayak Leader assessment Cumbria

Steve ran a British Canoeing Sea Kayak Leader assessment day in excellent conditions from Barrow in Furness yesterday. Warm and sunny sea and weather were spiced up with 2 knot currents on a spring tide, force 4 winds and significant sea conditions on the South end of Walney island. We were also entertained by the seals which came to investigate us, nudging our boats and surfing beside us.

If you need support with your Sea Kayak qualifications and training or would just like to try sea kayaking or develop your existing skills Steve will delighted to help. Just call on 07796 213817 or email steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|July 2nd, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Jurassic Sea Kayaking

Steve followed up an excellent week’s paddling in Jersey with a sea kayaking week on the Jurassic coast of Dorset. A World Heritage Site famed for its spectacular limestone & chalk cliffs and abundant marine fossils, this coastline promised to provide an exciting and interesting summer venue. We were not disappointed and enjoyed some great paddles including from Kimmeridge Bay to Chapman’s Pool, around Old Harry’s Rocks and westwards from Lulworth Cove taking in Durdle Door and the huge and dazzling white cliffs beyond. We also took a day to visit Lyme Regis and had a chance to go fossil hunting on the shore – we came across many surprisingly large specimens with ammonites well to the fore.

If you are keen to develop your sea kayaking knowledge and skills Steve will be pleased to help you. If you fancy coming along on a trip, next summer’s venue will be at the opposite end of the country in Shetland, though Steve may well put on an autumn trip too. Call on 07796 213817 or email at steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|June 28th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off