Sea Trips
General Club Information
During the summer there will be a series of Sunday events. These are usually sea trips around the coasts of Caithness and Sutherland. The trips give you an excellent opportunity to explore the coastline with its hidden beaches, deserted islands, caves. The wildlife is also exiting: porpoises; seals; and maybe even whales.
The Club uses a
grading system to give participants an idea of the type of trip and conditions that
might be experienced. Trips can vary from a day paddle on a sheltered sea or
inland loch to the exposed headlands, cliffs, crossings and tide races among
some of areas rugged coastline.
Trips are graded from
A (lowest) to C (highest).
- Grade A (Sheltered Water): Participants should
be capable of paddling 20km (12 miles) per day. Trips where the paddlers are no
more than 200 metres offshore and the wind strength does not exceed Beaufort Force
3, avoiding the group being swept/blown out of the safe working area.
- Grade B (Moderate Water): 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. Trips where it is not easy to land but there will always be
straightforward land points up to of two nautical miles apart. Crossings not
exceeding two nautical miles. Tidal streams up to 2 Knots (but not involving
tide race or overfalls). Wind strengths do not exceed Beaufort Force 4.
Launching and landing through surf (up to 1 metre, trough to crest height).
- Grade C (Advanced Water): participants should be
capable of paddling in more difficult conditions than Grade B for a longer
time. Trips where tidal races, overfalls or open crossings may be encountered
and which cannot be avoided; sections of coastline where landings may not be
possible or are difficult; sea state 4 and winds above Beaufort force 4;
launching and landing through surf (up to 1.5 metres trough to crest height).
If you are a newcomer
to paddling, you should start off on a Grade A trips.
