Lothian Sea Kayak Club

Category: Members News

  • Out East (North Berwick)-Skills Development Sessions with Nick Evens

    Hi folks,

    I’m excited to announce a series of coached sea kayaking sessions in North Berwick, organized with the invaluable help of Maria from the LSKC Coaching and Training Sub committee. These sessions will take place on weekday evenings and are designed to enhance your tactical skills and overall efficiency on the water in dynamic conditions.

    Session Outline:

    • Location: North Berwick (Milsey Bay or Seacliff)
    • Focus: Rock gardening, maneuvering in close quarters, adapting to wind and swell, surfing, and rescue practice.
    • Format: 4 sessions, each lasting up to 2 hours.

    Dates and Times:

    • Wednesdays at 6pm (on the water by 6:30pm): July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14
    • Weekend Consolidation Event: Sunday, September 15 (location TBC: St Abbs, Dunbar, or Coldingham)

    Requirements:

    • Completed Sea Kayak Award/Sea Kayak Safety Rescue/Coastal Sea Kayak Award training or equivalent.
    • Comfortable in Force 3/4 conditions and swell.
    • Commitment to at least two-weekday sessions for the September 15 weekend trip.

    Additional Opportunity:

    • SKL/ASKL/coach aspirants – please get in touch if you are interested in supporting Nick at these sessions. Contact mariafhamilton63@gmail.com if interested.

    How to Join:

    • Contact: mariafhamilton63@gmail.com 
    • Details Needed: Availability, recent paddling experience, motivations, and desired outcomes.
    • Limit: Max 5 attendees per session.

    About Me: I’m an experienced Sea Kayak Coach (Moderate Water), Canoe Performance Coach, SUP Open Water Coach, and White Water Leader based in East Lothian. I’m also a cacti enthusiast.

    Looking forward to paddling with you!

  • Club trip report – Journeying to the Summer Isles : 24 May -27 May 2024

    For anyone interested in going to the Summer Isles, you may find our trip report of interest. Great weekend exploring the area.

    https://www.lskc.org/trip_reports/a-kayak-camping-journey-through-the-summer-isles-or-a-trip-of-two-halves/

    Regards Maria Hamilton

  • Boat reorganisation

    Boat reorganisation

    A new boat has been acquired (Scorpio HV – see picture), and the boats have been re-allocated between North Queensferry and Swanston so that there are 2 high volume, 2 medium volume, and 2 low volume boats at each site.

    The club website is up-to-date with the changes.

  • 2024 AGM

    The 2024 AGM will take place on Thursday 28th March at the Grange Club , Portgower Place, Edinburgh, at 7 for 7.30pm

    As some of the committee will be stepping down we are  needing new  committee members.  The committee meets once  every six weeks  and its a great opportunity to contribute to the club.  If you would like to stand for the committee or would like more information about it please e-mail me at membership@lskc.org.

    More information shortly!

  • Winter Pool Sessions

    Winter pool sessions will commence 14 November 2021.

    This year we are moving to a new facility and trialling a new booking system. We will be using Leith Academy pool each Sunday afternoon between 1445 and 1645 running one-hour sessions within this booking. Each one-hour slot will be priced at £10, and ten places will be available in each one hour slot. Coaching and support will be available during each session.

    Initially we are opening up the first block of 6 Sundays for bookings, commencing 14 November, running until Christmas 2021 and giving 120 slots available for members. Further blocks of sessions are planned for next year. The next block will be opened for booking during December.

    You are invited to book slots within this first block. We expect these sessions to be popular, so booking guidelines apply.

    Please note the following guidelines:
    • bookings must done via the club website
    • bookings are only available to LSKC members, who must book individually
    • only single one-hour slots can be booked – please do not attempt to book consecutive hours for the same Sunday
    • a maximum of three one-hour slots can be booked in the first block of sessions i.e. up until Christmas – please do not try and book more than this. We want to give as many members as possible access to these sessions
    • your booking will be approved by an admin – or not (see above)
    • when your booking is approved you will receive an email requesting payment, which will be taken via the club website
    • if you wish to cancel a booking, it will be approved by an admin. In principle, no refunds will be given unless there are exceptional circumstances. If you cancel less than two days beforehand, no refund will be given.

    You are reminded to observe the appropriate Covid precautions as advised at the time and that if you have returned a positive test you should not attend a session.

    Any enquiries to pool@lskc.org

    Booking of pool sessions is via this link:

    LSKC Pool Sessions 2021

  • Winter Talks and Club Nights

    Winter Talks and Club Nights

    Through the ‘dark months’ (ie UTC) LSKC will hold a series of short entertaining talks with plenty of time to mingle. These will be on the third Thursday of the next 4 months – here’s the dates:

    • 18 Nov,
    • 16 Dec,
    • 20th January,
    • 17th February.

    The sessions will be held in the The Grange Club, Portgower Place, Edinburgh EH4 1HQ, who have made their excellent club room available to us (lofty , well ventilated with a bar in the adjoining area).

    Please let David Simpson (davids3904@yahoo.co.uk) know of any topics which you’d like included – or anything you can offer (there is a wealth of experience and expertise within the club- please share it!). Current plans include – introduction to tides, weather, navigation, wildlife of the Forth, Marine Mammal Rescue, Conservation and citizen science.

  • North Queensferry now up and running for storage and general access

    North Queensferry now up and running for storage and general access

    Dear All,

    The club has now entered into an arrangement with North Queensferry Community Trust, enabling all members ( regardless of whether they store kayaks there or not) to access the boat yard- facilities include car parking, toilets, fresh water and launching via the slip or small beach.

    I have attached pictures to give you an idea , and an information sheet giving you the necessary information. We share this location with swimmers, rowers, sailors and motor boaters- who are pleased to see us join them. There are a few points to keep in mind, but nothing onerous and I hope you will take the opportunity to see what the place is like for yourself.

    Roddy MacDowell has emailed inviting you to a paddle/ picnic/ skills session/  get together on Sunday 31st October- which should be a great way to launch the project ( forgive the pun). There is no limit to numbers for this so do come along- but  let us know you’re coming (presumably  to ensure sufficient caviaar is procured….?!!).. a great way to try out this location, dare I say….to dip your toes in the water…?

    ( …..and don’t forget the clocks change!)

    Best wishes,

    David Simpson

    NQ member use instructions

  • Incident Management Talk and Air Ambulance Appeal

    Incident Management Talk and Air Ambulance Appeal

    Lothian Sea Kayak Club had a member fall ill whilst on the water during a leader training session in the summer.

    The casualty was taken to hospital by the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance ( SCAA).

    We are holding an in-person event (remember them?) on Thursday 30th September 8 pm at the Grange Club EH4 1HQ where those involved tell the tale, and a founder member of the SCAA, Mike Beale, will be there to tell us a bit about how the air ambulance service works.

    (more…)

  • COVID 19 Update

    The SCA has updated its guidance on 12 March 2021 in line with the Scottish Government Guidelines. The full guidance can be found under the “News” tab of the SCA website:

    https://www.canoescotland.org/updated-paddlesport-guidance-12th-march#gsc.tab=0

    LSKC will continue to comply with Scottish Government and SCA guidance. Currently that means:

    https://lirp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b9315d6a/dms3rep/multi/opt/March+12th+%281%29-480w.png

    Whilst for “exercise and activity” you must comply with the maximum group size of 4 adults from 2 households for Organised Sport this can be expanded to a maximum number of 15.

    What is required for activity to be “Organised”?

    – The activity must be undertaken in a planned, structured and managed way;
    – Activity is overseen by the appointed COVID Officer
    – A documented risk assessment is undertaken (please refer the LSKC risk assessment on the website)
    – Contact information for all participants hast to be collected and retained for 10 days for Test and
    Protect measures.
    – The number of participants taking part must be managed through ADVANCE organisation and registration.

    It is only where all these conditions are met that the group size of up to 15 people can take part.

    Organised activity does not necessarily have to be run by the club or but it does need to meet all of the criteria above. Please continue to be responsible whilst paddling and ensure you comply with Scottish Government rules and SCA guidance.

    Travel: By law, in a level 4 area, you can only leave your home (or garden) for an
    “essential purpose”, one of which is local outdoor recreation, sport or exercise, that starts and finishes at the same place (which can be up to 5 miles from the boundary of your local authority area). Travel is not allowed further than necessary to reach a safe, non-crowded place to exercise in a socially distanced way.

    The COVID Officer for LSKC is David Grieve, contactable at grieve4@btinternet.com or via committee@lists.lskc.org

    IF REMOVING/REPLACING BOAT IN LSKC STORAGE

    Please continue to follow the detailed guidance on hygiene etc. in the previous news item.

  • Resumption of Club Activities, Including Hire.

     

    The changes announced on 18 June – the move to Phase 2 – made relatively little immediate difference to the opportunities for LSKC activity, with key constraints remaining in place.

     

    For full details see SCA Guidance  https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/b9315d6a/files/uploaded/SCA%20Phase%202%20Guidance%20-%2019_06_2020.pdf  and Scottish Government announcement  https://www.gov.scot/news/gradual-introduction-of-phase-2/

     

    But a provisional date of 3rd July for the lifting of the broadly 5 mile travel limit for leisure and recreation has since been announced. Provided this is confirmed, LSKC Club activities will resume from that date. This will include the resumption of hire of club kayaks and equipment.

    SCA Update https://www.canoescotland.org/future-easing-of-lockdown-restrictions-in-phases-2-3#gsc.tab=0

     

     

    Members are reminded to take heed of Government and SCA Guidance, including safety advice.

     

    If you require access to the club storage facilities, you should follow the guidance below.

     

     

    IF REMOVING/REPLACING BOAT IN LSKC STORAGE

     

    If you have a boat stored with the club and which you wish to use, please observe the Government’s health, physical distancing and hygiene guidance and the basic principles in the SCA Guidance, Appendix D, “Accessing equipment from an outdoor store” (the containers are considered outdoor stores).

     

    If you have arranged to hire a boat, please observe the guidance as above and be sure to have contact only with the boat and equipment hired. In the event of accidental contact with any other boat or equipment, please disinfect the area of contact. When returning hire boats, please ensure that associated equipment is stored on or in the boat hired. The club will operate Option A in the SCA Guidance – that is, it will operate a 72 hour quarantine regime before hiring that boat and equipment again.

     

    In all cases, please come prepared with necessary protective gear, disinfectant etc. There is no running water available on site. Please also be sure to clean and disinfect surfaces you come into contact with including gates, padlocks, handles etc both on arrival and on departure.

     

    If your arrival coincides with that of another individual or group, please stand aside until the first group has departed.

     

    If you have questions about this advice as it affects LSKC kayak hire or members’ storage, please contact Rod Dalitz – rod.dalitz@me.com

     

    For any general issues about the guidance, please contact Alan Fraser –  al@nfraser.co.uk

     

     

     

    LSKC Committee

    June 2020”

     

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