Blulogix Coaching

Paddleboard Care - One for the paddleboarders

A quick board care tip from a Paddle UK Coach...

One of the most common things I see on the beach is people putting their paddle board down fin-side down.

It might seem like the obvious thing to do, but it can lead to unnecessary damage.

SUP Board find are mostly Long ..!!

Sooo...!

When your board is resting on its fins, all of its weight is being transferred through the fin box. On soft sand you might get away with it, but on shingle, hard-packed sand or if there's a hidden stone underneath, that pressure can damage the fin or even crack the fin box.

Another thing to think about is the wind. A board balanced on its fins is much less stable. One decent gust can blow it over or send it sliding across the beach, potentially damaging your board or someone else's.

Yet another is people falling on your board

Getting sand and grit into the fin box is another common issue, especially with removable fins. It can make fitting and removing the fin much harder and cause unnecessary wear over time.

As a Paddle UK Coach, I always recommend turning your board over and leaving it deck-side down, with the fins pointing up whenever you're on the beach. It's a simple habit that protects your fins, reduces stress on the fin box and keeps your board nice and healthy

Looking after your kit doesn't take much effort, but a few good habits can save you from an expensive repair and keep you on the water for longer.

Have you spotted this on the beach? It's a small change that can make a big difference.

Which photo you think is the healthiest for your board

The Paddle Board Playbook: World Cup Edition

With all the concerning paddle board news recently lets lighten it abit and keep it fun

⚽ Game Plan First
Champions don't kick off without a plan. Know where you're paddling, how long you'll be out, and tell someone your route.

🦺 Wear the Kit
No player takes the pitch without their kit. Your buoyancy aid is your match-day essential.

🎯 Eyes on the Ball
Keep scanning the water like a midfielder. Watch for boats, swimmers, rocks, and changing conditions.

🥤 Hydration Break
Even the Three Lions need a drinks break. Bring plenty of water—paddling is harder work than it looks!

☀️ Don't Get Burnt Before Half-Time
Sun cream, sunglasses, and a hat are your summer squad. The sea reflects the sun, so you'll burn faster than you think.

🤝 Play as a Team
Everything's better with a teammate. Paddle with a buddy and look out for each other.

🌊 Expect a Tackle
A wobble or a splash isn't a red card! Falling in is part of learning—climb back on and carry on.

📱 VAR = Very Available Rescue
Carry a phone in a waterproof pouch. If you need help, you'll be glad it's within reach.

🐬 Respect the Home Team
Seals, dolphins and seabirds have home advantage. Enjoy watching them, but always give wildlife plenty of space.

🏁 Know When to Blow the Final Whistle
Feeling tired? Time to head back. The best paddlers finish while they've still got energy in the tank.

⭐ Play Fair on the Water
Share the sea with everyone. Give swimmers, kayakers, sailors, and other paddle boarders plenty of room.

🥇 It's Coming Home… Safely!
The best result isn't scoring the winning goal—it's finishing every paddle with a smile and getting home safely.

Come paddle with Blulogix

Happy Paddling
Blulogix Steve and the Team

KNOW THE OFFSHORE RULE – THE BEACH'S MOST IMPORTANT TACTIC! 🌊🚩

Everyone's talking about the offside rule this summer... but if you're heading to the beach, it's the OFFSHORE RULE that could make all the difference.

Just like football, reading the conditions before kick-off can be the difference between a great day and an unexpected setback.

🌬️ What's an offshore wind?

It's when the wind blows from the beach out towards the sea. That means inflatable paddleboards, kayaks and other inflatables can be carried away from shore faster than you think.

🎯 Play the conditions, not just the game.

Even the latest paddleboards and kayaks aren't a match for a strong offshore breeze. If the wind is blowing out to sea, don't risk it—stay on the beach or choose another activity.

🏟️ Check the scoreboard before you launch:
🚩 Watch the beach flags.
📱 Check the weather forecast.
🗺️ Know which direction the wind is blowing before you head out.
📞Carry a Means of communication in a waterproof case on you..

🦺 Your best defence?

Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or buoyancy aid. Every great team has a solid defence—make yours a lifejacket.

🚨 Need a last-minute save?

If you or someone else gets into trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

🏆 Champions prepare before they play.

Build your skills by joining a local paddling club or taking a safety course . The more you know, the more confident you'll be on the water.

This summer, make smart decisions, stay in control, and keep every beach day a winning performance.

Don't let the offshore wind score the winner.

Weathercocking – Is my skeg really doing anything.

One for the Seakayakers

One question that I get asked up on just about every sea kayak course is, "When should I put my skeg down?"

The simple answer is: when the kayak needs it.

But the slightly longer answer starts with understanding weathercocking.

First, imagine the kayak isn't moving.

If you're just sitting on the water, the wind is pushing against the whole side of the kayak. The pressure is spread fairly evenly along the hull, so there's nothing to make the kayak want to turn. It'll simply drift sideways with the wind.

Now start paddling.

As soon as the kayak gets moving, things change.
The bow creates a pressure wave as it moves through the water. That pressure helps hold the bow on its line, while the stern is much freer to slide sideways.

The wind is still pushing on the whole kayak, but because the stern can move more easily than the bow, it gets blown downwind. The bow stays where it is, so the kayak turns into the wind.
That's weathercocking. It's not a fault—it's simply how most sea kayaks are designed to behave.

So where does the skeg come in? A skeg doesn't steer the kayak.

What it does is give the stern more grip in the water. By making it harder for the stern to slide sideways, it reduces weathercocking and helps the kayak run straighter.

That's why I always describe a skeg as a trim device, not a steering device.

You're not using it to make the kayak turn. You're using it to balance how much grip the bow and stern have. "I've got the skeg fully down and it's still turning."
That's usually because your speed has changed. When you're paddling well, the bow pressure wave is quite strong, so the bow stays planted.

Slow down, and that pressure wave becomes much weaker. If you've still got the skeg fully deployed, the stern may now have more grip than the bow. Instead of weathercocking, the kayak can start turning away from the wind. That's why skegs are adjustable.
Very rarely is fully up or fully down the right answer. Most of the time you're somewhere in between.

See the attached image as a guide to wear the skeg should be.

As the conditions change, your skeg position should change too.

A simple way to remember it

Turning into the wind? Lower the skeg a little……
Turning away from the wind? Raise it a little……..

Just make small adjustments.
Move it a bit, paddle for thirty seconds, then see what the kayak tells you.. let the kayak feedback to you

What about paddling into a headwind?

Most of the time, leave the skeg up.

The kayak already wants to point into the wind, and that's working in your favour. If you lock the stern in place with too much skeg, you're actually taking away one of the things helping you hold your course.

And with the wind behind you?

That's when you'll often use more skeg. A following wind can push the stern around, making the kayak wander. Dropping the skeg gives the stern more bite in the water, helping the kayak track straighter and reducing the amount of correction you're making with every stroke.

The important thing to remember

Whether your kayak has a skeg or a rudder, the principle is the same. Both change how much sideways grip the stern has in the water. They just do it in different ways.

The best paddlers aren't constantly thinking, "Skeg up or skeg down?"

They're trimming the kayak as the conditions change.
i.e Wind strength changes, Sea state changes. Your direction changes.

Your skeg should change with them…!

Get into the habit of making small adjustments rather than leaving it fully up or fully down all day. Because You'll spend less energy fighting the kayak, it'll track more cleanly, and paddling in wind suddenly becomes a lot less hard work.

Have fun and practice with that skeg

Paddle UK Certified Coaching, Courses & Guided Adventures
Looking to build confidence on the water or explore new routes with Qualified & experienced coaches ? We offer a full range of official Paddle UK-certified courses, tailored sessions, and guided trips—plus freelance coaching for clubs, schools, and events.
What’s on offer:
Personalized trips for Flamborough ,Yorshire Coast , or inland water ways
PUK(BCU) Personal Performance Awards Provider
SUP Safer & Paddle Safer provider
Coastal Navigation,Safety & Tidal Planning course
Paddleboard & Kayaks Sessions
Guided trips and 1:1 or group coaching
Freelance coaching and event support available
Scouts UK approved Leader and coaching for all paddle craft

All sessions are led by Paddle UK-trained and certified coaches & Leaders , with a focus on safety, skills, and making sure you're enjoying every minute on the water.
🎓 Certification is included with every course.

Freelance work available:
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