I have never been to the Skerries before, so when the trip was advertised I jumped at the chance.  The trip to the Skerries is a serious undertaking, they are a group of offshore islands surrounded by tidal races and overfalls (up to 6kn in speed) that you encounter in each direction. For this trip it was scheduled to be blue skies, light winds and neap tides – so all good for a first trip. Even better, the Skerries is a key RSPB reserve, and the birds were due to be nesting. Under sunny skies the group met at Cemlyn bay, sorted kit and headed off. The winds were slightly stronger than forcast, but nothing we could not cope with, and the tides were timed to perfection. A dog leg route due to the tides saw us landing on the islands with pinpoint precesion. The islands were great, a fantastic lighthouse on a rocky outcrop that has a really remote feel. The sunshine helped the feeling as well! Properly fed it was time to explore.  This is where it gets dangerous. Cap on to prevent being dive bombed, you stick to the path and watch your  footing. Even then, care must be taken not to disturb the birds who have taken a rather circuitous 56,000km round trip to the Antarctic – wow! Thats some trip for a small bird.  After marvelling at the Terns it was time to oggle the Puffins – Aww (Cracking shots Mr Blake)  All too soon it was time to leave the island, play in more races and head back to the start.  Cracking trip

The Hull International Canoe Polo Tournament is held at Dacre Lakeside Park, NewRoad, Brandesburton, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 8RT.  This site is ideal as camping is right next to the lake and the four polo pitches there.  All the facilities are on site and the sun even came out on both days. Saturday A good day for our div 4 team today – played 4, won 4. Loads of goals from our juniors with some really good build up play. It was clear that our juniors developed in game experience and confidence as the day progressed. Sunday Penrith B gave us a tough game in the morning but our speed up front let to 3 break away goals.  Sheffield University proved a good match for our younger players but they eventually defeated them easily scoring many goals in the process. Played 6 and won 6 gave us a place in the final. Manvers were a strong team that had also won all their games.  Most of their players were senior and played in higher divisions but we still gave them a good game narrowly loosing 2 goals to one. More photos…….  

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Our junior team entered this tournament and have been training hard every Wednesday evening at the docks. They started a little raged on the Saturday but with every game improved and end up passing like Pro’s. They eventually made it to the final of the junior league only to be narrowly beaten by the best of the best. Losing to only one team during the entire tournament , admittedly twice. Second place felt like a victory in the end! More photos……. If anyone would like to try canoe polo then you only need the basic paddling skills to give it a try – why not come and join us at the docks on a Wednesday 6:30 to 8:30 – all the equipment is there.

The weather had been changeable all week but fortunately the winds moderated and the sun came out for the presentation ceremony.  Congratulations to all the participants, volunteers and club members who supported the event, it was a great success.  The event would not happen without the kind support of our friends at Dee Sailing Club and rescue boat support crews.  Prizes were donated by System X, Manchester canoes and Go Kayaking NW.   Mike Bell made the trophies again for us this year. For more information on the event please go to our events page of the website……… The results can be found here………. More Photos……….  

Why not come and support Liverpool Canoe Club today at Dee Sailing Club where we are running the annual Hilbre Island Sea Kayak Race. The kayaks all head off with a mass start from the beach at 12 midday. They all return after 1 to 2 hours where we have a prize giving and BBQ supplied by our friends and hosts from Dee Sailing club.   It is a great place to bring your family and friends and good place to chat and meet up with club members.  There are great views of the Dee Estuary and beach at Thurstaston. Hope to see you all there. START / FINISH Dee Sailing Club Station Road Thurstaston Wirral CH61 0HN

This Sunday (25th June) sees the club run the annual sea kayak race around Hilbre Island with our friends at Dee Sailing Club on the Wirral.   The weather is looking the best for years so if you have ever fancied padding around either the Little Eye or Hilbre Island with lots of safety support and a fun atmosphere this is the year to give it a go.  We still have lots of entries left and you can borrow  hire a sea kayak from the club if you don’t have one.  Indeed, you can paddle around the Little Eye using any kind of craft (Sit on Top, WW kayak or General purpose kayak, sea kayak etc) If you really do not want to give it a go why not bring your family along to the beach / sailing club at Thurstaston and watch or support the event.  There is a bar and BBQ from about 1pm (you can purchase drinks and BBQ items on demand) and the race is off at 12 midday (a mass or “Le Mans Style” start from the beach so you need to be there for around 11:45am to see it properly. We still need safety kayakers, photographers, help with car parking etc so if you can volunteer please get in touch. Please note the normal Sunday paddle has been taken off the calendar for this Sunday as all those involved will be at the event. More information from http://liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk/hilbre/ See you all there to support the club and have a great day out with great views of the Dee Estuary. (either as paddlers, volunteers or supporters) Contact website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk to volunteer

When first trying to edge or roll my sea kayak, I thought it may be helpful if my lower knee had something to push against.  I soon knocked up a pair of foam supports and glued them in place using water-based Evo-stick which lasted all of five minutes at Kingsway.  I later refitted the same prototype blocks using River Bond and they’ve never budged since. Foam blocks below the knee/thigh also provide general support while paddling.  Maybe I’m just lazy, but I now feel uneasy in any boat without them.  Having recently purchased a new sea kayak, fitting thigh supports was a must. Closed-cell foam is available from AS Watersports at £10 per block.  http://www.aswatersports.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=752  With care, a single 32cm square block would probably suffice, but having a second one will allow for cutting errors.   River Bond adhesive is available from Endless River at £16 per 250ml tin. http://www.endlessriver.co.uk/river-bond-250ml-p-774.html The above closed-cell blocks are 3” thick which may not be deep enough for some situations.  For my plastic Easky, I fitted single foam pieces on an angle to bridge the curve of the hull and thereby gain more height.  An alternative approach, which I now prefer, is to construct each side in two sections: a simple lower section which fits to the base of the hull, and a more intricately shaped upper section which rests on the lower one and can be easily removed and replaced during the fitting process. Pieces of insulating tape on the base of the cockpit area will allow each lower section to be quickly relocated.  The corresponding upper piece can then be slid into place along the lower one.   The first stage is to determine the precise location of each section of foam and to fashion their outer faces to match the shape of the […]

Great weekend away at Tyn Rhos campsite in Treaddur Bay. Messing at Four Mile Bridge, surfing at Rhosneigr and the sun even came out! Looking forward to the next one!  Paul Harwood   A Puffing Good Day at Puffin Island. Thank you all xxx More Photos……..

Hello everyone, I thought you might like to know that one of the LCC polo teams has had some excellent success today… Welsh Warriors have officially won the NW&C Div 2 league. Given the league has been going all year, after we drew one and won three games today, we found ourselves competing with FOA C for the title with one game to go. The closely fought league came down to the “winner takes all” final game of the day. We convincingly won 3-0 and collected our gold medals this afternoon!  

Job title: Full Time Sales Assistant Location: Manchester Canoes (Warrington, 2 minutes off M6 Junction 21) Job description This is a hands on face to face job for a pleasant and practical person interested in and participating in paddlesport.

Great day out yesterday and some vast improvement well done all and Garry and Caz for Serpents Tail. Leveel 0.45m for the record Serpent tail good not sticky at end. Looking at Saturday 17th – same location. – Contact John for details if interested…….. Thanks John Allerton  

After a sudden 3pm change of venue from Whitesands Bay to Newgale on Friday afternoon we arrived to enjoy the evening sun. Saturday morning the sea kayakers launched from the campsite over the gravel barrier and paddled off to Porth Clais, stopping for lunch in Solva. The little boats also popped over the barrier to spend a few hours in the surf. Sarah didn’t quite catch a tube, but she pulled off a very cool pirouette, while Brian was ripping it up out back. As the tide fell the waves turned to a windy mess, so it was back to camp for lunch. A few hours later half the sea kayakers appeared by car – a strong headwind on the return journey had made for some challenging paddling. The others appeared soon after landing a little further down the beach than camp. With everyone back and the sun coming out the decision was made to have a BBQ that night. Sunday morning the sea kayakers set off to do a trip through Ramsey Sound, playing on the Bitches and seal spotting as they went. The little boats spent the morning in the glassy surf and sun; kicking off the session by seal launching over the gravel barrier as the waves began to build and the tide started to drop back from the barrier. As the waves dropped at mid tide it was time for an ice cream in St David’s, where the sea kayakers were spotted driving through heading for camp. Monday morning people drifted off home at their own pace. Some stayed to see if there would be a little wave at noon, while others slowly went north stopping at places to walk or in the little villages to sample ice cream on the way home. This year we […]

Everyday the Isle of Man Steam Packet Catamaran leaves Liverpool travelling at around 45 mph. It produces a huge wake, and when the weather conditions are right it can create waves of up to 7 feet in height.

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