Keyhaven to Lymington and back – launch time around 10.30 (high tide 12.56) – Contact Rick Covell for more information.

Saturday 10^th November – Calshot to Ashlet Creek and back – a launch time of around 10:30 for high tide at 12:30 (remaining high for 2 hours) so plenty of exploring time  – Contact Rick Covell for more information.

20.5km 3 portages from Elmbridge to Richmond. Details to follow.

Did you take the challenge last year? Whether you did or you didn’t, you need to take up the challenge this time around! Bring your friends and family too. Lots of portaging. Great practice for the Devises to Westminster race. Start and finish at the same place.

See the draft route map below.

Take up your paddles…take up the challenge!

– 13 to 14 miles
– 10 portages
– Open to canoes and kayaks, singles and doubles, juniors, seniors and veterans
– An experience very similar to the Kennet and Avon section of the Devises to Westminster race

We will need a goodly number of volunteers to assist and organise on the day. Please let the race organiser Bill Hansell know if you would like to help out. The usual stuff: check-in, starts/finishes, marshals, car parking, paddlers food etc.

Click here to sign-up online

Download the Race Rules here.

500 entry limit

Day river trip, choosing the best of Dartmoor on the day. Grades 2-3, Walkham, Teign, Dart.  We will choose the river and section depending on paddler abilities and water levels. May switch to South Wales depending on levels. Contact Paul Jeffs for more details.

Watersides A – Great Bedwyn to Newbury. 13.5 miles and 21 portages

Reading CC – Reading to Marlow 19 miles 8 portages

Hamble (Bugle Public House) to Upper reaches and return. Meeting at 11.00. On the water at 11.30. Get in touch with Rick if you want to find out more.

High water at 13.20.

Sea paddle – rescue practice.. Meeting at 10.00. On the water at 10.30. Get in touch with Rick if you want to find out more.

HW 12.55

The Southampton canoe race takes place on the River Itchen where it runs through Southampton City. The section of river used for the race is where the fresh water meets the estuary at Woodmill Activity Centre, down stream to St Mary’s football stadium. The course travels through contrasting sentry from green tree line areas, parks, marinas and some industrial landscapes. The race starts at Riverside Park with all divisions covering two laps of varying distances to achieve they required divisional race distance. Due to the nature of the river banks in this area there are no portages at this event. The spectating areas are limited but we do have very good view of the start and finish area, with competitor going passed a few times. Good facilities from Bitterne Park Social Club with good parking.

This trip has proved very popular.  Brian is working on finding another coach to cope with the demand.  Do still let him know that you are interested if you already haven’t done so.  Also, let Brian know if you are (or know of) a coach that may be willing to assist.  In the event that a coach cannot be found, then sadly the trip will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

From Brian Biffin…

At last I have been able to put together a plan for a sea trip off the Gower Peninsula.

Details below:

The campsite, Skysea – Port Eynon. You will note that they do not accept groups. The rule will be waived in our case! Feel free to book yourself in but add the letters “KC” after your name (denotes kayak club).
Cost / night: Tent + 2 : £25 Really big tent : £30. EHU available at extra cost.  Indoor accommodation available right next door at the Youth Hostel.  There is more luxurious accommodation available, such as The Rickyard B&B.  Hearty evening meals available at the Ship Inn.

So here is the plan:
Saturday 22 June: Have a good shakedown paddle in the afternoon: Paddle out to Port Eynon Point. Surfing / rock dodging, depending on conditions. Observe the strength of the tidal stream at Port Eynon point! Option to arrive Friday if you wish.

Sunday 23 June: launch 9am, arrive Oxwich Bay 11am, option to paddle on a bit before turning back and landing by hotel. Perhaps some folk would prefer to be self contained and not have lunch in the hotel. This would save having to hike all the boats off the beach and park them in the hotel garden for security. We would have all afternoon to enjoy the overfalls off Oxwich point and return to Port Eynon. (7Km each way).

If the weather conditions/sea state are poor on the day, it should be possible to just explore Port Eynon Bay itself.  If weather is really bad, there is an excellent coastal path to Oxwich Bay.  Paddling standard: Confident 2* and above, please.

Full size sea kayaks only.

Please contact me directly if interested.

Rick tells us ‘4 of us have signed up with Fluid Adventures to do a trip to the Isle of Wight and back on the 29^th June, whilst the max size of group is 4 they can run more than 1 group, there is a 3 star paddling criteria and ability to do 25k, It would be nice just to get it out there so people can be aware of the options.’ Get in touch with Rick if you want to find out more.

Sea paddle from Littlehampton to Arun and back. Meeting at 10.30. On the water at 11.30. Get in touch with Rick if you want to find out more. CAR PARK has 2.06m HEIGHT BARRIER.

12.00 High Water

Sea paddle from Keyhaven  to Lymington and back. Meeting at 10.30. On the water at 11.30. Get in touch with Rick if you want to find out more.

14.00 High Water Portsmouth

The race will be part of the 2018/2019 racing season. It is run on the River Thames near Marlow and depending on river conditions, is suitable for paddlers of all abilities. It is a ‘standard’ Hasler race with laps of approximately 6 kms. Divisions 1-3 will do 3 laps and 3 beach portages, Divisions 4-6 will do 2 laps and 2 portages and Divisions 7-9 will do 1 lap and no portages. Lightnings and Hody races will consist of a partial lap and no portages.

Race for Divisions 1-10 and Lightning on the River Thames. For Div 1-6 the portage is at Hambleden Lock. The race is suitable for all competitors, advise using spray decks in windy conditions, the Henley reach can become choppy.

Rick tells us ‘6 of us have signed for another fluid adventure run trip around Portland Bill on the 23^rd September. This one is 2 star in old money. It would be nice just to get it out there so people can be aware of the options.’

Get in touch with Rick if you want to find out more as it may be possible to add a second group.

Weekend river trip, choosing the best of Dartmoor each day. Grades 2-3, Walkham, Teign, Dart.  We will choose the river and section depending on paddler abilities and water levels. Contact Paul Jeffs for more details.

https://www.watersideseries.org.uk/

Watersides A – Great Bedwyn to Newbury. 13.5 miles and 21 portages

Aldermaston > Reading
22 miles 12 portages

http://reading-canoe.org.uk/thamesides/

Newbury to Aldermaston & back. 17½ miles including 19 portages

https://www.watersideseries.org.uk/

Reading to Marlow
19 miles 8 portages

http://reading-canoe.org.uk/thamesides/

Pewsey to Newbury 23 miles 35 portages

https://www.watersideseries.org.uk/

Devizes to Newbury 34 miles 35 portages

https://www.watersideseries.org.uk/

http://www.weykayak.co.uk

Generally on the sheltered water of the River Wey. There are many portages, so spray decks are not required. The Wey is a winding river and navigation. Very good for tactical racing.

http://www.weykayak.co.uk/

he Richmond Hasler Marathon is held from Ham House Car Park, and not from Richmond Canoe Club due to lack of parking at the club. The river is semi Tidal. Due to the time of year there usually is not much flow. RIC provide safety cover BUT paddlers should be competent at rescuing themselves in moving water. http://www.richmondcanoeclub.com

https://elmbridgecanoeclub.com/our-club

The race is held on the Dart Estuary starting from Totnes Rowing Club. The Estuary is wide and open with gently banking sides. No portages. It will be held at high tide so any flows will be gentle.

Run by Exeter Canoe Club

Ocean Race – Not a Marathon Race Entry Level – depending on Conditions Running from Porth Eirias Watersports Centre, Colwyn Bay (see map below), there is ample parking, changing facilities, showers & onsite restaurant café & bar as well as safety cover on the water throughout the event.

15km upstream race or tour on the incoming tide from Conwy to Dolgarrog. This is an open estuary race where the current is strong and the conditions can be rough. All paddlers must wear a buoyancy aid and all boats must have adequate buoyancy for the conditions. We recommend an ability cut off level at Division 7 but experience of similar conditions is more important:

http://www.dcpaddlers.co.uk/conwy_ascent/

Sea Kayak race around Hilbre Island on the mouth of the River Dee Estuary

West Kirby Race (4Km) – Any class of craft, novice padders and Juniors (under 16), SUPs.
Little Eye Race (9Km) – Fast touring boats, Doubles and racing SUPs
Hilbre Race (13Km) – Sea Kayaks, Ladies Sea Kayaks, Tandem Sea kayaks, Racing Surf Skis, High-performance Sea Kayaks and new for this year team of 3 sea kayaks (Must paddle and finish together)

https://www.liverpoolcanoeclub.co.uk/hilbre/

Join Anne and Brian Biffin for this sea kayak trip. Minimum Explore standard or equivalent. Contact Brian for more info and to reserve your place.

2019 saw the inaugural Tewkesbury Hasler draw a large turnout of nearly 200 paddlers, half of whom came from out of region. The River Severn is a good width and mainly straight with minimal flow so is suitable for all paddlers.

http://www.gloucestercanoeclub.co.uk

The challenge covers the 56miles from the centre of Glasgow to the centre of Edinburgh over 2 days with an overnight stop in Falkirk. Day 1 is on the Forth & Clyde Canal whilst Day 2 is on the Union Canal.

Entry is available for singles and doubles completing the whole course as well as a range of different relay and team options so the challenge can be completed by most levels of experience and ability.

This event is also recognised as satisfying the standard required to be allowed to enter the Devizes to Westminster Race.

mhckayaking@aol.com