WRSI Trident Helmets have landed here

After a short wait we've finally taken delivery of the WRSI Trident. They look great and everyone is coming through giving them the once over.

Some people have even bought them, that's how good they are.

£139.00

Alternative Ulster - Alternative Energy

On Wednesday, I had the good fortune to be delivering a Scorpio to one of our customers in Lisburn. She'd arranged with a few other members of one of the kayaking clubs that she paddles with for me to bring some demo boats across. We had a mixed bag, including the Rockpool Taran, P&H Cetus MV & Tiderace Xplore. One of the guys paddled across from the other side of the lough at Portaferry in his Nordkapp Jubilee which he 'kindly' allowed me to paddle while he tried some of the demo boats. They also had a chance to try some wing paddles from Schwarzer the Zasteras and our best sellers from Mitchell Blades.



We paddled out from the ferry terminal at Strangford, past the Turbine. There were a number of whirlpools forming behind this, but it strikes me as a very reliable form of renewable energy, after all the tide has been running in and out twice a day for as long as I can remember...


A quick run down the lough to Angus Rocks where we stopped for a brew and then it was back up to Strangford so I could reload the boats and get back to Dublin to cross the Irish Sea the easy way.

I really enjoyed paddling this stretch of water, it was reminiscent of the southern end of the Menai Straits, but the abundance of wildlife didn't seem to have been disturbed by the new energy generation scheme in place here. Thanks to the members of Belfast Kayak club for their company and Navarat for making it possible for me to discover this gem for myself.

Preparing for the Season

I've noticed an increase in the traffic across the Island in the last week by some hardy folk who are obviously keen to take to the water (despite the air temperature) and it made me reflect on a little incident that I was involved in a few years ago.

We went for a day paddle down in Pembrokeshire, everything seemed fine, but the boat was becoming increasingly hard to handle in the windy conditions (the pebble in the skeg box probably wasn't helping). Eventually when we reached the shore again, we discovered that the hatch covers on the boat had perished over the winter season, they looked perfectly fine until you pressed down on them at which point they opened up like swiss cheese.

Considering this and the issues we've had with small mammalians taking up residence within our extensive fleet over the winter period in recent years, my top tip for the day is give you're boat the once over ahead of the first trip of the season and leave yourself plenty of time to get the spares/replacement parts that you may need. Hatches, backbands & decklines that may have been nibbled. Check your flares are in date and haven't perished. check how long the battery in your VHF will hold a charge for. Give towlines the once over, check your PFD hasn't been nibbled (those blighters will eat ANYTHING). As they said when I was Scout "Be Prepared".

Plan ahead and enjoy that first paddle of the season.

Forward Planning

It might not feel like it today, but Spring isn't that far away and we've got a killer deal on some spring/summer paddlewear for this season.








We're offering the Peak UK Short Sleeve Semi Double Waist Cag (RRP £95) with a free Short Sleeve Thermal Rash Vest (RRP £35), it's a winning combination perfect for summer playboating, surfing and even touring.




The cags we have available are in Red and the Rashys are in black.



Plan ahead and bag a bargain, because when they're gone.....





Pete

Peak UK Tourlite Zip PFD now in stock in all Sizes & Colours

The outstanding value Tourlite PFD from Peak UK has now come back into stock in all sizes and colours. It was a huge hit last summer, despite not arriving in stock until August, we were sold out by November, as at £60 for a zip up PFD with a pocket it's just such a good deal, we really couldn't get them fast enough at one point last year.

Just drop us a line to place your order.

Pete

Tiderace kayaks on Anglesey

We're pleased to announce that we are Tiderace Kayaks newest dealer.

We've just added an Xplore and an Xcite to our demo fleet and have all three sizes of the new Xcape due to arrive at the end of March.

It just adds to the wide variety of equipment from various manufacturers that you can come and try up here on 'Sunshine Island', Anglesey.

Drop us a line for more details or to book your demo.

Pete

Cetus Classic just £1899

We've very limited stock of the original Cetus (now known as the 'classic'), this popular boat is now available (while stocks last) for just £1899 against the usual price of £2299.

It's a deal, it's a steal, it's the sale of the century.....

You get my drift?

Pete

When the wind stops a blowin' it's time to start Puffin!!

The wind has finally dropped to something approaching a sensible level, so we had a few more options open to us today.

With slight Easterly to North-Easterlies forecast, it was time to take in some scenery and some wildlife. So we headed North-East to Penmon and paddled out to circumnavigate Ynys Seiriol (Puffin Island to the non-Welsh speakers reading this).

What a cracking day we had. Light winds and a little chop as we paddled through the race.

We explored caves.

The seals explored us.

Dan explored the performance of three different boats and his own performance (Thanks Rockpool).

We explored the Pilots House Cafe at the end of the day.

Cracking!!!!

What to do when the forecast is for high winds?

With an inshore forecast of 5-6, occasionally Gale 8, we wondered where to go today for the 'Coaching & Demo' week.

With the wind direction, the Straits would have been an obvious choice, but we'd paddled there yesterday, so we headed North-East to Moelfre. Foul weather on arrival made a pre-paddle coffee and teacake in Ann's Pantry an essential delaying tactic.

Then we hit the water with a whole family of 'Ceti' (that's the correct term for a multiple of Cetus if my vague memories of Latin at Eastbrook Comp are correct). Daddy Cetus (Regular), Mummy Cetus (MV) and Baby Cetus (LV) were all put through their paces and like Goldilocks, you're now able to find one that's "just right"!!

Where shall we go tomorrow??

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

They're here!!!

After months of anticipation, they've finally arrived. I have in my hands the new Standard Horizon HX851E.

I've been online to obtain a Licence for my unit and secure my MMSI number by visiting http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/ships-radio/

A painless (and cost free task) which took me about 15 minutes, because I actually scanned through the bits that I was ticking the boxes for saying that I accepted the terms and conditions for (don't worry, it's nowhere near as long as i-tunes T&C's).

Just entered the MMSI number into my handset, took another minute or two and that's it done. I'm hot to trot!!

Carpe Diem

Last night I got a call from my friend Adam "What are you doing tomorrow?"



"Working" I replied.



"Ah, we're going to paddle round the Stacks...."



"Mmm, might be a bit lumpy" I suggested. "It's been pretty windy for the last couple of days".



"It'll be alright" said Adam.



"I'm cooking breakfast for the whole family tomorrow morning, so I can't start before 10, keep me in the loop"



"I'll call you in the morning" he replied.



Fast forward to 08:00 this morning, phone rings "We're going are you coming?"



After 3 weeks of working my backside off, I decided I needed some me time.



"Yeah, the sun is shining, the wind has dropped" I have the luxury of living on the island.



"What time have we got to be on the water for?"



"Eleven".





"Call round and pick up the Cetus MV for Anne to try and I'll get my stuff together, I'm in."





I finished cooking breakfast (a Full Welsh) Bacon, Selsig (by Edwards of Conwy), Mushrooms, Beans, Black Pudding, Hash Browns, Toast, Coffee and OJ. Well if I'm going paddling I'll need fuelling.




At 10:10, I started running round like a loon, looking for my kit. I couldn't find my rash vest (it was shorty cag weather today), so ran into the shop and treated myself to a nice new one.





We hit the water, it was a little windier than when I'd got up this morning, and the tide was racing as we approached North Stack.





After a short play in the race we headed around the corner into the cave before Parliament Cave.






















We passed climbers at Parliament Cave, who were clearly making the most of the blue skies and sundried cliffs.


We headed on to South Stack, Anne was clearly at ease in the Cetus MV.

Padling on soon saw us back at Porthdafarch, for the end of our paddle. A quick drive through Holyhead and we picked up Adams van, then back to base for a beer and a sandwich and I suddenly felt strangely motivated to get on with some work that had been dragging until now.


Thanks Anne & Adam.

Carpe diem - Sieze the day.
It should be a motto for us all, because life's too short to miss out on experiences like todays.

New Boats On Anglesey

At the start of this month we took delivery of two New boats from P&H:
The Delphin - a radical new concept in sea kayak design, it's been described as the 'sea kayakers playboat'.
The Cetus MV - a refinement of the Cetus to suit smaller and mid-sized paddlers. A pleasure to paddle.

Both of these are now available for demo at our base on 'Sunshine Island' (aka Anglesey), along with the full range of Mitchell Touring Blades.

Happy Paddling!
Pete
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