Sea Kayak Award Logistics - Tuesdays 24th May - 21st June

jpallen

Update for Tuesday 21st June

I was at a work event last Friday and about 5 people have since tested positive for COVID . I've been testing negative so far, but feeling a bit run down. Assuming I feel better, and continue to test negative, then this week:

For tomorrow, Tuesday 21st June, we'll meet at Teignmouth, at the Polly Steps Car Park. You have to drive through a bit of an industrial estate, but there is a car park we can use at the end.

We'll aim to meet at 6pm, or soon after.

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Sea Kayak Award - Tuesdays Evenings 24th May - 21st June

I hope you're looking forward to some evenings of coaching, working on the Sea Kayak Award skills. This thread is for communicating and arranging logistics: Venues, timings, boat and people transport, etc.

If you don't have an account to post on the forum, drop me an email at webmaster@exetercanoeclub.org.uk and I'll invite you.

Timings & Location

The final venue and timings for each evening session will be posted here a few days before hand, so please make sure you check this thread each week.

Generally we’ll aim to meet at the venue each Tuesday at 6pm, or as soon as possible afterwards. We’ll mostly be paddling from Exmouth and Teignmouth depending on the weather and tides.

Equipment

Please make sure you bring (or arrange for someone else to bring you): kayak, paddle, buoyancy aid, helmet, spray deck and tow line. The club has all of these available to borrow. There may not be enough club tow lines for everyone, so please mention below if you have one.

You’ve hopefully all had a chance to use the club kayaks and understand what suits you, but let me know if you’d like any help choosing a kayak.

Please wear clothing that will keep you warm both in and out of the water. A wetsuit with a cag or windproof layer on top is a good option. I have some spare kit if you're a similar size - mention below if you're unsure about what to wear. Most evenings will involve getting wet but we will be mindful of the temperate.

Kayak transport

There is no club transport for the kayaks, so you will need to be responsible for arranging to get a kayak for yourself to the venue. If you have a car that can take roof bars, then this would be a good time to set things up to carry a sea kayak. As well as roof bars, it's helpful to have some kind of upright bars, J-bars or similar to securely carry a kayak. Ask below if you’d like any advice on this. AS Watersports should also be able to advise.

Previously groups have successfully arranged some car sharing to help with people who don’t have a car or ability to carry a kayak, and cut down on the number of vehicles needed. Use this thread to arrange logistics for each evening - please offer a lift/kayak transport, or request one if you need it here.

We will likely be paddling from Exmouth or Teignmouth most evenings, so I’d suggest meeting at the club at around 5pm to load kayaks (unless you’ve loaded in advance).

You can also load kayaks and pick up equipment earlier, on the Sunday or Monday. This can help if it’s a bit tight to get to the club and then the venue by 6pm after work. The kayaks must be returned on Tuesday evening for use by the Wednesday group.

Aims

The Sea Kayak Award Syllabus is here: https://www.britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/download/371/

“The Sea Kayak Award endorses your skill, judgment and the decision making required for a successful day on the sea. You will be confident in planning and undertaking journeys on the sea, in winds up to and including force 3 and/or tides up to 1 Knot, using sea kayaks or sit on tops, in tidal or non-tidal environments, with proficient skills to be in control throughout.”

Fiona_H

Thanks James
I will meet you at the chosen venues. I have my own tow throw. Thanks for organising

rosspeedy

I have transport with roof bars but need to sort out verticals or a J bar?
I need all club kit.
Looking forward to the course. Thank you

rupei

Hi James - thanks for the info. I will need kit except PFD and skirt. Scorpio MV my kayak of choice (might try and see if I can fit in a LV one week). Have a car with roof bars for most weeks and hopefully uprights by next week. Happy to take turns / car share as necessary when we know what everyone’s got. Leaving central Exeter each week.

AlanJones

Hi James, we may need a boat, and one tow line, Rachel Iles should be down as attending but did not get an email. Thanks

jpallen

Hi Alan - you're down for two bookings, so I assume Rachel is the other one?

susan_jl

Hi Alan,
Yes Rachel is down as attending. When I send out joining instructions I use the list of emails used in booking which in this case was your email address.
Susan

AlanJones

Thanks all.

jpallen

Let's meet at Exmouth on Tuesday (24th) at 6pm, at the Foxholes carpark: https://goo.gl/maps/Pp7a2VYQf9enmQwf6

Hopefully 6pm is a feasible meeting time for everyone after work. It may be helpful to pick up a boat and other equipment you need on Monday evening in advance. Let me know if 6pm will be difficult for you though.

I will assume that everyone is happy with collecting a kayak and other equipment they need from the club, and transporting it to Exmouth. Please post if you need help with anything.

I will go straight to Exmouth and see you there at 6pm unless anyone needs my help at the club.

AMcBride

Hi James! Lydia and I are trying to think of ways to get kayaks and be there for 6 after work. Any chance you could pick up 2 kayaks, and 2 tow lines, 1 spraydeck? Sorry about the late notice! Thanks!

jpallen

Can anyone who is collecting a club boat also collect one for Lydia and Angelique please?

Jasonr

Hi there, I will be there at 6pm or just after as long as I can get away from work it time. I have my own kayak. Thanks Jason.

rosspeedy

I need to meet someone at the canoe club as I don't have my own key and will need help with loading. I rang AS waterspouts for advice and they think I will be able to load one, possibly two Scorpios on my bars with out a vertical.
I can make it today or before the session tomorrow.

Does anyone know when they are going to be there?
Or I will ask Gill who is on the waiting list for a place to come along and watch on Tuesday and be my assistant!

Fiona_H

Thanks James, see you there.
Ros as its all loaded you can borrow my capella this week. I have spray deck and paddle. I will need to come home after to unload rinse etc

rosspeedy

Thanks Fiona, so I am sorted this week. I would be grateful for a recommendation for vertical bars for my roof bars.

MikeB

I will be at club doing a few bits tonight so can help load boats if needed

rosspeedy

Hi Mike
That's really helpful, I would have needed that if Fiona hadn't bailed me out for this week.I have got British canoe membership now so would like a key next time I see you please. I will have£5 in my pocket. I won't do a special trip in as it's 14 miles and you have to think about these things with the present cost of fuel! I could be tempted to cycle of weather dries up.

jpallen

So it sounds like Ros, Fiona and Jason are all sorted.

Alan - do you and Rachel need one club boat between you? Are you ok to pick that up?

Rupert - are you ok to collect a club boat for yourself?

Alan & Rupert - do the two of you have space between you to also transport two boats for Lydia and Angelique please? Can either of you fit three on your roof? I can fit an additional kayak, but would prefer to avoid needing to travel into Exeter on Tuesday evening if other people will going via the club anyway with spare roof space.

Everyone - if someone is picking up a boat for you, please let them/us know which boat(s) you would prefer. Please also make it clear if you need any other equipment picking up, or if you will be doing that yourself.

AMcBride

Hi Alan and/or Rupert! Would you be able to pick up two kayaks. If not I will try and think of a way to get them there for 6

rupei

Hi James. I can probably manage one extra kayak in addition to my own but -
- are there any spare straps in the shed anywhere? I only have 1 set
- which type of kayak
- also 2 towlines and 1 spray deck?
- do they have own paddles?

MikeB

We dont have spare straps im afraid

jpallen

Rupert, can we meet at the club at around 4.50pm? If you can take one kayak, I can take another and that should be everyone sorted, thanks. I can bring some spare straps.

Angelique, Lydia - Please let me know if you need anything else picking up from the club, e.g. spray deck, towline, paddles, helmet, buoyancy aid. Please also us know what kayaks you want.

rupei

James - not ideal - but I know that you weren’t planning to come into town either. I had planned to pick up during my lunch hour so that I could then work until 1715 before leaving and dodge some of the traffic out of town. Anyway I’ll see you there at 1650.

jpallen

Ok, that's fine - I can get some passerby to give me a lift with the boat, don't worry.

rupei

I’ve rescheduled stuff to leave earlier. I’ll see you at the shed.

MikeB

Just a reminder that bad hombourg rd (marsh barton) is closed inbound and there are road works on the acorn roundabout so traffic is quite slow around western way/topsham rd etc.

AMcBride

Not sure about names of the kayaks something for us two with height 5'4" and 5'5". I've given Lydia keys to pick up helmets, spray decks, paddles we have our own BAs. But if someone can pick those up for us that would be very helpful! We will both need towlines

rosspeedy

I would like a tow line if there is one and we are using them this week

jpallen

AMcBride - Let me know if Lydia has picked those bits up, if not then I will when I load a boat.

Ros - I'll pick up a tow line for you

AMcBride

I can't get through to Lydia at the moment. I would think she hasn't yet

AMcBride

No she hasn't