Chilling out with Atlantic Sea Kayaking in Roaringwater Bay, Cork

As part of the Sea Road series in the Irish Times, Gary Quinn joined Jim Kennedy of Atlantic Sea Kayaking in Baltimore for a tour of the ominously named 'Roaring Water Bay'. Needless to say Gary could not have picked a more qualified guide and is quickly enamoured by the raw beauty of the Baltimore coastline...

'There’s lots here to entertain us. Sherkin is a huge attraction, with its deep caves and fingers of rock casting themselves out beneath us into the sea, but the many other islands also create their own excitement. Heading for Heir Island we are cosseted from the wind and wrapped up in that mysterious calmness again. A wooden boat under scarlet sail, manned by local teenagers, coasts past. Seals dip and turn in the water nearby and even the donkeys tethered on Spanish Island seem chilled out.

Jim Kennedy has been introducing people to all this for 16 years. He’s the only level-five sea coach in the country and was the first sea kayak trainer to set up professionally in Ireland. He also specialises in the training of efficient kayak techniques, a skill that has given him an international reputation. He spots my paddling errors at a glance and as we travel he offers some great coaching tips.'

Read the full article in the Irish Times