Paddle and play!

Events in June 2023

Weekly trips

Monthly trips

The Winter Series – land-based events

Here is a range of events where we can paddle and play together. Most activities are open to all; we encourage you to come along and see what we are about.

If you like what you see, join the club!

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Wednesday evenings

Saturday morning paddle

Sunday morning paddle

Wednesday evenings

This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course.

The route, destination and duration (usually 1 – 2 hours and around 15km) are decided on the night, depending on the preferences of the group and the conditions. During the winter months, these trips return after dark, therefore you must carry either a large lens torch, or an all-round white light mounted on the outside of your kayak.

Contact: Treasurer

Saturday morning paddle

This more extensive paddle launches from various locations around greater Auckland, depending on weather and sea conditions. We are generally on the water at 7.30am (8am in Winter) and aim to return between 10.30am and 11.30am. The launch site and plan are published on Friday on Whatsapp.

The paddle is typically between 15 to 20km with a tea/coffee break at the halfway point and again when we return to the launch site. It’s a great opportunity to explore the Auckland coastline, learn/develop basic ocean kayaking skills, and enjoy a cuppa and chit chat with other club members.

Generally, the routes are selected to provide a paddle on relatively calm waters on the understanding that sea conditions can and do change. So we expect paddlers to be comfortable with a longer paddle, in a range of sea conditions, and that they come prepared. (read: What Kit Do I Need) And don’t forget your thermos and snacks of choice. Sharing food is a bit of a tradition.

On the 3rd Saturday of the month, if weather permits, we may extend the paddle to a day-long excursion with a slightly later start time at 9am, and back around 4.30pm. Occasionally, the group organises an overnight paddle. This is also an opportunity to compare paddlers cooking skills! Recent trips have been to Kaipara Harbour, the Bay of Islands, and the Rangitīkei River.

Contact: (Whatsapp) https://tinyurl.com/ysan2ev2
New members of this paddle group will be contacted by the trip leader to discuss experience and expectations.

Sunday morning paddle

The Sunday morning paddle sets off from the Okahu Bay boat ramp at 9am. The average time for the paddle is around 2 to 3 hours, and the distance is around 10km. This is a ‘keep fit, feel good’ kind of paddle.

The trip leader will plan a paddle that reflects the abilities of the group. If needed, he will run you through the basics of setting up, and getting in and out of the kayak.

This paddle is an excellent introduction to kayaking and the club, or just a nice way to have a gentle outing with other club members.

Contact: Terry Price; Text to 0274 739 081

Sunday morning skills practice

Vine House weekend paddle and stay

Other trips and training

Sunday morning skills practice

These skills building sessions are held once a month at 9am at Ōkahu Bay. Dates are set to coincide with high tide. Check out upcoming dates in our calendar. The sessions are not run as a class, but as a member-led session guided by more experienced paddlers. The session follows a model established in several areas around the country. It’s called ‘Sea kayakers inspired to stretch their limits’ (SKISL).

Some of the things we practise and discuss include:

rescues and re-entries (assisted and individual)
working as a team to keep each other safe
paddling strokes and boat manoeuvring
rolling and associated skills
Greenland paddling skills
surfing (when we join our SKISL buddies at Orewa)
dealing with moving water and harbour tides (Tāmaki Drive bridge)
navigation, potential scenarios from trips, paddling conditions, wind, waves, current, boat traffic, boat selection and fit-out.

If you are keen to get together to practise skills, learn new ones, and generally get confident on and off the
water by improving your skill base, then come along.

Contact: Training

Vine House weekend paddle and stay

Club members can stay at this wonderful venue at Lagoon Bay in the Mahurangi Regional Park on the last weekend of each month. Vine House is owned by Auckland Council and is available for the public to hire year around. However, the club has a special arrangement with the council to use the house exclusively one weekend a month in exchange for doing regular maintenance working bees.

The house sleeps 10 and is well appointed. Access is only by water, with the best departure from Sullivan’s Bay. The paddle over is well suited to all kayakers and you can choose how much or little you paddle once there. Bookings on the club weekends are on a first come, first served basis.

You must confirm your booking the week prior.
Contact: Vinehouse & Treasurer

This is an historical overview of the Vine House area. Mahurangi memories with Lindsay Kirby:

Mahurangi memories – Lindsay Kirby | Auckland Council – YouTube

Other trips and training

We organise trips dependent on the weather, interest, and availability of trip leaders. Keep an eye on our events calendar. Members can also stay in touch through our Facebook page for trips organised at short notice. And please contact the Training Officer if you would like other instruction courses to be organised by the club. Club members are always ready to offer informal instruction.

There are also many commercial operators that provide kayak training courses in the Auckland region. We encourage all paddlers to attend formal training.

3 9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise 9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise 9:00 am – 10:00 am 03/06/2023 The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome.

4 8:00 am: Okahu Bay SKISL 8:00 am: Okahu Bay SKISL 8:00 am – 10:00 am 04/06/2023 On the water (OTW) for 8am, then until 10am or so Aims Based on the established SKISL (sea kayakers inspired to stretch their limits) model encouraged by Deb Volturno, and now in Orewa, Tauranga and Wellington. A group of paddlers keen to get together to practice skills, learn new ones, teach new members and generally get confident in and out of the water to build a strong skill base. Advance individual skills and keep paddlers safer, and able to explore further. Not taught as a class, but a member-led session guided by more experienced paddlers. Identify potential instructors and trip leaders, evaluate skills of new people for joining ACC trips and other activities. Skills to consider Rescues and re-entries of all kinds, assisted and individual. Introduction to these for those without formal instruction. Potential scenarios from trips. Paddling strokes and boat manoeuvring. Rolling and associated skills. Greenland skills. Surf zone acclimatisation, or even catching waves (at Orewa). Moving water (Tamaki Dr bridge), harbour tides. Wider discussion of navigation, paddling conditions, wind, waves, current, boat traffic. Boat fit-out, selection, exchange. Links BASK version https://www.sporty.co.nz/bayseakayak/Training-Days/SKISL-2nd-Sunday-each-month Orewa version https://www.facebook.com/groups/780626002105061

7 5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle 5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm 07/06/2023 This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course.

10 9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise 9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise 9:00 am – 10:00 am 10/06/2023 The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome.

14 5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle 5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm 14/06/2023 This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course.

17 9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise 9:00 am: Saturday coffee cruise 9:00 am – 10:00 am 17/06/2023 The Saturday morning Coffee Cruise meets at the Ōkahu Bay boat ramp at 9am for a 9.30am start. The average time for the outing is around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. It’s a gentle paddle, a catch up and usually involves coffee at Kohimarama. It’s easy, informal and everyone is welcome.

18 8:00 am: Okahu Bay SKISL 8:00 am: Okahu Bay SKISL 8:00 am – 10:00 am 18/06/2023 On the water (OTW) for 8am, then until 10am or so Aims Based on the established SKISL (sea kayakers inspired to stretch their limits) model encouraged by Deb Volturno, and now in Orewa, Tauranga and Wellington. A group of paddlers keen to get together to practice skills, learn new ones, teach new members and generally get confident in and out of the water to build a strong skill base. Advance individual skills and keep paddlers safer, and able to explore further. Not taught as a class, but a member-led session guided by more experienced paddlers. Identify potential instructors and trip leaders, evaluate skills of new people for joining ACC trips and other activities. Skills to consider Rescues and re-entries of all kinds, assisted and individual. Introduction to these for those without formal instruction. Potential scenarios from trips. Paddling strokes and boat manoeuvring. Rolling and associated skills. Greenland skills. Surf zone acclimatisation, or even catching waves (at Orewa). Moving water (Tamaki Dr bridge), harbour tides. Wider discussion of navigation, paddling conditions, wind, waves, current, boat traffic. Boat fit-out, selection, exchange. Links BASK version https://www.sporty.co.nz/bayseakayak/Training-Days/SKISL-2nd-Sunday-each-month Orewa version https://www.facebook.com/groups/780626002105061

21 5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle 5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm 21/06/2023 This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course. 7:00 pm: Winter Series Event 7:00 pm: Winter Series Event 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm 21/06/2023 See Facebook group and emails for details Richmond Yacht Club 173-175 Westhaven Drive Auckland, New Zealand View Location Map

28 5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle 5:30 pm: Wednesday Paddle 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm 28/06/2023 This paddle leaves from Ōkahu Bay boat ramp in front of the club’s storage shed at 5:30pm (on the water) every Wednesday. Everyone is welcome. We recommend that anyone joining the evening paddle has some experience or has attended a basic skills course.

30 5:00 pm: Vine House 5:00 pm: Vine House 5:00 pm – 12:00 pm 30/06/2023 – 02/07/2023 Contact Matt Crozier or Trevor Arthur for availability and information.

The Winter Series is a collection of club events held on the third Wednesday of the month during winter (usually May – September). It includes slide shows by members of great trips they have done (kayaking or other adventures); guest speakers on kayak-related topics and mid-winter socials. All members and their friends and family, and prospective members, are welcome.

It’s a great way of getting to know other members, share some knowledge or a good yarn, and find paddle-buddies for the future.

Check out the calendar and our Facebook page for topics and times.