Tower Hamlets Canoe Club

Meeting to Promote Sea Kayaking, discuss & set up Sea Kayaking Trips for 2008

Summary of plans/ideas so far:-
Venue - Classroom upstairs at Basin
Start Time - 6 pm, Jan 29 th

Initial arrival period with refreshments(volunteer?), chat, slideshow of pics from website, to set the scene, along with maps on walls (NJ)

6.30 pm -  Introduction to those new to Sea Kayaking (NJ)

DVD sea kayaking action (projector laptop MA, DVD Tony, sound system and screen MK)

7.00 pm - NJ to introduce some of the more experienced club members who could briefly explain/promote their interests in Sea Kayaking (don't be shy)

Explanation of Club Rules for booking equipment, safety, going on the Thames (Alison?), how trips are organised, care of club boats and equipment(NJ?)

Training available at Club, 'Introduction to Sea Kayaking Courses', 3 Star Courses at Club, and 4 Star and above outside of Club. The 'Joys of Coaching'. Explanation of what BCU Star system means. (MA?)

Q and A on the above, on Club Equipment, personal equipment, on going on the Thames.

Announcements of trips planned, in the planning or pre-planning stages (Susi Croatia?)

Break (more refreshments) - more DVDs/slides

8.15 pm - More formal session (can be minuted by myself if wanted, Chaired formally/informally by Nick)

To discuss the organisation of the Sea Kayaking Section, whether and how often to hold regular meetings, volunteering for particular organisational aspects (eg Sea Kayaking Equipment Office and other roles)

Agreeing frequency of trips (monthly?), venues, and how we would organise & manage the trips (liability - coaches etc).

Likely Venues:
Kent (estuaries, coast)
IoW (& Solent)
Dorset (inc. Poole Harbour)
Devon/[wikipedia:Cornwall]  (not really feasible for w/e)
[wikipedia:Wales]  (not really feasible for w/e)

9-9.15 End -  Discussion to be continued in the pub.

This is not set in stone, my own thoughts are to have the evening reasonably structured to get the most out of it. Arrive to set up 5.30 pm. Looking for volunteers and suggestions for refreshments. Joanna has volunteered to put post on Club News. Meeting could be announced in 'Club Announcements' forum too. I will do a couple of posters for next week.

Suggestions appreciated & please circulate to other sea paddlers

We would like people to think about:

What they want from sea kayaking trips?
Day trips or w/e trips? - mixture of both?
What level they're at and what they aspire to?
Whether they have access to or knowledge of good/cheap accommodation//camping on coast. 

Martin K and NickJ (Nick the Younger) 

 

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O London, see
Swelling with naval pride, the pride of thee!
Wide, deep, unsullied Thames, meandering glides,
and bears thy wealth on mild majestic tides.

Thanks Martin and Nick,

I think this is a touch overwhelming.

Could we do a 15 minute video from 18:45, jump straight into the trip and other event planning at 19:00, and have people ask questions as needed when they come up underways?

Trips and training and courses, internal and external, are kind of interwoven anyway. If we wanted some structure, it could maybe be good to split it in beginners and no longer beginners? But not really sure that's a good split either, as e.g. symposiums and VHF courses are relevant for various levels..

Anne,

It does seem a bit 'over organised' compared to most of what is organised at the club, I'll admit. Overactive brains at work! We could make it much more informal if that is what people want. Timings will be approximate. I won't be sitting there with a stopwatch. There's no problem starting DVD at 6.30pm  though, as it can be on while people are coming in.

Would this event qualify as something that could be announced in the 'Club Announcements' Forum and would you like to do this?

Martin K 

 

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O London, see
Swelling with naval pride, the pride of thee!
Wide, deep, unsullied Thames, meandering glides,
and bears thy wealth on mild majestic tides.

And, just to confuse things, another Nick Jones replies.   I'd be interested in attending.  I'm Luke's friend who's just done the one star - to clarify. I am interested in sea kayaking most.  happy to attend and help.  Can offer my Bermuda kayaking pics if you want some contrast to North Sea snaps! 

 Also, I saw Luke's pics of the trip from Seaford along the Seven Sister. Looked a good trip - add that to possible trips.

 

Cheers

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Nick

Just a note that this evening is open to everyone - especially if you are new to sea kayaking and curious to find out more about it. 

To my mind the many aspects of paddlesport are complimentary, white water skills and experience are good for sea kayaking and the stamina and fitness that sea kayaking brings are good for white water paddlers!

 Chris is going to bring a selection of safety equipment and will be prepared  to "show and tell". If anyone has recommended books and DVD's they would like to bring, (or photo albums of trips they have been on) we can lay them out on a table, so people can peruse and see what might appeal to them.

Let us know if you are coming as we need an idea for refreshments. We still need volunteer(s) for refreshments. Club or sea kayaking section will reimburse.

 

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O London, see
Swelling with naval pride, the pride of thee!
Wide, deep, unsullied Thames, meandering glides,
and bears thy wealth on mild majestic tides.

Sarah and I will be there.

We'll be bringing our sea maps of the Sheppy area, the Welsh Coast sea kayak trips book and perhaps some assorted sea kayak books we have.

I'd be happy to bring out 'trip kit' bags - stuff we try to keep ready for all our trips, but i have a feeling that it might bore people rigid. We also have piles of OS maps if there were any people would like us to check for.

Hi Martin,

Count me in I will be there!!

Pete.

Martin K:

DVD sea kayaking action (projector laptop MA, DVD Tony, sound system and screen MK)

Oops ! I have "This is the Sea" DVDs #1 and #3 with me - but #2 is in Kent, and I won't be there for another 2 weeks.
Anybody else have a copy of "This is the Sea 2" - or know someone who does ?

TonyR

TonyR:

Martin K:

DVD sea kayaking action (projector laptop MA, DVD Tony, sound system and screen MK)

Oops ! I have "This is the Sea" DVDs #1 and #3 with me - but #2 is in Kent, and I won't be there for another 2 weeks.
Anybody else have a copy of "This is the Sea 2" - or know someone who does ?

TonyR

I have T.I.T.S 2 Tony, and a new American DVD called Pacific Horizons.

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´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º>

4 Days to go! Let us know if you are coming! Should be fun, entertaining, interesting and informative!

---

O London, see
Swelling with naval pride, the pride of thee!
Wide, deep, unsullied Thames, meandering glides,
and bears thy wealth on mild majestic tides.

I am coming. 

I'll be there too.

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Alison

yep. you said that beginers to canoeing could turn up at six and stay for an hour and leave at seven to get on the water to finish their 1 star training. is that still ok or will it not begin untill 6.30ish?

cheers.

The plan is to start the meeting at 6 pm, I'll be setting things up from 5.30 pm, but people can come in any time between 6 and 7 pm.

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O London, see
Swelling with naval pride, the pride of thee!
Wide, deep, unsullied Thames, meandering glides,
and bears thy wealth on mild majestic tides.

exelent!!