Friday 31 December 2004 . . . . . .

• Right - new illustrated trip report from a lovely winter weekend trip - the SCA's Loch Etive trip, 2004. Nearly 40 paddlers enjoyed a wonderful outing in superb scenery, with great company and good craic! Click the pic for the report.
  

• And finally - Seasons Greetings and best wishes for a Guid New Year!

  The Sea Ed. is away for most of January - but do please send me Reviews, Reports, Comment, Pics, ideas for Articles, Articles, good links etc - these are all very welcome indeed! Here's how to contact me.

• Many thanks to everyone who contributed in 2004 - your input helps make the site such a varied and useful resource for sea paddlers everywhere.

Above - a winter's day on Loch Etive - click the pic for the trip report.

Wednesday 29 December 2004 . . . . . .

» A quick update - John Willacy's article (below) now has some extra pictures of the "friendly seal" - have a look.

» Thanks to Jeremy Hastings for a wee Trip Report on paddling out of Bowmore on Islay.

» From the Community Forum, Nich Burton has posted a link to some of his surfing adventures on Guernsey. Fun.

» Dave Biggs and Helen McKenna share their experiences of a Feathercraft Klondike here.

And from the Web: -

From "Sea Kayaker Magazine" comes a nicely written and illustrated article on paddling Cornwall. And if you hanker after something to do during the cold winter months, Dougs Boat Page could give you some boat-building ideas as well as designs.

If that's all too much, have a look here for some interesting ways of re-cycling your Christmas beer-cans into lightweight stoves, and designs for home-made shelters, tents and rucsacs to name just a few of the bits of outdoor kit you can make yourself.

Still on the DIY Theme, this site offers some more DIY kit thoughts. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for some good articles on various adventures and a fascinating description of composite kayak construction.

Thursday 9 December 2004 . . . . . .

I've just restored the Search Function (see the bottom of the page) - this allows you to search the UK Sea Kayak Guidebook Site or the WWW - it doesn't search the Community Forum though, so you need to use the Forum's own Search Page to do that, and it doesn't search in the UK Rivers Guidebook either. UKRGB has it's own Search Function from the Rivers News Page.

Monday 6 December 2004 . . . . . .

• We remember Andy Jackson, a stalwart of Scottish Canoeing, who passed away on 4 December. This update is dedicated to his memory, and all he did for the sport.

• Right - a very pretty seal. But this is no ordinary seal, click here or on the pic to see what is arguably one of the most astonishing sights you have ever seen! Thanks to John Willacy for this!
  

 

• Something for nothing always sounds good - Mike Wood demonstrates how to transmogrify an old golf trolley into something much more useful, a kayak trolley.
  
  
• There's a new website dealing with sea paddling in NE England - built by John Rae who's the BCU Sea Kayaking rep for N.England - nice pics, lots of detail and local info.
• There's another review of the new Rockpool Alaw, from Mark Richards, on the Review Page.
• Heather's article on paddling Skye (see the November update) mentioned paddling to Soay, and she described finding the shark processing factory built by Gavin Maxwell - here's some more information, with some interesting pictures.
• A bit of history - there was an article in Canoeist a while back on the "Cockleshell Heroes" and their daring raid on Bordeaux in 1942 - have a look here for details of their craft.
• 2005 is nearly with us, and SeaBritain 2005 promises "a year long festival of (aquatic) events".
• Nithsdale Canoe Club have just joined the ranks of the "web clubs" - nice site from this active club based in SW Scotland!

• Reviews, Reports, Comment, Pics, ideas for Articles, Articles, good links etc - these are all very welcome indeed! Here's how to contact.
• If you'd like an event detailed here on the News Page, or your club included on the clubs page of the almanac, do let me know. editor@ukseakayakguidebook.co.uk will reach me by email.

Above - a VERY uncommon seal!

Saturday, 6 November 2004 . . . . . .

• Right - it's November - it's dark - winter is coming - the sea-boat is languishing, awaiting the Spring - here's some inspiration to cheer you up! Heather Rainsley's article on paddling Skye in May 2004 - a very nice read - enjoy, dig out the maps and start planning!
  

• New Trip Report here on paddling Loch Indaal, Islay - from Jeremy Hastings.
• Boat Outfitting Page has been updated with a devious way of making use of spare space in the cockpit - from Dave Biggs.
• Yoav Rosen mailed from the States with a link to "A New Type of Watercraft" - have a look at the site - and be amazed!
• New Reviews on the Reviews Page - a cunning cleat and the all-new Kaya-Lok.
• North West Sea Kayakers have revised their rather good site - good trip reports!
  
• Knoydart are having an End of Season Sale of ex demo boats and also clearing some clothing and accessories.
  
• The SCA's 2004 show in Perth had one or two interesting goodies for sea-kayaking - click here for details. Also links to the 2005 Trip Calandar and the 2004 Photo Comp - some simply stunning pictures! Go!
  

• Reviews, Reports, Comment, Pics, ideas for Articles, Articles - all very welcome! Here's how to contact.

Above - Heather at the end of a long day. Click the pic for her article.