What is stand up paddle boarding?

Stand up paddle boarding involves standing up on a board that floats on water and using a paddle to move around. The paddle board looks similar to a surf board and is made from glass-reinforced plastic around a polyurethane or expanded polystyrene foam core.

Guy Fisher, Director of SUP Rentals Ltd in the UK explains, “Stand-up paddling has become one of the fastest growing sports all over the world. The water based activity can be enjoyed on any pool of water, be it a river, lake or sea at any time. In addition to the fun that can be had, it is a great sport that provides full body and low impact exercise which improves body balance and overall strength.

How was stand up paddle boarding invented?

Stand up paddle boarding was said to have originated on the African coast where people stood up in their dugout canoes to get a better view of what was around them, especially looking out for danger. This is the reason that lifeguards also use stand up paddle boards to look out for anyone who might need help and to be able to quickly get to them.

Another reason that stand up paddle boarding came into favour as a sport was in Hawaii where it was adopted as a different way to go surfing when there weren’t many big waves. SUP enables you to practice your surfing technique and balance in the sea when there isn’t much swell.

Due to the stability of stand up paddle boards, they have become increasingly popular as a recreational activity, allowing you to get unique views of nature from the water.

What do you wear for stand up paddle boarding?

You can wear whatever you want for stand up paddle boarding, however you might want to think about the temperature and getting wet if you fall in.

In warmer weather, T shirt and shorts will be just fine, but if the water is a bit cold for you, a wetsuit may be required. You can buy wetsuits or rent them from the place you rent your board from.

Where Can I Try Stand up Paddle Boarding in the UK?

Being an island, the UK is a great place to try stand up paddle boarding. There are an enormous range of places where you can go to hire one. But if you fancy trying stand up paddle boarding on a patch of water near you and there isn’t a board hire shop nearby, you can now get a paddle board delivered to your door!

SUP Rentals Ltd in the UK – Stand up Paddle Boards for Hire and Delivered to Your Door

SUP Rentals Ltd is an Oxfordshire based stand up paddle board hire business offering inflatable paddle boards to rent in the UK.

SUP boards are larger boards and the desire to travel with them has led to the development of an inflatable system where the board and pump can be carried in a back pack.

SUP Rentals Ltd offers the rent of stand up paddleboards from one day, up to two weeks with prices starting at £15 per day per paddle board.

Each stand up paddleboard – the Zray Tourer Elite 330 cm / 10’6” – is perfect for adults or families and comes with its own pump, ensuring quick and easy inflation.

The inflatable stand up paddle boards are lightweight and pack down in to a rucksack and the company will deliver to the customer via courier to their doorstep – or customers can collect from their base in Oxfordshire.

The inflatable stand up paddle boards can be rolled up and packed in a lightweight pack for easy transportation. The boards are safe and durable, with a more rigid construction technology than other inflatable boards currently on the market. SUP Rentals have a long history in renting equipment for water based activities and the quality of their equipment and safety of their customers is second to none. It is awesome to be able to rent a stand up paddle board that is delivered right to your door. In addition, when hiring the SUP boards, life jackets and dry bags can be reserved through the online booking process.

If you want to buy your own inflatable stand up paddle board in the UK, it will set you back around £500. You can buy them from stores such as Decathlon, Surf Boutique or Amazon.

The Great Social Stand Up Paddle Boarding Trip

Stand up paddle boarding is pretty straightforward and easy to learn. The boards are very stable and make for a great way to spend your recreational time at the weekends with friends. You can go online and rent a couple of inflatable boards, get them delivered to your door and then have some fun at the weekend.

If you are still wondering if it is easy to learn how to stand up paddle board, this Youtube video explains everything for you.

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Kayak In Your Backyard – By Andrea Lauren

My kayak glides toward the gray and blue reflection of the white peaks of the towering Alaskan mountains, never cutting through the reflection, but moving through the glassy water as part of the landscape rather than as an intruder. Rising hundreds of feet on the side of Resurrection Bay, I see a hanging glacier nestled in the jagged rock, softened by mounds of snow. To my right, I spot a bald eagle in his nest high up in the tree. Quietly, we paddle along the shoreline to get a closer look, when we find another new friend – a sea otter — floating on her back. We stop paddling for a bit to chat, as our guide shares some hilarious vignettes about tourists trying to “rescue” a bald eagle who was just trying to protect his dinner. Technically, I am a tourist, too. I’m visiting Alaska as a birthday present to myself and romping around the state pretty much solo. But while I am a tourist, I’m also not. We are all inhabitants of this world, although many times getting out in nature, especially when we are so tied to technology, makes you feel like a tourist in your own backyard. Your backyard is a great place to start, though. It’s where I began splashing in the creek, exploring in the fields, and hiking the trails. For this trip, I made Alaska my backyard. I tend to do that – go places and decide they are my new “backyard.” Once you’re comfortable playing in your backyard, you try out new things and new places.

Kayaking is something I started in my “backyard” of graduate school by participating in a whitewater kayaking course. After the culminating run down the whitewater river rapids, I decided that a touring kayak was more my style. Taking a class on how to kayak is a great way to get started because you learn the basics and you get connected with others who are also interested in the activity. However, there are other ways to experience the sport besides taking a class. Several people on my Alaskan kayaking adventures had never kayaked before, but by signing up with an outfitter, like Kayak Adventures Worldwide (that’s the one I used), you get equipment, instruction, navigation, and supervision. If you decide you want to try whitewater kayaking, I strongly encourage you to take a course and/or seek out an experienced whitewater kayaker to help you. Besides attending a course or registering with an outfitter, often local outdoors stores will host an introductory class to kayaking. This is a great opportunity to get your feet wet (sorry, I’m a nerd and that pun had to be interjected somewhere). A lake is also a good place to try out kayaking with a friend.

As you prepare for your kayak experience, your outfitter can be a resource for questions and concerns. What you will pack and wear will often depend on both the weather and water temperature. Whether you are kayaking in Alaska or paddling in the tropics, there are some basics to kayaking. The first thing is this: you WILL get wet. Not that you will tip, because if it’s flatwater, and especially if you are in a double kayak, it is actually highly unlikely, but you will be on the water and water is wet. (If you’re now thinking, “Uh, I already know this.” Then you get it – that’s the point! You already DO know about this! There are just some other details to work out to get you on the water.) There are different types of kayaking, so there are different kinds of equipment as well.

What is Canoeing and Kayaking all about?

You may have seen a bit of sedate canoeing, or even had a go yourself, but there is a wide range of canoeing experiences to be had on a range of types of water.

Canoeing is where you paddle a canoe for the purpose of recreation, sport, or transportation. It usually refers exclusively to using a paddle to propel a canoe with only human muscle power.

There are a few differences between a canoe and a kayak. A canoe is an open topped craft that you paddle from a kneeling position with a single blade paddle. Canoeing is perfect for wilderness travel and river cruising. Kayaks are paddled from a sitting position using a double bladed paddle. Just some of the extensive environments for kayaking include sea, surf and white-water rafting. Kayaks are usually closed-decked boats with a spraydeck, while canoes are usually open boats. There are also open kayaks and closed canoes.

Internationally, the term canoeing is used as a generic term for both forms though the terms “paddle sports” or “canoe/kayak” are also used. In North America, however, ‘canoeing’ usually refers only to canoes, as opposed to both canoes and kayaks. Paddling a kayak is also referred to as kayaking.

In modern canoe sport, both canoes and kayaks may be closed-decked. Other than by the minimum competition specifications (typically length and width (beam) and seating arrangement it is difficult to differentiate most competition canoes from the equivalent competition kayaks. The most common difference is that competition kayaks are always seated, and competition canoes are generally kneeling. Exceptions include Canoe Marathon (in both European and American competitive forms) and sprint (high kneeling position). The most traditional and early canoes did not have seats, the paddlers merely kneeled on the bottom of the boat. Recreational or ‘Canadian’ canoes employ seats and whitewater rodeo and surf variants increasingly employ the use of ‘saddles’ to give greater boat control under extreme conditions.

There are many types of disciplines within kayaking and canoeing. With so many different types of canoes and kayaks available, it is up to you whether you take a gentle paddle down stream or battle it out in the open ocean. Whitewater kayaking is extreme fun, whether on man made whitewater courses or on rivers.

Getting your kayak to the water can be done either using a trailer or a roof rack. If you don’t have the space, perhaps you might like to look at an inflatable kayak or canoe.

What Do I Need?

• Kayak
• Paddle
• Spray skirt: Many warmer climates with recreational kayaks for rent do not require you to wear a spray skirt, which you wear around your waist that seals around the opening of the boat when you are in the water. You may or may not need one, depending on where you are kayaking.
• Footwear: Water socks/shoes, but sneakers can sometimes work, too.
• Depending on the season and temperatures, you may end up wearing neoprene booties and gloves, or a wetsuit.
• Attire: When I kayak by my house in the summer, I wear shorts, a tank top, a hat, and some sun protection. Weather and temperature matter, so make sure you check that out before you hit the water.
• Personal Floatation Device: The one accessory that I always wear is a personal floatation device (PFD) – a life-vest. I tend to be part of the “Just-In-Case Club”, and this is a badge of honor with its members.

All Geared Up – What Next?

The Paddle:

First, take your paddle and put the shaft on your head so that the blades are equidistant from your head. Yes, I’m serious here. Now, you want your arms to make right angles. This is how you can tell where your hands need to be. If you are using an asymmetrical paddle, you want to hold it the correct way. Usually, the writing on the paddle is a dead give-away (as in, can you read the writing? If it’s upside down, so is your paddle). If there is no writing, know that the horizontal side is the bottom, the more curved edge is the top. You want the smooth concave side facing you. Now you know how to hold the paddle, so let’s get you in the boat – but not in the water . . . yet!

The Kayak:

You also want to fit your kayak before you start paddling. In order to fit your kayak, sit on the back lip of the open hole, with one foot on either side of the boat. Lift your feet up, slide them in, and put your bottom on the seat. Each foot should rest on a little pedal. Your heels should be in toward the bottom center of the boat and your toes out with your feet slightly flexed. Your knees will be bent and rest on the sides of the boat; this will help you balance the boat. Your bottom should be all the way back in the seat. If you need to, you can adjust the foot pedals by moving the lever inside the boat. If you have a spray skirt, you should be wearing that before you begin. Like I said, not all places use them and you may not need one. Once you are all set and in your kayak, you will take the skirt and tuck it under the back lip of the opening, moving forward until it’s all tucked under. Make sure the woven handle is NOT tucked under the skirt. You need this accessible just in case you do tip.
Now it’s time to get in the water! There are a couple of options for how to do this. I usually start right at the water’s edge, get in as described above, and scoot to the water, or have a friend push me in.

Time to Move:

Paddle strokes can be broken down into three steps. Think of yourself as propelling yourself forward, rather than pulling water toward you.

1. Put one blade in the water . Your torso will be turned in the direction of the blade that you have in the water.
2. Imagine pushing the boat forward instead of pulling the paddle back. You can do this by extending your opposite arm (paddle is not in the water) across your body. Imagine you are punching the air in front of you at about shoulder-height. The blade in this hand will be in the air. You blade-in-water arm will be bent, hand by your waist, blade in the water.
3. Rotate your torso as you bring your blade out of the water. Paddling is a continuous motion. Now this hand is going to the punching and the other arm is going to catch the water with the other blade. Your torso should now be facing in this direction.

TIP: Make sure you are extending your arms, otherwise you will look like you have dinosaur arms. (Are you pretending to do it now? See? Just like T-Rex!) Try to focus on pushing with your extended arm as you twist, rather than pulling with the arm with the blade in the water. You want your stroke to be smooth, and the grip on the paddle loose. If your knuckles are white, relax a little!

Will I Capsize?

The major concern I hear about kayaking has to do with capsizing, or tipping over. It CAN happen, but if you are on flatwater, it’s infrequent. Still, it’s always good to have a plan and know what to do in case it does. If you capsize, bang on the sides of the kayak three times loudly to signal to others that you have tipped. Then, put both hands on the edges of the opening on either side of you and run them along the oval until they meet at the front, which is where the handle will be of your spray skirt. Then, when you pull the handle, the skirt pops off, and you push with your feet to easily exit the boat and swim to the surface. Like I said earlier, if you are kayaking on flatwater (like a lake) you mostly likely won’t need to do this, but it’s good to know. There are other ways to right your boat back up, which are great to know if you become an avid kayaker and crucial if you decide to attempt whitewater kayaking.

Kayaking can give you chance to explore nature and see it through a different perspective. It is certainly a unique and fun way to experience the outdoors and the water! Now it’s about time for you to strap on your PFD, grab a paddle, and hop in kayak to explore your new backyard.

Find Out More About Canoeing and Kayaking

A good place to start with any sport is to learn the basics first. Hatt Adventures run kayaking and canoeing experiences that are perfect for getting a feel for splashing about in the boats for a few hours, playing some games and learning basic technique. From there you can progress up the on to the BCU (British Canoe Union) certifications. These are designed to improve upon your skills at each stage, awarding you with a recognised certificate at the end of each assessment.

For further information on the sports, check out the BCU website. Here a comprehensive list of clubs and centres can be found as well as further information on the awards and other resources.

If you want to explore harbours, coastlines, cliffs and caves, you can experience the sea from a different perspective by sea kayaking.

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It’s not all about the nature watching. The experience of paddling across the waves under your own power is quite soothing to the soul. One of the great things about a sea kayak is that they are wider than normal kayaks, and designed to be much more stable in the waves. Within ten minutes, a complete beginner can work out how to move about in a sea kayak, so it is good for newcomers and experts alike.

Sea kayaking for beginners

Sea kayaking is readily accessible for beginners, however depending on your fitness and coordination it will be easier for some. Talking to a sea kayak instructor I was told that more and more people struggle with sea kayaks because adults and children are so unfit these days. Paddling can be a bit tiring on the arms if you are not used to doing any form of physical activity.

What to Expect When Sea Kayaking

I have been longing to go sea kayaking for a while. Walking the cliff top coastal paths around the UK, I often sea small groups of people in sea kayaks exploring the cliffs and caves. Whilst on holiday in North Devon, I took the opportunity to try it out.

We went sea kayaking with H2Outdoors in Ilfracombe, Devon. We met at the harbour, where we were given wetsuits, buoyancy aids, helmets and a paddle. The wetsuits were nice clean and dry, which is a rarity for doing watersports. Most times I have been on water adventures, the instructor has only a limited supply of wetsuits which will have been used for the previous session and so you have to put on a damp smelly one. Not at H2Outdoors. The instructors make a point of having enough wetsuits for everyone that are in good condition and looked after. A good start to the kayaking experience.

Safety is a priority, and you are given top class sit on sea kayaks and safety equipment. All of the Instructors are British Canoe Union qualified and first aid trained. Each instructor is equipped with all the necessary safety gear including tow lines, flares, first aid kits, VHF radio, mobile phones and other such equipment required for the conditions and the group.

We were given a safety brief, and shown how to use a paddle efficiently. Then we carried our kayaks from the boathouse down to the harbour’s edge. Some families had opted for tandem kayaks for younger children. Due to the group mainly being families with younger children, the 2 hour session remained within the protection of the inner and outer harbour at Ilfracombe. For stag and hen party groups, able teenagers and adults, sea kayaking sessions go out exploring the coast around North Devon.

Getting into a Sea Kayak

It was quite easy to get into the sea kayaks, mainly because they were sit on top style. From the shore, you just put the front end of the sea kayak in the water so that the front floats and the back still rests on the shore. You then sit on it, and either shuffle the sea kayak forwards into the water, or get a helpful push.

Fun on the Water in a Sea Kayak

We paddled around the harbour and played a few games such as throwing sponges at each other and British Bulldog/Seadog. This helped us practice our paddling and steering skills and improved confidence. The bit I enjoyed most was kayaking in the channels between the rocks and the cliff. The waves were coming around the rocks which made things a bit more challenging but a lot more fun.

We will certainly go sea kayaking again, but aim to go on a half day trip so that we get to go out along the coast.

Sea Kayaking with H2Outdoors

Regardless of your paddling experience, H2Outdoors offers fun filled tailored sessions. H2Outdoors Sea Kayaking sessions are perfect for small or large groups with varied paddling experience as we use sit-on kayaks which are incredibly stable and easy to paddle and all sessions include an introduction to kayaking before taking to the water for some fun. No experience is necessary and all equipment is provided.

If you have some experience and would like to journey a little further along the coast, they have kayaking options for you to choose from ranging from short journeys using sit-on kayaks to half and full day packages using enclosed cockpit sea kayaks. Multi day sea kayaking in North Devon trips are available on request.

H2Outdoor can arrange one-to-one kayaking sessions for you to have our qualified instructor focus solely on you and provide the opportunity to practice rescues and rolls or develop other skills within the kayaking sport.
They also provide other outdoor adventurous activities such as coasteering, high ropes and mountain biking.

Sea kayaking tips

The book Sea Kayak Handling: A Practical Manual, Essential Knowledge for Beginner and Intermediate Paddlers by Doug Cooper is a great compilation of tips on getting started in sea kayaking.
These are a few things I have learned from experience or observation.

1. It is less tiring if you are more efficient with your paddling. If you can paddle in a straight line, you use up less energy than trying to correct a zigzag course. Aim to put the paddle into the water as close to the side of the sea kayak as possible.
2. If approaching a wave, face your kayak into the wave rather than being side on as it is less likely to tip your sea kayak over.
3. Sea kayaks are not intended for use with surf. If you want to try that sort of thing you need to go wave surfing.
4. Wear a buoyancy aid. If you fall out of your sea kayak, it is one less thing to think about if you don’t have to put in the effort to keep your head above water.
5. Plan ahead and know what the sea and weather conditions are going to be like.
6. Tell someone where you are going
7. Carry a waterproof dry bag with a mobile phone or radio in it so you can call for help if needed.
8. Depending in the weather and time of year, a full body wetsuit will keep you warmer than a short wetsuit.
9. Use a paddle leash so that if you let go of your paddle it doesn’t float away.

Sea kayaking equipment

To go sea kayaking you will need:

• Sea Kayak
• Paddle
• Paddle Leash
• Wetsuit
• Buoyancy aid
• Neoprene Wetsuit boots
• Waterproof dry bag
• Helmet

Places to go Sea Kayaking

The best time to go sea kayaking in Europe is between May and October. In the US, October to May is better for sea kayaking as it is not too hot. August to September is hurricane season and must be avoided.

Sea kayaking in the UK

The UK coastline supports an abundance of wildlife that makes sea kayaking a great experience. The best places to go sea kayaking in the UK are around the Isle of Wight, off the North coast of Cornwall, Devon, and in Scotland.

Alaska sea kayaking

The Kenai Fjords in Alaska offer views of glaciers sliding into the sea. You paddle amongst ice, and can get to see glaciers calving and crashing into the sea. You will definitely need a guide for this trip. The fishing port of Seward is the national park headquarters, and where most sea kayakers go from. You will get to see wildlife such as Sea Eagles, Orca Whales and sea otters. Sunny Cove Sea Kayaking offer trips in Resurrection Bay and the Kenai Fjords.

Greenland sea kayaking

Sea kayaking in the Arctic fjords of Greenland in the summer months gives access to perpetual daylight and passageways through channels in and around the fjords. See glaciers and icebergs in the lands of the Inuit, who invented kayaks. In case you are wondering, kayaks are the watercraft that you usually sit inside and are covered. Canoes are open boats more commonly used in warmer waters.

Sea kayaking in Iceland

Sea kayaking in Iceland is ice free all year round because of the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. You can take this tour as part of a trip to see the volcanoes, geysers and ice of this amazing place.

Sea kayaking in the Ionian Sea, Greece.

The Ionian Sea is the calmest sea around Greece and perfect for sea kayaking. The deep blue Mediterranean waters off the southern tip of Italy and Greece provide wonderful coastlines to explore like those around Crete or Corfu. Whilst exploring the coast and sea caves you might get to see turtles, seals or dolphins.

Sea Kayaking in the Sea of Cortez

Just south of San Diego off the coast of Baja California lies the Sea of Cortez. There are hundreds of unexplored coves, uninhabited islands and estuary mouths to discover. You can see wildlife including sea lions, turtles and plenty of birdlife. One popular route offered by Baja Outdoor Activities is to kayak all the way around the Isla Espiritu Santo near La Paz. You can go on a trip where you and your sea kayak are taken to the island by motorboat. Tours provide camping spots on the island so you can paddle your way around the island camping overnight at stops along the way. After a hard day paddling, turning up to a delicious cooked meal that awaits you is wonderful. Sea kayaking all the way around Isla Espiritu Santo takes between five and seven days.

Sea Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

If you are lucky enough to travel to Thailand, make an effort to try sea kayaking in Phang Nga Bay. Explore hidden sea caves that only a sea kayak can get into. The bay has been used for films such as The Beach, and James Bond movies. Using inflatable sea kayaks, you get to paddle through caves and narrow passageways into the hidden interior of the islands. The water inside the middle is called a hong (room). You are surrounded on all sides by lush forest vegetation hanging from the limestone cliffs. Access to the caves is tidal, so you should use an experienced guide who knows the area.

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Skills – Strength: 4, Balance: 6, Flexibility: 5, Agility: 3, Coordination: 5
Time needed: travelling time + 1 hour, Cost to try: £free

Sometimes starting out in a sport can seem a little daunting; is it for you? What equipment do I need? What you really need is some sound advice. If you’re interested in getting into sailing then here are a few top tips about getting started from what kind of sailing you want to do and where to do it, to how much it costs and what courses are available.

What kind of sailing do you want to do?

Before you get started you’ll need to have a think about what kind of sailing you want to do; dinghy or yacht sailing.

Dinghies are open boats which are suitable for day sailing in a variety of areas both inland and on the open sea. They are fun and exciting whilst bringing you closer to nature.

They provide an exciting and cost effective way of getting afloat to experience the thrills of sailing. You could go cruising somewhere like the Lake District or hire a dinghy off the beach for your summer holiday; participate in high octane and fast performance sail racing or just sail on your own for fun.

The great thing about dinghy sailing is that it provides one of the cheapest ways to get afloat. It is also the quickest and easiest way to learn to sail as dinghies are easy to rig, anyone can handle them and they are very responsive, providing limitless entertainment for everyone. But remember with dinghy sailing you will get wet, especially when you are learning the ropes!

Yacht sailing is extremely diverse and there are opportunities for everyone to participate. The boats are bigger and come equipped with more of your home comforts such as toilets and kitchens and place for you to stay onboard and sleep. It’s a great way to get out on the water in warm climates with the family, explore far flung remote places with friends or you might even try your hand at racing.

Yacht sailing is about adventure, exploration, teamwork and fun. It’s relaxing and an enjoyable way to discover new places.

What Sailing Lessons and Courses are Available?

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) offers a whole host of courses from complete beginner right through to professional qualifications. Run through the RYA’s network of some 2,500 recognised training centres both in the UK and abroad, you should be able to find a course to suit you.

To get you started many RYA Training Centres, sailing clubs and charter companies throughout the UK and abroad run taster sessions/days providing an ideal opportunity to get out on the water for the first time and help you decide if sailing is for you and if you wish to go ahead and sign up for a course.

If you decide that yachting is for you then the RYA’s Start Sailing and Competent Crew courses are the perfect way to learn the basic principles of sailing whilst meeting like-minded people and exploring new locations.

The Start Sailing course is designed especially for the complete beginner. During this two day course you’ll get a real hands-on experience and start learning how to steer a yacht, sail handling, rope work and be aware of safety on board.

The RYA Competent Crew course is a five day course, usually over three weekend or three days and one weekend, but if you have your Start Sailing certificate it reduces to three days or two weekends. You’ll experience living on board and really get to know the boat. Virtually all the course is hands on. You are the crew – without you the sails won’t go up and the boat won’t be steered.

By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day duties on board. You should also have visited some interesting places and had an enjoyable holiday.

If you decide on dinghy sailing is more your style then the RYA’s Youth Sailing Scheme, for under 16’s and National Sailing Scheme for adults offer the Stage one and Level one courses respectively, and are perfect for beginners.

The Youth Sailing Scheme is a series of courses to develop your skills with instructors signing off each skill as it’s complete it and, once completed, the certificates can be of use in other areas of study or activities such as PE at school, or the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Stage one is a day two course and provides a basic understanding of how a boat sails, with some experience of steering and handling the boat

The National Sailing scheme is a series of two-day courses for adults wanting to learn in dinghies, small keelboats and multihulls.

It has been designed to help you enjoy whichever aspect of the sport appeals to you. Level one starts by introducing you to sailing with all you need to know to get afloat under supervision. During the course you’ll learn how to sail in all directions and have an awareness of launching and recovery.

Where can I learn?

Whether you decide to take a course as part of your holiday or take a course at your local sailing club, there are plenty of locations to choose from.

Visit the RYA’s ‘Where’s my nearest’ to find a training centre near you – . Here you can also find details of RYA Training Centres overseas if you fancy doing your course in the sunshine!

Is sailing an expensive sport to take up? How much does it cost?

Sailing has always been seen as an expensive sport to get in to, but the reality is that it doesn’t have to be. You can buy a small dinghy to get on the water with for as little as £600 and a wetsuit will cost you from around £70 to buy.

Like any sport it costs a lot to compete at the very top but thousands take to the water each year for less than it costs to play golf or tennis and for a lot less than a gym membership in many parts of the country. As a family you can join a sailing club for as little as £150 a year and have free or very cheap access to their fleet of club boats.

The cost of training courses vary depending on where you live and what course you decide to do. An RYA level one course for sailing starts at about £200 per person. It is always best to go to an RYA recognised centre where a national curriculum is taught. This means that if you move you can still follow the different levels all the way through and the RYA certificate is internationally recognised. RYA recognition also means the centre will run the course to the RYA’s syllabus with safe, well maintained boats and equipment.

Sailing really is for everyone

The beauty of sailing is that is really is for everyone, young or old, able bodied or disabled.

Especially for youngsters is the RYA’s OnBoard programme which provides children with the opportunity to learn to sail as part of the school sports curriculum or through youth groups. Find out more at www.ruob.co.uk

There are also racing programmes for youth and junior sailors and windsurfers wanting to sail competitively both at home and abroad. Many of our current Olympic sailors have come up through these programmes.

Sailing is also one of most accessible sports for disabled people to participate in and is also one of the only sports where people with disabilities can participate on equal terms with able bodied people.

RYA Sailability is the charity of the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) which offers people who think they can’t even get on a boat, let alone sail it, the chance to have a go. There are over 200 sites for disabled sailing throughout the UK encouraging and supporting thousands of people with disabilities to take up sailing, with a proportion, over 40%, having learning disabilities. Find out more about RYA Sailability at www.rya.org.uk/programmes/ryasailability

Where can I find out more information about getting into sailing?

Visit the RYA website www.rya.org.uk. As national governing body for all forms of recreational and competitive boating, it represents dinghy and yacht sailing, as well as motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sports boats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and personal watercraft. The RYA can advise you on how best to get started with any of the above activities as well as answering any questions you have.

If you want to get yourself some gear to go sailing, sailing clothing and gear is available from Amazon.

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The campaign has been extended to run from the 14^th August to the 4^th October

Following the success of the Take a Friend Fishing initiative which saw hundreds of anglers register across the first two weeks of July, the Environment Agency, Angling Trust and Angling Trades Association have combined to extend the campaign. This will give Environment Agency rod fishing licence holding anglers the opportunity to register to take a friend fishing throughout the eight-week period running from 14th August to 4th October 2020.

Going fishing is a wonderful way to spend quality time with family and friends and has proven mental health and wellbeing benefits. Fishing licence holding anglers will be able to register for a free one-day Environment Agency fishing licence worth £6 to take someone they know fishing. To take advantage of this offer, all that licence holding anglers need to do is to visit www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk.

Jamie Cook CEO of the Angling Trust said “We are thrilled to be able to drive the Take a Friend Fishing initiative forward and I applaud the Environment Agency for taking this proactive step to build on the work the Angling Trust have done to get fishing back and then to grow angling participation. We need to seize this opportunity which allows both experienced and new anglers, as well as those returning to the sport, the opportunity to share the experience, sew the seed and help their friends and families take that first step to establishing a fishing habit.”

With licence sales booming following angling restrictions being lifted, now is the ideal time for the angling community to come together and help to increase participation in the sport. Andrew Race who recently took over as Chairman of the Angling Trades Association (ATA) said “The decision by the Environment Agency to extend the Take a Friend Fishing initiative cannot be underestimated. It reflects the cooperative potential and commitment to angling that now exists between the major stakeholders. I feel privileged to be ATA chair at this exciting time and would urge the trade as a whole to look at what we are achieving and support this initiative”.

Kevin Austin, Deputy Director for Agriculture, Fisheries and the Natural Environment at the Environment Agency said “Angling is a great way to spend time outdoors whilst remaining a safe distance, has known wellbeing benefits and what’s more, anyone can participate. The Environment Agency, Angling Trust and the Angling Trades Association fully support the Take a Friend Fishing initiative which invites newcomers to discover the positives around this sport for themselves. The success of the recent relaunch and increase in licence sales since the lockdown period has shown the enthusiasm that exists and so we are extending the free one day licence offer again so that we can grow our angling community even more!”

Members of the angling trade have responded positively, welcoming the initiative, and adding their support.

Ali Hamidi of Korda/Guru said “We are extremely excited to launch the #takeafriendfishing campaign in conjunction with the Angling Trades Association, Environment Agency and The Angling Trust! The surge that fishing has seen during these difficult months has been remarkable. It is our responsibility as anglers across the UK to show the splendour of our beloved pastime to friends and family who have never been lucky enough to enjoy this amazing hobby. The sport deserves to thrive, the mental and physical benefits are phenomenal, and we should all carry the torch of angling proudly and help others get involved. This scheme will really make a difference to people’s lives so every major brand and all anglers should do their bit from August the 14th. Go make someone’s dreams come true.”

Mat Woods, Brand Manager at Korum has welcomed the extension “I think everyone involved in the angling industry realises the magnitude of the current situation. Anglers are fishing more often, lapsed anglers are returning, and the wave of new anglers is exciting and momentous. These remarkable times are providing a unique insight into how many anglers there could be. We have all dreamed of these numbers and our focus must now shift to retaining them. The extension of Take A Friend Fishing is superb news as it breaks down one of the barriers to engaging with the sport. Taking someone fishing gives you an opportunity to take an active part in angling and its future. Let’s head in the right direction whilst we’ve got the wind in our sails and let’s do it together.”

The extension will benefit all areas of the sport with September a great month to catch fish on the fly. Brian Campbell-Kearsey, Orvis UK commented: “Orvis are excited to be involved with this year’s Take a Friend Fishing initiative. Now it has been extended to run from 14^th August to 4^th October, it means for the first time, people will be able to invite a friend to enjoy fly fishing in September, one of the best times of year to fly fish. Orvis are committed to making fly fishing more inclusive and accessible and this worthwhile initiative fits perfectly with our ethos. We are planning some events to encourage people to introduce their friends to this fantastic sport and engage in nature and the outdoors.” Cook added “Some of my best fishing has come through September, it’s a brilliant time to be on the bank and I will certainly be taking advantage of this opportunity to introduce friends…I hope many anglers will do the same.”

For more information and to get a free one-day fishing licence to Take a Friend Fishing, fishing licence holding anglers just need to go to www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk and provide some simple contact details including their fishing licence number and the date of the fishing trip. This will notify their friend who, after checking their details are correct, will be able to go fishing with the fishing licence holder, on the selected day using their own free one-day fishing licence

Angling can still be practiced safely and has seen a boom in participation numbers after being one of the first sports to return on 13^th May after lockdown guidelines were relaxed. The Angling Trust – the national representative and governing body for angling in England regularly updates its guidelines to anglers, clubs, fisheries, coaches, and other angling organisations to ensure fishing can comply with the latest Government guidance during the Covid-19 epidemic

Key Dates:
The extended Take a Friend Fishing runs from August 14^th to the October 4^th. That means that during the extended period there are eight weekends that you can encourage your audience to take a friend fishing.

Hashtags:
#takeafriendfishing #getfishing

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/anglingtrust
Twitter: @AnglingTrust
Instagram: @getintofishing

Get a free Take a Friend Fishing one-day fishing licence:
www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk

The post Take a Friend Fishing 2020 appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Spending a Saturday afternoon, sitting on the shore of a small secluded pond, like the one shown below, with your line in the water and a comfortable lawn chair for your relaxation, is like no other way to blend yourself with the wonders of nature while spending quality time breathing fresh air.

Most experienced fishermen are also conservationists in their own way. They care about the condition of the waters that they fish and also the health of the fish that they seek. The vast majority of freshwater fishermen take care to protect the fish by practicing catch-and-release, keeping only those fish that they intend to eat. Freshwater fishing has grown as a family sport, because it is easy to learn, and relatively inexpensive. All that is needed is a spinning rod and reel combination that can be purchased in most sporting goods stores for less than $50. Add to this a few hooks and bobbers for less than $5 and you are ready to go.

Sporting good stores have so many artificial lures on their shelves that it would tend to scare away a beginner fisherperson. I do not subscribe to artificial lures for beginners, because I feel that the most effective bait that has been used since fishing was first discovered is the earth worm. Worms or night crawlers are available at most stores that sell fishing bait. A small hook tied to the end of your line with a bobber about three feet from the hook, will catch you a nice fish, like the one shown below.

This young mother watched her son bring in this largemouth bass off of a lakeside dock. Both of them enjoyed the experience and then returned the fish to the lake and watched it gracefully swim away. The true enjoyment of this experience was the memory and the photo that hangs on the child’s wall.
The beauty of freshwater fishing is that it can be enjoyed by an individual, in the solitude of a secluded lake or pond, or it can be a family activity, where everyone can participate, not only in the actual fishing, but by watching the mysteries of nature unfold before your eyes. A blue Herron, walking along the shoreline, stalking its next meal, demonstrates the cycle of life where nature provides all of its creatures, the means for survival. A female deer slowly and silently walking to the water for a drink, stops and looks around before she signals to her two small fawns to follow her, again a lesson in survival.
Another great way to enjoy a day in the outdoors is to take your basic fishing equipment to a local lake and rent a small boat for a day on the water. Most lakes have at least one marina where boats can be rented at a reasonable cost and these boats usually come equipped with all of the safety equipment that you will need. This is a great way to get a day out of the house, away from the computers, ipads and cell phones. I do however recommend that at least one cell phone be taken as a safety precaution.

We all are born with an element of competitiveness inside us. Fishing tends to bring that spirit out in several ways. First, there is the element of challenge between the fish and the fisherman. This may not seem like a fair competition but I assure you, nature has taught fish every trick that there is to avoid being caught. As we fishermen always say, fish did not get large by being stupid. The second challenge is to always try to improve on your personal best catch. Like a runner, you always want to improve on your last best fish. The third element of challenge is within and between other fishermen. Fishing in groups always introduces the challenge of a small wager on the biggest fish of the day. Not the least of all of these challenges is the opportunity to put a fine meal on the table. Fish are high in protein and are always mentioned in published diets as a recommended food.

Many people have a desire to do some freshwater fishing but do not know how to get started. Nearly every major sports store holds fishing seminars for beginners or they can point you to a local fishing club that sponsors such programs. Some Community colleges have added fishing to their evening program due to its growing popularity. Most serious fishermen will always take the time to spend a few hours with you going over the basics of fishing. If you want to spend some money, there are many fishing guides on major waterways that will take you out fishing for a few hours for a fee. They supply all of the fishing gear and bait you need so it is a good investment before you start buying equipment.

There are also many books available that cover the entire range of fishing procedures. The author of this article has published four books about freshwater fishing. They can be reviewed on his web site, www.jakestakeonfishing.com. This site also links to his blog which provides timely tips about local fishing activities.

The post Freshwater Fishing appeared first on Active Outdoors.

Skills – Strength: 5, Balance: 5, Flexibility: 6, Agility: 6, Coordination: 5
Time needed: 3 hours, Cost to try: £60

What is Canyoning?

Although hiking down a canyon that is non-technical (canyon hiking) is often referred to as canyoneering, the terms canyoning and canyoneering are usually associated with technical descents that require rappels (abseils) and ropework, technical climbing or down-climbing, technical jumps, and sometimes technical swims.

Canyoning tours are frequently done in remote and rugged settings and often requires navigational, route-finding and other skills and preparation needed for wilderness travel.

Canyons that are most suitable are often cut into the bedrock stone, forming narrow gorges with numerous drops, beautifully sculpted walls, and sometimes spectacular waterfalls. Most canyons are cut into limestone, granite or sandstone, though other rock types are found. Canyons can be very easy or extremely difficult, though emphasis in the sport is usually on aesthetics and fun rather than pure difficulty. A wide variety of routes are found throughout the world, and canyoning is enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels.

Where to go Canyoning in France

Chamonix in the Savoie Mont Blanc region of the French Alps is a fantastic location to go on canyoning tours. In Passy, just below the Chamonix Valley, Latitude Canyon runs guided canyoning by night. Navigating the river in the dark, only the places where you abseil under the waterfalls, the basins and natural toboggans are illuminated by the guide, using multicoloured diving lights.

The Alps in France and Italy has a selection of places to go canyoning, the Dolomites being a favourite. Interlaken in Switzerland is another good place to go.  The US has one of the biggest range of canyoning locations.

Other activities on offer include whitewater rafting, and Via Ferrata. This involves traversing routes high in the mountains, using ropes and metal ladders attached to the cliff faces during World War 2 by soldiers. Guided tours leave regularly and give spectacular views.

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The Most Popular Outdoor Recreational Activities

Every year the Outdoor Foundation in the US and Sport England in the UK publish a list of the most popular outdoor activities.
According to the Outdoor Foundation, about half the U.S. population participated in outdoor recreation at least once in 2018, including hunting, hiking, camping, fishing, canoeing among many more outdoor activities. Unfortunately, the report highlights an alarming trend that just under half the U.S. population does not participate in outdoor recreation at all.

The most popular outdoor activities are:

1. Running, jogging and trail running;
2. Hiking and walking for fitness;
3. Camping and RV Camping;
4. Road biking, mountain biking and BMX;
5. Freshwater, saltwater and fly fishing;
6. Golf;
7. Wildlife watching;
8. Netball and basketball;
9. Tennis and Table Tennis;
10. Soccer;

Most participants preferred to find adventure less than one mile from their homes.

The top 10 list remains fairly consistent year on year.  There are however a few variations as new sports and activities develop and become popular for a while. Follow the blog to find out new trends and more great ways to try out new activities and get active outdoors.

Outdoor Activities Environment Picker

Use the images below to jump to the section in the outdoor activities list with the environment for you.

Outdoor Recreational Activities and Hobbies for Adults

Outdoor recreational activities are ways in which you can spend your leisure time outdoors being physically active, creative, relaxing, having fun or being social.  Explore the huge range of exciting outdoor activities and some of the best adventure sports in the list below.

The most popular ideas for outdoor summer activities include:

• outdoor activities to do on the weekend with friends,
• outdoor activities for couples,
• bucket list of summer activities for boyfriend and girlfriend.

What are the Different Types of Outdoor Activities?

To help you choose which outdoor recreational activities and hobbies suit your needs right now, I have rated them under five categories:

• Relaxing outdoor activities to just unwind and take things easy or to improve your sense of well being.
• Fun outdoor activities that are a perfect for shared experiences where it’s all about fun and friends.
• Outdoor physical challenges that provide adventure and challenge for an adrenaline buzz or for personal development.
• Extreme outdoor activities for thrill seekers that give a serious adrenaline rush and require great skill
• Outdoor sports activities that need a few friends to join in and are competitive

Land Activities

This vast list of outdoor land activities provides inspiration for fitness, downhill fun, relaxing creative hobbies, personal challenges, new skills to learn and outdoor recreational activities that will leave you with a huge smile.

•  4×4 driving experience
•  Activity Holidays for adults and families
•  Adventure Races
•  Air rifle and air pistol shooting
•  Airsoft
•  American Football
•  Animal Parks, Wildlife Parks and Zoos
•  Archery
•  Assault courses and Obstacle course races
•  Athletics
•  Backyard Sleepovers
•  Badminton
•  Baseball and Softball
•  Basketball
•  Baton Twirling
•  Battle Reenactments
•  Beach Activities
•  Beachcombing
•  Bicycle Polo
•  Bird watching holidays
•  BMX biking
•  Boccia
•  Bootcamps for fitness
•  Bouldering
•  Bowls
•  Brushboarding
•  Bubble Football
•  Bushcraft and survival courses
•  Camel trekking holidays
•  Camogie
•  Camping
•  Canyoning and Canyoneering
•  Capoeira
•  Carnivals
•  Carriage driving
•  Cave biking underground
•  Caving and potholing
•  Cheerleading
•  Chinese Martial Arts
•  Circus Skills
•  Clay Pigeon Shooting
•  Climbing courses and climbing holidays
•  Concerts, Festivals and Gigs
•  Conkers
•  Cookout
•  Crazy Golf and Mini Golf, Pitch and Putt
•  Cricket
•  Croquet
•  Cycling fitness training
•  Dance, Street Dance
•  Den Building and Bivouacs
•  Digger and JCB driving
•  Dodgeball
•  Dog Scootering
•  Drag Racing
•  Driving Experience Days
•  Duathlon
•  Eclipse Sphering and Eclipse Zorbing
•  Equestrian (horse Riding, eventing, racing, dressage, cross country)
•  Exercise and fitness
•  Exploring holidays
•  Fencing
•  Fives (rugby)
•  Floorball
•  Folk Dancing
•  Footbags
•  Football and Soccer
•  Free Running and Parkour
•  Fruit Picking
•  Fun fairs
•  Futsal
•  Gaelic Football
•  Gap Year Travelling
•  Gardening
•  Geocaching
•  Gladiator Training
•  Goalball
•  Go Ape forest high wire adventures ropes courses
•  Go Karting
•  Golf Holidays
•  Grass skiing
•  Grass sledging
•  Grass karting
•  Greyhound Racing
•  Grow Your Own Vegetables
•  Grouse Shooting
•  Gymnastics
•  Handball
•  Harness Racing
•  Hiking holidays
•  Hockey
•  Horse Boarding
•  Horse Racing
•  Horse Riding
•  Hurling
•  Jogging and running
•  Jousting
•  Kite Boarding
•  Kite Buggying
•  Korfball
•  Lacrosse
•  Landboarding
•  Land Sailing and Land Yachting
•  Landscape painting holidays and art holidays
•  Laser Clay Shooting
•  Laser Tag
•  Lawn Mower Racing
•  Live Action Role Playing Games
•  Llama trekking
•  Marathon Running
•  Minimoto
•  Modern Pentathlon
•  Monster Truck Driving Experience
•  Motorcycling, Motocross and dirt biking
•  Motor Sports
•  Mountain Bikes
•  Mountain Boarding
•  Mountaineering
•  Mud Racing
•  Multi Use Games Areas and playgrounds for adults
•  Nascar
•  Netball
•  Open Air Theatre
•  Orienteering
•  Outdoor Movie theatres and cinemas
•  Outdoor Photography
•  Paintballing
•  Parks – Chess, Ping Pong, picnics, football, sunbathing…
•  Pentathlon
•  Petanque
•  Picnics
•  Piggy Back Fights
•  Pogo, extreme pogo and pogopalooza
•  Pony Trekking Holidays
•  Polo
•  Polocrosse
•  Quad Biking
•  Rally Driving Experience
•  Rambling
•  Remote Control Cars
•  Rock Climbing
•  Roller Coasters and Theme Parks
•  Roller Skating and Roller Blading
•  Roller Hockey, Puck Hockey
•  Rope Swings
•  Rounders
•  Rugby and Tag Rugby
•  Quoits
•  Safari Holidays
•  Sandboarding
•  Scavenger Hunts
•  Scooter Freestyle
•  Segway Offroading
•  Shinty
•  Shooting (air, clay, crossbow, pistol, rifle, longbow, compound bow)
•  Show Jumping
•  Skateboarding
•  Skeet Shooting
•  Skid Pan Experience Days
•  Skipping
•  Sightseeing
•  Slacklining
•  Soap Box Kart racing or Extreme Gravity Racing
•  Softball
•  Soft Martial Arts – Tai Chi, Chi Kung
•  Speedway
•  Sphering
•  Steam Train driving experience
•  Stock Car Racing and Demolition Derby
•  Stoolball
•  Street Hockey
•  Street Improvisation and Drama
•  Street Luge and Downhill Skateboarding and Downhill Skating
•  Table Tennis
•  Tag Rugby
•  Tank Driving Experience
•  Team Building Outdoor Activities
•  Tennis Holidays
•  Throw and Catch an American mini football, frisbee or frisbee golf
•  Tractor Pulling
•  Trail Running
•  Trampolining
•  Treasure Hunting and Metal Detectors
•  Tree Climbing
•  Treehouses
•  Triathlon Events
•  Tug of War
•  Ultimate Frisbee
•  Unicycling
•  Via Ferrata
•  Volleyball
•  Walking Holidays
•  Walk the dog
•  Wash the car
•  Watch the sunrise or sunset
•  Water Fights
•  Wildlife Conservation
•  Wildlife watching holidays
•  Yoga
•  Young Drivers – Car racing for teenagers, and driving experiences for 11 year olds and over
•  Zorbing

Water Activities

These outdoor water activities provide wet and wild inspiration in, on or under water.

•  Argo Cats
•  Banana rides
•  Blackwater rafting
•  Boating, Pedalos and Punts
•  Body Boarding
•  Bore Surfing
•  Bridge Jumping
•  Canoeing
•  Cave Diving
•  Coasteering
•  Crabbing
•  Diving (swimming)
•  Dragon Boat Racing
•  Exploring Rock Pools
•  Fishing Trips
•  Flyboard, waterjet powered hover board
•  Free Diving
•  Hovercraft Experience
•  Hydrospeeding and Riverboarding
•  Jet Skiing
•  Kayaking
•  Kitesurfing
•  Kneeboarding
•  Model Boats
•  Motor Cruising Holidays
•  Narrow boat holidays
•  Octopush Underwater hockey
•  Pond Dipping
•  Pooh Sticks, paper boats, duck races and dam building
•  Powerboating Courses
•  Raft Building
•  Rib Riding
•  River Bugging
•  Rowing
•  Sailing
•  Scuba Diving
•  Sea Kayaking
•  Skim Boarding
•  Snorkeling
•  Stand up paddle boarding
•  Surfing
•  Surf Life Saving
•  Swimming
•  Swimming with dolphins
•  Tall Ship Holidays
•  Tombstoning
• Waboba
•  Wakeboarding
•  Water Jet Pack Flying
•  Water Parks and flumes
•  Water Polo
•  Water Skiing
•  WaterWalkerz water sphering
•  Waveskiing
•  Whale Watching Holidays
•  Whitewater Rafting Trips
•  Wild Swimming
•  Windsurfing
•  Yacht Charters
•  Yachting
•  Zap Cat Racing

 Air Activities

This list of outdoor air activities includes birds, planes, flying toys and some seriously exhilarating aerial experiences.

•  Aeroplane flying and aerobatics experiences
•  Air Sphering
•  Astronomy
•  BASE Jumping
•  Bungee Jumping
•  Falconry experience days
•  Gliding lessons
•  Gyrocopter flying
•  Hang Gliding experience
•  Helicopter Flights
•  Hot Air Balloon Rides
•  Indoor Skydiving
•  Kites and Power Kites
•  Microlights
•  Model airplanes, helicopters and multirotors (drones)
•  Model Rockets
•  Paragliding and Paramotoring
•  Parascending
•  SCAD – Suspended Catch Air Device
•  Skydiving
•  Wing Walking

Winter Activities

This list of outdoor winter activities is all about being cool on the on snow and ice.  Most are adrenaline sports.

•  Airboarding
•  Biathlon
•  Bob Rafting
•  Bobsleigh
•  Curling
•  Dog Sledding Holidays
•  Heliskiing and Heliboarding
•  Ice Climbing
•  Ice Diving
•  Ice Hockey
•  Ice Karting
•  Ice Racing and Ice Driving
•  Ice Skating
•  Luge
•  Skeleton Bob
•  Skiing
•  Skiing Holidays
•  Skijoring with dogs, horses or a 4×4
•  Sledges and toboggans
•  Snowball fights, snowmen and free fun winter activities for teenagers
•  Snowblading
•  Snowboarding
•  Snowbombing
•  Snowcat Piste Basher Driving
•  Snow Kiting
•  Snowmobiling
•  Snow Rafting
•  Snow Shoeing
•  Snow Tubing and Doughnutting
•  Winter Olympics

Follow the blog to find out new trends and great ways to try out more outdoor activities examples and get Active Outdoors.

The post Outdoor Recreational Activities List appeared first on Active Outdoors.

The Ball that bounces on water

If you are wondering what fun things you can do at the beach with your friends this summer, then what you need is a Waboba Ball. The Waboba Ball is a great toy ball hat has been designed specifically to bounce and float on water. This adds a whole new dimension to ball games you can play at the beach or in the pool. The Waboba Ball is made of polymer gel and has a elastane coating. The mix of different gels makes the ball bounce and float on water.

The Waboba Ball is about the size of a golf ball. Now you can play throwing and catching games in the sea with your friends when you go to the beach. Unlike a tennis ball, you can throw a Waboba ball to your friends so that it bounces several times on the water. It is a bit like skimming stones.

The Waboba ball opens up a whole new set of games to play at the beach. You can see how many times you can get the Waboba Ball to bounce on the water before it stops, or you could just play throw and catch with your friends.

The key features of the Waboba Ball are that it is cheap to buy, easy to get one, it is the only ball that bounces on water, it floats in water (so you don’t have to rummage around trying to find it), and is a fantastic way to have fun at the beach.

Where to buy a Waboba Ball

There are several different types of Waboba ball. The basic Waboba Surf ball is the perfect starter Waboba ball for families and kids. The Waboba Extreme Wild ball has been designed to bounce on water even better. Then there is the Waboba Pro, which is engineered for sport performance. It is slightly larger and heavier than the Waboba Extreme, which gives it superior control and accuracy. It is ideal for advanced players and strong arms who want to step up their game.

There is also the Waboba Moon ball for those who prefer to bounce their balls extremely high on land.

If you want to buy yourself a Waboba Ball for hours of fun bouncing the ball on the water with your friends, then go and buy a Waboba Ball from Amazon.co.uk.

The post Waboba Ball That Bounces on Water appeared first on Active Outdoors.

With the hustle and bustle of city live becoming an ever more stressful experience, more and more people are turning to sailing as a way to escape and find freedom on the open sea. No traffic jams, no boundaries, and that amazing sensation of feeling at one with nature. This means that there is an increasing opportunity for sailing jobs.

The best job opportunities in the US tend to be in urban areas near large bodies of water, such as Chicago. There are fewer sailing job opportunities as you move out into rural areas. The other place you are going to find good sailing jobs is anywhere where there are sailing holidays. Popular sailing holiday locations include the UK, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, South Pacific, North America, Thailand or even Australia.

There are a range of sailing jobs that you could do, either staying in one area such as the Mediterranean, or travelling the world following the sailing seasons. Jobs include deckhand, skipper, cruising instructor, sailing instructor, marine engineer, sailing host or professional yacht master. Should you want to have a more permanent sailing job, you could progress to being a sailing school owner, or you could even use your entrepreneurial flair to create a business selling new and used yachts to your more wealthy clients. If you really want to progress onto larger vessels, captains on large superyachts (>50 metres) could expect between £6,000 and upwards of £10,000 per month. Monaco here I come!

Sailing Job Roles, Responsibilities and Skills

Marine Engineer Jobs

As a marine engineer, your job will tend to be based around the yachts, sailing base and ports of call. At the start of the sailing season you will be required to carry out any fleet refits. This involves painting, cleaning and repairing the yachts in preparation for the sailing season.

Since you will be providing a service for sailing holiday clients, you must be positive and sociable, with experience in a customer focussed environment. A marine engineer has to be a fantastic problem solver, being able to quickly identify issues and resolve them. At the end of every yacht rental, you will have to complete turnaround service checks, yacht preparation and deck washing. At the start of every rental, you will have to brief clients on the boat’s mechanical systems and safety equipment.

Between sailing holiday rentals, engine servicing has to be carried out as required. Maintenance of outboards for tenders will also be on your job list. You will of course have to respond to emergency call outs for breakdowns on any of the yachts.

The technical skills you will need to have to be a marine engineer include:

• maintaining diesel engines
• maintaining 2 & 4 stroke outboards
• a working knowledge of 12V DC electrical systems

Sailing Instructor Jobs

The job as a sailing instructor requires technical knowledge, skill in sailing, and just the right combination of quick thinking and physical command. Your time will be split between the classroom and on board the yachts.

If the sailing holiday company is UK based, wherever you are in the world you will be expected to deliver Royal Yachting Association (RYA) courses to the highest standard complying with the RYA regulations and company standards.

You must be able to deliver sailing holiday company specific courses and liaise with the chief yachtmaster instructor regarding any maintenance requirements or damage to the yachts. It isn’t all practical work though. You will also need to ensure that the correct paperwork is completed as per local laws and regulations.

The practical aspects of the sailing instructor job includes:

• providing rescue boat cover
• running weekly yacht races and mini-flotillas
• carry out beach duties, including rigging and de-rigging of boats and the launch and recovery of all boats

You have to do all of this whilst maintaining the safety of the guests and the sailing craft. As a customer facing role, you have to be great with people, and provide excellent customer service at all times. This will involve not just working on the sailing yachts, but also to carry out transfer day duties, such as representing the company at the airport.

Sailing qualifications you will need to get a sailing instructor job will most likely include:

• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with Commercial Endorsement
• RYA Cruising Instructor
• Powerboat level 2
• Safety Boat Drivers certificate
• Knowledge of health & safety legislation

Sailing Skipper Jobs

As a sailing skipper, you are responsible for sailing the yacht for clients who don’t want to do the sailing by themselves. You will have to prepare the yacht on turnaround days, including cleaning the deck. You have to brief clients on safety and yacht systems and advise on sailing questions.

You are at all times responsible for the safety of your clients throughout the week. Skills you will need to have include:

• RYA Offshore Yacht Master with Commercial Endorsement or Coastal Skipper
• The ability to work under pressure and make difficult decisions
• Experience in a customer focused environment
• Sociable and positive personality
• Strong organisational skills

Sailing Yachtmaster Jobs

This is one of the top sailing jobs. As a sailing yachtmaster, you will be responsible for the management of all operational aspects of a yacht sailing school, which includes the delivery of the RYA syllabus, day to day management of staff, driving revenue and ensuring yachts are set up to company and RYA standards.

This is much more of a leadership role, managing a team of sailing instructors. You will have to:

• Co-ordinate paperwork and instructors for all courses
• Drive revenue and promote courses available within resort
• Maintain the standards of training delivered on shore based courses
• To monitor customer feedback of RYA Training and investigate comments where necessary
• Liaise with the RYA and other governing bodies to ensure that the syllabus delivered are up to date
• Ensure yachts are clean and set up per company standards and RYA requirements
• Ensure that any changes in the SOPs are communicated to instructors, and that this is documented
• Provide support and guidance to instructors, and provide on-going training as necessary
• Develop course material to support existing and future course requirements
• Ensure before yachts set sail correct paperwork has been completed as per company and local law requirements.
• Ensure company policies and procedures are kept to whilst instructors are at sea
• Lead and motivate the instructors
• Provide excellent customer service at all times

Your sailing skill set will of course have to include a qualification as RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, with previous years experience managing a team. Knowledge of health & safety legislation and the RYA Sailing School syllabus and standards is essential.

Sailing Host Jobs

As a sailing host, you will be living aboard the leadboat with the sailing flotilla skipper and marine engineer. You will be responsible for ensuring that your 50-60 guests each week have the holiday of a lifetime. The primary requisite for a sailing host is to be lively, bubbly and self-motivated to advise the clients of all the local attractions and amenities along your Flotilla route.

Although you are there to look after your guests, with previous sailing experience you will need to support the Skipper mooring up your fleet of yachts and with the general day to day running of your leadboat.

If you have the right temperament, you will love the tasks of organising group meals, BBQ’S, Punch Parties, competitions, local tours for guests, and socialising with guests. The less attractive tasks include accounting and running the flotilla budgets, cleaning the decks of the yachts to a high standard, and performing regular inventory checks of both the domestic & safety equipment on board each yacht.

Key skills to demonstrate will include experience in a customer facing environment, yacht sailing experience (ideally with a RYA Day Skipper or Competent crew qualification), be able to work under pressure, have experience of working with large groups of clients, and of course have experience working with children.

So How Do I get Started in Getting a Sailing Job?

The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) offers a whole host of sailing courses from complete beginner right through to professional qualifications. Run through the RYA’s network of some 2,500 recognised training centres both in the UK and abroad, you should be able to find a course to suit you.

To get you started many RYA Training Centres, sailing clubs and charter companies throughout the UK and abroad run taster sessions/days providing an ideal opportunity to get out on the water for the first time and help you decide if sailing is for you and if you wish to go ahead and sign up for a sailing course.

If you decide that yachting is for you then the RYA’s Start Sailing and Competent Crew courses are the perfect way to learn the basic principles of sailing whilst meeting like-minded people and exploring new locations. If you can already sail, then sailing holiday companies to work for include Sunsail in both the UK and US. Sunsail Events also run racing and corporate events, so there are opportunities for short term crew jobs during sailing events such as Cowes Week.

If you are just starting out in sailing, one great way to learn to sail is to go on a sailing holiday with companies like Sunsail or Neilson. You can spend a week in the sun learning how to sail and get your RYA sailing qualifications. If you like it, you can explore your options by talking to the staff who will be able to tell you exactly how you can get to see the world differently as part of a sailing crew.

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