A sea kayak skills development course based in Kefalonia! This is a week-long combination of journeys along stunning scenery, paddling around the diverse beauty of Kefalonia and a hugely rewarding sea kayak skills learning experience, to a significant extend shaped by the participants themselves! This week guarantees to massively benefit all involved as part of their pathway towards British Canoeing Personal Performance, Leadership or Coaching Awards/Qualifications.
This sea kayaking week is focused on learning and skills development. It is more beneficial, enjoyable and developing for paddlers with some sea kayaking experience. Participants at any level of personal performance in sea kayaking can benefit from this course. The week is also suitable for everyone holding any British Canoeing or other international award (or performing at the standard), looking to development their paddling, leadership/guiding or coaching skills.
Get in touch in order to find out which week will best meet your needs and aspirations!
We are based in beautiful apartments at the south part of the island, near Trapezaki area. The area offers a quiet yet very comfortable accommodation with great restaurants, mini markets and other facilities within short walking distance.. We enjoy all 7 nights staying in the same double occupancy apartments (optionally single).
- Day_1 – Meeting day:
We meet at the south of Kefalonia (Trapezaki area) where our accommodation is arranged for the week. We set our meeting for early evening for all appropriate introductions as well as an open discussion to help us prepare and plan accordingly for the following days!
Note: the success of this week’s schedule is highly dependant on our ability to get the most out of what the weather conditions offer and to meet individual participants’ needs in their sea kayak skills development. For this reason, the schedule of this week is defined by our intention to explore the best of the islands’ coastline as well as our intention to combine this with what works best for the teams’ and individual participants’ needs. With these in mind, the schedule is revised on day 1 and remains reasonably flexible thereafter.
- Day_2: Journeying, South stretch
On our first day out at sea, we head out exploring the south of Kefalonia’s coast. We opt for a 0930 start paddling between Lourdas and Katelios. This part of the island is a remote, yet welcoming stretch with sheltered seas, many beautiful beaches with limited access and great opportunities for warming up, exploring and refreshing techniques. A couple of breaks or three offer us the opportunity to choose a great spot for our lunch. Our day finishes in the afternoon, debriefing while enjoying a refreshing drink and is completed with a delicious dinner in the area – either as a team or individually. - Day_3: West Coast
This day we head to the west coast of Kefalonia, aiming to make and enjoy the most of an impressive coast, full of fun features and complex, mesmerising caves. Reaching the fascinating and inaccessible white rocks beach, the day is offered for rescues and “wet drills” practice in the warm and clear water too! - Day_4: Wet sessions!
This is a half day, yet a day full of opportunities! Opportunities for both fun and productive playtime with the boats or even a day-off for some. Choosing the productive playtime can have you thoroughly practicing rolling or rescues while opting for a rest day can allow free time for the exploration of other, non-coastal beauties of Kefalonia. - Day_5: North-west coast
Paddling near Myrtos bay, will reveal the reasons that made Kefalonia famous world-wide as a top holidays destination. We are highly privileged to be able to steer away from the busy spots and discover the truly unique hidden gems of Kefalonia’s coastal environment, with the serenity and the pace of our sea kayaks. Playfulness, challenges and learning can always be in the menu! - Day_6: North-West coast (again!)
The west coast of Kefalonia is long and rather interesting for us paddlers! Enjoying another day here, allows for further exploration of other stretches of the coast that keeps delivering picturesque bays and features. A visit to the picturesque village and peninsula of Assos might as well be the case for the day -coaching along the journey, practicing skills, and playing with whatever the sea offers, before our arrival. In the afternoon we will be heading back to our rooms debriefing and reflecting on the day. - Day_7: Anywhere interesting!
We are looking for an interesting venue for this day. Interesting in a way so that it provides with the opportunities to keep developing a set of awareness, seamanship, paddling skills and knowledge that gets us closer to any individual aspirations or simply enjoying another fun day of learning and exploring with our sea kayaks in the Mediterranean, Ionian sea, Greece! - Day_8: Check out and departure
- 6 paddling days
- all top quality paddling and appropriate for the course gear
- all sessions delivered by George Gazetas (BC Coaching Diploma graduate)
- 7 nights’ accommodation in double occupancy apartments (a single room supplement is at 280 €)
- 5 lunches
- pick up / drop off
- Post-course and future development action plans
For this sea kayaking experience, you would need to consider bringing with you:
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- Swimming suit(s)
- Hat
- Sun glasses
- UV protection cream
- Sea shoes / sandals
- Towel
- Dry clothes
