Sea Kayaking

Sea safety

Sea kayaking

The British Isles has a coastline to rival the most spectacular on the planet and there’s no better way to explore its wonderful geography and nature than by kayak. Rob McKinlay dips his paddle

Thanks go to…

The Eskimos of North America and Greenland who, some 5,000 years ago, built a craft on which to negotiate the seas while hunting for seals, walruses and other edible marine creatures. These vessels were made of wood, covered in mammal skins and are the earliest recorded examples of the sea kayak. The materials used barely changed until about 50 years ago, when fibreglass became popular.

Thanks also go to... Chris at Clearwater Paddling (clearwaterpaddling.com) for his expert help with this article.

In the same boat?

There is more than one type of kayak:

Single – kayak designed for one paddler; shorter than a double

Double – designed for two paddlers; typically more stable; often with a rudder steering system

Touring kayak – great for more sheltered water; shorter, wider and tend to be flat-bottomed for stability; doesn’t handle bigger swells so well

Sea kayak  – tend to be narrower with more ‘v’-shaped hull, which helps with tacking upwind

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Paddle Patter

Bulkhead – vertical partition that creates separate chambers in the kayak, usually watertight, to store gear

Coaming – rim of a cockpit, which has a lip onto which a kayaker’s spray deck/skirt fits, to keep him/her dry

Cockpit – semi-enclosed area where kayaker sits

Deep Water Rescue – where rescuer is able to empty a capsized kayak and then get the kayaker back in their boat

Dry Bag – waterproof for personal items

Eskimo Roll – use paddle to right a capsized kayak without falling out

Hatch – waterproof storage hold

Overfall – when a tidal stream creates rough sea conditions, sometimes including large breaking waves

PFD – Personal Flotation Device; life vest

Put In – getting into the water

Re-Entry and Roll – means of getting oneself back into a capsized kayak

Seam – one-inch-wide line around the middle of the kayak where the deck and hull are joined together, usually a different colour

Spray Deck/Skirt – fitted, waterproof fabric that creates a seal between kayaker and coaming, keeping water out

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Simply the best

Some of the top spots to go sea kayaking in Britain & Ireland:

Outer Hebrides

This undisturbed corner of Scotland offers the best (and most peaceful) sea kayaking in the country – as good as anywhere in the world – and is a haven for wildlife, including seals, otters and golden eagles. 

Pembrokeshire, Wales

Paddle alongside towering sea cliffs and into caves along this thrilling stretch of coastline, making the most of sheltered beaches, remote offshore islands and clean, Atlantic water.

West Coast, Ireland

From the rugged, wave-sculpted coastline of the Donegal Islands to the spectacular coastal architecture of County Kerry and the coral beaches of the Connemara, Ireland’s West Coast is ripe for exploration. 

Cornwall, England

The Cornish coastline is a natural paddling playground, offering fantastic wildlife and an incredible diversity of environments, which means whatever your level, the right conditions can usually be found.

West Coast, Scotland

Scotland’s inner islands and sea lochs provide the stunning, and often sheltered, backdrop for some exciting and beautiful paddling for all abilities.  clearwaterpaddling.com

And in the World…

Canada’s west coast

Norway’s fjords

Dalmatian Coast, Croatia

Fjordland, New Zealand

Alaska, US