North Devon Coached Weekend
General Information
In August 2026 we are planning a return trip to North Devon for a coaching weekend. This will be the third year we have held a coaching weekend with Go With the Flow. Previous trips have been much enjoyed by club members due to the superb location and expertise of the coaches. Our coaches will be Greenie and Ollie from Go with the Flow, Sea Kayaking North Devon.
Dates: Paddling Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 August 2026. You will need to travel down on Friday 28 Aug. Due to the distance, it is likely you will need to allow most of the day for travel. Return travel late on Sun the 30 Aug is possible, or alternatively on the (bank holiday) Monday.
Coaching: The weekend will be tailored to us and will likely involve coastal journeys mixed with skills development and coaching in moderate water conditions (wind up to F4, tidal flow up to 2 knots, waves up to 1 m (including surf landings) and up to 2nm (4km) between get out points).
Who is this trip for?
We expect to develop skills in at least some or all of the following throughout this weekend: wet exits, assisted and self-rescues. Efficient forward paddling. Turning in wind and waves. Paddling in rocks and gullies, rocky landings, landing in waves and surf. There may be the possibility to practice towing and towing a casualty (assisted tow), as well as learning about coastal navigation.
Skill level: Participants must be at least at Explore Award level. You do not need to previously mastered all of the above skills, but you do need to be prepared to take part in these group activities, actively contribute and support other Club members in their learning: your attitude is more important than your skill level. Please contact the organiser, Izzy, if you would like to come but are unsure as to whether it’s a suitable weekend for you.
Accommodation: We plan to stay at Ocean Backpackers (https://oceanbackpackers.co.uk/) which is in Ilfracombe.
Travel: We try and arrange shared lifts to and from London. Some people choose to travel by train, and we can normally arrange for collections from local stations. If you have a lift with another club member, you will be asked to pay towards fuel costs in line with the club’s expenses policy.
Kayak equipment: You don’t need any of your own kayaking equipment to come on this trip. We will use club kayaks and equipment so long as we have sufficient cars to transport the boats from London. We expect members who benefit from someone else transporting a CKC kayak on their car to contribute to the driver’s petrol/transport costs.
Personal equipment: You need to bring suitable clothes for paddling. If you want to practice rescues – because it is a useful environment to practice in – then you are more likely to get wet and so a dry suit or wetsuit with cag would be beneficial.
Costs
Coaching fee: £124 per person total (for both days) with coaching on a 1:4 ratio.
Accommodation: Backpacker hostel is c.£73 per person for 2 nights. We plan to arrange an optional pub meal on the Saturday night. Members will arrange their own breakfasts and packed lunches.
Travel Expenses: Petrol, wear and tear on cars transporting kayaks and parking during the weekend will be split amongst participants in accordance with the Club expenses policy. Typically these are calculated and paid after the trip. Please bear in mind that you should expect these additional costs, estimated to be c.£50 per person based on two people travelling down together.
Kayak rental: We plan to transport club boats depending on the number of volunteer drivers with roof racks. Please note that options for renting a sea kayak are limited. If rental of boats is required, the organiser will need to make enquiries and provide guidance regarding the additional cost. Currently the expected cost is between £25-£30 per boat per day. These costs will be split evenly between members who are not transporting club kayaks or using their own kayak for the weekend.
Registration
If you are interested in joining this trip, please register your interest below. Note that your place is not confirmed until advised by the trip organizer. There are a maximum of 8 places available. Once your place is confirmed, a deposit of approximately £99 will be required to secure it. A final payment of £98 will be due at the end of June.
Note that once you have paid the deposit you will only be refunded in the case of cancellation if another Club member is able to take your place.
Please contact Izabela P or info@chelseakayakclub.co.uk if you have any questions.
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