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Welcome to the Homepage of the Sea Kayak Club of WA inc.

Western Australia has some of the best sea kayaking locations in the country plus the sort of weather conditions that allow us to enjoy this satisfying and adventurous activity year round. If you have a yen to get out on our pristine Indian Ocean waters with a supportive group of experienced and likeminded people, to improve your fitness, commune with nature and to paddle your own boat into adventurous, scenic locations then you have come to the right address for information as to how this can be acheived. If you are unable to find all of the information you need by clicking on the various site menus please do not hesitate to contact our President, Vice President or Secretary. For contact details click on the contacts button.

Welcome also to any of our existing members who may be visiting the web site in search of information, the aim is to provide a one stop location for all information pertaining to club activities.


Waikiki Beach, WA
Photograph: Alan Hale
A calm late May day with a gentle swell, and a group of club paddlers cruising along the beach to Long Point.


Warnbro Sound with a threatening storm.
Photograph: Sue Harrington
From Long Point back to Mersey Point with a thunderstorm sliding away behind.


Near Steep Point
Photograph: Alan Hale
Alan Hale recently paddled solo out to Steep Point, the western-most point of the Australian mainland, and Dirk Hartog Island from Denham.


Alan Hale playing in the swell at Garden Island
Photograph: John Radovich
No wind but a bit of swell made for good conditions for a training day at Garden Island .


Garden Island
Photograph: Russ Hobbs
Perfect conditions on a day trip along the western side of Garden Island, meant that it was easy to paddle in close to shore and to get into the prettiest little lunch spot on the island.

For more photos, see the photo gallery.

News

Inflatable Boat/Cloak
An interesting history article appeared in a recent issue of New Scientist, on a 1844 invention of a waterproof cloak doubling as a paddle craft. Here is a link to the New Scientist website page.

For Sale
Arctic Raider Sea Kayak and extras. Purchased new 2002 hardly used. Excellent condition. Also included is split paddle, skirt, paddle float, brand new trolley still in original packaging and pump.
The lot $2100.
Contact Oliver Laing on 0404 081 711 or olaing@bigpond.com.

Wanted to Buy
Mirage 530, preferably Kevlar construction.
Good to excellent condition.
Please phone Rod Coogan (H) 9535 4515 or email: treasurer@seakayakwa.org.au.

Trip Reports
Bart Huntley has written a trip report on his recent paddling venture on the east coast of Tasmania. Click here to see it. Rod Coogan has written an interesting account of a training exercise at Garden Island that did not go to plan. And Di Bramley has written a report of the Walpole Easter trip. There has also been a recent addendum (or debriefing) to Rod Coogan's Cape-to-Cape 2008 report, with lots of good ideas for anybody wishing to try that trip on. See the Trip Reports page for more.


Image by Jason Gibbs

Extraction Line
Rod Coogan has a description of an extraction line for kayaking. He wouldn't paddle without one. Click here for details.

Solo Around Australia
Freya Hoffmeister, having circumnavigated Iceland and the South Island of New Zealand, is taking a crack at Australia. She started at Queenscliff, south of Melbourne in January, and is paddling solo. She made a 600km open water crossing of the Gulf of Carpentaria, and is already close to Broome, Western Australia. To see the latest about her expedition, there is a link to her website from our Links page. The Victorian Seakayak Club also has excellent coverage of her expedition.

The Updated AC Award Scheme
The latest review of the Australian Canoeing Award Scheme is live for all.  The new assessment requirements for the Sea Skills Award can be found on the Australian Canoeing website here.

Automatic Bilge Pump
Malcolm Blanch has designed a nifty automatic bilge pump system for a kayak, and has provided full instructions on how you can make one too.

The Sea Kayak Forum
Tim Robinson has set up a Forum for Sea Kayakers in Australia. It is run independently of a club or business with the idea that it would be of benefit to clubs and businesses and would be available to kayakers world wide. There are posts on general kayak talk, techniques, equipment etc., and if you register you can post information yourself. See http://www.seakayakforum.com/.

...More news

Current program

July paddles below are still tentative:

Saturday 4 July
Beach Street Groyne, Cottesloe to South Beach, return (all paddlers).

Sunday 12 July
Mandurah Island circumnavigation from Old Mandurah bridge (all paddlers).

Sunday 19 July
Sandy Beach Bassendean to Caversham return (all paddlers).

Sunday 26 July
South Beach Fremantle peer paddle (all paddlers).

...Details and more planned trips



Jim Bramley scouting for the next big one.
- photo Rod Coogan

... See Rod Coogan's Trip Report on last year's Cape to Cape.

Page updated 01-Jul-2009 | Disclaimer | Contact webmaster