Springboard to Summer
Dorset Coast Sea Kayak Get Together
17th, 18th & 19th May 2024
Countdown to event start!
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As Summer beckons, all happy and content and we start to look forward to those blue sky days and warm waters of Summer sea kayaking. We thought, there’s no better time to get some cool people together in a fantastic location and have some adventures in our sea kayaks to set us up for Summer!
If you haven’t heard (this is unlikely), the Dorset coast is a sea kayaking mecca with miles and miles of amazing coastline to explore within easy reach…you may even get to paddle to the Isle of Wight!
What’s the big idea? Our friends at Active Paddling in Dorset have been supporting our Summer Sigh event in September since it’s inception and they were keen to offer a similar weekend in Dorset to start the summer off with a bang! So, as the community minded social enterprise that we are , we jumped at the chance to support them and in turn give you all another fantastic weekend of sea kayaking in another awesome location. It’s been so well received that we’re now onto the third edition!
In our hearts, we’re paddlers who just love being on the water doing our own thing, looking out for each other and having our own adventures. Like the popular Summer Sigh, this ethos and approach will shape the weekend – it’s not about big groups being looked after while you get “out of your comfort zone”, it’s about making decisions based on your ability and being a useful member of a team at sea and learning from each other.
We will be working in small groups, headed up by our team of experienced local legends, who are there to show you round all the best bits this fantastic coastline has to offer.
At the end of the day we’ll get back together round the campfire for food, to swap stories and exciting tales about all things paddling and drink local ale or cider and plan for tomorrow’s adventures…actually, probably plan then drink ale and cider!
What you need to know:
Location
We will be based out of Burnbake Campsite (BH20 5JH) a lovely spot within easy reach of some amazing paddling.
Timings
Although there is nothing formal organised for the Friday there will be the opportunity to meet up with new and old friends and go for an informal paddle if you wish. We’ll all be there from 16:00 to welcome you into camp and if you fancy it you can get a delicious meal at a local pub.
The event will start proper on Saturday morning with a welcome from us at 09:00 and then we break straight off into our groups and hit the water. We’ll aim to be back in camp by about 18:00 where the BBQ and campfires will be ready to go for 19:00 if not earlier.
Costs
The full weekend will cost £120 per person and includes; two nights camping at the lovely Burnbake Campsite, two full days of guided sea kayak adventures and Saturday night’s BBQ and Talk.
Weekend Only option will cost £99. This is for two full days of guided sea kayak adventures (Does not include the Camping, BBQ or Talk)
There is also a £50 per person non-paddling option including 2 nights camping and the Saturday BBQ and Talk for non-paddling friends and family.
Please note : all prices will incur a small booking fee.
Extras
- I’d like one of those sweet looking Springboard to Summer T-shirts please – £17.50. Visit our merchandise shop to order yours ahead of the event.
Friday 17th
Although there is nothing formal organised for the Friday there will be the opportunity to meet up with friends old and new and go for an informal paddle if you wish. We’ll all be there to welcome you into camp from 16:00. We’ll make sure the campfire is lit as the sun goes down for you together and share salty stories from your previous adventures.
Saturday 18th - Full Day Adventures
We will of course be at the mercy of the weather and swell as we always are when sea kayaking, so the following are examples of sessions we hope to run and are subject to the weather, the tides and any last minute changes.
Adventure full day options for Saturday could include:
- Coastal Cruising – Ideal if you’re looking to cover a bit of ground and explore some of the fantastic coastline, watch wildlife and just relax and enjoy yourself. Lots of opportunities to get out and stretch your legs and there is a high certainty of an ice cream stop…or two! A rough idea of distance would be approximately 10 – 15 km.
- Coastal trip – Weather permitting, we’ll go and explore some of the beautiful Jurassic Coast. You’ll need to be happy sat in your boat for a few hours at a time while we check out this stunning coastline. A rough idea of distance would be approximately 15+ km.
- Getting to grips with Rock hopping – where the sea meets the land is one of the most exciting places you can be in a kayak. We won’t go far but we’ll have lots of fun exploring caves, gullies, cliffs and rough water. A great opportunity to learn how to enjoy this dynamic environment as part of a team safely and responsibly. You’ll need to have some basic rescue training and be happy getting back in your boat with assistance.
- Rock hopping extravaganza – the goal? Have as much fun as possible exploring every rock, gully, cave, pour-over, wave and cliff. We often paddle 10km in a 2km (as the crow flies) section of coast, it’s that good! Sharing a team approach to safe rock hopping principles, you’ll need a reasonable set of rough water rescue skills including a reliable roll and a sense of adventure!
Above trips are examples and are subject to guides available and the weather on the day. You’ll choose your trip the night before once the plans have been made!
Sunday 19th - Full Day Adventures
We will of course be at the mercy of the weather and swell as we always are when sea kayaking, so the following are examples of sessions we hope to run and are subject to the weather, the tides and any last minute changes.
Adventure full day options for Sunday could include:
- Coastal Cruising – ideal for anyone with limited experience and looking to get a bit more confidence. We’ll look at safe paddling and etiquette in surf zone, skills, techniques and basic rescues. We’ll have lots of rests and long lunch break to refuel – you don’t need to be a super human to enjoy this day.
- Mellow coastal trip – Ideal if you’re looking to cover a bit of ground and explore some of the fantastic coastline, watch wildlife and just relax and enjoy yourself. Lots of opportunities to get out and stretch your legs and there is a high certainty of an ice cream stop…or two! A rough idea of distance would be approximately 10 – 15 km.
- Coastal trip – Weather permitting, we’ll go and explore some of the beautiful Jurrassic Coast. You’ll need to be happy sat in your boat for a few hours at a time while we check out this stunning coastline. A rough idea of distance would be approximately 15+ km.
- Getting to grips with Rock hopping – where the sea meets the land is one of the most exciting places you can be in a kayak. We won’t go far but we’ll have lots of fun exploring caves, gullies, cliffs and rough water. A great opportunity to learn how to enjoy this dynamic environment as part of a team safely and responsibly. You’ll need to have some basic rescue training and be happy getting back in your boat with assistance.
- Rock hopping extravaganza – the goal? Have as much fun as possible exploring every rock, gully, cave, pour-over, wave and cliff. We often paddle 10km in a 2km (as the crow flies) section of coast, it’s that good! Sharing a team approach to safe rock hopping principles, you’ll need a reasonable set of rough water rescue skills including a reliable roll and a sense of adventure!
- Traditional Greenland Paddling Skills and Rolling – Greenland paddling and rolling has seen a recent upsurge in interest over the past few years, come and find out what all the fuss is about…the first half of the day you’ll go on a journey looking at how we use the Greenland stick to paddle efficiently and effectively. The afternoon id your opportunity to try out some of the 37 or so Greenland Rolls…no surprises, it will also help improve your euro blade roll.
Above trips are examples and are subject to guides available and the weather on the day. You’ll choose your trip the night before once the plans have been made!
Where does your money go?
Channel UK Events CIC is a not for profit organisation whose mission is to get people outside and active but also give them an active focus outside of life’s day to day responsibilities that lasts year-round. Be that, getting fit to run your first 5km off road event, riding your bike once a week so you can complete the Exmoor Explorer or in this case be inspired to explore new places, meet new people and be part of your own sea kayak adventures and the wider paddling community…so you’re helping us do that…thanks!
Sea kayaking is super cool everyone knows it…everyone it seems that is over the age of about 35. We’ll be using some of your money to subsidise or give away free places to local people under the age of 23 to hopefully inspire them and show them that sea kayaking isn’t just aqua rambling and something you do when you get too old to paddle white water. We’ll also be looking to engage with people with mental health issues and economically disadvantaged local people from the Bideford area and sort them out with a ticket to the get together and membership to the excellent and very active Bideford Canoe Club. Incidentally any money from boat hire goes straight to Bideford Canoe Club.
You’ll be supporting local young people into employment. – North Devon and Exmoor has some of the country’s worst social mobility rates. We are trying to tackle this by providing year-round apprenticeships with our sister company Channel Training that will equip them with the skills they need to either set up their own local business, progress to further education or work across the globe as professional outdoor instructors. They will be there at the weekend, have a chat with them find out about how the scheme works and what it does for them.
We’ll obviously need to give the campsite some money for having us and quite a bit goes to looking after our guides, most if not all are giving their time for free this weekend and in the preparation for this weekend.
It’s going to be a great weekend we hope you can make it!
Fancy coming along?
2024 event tickets will go live on the 1st November 2023!
FAQs
I’m not sure, is this event for me?
If you some sea kayaking experience and are happy being in open water then this is the event is for you. Kayaking is a super inclusive activity and we’re all a friendly bunch. If you’re not sure which adventures to go on, get in touch and we’ll help you out.
Can under 18’s paddle?
Unfortunately we’re not able to open this years event up to under 18’s – rest assured though we’re working on this for next year.
Do I need to have my own boat?
Yes, this is a gathering of paddlers with a level of sea kayaking experience. There will be trips to suit different experience levels but each person should be a valuable member of the group who can look after themselves.
Can non-paddling family and friends come?
Sure thing, there is lots to do nearby – but we’d love it if they joined in even if it was just in the beach clean on Friday evening. The cost would be £50 per person for the 2 nights camping and the BBQ and Talk on Saturday night.