Date

Sunday 11 April  

Loch Ailort

Post-winter warm up!

Sunday 25 April

Loch Carron

Sat 15 - Sun 23 May

Barra & South Uist

A week’s wild camping. Oban-Barra ferry out/back. 

Sunday 6 June

Arisaig area

 BBQ paddle

Fri 18 - Mon 21 June

Shiants

Ferry out to Harris and paddle back to Skye via the Shiants.

Sat /Sun 3/4 July

Rubha Reidh

Remote W. Ross coast

Sat 17 – Sun 18 July

Sound of Sleat

Fri 27 –Sun 29 Aug

All welcome!

TL = Tony Laidler Tel 01397 702104 tlaidler@btinternet.com
JSm = Joan Smith Tel 01687 462206 smith.joan@hotmail.co.uk
MK = Mike Kingswood Tel 01687 450606 achnaskia@aol.com
BS = Bill Skeoch Tel 01320 366 707 cedartower12@o2.co.uk
JS = Jill Skeoch Tel 01320 366 707 cedartower12@o2.co.uk
PC = Paul Cromey Tel 01738 710686  paulcromey@btopenworld.com

Guidelines for Touring Participants

Mallaig & District Canoe Club runs a number of kayak trips which are published as a Touring Calendar for members and posted on the Touring page of the club website (www.mallaigcanoeclub.co.uk/touring.html) While the trips are organised for the benefit of members, a warm invitation is extended to paddlers who haven’t been before. Hopefully you will enjoy the trips so much that you will join the club!

Calendar Trips

Touring Calendar trips offer you the opportunity to experience some of the finest sea kayaking in the world in the company of like-minded people. It is an opportunity to gain experience, explore new areas and meet new people. As with any outdoor pursuit there is an element of risk, so it is important to study the information below, understand the basis of your participation and not put yourself or other paddlers at risk.

Trip Gradings

In order to give you some idea of the type of trip and conditions you might experience Trips are graded A or B. They can vary from a day paddle on a sheltered inland loch to the exposed headlands, cliffs, crossings and tide races among some of Scotland ’s rugged coastline and islands. If you are a newcomer you should start off on a Grade A trip so that you can judge your capabilities against other paddlers and minimise the risk to yourself.

Grade A is in sheltered water. Participants should be capable of paddling 20km (12 miles)per day in Force 2/3 conditions.

Grade B is in more challenging waters and may include tidal streams, exposed headlands, and open crossings between islands. Participants should be capable of paddling 25km (16 miles) per day in up to Force 4 conditions. A Four Star paddler would feel comfortable on such a trip.

Tour Organisers

Tour Organisers are volunteers who give up their time, free of charge, to act as a contact point for paddlers who are interested in paddling in a stated area. Organisers are not accepting responsibility for other paddlers or for instructing them as part of the trip. These are NOT guided trips run by qualified instructors.

Organisers will generally issue details of a meeting place and time and a suggested route from their knowledge of the area. Tidal conditions and distances involved make it important to be ready at the correct time. If you are late don’t expect other paddlers to wait for you.

Be aware that the organiser may have to change or cancel the trip due to weather conditions or for other reasons, so check nearer the trip that it’s still on.

Please be aware that Organisers may refuse to let you come on a trip because they are unsure of your competence/fitness or because the trip is oversubscribed. Participation is always at the discretion of the organiser.

Communicating with the Organiser

The first time you ask to paddle with an organiser, be prepared to tell him/her about your level of experience/competence. If possible refer him to an experienced paddler he knows who can comment on your abilities.

If you are interested in a trip please contact the organiser beforehand to get joining instructions. Do not leave it to the last minute as trips may be changed due to impending weather or other reasons.

Please do not turn up for a trip without having previously contacted the organiser.