Category: Uncategorized

Is anyone interested in the Tay Descent? Leigh Murray is looking for like-minded souls who would like to take part in this event. The early-bird registration finishes on 31/07/16 so if you are interested get in touch with Leigh now! The details can be found on the SCA website at http://canoescotland.org/events/highlighted-events/tay-descent-2016  ...

SCA Coaching and Volunteer Conference 2016 This was attended by Louisa Oram and myself last weekend, 23 to 24 April 2016. We both took advantage of having the Friday off work to start the weekend off with an afternoon’s skiing on Cairngorm. I hadn’t been on planks for a year, but the conditions at the top of the mountain were ideal and best of all, it seemed as if nobody knew about it, as there was hardly anyone there. Skiing without queues! Superb. Anyway, after a day on the hill we booked in to Glenmore Lodge where we were met by some of the SCA staff, Andy Murray and Mikaela Meik, who confirmed the various workshops that we were attending and ran through the housekeeping. Then to our rooms to drop stuff off before retiring to the bar for a beer and a bar meal before the evening session. My session over the evening was the SCA Event Safety and I am sure...

Please note that although the Loch Lomond skills session that was mentioned on the Newsletters ?isn't running this Saturday as a Loch Katrine A/B trip was scheduled instead. Apologies for my diary error. Graham...

CANCELLED - PINKSTON SESSION 20th APRIL 2016   BACK AS NORMAL NEXT WEEK....

Fancy learning to kayak on rivers, clean water, fantastic scenery, and sunshine? Okay we cant guarantee the sunshine, it is Scotland after all, but we have had two outings so far in this series of trips which have provided all the above although it has been cold! The temperature will increase as we approach the summer and the water levels will drop but there will still be sufficient rivers for us to paddle and to work on river running skills. The idea for these sessions is to provide club members with the opportunity to develop in this area of kayaking. Participants can be any age and should be of 2 star standard to get the most out of the experience. That doesnt mean that you have to have your 2 star award but you should have 2 star skills such as efficient forward paddling, being able to steer and manoeuvre the boat and being able to prevent a capsize. Being able to...

Rab, Barry, Sue, Tony and Sandy took the first ferry across to Arran on Saturday 5 March. Lovely weather, cold with sunny skies and a force 4 wind looked like it would make for an excellent days paddling. Once off the ferry we found that the usual put-in was being developed and as a result was fenced off. However a short walk took us to a beach next to the ferry terminal where we could launch. We get changed and sorted out the boats while taking in the amazing view of Goat Fell with a snowy covering surrounded by cloudless blue skies. The wind was blowing from the north so the first 3 kms to Corrygills Point  meant we were paddling with a side wind, disconcerting at first but fine when you relaxed into it and applied a little skeg to make life a little easier. After Corrygills point we turned south and with a following sea we made a fair...

Sandy supervising the delivery of the new club container at Balloch. Work is in hand to get it kitted our....

Just to say that the next Pinkston session is 13/01/2016 as they are closed over Christmas (the web calendar has been updated but did show the wrong info). The pub session is this Tuesday - http://dckc.co.uk/event/tuesday-pub-session-2015/?instance_id=1946 has more info. Merry Christmas...

Thought whilst the sun was finally out I'd take full advantage ;o)...

The club, along with Loch Lomond Rowing Club, Lomond triatlon Club and Loch Lomond waterski Club ran 2 very successful "try watersports" days on the 11th and 19th July. With over 100 participants each day and 15 club members along to help each day with coaching, rescue boating, putting up tents, getting people into wetsuits, collating consent forms and moving kit about it was a massive effort and everyone's help was really appreciated. We even remembered to have a donations jar on the second day and have £40 for club funds. A big thank you to Garry o'Donnel and David MacDonald who helped out massively with the preparations needed to make it happen. we were helped with the costs by the Cashback for Communities Fund - thank you to the police and fiscals for catching some bad guys - keep up the good work....

Hi folks , Elizabeth and I have looked again at weather forecast for Saturday’s trip and looks too windy. Forecast is for 20 + miles an hour wind with gusts of 40-50. Doesn’t look much better for Sunday. So we have decided to cancel the trip.Sorry, am disappointed too. but another time…. Janice...

The weather forecast had everything, sun, wind, rain, snow, cold to start and warming a little,but being a Graham trip and to our regular haunt at Balloch it wasn't cancelled! So we met up, 5 sea kayakers with a wide range of skills and experience under the enthusiastic instruction of Graham. Jo as the (relative) novice Canadian solo canoeist had the benefit of instruction from Glen and Garry, as well as a helping breeze which is a challenge for any solo open canoe paddler. In the sea kayak group we spent most of the day practicing with one theme which Graham repeated a few times in his chats.... "SEA KAYAKS ARE DESIGNED TO GO STRAIGHT". With the day being about turning sea kayaks the main message was to edge the kayak so it actually wants to turn and then use the paddle to make the turns more effective as no matter how strong and skillful the paddler is, it is...