The Sea Kayak Wales project is launching a free, automated service that presents sea kayakers with customised plans for day paddling trips. The Beta service launches on 25th March 2013 with an initial focus on the popular sea kayaking coastline of Anglesey, North Wales.
Paul Griffiths, who came up with the idea and built the initial proof of concept, has a clear vision that he describes as follows. “The intention is to get more people paddling sea kayaks and to open up new stretches of the coastline to paddlers. Planning a trip in a new area can be a daunting task, the Sea Kayak Wales project takes care of the detail leaving the individual sea kayaker to just decide when they want to go. Our web service will deliver detailed trip plan suggestions for paddlers to choose from.”
The web based service can be found at www.SeaKayakwales.com Signing up is a breeze as you can use an existing Facebook, Twitter or Google log-in to join the service. The trip plan service just requires the paddler to choose the day they want to paddle and optionally set a preferred start time and skill level. The service does all of the rest. Taking tides and wind forecasts into account it runs a calculation that will present trip plan suggestions that fit the forecasts for the chosen day. A sea kayaker can then get an overview of each of the suggestions with a detailed paddling plan available for each.
The primary service is aimed at paddlers at the BCU 3 star level and above. However the beginner has not been forgotten and the service will also take tides and weather into account to suggest suitable paddling venues where a newcomer to the sport can build their skills in suitably sheltered and safe surroundings.
While safety is an important factor in selecting trip plan suggestions, the importance of retaining an element of acceptable challenge has not been forgotten. The Sea Kayak Wales service makes trip plan suggestions and it is up to paddlers to ensure they have the skills and appropriate equipment to tackle any of the trips proposed. Paddlers should double check wind forecasts and general condition prior to departure.
Paul Griffiths, who came up with the idea and built the initial proof of concept, has a clear vision that he describes as follows. “The intention is to get more people paddling sea kayaks and to open up new stretches of the coastline to paddlers. Planning a trip in a new area can be a daunting task, the Sea Kayak Wales project takes care of the detail leaving the individual sea kayaker to just decide when they want to go. Our web service will deliver detailed trip plan suggestions for paddlers to choose from.”
The web based service can be found at www.SeaKayakwales.com Signing up is a breeze as you can use an existing Facebook, Twitter or Google log-in to join the service. The trip plan service just requires the paddler to choose the day they want to paddle and optionally set a preferred start time and skill level. The service does all of the rest. Taking tides and wind forecasts into account it runs a calculation that will present trip plan suggestions that fit the forecasts for the chosen day. A sea kayaker can then get an overview of each of the suggestions with a detailed paddling plan available for each.
The primary service is aimed at paddlers at the BCU 3 star level and above. However the beginner has not been forgotten and the service will also take tides and weather into account to suggest suitable paddling venues where a newcomer to the sport can build their skills in suitably sheltered and safe surroundings.
While safety is an important factor in selecting trip plan suggestions, the importance of retaining an element of acceptable challenge has not been forgotten. The Sea Kayak Wales service makes trip plan suggestions and it is up to paddlers to ensure they have the skills and appropriate equipment to tackle any of the trips proposed. Paddlers should double check wind forecasts and general condition prior to departure.
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