
Events

The 2022 Sea Kayak Festival organisers are Sea Kayak Club WA’s, Steve Haddon, Pel Turner, Mark Stallbaum, Lexi Adamson, Shantha David and Peter Fall, along with Paddle WA’s, Rosalie Evans. You can contact them via; email – fest@seakayakwa.asn.au and develop@paddlewa.asn.au.
I started paddling about 25 years ago at Swan Canoe Club. I was instantly hooked even with the frustration of trying to paddle in a straight line in a slalom boat. Paddling was totally absorbing and was a fantastic stress relief at the time. I soon got into the adrenaline (read aaahhh) of white water and participated in a few Avon Descents. Other commitments have come and gone so my time for paddling has also come and gone over the years.
I have been paddling in a sea kayak for about 7 years now. I am constantly amazed by the ocean with the variability of colours, waves, animals, rocks and reef. From calm glassy water to breaking waves that appear out of nowhere. Paddling gives a different perspective to the power and beauty of the ocean. Can’t wait to be on the water again.
I grew up in the Busselton area and loved being in the ocean surfing and diving and progressed to paddling when I moved to Perth 16 years ago, first on skis but got sick of falling off in rough seas and then discovered sea kayaks and the SKCWA.
I have been a club member 14 years and enjoyed the comradeship and learning new ocean skills. I have been on many great trips away around the state and overseas with the club and am looking forward to more.
I started sea kayaking in British Columbia in my mid-20’s largely because I couldn’t paddle a river kayak straight and absolutely hated trekking with a backpack! I was lucky enough at the time to be able to do several expeditions over many summers exploring the protected east coast of Vancouver Island. Needless to say, I fell in love with sea kayaking as the ultimate way to explore the outdoors. Despite taking a 20+ year break – not a very child-friendly sport – my enthusiasm was re-kindled with a return to BC in 2018 with my husband, followed by Scotland, Tasmania and Ningaloo. Most recently I’m thrilled to have become a member of several amazing groups of kayakers – the Swan Canoe Club, WA Sea Kayaking Club and last but not least our Wild Old Women on Water (WOWOW) group. Over the past 2 years, I have definitely felt like I don’t need to go anywhere else at all – it’s just right at my doorstep! Oh, and my favourite paddle? Always the most recent one…
I love the great outdoors and used to do a bit of flat water paddling around Albany on a sit-on-top before I saw a FaceBook post to try sea kayaking. That was just over 12 months ago.
Being so new to kayaking, the majority of my paddling has been in the Great Southern. What a beautiful place we live in. We are so fortunate to have some of the best paddling right here on our doorstep.
The experience, dedication and passion our instructors bring to the sport to help and encourage us newbies is truly inspiring. I can’t thank them enough.
I enjoy getting out on the water and hope to continue to build on the skills I’ve learnt to become a more competent paddler and see where paddling takes me.
After paddling surf-skis and sit-on-top kayaks in North Queensland for 5 years, a family move to WA 3 years ago prompted a change to sea kayaks. As much as I liked paddling the coast north of Cairns, I really enjoy paddling with SKCWA club members around the Perth coastal areas and particularly the South-West of WA. Such a contrast of scenery and wildlife, and it’s nice to experience 4 seasons.
I retired to Albany in 2015 and sold my yacht, but still wanted to engage somehow in my love of the sea. The idea of sea kayaking popped into my head and I reached out to the Albany Sea Kayak Club, even before I returned to Australia. The club was hugely supportive and I have been paddling regularly since then as well as taking up whatever training was offered. I still have many skills to develop, but the sea offers boundless opportunities and friends are always close by when I overstep the mark and need assistance. One of my favourite paddles is Emu point to Gull Rock Beach (aka Boiler Bay) – the beach always seems so peaceful and welcoming after the rebound along the Mt Martin coastline.
Rosalie Evans
I’m a PA Senior Instructor and Assessor and have paddled most of the WA and East coast as well as Tasmania. I was one of the founding members of the Sea Kayak Club and started the Paddle Fest 10 years ago. Which now makes me an old man who still loves kayaking.
Jenni Harrison has been paddling the south coast of WA for over 10 years, and following a recent 3 year exploration of the east coast and Tasmania decided it really is some of the best sea kayaking country in Australia. But don’t tell anyone. Jenni loves paddling Albany’s remote granite cliff lines which remind her of Tassie and long distance exploratory expeditions camping on isolated beaches. She is constantly getting better at ‘dancing with her kayak’ and enjoys a bouncy paddle more than anything.
I have always been a passionately keen outdoorsy girl, and started kayaking regularly when I moved to Western Australia 10 years ago. I particularly enjoy kayak expeditioning, and succeeded in my aim to lead remote kayaking trips in WA. I also enjoy passing on my kayaking skills, and have been involved in instruction both through UWA and SKCWA. I am proud to have completed an Avon Descent, and am an enthusiastic and very competitive rogainer. Professionally, I am an ecologist and conservation biologist. After many years in academia in the UK lecturing in conservation biology, my move to sunny Western Australia lead to working in the science section at Kings Park researching our native plants. I am now an independent ecological and botanical consultant, and enjoy bringing my passion for understanding wildlife to a wider audience.
While I’ve grown up in and around kayaks, it wasn’t until four years ago that I joined the Sea Kayak Club and start paddling more seriously. In 2021 I completed my Sea Instructor qualification and continue to develop my skills with both the Sea Kayak Club and the UWA Outdoor Club.
When I’m not instructing with either club, I try and get out around WA as much as possible, whether that involves sea or whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, or anything else that strikes my fancy.
Having enjoyed whitewater kayaking as a teenager, and having been a sailor for many years,I returned to kayaking nine years ago, but this time I wanted to combine kayaking with my sailing experience and sea kayaking was a great way to do this.
I have gained my PA Sea Instructor qualification and enjoy transferring sea kayaking skills to others.
I love interpreting the ocean environment, weather and geography to create exciting and enjoyable paddles. I enjoy multi day trips and have done some along the south coast, Shark Bay and paddled Bass Strait in 2020.
I enjoy tinkering with kayaks, both building and modifying. Adapting them to ensure I get the most out of them in the ocean environment.
Did a bit of kayaking in my home built PBK when I was a scout in NZ. After arriving in WA got involved with Scouts again and was in the Scout Paddling Team teaching canoe skills. We were donated some Sea Kayaks so took the opportunity to develop my Sea Kayaking skills and then introduced Sea Kayaking to WA Scouts. Now that I have my Sea Kayak instructors award I am able to help other paddlers in the Scouts and Sea Kayak club to improve their skills.
The 2020 Sea Kayak Festival organisers are Sea Kayak Club WA’s, Steve Haddon, Tony Beswick, Les Allen, Steve Foreman, Jenni Harrison, and Nerissa Worwood, along with Paddle WA’s, Rosalie Evans. You can contact them via email – fest@seakayakwa.asn.au and develop@paddlewa.asn.au.
I am so lucky. I started paddling about 25 years ago at Swan Canoe Club. I was instantly hooked even with the frustration of trying to paddle in a straight line in a slalom boat. Paddling was totally absorbing and was a fantastic stress relief at the time. I soon got into the adrenaline (read aaahhh) of white water and participated in a few Avon Descents. Other commitments have come and gone so my time for paddling has also come and gone over the years.
I have been paddling in a sea kayak for a few years now. I am constantly amazed by the ocean with the variability of colours, waves, animals, rocks and reef. From calm glassy water to breaking waves that appear out of nowhere. Paddling gives a different perspective to the power and beauty of the ocean. Can’t wait to be on the water again.
Tony recently retired to do more kayaking and mountain bike riding. He mainly paddles and rolls a Greenland kayak with his mates around Hillarys. He is currently attempting to qualify as a Sea Leader. He delights in riding big swells and a month-long paddling expedition in Antarctica has been the highlight of his short kayaking career.
I’m a PA Senior Instructor and Assessor and have paddled most of the WA and East coast as well as Tasmania. I was one of the founding members of the Sea Kayak Club and started the Paddle Fest 10 years ago. Which now makes me an old man who still loves kayaking.
I have been sea kayaking since 2012 and became an instructor in2016. Since then I’ve spent the last three years paddling the best bits of Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. I’m now back in Denmark and loving paddling what I have realised is the best sea kayaking coastline in Australia. I look forward to sharing my skill and experience, especially with women, and look forward to the day when I am not the only female in the Albany Sea Kayak Club.
Nerissa Worwood fell in love with kayaking at an early age, paddling down the Snowy River as a four-year-old on family camping trips. After having lived (and paddled) in Tasmania, QLD, NT and NSW, she moved with her family to Perth in 2016, where she is actively involved with her kid’s Sea Scouts Group. Prior to moving to WA and joining the SKCWA, she was a member of the NSW Sea Kayak Club where she gained her Sea Skills. Nerissa is looking forward to the diversity and beautiful scenery of Albany as well as meeting new paddlers.
Rosalie Evans
I have always had a passion for paddling even as a boy. Making canoes out of corrugated iron with my mates.
In 1972 I joined the Swan Canoe club and competed in the 1972 Australian Slalom Championships in Cowra, N.S.W.
In 2006 I became a member of the Sea Kayak Club and in that time have acquired my Sea Skills and Training certificates.
One of the greatest passions is helping and teaching new paddlers skills and promoting the sport in any way I can.
My name is Colin Priest. I’ve always loved the outdoors and travelling to remote places. I got into paddling about 30 years ago and enjoyed exploring our rivers by canoe and kayak. I joined Swan Canoe Club in 1993 where I was introduced to kayak slalom and spent many weekends kayaking at the Harvey whitewater slalom course. In 1994 I became a flatwater instructor and in 1996 a whitewater instructor and slalom coach. I started sea kayaking about 20 years ago and in 2004 became a sea kayaking instructor and a Paddle Australia assessor. in 2012 I completed the Cert IV in Training and Assessment. I enjoy passing on my kayaking skills and introducing people to the joys of kayaking. I have been instructing and leading kayaking trips with Swan Canoe Club for over 20 years, training and assessing club members for Paddle Australia awards since 2004. In 2015 I was awarded life membership of Swan Canoe Club.
My favourite part of sea kayaking is going out on multi-day trips in remote areas, which I have done here in WA, interstate and overseas. In 2017 after retiring from my day job I joined the Sea Kayak Club WA, with the aim of getting involved with more sea kayaking activities.
Les Allen is on the organising committee as well as a speaker.
Read about Les above and in the Speaker’s section.
Jenni is on the organising committee above. You can read about her there.
I have paddled for 20 years and have enjoyed extending myself in the past but now I’m enjoying paddling to see marine and bird life in different places in Australia and overseas. I also enjoy teaching beginners Greenland rolling. I had the pleasure of being the President of the Sea Kayak Club WA for 10 years.
I have always been a passionately keen outdoorsy girl, and started kayaking regularly when I moved to Western Australia 10 years ago. I particularly enjoy kayak expeditioning, and succeeded in my aim to lead remote kayaking trips in WA. I also enjoy passing on my kayaking skills, and have been involved in instruction both through UWA and SKCWA. I am proud to have completed an Avon Descent, and am an enthusiastic and very competitive rogainer. Professionally, I am an ecologist and conservation biologist. After many years in academia in the
UK lecturing in conservation biology, my move to sunny Western Australia lead to working in the science section at Kings Park researching our native plants. I am now an independent ecological and botanical consultant, and enjoy bringing my passion for understanding wildlife to a wider audience.
I‘ve always been into watersports of any kind – fishing, surfing, windsurfing, power boating/skiing, sailing and scuba diving to name a few. I started paddling about 8 years ago for a bit of fun and quickly found that it helped my core strength and improved my dodgy back – it also scratched my itch for adventure.
I’m a sea leader, and an AC instructor. I’m grateful to be involved in the sea kayaking community because it is full of fantastic people.
I find the power of the ocean, wind and waves exhilarating and love nothing more than battling the elements in a storm!
We very much encourage car pooling for travelling to and from the event. The best way to do this is to post a message on our Facebook page to make contact with fellow paddlers.
Yes, Non-paddlers e.g. family members can attend the event. Please refer to the Registration page for details.
Please see the details on the Registration page of what is and what is not included in the entry fee.
If you need to cancel your registration, you must let the event organisers know in writing. Please email us at develop@paddlewa.asn.au
Entry fee will be refunded for cancellations less an administration fee ($50) for cancellations before 30th February 2022. Thereafter no refunds shall be provided.
The Sea Kayak Fest will include activities and paddles to suit all levels of paddlers from the advanced paddler to the beginner paddler.
There will also be a wide range on land activities as well as on water activities for all levels of participants.
Beginner – you are learning to paddle your kayak more efficiently and developing skills in self and buddy rescues. You usually paddle in calm conditions and areas with low swell or are developing skills to paddle in the ocean conditions.
Intro to Sea Skills – you can paddle your kayak efficiently, competently participate in self and buddy rescues, launch and land in surf to 0.5m. You can paddle in conditions up to 17knots including areas of exposed coastline and up to 2NM offshore. You may not yet have a reliable eskimo roll.
Sea Skills – you have a reliable eskimo roll, can do a re-enter and roll, are able to execute a self-rescue, rescue others if required and execute towing systems. You are confident in surf to 1m, fresh conditions to 21knots and paddling on exposed sections of coastline including launching and landing in surf.
Friday evening is planned as communal BBQ (BYO food and drinks) Please bring a salad/dessert/something to share.
Saturday evening is a spit roast and is included in your registration fee. Please advise dietary requirements at registration. Vegetarians will be catered for.
Sunday evening will be self-catered.
Breakfasts and lunches are self-catered. Kitchen area includes fridges and cooking facilities for meal preparation.
If you require any food or drink other than what we are providing on Saturday, then you will need to bring it – or there is supermarkets nearby if you need to buy additional snacks etc. as well as restaurants and take away options within short drive from the campsite.
Please note this is smoke free event.
We suggest your gear list should include (but not be limited to):
Please refer to the WA Transport link with regards to safety equipment requirements. https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC-B-PaddleSafe.pdf
Participants must have a sit-in kayak (sea kayak) with a spray deck to participate in group paddles as part of the Sea Kayak Fest. The kayak must have deck lines around the perimeter of the kayak.
It is possible to hire a kayak from Rivergods in Perth. There are also other tour operators who may hire a kayak to experienced paddlers e.g. Capricorn Sea Kayaking. Please contact us if you are having trouble sourcing a boat.
Check out the local websites:
We very much encourage car pooling for travelling to and from the event. The best way to do this is to post a message on our Facebook page to make contact with fellow paddlers.
Yes, Non-paddlers e.g. family members can attend the event. Please refer to the Registration page for details.
Please see the details on the Registration page of what is and what is not included in the entry fee.
If you need to cancel your registration, you must let the event organisers know in writing. Please email us at develop@paddlewa.asn.au
Entry fee will be refunded for cancellations less an administration fee ($50) for cancellations before 30th January 2021. Thereafter no refunds shall be provided.
The Sea Kayak Fest will include activities and paddles to suit all levels of paddlers from the advanced paddler to the beginner paddler.
There will also be a wide range on land activities as well as on water activities for all levels of participants.
Beginner – you are learning to paddle your kayak more efficiently and developing skills in self and buddy rescues. You usually paddle in calm conditions and areas with low swell or are developing skills to paddle in the ocean conditions.
Intro to Sea Skills – you can paddle your kayak efficiently, competently participate in self and buddy rescues, launch and land in surf to 0.5m. You can paddle in conditions up to 17knots including areas of exposed coastline and up to 2NM offshore. You may not yet have a reliable eskimo roll.
Sea Skills – you have a reliable eskimo roll, can do a re-enter and roll, are able to execute a self-rescue, rescue others if required and execute towing systems. You are confident in surf to 1m, fresh conditions to 21knots and paddling on exposed sections of coastline including launching and landing in surf.
Friday evening is planned as communal BBQ (BYO food and drinks) Please bring a salad/dessert/something to share.
Saturday evening is gourmet burgers and is included in your registration fee. Please advise dietary requirements at registration. Vegetarians will be catered for.
Sunday evening will be self-catered.
Breakfasts and lunches are self-catered. Kitchen area includes fridges and cooking facilities for meal preparation.
If you require any food or drink other than what we are providing on Saturday, then you will need to bring it – or there is supermarkets nearby if you need to buy additional snacks etc. as well as restaurants and take away options within short drive from the campsite.
Please note this is smoke free event.
We suggest your gear list should include (but not be limited to):
Please refer to the WA Transport link with regards to safety equipment requirements. https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC-B-PaddleSafe.pdf
Participants must have a sit-in kayak (sea kayak) with a spray deck to participate in group paddles as part of the Sea Kayak Fest.
It is possible to hire a kayak from Rivergods in Perth. There are also other tour operators who may hire a kayak to experienced paddlers e.g. Capricorn Sea Kayaking. Please contact us if you are having trouble sourcing a boat.
Check out the local tourist websites:
https://www.australia.com/en/places/perth-and-surrounds/guide-to-albany.html
https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/Destination/Albany/56b266bb2cbcbe7073ae06bd#/
https://www.australiassouthwest.com/business/services/albany-visitor-centre
The ‘Sea Kayak Fest 2022’ will be located in Busselton, WA between Friday March 25 – Monday March 28th. The location for the event is Camp Grace, 220 Caves Road, Siesta Park. Busselton and the surrounds is a wonderful location offering paddles of all adventure levels, from the calm waters Geographe Bay to more challenging paddles off the coast.
Experienced sea leaders are there to support each trip. Qualified instructors will be available to help you learn new skills and experience the wonderful world of sea kayaking
A range of presenters (depending on Covid travel restrictions) will talk on their kayaking adventures. The Fest is a great way to be immersed in all things sea kayaking.
Have a look at the organising team.
If you need more information now, email fest@seakayakwa.asn.au.
The cost for the event this year is $150.
Registrations close 13th March 2022 – Register here (via Paddle Australia. You can login using your membership username and password). Note: if you are not a member of a Paddle Australia affiliated club and do not have a JustGo logon you will need to create a new profile. Just follow the directions at https://paddleaustralia.justgo.com.
The Sea Kayak Fest will comply with current Government requirements for the management of COVID 19. If in the unfortunate event that the organising committee cancels the event due to COVID 19 restrictions registered participants will receive a full refund.
Albany Youth Camp – https://www.albanyportrotary.com/youth/
Bookings are now open for the 2025 Sea Kayak Fest at Albany during the ANZAC Day long weekend at the end of April.
Bookings can be made via the Paddle Australia Membership & Events Portal (JustGo).
https://paddleaustralia.
Login using your email address or Paddle Australia member ID (NOT the Paddle Education number) and password.
At top left of screen select EVENTS & COURSES.
https://paddleaustralia.
If you are a SKCWA member scroll down the screen a little and you should see My Club Events and Activities and the entry to 2025 WA Sea Kayak Fest
If you are not a SKCWA member you will need to search for 2025 WA Sea Kayak Fest
Find Tickets is at the upper right side of your screen.
This BYO event offers daily relaxing to challenging paddles. Socialising is also a prime focus of the festival in encouraging you meeting new people and reliving the memories of past paddles.
There are three paddling events each day and sea kayaking workshops on offer.
Not a Sea Kayak Club member? Your temporary membership of Paddle Australia on registration means that you are insured. Insurance details are on the Paddle Australia website.
What to bring to the camp is available at https://seakayakwa.asn.au/what-we-do/
There are private providers that offer sea kayak and equipment hire in Perth.
The camp address is 913 Frenchman Bay Road, Big Grove, Albany. Camp opens Friday 25th April at 2:00pm and closes Monday April 28th at 10:00am.
Tenting areas are spread throughout the campsite and there are gender dormitories. The kitchen/dining area is large and contains a refrigerator, a deep freeze, and gas hot water. There are gas barbecues.
We have the Albany Shantymen entertaining us on Saturday evening, at no cost to Festival participants. Also, a marine archeologist talking about Albany environs on the Friday evening.
Your Saturday dinner is included.
Regards from the Fest Committee