Sea Kayak

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

Jersey Sea Kayak trip

Steve has just run a week-long sea kayak trip to Jersey. This was quite a change from the trips to the West and North of Scotland he usually runs at this time of year. Everyone enjoyed the warm sunny weather and the almost Mediterranean feel to this most southerly part of the British Isles (it reached 32C on the final day!). Jersey is not, however, entirely benign, as it sits off the French coast and is subject to the powerful tidal flows which ebb and flow through the English Channel, meaning there are tide races and potentially challenging seas off every headland. Steve planned trips to take advantage of the flow and to avoid difficult conditions, though without removing the adventure from the days. Highlights included seeing sunfish off the Grève de Lecq coast; surfing in the Noirmont race; rounding Corbière in ‘interesting’ seas and the final evening BBQ.

If you are keen on extending your sea kayaking or enjoying a sea kayaking trip somewhere new, please check the Sea Kayak section on the website or get in touch with Steve, he’ll be delighted to hear from you and will do his best to help: 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

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

Sea Leader assessment, Cumbria

Steve was out on the Cumbrian coast again yesterday in his National Trainer role for British Canoeing: aspirant trainer/assessors for British Canoeing’s various leadership awards have to follow a process to become qualified to run courses. Yesterday was an observation of a Sea Kayak Leader assessment and, in excellent conditions for the award, all went well.

If you’re interested in any British Canoeing qualifications, get in touch with Steve who runs personal performance and leadership courses at moderate and advanced level in sea kayak, canoe and white water kayak. 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|May 13th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Barrow Sea Kayaking

Steve ran two days of sea kayak training for leaders from RAF Cadets. We had two varied days: firstly paddling at St Bees focusing on personal paddling and managing rocky shores and surf on beaches (we also had spectacular birdlife on the cliffs) and, on day two at Barrow, an emphasis on tidal and estuarine environments, planning, navigation, buoyage and leading. It was a very enjoyable and informative two days enjoyed by all involved.

If you’d like support to develop or practise your sea kayaking – or even just have a go for the first time, Steve will be very pleased to help you. Please call to discuss your needs on 07796 213817 or email steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

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