NOMAD Sea Kayaking

09/09/2026

Latest Blog Post

Every single person who ended up loving the sport of Sea Kayaking, had the same three anxieties.

Head to our Home Page and book your 30 minute consultation, free of charge, no obligation.

No pitch, no pressure, and it costs you nothing. Tell us what's actually making you hesitate, ask every "what if" you've got, and decide for yourself whether this is right for you, from someone who's been teaching people to do this safely for 21 years

Every single person who ended up loving the sport of Sea Kayaking, had the same three anxieties. 

08/09/2026

The Value of Training - Self Recovery

Two kayakers are safe after a night they won't forget off Anacapa Island, California. Their kayak capsized half a mile offshore, and they spent four hours adrift and taking on water before finally getting a phone signal to call for help. A Coast Guard helicopter winched them out just after midnight.

They'd done a lot right: wetsuits, life jackets, in cell range. What they didn't have was a VHF radio, a signalling device, or a float plan left with anyone onshore — and the Coast Guard were quick to point out those gaps afterwards.

Had these kayakers been trained in a simple self-recovery, they would not have had to risk the lives of others coming out to rescue them.

It's the same message we drum into everyone on our Sea Kayak Safety & Recovery Masterclass: capsize recovery skills matter, but so does being findable if things go wrong. Tell someone your route and return time, and carry more than one way to call for help.

More here:

The pair were airlifted out of the ocean after their kayak overturned about a half mile off Arch Rock.

02/09/2026

A quiet example this month of the system working as it should. On 12 August, someone on the shore near Piel Island spotted an upturned yellow kayak drifting, having seen it with two paddlers aboard a little earlier. They did exactly the right thing: rang HM Coastguard straight away with a clear description of what they'd seen. Barrow RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched within the hour, found the kayak, and towed it back to Roa Island, where the owner was reunited with his boat.

No drama, no injuries. Just a good outcome built on someone reporting a genuine concern promptly and clearly.

It's also a reminder of why we put real time into capsize recovery and towing on our two day Coastal Confidence Programme. Knowing how to right a boat, re-enter, or rig a tow yourself is what keeps call-outs like this one rare rather than routine.

Build confidence, judgement and independence on the coast with NOMAD’s two-day Coastal Confidence Programme. Small-group sea kayaking course in Suffolk.

30/08/2026

Two kayakers off California's Channel Islands were rescued by helicopter last week after their kayak capsized near Anacapa Island — they'd been drifting in the sea for hours, into the night, before a US Coast Guard helicopter reached them just before midnight.

The reason they're both okay: they were wearing drysuits and buoyancy aids, and had a phone to raise the alarm. Coast Guard officials made one point clear afterwards — in remote areas, phone signal can't be relied on, and a marine VHF radio is what actually gets you found quickly.

Worth remembering for anyone paddling exposed coastline here in Suffolk and Essex too. Always carry a way to call for help that doesn't depend on phone signal, always wear your buoyancy aid, and know your capsize recovery drills cold.

Our Sea Kayak Safety & Recovery Masterclass covers exactly this — tow systems, rescues and the right kit. Call 01473 375 026 for details.

Learn essential sea kayak rescue, recovery and incident-management skills with NOMAD’s small-group Safety & Recovery Masterclass. Build confidence at sea.

24/08/2026

Edging or Leaning?

Edging your kayak properly makes a real difference to how it turns.

Flat on the water, a sea kayak tends to resist turning and skids about at the ends. Tilt the hull slightly onto its edge (using your legs and hips, not leaning your body over) and the shape of the hull changes how it sits in the water, letting the bow and stern carve round far more efficiently. It's the difference between wrestling a kayak round and letting it do the work for you.

Good edging relies on relaxed and confident balance, both of which take regular practice to bed in safely. It's well worth learning this hands-on with a qualified coach rather than off the internet, where a coach can check your position and get you edging safely and confidently on the water.

NOMAD's courses cover this in detail: nomadseakayaking.co.uk/events/kayaking-courses or call 01473 375 026.

22/08/2026

Over my twenty one years of professional paddling, I have trained hundreds of students and most, probably some 90% never seem to improve.

They don’t practise and progress their paddle skills and shy away from recoveries.

Over my twenty one years of professional paddling, I have trained hundreds of students and most, probably some 90% never seem to improve. They don’t progress their paddle skills and shy away from recoveries.

21/08/2026

FOR SALE

Motiv Canoe x12 Kayak Trailer — 20ft, braked, 1300kg capacity.

A serious, large capacity, braked trailer for a canoe club, kayak club, outdoor centre, watersports provider, school, scout group, activity centre or professional paddlesports operator that needs reliable boat transport without constantly juggling roof racks, vans or multiple trailer runs.

Galvanised chassis, adjustable rack system for sea kayaks, touring kayaks, sit-on-tops and canoes, three lockable kit boxes (with locks and keys), spare wheel, LED lighting upgrade, hitch lock and wheel clamp all included. Original invoice available.

Selling price £2,999 (new retail £3,870). Available for immediate collection from Ipswich, Suffolk. Viewing by appointment.

Heavy-duty Motive Canoe x12 kayak trailer for sale in Ipswich, Suffolk. 1300kg braked 20ft canoe and kayak trailer with locks, kit boxes and spare wheel.

19/08/2026

August has been kind to us on the water so far, but the safest paddlers aren't the ones who never capsize, they're the ones who know exactly what to do when it happens.

Our Sea Kayak Safety & Recovery Masterclass is a one-day course covering the skills that actually matter when conditions turn: assisted and solo rescues, tow systems, and keeping a clear head when things go wrong. Whether you paddle solo or lead a group, this is the course that turns a bad day into a manageable one.

One day, proper coaching, real confidence. Find out more at https://www.nomadseakayaking.co.uk/events/kayaking-courses/sea-kayak-safety-recovery-masterclass call us on 01473 375 026.

Learn essential sea kayak rescue, recovery and incident-management skills with NOMAD’s small-group Safety & Recovery Masterclass. Build confidence at sea.

14/08/2026

Skill tip: master your edge, not just your paddle.

Most new kayakers try to turn a kayak with the paddle alone. The secret is in your hips. Tilt the kayak up onto its edge by dropping one knee and lifting the other, while keeping your head and shoulders upright over the boat. And hold steady.

The "edging" uses the dynamics of water flow across the hull do the turning for you, and it's the same skill that keeps you stable and balanced when the water gets choppy or a wash rolls through from a boat or a breaking wave.

It feels odd at first (lean the boat, not your body) but once you get the feel of it, it changes how you paddle. It's worth learning properly in person rather than from a video, since a coach can spot small habits that hold you back.

NOMAD's courses cover this in detail if you fancy sharpening it up:
https://www.nomadseakayaking.co.uk/events/1-2-1-tailored-coaching

or call 01473 375 026.

Duration: 6-7 hrs. Distance: up to 7nm. Group Size: 1. Coaches: x1. Coach Ratio: 1:1. Gear: Tourer or Sea Kayak. Skills: Beginner to Confident. Fitness: Basic+

12/08/2026

Fancy having a proper go at sea kayaking before the summer's out?

Our "Learn to Kayak in a Day" course is exactly what it says on the tin: one day, 6–7 hours, and you'll go from complete beginner to confident on the water. No experience needed, no faff — just solid instruction covering the boat, the paddle, basic strokes and, most importantly, how to stay safe out there.

August is a good time to get stuck in while the weather's on side. Whether it's a birthday treat, a family day out, or something you've been meaning to try for years, this is the easiest way in.

Details and booking: https://www.nomadseakayaking.co.uk/events/kayaking-courses or call 01473 375 026.

Duration: 6-7 hrs. Distance: +/- 2nm. Group Size: 6. Coaches: x2. Coach Ratio: 3:1. Incl: Kayak, paddle & buoyancy aid. Skills: Beginner. Fitness: Basic.