Shetland Canoe Club

News, events, trips and info for sea kayaking and canoeing in Shetland

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Vaila – Saturday 9th November – a cold but lovely time on the water followed by good food and great company

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On November 9, 2013

In Club Trip Report

After what can only be described as a wet and blustery Friday, Saturday proved a lovely day for a paddle.  The conditions: cold – yes, but not too bad; very light winds, occasional  rain showers; definitely some confused sea out past Vaila, calmer water in by. The group: six of this year’s beginners plus four others.

Setting off south from the Walls Regatta Club slip and keeping close to the east shore, we could feel  the swell building as we got closer to Ram’s Head, and after crossing over and after sticking heads round Humla Stack, the decision was to follow the west shore of Easter Sound back towards Walls. Time was spent rock hopping, surfing through a lovely little tunnel, watching a flock of cormorants  launching off of the banks, waiting for blowholes to blow, and chatting until the get out for a bit of a leg stretch. As conditions in Wester Sound were pretty similar to the other end of Vaila, after a bit of a play in some waves we headed almost due north to Burrastow , then back in to Walls by way of the other side of Linga.

Now, normally we’d have loaded up trailers and headed home, happy paddlers. Today we headed over to Janet’s house for a very tasty selection of goodies and an extended natter about all things  paddling.

All in all, a great way to spend a Saturday in November.

Many thanks to: Janet for getting a lot of the organisation done and hosting the after-paddle get together; Janet, Laureen, Tracy and Christina for sorting out all that wonderful food; Wendy and Craig (Nicol) for sorting the trailer; and Angus and Catriona for leading the trip.

Autumn Trip to Vaila followed by soup/sandwiches/cake

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On October 12, 2013

In Announcements

Janet’s trying to arrange a trip out to Vaila followed by soup, sandwiches and cake at the Walls Regatta Club.

The original plan was 26th October, 14 people have signed up so far. Janet was wondering if either the 2nd or 9th of November might be better for people as she’d forgotten it was school holidays.

Please contact Janet on 01595 809718 if you’re interested in coming and specify which date suits you. We’ll go with majority and confirm on the website.

Many thanks!

Vementry – club camping trip – 6th/7th September

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On September 7, 2013

In Club Trip Report

On Friday evening, nine intrepid paddlers braved a poor forecast and set forth from Clousta for an overnight camp. After a bit of a breezy crossing with a just a touch of swell, they arrived in Vementry, promptly set up camp before the sun set and, with a good fire burning on the beach and the sky clearing, it turned into a lovely evening. Overnight the promised rain also arrived in Vementry, accompanied by some very strong gusts to test everyone’s tent-setting skills and keep the temperature down.The morning dawned wet and wild, a gathering in Angus’s tent porch led to copious amounts of tea and hot fluids being consumed while Jim ate his bacon, and a group set off to walk round to the gun emplacements while others snuck back to their tents for a little additional shut-eye. As the walkers returned tents were struck, kayaks packed and another quick cuppa drunk before getting back on the water and the return leg to Clousta. It was again a bit of a blustery paddle with a little wind-blown waves to give a gentle workout before the shelter of the voe at Clousta was reached.

Many thanks to Angus and Tam for sorting out a great little trip!

Thursday 5th Lerwick paddle – a great night on the water

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On September 6, 2013

In Club Trip Report

19 paddlers took to the water last night to make the most of one of the best Thursday nights we’ve had this season. Despite headaches with getting enough boats together, got on the water at the Lerwick Marina and paddled across to Bressay.

As the clouds gave us a stunning display of colours over Bressay, we paddled round to the Bressay Ferry Terminal and turned to cross  back to the mainland, and by the time we were going by the Lerwick Boating Club the shadows had got longer and night fall was close.

Getting back to the marina provided a different view of Lerwick as the street light came on and the paddling in the dusk was a first for many.

Coming ashore, night had fallen and everyone worked hard to get the boats back on the trailer, gear away and took the chance of a chat before heading away home.

Many thanks to Tam for sorting Trailer, Angus for arranging and  loaning additional boats/ paddles and so on.

Getting enough boats and being sure of what we needed was really difficult this trip. Please please please make sure you give the trip organiser as much notice that you’re coming as possible as we want to get everyone out on the water that wants to be. Thank you.

Canoe Club Social Night

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On September 5, 2013

In Announcements

Thursday 3 October. Buffet-style meal at Gurkha Kitchen. About £15 per person. Please contact Wendy if you are interested. 01595 840272 or email islandbs9@yahoo.co.uk

Club trips – why not volunteer to help organise!

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On July 19, 2013

In Announcements

We all want trips to happen, be well run and enjoyable. However, it’s a lot of work for one person to take on, especially when they don’t always need to.

Every trip needs a trip leader, but it doesn’t mean the leader needs to organise it all.  Often they have all their own boats and gear, so everything about organising the preferred boats/ paddles/ spraydecks/ buoyancy aids  and assorted kit onto trailers, arranging lifts and so on is really being done for you at a the cost of the trip leader’s time.

You can help. You don’t need to be 4* to start organising a trip, you just need to have an idea for a paddle you’d like to do and be prepared to put a little of your own time in to make it happen.

If you’re interested let one of the Committee know.

The other thing about trips – it depends on the weather and who’s available. Use the forum to keep up with possible trips, make suggestions for locations, get involved.

Thursday 18th – an evening of fog and paddling

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On July 19, 2013

In Coaching events report

A much quieter night than the last few weeks, only nine paddlers on the water but it was VERY foggy on what looked like the calmest waters so far this season!

A good discussion about  moving between 1* and 2* paddling started the evening off before all headed on to the water at Bridge End to tidy up the final bits of 1* and encounter the odds and ends that make up the 2* paddling skills.  It was great to see beginners confidently reversing into the mist as the fog closed in.

Anyone wanting to complete their 1* don’t worry, I’m sure there will be more opportunities for you to complete too.

Thursday 18th July – finishing the 1*

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On July 15, 2013

In Announcements

Talking with a few folks, we’re looking at a ‘tidy up’ session this week at Bridge End. Even if it’s a beautiful evening we’re going to try and get everyone to the point of 1* certification, though it won’t stop us doing some paddling if conditions are good.

Additional details on the Forum

Thursday 11th July – Beginners trip Quarff to Gulberwick

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On July 12, 2013

In Club Trip Report

It might have been a foggy evening, it might have been a bit breezy at the put in point down at Quarff. It didn’t stop 16 paddlers taking to the water on another Thursday night club beginners trip!

The individual organisational aspect of going on a trip were tested as cars drew up at Quarff, boats came off trailers and gear out of boots, cags pulled on and the multiple portages down to the sea commenced. The put-in itself proved trickier than many had encountered before – rocks, seaweed, mud, a low tide and a heavy boat aren’t a great combination. However, everyone made it safely onto the water without incident, and once round the corner we were in the lee for the rest of the trip.

While the cloud was down on the hills and almost to the road, we had a lovely evening paddle in very atmospheric lighting conditions and the sea seemed to get calmer and calmer the further we went. Caves were entered, gullies paddled through, cliffs passed under as we made our way north into almost still conditions at Gulberwick.

A classic easy trip in some of the best conditions encountered this year (so far), much nicer afloat than ashore.

Lerwick Lifeboat exercise – a successful evening afloat

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On July 9, 2013

In Coaching events report

Monday evening saw the planned exercise with the Lerwick Lifeboat kick off in Gulberwick bay.

Club members started running the first scenario, a heart attack victim, while the lifeboat made it’s way out from the harbour. After less than five minutes, the lifeboat flew across the mouth of the bay and the rafted paddlers (with victim)  could see help was well on it’s way! Watching the bow approaching at speed was quite a sight.  The small boat was dropped over the side and the recovery of various victims ensued. It must rate as one of the most accident-prone trips ever conducted in Shetland by the club with heart problems, dislocated shoulders, lone paddlers in difficulties, swimmers and exhaustion-overcome bodies appearing as if from no-where.

No problems for the lifeboat crew, each scenario dealt with with calm professionalism.

By this point conditions had gone from a bit blustery up to “interesting” as the wind came up, it was almost 8.45pm  and paddlers started to head back to dry land. Once ashore there was the odd tired individual, a lot of discussion, and a bit of a buzz from all those involved.

General consensus – a great learning exercise for the club.

A big thank you must go to all the members of the  Lerwick Lifeboat crew, and to Iain Derbyshire for arranging the evening.

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