Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Greenland or Bust Expeditions: South Greenland


Photographer: Glenn Mattsing/Outside Magazine.

Considered by many as the birthplace of the Inuit qajaq, Greenland’s coastal waters offer a sea kayaker some of the finest paddling, probably anywhere in the world. Whether gliding over mirror-like fjords at sunset or battling through moving pack ice in stormy tidal passages, time spent traversing the coastline will not be easily forgotten. The wildlife, miles of unpopulated wilderness shoreline, the calving glaciers and icebergs as well as stunning light conditions make for a rich and varied experience.


Dates: July 8 to 22

Location: South Greenland

Guides: Helen Wilson and Mark Tozer

Description: Greenland or Bust is offering a 15-day guided expedition in South Greenland. 12 days will be spent on the water. There will also be an opportunity to access the surrounding mountain ranges and visit local Greenlandic communities.

What is included?: Access to essential expedition equipment: sea kayaks, paddles, buoyancy aids, spray decks, and group safety items.

What is not included?: Flights. Personal expedition clothing, camping equipment and day food.

Pre-requisites: Able to be a competent group member of a guided sea kayaking expedition – BCU 3* Sea is a comparable standard, though rolling skills are not essential. Experience of wilderness camping. Be paddle fit at the start of the trip as there may be consecutive days of 20+ km paddling, sometimes in moderate winds. A flexible nature and good sense of humor along with a group-focused approach are all vital.


Contact: For more information and expedition itinerary, cost or to register, e-mail info@greenlandorbust.org.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Greenland or Bust Expeditions: Anglesey


Dates: April 1 to 4, 2014

Location: Anglesey, Wales

Guides: Helen Wilson and Mark Tozer are both accomplished paddlers and frequent guest coaches at symposia and kayaking events across the U.S., Europe and the rest of the world. They are based out of Northern California, U.S. where they offer coaching and trips via Greenland or Bust - www.greenlandorbust.org.

Description: North Wales is renowned amongst sea kayakers all over the world for its rugged coastline, tidal features, historic sites and outstanding wildlife. In particular, the coastal waters and spectacular scenery around Anglesey make this area an ideal location for a boat-based expedition, and it is the perfect setting for improving essential paddling skills. Our aim is to attempt a circumnavigation of Anglesey, a trip of approximately 70 miles, in the five days.

We are offering the opportunity to complete the following BCU qualifications during the trip: BCU 3 Star Sea Assessment, BCU 4 Star Sea Training, BCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning.


Considerations: Weather will be the deciding factor in successfully completing the whole trip. If the weather is too poor we can operate from a base camp, and suitable day trips will be offered. Distance achieved each day is dependant on tides/winds and overall group ability. To save on weight and equipment we recommend participants pair up with camping and cooking equipment.

Prerequisites: From the challenges offered by ‘The Swellies’ to the scenic cliffs of Holy Island to the lighthouses of Penmon and South Stack, there is plenty to see and explore as we kayak around the island. Strong tides and winds of Force 3 to 5 are often encountered, so to get the most out of this multi-day camping expedition it is important that participants have experience of paddling in these conditions and are fit, active paddlers. We advise using the BCU 3 Star / ACA 3 syllabi as a means of benchmarking personal skills.


Contact: For more information, expedition costs, boat hire options or to book a place, e-mail info@greenlandorbust.org.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Greenland or Bust UK Classes: Spring 2014



Please note the following courses that have been scheduled to run in the UK during March 2014

For more details, you should access each link.


DescriptionBCU Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning

Date: March 15, 2014

Cost: £75

Location: Anglesey, Wales


DescriptionBCU 3 Star Sea Assessment

Date: March 16, 2014

Cost: £75

Location: Anglesey, Wales


DescriptionBCU 4 Star Sea Assessment

Date: March  15 and 16, 2014

Cost: £150

Location: Anglesey, Wales


DescriptionSimplifying the Roll

Date: March 22, 2014

Cost: £60 per class

Location: Anglesey, Wales


DescriptionBCU Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning

Date: March 23, 2014

Cost: £75

Location: Anglesey, Wales


DescriptionQajaq Immersion Day

Date: March 23, 2014

Cost: £95

Location: Anglesey, Wales


Description: Intermediate / Advanced Leader Training and Tidal Planning

Date: March 24 to 28, 2014

Cost: £350

Location: Anglesey, Wales


DescriptionBCU 5 Star Sea Assessment

Date: March 29 and 30, 2014

Cost: £175

Location: Anglesey, Wales


Description: Anglesey Expedition

Cost: £500

Dates: March 31 to April 4

Location: Anglesey, Wales


Description: Intermediate / Advanced Leader Training and Tidal Planning

Date: April 18 to 23, 2014

Cost: £600

Location: Oban, Scotland

Contact: For more information or to book a place e-mail us. Many thanks!