NESKY (or North East Sea Kayakers) is a club dedicated to sea paddling in the Aberdeenshire area. We have no fixed base, but instead have an active programme over the summer and winter where members meet at pre-arranged venues for training, expedition and social events. The club is affiliated to the Scottish Canoe Association.

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Over the summer, club night is on a Tuesday night, when we meet ready to paddle at 6.30 pm at venues between Inverbervie and Banff. The venues are published on the club website for the season. The club has a limited number of sea kayaks available for hire by members details of which are on the website. They need to be booked in advance through the Equipment Officer and come complete with paddles, decks, buoyancy aids and cags if required. There is an expectation that members will buy their own equipment in time, so new members are given 1st call on club equipment.

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The club has a good number of qualified coaches and experienced sea / river / surf paddlers, and aims to offer coaching as required by the members on Tuesday nights. This may take the form of organised sessions (stroke work, rescues etc) or trips to explore the North Sea coastline. This allows members to acquire the skills, paddle fitness and confidence needed for longer trips which range from day trips and weekends to week long expeditions. These take place in all areas of Scotland including the Hebrides and Northern Isles. Trips are graded A, B and C – A-grade trips generally being suitable for most members, C-grade for experienced paddlers only. A description of the capabilities expected of paddlers on the different grades of trip is given in the ‘Trip Grading and Guidelines’ on the club website. The club publishes both a summer and winter program detailing its activities, which again can be found on the website. An email will be sent out to the club with information about each activity ahead of events by the organiser, details of whom are available on the latest trip organiser list on the website.

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Due to the lack of sheltered water on the Aberdeenshire coast, the club expects all new members to work towards the British Canoeing (BC) Personal Performance Awards in Sea Kayak then Coastal Sea Kayaker. Details can be found at https://www.britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/personal-performance-award-resources/.

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The club runs training courses as required in addition to the coaching mentioned on Tuesday evening club nights.

To ensure safe numbers for all club activities, all activities are risk assessed according to the club Risk Assessment for that activity. The club sign up system, accessed via the members area of the website ensures safe numbers for each event. Most on water activities have a limit depending on the grading and availability of leaders. Please refrain from signing up for trips until the information is publicised by the organiser, and ensure you use the cancelation link contained in each confirmation email if you are unable to manage that activity for any reason. The sign-up system also ensures the activity organiser has the relevant contact and emergency contact details for each paddler if required.

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The SCA requires those participating in club events can only take part if they are paid up members of NESKy, or for visiting paddlers, individual members of the SCA or can prove membership of another SCA affiliated club. Those who cannot prove any of these will be required to pay an SCA day membership, presently £5 which will cover them for insurance whilst participating in that club event.

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Over the winter, the club arranges various activities which include pool sessions (with sea boats), a night navigation weekend, training evenings (navigation, boat packing), talks and social meets.