Seabirds International

18/09/2024

Lucky paddler! Always don the jacket and hang onto the paddle. The paddle can be used not only to signal but to sit on.

Dragging kayaks can create small fractures leading to sinking so consider the use of wheels or tandem carry with a paddling partner. Stay safe folks and please practice your rescues!

Two fishermen were on a boat preparing their rods for walleye during the morning of September 11, on Lake Erie, when they heard a noise and recognized it

24/06/2024

We are pleased to offer a dynamic paddling course on September 4th & 5th, 2024 with Jeff Allen in West Cork, Ireland. Group management, safety and much more will be covered. Spaces are limited, payment confirms your spot. This course is being run for 175 euros, book early to avoid disappointment. Please PM or email me on [email protected] with any queries or to confirm your place. Happy paddling all!

13/06/2024

https://paddlingmag.com/stories/news-events/an-unsettling-trend-paddling-deaths-see-increase-in-latest-coast-guard-report/

The U.S. Coast Guard recently released their 2023 Recreational Boating Statistics. The annual report is a bellwether of boating safety, measuring how well

22/04/2024

Summit to sea for MND. https://www.facebook.com/61555419483135/posts/122140745540180649/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

The colourful flotilla of kayaks appeared in the distance, the colours popping against the sparkling blue of Lough Foyle in Co Donegal, as they brought a man, who is a friend to so many of us, on his last paddle.

Adrian Harkin (54), a legend in the Irish kayaking and outdoor community, was embarking on what was the biggest undertaking of his life – organising an all-island adventure to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND) research.

He knew setting off on Saturday that this was likely to be his last time in a ­kayak, a place where he found so much joy and from where he brought his skills and knowledge of the water to so many friends and colleagues.

Two years ago Adrian’s worst fears were realised when something that began with a slight tremor in his hand was diagnosed as MND. In a very short space of time, he went from being the fittest of men to being in a wheelchair, being peg fed and communicating with friends and family with an eye-gaze computer.

No longer able to get out on the water, he turned his attention to raising money for research into a disease that has robbed him of so much in his life. He was determined that his legacy would be to do what he could to find a cure.

Read more at the link in our bio.

20/03/2024

New venue, updated website, same service. Looking forward to seeing you all in the emerald isles. Current blog too, tab on the Seabirds Site menu,

There’s Much to Learn for All Abilities Guest Coach Events Surf Skills with Simon Hammond | May 14 – 15 Interested in sea kayaking? Surf skills are an essential skill for paddling on the ocean and can increase your confidence in following seas. We’ll learn how to surf as well as some top safet...

17/03/2024

We are pleased to announce two training opportunities in West Cork, Ireland this season.

Surf Skills with Simon Hammond | May 14 – 15
Interested in sea kayaking? Surf skills are an essential skill for paddling on the ocean and can increase your confidence in following seas. We’ll learn how to surf as well as some top safety tips! Join us for a fun learning experience. Simon is the surf coach for England and is super fun to work with!
– Members of West Cork Kayakers: € 100 per day
– Paddlers not associated with WCK: € 125 per day
Spaces are limited, book early to avoid disappointment!

Leadership and Sea Safety with Jeff Allen | September 4 – 5
Traveling with your friends on open waters? Want to go on expedition and explore new places? This training is for you! Jeff will focus on safety and rescue, leadership and group management. Essential sea kayaking skills.
– Members of West Cork Kayakers: € 175 for two days
– Paddlers not associated with WCK: € 250 for two days

Contact Andrea at [email protected] to register or for more information. NOTE: Payment confirms your spot on the training sessions.

14/07/2023

11/06/2023

https://www.facebook.com/100064794486349/posts/643404611162683/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Please help us get life jackets onto this billboard in Buffalo, NY. Comments can be directed to https://www3.erie.gov/parks/form/contact-us-form.

11/06/2023

A massive THANK YOU to ALERT Region 1 agencies and paddlers participating in the Start of the Season (SoS) training event at Gallagher Beach today. Thank you NY State Parks for supporting the safety program, Gallagher beach is the perfect venue with easy access for all. Zoar Valley Paddling Club, Western New York Adaptive Water Sports and local paddlers volunteered time today to work with the services. We learned together as one waterway community how we can all be safer. The report will be out following the review this week. We welcome all feedback! Thanks again, we could not have done it without everyone's involvement.

10/06/2023

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/05/18/kayak-guide-took-day-trippers-out-in-unsuitable-conditions-before-they-capsized-investigators-find/?fbclid=IwAR09SgDz2RT1d3DOAAETRwM4VojSsVr79ETbEYnXe61TPqXoTn5g1FCteH4

Two people drifted at sea at Mulroy Bay in Co Donegal for around an hour until they were rescued by the Coast Guard

05/05/2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os78xbyXhdg&t=29s

In our latest campaign phase, This Girl Can is addressing the enjoyment gap which finds that men enjoy being active more than women.Find out more about our f...

11/03/2023

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63906ea0d3bf7f328063e844/2022-13-Paddleboards-Report.pdf

Valuable lessons in this report regarding working out of remit with groups and the unfortunate consequences of doing so.

12/02/2023

March 1st is Zero Discrimination Day, celebrated annually by the United Nations and other international organisations. The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout all of the member countries of the UN. In honour of this event, the SCA has outlined a specific policy to....

12/02/2023

Did you know that if you experience sexual harassment, bullying or witness unsafe action during your paddling experience, you have an avenue to report your concerns?

Not being able to paddle because of unsavory behavior from qualified instructors, coaches, volunteers and other paddlers damages the industry and the experience for people who haven’t even tried the sport yet.

Speak up folks and be heard! Without the community’s voice there can be no change.

Standards, integrity and positive action, SIP. Try it, you just might make the difference!

Links to reporting:
US Center for Safe Sport, any sport including paddling- https://uscenterforsafesport.org/

Paddle Canada grievance policy- https://www.paddlecanada.com/paddle-canada-grievance-policy-2/

British Canoeing grievance policy-https://www.britishcanoeing.org.uk/uploads/documents/Complaints-Procedure-September-2019.pdf

Scottish Canoe Association discrimination report- https://www.canoescotland.org/reporting-disrimination

March 1st is Zero Discrimination Day, celebrated annually by the United Nations and other international organisations. The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout all of the member countries of the UN. In honour of this event, the SCA has outlined a specific policy to....

13/03/2022

https://strongertogether2.britishcanoeing.org.uk/

Stronger Together is our new four-year strategy (2022-2026) to support, grow and celebrate paddling in England and the UK. It builds on the work and progress of the last four years and presents a plan to guide the work of all within British Canoeing and the paddling community. We have big ambitions....

10/08/2021

Excellent article, thanks Anna!

https://mindbodypaddle.com/10140/how-to-overcome-your-fear-of-saying-no/

Overcome your fear of saying no by getting present to the impact of saying yes to tasks/people who suck your time and make you unhappy.

19/05/2021

FREE online paddling event from Nova Scotia!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf4Rqdon103WO_JpFHtRrMTYSpgVZiHslTrEEMxxXX3VnziYg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2nin8NS18iRCk2lcv7OaL2hzyxs6dzTjLe1Bcv29MpNzyYjJ7D-vLyuVg

Event Timing: Tuesday May 25 6:30-8pm AST