Sunday 22 May 2005. . .

Sailing the Klondike - well, Helen & Dave's Klondike. The rig is up! Some images from various sailing outings are here.

Anglesey Sea Symposium - there's a good illustrated report on the Desperate Measures website.

Upcoming events - Hebridean Adventure still have a couple of places for their St Kilda trip from 27 May to 3 June - this is a "supported trip" in that they use a boat to take the party out to the St Kilda island chain. Andy Spink has just sent me a write up of their 2004 trip, well worth a look. Details of the trip are here. (Downloads a Word doc).

The Waterford Tall Ships Race looks like fun!

As part of the National Mountaineering Exhibition lecture programme, "Solo Sea Kayak around British Isles", lecture by Fiona Whitehead

"The seas around the British Isles can rightly be regarded as the Alps of sea kayaking. Hear how Fiona Whitehead took on a great marine adventure - a solo circumnavigation of our own islands in a sea kayak. You'll be amazed at the sea going wilderness that's on our doorstep".

Friday 24 June, 8pm, tickets £10. Visit http://www.rheged.com/ or call 01768 860 090. The NME is located at Rheged, on the edge of the Lake District; junction 40/M6 - just follow the brown signs.

Fiona Whitehead

From the Web, some good stuff to while away a moment or two:

"An Eye on the Pole" - Lonnie Dupre is planning something challenging! Have a look at this link to Sea Kayaker magazine.

Yorkshire sea paddlers take note! Ken Reece has set up an "informal paddling group", linked from the BCU Yorkshire Region's page - here's the link.

As well as our own article on Outfitting Sea Kayaks, (which now has some ideas on fitting electric pumps, and an idea for storing flares below decks) there is also some interesting material to be found on Kayak Fit's website, on Cockpit Customising as well as loads of other ideas relevant to paddling.

Celtic Sea Paddlers have a new web site with some good pictures of paddling in SE Ireland.

Can you contribute to UKSKGB? Of course - all contributions are welcome! Share your trip reports, experiences, pictures or anything else interesting. Add to the Sea Trips page, or to the Almanac - it's your contributions that make UKSKGB what it is, a resource written by sea-paddlers about sea-paddling.

Friday 6 May 2005. . .

• The May Day Bank Holiday seems to have been good for lots of people - Helen, Dave and Kathy enjoyed a nice long weekend paddle in and around the Luing and Scarba area. Click here for Helen's illustrated trip report.
  
• I've added a new article on Kayak Storage Solutions to the site, with some ideas for storing those lovely long sea boats safely.
  
• Upcoming events - The Stackpole Sea Kayak Festival 28th- 30th May:

  The National Trust Wales and the Welsh Canoe Association are working together to present a brand new event on the annual sea kayaking Calendar for 2005 – The Stackpole Sea Kayak Festival. It will be a chance for sea kayakers from all over Britain to come and enjoy the fantastic coast and islands of southern Pembrokeshire.

  The event will be part of SeaBritain05, a celebration of Britain’s maritime heritage since Nelson’s time. Stackpole is an appropriate place as it was thought to have been one of the last places he spent shore leave before Trafalgar. What’s more, Lady Hamilton is believed to have been involved too!

  The Centre will provide fully catered accommodation for £100 or just camping based at £50 for those on a tighter budget. Day tickets will be available too.

  For Bookings or further information contact: Gez Richards N.T. Centre Manager 01646 661464 or gez.richards@nationaltrust.org.uk.

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• Paddling in Argentina sounds like something different - I met Alison McLachlan at the SCA Bute Coaching Weekend and she sent me the link to SDK Kayaks who run trips in Argentina. Fortunately she also sent a Word Doc with a translation (phew).
  
  
• Something for all of us who enjoy the outdoors - the Scottish Marine Wildlife Code has some thoughts and ideas on enjoying our natural wildlife.
  
  
• With the Scottish Sea Kayak Symposium on Skye just weeks away, I'm looking forward to it and hoping to meet and say hi to folk who use UK Sea Kayak Guidebook.