Day 5 – The final day, we was woken by an eager Ben preparing the morning coffee and getting ready to hit the water. We could all feel how close the finish line was and were happy to pack away, get on the canal and start paddling. – It was an extremely cold but clear morning and once out of the tent we were greeted by frozen gloves and icy boards. The last section of canal was a breeze and as we entered Inverness we knew we didnât have far to push. As we neared the end of a long bend suddenly it came into sight, the kessock bridge. Only two things now stood in our way, a 750m portage into the canal harbour and then the transfer back into the sea from the canal. The latter of the two proved to be a nightmare, scrambling across train tracks, along headlands and down rocky sidings with all of our gear into the moray firth and straight into a shallow bay filled with thick tidal mud that began to pull you down as soon as you stepped into it. – We battled through, cleared the shallow section and got ourselves back out into the deeper waters in the centre of the firth and as we neared the bridge, the seals popped up to check us out, curious about our boards. We paddled under the finish line at around midday and landed at the lifeboat station to enjoy the views and allow what we had just done to sink in. A successful coast to coast crossing of Scotland on SUP boards complete and doing so we had raised funds to help young people across the UK at a difficult time of year. A job well done, it was time to pack up and head home for Christmas.
Day 4 – Loch Ness and a day in which I honestly struggled to take photos. Taking the time to pull the camera out of a million dry bags to get frames on this day just wasn’t an option, we had to much distance to cover and sadly but understandably that took priority over photography. – Another early start saw us launch out into the void of loch Ness in the pitch black, with only the sound of Sams phone playing UB40 to break the eerie silence. It was calm, the skies were clear and it was absolutely beautiful. The initial section of Ness was a dream, paddling in calm conditions with only head torches illuminating the surface of the black water. Cruising along, it was hard not to think about all the tales this vast stretch of water creates and wonder what was lurking in the depths right beneath our boards. –Â As we approached the half way mark, the swell began to increase and the wind rocketed to gusts of 30mph. Taking time to rest was key here and every so often we would raft up, get the kite in the air and let that do the work whilst we had a brew and warmed up again. The temperatures were numbing and it was easy to start going man down if we neglected our rest routine. – As the end of the Loch came into sight we were riding monster waves and we went form paddle boarding to surfing for the last few km’s, it was exhilarating. We cruised through the final section of Loch Dochfour and into our camp just as the light faded, all of us in high spirits and stoked that we had just completed loch Ness in one day, a huge achievement for us as we had allocated a day and a half the night before. – A few whiskeys later we were tucked up in our sleeping bags, watching our wet gear slowly freeze on the fence as the temperatures plummeted. Tomorrow morning was going to be emotional. Here’s a shot of Ben’s beautiful face, this pretty much sums up our reaction when we hit the beasty swell half way down nessie
Day 3 – Portage, It seems fitting to try and explain the difficulties and admin we had to go through off the water as well as on throughout the journey and a good chunk of this expedition was spent moving our boards and equipment around Lock gates on the canals. Called a âportageâ it just so happens that this day was the most demanding for the difficulties we faced off the water. – Imagine it. Itâs raining, freezing cold and for the last 2 hours youâve been using your arms and putting pressure through your legs to allow yourself to paddle efficiently down a choppy Loch, your fingers are cold, you can barley feel your feet and your body is aching everywhere but all of a sudden, your faced with a 700m long series of Lock gates. What do you do? Jump off and walk around right? Well on a touring SUP board loaded down with gear, thatâs not quite as easy as it sounds. – Individually we were each carrying around 60lbs of gear that included everything we needed to live from our boards. Combined, thatâs over 180lbs of gear that we had to unload from the boards, haul up a slippery bank, carry 700m, return for the boards, carry another 700m, reload the boards and then lower carefully back into the water down another slippery bank. I cannot explain how absolutely exhausting that is to do and on this particular day, we had to do it 5 times along with 15 miles of strenuous paddling. – Portaging became an absolute nightmare for us, it would use up valuable time, daylight that we couldnât really afford to lose and it was breaking us as well as taking its toll on our boards. Sam had badly cracked his toe and toenail and pulling the boards out through reeds, thorns and onto old pontoons was a puncture waiting to happen, not to mention the massive strain we put on the fins every time the heavily loaded rear accidentally touched the ground. Luckily Hatha have made a super strong board here and it stood up to the abuse we had to put them through on a frequent basis. – Once through all of the portages and the stretches of Loch Ceann and Loch Oich we finally made it to Fort Augustus, where the canal opened up into the daunting expanse of Loch Ness. Tomorrowâs challenge.
Day 2 – We woke at 3am to the sounds of howling wind and rain rattling our hotel room window and Once ready, jumped in the van and headed down to Corran ferry. We struggled against the wind to get our gear down onto the beach and as we loaded our dry bags on the boards and strapped them down, the unpredictable Scottish weather worsened and brutal hail started driving into us as we stood on the exposed shoreline. It almost felt like a sign, a final âare you sure you want to do this?â – Seemingly undeterred, we climbed on our boards and headed out into the blackness of Loch Linnhe. We immediately realised just how big the swells were but almost ironically the waves that were causing us problems were also pushing us along from the rear, helping us down the vast expanse of water in front of us. The entire journey was tiring and disorientating, with zero visibility we dropped down sizeable swells and struggled to stay together as the wind pushed us in different directions, a dim glow stick and head torches that disappeared now and then our only way of tracking each other in the pitch black. – The lights of Fort William were a welcome sight and as we paddled along, a fishing boat stopped to ask us if we were okay. The crew looked slightly confused when we explained we were fine and continued paddling and looking back now, I can see why. We pulled up on the shoreline at Caol soaked through and once we had reached the safety of the canal, finally began to enjoy our surroundings in the dim morning light. – We pushed past Ben Nevis and once on Loch Lochy, were greeted by the ever changing weather once again. A strong paddle down the Loch in the driving rain saw us arrive at our campsite in considerably calmer conditions were we made an open wooden hut our home for the night and after shovelling down some food, enjoyed the warmth of our sleeping bags and got ourselves ready for the next day.
Day 1 – We arrived in fort William with a day to spare for a reason, prep time. We were well aware that we needed a chance to go over our gear one last time and also prepare the boards as well as our heads for the journey that lay in front of us, rushing this just wasnât an option. Having some spare time to check out our first landings was also a huge advantage as we knew these would be in the pitch black bays of Loch Linnhe and navigating the shoreline at Caol would be more then difficult with zero visibility. – – As the day drew onward the nerves began to creep in and we were all feeling apprehensive about what lay ahead. Every spare moment was spent looking out to the lochs and checking the weather forecasts and tide times. During the afternoon it became apparent that the conditions were worsening and we could see the evidence of this from the hotel window, the clouds began to form out at sea and roll toward land and the wind slowly crept upward until the water was filled with white caps and the hail started lashing down. We always knew that this was a real possibility. During the winter, conditions were never going to be on our side but I think in our heads we were all praying for calm waters on launch morning, however no such luck. – – We spent the evening preparing the boards and then headed out to Corran ferry for one last check of the launch point. When we arrived the rain was relentless and looking out into the darkness of loch Linnhe was slightly intimidating. We were all well aware that in a few hours we would be launching from that spot into the abyss like blackness of the night to catch the incoming tide and the weather was showing no signs of letting up. Accepting the inevitable, we headed back to the hotel and tried to grab a few hours sleep before the chaos began and the journey finally got underway.
On the 21st December 2020 they challenged themselves to addle Board the entire width of the Scottish mainland, unsupported, via the Caledonian canal. This is from Corran in the West to Inverness in the East. They will follow the glen for 70 miles passing through Loch Eil, Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and then finally the last 23 miles across Loch Ness to the finish at Kessock Bridge.  This is where they will once again meet the sea at the mouth of the Moray Firth 4 days later on the 24th December, Christmas eve. They will be completely self sufficient throughout the journey receiving no assistance and carrying everything we need for the duration on the boards with them.
They are doing this to raise money for disadvantaged children in the UK at Christmas time. The festive period can be an extremely difficult time for a large number of young people throughout the country who may be living in poverty, without family or find themselves the victims of violence. For these children, Christmas can be lonely, upsetting and not very magical at all.
They want to help raise funds that will go toward making the festive season a happier time in these children’s lives and any donation you can spare would be greatly appreciate, but more importantly by the young people around the UK who desperately need it.
On behalf of the team, Esland care and Action for children they would like to thank you for your support and donations.
You are helping to change lives.
Although this challenge has now been completed you can still give to their charity by following the link â
Hatha has been providing outdoor centres, schools, scout groups and hire centres with boards and equipment since 2013. No matter how big or small, if you need some boards please get in contact with us. If you are an individual wanting our support then we may be able to help! Numbers â We are happy to quote from 1+ boards, so if you a private paddleboard coach that takes a limited number of people on the water please donât feel that you are too small to qualify for our Trade prices, we want to get everyone the best deals possible to get you and your customers out on the water.
We regularly supply larger orders to Outdoor Pursuits centres, Lakes and reservoir trusts, land based Scout groups and also Sea Scout troops. There has been a large increase of surf schools also buying fleets of SUPâs for when the surf is flat. Itâs having another option for when there isnât a wave, keeps your customer rather than postponing or cancelling bookings.
In the past 2 years we have seen a massive increase in private instruction, there has been a boom in individuals wanted to get qualified and begin teaching paddle boarding. There are a few courses now available. The main two providers are the British Stand Up Paddle boarding Association and the Academy of Surfing. Here is some more information on the two main providers –
BSUPA Level 1 Ready to Ride
The BSUPA Level 1 âReady to Rideâ course is aimed at adults who have never stand up paddled before or people who have had a go but want to learn the basics properly.
Learning to paddleboard is a fast and fun process with a qualified BSUPA Instructor and BSUPA approved SUP school. The course structure is designed to give you the information you need to get on the water safely, have fun and learn the basic techniques of paddle boarding.
BSUPA Level 2 Ready to Tour Teaching Scheme
The Aim of this course is to introduce people to the enjoyment of touring and exploring but offer more than an experience. Having completed this course students should feel that they are ready to plan their own adventures and have new skills to improve their time on the water.
The course is âskill and knowledge focussedâ aiming to give students a safe way of getting more time on the water.
By the end of this course paddlers should be able to
Understand the different locations to paddle and their restrictions, challenges
Have knowledge of different touring disciplines and how to get involved
Be able to select the best touring equipment for themselves
Can demonstrate an improved efficient paddle stroke
Can use a variety of strokes to maintain tracking and manoeuvrability on the water.
Can navigate obstacles and third parties afloat taking into account, flow, weather and any other elements.
Have knowledge of how to plan a trip taking into account weather, flow, tide, access, 3rd parties, exit options,
Have understanding of personal gear you might take with you when touring. Have planned completed and experienced a tour.
The Academy of Surfing
Level 1 SUP Instructor (Enclosed Flat Water)
This is the entry level course for SUP instructors where you provide basic SUP lessons, short SUP paddle tours and SUP rentals in enclosed flat water locations. It covers basic instruction techniques, equipment and operations, planning and conducting SUP sessions, risk management and safely managing groups of students.
BONUS: A personal SUP Paddling Video Assessment with review is included in the workshop course, so you can assess your own paddling technique.
Plan and conduct basic stand up paddle sessions, short SUP paddle tours and SUP rentals and manage clients safely in enclosed flat water locations.
Locations:
Enclosed Flat Water locations are defined as:
inland waterways and bodies of water including creeks, rivers, lakes, lagoons, estuaries, canals
no wider than 1 km (0.6 miles)
with no swell or breaking waves
wind speed less than 12 knots
water depth no less than 3ft
free from hazards
no more than 250 metres from shore
Career Outcomes:
Stand Up Paddle Instructor in the SUP or outdoor recreation industry.
Industry job roles that require SUP knowledge (e.g. marketing, sales, retail)
Topics Covered:
The role of the SUP instructor
Identify laws and regulations that apply to conducting SUP lessons
Identify enclosed flat water SUP lesson/activity risks and hazards
Emergency processes and response
Logistics and how to plan enclosed flat water SUP sessions
Suitable boards, equipment and resources
Communication skills for the SUP environment
Methods to manage clients safely
Deliver basic SUP lessons and SUP activities
Understand correct paddling technique including the 5 phases of the paddle stroke
Identify correct and incorrect technique using ASI assessment competency guide
Use video analysis to assess your own paddling ability
Evaluate your own SUP sessions Â
Minimise environmental impacts (social & natural)
Entry Requirements:
Before starting this course, you must:
Have completed a minimum of 40 hours on water paddling
Paddle with basic paddling technique, confidence and safety in enclosed flat water locations and demonstrate: paddle with the board in trim / change hands correctly / basic posture with back straight and eyes looking ahead / correct reach / paddle vertical at entry / feathering paddle at exit / paddle in a straight line / turn and stop effectively
English speaking skills equivalent to IELTS 6 (Competent user: Generally you have an effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriate usage and misunderstandings. You can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.)
So when is it best to place your order?
It all depends on when you want to start. In the UK the outdoor centres start preparing and getting their equipment ready in February in anticipation to starting lessons in March. Private hires and private tuition is usually a little later in the season. Some centres and locations are teaching all year round.
Itâs best to place your order with us as early as possible, if we know what you want and in what quantities we can assure that we will have it ready and waiting to be shipped out in time. We place our factory orders for the year in November- December time; this ensures we will have the stock with us at the warehouse at the end of February. Itâs best for us if we know as early as possible. We do hold a large amount of stock but knowing in advance would eliminate running out of stock.
Costs â We donât have a set trade price. It really does depend on quantities and which boards that you require and when you need them. More often than not the more boards you buy the better discount we can offer. Another factor that we can discuss is collaboration, so exchanging social posts working with us as a form of ambassador. Again this would be open to discussion and negotiation, we are always open to suggestions.
These are some of the groups, companies and indivduals that we have supplied in the past â
Colleges
Student union groups
Beach hire
Swimming pools
University groups
Scout groups
Sea Scout Groups
Outdoor centres
Shops and retail
Private Coaches and Instructors
Individual groups such as team padding for charity or an event
Individuals padding for charity or for other reasons
Schools and students
This list is to give you a guide, if youâre not sure or would like more advice on trade prices or collaborations then please drop us an email at dan@hathaboards.co.uk or call 07739564702
There are two main types of wetsuits, open cell and closed cell, which one will I need?
The closed cell wetsuit has been designed for surfing and most on the water sports. Itâs a âhydrdynamicâ style suit. These usually have a chest or back zipped. Itâs the same construction as you would also find in a triathlon or swimming wetsuit. A closed cell wetsuit would allow too much water in for diving; it will make you cold a lot quicker.
For diving an open celled wetsuit is best. This provides suction between the skin and suit that’s nearly watertight. While they are a difficult to get in and out of (If you use a little eco-friendly dish soap and it will be much easier), they keep you much warmer and allow for much greater flexibility underwater.
Wetsuit design is always progressing, mainly the zipper positions and also adding more flex to the neoprene. Gul wetsuits use a technology called X-Flex, Ripcurl use 100% Superstretch neoprene or Flex energy in some of their newer suits. Xcel use Channel Flex. They are all very similar and do the same thing, make your suit stretchy.
What kind of zip should I get? There are 3 main versions, back-zip, Chest-zip and Zipper less.
Back-zip – Back-zip wetsuits were the fist on the market and are almost always the cheaper option of the three. They’re great for swimming/surfing in warmer waters on summer or late spring, but they are not the best option in colder waters. The main disadvantage is that they let in too much water in through the zip.
Chest-zip suit – Chest-zip wetsuits tend to keep you warmer as the zip is smaller so less space to let the water in. There is usually an inner layer, sometimes with a section that doubles around the neck for extra warmth. They can sometimes be harder to get on and off but the advance of Flex suits helps to make this much easier.
Zipperless Suits â Brands such as Oâneill with their Hyperfreak models boast suits without zippers, theyâre great as they minimalism the joins, which equates to less leaks. These are the most expensive suit out of the 3 and can sometimes be really tricky to get on and off.
Now youâve chosen your suit, what thickness will you need?
Wetsuit thickness is measured in millimetres. The main focus on the warmth is around your middle near your kidneys, your core so usually the body thickness is greater on the body. The legs and arms are usually that bit thinner so you can still move around. Some brands add more flex to the elbows and knees. In warm conditions a 2/2 wetsuit would be sufficient, a 3/2 for spring-autumn and 4/3/2 or 5/3 for winter conditions. This is a guide only, it really does depend on the conditions and location.
In extreme or freezing conditions you will need to look a thicker suit â
 6/5-or 6/5/4. There are also 7/6- and 7/6/5 mm wetsuits, but the thicker you go the more restrictive they become. A good 6/5 or 6/5/4 with hood, boots, and gloves will usually suffice.
Lets have a quick look at the seams and the stitching
Overlock Stitching â This is the most common and standard stitching. The downside on this cheaper version is that it does allow water to seam in.
Flat Stitching â This is simply stitching made on an overlocker machine so the seams are flat on both sides.
Blind Stitching â This is a narrower style of stitching that flat stitching, the seams are usually glued first, theyâre great at keeping the water out.
Sealed, taped and glued â this is exactly what it says, the seams are sealed tight, a taped is applied.
Liquid seamed â this is the best type of seal on a suit. A liquid rubber is applied to seal the joins gives a water tight finish.
The River Cam, Granchester hasnât changed little since Edwardian times. Made famous by Rupert Brooke and Virginia Woolfe others when they camped, picnicked and swam in the river. On a Summers day the Orchard Tea Gardens are fantastic and along the meadows is a particularly pleasant place to swim. Some spots deepen to 1.8 meters (6ft)
Snowdoniaâs stunning tarns
Tarns â or llyns as theyâre known to the locals! These are the lakes near the tops of the mountain. The Rhinog Range has more tarns per square meter than anywhere else in Wales. If you get u early or go out of season they can be extremely isolated giving the feeling of being in another world. The back drops can be amazing. There are a few that are that close to the edge they look like infinity pools.
Waterfall Woods in the Breacon Beacons, Wales
The name says it all. This section of river is packed with natural pools and small waterfalls. It can be found 20 minutes along the woodland trail from Pontneddfechan. When you reach a flat outcrop on the right, just above a mini canyon you will see the river below you. Further along the track is a large junction pool, just beneath the footbridge. Sgwd Gwladys, or Lady Falls, occupies a giant amphitheatre rimmed with a lip of dark black gritstone. This is one of the most stunning waterfalls in Wales!
River Avon, Claverton weir
Along the valley of the Avon is a stretch of approximately 100 metres of deep water patches and shallow paddling areas. The water is crystal clear in the Summer and its quite easy to get to. Follow the A36 for about 3km towards the Claverton Hamle and turn left down Ferry Lane. Simply walk to the bottom and across the big field, the weir will be on your right.
The Cheviouts, Northumberland
This is very popular with walkers and families to col off in the Summer, itâs an easy location to get to. It has the famous Linhope Spout which is high shoot that falls into a round and very deep plunge pool. There is a high jump into the pool, go careful as the water depths do change depending on the season.
River Ouse, Yorkshire
The River Ouse, which winds through the Sussex Downs is set in the most idliic location. Itâs the perfect place for swimming, relaxing and having a picnic. You can stop for lunch at Barcombe Mill or head a little further up river to the riverside Anchor Inn. There are even some paddle boats that you can hire. The only building you will see on the entire journey will be the spire of Isfield Church.
.Skyeâs faerie pools, Scotland
The Faerie Pools on the Isle of Skye lays in a sheltered glade of red rowans and ancient rock. The Black Culin rise above the Gaudi Spires, the remains of a massive volcano. You may see a pink look about the water, this is from the quartz in the rock, it can seem to glow on occasions.
Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland
Lough Shannagh, County Down, is a wide open loch surrounded by the magnificent Mourne Mountains. About 30 minutes walk from the road brings you to the edge of the lake. It is is framed by several peaks, including Slieve Doan and Slieve Loughshannagh. The water is crystal blue and refreshingly cold. There is also a small beach area for the children to play in.
River Dart, Devon
The River Dart, which runs through the Dartmoor National Park, Devon, is the setting for Charles Kingsleyâs The Water Babies. This is one of the best spots in the UK for wild swimming. There are so many pools, rivers and small lakes (tarns) to find and explore. We will be adding another blog soon just on our favourite Dartmoor spots. Some to get your started in the Dart, the East Dart and also the West Dart. If you do your research you may even find some natural water slides!
