We tried that at... THE DARTMOUTH YACHT CLUB CANOE SECTION
by Heather Long & Family
p until now I have been content to admire the River Dart from the safety of the bank. As a keen walker I’ve explored the river mouth, the busy embankment in Dartmouth, the woods of Old Mill, the stony shore of Dittisham and the creeks of Tuckenhay, plus plenty of footpaths and vantage points in between. But in recent months I have watched the enjoyment on the faces of other members of the family as they have ventured out onto the water in a variety of craft. Ribs, toppers, yachts and sloops have all been used, but I fancied that one of the simplest ways to do it was in a canoe – no ropes to worry about or boom to clonk me on the head. As the others paddled off I began to be tempted to have a go – how hard could it be? Funny, then, how things escalate. No sooner had I mentioned this out loud than a couple of more experienced canoeists in the family suggested I join the Canoe Section of the Dartmouth Yacht Club for a pool
U
session. Before I could say “Eskimo roll” I was sitting anxiously on the side of the swimming pool in my shorts and tee-shirt thinking there must have been a terrible mistake.
The Canoe Section is a thriving club and well stocked with all sorts of canoes and kayaks, plus paddles, wetsuits, buoyancy aids and everything you need for a safe and enjoyable paddle along the Dart. Members are entitled to use all this gear once competent, it is stored to the rear of the Dartmouth Yacht Club in Lower Street. Safety is a priority and a team of instructors ensures that everyone receives training when they join. Club nights and accompanied paddles mean members develop a level of expertise before using the equipment on their own. Safety in numbers – and that’s just what I decided on for my taster session, roping in youngest son Finlay to come along with me and keep me company. Our instructor for the morning was Tim Freeman, an experienced canoeist who has lived in Dartmouth for 45 years and could sense my tension. Finlay on the other hand was brimming with confidence and gung ho enthusiasm. With us were another 10-year-old boy, Thomas, who’d brought his Dad with him, and a lady called Deb who was a lot braver than me, and kept putting her hand up to
volunteer
while I hung about at the back.
“Don’t worry!” beamed
Tim. “I have a reputation for being good with nervous ladies.”
And with that we
watched as Deb sat in a kayak, tipped upside down, and made an excellent escape. It seemed the only nervous lady
Heather Capsized
Finlay and instructors
Heather and instructor
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