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Hello fellow paddlers!We are all very keen to return to club activities. The club committee has been working on a plan to re-instate activities guided by Scottish Government recommendations and Scottish Canoe Association (SCA) guidelines. We await further guidance from SCA since the most recent relaxation of COVID restrictions by Scottish Government on 24.06.2020. Here’s where we are so far:  There is very restricted access to Loch Lomond for the foreseeable future: car parks closed, no toilet facilities, launch sites inaccessible, very limited access to container. Our future access will be guided by Park Rangers. Unfortunately this means it is unlikely that there will be any Tuesday night sessions on Loch Lomond over summer.  Phase 2 (current phase)Notifying club members: Information about the club’s response to easing of restrictions will be posted on the website and on Facebook, as well as contact by email.  Trips: Future club-related trips will be posted on the DCKC website calendar and members will be requested to sign up. Hopefully more activity will...

Although phase 1 of the route out of the Covid19 restrictions allows a return to paddling, it does not allow for a return to club activities. No club equipment can be shared and no club coaching can take place (Coaches may be able to offer 1:1 coaching provided that you have your own equipment) The 5 mile travel distance (stay local) also means that many club members cannot get out on the water. Phase 2 may offer a return to some limited club paddling but there are still major constraints in terms of social distancing, group sizes, hygiene measures and it remains to be seen what distances we will be allowed to travel. A steering group from the club committee is working away behind the scenes and hopefully when we move into the next phase we will have a better idea of what paddling activities we can organise as a club. Just keep an eye on the club website, the club facebook...

The Paddlesport Leader qualification allows you to work with groups in the sheltered water environment doing what our boats are designed for, journeying. If you want to run trips on lochs, canals and slow-moving water this is the qualification for you. Sandy is planning to run two days of preparation and then an assessment for this qualification. The prep days are Saturday 4 and Saturday 18 April followed by an assessment on Sunday 19 April (still to be confirmed). If you are interested in this qualification please contact Sandy asap on sandy.johnston@sky.com as soon as possible. For more information see......... https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/courses/paddlesport-leader-award-1 It would be great if we could get a group together and as it is a coaching/ leadership course club participants can access some financial support towards the cost....

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A group of fourteen paddlers signed up for a week’s sea kayaking in the North East of Scotland, we were holding off making decisions about the final destination in the hope that the winds would ease sufficiently for us to head for Orkney or Shetland. We conceded a night or two ahead of departure and converged instead on the Old Brewery Hostel in Cromarty on the Black Isle. The Hostel was a treat – and we nearly had it all to ourselves. Day 1 Saturday Rosemarkie to Cromarty 25km 5 hours Conditions: Dry, light wind, flat calm initially F2 later in day We launched from the beach at Rosemarkie Bay tucked in behind Chanonry Pont, and paddled out to the Point then directly across to Fort George. We had a lunch stop at the atmospheric Eathie salmon station – and learned a thing or two about the salmon fishing industry over the past 2 centuries. As we approached Sutors Stacks, the coastline revealed a few caves and rock formations but...

This is the course to do if you want to get involved in coaching at the club. It provides you with the skills to run 'come and try it' sessions and beginner sessions in a sheltered water environment. The Club is running a Paddlesport Instructor Course over the weekend of Saturday 28 to Sunday 29 September 2019 based at Loch Lomond. The only things that you need to take part are some boat handling skills and you should have attended a Foundation Safety and Rescue Course. (We can arrange one if given enough notice.) Grant aid is available for club paddlers and there is funding available from Sportscotland ( 4 weeks notice required). If interested please contact Sandy Johnston on 07962 226280 or email. sandy.johnston@sky.com...

Due to demand there are 2 one day FS&RT courses running over the weekend of 10 -11 August 2019. There are spaces available on both courses.  This course isn’t just for open boaters. Its for all paddlers including those who sea kayak, river kayak, and SUP (stand up paddleboard). It is a required course if you intend to progress to be a Paddlesport Instructor, but it is not just for those who are considering coaching qualifications. It is the basic safety course that all other safety courses are built on.  It will make you a safer paddler! Some More Information………………….. The British Canoeing Foundation Safety & Rescue Training course is the first safety course that most paddlers encounter as it teaches the safety skills that the other courses then build on and develop. You will be shown simple and effective techniques which will allow you to deal with the common problems that you can be confronted with on flat water whether you paddle...

If only every day was like this! Following a few events and trips during 2019, the committee felt that a little bit of the ethos of the club needed to be written down. It wasn't a big issue but it was felt that it would be useful to try to help newer members to become aware of how trips are organised, what responsibilities people have and how to be a "good group member". The new guide is available at Sea kayaking paddlers guide We would encourage all sea paddler and others to have a read through. (It will always be a work in progress so any typo's, queries or suggestions can be sent to the club's email address for the next version!)...

We obtained some stand-up paddleboards at the end of last year. The club owns 4 which are stored at the Loch Lomond outdoor container. Sandy will be providing the opportunity to try out paddleboarding at the Tuesday night sessions on Loch Lomond. If you want to book one of the four boards available drop him a text on 07962 226280.                 Hopefully it will be a bit warmer than the picture!...

The weekend of 6 to 7 April 2019 is turning into a Foundation Safety and Rescue Weekend! Sandy had organised a course for the Saturday 6 April and this filled up so quickly that he has had to organise a further course for the following day. If you are interested in this course to develop your paddling or if you want to re-visit this course before Paddlesport Instructor training then you should contact Sandy sooner than later to obtain a place. sandy.johnston@sky.com The British Canoeing Foundation Safety & Rescue Training course is the first safety course that most paddlers encounter as it teaches the safety skills that the other courses then build on and develop. You will be shown simple and effective techniques which will allow you to deal with the common problems that you can be confronted with on flat water whether you paddle a kayak, a canoe or a sea kayak. By the end of the course you will...