Author: Justine

  • ‘Sea kayak Rescues’ DVD now in stock


     

    Cackle TV is distributing ‘Sea Kayak Rescues‘, the new DVD by  Reel Water Productions.
    What the producers say:
    World class sea kayak instructors Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme team up with award winning filmmaker Bryan Smith in Sea Kayak Rescues, a comprehensive modern guide to rescues for all paddlers. Using stunning slow motion to illustrate details and real time footage of rescues in tidal races, dynamic water and the open coast, this film sets a new standard in sea kayak instruction.
    Shawna and Leon break down self and assisted rescues and show applications in flat, dynamic and rough water.  Beautiful cinematography and world class instruction combine in a unique and effective instructional film.

    30 Minutes/Extras include a 3 skills videos on edging, bow rudder and stern rudders.

    What we think:
    This instructional film focusses on visuals to teach rescues. It’s beautifully shot and you can clearly see how the rescues are performed. Footage from cameras mounted on the kayaks, a camera in the water, and from the cliffs are merged together to give a clear picture of what to do to safely and quickly get back into your kayak. Shawna and Leon show the importance of decklines and toggles during rescues and talk about their philosophies, with a focus on efficiency and safety. The DVD shows rescues in ‘real’ situations where you are likely to need them and the editing with great music in the background is designed to be exciting so you want to watch it time and again. Their focus is on being able to do a self rescue as a first line of defense, and failing that a solid T-rescue.
    Shawna & Leon are two of the most experienced & enthusiastic paddlers and coaches anywhere! I’ve paddled with them around the Queen Charlotte islands and on the West coast of Vancouver island and they are incredibly conscientious, safe and thoughtful padders. Their attention to detail is impressive. They teach resuces a lot and it shows. Their speed and efficiency at getting back into their own kayaks in rough conditions is incredible. It’s worth watching them scramble back into their boats in Deception Pass in just a few seconds to be inspired to improve your own skills.
    This DVD is effective and to-the-point. It’s running length is 30 minutes but as one happy customer said “The movie is as efficient as the rescue”!
    It’s a length where you can watch it time and again.
    Price:  £19.99 including international shipping.
    Don’t forget if it’s a gift you can add giftwrapping with our exclusive orca whale wrapping paper designed by Shawna Franklin. Scroll down to the bottom of the store to find it!

  • Skerries the hard way

    OK, that title is a bit overdramatic! We paddled to the Skerries on Saturday against the tide, but it wasn’t that difficult on a fairly small tidal range!

    The sun shone as we hugged the shore from Cemlyn to Carmel Head. I always enjoy ferry gliding across from Carmel Head. The varying depths mean that the speed of the tide & sea state change in strips, like lanes. One minute the sea was gently rolling underneath us and the next minute we’re in confused breaking waves behind the Platters (but in less tide). A southeasterly wind was kicking up the waves close to the Skerries and a healthy swell made it quite sporty paddling around the top of the island against the tide. We couldn’t get too close due to the waves smashing onto the rocks.

    There were a few seal pups on the island so we landed on some rocks away from the beaches and huddled under our Hilleberg windsack out of the wind. We headed back via West Mouse and finished off with a few rolls in Cemlyn bay!

  • Exclusive Gift Wrapping now available

    I’m excited to share the news that some fantastic wrapping paper designed by Shawna Franklin arrived at my door today.

    The orca whale print is from one of Shawna’s gorgeous linoleum block prints. The design has been made into exclusive wrapping paper only available at Cackle TV. The high quality paper is 100 % recycled so it’s environmentally friendly too.

    From today, we are offering customers in our UK/ Europe / Australia store the option to have your DVD(s) wrapped in our exclusive wrapping paper.

    If you want to send someone a gift, we can gift wrap your items and add your own personal message, making your present even more special. There’s no need to worry about the recipient finding out how much you’ve spent because we won’t include the price anywhere .

    The cost is just £2.95 per order, no matter how many DVDs you buy.

    Once you’ve chosen your DVD(s) from our store, then just select that you want gift wrapping (this option is at the bottom of the store), and type your personal message.

    We will offer the wrapping paper for sale in the near future, once we work out how to post it economically!

    Shawna has created lots of gorgeous artwork which is available to buy as prints or greeting cards from Body Boat Blade.

    Thanks to Madie Murray for making the wrapping paper the right size for the printers.

  • 21 again!

    I just celebrated another 21st birthday, & what a lovely weekend it was. It was the perfect excuse to visit friends on Bardsey island, one of my favourite places anywhere! On Saturday, the swell and wind made the crossing to the island just the right amount of ‘exciting’. I had plenty of energy to use up, after a week indoors editing! Barry and I paddled around the island, admiring the swell booming against the rocks. We passed a few dozen seals, either lounging on the rocks or curiously watching us from the water.

    We stayed overnight courtesy of the Porter family, the only family to live on the small island all year round. It was great to see them all again – the first time for over 6 months! Thanks for the delicious dinner, the lovely cake and the glass artwork that Rachel made for me. We enjoyed a bottle of wine that Barry and I helped to make in Sicily a year ago! Thanks to Francesco for bringing a bottle over for us! In the evening we walked around the lighthouse end of the island with Rachel, who was counting the number of new seal pups being born on the island. We saw 4 pups – all born in the last week. 

    Sunday was a beautiful day and we climbed up the top of “the mountain” on Bardsey. There was very little wind, but the sea is rarely still here. It’s always great to look down on the tide swirling and colliding in the Sound below. The ebb current was getting up to speed and funneling in different directions around the island, kicking up white caps over shallow areas.

    After buying a few Christmas presents home-made by Jo out of willow, we waved a cherry goodbye & headed away on the last of the ebb tide. Instead of heading straight back to Abadaron, we detoured to the Gwylan islands in Abadaron Bay, stopping for a snack break besides the rocky islets. Lunch was back on the mainland, a bit further round towards Hells Mouth beach, where we enjoyed some toasted marshmallows provided generously by a family we found relaxing on the beach! The paddle back to Abadaron, delving into caves and gazing up at slabby cliffs was really interesting. What a lovely day exploring an area close to home that I’ve not taken the time to poke around in…

    Happy days!