About us

The club web site has moved to www.neviscanoeclub.co.uk as from 5th January 2020

Welcome to Nevis Canoe Club

We are Fort William based, with around 70 members of all ages and abilities. As long as you are happy to get wet then you are more than welcome to come and join us.

During the summer we have weekly sea kayak trips every Tuesday evening and river trips on Thursday evenings. At weekends about once per month we have longer meets. The club is also used as a forum to meet other keen paddlers who just want to get out whenever and wherever.
We have a few kayaks and various other bits of paddling kit for new members to use.
During March when it is too cold to paddle we have pool sessions to keep the skills up.
If you have any enquiries please get in touch.

Look forward to seeing you on the water,
Colin McCormick
Club Chairman
e-mail neviscc@hotmail.co.uk
facebook/neviscc

History
Nevis Canoe Club has existed for well over 30 years. As with many clubs interests have varied. Over time it has been a small group of white water enthusiasts, then with a strong junior group led by a group of enthusiastic teachers. There was even a dip into water polo. Then through to its current incarnation of being a more or less organised group of mainly sea kayakers. We are affiliated to the Scottish Canoe Association. Over the last few years our main activities have been short evening trips and occasional day or weekend trips. We have also developed an interesting side line in supporting a charity Highland Open Water Swims, acting as safety cover for swimmers crossing various lochs.

Information for new members

Welcome: - Thank you if you have just joined or are thinking of joining Nevis Canoe Club your support is much appreciated. If you have just completed our introduction course run at Locheil Outward Bound you may be wondering "What next". This is just a short note to explain the basic facts about the club and to list the benefits of being a member.

Committee: - We have a small committee Colin McCormick (chairman), Russell Leaper (treasurer), Colin Ungoed-Thomas (membership), Paul Biggin (secretary, and Tues eve sea kayak organiser) Chris Stitt, Lyndsay Barr, Tracey Jeffrey (child protection officer), Ian MacLeod (day and weekend sea kayak trips) Bridgett Thomas is the active schools organiser and helps with advice. You can contact any of the committee by email to neviscc@hotmail.co.uk

Pool Sessions; We usually organise a few pool sessions during March at the Fort William Liesure Centre. Sessions are open to members only - Membership is only £15. Sessions cost the club £135 and are subsidised by the club we also employ an instuctor. The sessions are aimed at basic techniques and self rescue. Doing flips and wild gyrations will not be possible if we get, as we hope, a maximum of 10 boats on the water including one sea kayak. As far as possible we should use kayaks from the club shed. Members can bring their own boats but they must be clean (the boats as well!) and they must share their use with others in the pool.

Trips: - On our Blogspot you can see various information including the programme. Tuesday evening paddles are local (within an hour's drive of Fort William) with a couple of hours on the water. Day and longer trips are organised roughly once per month. Each trip has a named contact who will send out to all members details of the trip a few days before. Anyone wishing to join can then get in touch to say you are coming or to discuss any problems. We try to grade the trips, some are easy and in sheltered waters, others more challenging, especially if the weather gets a bit wild. It is up to you if you want to do a trip, advice is free. Backing out if you are not happy is just plain common sense. White water trips are more difficult to organise. There is plenty going on but you need to ask.

Kit: - For a £15 joining fee what do you expect? The club does have a limited amount of kit which can be used by beginners but our advice is that as soon as you have got the bug buy your own. That way it fits, and you know where it is. Use the club's kit to try different boats. We have 2 sea kayaks, one held by Paul B, one by Colin M. Each boat has a paddle, buoyancy aid and spray deck. The buoyancy aids and decks will fit the average person but not everyone. We have quite a few river boats suitable for beginners. They are kept in our shed next to the leisure centre and can be used in easy grade rivers or for pool sessions. Contact Colin or Email for the key. We also have some safety kit, a radio, a PLB (personal location beacon), emergency shelters.

Other benefits: - Subscriptions (£15 Adult, £5 Junior, £25 Family, a £5 reduction for SCA members) run from Jan 1st but for anyone joining in October membership will run through the following year. Most of our money goes on training, your support means the club can bid for grants and other benefits. Subsidised pool sessions ( Feb / March), Beginners Sessions in May, discounts at local stores (Oban Kayaks 10% except boats, Ellis Brigham - 10 %, -Nevis Sport - 15%, Field and Trek - 10%, Costwold - 10 - 15%.), and Scottish Canoe Association
affiliation and not forgetting a great bunch of people. And all for just £15 annual sub!!!!! 

Juniors: - Unfortunately juniors can't go on the various trips and pool sessions we organise unless they are accompanied on the water by a responsible adult. Ideally each trip should be accompanied by an adult with suitable qualifications but we have too few members with the necessary qualifications. We are trying to form a junior section. If you are interested in helping then get in touch.

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