Sustainable Sea Kayaking

23/10/2025

Hi everyone.

“A study of the Perceptions and perceived Preparedness of Outdoor First Aiders in the Irish Outdoor sector”.

Introduction:

You are being invited to participate in a survey to explore your perceptions and perceived preparedness of Outdoor First Aid qualifications / awards used in the Irish Outdoor sector. The study is being conducted by Jon Hynes as part of an MSc in Outdoor Education, Sustainability and Well-being, at Atlantic Technological University.

To participate in the survey you must be resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. This survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. The survey is anonymous. Your name, email address, and IP address will not be collected. No one will be able to identify you or your answers, and no one will know whether or not you participated in this study. Only the information presented in this survey will be used. All information will be kept strictly confidential. No data will be connected to you as an individual, and no personal information will be collected. Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You can opt out at any time during the questionnaire and there is no time limit.

This project has been granted research ethics approval by the ATU Taught Postgraduate Research Ethics Committee. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Jon Hynes @ [email protected].

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=RVWFR7sAAEimX-eRBOwPxMwLRSDgBRVNuRNho8yoBJZURUVJSjE1MTdaUVJFRUlCQU8ySTlBMUNLWS4u

30/09/2025

Apologies if we've been a little quiet here the last while but thrilled to be able to share that our first Expedition trip report is back from Laoise Flanagan and I really would encourage you to have a read of this and how rich her experience was using our retro kayaking equipment but more importantly on such a wonderful coastline.

I'd like to congratulate Laoise on how well she embraced the opportunity and hopefully the experiences will shape future adventures for her. Well done, you should be very proud of yourself Laoise.

It's lovely to think that this collection of Retro kit continues to provide adventures, joy and opportunity.

Jon

https://wildatlanticwarrior.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-sustainable-sea-kayaking-project.html

ATU / GMIT Outdoor Education Courses
Canoeing Ireland
Sea Kayaking UK
Paddling the Blue Podcast

The Sustainable Sea Kayaking Project; Exploring Connections in South Connemara A few weeks ago, in August, I had the pleasure of packing...

23/07/2024

We are delighted to announce that the 2024 "Tide Turner" Sea Kayaking Scholarship has been awarded to Laoise Flanagan, a fourth-year Outdoor Education Degree student at Atlantic Technological University. Hailing from the shores of Lough Derg, Laoise impressed us with her wonderful trip report of a memorable day on the water earlier this year as part of the Summit to Sea around Ireland day.

As part of the scholarship, Laoise will team up with Jon later in August for a familiarisation weekend, which will include training and exploring future expedition opportunities. Additionally, she will have the use of "Tide Turner," a restored sea kayak, along with all the necessary equipment to further her skills and knowledge in sea kayaking.

We are excited to follow Laoise's journey and look forward to posting updates in the coming months. Please show her your support.....🙏

20/06/2024

A really useful and healthy reminder of how we as Sea Kayakers can play our part to protect, preserve and play on our coastlines.

Camping: Leaving only footprints in the sand - Blog by Doug Cooper. Ensuring we Leave No Trace when sea kayaking. Scottish Sea Kayaking.

19/06/2024

Thinking of opportunity for adventure on the Sea.

"Tide Turner" a sea kayak that has brought me much joy, is ready now for a new Skipper.

Thanks for the many positives responses so far.

17/06/2024

The "Tide Turner" Sea Kayak Scholarship - Ireland 2024

I am delighted to announce an exciting opportunity for up-and-coming kayakers. Before you read on, please note that to apply for this scheme, you must be under 25 or enrolled in a full-time outdoor education course/traineeship.

Sea kayaking has gifted me many opportunities in life: moments close to nature, great friendships, and most importantly, the chance to learn. Now, I am inviting applications from kayakers who meet the following criteria to apply for the free use of "Tide Turner," my special sea kayak, and a free training opportunity with me.

Criteria to Apply

Age and Education:

Must be under 25 or a mature student enrolled in full-time education.
Must be enrolled in a full-time Outdoor Education/Adventure Traineeship/degree course.
Alternatively, if you are over 18 and volunteer as a Scout/Girl Guide/Youth Group Leader, you may also apply.
Skill Level:

You must hold a recent Canoeing Ireland Level 2 Sea Kayak skills award or higher.
Residency:

Applications are open to residents of Ireland, including Northern Ireland.
How to Apply

Written Option:

Write a simple social media post entitled “My Best Day on the Water” to describe a special day/adventure you had on the sea in a kayak (minimum word count: 500 words).
Send that post via DM to the Sustainable Sea Kayaking page.
These posts will be shared on the page for others to read.
Video Option:

If you prefer not to write, you can record a video (minimum length: 3 minutes) describing your adventure.
Send the video via DM to the Sustainable Sea Kayaking page.
Deadline:

Applications close on July 12th, 2024.
What’s Included?

Free use of the retro "Tide Turner Sea Kayak" until the end of 2024.
Free use of all associated equipment, including paddle, spray deck, cag, etc.
Additional equipment includes a retro tent, stove, thermarest, and waterproof camera.
Full training support from experienced Sea Kayak Instructor, Guide, and Educator, Jon Hynes. I will help you plan your training and trips.
Advice and support on developing your sea kayaking skills.
Is There a Cost Involved?

No, there is no charge. Use of the equipment and my time is completely free.
You will need to cover your own transport costs.
So, What’s the Deal?

When I first started sea kayaking, several people invested in me through mentoring, opportunities, and trips, including the use of equipment. I am now sharing my own opportunity to “give back.” The kayak you will use was gifted to me by a friend many years ago. I have carefully restored it and assembled a full set of "retro" gear to match it. The spirit of this opportunity is that you too will give back.

In Return, the Successful Applicant Will:

Engage faithfully in training with me and the equipment, including a weekend on the South Coast (Cork area).
Undertake a minimum 3-day/2-night mini expedition using the retro equipment.
Write an article for publication on Sustainable Sea Kayaking about your mini expedition and adventures.
Ensure your adventure embodies concepts of sustainability, care for the environment, and good practices in sea kayaking.
Care for the equipment in good faith and return it by the end of 2024 so that someone else can use it in 2025.
Plan your expedition to take place in Irish waters and have it agreed upon with the sponsor/Jon Hynes.
I look forward to receiving your applications and sharing this wonderful opportunity with you!

Jon Hynes.

10/11/2023

Great day ahead at the Outdoor Therapeutic Providers Conference in ATU / GMIT Outdoor Education Courses.

23/10/2023

Well this one has been a while in the making. Not sure that I am that proud of it, feels like the video is way too long. Clearly I am a better Sea Kayaker than video editor. But I will let you decide.
Either way this trip made me happy.
In recent times I have been reflecting on my sea kayaking adventures and where we have come from and where we are going. M O'Farrell SeaScrapes kindly gave me an old Nordkapp copy from the the old Canoe Centre in Palmerstown. They caused a bit of a stir back in the day.
Fixed keg, ocean cockpit, tiny hatches, tippy, but with amazing sea going reputation, this kayak got me thinking. So, after a slow and careful renovation and some day trips to re-familiarise myself with this kayak I assembled some retro kayaking kit from a range of friends and contacts. The poor weather this summer upset my original intentions, so I set off late in the Summer and took on my local backyard trip in a very different way. 3 days and two nights with no contact with the outside world.
I made plenty of mistakes which I have no shame in admitting. You think you know it all, but the sea is the Master and sometimes, being cut down to size is a good thing.
I reaffirmed so much about why I love kayaking, I connected with nature, my emotions, my home coastline and its rich maritime history, place names and set myself some new life goals.
Perfection is something I am very interested in, on this trip, it was not perfect and that's where I found joy. Just being is enough sometimes.
I am really motivated and looking forward to my next kayaking chapters in life.
Thank you to everyone who helped me assemble some awesome retro kit. See you all on the water soon.

Here is a homemade documentary I made to explore what it's like as a modern sea kayaker to go back use similar kit to when I first started paddling way back....

11/10/2023

Five years ago I got my first Sea Kayak sail from Patrick Forrester & Falcon Sails. I've had many amazing days with it.

Delighted that we have him here in Ireland and sharing the joy of sea kayak sailing with others.

The possibilities are infinite. We have such a windy coastline and why not harness it.

The weather isn't so kind this week but we still had a blast in dense fog yesterday.

Got my rig finely tuned by Patrick with some mods. Running sweet now.

Be sure to come give it a try. We got some sea kayaks rigged up for you to give it a go.

Irish Sea Kayaking Association Symposium
Canoeing Ireland

10/08/2023

3 day Retro Expedition 1 done.
Much learned.

Fun - yes.

Hard work - lots.

Was the paddling good- yes but not always at the time.

Would I do it again, yes indeed.

Paddling old tippy Nordkapps reigns in your normal abilities.

Everything is much heavier and slower.

Launching and landing with ocean cockpits is not fun, particularly when conditions are bigger.

Solo, in dense fog, lumpy / crappy seas means you cannot take your hands off the paddle to do other things.

Generally, acceptance of things not being ideal or cosy is normal. Everything you achieve, you have to work harder for.

We are spoilt with modern kit. 😀

That's the initial reflection.

3 days well spent.

More detailed trip report to follow.

Thanks to everyone who helped me source retro kit. I really appreciate that.

08/08/2023

Jon Hynes

I'm away at last

Paddling the Blue Podcast