Crouch Kayak Club

Sunday 24th August Club Paddle - Seal Watching on the Wallasea Lap Taking advantage of the highest weekend tides throughout the summer and low winds, makes lapping Wallasea island a fairly easy paddle for any ability. With sunny skies and hardly any wind, on the day, 5 members of the kayak group set out from a Burnham Sailing Club for a relaxed day on the river. As it was Burnham Week, it was lovely to see the Thames Barge moored up at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club as we headed down river towards the entrance to the River Roach. Heading around Wallasea island in a clockwise direction means that for the first leg of this trip, we need to head against the incoming tide, from Burnham Sailing Club to the entrance of the River Roach is about a 40 minute paddle, made a lot easier with hardly any wind on this day. Once you turn into the River Roach, you are then being pushed with the incoming tide for the rest of the paddle, with the south side of Wallasea Island normally providing any required shelter from incoming winds. This part of the river is very popular for Seal watching and we normally encounter the planned tour boats which leave daily from Priors Pontoon at Burnham and Essex Marina on south side of the River Crouch. Due to the really good weather on the day and as "Promised by Dan", we were able to float by a large group of seals resting on the banks of Foulness Island enjoying the midday sunshine. We then paddled up to Paglesham Boatyard for a well deserved lunch and to stretch our legs. After lunch we made the short paddle up Paglesham Creek, where we meet up with Amanda & Martin who kindly helped us with lifting the boats across the main road leading into Wallasea. We then paddled down Lions Creek and headed back to Burnham Sailing Club as a larger group, before watching some of the Burnham Week racing from the end of the pontoon. After a day of very relaxed weather and hardly any wind, on arrival to BSC we were greeted by increasing winds and a lot of chop at high tide. Overall, another lovely 4 hour paddle around Wallasea and probably our last one for this Summer, we will be back around on the next high tides in November, December and January. Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Dan / Martin

Sunday 17th August Club Paddle - Dengie Flats & Foulness Sands Taking advantage of the continued warm summer weather and ideal conditions for a slightly longer paddle, 6 paddlers from the CKC took to the water on Sunday 17th August with one aim, let’s go "Out, Out", as one famous comedian would say. The aim of this paddle was to get outside the banks of the River Crouch and the relative shelter this normally provides us with on most of our shorter paddles. This allowed the group to see some parts of the River Crouch and wider coastline they haven't necessarily seen whilst kayaking before, including the Dengie Flats, Foulness Sands, Offshore Windfarms. The additional benefit of heading directly out of the river in the direction of the Whittaker Channel is that we also get to experience the more bracing conditions heading in from the North Sea, including stronger winds and larger waves. The forecast for the paddle held firm throughout the day with a strong easterly breeze gusting up to 19kn head on, providing some bouncy conditions as we passed the entrance to the River Roach and slowly turned directly into the winds as we headed out the River Crouch. Once level with the mouth of the River Crouch, we could easily see the Dengie Flats and Foulness Sands rising on both sides of the channel. Due to the good progress we made on the first leg of our paddle, we arrived around 1 hour early of low tide and had to adjust our plans due to the Dengie Flats being mostly still under the water at this point. We then crossed over towards the Foulness Sands through some lovely chop, with waves exceeding the height we normally get to experience in the confides of the River Crouch on a regular basis. This was a good skills practice for the group and very fun in the warm and sunny weather, whilst taking advantage of the easterly breeze as most of the larger waves would be head on. After arriving on the south side of the channel we stopped for a lunch break, admiring the views across to Foulness Island, Bradwell, Clacton and the Sandbanks in the near distance. After our lunch break, we headed back to home via the South Shore of the River Crouch, staying close to the banks of the Foulness Island before cutting across to the North Shore just past Horse Shoal Buoy. Being tide and wind assisted for the entire paddle home is a real pleasure, also allowing for some surf conditions close to the shallow waters. Overall, a great 14-mile paddle completed in 4 hours, which included our half our stop on the banks of the channel for lunch. We also had the pleasure of celebrating Sophie’s Birthday and hope she enjoyed marking it with such a nice paddle out on the river. Cheers Dan Photos Supplied: Dan / Dee / Sophie

We’re excited to introduce Paddle Points , a brand-new section on our blog dedicated to all things kayak-related. Here, you’ll find a treasure trove of useful information, from choosing the right equipment and mastering essential techniques, to kayak safety tips, maintenance advice, and insider knowledge from seasoned paddlers. We’re kicking things off with a focus on kayak safety and skill-building, sharing a curated collection of rescue and technique videos to help you paddle with more confidence, control, and enjoyment. Whether you’re just starting out or refining advanced manoeuvres, online kayak training videos are an invaluable resource for paddlers of every level. From quick tips on grip and stance to step-by-step guidance on complex rescues, these expert-led clips bring the coach straight to your screen. Think of it as your own floating instructor, 24/7 Paddle Points available any time you need guidance… and without the soggy shoes. Here’s our recommended learning path: Online Resource Video's T he below resources are publicly available from across YouTube channels, below are selection we believe you may find useful. Getting Past “Tippy Kayak”, and learning to edge your kayak - Click Here Advanced Manoeuvres - Click Here Edging a turn in a sea Kayak - Click Here / Turning tips - edging your kayak - Click Here Learning the reflective brace - Click Here Sea Kayak T Rescue - Click Here Sea Kayak Safety Equipment - Click Here Sea Kayak Safety Line - Click Here Self Rescue Training Drills - Click Here / Self Rescue - Cowboy Style - Click Here / Float Self Rescue - Click Here Worth watching this further video as it’s good example of how to get both boats away from any dangers before attempting the T Rescue style - Click Here Pool Sessions As mentioned before, this is an excellent opportunity to practise a variety of strokes, refine your rescue techniques, and generally sharpen your skills, whether you’re a newcomer to paddling or a seasoned kayaker looking to stay at the top of your game. Future Pool Sessions Planned for CKC Members 20th September - 18th October - 22nd November Cheers Dan / Chris Photos Supplied: Club Archive Photos