Sit-On-Top Kayaks – Top Tips for Safe Paddling

Posted on July 5, 2011 @ 4:05 PM in

A mini revolution in kayaking has happened over the past few years, with the continued growth of Sit-On-Top Kayaks or SOTs.  They were perhaps frowned upon initially by the traditional canoeing fraternity but no one can deny their success in allowing a whole new wave of people enjoying paddle sports.

To get to the bottom of this we caught up with Rodger Hamilton, Participation and Club Development Officer at the Canoe Association Northern Ireland (CANI).

 

CanoeNI.com – What exactly is a sit on top kayak?

Rodger
A Sit on Top is a kayak that has no closed cockpit; you just sit on top of the hull where you will have a molded seat and footrest to get comfortable on. 

CanoeNI.com - Why have they become so popular?

Rodger
Like most good ideas they are simple and easy to use.  Some people fear getting their legs trapped inside a conventional kayak but sit on tops are really stable, even if you do fall off you can just climb back on board again.

Watersports have traditionally been quite expensive but this has changed with sit on tops, they are relatively inexpensive with a starter kit costing around £300-£350 from several major retailers.  They can easily be carried on a roof rack and their plastic structure makes them very durable.

CanoeNI.com - What are they best used for?

Rodger
Their versatility is also their strength. People use them to play in the surf, short trips along flat water rivers, and because they are so stable they have become really popular with keen fisherman.  

CanoeNI.com - What are the top five tips to paddling on safely?

Rodger
Even though the boats are very forgiving it is still important that you master the basic skills and safety procedures.

• Let people know your route plan for your paddle trip
• Paddle in a groups of 3
• Be able to self rescue
• Be able to do an assisted rescue incase a group member is tired is struggling to get back onto his craft
• Carry appropriate safety equipment

The best way to ensure you are prepared is to sign up for a free CANI Sit on Top awareness day. The aim of the course is to raise awareness and provide you with basic skills, rescue techniques and knowledge that you need for paddling in different environments.

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 Upcoming CANI Sit on Top Awareness Courses

Saturday 2nd July – Location East Coast                    

Saturday 23rd July – Location North Coast

Saturday 6th August – Location North Coast

Don’t forget to check out CanoeNI.com’s Have a go section for more have a go days, courses, guided trips etc.

 

 

CanoeNI.com reviews Irish Canoe Classics

Posted on May 23, 2011 @ 5:16 PM in

CanoeNI.com give their thoughts on the recently published guide book Irish Canoe Classics .. Thirty Four Great Canoe & Kayak Trips. 

The canoeing community (especially in Northern Ireland) is quite small so we had heard on the grape vine that Eddie Palmer and Tony Monaghan were out and about in Ireland researching and writing this book for Pesda Press.  So as official developers and promoters of Northern Ireland’s Canoe Trails you can imagine how keen we were to get our hands on a copy to see how the trails measured up.

Pesda Press has previously published the highly rated ‘Scottish Canoe Classics’ and ‘Welsh Sea Kayaking’ and there is no doubt that this will be come a welcome addition to any avid canoeist’s coffee table or book shelf.

The authors admit that the book is ‘…a simple and practical guide…’ and ‘…is not a comprehensive guide to all waterways…’ We most definitely appreciate this challenge having produced waterproof trail guides to accompany our trails.  It is real challenge to provide detail in print format because fundamentally details change on a regular basis – hence we have focused on providing detail in a web format.

Its simplicity is the guide’s strength. Our course Eddie & Tony have spent countless hours compiling the information but the real skill is how it has been put together to make the information timeless so the guide book will have a good shelf life (well for the next five years or so anyway.)

There is enough information to inspire you to get out and make the next step; great overview maps, shuttle info, hazards, portages and route descriptions.  The paperback book is not designed to bring out of the water with you but it is designed to get you out of the house and explore new places. 

We are delighted with the coverage of Northern Ireland’s Canoe Trails.  Each of the canoe trails – Lough Erne, Lough Neagh, River Blackwater, Lower Bann and Strangford Lough are portrayed with great accuracy.  They also provide some welcome additions to the Lough Erne Canoe Trail with trips along the River Erne from Lough Gowna to Belturbet and along the Woodford River from Leitrim to Crom.

All in all a great inspirational book, long overdue in Ireland – it knows exactly what it is trying to be and performs the function perfectly.  We hope you enjoy many long days on the water as a result this book.

The book can be purchased from Pesda Press or Cordee Books

Record chasers paddle NI Coastline

Posted on May 13, 2011 @ 4:28 PM in

It seems like kayak circumnavigators of Ireland are just like buses,  you wait for ages for one and then two turn up!

 

Following our recent coverage of Elaine ‘Shooter’ Alexander’s challenge to become the first Northern Irish woman to circumnavigate Ireland by kayak we have come across another pair trying to break the Irish kayaking circumnavigation record. 

Whilst Elaine has captured the attention of the local media, Jeff Allen and Harry Whelan have some what slipped under the radar.  Perhaps this is because of the pace they are moving at.  

The duo are trying to break the long standing 33-day circumnavigation record set in 1990 by Mick O’Meara, Dermot Blount, Brian Fanning and Karl Heery.

Currently they are en route to Dublin having made short work of Northern Ireland’s coastline paddling from Portrush to Carlingford in about 5 days.  Today marks day 22 so with 11 more days to go they look odds on to break the record – but with a lot of water to cover I don’t think anybody will be placing bets just yet.  

You can follow Elaine on www.canoearoundireland.com and Jeff & Harry on http://roundireland2011.blogspot.com/

Epic Solo Circumnavigation Begins

Posted on May 4, 2011 @ 1:31 PM in

Elaine Alexander aka Shooter set off on Tuesday 3rd May on her challenge to become the first woman from Northern Ireland to circumnavigate Ireland by kayak.

The epic trip started with a bang as Elaine launched from County Antrim Yacht Club at Whitehead with the strong onshore wind generating powerful waves crashing off the rocky beach.

A large crowd of well wishes and media roared, cheered and watched in amazement as Elaine battled her way through the swell often disappearing completely between the crest of the oncoming waves. 

The challenge will involve a solo voyage of 1000 miles battling tides, headlands, cliffs, not to mention unpredictable weather. 

The motivation for the trip is not only the 1000 mile challenge but also to raise much needed funds for the registered charity – SHARE. In 2011 SHARE based in County Fermanagh will celebrate 30 years of providing outdoor activity programmes which promote the inclusion of disabled & non-disabled people in a wide range of arts, land and water based recreational programmes. 

Elaine’s first day saw her battle against a strong headwind and oncoming waves until her first stop of point Donaghadee. She has continued to make good progress today on her clockwise route before returning to the same location in approximately two months time.

Amanda Poole interviewed Share's General Manager Robert Livingstone for an article in Wednesday 4th April's Belfast Telegraph 

He said: “Elaine is determined and fun to be around. She’s totally dedicated to what she sets her mind to and always gets the job done. It’s a brilliant challenge and completing the 1,000 miles will be a great achievement.

“She’s put so much work into preparation and training, sorting out maps, rest areas and equipment. Up from 6.30am each day, paddling before work and again for a few hours after.”

Robert was one of 80 guests at the newly-refurbished Co Antrim Yacht Club in Whitehead yesterday to wish Elaine well on her daunting challenge.

Robert said: “She’ll have it tight in her first week, as the wind will be in her face for the first four or five days. The money raised will make a huge difference to us. We have an old bus we would like to replace with one adapted for wheelchair access.”

UTV Live has some great footage of the launch available via the UTV Player

Elaine’s trip has been made possible with generous support from Valley Sea Kayaks, Desperate Measures, Lendal Paddles, North South Marine, River Lake Sea, Yak, Brookbanks Canoes and Kayaks, Signal Signs, Asda Enniskillen, Canoe Association for Northern Ireland and Blackthorn Design.

Irish Solo Circumnavigation by kayak begins

Posted on April 20, 2011 @ 4:17 PM in

Elaine Shooter Alexander is shortly set to embark on the challenge to become the first woman from Northern Ireland to circumnavigate Ireland by kayak.

The challenge will involve a solo voyage of 1000 miles battling tides, headlands, cliffs, not to mention unpredictable weather. 

The motivation for the trip is not only the 1000 mile challenge but also to raise much needed funds for the registered charity – SHARE. In 2011 SHARE based in County Fermanagh will celebrate 30 years of providing outdoor activity programmes which promote the inclusion of disabled & non-disabled people in a wide range of arts, land and water based recreational programmes.

Elaine’s trip will begin at on Tuesday 3rd May from County Antrim Yacht Club in Whitehead on the shores of Belfast Lough.  Almost immediately her first challenge is to cross Belfast Lough’s busy shipping channel which includes the fast moving Stena HSS.  From there she will continue her clockwise route before returning to the same location in approximately two months time. 

Before departing Elaine will officially open the newly refurbished boathouse at County Antrim Yacht Club, which was originally built in c.1870 to house the local lifeboat and was an integral part of the Coastguard station.  The boathouse which is a listed building and a fine remnant of maritime history within the Whitehead Conservation Area has been extensively refurbished and will provide a storage facility for canoes and kayaks.   It will not only be used by local members but will act as a top class facility for visiting canoeists and kayakers using the soon to be launched East Coast Canoe Trail, a key highlight of this trail is the nearby Gobbins cliffs residence to a puffin colony.  The present Commodore of Commodore of County Antrim Yacht Club said "we are delighted Elaine has chosen CAYC for her starting point on what is a special day for us with the official opening of the refurbished boat house, Elaine stopped off with us on her last trip around Ulster and we are sure that she will be amazed at the transformation that has taken place since then. We look forward to welcoming Elaine back on the completion of her challenge and hopefully many other canoeist’s and kayakers in the future."

Elaine has been training and studying hard to ensure she is both mentally and physically prepared for the challenge that lies ahead, as she highlights:

“Last year I paddled around Ulster which took 26 days and prepared me for some of what to expect for this expedition. I am out training at least 3 times a week paddling short distances of about 10 miles with longer coastal trips at the weekend. I also spend 3 nights a week working on maps, planning the route, rest areas and calculating tides.”

A well-known personality in Irish canoeing circles with recognised pedigree, Elaine has successfully combined a career as an outdoor pursuits instructor at SHARE along with competing in local, national and international canoeing events.  This measure of competence is coupled with a competitive streak which reached its pinnacle in 2005 and 2007 when representing Northern Ireland at the Surf Kayak World Championships in Costa Rica and Mundaka respectively.

It was whilst taking disabled groups canoeing at SHARE that Elaine got her inspiration for this challenge and the target of fundraising £10,000. This money will be allocated towards a fully accessible bus which will ensure further disabled groups will be able to travel and enjoy an outdoor recreation experience on Lough Erne in the future.  Fundraising is of paramount importance to ensure this charity can continue to deliver its much needed work.

Elaine will keep in touch through regular posts, updates and uploads on social networking sites Facebook, Twitter and Youtube and is fundraising through Just Giving with regular blogs and a map on her website which will pinpoint her location on route. All links are available from her website www.canoearoundireland.com

“I have a good team behind me which means that I can concentrate on the trip and ensuring I have all the right equipment and have taken the correct precautions to ensure as safe a journey as possible. The trip would not be possible without help from my sponsors who have supplied me with a boat, safety equipment food rations and promotional items for the journey. It is great to see nearly 800 followers on facebook and a lot of interaction on posts and tweets so far. I will blog when possible throughout the trip. I would like to a big say thank you to all those that have donated so far and encourage anyone who would like to support this worthy cause to gift-aid donations online through our justgiving page www.justgiving.com/canoe-around-ireland.”

Elaine’s trip has been made possible with generous support from Valley Sea Kayaks, Desperate Measures, Lendal Paddles  North South Marine, River Lake Sea, Yak, Brookbanks Canoes and Kayaks, Signal Signs, Asda Enniskillen, Canoe Association for Northern Ireland and Blackthorn Design.