Please return membership forms to Craig as soon as possible for returning members.
Many thanks
Thursday saw the move from the pool to the great outdoors for this year’s beginners, and low winds and a high turnout made for a busy evening coaching. Everyone appeared to have enjoyed their first experiences of Bridge End and got to grips with the fundamentals of forward paddling in roughly a straight line. Next session it’s planned to look at turning strokes. Roll on next Thursday!
Just a reminder that this Monday sees our final session indoors and we’re moving outdoors to Bridge End on 14 May!
Mags Duncan and Steve Mackinnon from Nairn provided a great two days taking eight of us us through part one of the syllabus in not the warmest of weather. While they were up they also spent some time with Angus and Catriona working on Level 2 coaching with the help of some keen volunteers, plus a coaching update to Jim who’s one of our existing level 1 coaches .
Many thanks to both Mags and Steve for making it a really interesting and informative weekend for all those involved. Hopefully the weather will be warmer in six weeks when we do part two! And of course thanks to Angus for arranging it, and SQA for helping part- fund the training and being flexible.
…Time for eight of us to get on with our homework…
The second of two Foundation Safety and Rescue Training days had calm weather and reasonably warm conditions, markedly different to the first day! With a bit of theory and risk spotting, the day started off at Bridge End in cool weather and low winds. 
Despite canoes not being the most familiar of crafts folks seemed to enjoy the morning before hopping into the more familiar sea kayaks for rescue scenarios, towing and capsizing drills.
Many thanks must go to Martin Rickard of Sea Kayak Adventures for running the excellent course and of course to Angus Nicol for doing the organising
Starts Monday 20th April, 27th April, 4th May, 11th May
If you’ve never kayaked and thought you’d like to give it a go, this is a good way to learn some of the basics before you get out onto the sea.
Each week we’ll spend just under an hour looking at safety, equipment and general paddling do’s and don’ts before heading into the pool. At the end of the four weeks you’ll be ready to head out to Bridge End to put some of what we’ve been doing into practice before getting going with trips.
You need to be able to swim and be over 13, all children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.
Meet 7:15pm at Bowlers bar for the dry bit. There will be time to get changed before we go into the pool. Please bring your completed enrollment form with you.
That’s this season’s forms now live on the website.
Pool sessions begin again on Monday 16th March. 8:30pm at the Clickimin pool. We will have the use of the full pool pool, enabling us to bring in more full size sea kayaks. This is your chance to practice your skills before the outdoor season starts.
All welcome, if you know someone who maybe interested in trying kayaking then bring them along for a session.
Adult members £5, Concessions £3, Non members £7.50
The sessions will continue until 13th April.(5 weeks) After that the new intake of beginners will begin.
AGM Friday 30th January, Islesburgh 7pm
Nominations for all office bearers including chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer,training coordinator, equipment officer, trips coordinator, child protection officer, ordinary committee members and any other posts – names to Craig Lobban please (craig@cragden.plus.com). Nominations can also be made on the day.
As well as these bits we’ve got to do, we are also looking for ideas from yourselves about what you want to do this year and how you want things done. Let Craig know if there’s anything you specifically want to bring up, or just bring it on the day.
Thank you
Here is a few pictures from the club trips during 2014. Hope to see you all in 2015!
Thanks to Angus from Sea kayak Shetland for some of the pictures.