Open Canoe Association Newsletter - January 2015

Open Canoe Association

January 2015

Contents Contents Editor’s Note..........................................................3 Secretary’s Piece....................................................4 Your Chairman......................................................7 Introducing Your Committee...............................15 OCA Reward Scheme..........................................16 The Spey Experience – May 2014.......................18 Canoefest 2014 – Wimbleball, Exmoor..............22 South West Open Canoe Association..................25 Events Diary 2015...............................................27

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Editor’s Note Hello and welcome to this edition of the Open Canoe Association newsletter.

As there has not been a newsletter since Spring 2013, this is going to be short and informative to let all the Open Canoe Association members know what is happening in the canoeing world.

I was asked to take on the role of Editor in November and if possible to get the Newsletter out by January – quite a big task, I thought. However, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this edition of the newsletter as having issued quite tight timings, I am happy to say that most made the ‘deadline’.

As you will see in this issue there have been quite a lot of changes including new Committee members – a full list can be found inside.

The events calendar is looking very full for 2015 – I am sure that the Events Coordinator is very grateful to all the members who give their time in helping to put together some great events.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all safe and happy paddling for 2015.

Paula Fairman Newsletter Editor newsletter@opencanoe.info

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Secretary’s Piece It has been quite some time since we have had the opportunity to give you an update into the goings on within the OCA, but we now have a new volunteer taking over the reins of the newsletter, so many thanks to Paula Fairman for stepping forward.

Many of you were at the AGM which was held at the Wimbleball Canoefest in May. In case you weren’t, thanks were given to Mark-Jan Dielemans and Sid Warburton as they were standing down from their positions on the Committee. Mark-Jan had recently held positions of Vice Chair and Chairperson. Sid Warburton has held many positions on the OCA Council spanning over 20 years.

Greg Spencer was elected as the new OCA Chairperson, the rest of the Committee positions remaining unchanged.

The Committee continue to discuss affairs on a monthly basis. This is normally conducted over Skype, meaning no costs are incurred. However, the majority of the Committee did get together on our way to the English Canoe Symposium at Lakeside, Windermere. What an excellent event that was. You may not be aware that this was an OCA event. We sponsored the symposium and all attendees were given OCA Membership until 31st Match 2015. I would therefore like to extend a special welcome to our new members that resulted from this arrangement. I do hope that you like what we are doing through the OCA and that you consider renewing your membership for next year on 1st April. You will note that we are planning to reduce our membership rates, hopefully making membership more attractive and affordable.

At the Annual General Meeting we made key revisions to our Constitution. After several iterations, we are now proposing inclusion of a new OCA Mission Statement.

Please see overleaf for details.

I do hope that you have enjoyed some of our events over the long summer that we have enjoyed this year. The events calendar is strengthening year on year with many of you administrating or leading OCA trips. The opportunities to get out on the water with the OCA or develop your paddling skills are endless.

Initial details of the 2015 Canoefest Rally have been agreed.

Venue: Dolben Hall Date: 1st - 4th May, 2015 Canoeing opportunities: on site plus Lynn Brenig, Conwy Estuary, Tryweryn, Lynn Tegid, Menai Straits and more.

Accommodation: camping (including vans and caravans) or B&B. Elsewhere, communications via our Facebook page are going from strength to strength with over 850 members. We have acknowledged that more work needs to be done to get our website working well and the Members' Area functioning. Pancho has volunteered to help in this regard so improvements should be on the way.

Finally can I wish you all a very happy and a healthy New Year.

Alan Mellor – OCA Secretary – December 2014

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The OCA Committee C/o alan.mellor@opencanoe.info 5th January, 2014 Dear Member, Extraordinary General Meeting You are invited to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Open Canoe Association to be held at 8.00pm on Saturday 24th January, 2015 at Llwyn-y-Celyn YHA – Libanus, Brecon, Powys. Postcode: LD3 8NH. Agenda 1. To set reduced rates for Membership of the Open Canoe Association for 20152016 2. To Approve the Proposed Mission Statement (attached) 3. To accept revised Objectives within the OCA Constitution The first item follows a strategic review conducted since the 2014 AGM. The Committee proposes the following fees for 2015-2016: Adult Family

£15.00 £25.00

Junior Club

£10.00 £60.00

The second and third Agenda items follows the proposal of a new Constitution at the 2014 AGM. Members requested an opportunity to formally approve an OCA Mission Statement prior to consideration of new Objectives.

Proposed OBJECTIVES 2.1. The aim of the Organisation is to promote Open Canoeing and to support the vision as maintained in the Open Canoe Association Mission Statement 2.2. The Organisation shall also work with other organisations promoting a spirit of adventure, and shall encourage complimentary canoe-based activities.

Proposed Mission Statement The OCA shall promote the use of open canoes for independent adventure, exploration, journeying and self-development.

Members will be encouraged and supported in:  Getting out and about, independently, in ways that inspire others  Sharing experiences, and learning from one another  Leading trips, and providing assistance to others who are leading trips  Representing canoeists' interests in the wider outdoor community < Continued overleaf >

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< Continued from previous page > To this end, the Association will:  Provide opportunities for members to meet up  Facilitate training and mentoring, including opportunities to develop leadership skills  Offer guidance and resources to members wishing to offer an OCA event  Develop a network of national and international opportunities and connections.

The organisation shall also work with other organisations which promote a spirit of adventure.

You will find further discussion of this matter in the Chairman's contribution to this newsletter (below). Anyone wishing to discuss this further prior to the EGM should contact either the Secretary or the Chairman.

All members are invited to attend. If you are unable to attend in person and wish to express your views or to vote by proxy you should do in writing (post or email) to the Secretary by no later than 8.00am on Wednesday 21st January, 2015.

Alan Mellor – OCA Secretary – December 2014

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Your Chairman Chairman's Introduction – OCA Newsletter, December 2014 Does an accomplished kayaker who hops into a canoe for the first time (demonstrating effective control) merit recognition as a “canoeist”? Should that kayaker be able to add “canoe” to his or her “paddlesport” coaching or leadership remit simply by being able to do familiar things in the different craft? Is being able to use a single-blade all that's involved?

Would you find yourself nodding as an advocate pointed out how our accomplished kayaker must also show some recognition of the “traditions” of canoeing? Might you at least expect someone calling himself or herself a “canoeist” to have tried out lining, tracking, poling, snubbing and both improved and rafted sailing? How critical is it, for you, that a “canoeist” has racked up at least a few short trips and “some overnight camps”?

Perhaps, instead of understanding the canoe as a “versatile” craft, your understanding of canoe comes from a different tradition. For example, not every canoeing tradition (or coaching scheme) includes poling. Moreover, some poling traditions are of a specialist activity in specialist craft – of using a canoe deliberately configured to do nothing but poling. At the other extreme, whilst some coaching schemes expect a river canoe to be outfitted with a saddle and straps, and to be fitted out for rolling... others explicitly exclude such approaches!

In the late 19th Century, the founders of the American Canoe Association grappled with various sailing and paddling traditions, with the dedicated paddling canoe being considered a very specialist category of craft – one perhaps most closely identified with the the ultralight Rushton “pack” canoes used for negotiating

ponds and streams in the Forests of the Adirondacks. At the other extreme, the founders recognised the classic British tradition of specialist open water (including coastal) cruising canoes – including canoes with decks, sailing rigs and leeboards.

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As we approach the 60th anniversary of the Open Canoe Association (founded 1956), we've been thinking through these matters, trying to establish what it means to promote “canoeing” here in the UK in these “interesting times”. What follows highlights just some of the thinking to come out of this process.

Adventure Sports Coaching Our Association doesn't exist to promote one vision of canoeing, or to sit in judgement over other conceptions of canoeing. We can, however, highlight diverse understandings of what canoeing can mean within the UK, and promote canoeing in ways which reflect the richness, diversity and complexity of a British Open Canoeing scene which is vibrant, dynamic and increasingly sophisticated.

Matt Thompson of Wilderness Canoe features elsewhere in this magazine and is one familiar OCA Provider who has been consistently prepared to explore, articulate and act upon a rich conception of what canoeing might mean, beyond merely switching craft. He has recently been offering “Expedition Based 3 Star” trips to train and assess canoeists in the environments he associates with the canoe. He has also been taking inexperienced canoeists into the heart of places like Assynt (at times, in quite challenging conditions) to provide a quality of experience he finds inseparable from the canoe, and to facilitate insight into calibre of decision making and judgement needed for his charges to become independent in those contexts.

At the recent English Canoe Symposium, Ray Goodwin gave a related talk on the place of strategic thinking (decision making and judgement) in expedition contexts.

Like Matt, Ray's very much wedded to the canoe as a means of traversing wilderness, and he has long been keen to note that the “trad” skills of his training courses are tools we need to understand how to apply in relation to meaningful application environments. This is a view shared by Jules Bernard - the L5 Coach involved with the Open Canoe Association's ongoing Leadership Development Programme.

At the end of November, a veritable host of Adventure Sports Coaches descended upon Plas-y-Brenin as Marianne Davies hosted the Canoe Wales Coaching Seminar.

Loel Collins took centre stage, and discussed his research into the genre of “coaching” that Matt, Ray, Jules and others practice. Loel summarised work he'd done before, where he'd discussed things like fostering independence, manipulating risk as a distinct component of the environment, and learning about judgement, based on our own and other people's experience.

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Anyone interested in this side of Matt, Ray and Loel's lines of thought might want to get hold of the next issue of Code, where Marianne Davies will be discussing a “constraints based” approach to coaching centred on the affordances (possibilities) for action which shape the unique “performance style” we each adopt – the way we each find our own, unique approach to the many and varied challenges of becoming consistently effective in our complex, dynamic open-canoeing environments.

Alternative Approaches Underpinning all of the above are things like passion for adventure, an obsession with challenging environments and a commitment to lifelong learning: perhaps reasons the above coaches became involved in coaching in the first place. Related possibilities might include desire for solitude, peace and quiet, isolation or social contact with friends – and we should not overlook quite different motivations, such as enthusiasm for the physical work out involved in eating up the miles at a good pace, or for the mind-clearing focus that comes with taking stroke after stroke.

None of the above coaches have lost sight of “participation for personal well-being”, but in our discussions we can locate any emotional connection in diverse ways. For example, for the Adventurer, the emotional connection can come to be linked overwhelmingly with the broader experience. For the performance boater, such connections can come to be seen as almost incidental: a nice bonus, after the small matter of being “effective”.

At the Symposium, Jörg Wagner gave a presentation from a different tradition: a talk on coaching based on “treating the water well”. Jörg isn't averse to adventure, and routinely gets away to paddle his favoured wooden canoes on rivers like the Allagash, but his focus, when he first introduces newbies to the canoe, is not adventure – it's simply that raw, emotional attachment to the pleasures of moving well upon the water in a beautifully balanced craft.

Many who attended the Symposium got to try Jörg's handmade, highly individual wood-and-canvas boats, and “traditional” paddles. Each had “character”. These are not everyone's cup of tea, but no matter where we look in the world, we find some canoeists for whom connection with “canoe people” who hand-crafted these “tools of

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the trade” is an essential part of canoeing.

This Autumn, the OCA has reached out to the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association and the Historic Canoe and Kayak Association. Next April, we head to the Norfolk Broads for our first “Joint Meet” - to coincide with a Home Built Boat Rally, and a gathering of at least two other related groups. We trust that in the years to come, this event will be looked back to as the start of a productive relationship which we anticipate (amongst other things) giving OCA members access to both vibrant cultures of boating and unprecedented practical and historical expertise.

Beards, Tilly Hats, Kelly Kettles, Tarps, Edged Tools and Fireboxes No matter what style of canoe one paddles, and what construction, the canoe appeal of canoeing can still be a matter of aesthetics and stylistic preference. For instance, the appeal for some lies in simplicity: in an empty boat, a paddle, and the freedom to move upon the surface, any which way but none. Some of that ilk like to “go light” for their tripping as well. Adding a hammock and as little else as possible can produce a “minimalist” approach that feeds a distinctive aesthetic of canoe-tripping – a “traditional” one which resonates with what Nessmuk and others were doing in the Adirondacks in the late 19th Century!

For others, the canoe seemingly has more appeal when laden, in stereo-typical fashion, with the accoutrements of “bush craft” or “outdoor living”, including much cotton-canvas and steel. The vessel as “pick up truck” comes to mind – as it can, in completely different ways, when encountering a family out with a picnic hamper, or a party of young adults out with beer-coolers. The appeal may still involve multi-night trips, but being able to carry way more than when backpacking may be central to why someone prefers to travel by canoe.

Others take their “performance boating” too seriously for any of the above.

Minimalism for them isn't a “style” thing, it's about maximising effectiveness whilst pushing limits. Large “trad” boats are driven through challenging lines as if they are just over-sized specialist WW craft – and the mindset is similarly “attainment” oriented.

Take a look through the programme at the end of this newsletter for trips to appeal to just about any and all on the above spectrum.

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Role of the OCA Membership The OCA doesn't exist to say what is, or is not, canoeing... but each of us, in our own little way, has opportunities to be positive advocates and challenge stereotypes.

Through time, we may open eyes, clearing the way to innovation and a progression.

At our forthcoming Extraordinary General Meeting we will be proposing that the OCA be dedicated to promoting “the use of open canoes for independent adventure, exploration, journeying and self development”. We trust this is a broad and truly inclusive mission, allowing for huge variety in style, approach, motivation and purpose.

In developing our proposal, we suggested that the single most important thing we could do was encourage each and every member to “get out and about, independently, in ways that inspire others”. We do not mind what each members' individual “way” might be, but we trust Members will, through time, find their own ways to “inspire” – and we took the view that “independence” is essential to those we inspire finding their own way.

As a grass-roots Association, we concluded that a community approach to progression was essential. To that end, we opted for a focus on “sharing experiences, and learning from one another” rather than of “instruction”. To provide a mechanism for sharing experiences, we then added a focus on “leading trips, and providing assistance to others who are leading trips”. For successive Committees, we envisage the primary practical implication being a focus on a dynamic calendar of events providing opportunities for members to meet up.

If we are to ensure our Members are able to put these events on with confidence, and in a responsible manner, we may also need to “facilitate training and mentoring, including opportunities to develop leadership skills”. This is NOT saying we need to provide the same “Formal” sector training that's available everywhere through Clubs and Commercial Providers. It's primarily saying we need to provide the opportunities to learn through experience on OCA outings attended by experienced older hands – such that one may arrive at a Formal training with the knowledge and understanding to contribute positively and challenge, rather than to merely lap up “workshops”.

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The above is all going to require a fair bit of hard work. For instance, we recognise a need for us to “offer guidance and resources to members wishing to offer an OCA event”, and to “develop a network of national and international opportunities and connections” - and we envisage a related, ongoing role of “representing canoeists' interests in the wider outdoor community”. We trust these are uncontentious, and that members will also support our commitment to “work with other organisations which promote a spirit of adventure”.

Looking Ahead Over the past two years we've built up a network which gives us foundations on which we may build. Nothing embodies that quite so dramatically as our now well-established association with the annual Open Canoe Festival on the Dröme.

We're heading back for Easter 2015 and anticipate a substantial number of canoeists linking the OCF to a few days on other trips in the region, perhaps including the Orb, the Sorgue, the Gard, the Allier and/or the Ardèche.

Sign up at www.opencanoefestival.com for updates!

In 2014, our OCF presence was eclipsed by the way we took on the year's English Open Canoe Symposium. We were invited to make this an OCA event: run by members, for members. We helped with finding leading British and international coaches, and were pleased to have that list headed by European “quietwater” Doyen Jörg Wagner (already mentioned in this discussion) and by past Chairman Tibor Herbent – an unsung hero of British canoeing, from touring right through to racing.

We'll make special mention of Tibor here as he embodies the best of the OCA tradition. He was a founder member of the International Long River Canoe Club, and has experience on most of the larger rivers of Europe. He was instrumental in the transformation of the old “Canadian Canoe Association” into what we know today as the OCA. In the 1980s, Tibor established canoeing as a discipline within the Royal Leamington Spa Canoe Club, both as a competitor and through to coaching (to European and World Championship level). He has more recently become a national focus for the coaching of girls and women, with leading GB competitors Sam Rippington and Lisa Suttle among his protégés.

Thanks to those who have taken up the mantle from Tibor, we had a quite diverse programme of additional coaching, guiding and tripping in 2014. Moreover, even at this early stage, we've got members offering a solid outline programme for 2015.

Please note, this is a living programme of opportunities, not something set in stone. If 12

you're a member (or prospective member) and can see a way to enhance the programme – get involved! An e-mail to events@opencanoe.info will get you started, and if you'll do your bit to help out we'll get that calendar growing.

Song-of-the-Paddle, Social Media, Etc. Mention has already been made of WCHA and HCKA links, but this year we've also built on a strong relationship with the Song-of-the-Paddle community. We advised on, and were represented at, the SoTP “Big Meet” (Bala, end of August), and we were at the smaller meet which took place in the Norfolk Broads (October).

We're routinely looked to for guidance and advice, and we're appreciated for what we bring to the British Open Canoeing scene, and through Songof-the-Paddle we each have an opportunity to contribute to a an exceptional online community, with 40,000 unique visitors per month.

Some have asked about an online home for the OCA community. We prefer the notion of many “homes”. We'll make a home wherever our past, present and prospective members engage with one another. For some, that “home” may be Song-of-the-Paddle: great – that's engaging with the broadest Open Canoe community imaginable! For others, the “community” will always be more “face-to-face”... and might be a local paddling network, such as the Suffolk Open Canoe Group or the Wobbly Water Group.

We've got one vibrant online presence through our primary Facebook Group (with ~1,000 Members), and other Members are using Google Groups to create e-mail lists for members who prefer to work that way. If you've got another way of working that YOU prefer then let us know: we're happy to accommodate variety!

Before long, we hope to tie all the groups back to our forthcoming (all new) website – currently under development with a view to having a renewal system and eventbooking system “live” by the Spring. We fully expect to be able to interact in just about every conceivable manner once this is up and running.

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The 2015 Rally Following last year's Canoefest rally in Devon, we had an article featured in The Paddler – an electronic magazine that's distributed free of charge to 15,000 readers and which is looking to us for regular canoe-related content.

We arranged for a friend of the Open Canoe Association to write up the Open Canoe Festival in the same publication and look forward to building on this relationship for the benefit of all canoeists in the years to come.

We're also able to confirm an impressive venue for next year's Rally. Dolben Hall, near Rhyl, promises us easy access to a broad range of canoeing opportunities, from Lynn Brenig to the Conwy Estuary, and from the Tryweryn to the Menai Straits. The centre is the pride and joy of Dave Orange: a vastly experienced adventurer who looks set to host us in fine style. We're already listed to provide a Spring Bank Holiday “Coaching Matters” event for those who wish to update – so clear your diary and start thinking what you fancy tackling from that base.

Note: we're envisaging many taking up a “36 hour Challenge” from 6.00 am on the Saturday morning of the Rally. In essence, the idea is that from the base at Dolben Hall, Members (past, present and prospective) scatter to undertake the best microadventure they can dream up before returning for the evening festivities on the Sunday.

Your support and help If you've got as far as reading this, then no matter what you make of it all, we'd be keen to hear from you. We're not set on any one path: we're working with all those who want to make a contribution to see where we can take the OCA. If you're engaged at this point, please get in touch and discuss how / in what ways you might want to take the OCA in these or other directions. A single e-mail would be a start: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info – we guarantee to reply, and if you include a phone number, we'll get back to you that way.

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Introducing Your Committee

OCA Committee Members

Position Vice President Vice President Chairperson Vice Chair Treasurer Membership Secretary Events Secretary Newsletter Editor Secretary Welfare Coach Co-ordinator

Name Paul Warburton Ian Richards Greg Spencer Peter Montandon Rich Wright Neil Fuller Gary Rice Paula Fairman Alan Mellor Gary Rice Peter Montandon

E-Mail C/o secretary@opencanoe.info C/o secretary@opencanoe.info chairman@opencanoe.info vicechair@opencanoe.info treasurer@opencanoe.info membership@opencanoe.info events@opencanoe.info newsletter@opencanoe.info secretary@opencanoe.info welfare@opencanoe.info coaching@opencanoe.info

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OCA Reward Scheme In order to generate more opportunities for members to receive coaching and to increase the number of trips on offer, the OCA will recognise any Coach or Trainee Coach and any Leader or Trainee Leader for personal time dedicated to providing coaching sessions or for leading trips for the OCA Membership.

Reward Scheme.

The recognition will be by way of a reward scheme that is based upon Credits which can be used to offset the Coach's or Leader's OCA Membership Fee. Credits One Credit can be awarded for one trip or coaching session lasting more than 4 hours A maximum of 1 credit per day can be claimed For sessions lasting less than four hours a Half Credit can be awarded.

For multiday trips and courses over four hours per day one Credit per day can be claimed up to a maximum of four Credits Value Up to a maximum of four Credits can be claimed in any one Membership Year.

Each full Credit is worth a nominal sum. However the Credits cannot be redeemed for cash, they can only be used to off-set the Membership Fee. Credits accrued during one membership year can be used to off-set the Membership Fee due the following Membership Year.

Qualification To qualify for a reward the event must be made available to members of the OCA at least 2 weeks prior to the event taking place.

Events that have to be cancelled on the day of the event due to safety reasons such as inclement weather, not enough participants turning up will still be eligible for the reward.

Advertising an Event To advertise an event provide the event administrator with the details at least 2 weeks before the event by emailing events@opencanoe.info.. This will give the Event Administrator a week to get the update out.

Scheme year The year runs the same as the Membership Year: 1st April to 31st March.

Register To register for the Reward Scheme e-mail your details to rewards@opencanoe.info.

The OCA Reward Scheme Administrator will create a record which can be updated every time a Credit claim is submitted.

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Claiming Credits Email the following information to rewards@opencanoe.info :  Name of trip or course  Location  Date(s)  Attendees/participants and membership number  Claimants Membership Number The Administrator will acknowledge your claim. Should you not receive notification within one week you should confirm receipt of the claim.

Claiming Membership Fee Off-Set The OCA Reward Scheme Administrator will, upon request, email the claimant and Membership Secretary a verification of the claim via email.

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Alan Mellor and Gary Rice

The Spey Experience - May 2014 On behalf of the OCA, Gary Rice planned a River Spey multi-day trip for 2014. It was open to all members and included Matt Thompson of Wilderness-Canoe as the guide. Matt is well known to many OCA members for his holistic approach to learning in the great outdoors and adventure based tripping. An excellent coach and guide.

The trip filled rapidly with eager OCA members wanting to experience their first decent of the Spey. A Facebook group was set up so that participants could exchange views, ask questions and make vital travel and accommodation arrangements and soon all participants went on an adventure.

Over the years many OCA members have undertaken this trip and in years to come many more of you will join in this iconic decent. So I will focus on the many options that we considered, the decisions that we made and possibly a bit of reflection that I now have.

Solo or Tandem?

This was a tricky one. Like many paddlers, most of my moving water experience has been solo. In addition I have a very comfortable solo tripping boat with adequate capacity for gear. So why did I elect to do the trip tandem with Gary Rice? After all, Gary is not known for his extensive tandem skills.

Prior to this trip Gary had succeeded in swimming on the majority of his tandem quests, most of them with his son AJ. For me, the decision was based upon wanting to enjoy the whole trip without feeling

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that I was under any physical pressure to “keep up”. I wanted to feel like I was doing this trip as a group and not a single entity.

With Gary living in the south and myself in the Midlands, getting any tandem paddling practice was almost impossible. However, we did have an excellent session with Ian Dennies at the Canoefest. He reaffirmed what we already knew: communication in the boat was key to successful tandem paddling. Plus, choosing strokes that compliment and not cancel out your paddle partner. After this session, with me electing for bow seat and Gary the stern, it did feel a comfortable and powerful combination.

Kit. As Ray Mears put it in his book Essential Bushcraft, you will require: something to carry your outfit in, something to sleep under, something to sleep in, something to sleep on, something to cook over, something to cook in, a mug, eating utensils, food, medical kit, illumination, wash kit, clothing and stuff to make life comfortable. Everyone on the trip did all of this but in many different ways. Several made groups to share the cooking burden, some went completely solo.

Many took too much kit and few admit to getting it just right.

For myself, I would swap my tent approach for tarp and hammock. I would reduce foodstuff and take more dried food and fewer pots and pans. Basically you must balance overall weight and volume of your kit.

Planning.

We agreed a trip plan and built in contingencies for any emergencies or bad weather.

The plan was to rough camp every night, hopefully on islands, and travel three long days with a short fourth day to take account of the final shuttle before the long drive south back to civilisation. In general we managed to keep to the schedule, found good camp grounds and maintain a “leave no trace” philosophy. There was just one day that the schedule looked in doubt following an incident on day three just outside Abelour. Gary and I had paddled well to this point, negotiating the biggest and most recognised rapid sections without any issues.

As Gary and I both have the same 15ft canoes, Matt agreed to loan us one of his

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new 16ft composite Swift boats, the Kipawa. We were under some pressure throughout not to scratch or damage the boat in any way. However in a long and innocuous wave train whilst leading the group our boat completely swamped to the point that it sank below us. We were swimming but kept hold of the boat and kit whilst our rescuers came to help out. With the next rapid approaching, Gary swam to the side and I was taken on the stern of Arthur's boat. Matt and Dave went with the laden canoe. After running down the riverbank I found the canoe had become pinned to a rock with Matt in the water freeing our lashed in kit. All took part in the rescue with slings, karabiners and ropes. Matt took charge of the rescue.

The freed boat suffered creasing at the centre thwart but was otherwise paddleable.

However, the two wet, cold and weary crew needed a break. We all went for an unplanned stop at Abelour and had hot food and drinks. We made the camp as expected, much later than we anticipated and lit fires to dry our wet kit.

Reflection.

This trip has inspired, and I long to do more multi day trips. I certainly want to return to the Spey. I will do the trip solo at some point but I will definitely do the trip again as a tandem. Paddling tandem gives you a stronger connection with teamwork. It is a sharing experience that you do not get as a solo paddler.

I will take less kit, a simpler meal plan and I would ask Matt Thompson to guide, coach and mentor a trip again.

If you get the chance and feel that you have developed your basic skills to a competent level, get out there and give it a go.

Participants.

Matt Thompson – solo (Guide) Dave Priestley – solo Dave Allen – solo Gary Rice & Alan Mellor – tandem

Paul Sutch & Dryston Furby – tandem Timothy Twitchen – solo Arthur Green – solo

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Paul Sutch and Dryston Furby

The Finish: Spey Bay Article – Alan Mellor Photos – Matt Thompson, www.Wilderness-Canoe.co.uk

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Canoefest 2014 - Wimbleball, Exmoor After many months of planning the day had arrived. The weather forecast was looking kind to us so a fun packed weekend looked in store for everyone. With nearly 100 people arriving I just hoped we had thought of everything! Well people were arriving into the night so in the morning after a welcome and briefing people met up with their coaches for the morning sessions and drifted off in various directions.

The lake was busy with sessions for beginners solo or tandem, Freestyle, perfecting your paddle strokes, canoe sailing, children’s sessions and even an orienteering course by boat! Every session was really well planned by the coaches and concentrated on the needs of the individuals taking part.

“Thanks to all those who organised the event and especially to Greg whose workshops I attended. Although I was only there for a flying visit and had not really expected to paddle, I was immediately offered the use of numerous different boats. I really enjoyed my short time at the festival and truly appreciated the generosity of others for letting me try their boats out.”

“Thanks to all concerned for making it a fabulous weekend. Especially Gary Rice for organising the event, Pete Montandon for helping perfect my paddle stroke, Gary Peveril for helping me learn to paddle in windy conditions and to John for not finding the pub on the Western canal trip!”

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On the land we had throw-rope workshops, expedition planning, camp cooking and bushcraft skills, these proved really popular especially amongst the youngsters amongst us.

We also had trips offsite and had paddles on the Exe Estuary and Grand Western Canal. The canal paddlers had a particularly leisurely day as they didn’t even make it to the pub!

“Many thanks to the organisers and volunteers who helped make the event a success.

Met old friends and made many new ones.

Looking forward to the next one.”

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The Exe paddlers had to contend with the weir. After being shot sideways by Gordon most of the others decided to line down it! The wind was kind though, and after a challenging portage at Turf Lock the canal gave a gentle paddle to the start.

All these activities and people still had energy in the evening for the evening lectures and of course sharing a glass or two around the fire. I hope the pictures tell a story of the success that was this year’s Canoefest. 2015 will see us further north with even more activities and paddling opportunities for everyone. I hope you’ll find the venue announced elsewhere in this newsletter.

Lastly, I’d like to publicly thank everyone who made Canoefest 2014 possible with all their hard work behind the scenes but especially to those of you that were able to take part.

Gary Editor's Note: Bookings will open shortly for Canoefest 2015.

Venue: Dolben Hall Date: 1st - 4th May, 2015 Canoeing opportunities: on site plus Lynn Brenig, Conwy Estuary, Tryweryn, Lynn Tegid, Menai Straits and more.

Accommodation: camping (including vans and caravans) or B&B.

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South West Open Canoe Association (SWOCA) The South West section of the OCA was the culmination of ideas a few of us had been mulling over for quite a while. We wanted other open boaters to paddle with and saw a disparity in the amount of volunteer coaching available to for open boaters.

Wimbleball We came up with the idea of looking for other open boaters through the OCA, and of setting up a localised section of the OCA. We got approval and set up a South West section of the OCA: not a new organisation, just a way of promoting the OCA by supporting open boaters in the South West.

We set ourselves up on Googlegroups, Google Calendar and Twitter. The OCA let the world know we existed, and with this and word of mouth, on Sunday 14th December 2014 we had our first SWOCA paddle on the River Dart from Buckfastleigh to Staverton.

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of this piece of river, it is a lovely introduction to moving water. The English Whitewater book grades it as a 2+ with weirs. The rivers had all been low, but we had rain on the Friday and a little on Saturday to bring the water up so it wasn't bump and scrape all the way down.

We met at 10:00, as planned and sorted the shuttle out. The difference a Transporter with a canoe trailer makes is fantastic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; thanks Nigel!

I was also using this trip to try out a new open canoe, a Gatz Racoon with huge rocker compared to my Legend 16. It was fantastic. I need to get it onto big water!

Gatz Racoon Everyone paddled well and Adrian and I took various opportunities to deliver coaching as we went down the river. It was a great day out with a lovely group.

We are already looking forward to our next paddle on the Dart Estuary. Anyone who's down in the South West would be welcome to join us. If you want to know more please feel free to drop me an e-mail or look up our FaceBook page. tom.westwater@opencanoe.info

Events Diary 2015 Date 23–25 Jan 2015

13–15 Feb 2015

Feb/Mar 2015

03 – 06 Apr 2015

10–12 Apr 2015 17–19 Apr 2015

17 – 19 Apr 2015

Spring 01 –04 May 2015

14– 17 May 2015 15 - 17 May 2015

22 - 24 May 2015 23 - 25 May 2015 24 - 30 May 2015 30 Jun - 6 Jul 2015 June 2015

Event Mid Wales Whitewater Weekend - Staying at YHA Llwyn-y-Celyn we will be paddling the Usk and Wye. This is always a popular weekend and numbers are strictly limited. Early booking is advised.

River Dart Whitewater Weekend - The Dart Loop and from below the Dart Country Park to Buckfastleigh. For competent moving water paddlers. Details to follow.

Numbers strictly limited. Early booking is advised.

Keith Thompson Paddle - River Torridge with overnight bivvy. Remember old friends and share fond memories around a campfire in a secluded area of forest. Numbers strictly limited.

Open Canoe Festival – Europe's Premier Open Canoe Rendezvous. OCA trips before (Ardèche) and afterwards (Allier, etc.). Car sharing and boat transport available. http://www.opencanoefestival.com Ladies Paddle Symposium - An excellent opportunity for ladies to get some dedicated coaching. Book now via the website: http://ladiespaddlesymposium.com Barton Turf – Norfolk - A joint OCA, SoTP etc. weekend based at an outstanding private campground on the Broads. We're expecting visitors from the WCHA, HCKA, HBBR and OCSG. River Severn Touring Weekend 1 – The first of three weekend touring trips descending a canoe touring classic. Welshpool to Montford Bridge. Experience the character of the River Severn change greatly over 30 miles. Option to join for just the day.

Paddle making workshop – Alick Burt of Rutland Woodcraft (near Stamford, Lincolnshire) will guide you through the process of crafting your own paddle.

OCA CanoeFest 2015 – Dolben Hall, Rhyl – AGM and annual gathering with lots of coaching, tripping and workshops galore. This year we are planning for coastal and estuary trips and well as coach update course we will also be in driving distance of Dee/Tryweyrn which should appeal to whitewater paddlers C-Boats Armada - Durance Valley, France - 10th Anniversary of the premier event for advanced WW canoeing. Website: www.europeancboatarmada.tk River Wye Touring Weekend 1 - The first of three weekends on an English touring classic. Glasbury to Hereford (34 miles). Open fires are allowed on the campsite on Saturday night. Option to join for just a day.

East Anglia River Touring Weekend – Possibly the River Waveney. Contact Rich to keep informed.

Fal Estuary – Mylor Falmouth - This is a bank holiday estuary paddle. Early booking is recommended to ensure we get enough campsite spaces.

Ardeche Gorge France Trip - Relaxed 7 Day paddling holiday on the Ardeche with overnight bivvy. Limited spaces. Further details from River Tarn France Trip -This will take you down the River Tarn Gorge with beautiful scenery and some moving water to keep you on your toes! Limited spaces.

First steps to Moving Water Matlock. A gentle introduction to moving water.

Contact Rich Wright email: rich.wright@opencanoe.info Rich Wright email: rich.wright@opencanoe.info Neil Fuller email: neil.fuller@opencanoe.info Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info Chris Humphries email: chris.humphries@opencanoe.info Pete Montandon email: peter.montandon@opencanoe.info Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info

Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info Chris Humphries email: chris.humphries@opencanoe.info Rich Wright email: rich.wright@opencanoe.info Sara Withall email: sara.withall@opencanoe.info Pete Montandon email: peter.montandon@opencanoe.info Pete Montandon email: peter.montandon@opencanoe.info Pete Montandon peter.montandon@opencanoe.info

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05 - 07 Jun 2015

13 – 14 Jun 2015

19 – 21 Jun 2015 03 - 05 Jul 2015 11 - 12 Jul 2015

17 – 19 Jul 2015

Summer 2015

18 Jul 2015

14 –16 Aug 2015 28 –31 Aug 2015 11-13 Sept 2015 11–13 Sept 2015

13 Sep 2015 18–20 Sept 2015

25 - 27 Sept 2015 28 - 30 Sept 2015 28 Sept - 4 Oct 2015

Poole Harbour Weekend - Camping on a rarely used site with direct access to the harbour with lots of paddling opportunities, including Brownsea Island & Wareham.

Three Rivers, Two Canals Touring Weekend – Two English canoe touring classics, done back to back: Upper Trent, Sow and Penk rivers plus Trent & Mersey and Staffordshire & Worcestershire canals. Total of 48 miles - Great Haywood, Penkridge and Stone.

Summer Solstice Saunter – River Dee – Erbistock to Farndon with an idyllic wildcamp.

‘Bob’s Weekend’ - Family weekend paddling the River Axe. Estuary & sea paddling. Training or just fun, all levels catered for.

Build Your Own Coracle - Based in a rural retreat in Lincolnshire, under the expert eye of master Coracle builder Kevin Grimley. All the materials you need will be provided and at the end you will walk away with a boat over your shoulder. Limited spaces.

River Severn Touring Weekend 2 The second of three weekend touring trips descending an English canoe touring classic. Montford Bridge to Cressage (29 miles).

Option to join for just a day.

Improvers sessions – Every Monday night during the summer after work: coaching, a social paddle and a beer in a pleasant canal side pub. No programme – you decide what you want to do and we get on and do it.

Meet at Zouch by Canal Bridge Loughborough 5.30ish John Pearton ‘Steam’ Paddle – A 9 mile paddle on the River Nene with the return shuttle by steam train in a specially provided carriage to celebrate the life of a previous president of the OCA. LL17 0HN River Wye Touring Weekend 2 – A second weekend on this touring classic. Hereford to Ross-on-Wye (28 miles). Option to join for just the day.

Norfolk Broads This is a bank holiday paddle on the broads.

Dart Estuary Weekend - Based at Stoke Gabriel, ideal for families/paddlers who wish to explore this area.

River Severn Touring Weekend 3 – A third weekend on this touring classic. Cressage to Bewdley (30 miles).

Includes paddling through a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site. Option to join for just a day.

Tandem Whitewater Paddling - Introduction to tandem paddling on moving water. River Derwent, Matlock.

Mike’s River Wye Weekend - Camping at Byecross Farm, Preston on Wye with good facilities and campfire cooking. Ideally suited to families. Possibly Preston on Wye to Hereford on the Saturday.

Scottish Canoe Symposium At Glenmore Lodge.

Additional OCA training event and a big OCA expedition to tie in with event – see immediately below for details.

Gary Rice email: gary.rice@opencanoe.info

Extreme 'Trad': Advanced WW Safety and Rescue with Advanced River Running Strategies.

Assynt: a major expedition with open-water, downhill streams, uphill streams, sea - requiring pole, paddle and sail and looking out for deer, otters, eagles, etc. Four and seven day options.

Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info

Chris Humphries email: chris.humphries@opencanoe.info Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info Neil Fuller email: neil.fuller@opencanoe.info Pete Montandon email: peter.montandon@opencanoe.info Chris Humphries email: chris.humphries@opencanoe.info Pete Montandon email: peter.montandon@opencanoe.info Gary Rice email: gary.rice@opencanoe.info Chris Humphries email: chris.humphries@opencanoe.info Sara Withall sara.withall@opencanoe.info Pete Seymour pete.seymour@opencanoe.info Chris Humphries email: chris.humphries@opencanoe.info Ian Dennies Ian.dennies@opencanoe.info Mike King email: mike.king@opencanoe.info Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info

Greg Spencer email: greg.spencer@opencanoe.info

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October 2015 09 - 11 Oct 2015

16 – 18 Oct 2015 30 Oct – 01 Nov November 2015 08 Nov 2015 13– 15 Nov 2015 04– 06 Dec 2015

North East Moving Water Weekend - Possible River Ure or Tees. Contact Rich to keep informed.

River Wye Touring Weekend 3 - A third weekend on this touring classic. Ross-on-Wye to Brockweir Bridge (30 miles). Option to join for just a day. Autumn colours expected in the Wye Valley.

Maidstone CC Canoe Camp Somerset- Peer group paddling on the Barle & Exe. Min. 2* standard required.

Social weekend with camping at Exton/Bridgetown.

Introduction to Moving Water – Devon – solo or tandem. Introducing skills for whitewater. Suitable as an introduction to 3*.

Tyne Tour - Tyne Green Country Park, Hexham. Please express your interest if you’re interested in attending.

Tandem Whitewater Paddling - The ‘Next Step’ From the introductory session, this will develop your skills on even more interesting water at Symonds Yat. Introduction to Moving Water Devon - solo or tandem.

Introducing the skills required to paddle whitewater.

Suitable as an introduction to 3* skills.

Improvement of Moving Water Skills Devon - We now start to expand the participants skill base and knowledge from the introductory course

Rich Wright rich.wright@opencanoe.info Chris Humphries email: chris.humphries@opencanoe.info Neil Fuller email: neil.fuller@opencanoe.info Pete Seymour email: pete.seymour@opencanoe.info Rich Wright rich.wright@opencanoe.info Ian Dennies email: Ian.dennies@opencanoe.info Pete Seymour email: pete.seymour@opencanoe.info Pete Seymour email: pete.seymour@opencanoe.info

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