Kayaking Malta Style

One of the advantages of having a non-canoeing wife is that you get the opportunity to exchange your midge ridden campsite in Argyll for a spot of sun and sand in Mediterranean climes. Normally this means no kayaking but this year was an exception when Kath and I spent two weeks in Malta.

The receptionist eyeballed my SCA jersey, informed me he had been canoeing and that his sister was an enthusiastic member of the Malta Canoe Club. To cut a long story short I ended up being invited to meet Jenny and her boyfriend Craig ( who is their main instructor and was born in Bonnybridge) for a paddle after their club session in Valletta.

I turned up early and watched some novices being put through their paces under the watchful eye of the local television station cameras, who mainly seemed interested in capsizes. After the session Craig, Jenny and Peter paddled with me into Valletta Grand Harbour and took me through a rock tunnel the tourist's never see and also came alongside a wartime U-boat.

Anyone who has read about the 2nd World War will know the heroic role played by the Maltese and the valiant efforts of the Allies to force supplies through to Malta by convoy including the incredible story of the tanker "Ohio" entering Valletta supported by 2 destroyers.

I should point out that while they paddled Italian sea boats they had thoughtfully equipped me with a leaky bat - but never mind it was sunny, the 4 inches of Mediterranean water that leaked in was reasonably warm and there were opportunities to empty it en route!

All in all a remarkable experience rounded off with lunch and wine with two of the friendliest people you could meet and an article in the Malta Times titled "Prominent Canoeist Visits Malta". Yes it was me they were referring to!

Seriously, they are struggling to obtain premises beside the water to carry on their coaching and, even though they work with disadvantaged groups, the Maltese Government favours putting money into Olympic prospects. They come under the BCU Coaching scheme and use Coaches from England for Instructor Assessments and high level Coaching.

If anyone is interested in a kayaking contact in Malta I can put them in touch. Meanwhile back to sun and sand - isn't life hard.

Cuan Ard