Portsmouth and District Canoe Club is a British Canoe Union affiliated club.
Being based in Portsmouth, HANTS. England, with ready access to the open sea, P&DCC is primarily a sea-kayaking club. Members can enjoy trips of all standards in the company of some very experienced fellow canoeists. Evening, day and weekend trips are organised regularly throughout the year for canoeists of all abilities. Locally trips include the Solent, within Portsmouth, Langstone and Chichester Harbours, inlet areas of Southampton Water and many other areas along the south coast. Longer events in the programme have included circumnavigating the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth to Swanage and back, and out to the Nab Tower. There have also been kayak camping weeekends organised for those interested in places such as Scotland, North Wales or closer to home. Individuals have organised trips to the Isles of Lundy, Mull, Eigg, Muck and Rhum, although not necessarily all in the same trip. On the doorstep are such sites as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior plus the Mary Rose.
Although primarily a sea kayaking orientated club, (subject to demand) trips are planned annually to paddle rivers in the South West, North East and the Thames Weirs. Key events attended by members include the Exe and Liffey Descents. The River Wye and Pembrokeshire have often been a May Bank Holiday pilgrimage for many years.
When suitable conditions exist some people prefer to take part in surfing. Day events can be scheduled for people to practice and develop their skills locally and on weekend trips to Devon. These are slightly more difficult due to the need for the correct weather on the day.
Day and week-end trips are included in the annual programme on stretches of flat water. These can be very popular and particularly suited to beginners and family groups. 'Local' venues include the Kennet & Avon, and Basingstoke Canals. Even the Caledonian Canal has seen many P&DCC members enjoying the conditions. It must be noted that this has usually been more sea conditions than flat! BCU members benefit that most British Waterways Water and the River Thames is available to them free!!!
The club runs evening trips on a midweek evening throughout the summer (usually Wednesday) in the Portsmouth area. Also through the year most Sundays have trips of varying lengths for all abilities, many in the Solent and sometimes further afield. These are interspersed with week-end and occasional week long trips to other parts of the UK (from Dorset to Northumberland) and abroad.
The club welcomes new paddlers of all ages, from 13 upwards (under 13 must be accompanied by a parent). Beginners and more experienced paddlers can be catered for in the program.
Although the club owns a small number of kayaks for general use, most club members have their own boats and equipment. Advice is available to those new to the sport who are thinking about buying a kayak or canoe and any other canoeing equipment.
The safety of its members is paramount to the club and trips are planned and organised by experienced canoeists, many of whom are BCU Qualified Instructors. The club does however operate on an informal basis and canoeists joining the trips are expected to consider their own safety as well as other members of the group.
P&DCC has the use of an outdoor swimming pool throughout the summer and, subject to demand, P&DCC also have the use of a heated, indoor swimming pool in the winter months. Here members can practice and improve their paddling skills and rolling techniques.
Training in general kayaking skills is available both informally during the regular club events or by request on a more formal basis towards the BCU star test and coaching awards. Off water training includes instruction in First-Aid, Navigation, Weather and Safety On the Water.
There is a membership fee for each calendar year. This is so small that it would not even buy a round of drinks in a pub after a paddle so we do not have a club hut. This also means that we can go anywhere we wish to paddle, instead of having to make repairs to a building. We keep in touch by a newsletter produced every two months by a member of the informal committee. Many members have done this over the years and all comments are gratefully received. "HTML Text only" versions of recent newsletters can be accessed close by.