Activities
The activities we enjoy...
Katakanu
We have four Katakanu that can each accommodate six paddlers and are best suited to those who are likely to be the least comfortable getting afloat, the twin hull of the Katakanu ensures a reliable stable platform through which we can to introduce the most basic canoe forward paddle stroke to our toughest and most inexperienced paddlers. Having a reliable unsinkable boat lends itself to a variety of games and challenges both on board and overboard.
Canoes
A canoe is a narrow boat, typically pointed at both ends and open on top, propelled by two or three seated or kneeling paddlers facing the direction of travel and using a single-bladed paddle. Great for all ages though the youngest would benefit from an adult steering and providing occasional power.
Canoes lend themselves to the next stage of progression, being faster, more manoeuvrable and alas more tippy than the Katakanu and provides three paddlers more independence to experiment with what works for them which sometimes results in their first capsize event.
Dragonboats
The dragon boat is a watercraft that is shaped and decorated as a Chinese Dragon. The boat decorations are complex and beautiful, the prow is made of a single block of teak wood and carved as a dragon head, and the stern is like dragon’s tail, while the body is painted with dragon’s scales.
Our Dragons measure in at 10m long and are propelled by a crew of ten, a drummer and a helm that ensures you go where you intended. Unlike other craft, Dragons require crew discipline with everyone required to paddle on instructions provided by the helm and kept in pace by the drummer.
Coracles
These small single person craft are the most tippy and most difficult of boats to master so are ideally suited to older paddlers who think they know it all, well that is until they realise that the very act of performing a paddle stoke could be enough to initiate their first swim. These craft are great for team races, coracle polo and always attract a crowd when used in our sheltered training area.
SUP boarding
Stand up paddle boarding offers a fun way to play on the water, with the added benefit of a full-body workout. And, since you stand at full height on your board, it gives you a unique vantage point for viewing what’s down under the water and out on the horizon.
Slightly wobbly using a board improves your posture and balance whilst being gentle to your joints, though don’t let this fool you, whilst not as tippy as the coracle, SUPs are a close second so whilst teaching you how to paddle forwards and turn we will also teach you to safely fall.
Paddling sole allows you to better explore the water environment and access the shoreline flora and fawner that would otherwise be off limits. Be prepared to have much fun on your paddleboard.
Rafting
We build rafts by attaching barrels to wooden frames, or if your knotting is good, we have barrels and spars allowing you to build a raft to your own design.
Teams of six can compete to build and launch a raft then complete some basic navigation. Experienced sailors might wish to raise a mast and sheet and sail their raft across the lake.
Pirates amongst you may wish to search out and acquire treasure washed up on the lake shore and aim to return to port without losing their bounty. Oooarr!
Kayaks
Kayaks are slightly different to all other paddling craft and introduce you to the twin bladed paddle. Short and extremely manoeuvrable makes a kayak increasingly stable and able to move fast when you need to get away from trouble. At CST we use Sit on Top Kayaks which do not enclose around your legs making them very easy to fall out of when you capsize and lend themselves to self-rescue.
The kayaks themselves are reasonably stable and great for games and independent paddling, great for confidence building and developing paddling skills not possible in other craft. Suitable for anyone aged 10 or over.
Some of our other activites...
