2-Day Sea Kayaking Courses in Torquay, Devon
Start or develop your career as a paddler with sea kayaking and canoeing courses from Sea Kayak Torbay. Experienced in paddling the waters of Torquay, South Devon, and the English Riviera, we are ideally placed to help learners get to grips with ever-evolving technical clothing and equipment. Serving holidaymakers and the local community, we provide courses for paddlers of all skill levels, whether you are a beginner or an intermediate learner. Get in touch today to discover more.
About Our Courses
Suitable for learners of all skill levels, our pre- and post-season courses grant you the chance to increase your technical skills, knowledge, and ability using the latest advanced crafts and equipment. When you choose our courses, we will help you based on your own skill level and requirements, often giving you the chance to meet like-minded people of various nationalities. What’s more, you’ll learn in one of the most scenic areas of the UK, ranging from beautiful and secluded spots to areas of special scientific interest.
Bookings
We always start with a friendly chat to confirm which course is best for you. Itineraries and course structures are available for all course upon request. We also consider a weather window for bookings, so that you can pick a date when you have flexibility to attend courses, and we can pick the ideal weather for you. The more information you provide, the better your course will be.
Sea Kayaking for Beginners
A 2-Day Course for BeginnersSuitable for Learners aged 8 and upGroup Size – 2 Minimum, up to 6 Maximum
If you have never been in a kayak or canoe before, then this is the course for you. Taking in the holistic nature of sea kayaking and its environment, we will train you on land and sea, helping you to master easy paddling techniques. This includes using your body to steer the craft and learning the theory behind the muscle groups that increase your paddling and steering leverage, maneuverability, and glide.
Outcomes
By the end of the beginners’ course, you will have the tools to paddle safely with friends in sheltered shallow waters and know where to find them. Most paddlers find that after the course, their paddling ability, knowledge, and awareness are significantly increased.
Course Breakdown
- Launching, landing, and loading
- Capsizing and returning to shore
- Paddling Skill Development and Techniques to BCU 2-Star Level
- Introduction to Edging (using your body to steer)
- Introduction to the Skeg
- Safety equipment and clothing
- Boats and Paddles
- Setting up your boat (trimming)
- Kayaking accessories
- Packing Boats and Choosing a Boat
- Basic Coastal Navigation and the Tide
- Reading the water and using lines of transit.
- Ferry gliding and crossing rivers (1-3 knots)
- Understanding Marine Wildlife Behaviour
- Paddle-Sport Etiquette on the Water
- Meeting the Local Seals
- Paddling through Caves
Locations
- Oddicombe Beach
- Meadfoot Beach
- Brixham Breakwater
- Brixham Oxon Cove
- Stoke Gabriel
What to Bring
Beginners are not required to bring any technical clothing or equipment, as we cater for everything. We would always advise you to bring beach clothes or gym/walking gear on a cooler day, to wear under our dry gear. It’s usually possible to keep your feet dry, but it’s advisable to bring old or wet shoes and, just in case you want to swim, a swimsuit.
Please Note
We are about to purchase some junior kayaks but until then our solo touring sea kayaks best suit more physical children and therefore we currently offer training to ages 12 and up.
For ages 12 and up, no prior experience of water or boats is necessary, and all instruction is provided. The maximum capacity of our stable beginner solo boat is 130kg – if you are near or above this weight, please let us know before booking.
Group sizes are generally 2-4 but larger groups can be catered for with additional instructors. Group discounts will depend on duration and group size.
Upcoming Course Dates
- From March 8th - 2021 TBA
Prices
- 1 Person – £185
- 2 People – £350
- 4 People – £650
- 6 People – £900
Sea Kayaking for Improvers
A 2-Day Course for Learners with Previous ExperienceSuitable for Adult Learners aged 18 and upGroup Size – 2 Minimum, up to 6 Maximum
When you have had some previous experience of kayaking and canoeing and you know how to hold a paddle, our improvers’ courses will help you advance your paddling career. You will have the opportunity to try a range of boats, paddles, and equipment, and we will show you how to use the kayak skeg (the daggerboard in the hull) effectively in wind and how to trim (lower) the boat. We will visit an estuary and a headland to experience the differences in tidal movements.
Outcomes
By the end of the improvers’ course, you should feel confident to go out with a friend or family member, backed by the right information and awareness to enjoy your own adventure. We will develop your ability to “edge” your kayak to increase your manoeuvrability in the wind and small surf. This will minimize the drag of the hull of the boat through the water and reduce the need for correcting paddle strokes that slow down the craft. You should be able to surf your kayak after this course.
Course Breakdown
We will paddle a distance around 12 to 16km from one of the following locations:
- Launching and landing in waves, 0-2 ft
- Capsizing in moving water
- Introduction to surf-sea kayaking
- Improvers Edging Techniques
- Using Eddies and Eddie lines
- Finding protection and using it to your advantage
- Meteorology, the tide, and navigation
- Basic towing techniques
- Technical skills trained to BCU 3 star
- EPIRBs, GPS, Tracking devices.
What to Bring
You are encouraged to bring snacks and water with you, and in the summer months, we recommend you bring shorts and sports tops. Weather conditions can change, but we will outfit you with any technical clothing that you may require.
Please Note
Due to the nature of this course and the use of solo kayaks, this course is for adults only. You do not need to be physically fit, but this 2-day course is demanding for a teenager except in special circumstances or previous training. We also carry a waterproof camera so we can snap images as we go and forward them to you afterwards.
Upcoming Course Dates
- New dates TBA from March
Prices
- 1 Person – £185
- 2 People – £350
- 4 People – £650
- 6 People – £900
- More Than 6 People – Please Call for More Information
Intermediate Sea Kayaking
A 2-Day Course for Learners with Previous ExperienceSuitable for Experienced Paddlers aged 18 and upGroup Size – 2 Minimum, up to 6 Maximum
If you feel ready to take on a Touring Sea Kayak, our intermediate course will grant you the confidence to go exploring on your own. Participants will have a good understanding of their craft and their environment and be looking to push their boundaries. From learning to read the water to crossing estuaries and passing between islands, the skills you gain from this holistic course will complete your training as a paddler.
We have a range of boats for you to choose from, or alternatively, you may wish to come and train in your own boat and learn how to get the best from it.
Outcomes
Over this two-day course, we will develop your skill and ability to paddle in moderate-advanced water conditions. This will enable you to manage your craft and get home safely even if you’re caught out by sudden changes in your environment in the open or when landing in surf.
The course will cover solo paddling in advanced areas and incident management within them. We will look at self-rescues in exposed areas and in moving water. emergency escape routes using rock landings, and learning how to land a towed casualty. By the end of the course, you will be competent enough to plan a trip and cope with most scenarios in wind up to force 4.
We will spend a day training around the mouth of the River Teign and a day at Berry Head or Start Point
Course Breakdown
Day One:
- Technical Skills
- Surfing, bongo sliding, and rolling (up to 2ft)- Controlling the Kayak in small surf/moderate water- Working in wind up to Force 4, edging and - Work on Self- and Assisted Deep Water Rescues
Day Two:
- Remote Incident Management- Remote Group Management- Launching and Landing in Surf 2-3 ft
- Multy Day/Expedition planning
Locations
We will paddle a distance around 12 to 16km from one of the following locations:
- Oddicombe Beach or Meadfoot Beach for the Hopes Nose Headland
- Paignton Sands – Boathouse for the Backwaters of Livermead, Hollicombe, and Corbyn Head
- Brixham Breakwater for St Mary's Bay and Berry Head
- Brixham Oxon Cove or Goodrington, for the Backwaters of Elberry, Crystal, Churston, and Fishcombe Coves
Upcoming Course Dates
- 15th March – 15th June
- 1st September – 15th October
Prices
- 1 Person – £185
- 2 People – £350
- 4 People – £650
- 6 People – £900
Want to Improve Your Paddling?
We provide sea kayaking and sup courses for learners of all skill levels.