UK SGS 9 – Is It For Me?

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

UK SGS 9 – What For?

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

UK SGS 9 – Who For?

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

UK SGS 9 News – Photo Request

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

UK SGS 9 News – Lodging Prices

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

UKSGS 9 News - Time to Book

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

UK SGS 9 News – Dates & Location

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

UK SGS 9 News – Event Pricing

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

UKSGS 9 News - Project Partner

For UK SGS 9 event details and how to book a place, go to this link.

The UKSGS Team –  Mark Tozer & Helen Tozer-Wilson & Mike Mayberry 2018

Welcome Onboard Fellow Storm Paddlers From Wales!

Today we would like to welcome onboard our fellow Storm Paddlers who will be joining us from Wales this March for Storm Gathering USA 2017 in Trinidad, California.

For more details about the event, visit the Storm Gathering USA website today!

To register, go to this page on the symposium website.

For more information, e-mail, info@greenlandorbust.org.

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May's Newsletter

JUNGLES • LAGOONS • OCEANS • SEAS • NORDIC TOUR

For us here at Greenland or Bust, kayaking season is in full swing, and the year ahead looks awesome! Helen is currently in Bacalar, Mexico, at the Paddle Marathon Laguna Bacalar 2015, and Mark is currently running a five day BCU 4 Star Training in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

We were in Wales and England for a large part of April, and enjoyed running Simplifying the Roll, Combat Rolling and a week long BCU 4 Star Sea Training on Anglesey. We also squeezed in time for some personal paddling and adventure. After that, Helen flew across "the pond" to be a presenter at the East Coast Paddlesports and Outdoor Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. Meanwhile, Mark stuck around Wales for the Kayak Essentials Festival on Anglesey, followed by a BCU 4 Star Sea Assessment with candidates from Finland, Germany and Canada. Helen then headed to California to run classes during the Explore North Coast Kayaking Social. As mentioned, Mark is currently in Pembrokeshire, Wales running a BCU 4 Star training week, and Helen is enjoying the jungle and lagoon while teaching and presenting at the Paddle Marathon Laguna Bacalar 2015 in Bacalar, Mexico.

Coming up in May Mark will be running a BCU 4 Star Sea Training and a BCU 4 Star Sea Assessment on Anglesey in Wales, and Helen will be running Simplifying the Roll and Simplifying the Rescue in Lodi, California. After all of that our Rebel Kayaks supported Nordic Tour begins. This year's tour is bigger and better than ever, and we have classes scheduled in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. We are very excited to be back for another tour, and look forward to seeing all of our Scandinavian friends again. Click HERE for our 2015 tour schedule. With the success of this year's Storm Gathering USA, we've had lots of inquiries about future events, and it's always good to plan ahead :-) The next UK Storm Gathering takes place February 20 to 22, 2016 on Anglesey in Wales, and the next Storm Gathering USA takes place March 3 to 5, 2017 in Trinidad, California.

As usual, visit www.greenlandorbust.org for more information and our current Events calendar and Blog postings. You can also follow us on Twitter. For questions, comments or to schedule us in your neighborhood, e-mail: info@greenlandorbust.org.

Happy paddling!

Helen and Mark

Helen's Mentoring Madness

When performing a rescue, give loud and clear directions to the rescuee, and be ready to modify your rescue if necessary. Remember that the purpose of a rescue is to get the rescuee back in their kayak as quickly as possible. This might require modification of a "textbook rescue." It is very important to keep yourself (the rescuer) safe. If the rescuer is not safe, then the rescuer could become another rescuee. As the rescuer, you should take care of yourself. Be ready to abandon the rescue and start again if the rescuee puts you in danger. When a rescuee re-enters their kayak, there can be a lot of strain put on the rescuer. When the kayaks are rafted together, lean into the center as much as possible, this helps to distribute the pressure of the rescue throughout your core, instead of putting all of the pressure on your shoulder(s). Keeping your elbows bent also reduces pressure on the shoulder(s), which can reduce the possibility of shoulder injury.

Program Schedule

BCU 4 Star Training Week: April 27 to May 1, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Paddle Marathon Laguna Bacalar 2015: May 1 to 3, Bacalar, Mexico

BCU 4 Star Sea Training: May 5 to 6, Anglesey, Wales

BCU 4 Star Sea Assessment: May 7 to 8, Anglesey, Wales

BCU 4 Star Sea Training: May 13 to 14, Anglesey, Wales

Simplifying the Roll: May 16 and 17, Lodi, California

Simplifying the Rescue: May 16, Lodi, California

Nordic Tour

May 23 to August 30, Norway, Denmark and Sweden

May 23 to 24 Asker, Norway

May 29 to 31 Oslo, Norway

June 6 to 7 Fitjar, Norway

June 9 to 11 Bergen, Norway

June 13 to 14 Bekkjarvik, Norway

June 20 to 21 Stavanger, Norway

June 26 to 29 Copenhagen, Denmark

July 3 to 4 Grebbestad, Sweden

July 9 to 12 Stockholm, Sweden

July 16 to 18 Mora, Sweden

July 22 to 26 Nynashamn, Sweden

July 28 to 30 Sandhamn, Sweden

August 1 to 3 Karlstad, Sweden

August 8 to 9 Helsingborg, Sweden

August 11 to 12 Rungsted, Denmark

August 15 to 16 Frederiksværk, Denmark

August 22 to 23 Svendborg, Denmark

August 29 Malmo, Sweden

August 30 Karlshamn, Sweden

 …And Finally

Working on your roll and need a little help? Simplifying the Roll with Helen Wilson and Yoga for Outdoor People are available from our on-line store HERE. 

Yoga for Outdoor People can also be purchased as a download from the Digital Goods Store.

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Copyright © 2015 Greenland or Bust, All rights reserved.

Helen Wilson and Mark Tozer • (707) 834-5501

info@greenlandorbust.org

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UKSG6 - Cackle TV Special Offer

If you are a fan of digital downloads, or never tried and want to give it a go, I recommend you call in at Cackle TV to see what's on offer. Justine Curgenven has begun to provide many of her superb and expertly made sea kayaking films from the award-winning This Is The Sea DVD series as digital downloads. With over 40 films available with some never before seen footage, there is plenty of choice.

Justine is an award winning adventure filmmaker and expedition sea kayaker with an established reputation for creating professional, innovative and inspirational sea kayaking movies. Some her personal accomplishments have involved a number of challenging expeditions around the globe including a crossing of the Bass Strait, circumnavigating South Island of New Zealand, Tasmania and the Queen Charlotte Islands.

I am pleased to announce that Justine is offering a special discount to anyone visiting the UK Storm Gathering Sea Kayak Symposium blog on two selected films. Buy one or both of the following digital downloads and get 20% off the already incredibly good value prices. All you need to do is enter 'UKSG' at the check-out.

This is the Sea 1 - Penrhyn Mawr

Penrhyn Mawr is North Wales’ most famous tidal race. This film is a short introduction to the race with some explanation of it’s location and how the waves form. Filming from onboard the kayak gives a sense of scale. 5 minutes . Price: UK £0.99 (UKSG6 discount - £0.79)

This is the Sea 2 - Penrhyn Mawr

More action from the inner and outer races at Penrhyn Mawr tidal race on Anglesey. Skilful paddling (and good recoveries!) from Aled Williams, Phil Clegg, Simon Osborne, Harry Whealan & others. This was originally 2 separate films on “This is the Sea 2″ but brought together into 1 film here. 8 minutes. . Price: UK £1.99 (UKSG6 discount - £1.59)

Download today and get inspired to plan your own adventure, wherever that might be :o)

www.cackletv.com/digital-downloads/

Sea Kayak Playboating

North Wales is blessed with impressively powerful tidal streams, the famous headlands of Penrhyn Mawr and North Stack are a testimony to the huge volumes of water that sluice past our coastline every day. This is clearly great news for sea kayakers who are prepared to seek a thrill in these offshore tide races. However, there are a number of other venues on Anglesey that can provide the eager paddler  with some great lunar-powered play spots, as highlighted recently by Justine and Barry's trip to the Swellies.

The Menai Straits divide Anglesey from the mainland, and the Swellies exist as the stretch of moving water between the Menai and the Britannia suspension bridges that span the Straits. The Swellies are notoriously hard to navigate because of numerous shoals, whirlpools and surges with tides that can accelerate to speeds in excess of 8 knots. The Swellies have been the scene of many mysterious shipwreck and celtic legends are abound. One of the most well known incidents occurred when the wooden training ship HMS Conway ran aground on the Platters Reef.

The great thing about the Swellies, which are spread out over a mile-long stretch of water, is that paddlers are presented with a number of accessible and enjoyable white water features that form and disappear according to the strength and height of the tide. The following is a brief summary of the principal information needed to enjoy a number of play areas including Swellie Wave (as pictured by Justine Curgenven).

Drive into the town of Menai Bridge, where a number of access points are available. The town slipway is convenient, but requires a ten-minute paddle to reach the Swellies. Better still, drive the narrow road that passes directly under the bridge on the Anglesey shore. With luck, you'll find one of the few parking spaces still empty. Here you can either scramble over the wall and launch directly under the bridge (a good choice at High Water), or from the beach 100 metres north of the bridge. If launching at Low Water, walk up the road away from the bridge in a southerly direction. At the brow of the hill, take the footpath that leads directly down to a muddy beach 200 metres south of the bridge.

The Swellies can be paddled on either the flood of the ebb - most paddlers aim to arrive at either of High or Low Water Slack, which occurs in the Swellies 2 hours before High Water or Low Water Liverpool.  The Flood tide runs in a north-east direction in this part of the Menai Strait (right to left when looking across to the mainland from Anglesey), while the Ebb runs south-west. 

On Spring tides, local High Water is usually around the middle of the day, while local Low Water is generally in the morning and evening. Thus, on Spring tides, locals can grab a paddle on the Flood before or after work, while visitors can enjoy the Ebb while everyone else is earning a crust.

Sea Kayak Adventures

I was asked recently by someone who intends to visit North Wales this summer about potential sea kayaking trips that I would recommend and this got me thinking about the breadth of options available to them. As it so happens there were five trips I did over the winter that stand out to me as being some of the better ones to choose from. I list them here, not in any rank order, with some description of the location and tidal information. To assist with any planning, I would recommend getting a copy of Welsh Sea Kayaking by Jim Krawiecki and Andy Biggs, which is available direct from Pesda Press.

The Ormes

Great Ormes Head is one of the most identifiable landmarks on the North Wales coast, and can be seen clearly from the A55. The imposing limestone cliffs teem with bird life and contrast the somewhat flat features of Llandudno, a popular seaside resort established in the Victorian era. Further east across Llandudno Bay is Little Ormes Head, which can feel equally dramatic when paddling beneath it. Although a trip around these cliffs can feel serious because of long stretches without suitable egress, the tidal planning is straightforward and the currents are relatively weak. The trip can be a short one, from West Shore to North Shore or even extended beyond the Little Orme to Rhos on Sea.

High water occurs 30 minutes before Liverpool. The west going stream begins after 30 minutes after HWL, whilst the east going stream begins 6 hours before HWL. The spring rate is no more than 3 knots.

The Stacks

The western extremities of Anglesey are referred to as the Stacks and any trip around these noble outposts of pre-cambrian rock that jut into the Irish sea can be rewarding, breathtaking and at times ferocious. The Stacks are exposed to the most storm and tide, as well as possibly the highest wind and wave action.  As such, the coastline is popular with those sea kayakers wishing to advance their skills. Passage around the Stacks should be well planned to account for the tide races and overfalls that exist at North Stack, South Stack and Penryhn Mawr. Either that so they can be used to maximum effect for playing, or to ensure more moderate waters to allow for rock hopping and bird watching. Soldiers Point, east side of Holyhead and Porth Dafarch, east of Treardurr Bay are popular launch sites depending on which way round you wish to go.

High water at Holyhead occurs 50 minutes before Liverpool. High water in Penrhos Bay occurs 1.30 hours before Liverpool. At North Stack, the north-east going stream begins 5 hours after HWL, whilst the  south-west going stream begins 2 hours before HWL. At South Stack, the north-north-east stream begins  4 hour 50 minutes after HWL, whilst the south-south-west stream begins 1 hour 10 minutes before HWL. At Penrhyn Mawr, the north-west going stream begins 3 hours and 30 minutes after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 1 hour and 15 minutes before HWL. The spring rate can exceed 6 knots.

The Skerries 

A trip to the Skerries is a North Wales classic. It is a committing offshore paddle that requires sound tidal planning, as well as good skills to deal with the ever present overfalls. The Skerries are a cluster of barren rocky islets exposed to the full might of the Irish Sea. They are overlooked by a prominent lighthouse on the largest of the islands and are a breeding ground for a variety of seabirds. Again, this is seen as an advanced trip due to the exposed nature of the paddling. Popular access and egress points include Church Bay on the west coast, below Carmel Head and Cemlyn Bay on the north coast, east of Carmel Head.

High water occurs 45 minutes before Liverpool. The north-west going stream begins 5 hours and 15 minutes after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 45 minutes before HWL. The spring rate can exceed 6 knots around the Skerries and in Carmel Sound. 

Rhoscolyn

The journey from Borthwen around Rhoscolyn Beacon and past the Head into Penrhos Bay is one of the most appealing trips available on Anglesey. An indented coastline offers up caves, arches and passageways than can provide a variety of options for those keen to explore. The cliffs are not too imposing, though at times landing or escape are not easy. Strong tidal movement can be felt in the Sound and overfalls are present on the southern side of the Beacon. Depending on the direction the trips takes you can end up with ice creams in Treardurr Bay or a beer at the White Eagle near Borthwen.

High water occurs 1 hour 30 minutes before Liverpool. Off shore from Rhoscolyn, the north-west going stream begins 4 hours and 30 minutes after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 1 hour 30 minutes before HWL. In Rhoscolyn Sound, the north-west going stream begins 3 hours after HWL, whilst the south-west going stream begins 1 hour 30 minutes before HWL. The spring rate is around 4 knots at Rhoscolyn Beacon and Rhoscolyn Head

Puffin Island

The easternmost point of Anglesey is marked by a precipitous mass of rock that is home to a host of nesting seabirds including the much vaunted puffin. The island goes by several names but most refer to it as Puffin Island, though Ynys Seirol is not an uncommon reference. St Seirol established a monastery on the island, and folklore has it that he was referred to as the pale saint. The popularity of this trip stems from its ease of access, the wildlife that is present here and that it can be completed in a variety of craft. However, the Sound itself can provide interesting conditions depending on the state of the tide. It is possible to gain access from Penmon Point but a toll needs to be paid at the Priory, so many park and launch in the layby before it. One advantage of setting off from the shingle beech at the Point are the rewards available from the tea shop which is open in the summer months.

High water occurs 30 minutes before Liverpool. The tide goes north through Puffin Sound and then runs north-west 30 minutes before HWL, whilst the south-east going stream runs 5.30 hours after HWL. The spring rate is no more than 3 knots.

If you wish to have a guided sea kayak experience, either on any of the trips listed or wish to visit some of the more esoteric gems on the Anglesey coastline such as Llandwyn Island (above), then get in touch.

Stackpole Sea Kayak Festival 2010

The Stackpole Sea Kayak Festival is a now well established event with a difference in that the theme of ‘paddling lightly’, like ‘treading softly’ on the land, is the underpinning ethos rather than that of skills development. The symposium runs every other year and this was the fourth event of its kind and my third appearance as a guest leader.

The emphasis of the festival has always been about looking after the wonderful coastline that is Pembrokeshire whilst exploring and discovering its natural wonders. With over 70 attendees, the National Trust’s residential centre at Stackpole was a lively hub of activity.

As with all such occasions, the weather plays a large part in what can be achieved and from the outset groups were face with interesting conditions. The first day included a trip around Stackpole Head via Church Rock and Broad Haven to St Govan's Head, having set off from Stackpole Quay. With moderate swell and Force 5 winds it gave everyone a chance to see Pembroke at its wild best without being overwhelmed.

A number of social events where organised to keep everyone enthralled and entertained in the evenings including a wildlife talk from bird expert Bob Haycock and presentations about sea kayak adventures, both local and afar by renowned experts Nige Robinson and Olly Sanders. Other highlights included the famous Stackpole BBQ which is always plentiful and delicious followed by a ceilidh for those still with enough energy to throw themselves around on the dance floor.

The highlight of the weekend for me was a circumnavigation of Skomer Island. This fifteen kilometre trip includes the chance to observe an abundance of bird life (for example, Manx Shearwaters and Puffins), the negotiation of strong tidal flows as well as a feeling of exposure, especially along the west coast. When launching  from Martin’s Haven, there is a sense of satisfaction bypassing the queues of tourists taking the boat trip. However, the journey requires careful planning as challenges occur at the very start where a ferry glide is required to cross Jack Sound with its intimidating tidal race.

We were fortunate on this trip to be joined by Chris Taylor, who is the Warden for Skomer and who has recently taken up sea kayaking as an interest. Despite his growing knowledge of the water around the island Chris, along with all the paddlers in the group, were particular taken by the tide race running from the Garland Stone. With effort and careful paddling in confused waters, everyone was pleased to pass the Mew Stone and rest in South Haven before finishing with a surf in Little Sound before heading home.

The final day of the main event was spent circumnavigating Caldey Island, which is a pleasant trip at the best of times. On this occasion the group launched from Tenby and after rounding the island, landed at Lydstep. An feature about Caldey is that it has been inhabited since the Stone Age, and has been home to various orders of monks since Celtic times. It is now owned by monks of the Cistercian Order.

Before leaving Pembroke, I ran a 3* Sea training day for some of the staff from Stackpole and a couple of guests. David Leathborough also joined us on the water to do some filming.  David, through his business Focused on Adventure, has been commissioned  by the British Canoe Union to produce a series of videos that will set out the standards of what is expected at 3* and 4* across all the paddling disciplines. So keep an eye out for them in the autumn.

Overall, the group had a pleasant time paddling out of West Angle with surfing, rock hopping, rescues and rolling thrown in along with other aspects of the 3* syllabus. Perhaps even one of two movie stars in the making as well!

As for me, Pembroke is not a place I visit frequently so being invited down to be a guest coach is a much a busman's holiday as anything and a very enjoyable one at that. And as one might expect, both my Tiderace Xcite and Kokatat paddling gear served me well throughout.

Bardsey Adventures

I recently had the chance to get on the water with Justine and Barry along with other Bardsey Island 'virgins' like myself - Pete Astles from Peak UK and Jeff Cochran. This may be a terrible admission to some but this is a trip I've wanted to do but had not yet done till Barry gave my an inspired phone call and serendipity played its part. And in case your wondering, we left the sixth member of the team behind! 

The open crossing itself, whilst having an air of commitment about it, was uneventful on this occasion but one can appreciate the complex nature of the tides and the need for thorough planning, even in the best of conditions. If a paddling team wanted to ensure not only a successful crossing but a rounding of the island also, then some thought needs to go into the undertaking.

Landing on Bardsey enabled us to enjoy the hospitality of the Porter family who have been living and working on Ynys Enlli since October 2007 and amongst other things run a superb tea and gift shop. The other things consist of farming 400 Welsh mountain sheep, 20-30 Welsh Black cattle and various poultry, as well as managing the land and performing monitoring duties for the RSPB.

In all, a wonderful day in great company with superb scenery and paddling conditions. And as with any jolly outing, it was rounded off with fish and chips then home made scones - food of champions :o)