Was raining the water was low the setting not spectacular but still a fun day out. Its just what you make of it at times.

In February and March this year I was one of a group on a club run course for ‘sea kayak improvers’. This was led by Gareth Jones, with Alan Peachment and John Fay. I am a novice sea kayaker, having only started kayaking last spring. Having achieved my one star with the club (and can I thank my coaches for ‘wet week’), I’ve continued my learning by doing several beginner and intromediate courses on Anglesey, and some one to one coaching. I know from talking to other novice kayakers that it can feel frustrating that you don’t feel confident enough to join in club trips, for fear that you will be the least able or will hold the group back – so having a course that was aimed at improvers was a great opportunity, and everyone got a lot out of it. We spent three mornings in the dock looking at technique and then had a trip out to the River Dee on 26 February 2017. A report and photos of that trip by me are here http://liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk/news/?p=355 and also by Hannah Bellamy here http://liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk/news/?p=360 Gareth and the LCC leaders and coaches organised another trip aimed at us improvers, this time to Anglesey. This was offered first to the improvers who’d done the course, and then to the whole club. It was very well attended – there were 15 ‘improvers’ and 9 ‘helpers’ on the final list. We all arrived at our start point for the day – Bull Bay in north Anglesey – around 9.30am on the Sunday morning. Some of us had stayed or camped the night before, others had met up at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll train station car park having driven over that morning. It was a sunny morning, and there was a reluctance to don our cags and drysuits too […]

After picking up a flyer in NWK back in December seven members of LCC decided to book a paddling trip to Lanzarote. We were picked up from our hotel by Juan Valencia and headed off to catch the ferry from Orzola to the island of La Graciosa. The plan was to paddle from the port to Playa Montana Amarilla. However, the windy conditions and big swell prevented us from paddling around the headland and so we landed at Playa La Francesca. After chilling out on the beach for a while and watching some surfers on a huge wave we paddled back to the port in some fairly challenging conditions. Day 2 was a more serene affair. Staying closer to our base in Playa Blanca we paddled the area around Papagayo, stopping for lunch and some snorkelling. Juan was a fantastic guide and a pleasure to paddle with. All the equipment was excellent (NDK and P&H kayaks, Celtic paddles etc), as was lunch prepared by Juan! We would recommend other LCC members check out Sea Kayaking Lanzarote. Paddlers: Elle Jackson, Steve Bond, Ann Hopper, Don Brooks, Gerard, Mike & Rosie Jackson.       

Just wanted to say thanks for yesterday. Even though my nerves and anxiety got the best of me, I enjoyed the day.  Hopefully we can make this a regular occurrence.  Quick question though, how can you check the water levels for the weir? The weir is tidal, so it comes and goes with the tide.  High tide at Chester,  when there is no weir, is approximately 1hr 5 min after high tide in Liverpool.  So if you get there at high tide there is little or nothing to play on.   Additionally, we are requested not to go there a few hours either side of high tide due to migrating fish. That’s fair enough.   As the tide falls then the steps and weir main face become more and more visible. The more it falls the more steps to play on.  Similarly as the tide begins to rise the weir and steps disappear. Obviously the flow coming down the river will have an affect as well, but the info above is best to work out if there is going to be anything to play on. Here are 28 days tide tables. Updated daily. Change the last word in the link to get different tide tables. http://www.ntslf.org/tides/tidepred?port=Liverpool http://www.ntslf.org/tides/tidepred?port=Holyhead

A very detailed analysis of kayaking (canoeing) technique by Ivan Lawler, seven times world champion. The masterclass was held at Richmond Canoe Club in January 2017.

Liverpool Canoe Club Newsletter Published Please open it by clicking this link March Newsletter…… or via the website   More Archived Newsletters….. To check your membership details go to Login button on website or click here….      If you have forgotten your password click here….. to have a new one emailed to you. (Please note that some ISP`s may block our automated system so please contact membership@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk if you have problems)

Club weekends and major events for the Club 2017 – for more detail check the online Club Calendar……. 9th  April 2017 Improvers Sea Kayak Trip coordinator Gareth Jones Click to book a place… 13 – 17th April 2017 Scottish Easter Paddling Holiday based at Kinlochleven – coordinator Roy McHale. Click to book a place… 22nd April 2017 Introductory Course for new members / Novice Paddlers 1 x six hour session Click to book a place… 30th April 2017 Club Open Day at the Compound at the Docks.  Try different  disciplines, junior session, come and try it session for non-members, Sunday tour of the docks. Bring and buy sale for any canoe or kayaking gear. 12 – 14th May 2017 Anglesey Weekend #1  Click for more and to book a place – based at Tyn Rhos Trearddur Bay  – coordinator Peter Massey. 26 – 29th May 2017 Pembroke Bank Holiday Weekend Click for more and to book a place – based at Whitesands Camping coordinator Jenny Brown. 9 – 11th June 2017 Anglesey Junior Club Weekend #2 Click for more and to book a place – based at Pen-y-Bont Farm, 4 Mile Bridge  coordinator Keith Steer. 25th June 2017 Hilbre Island Race – Club event for all  More information…….. 7 – 9th July 2017 Anglesey Weekend #3 Click for more and to book a place – based at Bodfan Farm, Rhosneigr  – coordinator Jenny Brown. 21st July  – 6th Aug 2017 Alpine Holiday Alpine Rivers Holiday – Briancon France  Coordinator Keith Steer 22 – 24th September 2017 Anglesey Weekend #4 Click for more and to book a place – based at Outdoor Alternative Rhoscolyn  – coordinator Peter Massey. 11th October 2017 Club AGM and paddler of the year Awards (Talk from the Alps trip) 8th November 2017 Real Paddling Film Festival […]

Liverpool Canoe Club Photo Competition Winners Congratulations to Dave Gentle for his winning photo: “Craig and Steve at the Burrs” Runner up Keith Steer:  “Richard Reeves on the Tees Weekend” Runner up Emma Kirk: “LCC Ladies Canoe Polo Team”  Not found your photograph? – see all the entries for this month……….. Criteria for the photo of the month competition…. 2 5 % Quality and sharpness of the photograph, 25% Quirkiness and framing of the subject, 25% Diversity of the subject material (ie not all one discipline), 25% has LCC logo or clothing in the shot. Please send in your entries for next month now – website@liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk

Kari-Tek Easy Load Roof Rack System To fit VW Transporter T5, possibly other makes of van with modification. This is the newer roof rail system which bolts down to van roof. Complete with one set of J cradles and straps and tie down eyes if you need to get anything like sheet materials from B&Q etc. List price  £772 new with J cradles. A bargain at £450. PM or call Andy 07786026091. If you come and get it, (Im in Doncaster by Robin Hood Airport) I will fit it for you, VW T5 only. If you need more photos, speak now, it is coming off the van tomorrow afternoon.

I was keen to try out a new sea boat, luckily several paddlers were happy to accompany me on the trip.   To be honest, I hadn’t really looked at the details for the trip other than watching the BBC forecast that said there was a big high pressure over the Irish sea (light winds) and seeing that the tides worked for this trip in such a way that there would not be much of a carry at either start or finish. So i sold the trip as sunny and light winds. The trip worked to launch 1hr before high tide, paddle easily (use backeddy) against the tide for that hour before taking the tidal conveyor all the way around the Ormes.  As it was, the wind was slightly choppier than expected, so we launched into the protected harbour at Rhos, and enjoyed getting used to the lumpy stuff. The Aries I was trying was really enjoying the conditons and didn’t appear too slow (my worry). Little Orme was as awe inspiring as ususal, but with the added bonus of a decent little chop. Entering Llandudno bay we picked up our fourth compadre and said hello to the very generous shuttle bunny. After that it was off round the main event – Great Orme. The conditions were perfect, a following sea so the trip was not boringly flat, but equally not super scary.  Just enough to allow us to get close in to the cliffs whilst still having to actually think about paddling. Unfortunately we didnt see too many seals, but we saw loads of puffins and other sea birds. This was added too by some cheekly little surfs as well – fantastic. Rounding the Orme it was paddle hard into the strengthening wind back to West Shore, where we only had a […]

Our new signs have arrived at the compound at the docks.  They look great and have attracted a lot of attention from all the passersby.

A leisurely start to Saturday saw us heading down to North wales for a little pootle in the the sea. Since we failed to tempt any more out for the trip on Saturday it was just the 3 of us which is just about right since we needed to shuttle the cars to West shore for the get out and on the water for 11. This was a little later than I would have liked however no issues as we had plenty of tide. As we rounded Little Orme the seals where in a playful mood and came out so splash our kayaks and have a good old nosy. Lunch was then had at the far end of Llandunno bay, east end before continuing on past the pier and on to Gt Orme, it was a little choppier than expected but it all added to the fun. I’d never done the Ormes on this tide and was amazed to see how different the cliffs were on a lower level, some of the caves were also more accessible. I also couldn’t believe how clear the water was here to, never seen it so clear. As we approached west shore we were on the bottom of the tide and there appeared to be an awful lot of sand between us and the car!! Good job we brought our trolleys. After lugging them up the beach for half an hour I turned to look back how far we had walked only to see that there was a channel running parallel to the big pipe that we could have paddled up! DOH! Ah well I’ll know for next time. Karl, Chris, Roy.

Please find attached the results from last night including the overall league results. Congratulations to Liverpool Ladies coming in 1st place and congratulations to Penrith Ladies who are the runners up! I think both teams will be getting trophies and I will arrange how we get these out to you. I hope all teams enjoyed it and if you have any feedback in general feel free to let me know and I can pass on to th e BCU Polo committee.  As I said to you last night I am so pleased and impressed how much everyone has improve d since last season and I hope everyone enjoyed it! I certainly did!   Thank you to all teams for your hard work reffing and running the table, and I hope you will be back to play again next season 🙂 Best wishes and thank you! Rachel  

Why not come and do a spot of paddling with the club.  We have sole use again this year including the large kitchen / dining room / drying rooms etc. Scotland’s only inside ice climbing wall is just across the road, Ben Nevis is just up the road.  Great open boat, sea kayaking, sheltered lochs and beautiful rivers.  Lots to do for non-paddlers. We still have a few places left in the hostel but will soon be sending out the car share rooming options so please hurry if you still want to reserve you place. Click here for more information and to book…… Thursday, 13 Apr 2017 For 4 days Scottish Easter Paddling Holiday based at Kinlochleven – coordinator Roy McHale.  40 is the maximum number on this trip to ensure there is enough cover for all the trips. . We will contact you with more details – list of who is going so you can share transport. Contact Roy McHale for more information…. The area is ideal for Sea Kayaking, loch paddling, grade 2 rivers, grade 3-4 rivers, Open Boat trips, walking, Skiing and mountain Biking. There is something for everyone. Cost is £17.50 per night but you need to pay for all 4 nights. We have booked the whole hostel for all of the Easter so that is £70 for a place on the trip. 1 x 2, 3 x 3, 5 x 4 and 1 x 8 bedded rooms available and will be allocated by Roy once you have booked. Roy McHale email: Roy.McHale AT riverside.org.uk There is a camping / Camping van option which is the same cost as the hostel (£70) and must be pre-booked using the bookwhen form below as it is a very busy Easter and most of the tent spaces have been reserved for walkers on […]