Welcome to our sea kayaking trip diary: a combination of dates for our upcoming trips, plus our own, personal views of the trips we've paddled and the experiences we've had - you might almost call it our blog!

Remember these guys:

They’re back...

One session into the training... and yes the boys were performing rescues with new team member Greg, in Oban, in April... again. If you would like to find out more about Garry, Lee and Greg’s latest challenge go to www.breakingstrain.co.uk/epic-2012/the-challenge

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I took the camera to Kari-Tek’s Mid West Sea Kayak Symposium but didn’t get time to use it... the joys of being a coaching team and program co-ordinator.

Hi Gill and Colin,
Many, many thanks to you both for all your hard work with the symposium. Your efforts are so much appreciated, not only by Geoff and myself but all the participants and coaches. Everyone has commented on the fantastic organisation behind the event and that’s down to you two.
Ann (Karitek)

Hi Colin,
We didn't get the chance to thank you properly for your fantastic coaching at the rolling session yesterday morning at the symposium. We really appreciated all the time you spent in the cold water and will definitely practice the tips you've given us.
Also a massive thanks to both you and Gill for all the organising you did for the weekend, we really enjoyed ourselves and felt we got so much out of it!
Have a great season.
Hayley and Rob (Skye)

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Wonderful weather allows you to meet wonderful people in wonderful settings. Nils and Catherina waved the ferry back into Oban as the sunset on their way back to Big Ganavan.

Thank you so much for this fantastic evening on the water this night. We enjoyed our trip and it will give us a lasting memory of our vacation in Scotland.
Catherina & Nils (Germany)

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I had the absolute pleasure of paddling out from Arduaine with Phoenix Detached Youth Project (DYP) a couple of weeks ago. Friday nights camp in the Sound of Luing area was followed by Coffee & Cake at the Oyster pub at Ellenabeich harbour before moving onto Saturday nights campsite via the cliffs, west side of the Isle of Seil.

Sunday afternoon we were back at Arduaine having passed below the Atlantic Bridge and paddled the length of Clachan Sound without the notorious soggy walk at the north end to dampen our spirits. If you want to find out more about Phoenix DYP www.pdyp.org/about is where to go.

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It’s not all about the work in the sun though… Gill and I joined our local canoe club’s trip out to the Isle of Eigg recently. The two hour cross from Arisaig zipped by on the way out to allow us this sunset from the Singing Sands.

Don’t forget the sun-screen this summer!

Now that the sun has started to shine up here in Oban, 2011’s wet and windy weather all feels to have happened a long, long time ago.

During 2012 we are including one or two formal training courses to our paddling schedule as well as returning to Tayvallich to support the 2012 Mid West Sea Kayak Symposium.

We’re keeping it simple; local day trips and coaching sessions will continue to run between the dates below.

April 11 & 12 – Sea Kayaking; an Introduction

Absolutely no experience needed what-so-ever. If you have seen people out on the water and have wondered what it’s like to actually sit in a sea kayak this is an ideal opportunity to give it a go. A relaxed and good humoured introduction, targeted equally between coffee, cake and skills acquisition.

May 5-6 & 7 – Mid West Sea Kayak Symposium

A fantastic opportunity to meet like minded and similarly skilled sea paddlers in the company of the Kari-Tek team and a bunch of the friendliest coaches you could hope to meet. Fire your enthusiasm or use the weekend to kick-start a week’s west cost touring. For more details: www.midwestsymposium.co.uk or www.karitek.co.uk

May 8 & 9 – 3 Star Training – Sea

Successful completion of the BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak Award demonstrates that the candidate has the level of skill, understanding and knowledge of an able improving sea paddler and beyond that of a beginner.

Two days training to cover the BCU 3 Star Sea Kayak Award. Use it as a pre-test, a brush up or a foundation toward further skills progression. See links to syllabus and training notes below:

Syllabus: www.canoescotland.org/Portals/0/Coaching/awards/BCU Three Star Sea Kayak Syllabus.pdf

Training Notes: www.canoescotland.org/Portals/0/Coaching/awards/BCU Three Star Sea Kayak Guidance Notes.pdf

May 11 – 3 Star Assessments – Sea

The assessment will take the form of a continuous assessment whilst journeying in a moderate tidal environment as part of a led group with winds of no more than Force 4.

If you have used the training days as above as a pre-run paddle the assessment after a days rest or if you are looking for a May assessment just get in touch to book your place.

June 7-8 & 9 – Complete Introduction to Sea Kayak Camping

The emphasis here will be on the camping rather than extensive journeying to allow ample time to pack sea kayaks, pitch tents, cook and enjoy the beautiful west coast scenery. You will have improving sea kayaking skills and be looking to camp for your first or second time as part of a guided group.

July 16-17-18-19-20 – Isle of Mull Sea Paddling Week

Using Fiddon Farm Campsite, www.scottishcampingguide.com/link.php?c=&n=194, as our base we will run sea paddling day trips along the surround coast line and circumnavigate the island of Iona. Mix and match your paddling into your Isle of Mull vacation or join us for the full week at the campsite.

August 4 & 5 – Incident Management (First Steps)

This is the first of three, two day workshops involving incident management. It will introduce you to equipment and concepts. Strategies to avoid incidents and coping strategies to allow you to deal safely with them should they occur.

August 24-25 & 26 – Ghiga Circumnavigation

Set out on relaxed sea kayaking journey around a west coast, island gem. You should be able to sit in your sea kayak for two to three hours at a time and be familiar with open water capsize and rescue drills. You need not have camped from a sea kayak before.

That’s it for the moment...

Simon and Ish probably had the best weeks paddling weather so far this year for their honeymoon.

After a days paddling to make sure everything was in place the newly weds set out for a weeks journeying at a leisurely pace from Dunstaffanage Bay in hired boats and kit courtesy of Oban Sea Kayak Guides.

If there are such beings as weather gods Simon and Ish are clearly in their good books as these images show.

By the time of their first wedding anniversary Mr and Mrs Fincher now hope to own their own boats, have upped their personal paddling skills and be prepared to journey in the more remote places of Argyll’s remarkable coastline and islands.

Fantastic weather. Fantastic honeymoon. Absolutely Fantastic Couple!!!!

Good luck, good weather, great paddling to Simon and Ish... And to everyone else of course.