St Martins is a fabulous location to go paddleboarding with it’s sheltered, crystal-clear waters and stunning marine life.
We love helping our customers make the most of our their paddleboarding experience. For some, it’s their first time. Others are more experienced, and want to explore the beautiful coastline of St Martin’s from the water.
One of our customers tried paddleboarding with us for the first time in 2020. This developed into a passion for the sport. Venetia’s story is so inspiring, we wanted to share it with you.
So, in her own words, this is how Venetia became a paddleboarder!
Venetia’s first experience of paddleboarding
The first time I ever saw a paddleboard was one evening as I arrived in Cornwall for a walking holiday. The paddleboarders were on an idyllically calm sea, paddling inshore as the sun set. I was spellbound.
It wasn’t until many years later, during a few days holiday snatched from the Covid restrictions that we found ourselves on St. Martin’s in the Isles of Scilly, on the beautiful Par Beach, filling time until our fish and chip booking, right by St. Martin’s Watersports with the paddleboards for hire.
Something about the constraints of the previous months gave me a desire to “seize the moment” and try paddleboarding for myself. The process of hiring was easy. I was reassured by Anna’s safety checklist, the equipment to protect me, the instructions I was given and the quality of the board and paddle.
Once on the water I surprised myself by being able to stand almost straight away. The dreamlike quality was there. I felt elated. The hour whizzed by.
The passion for paddleboarding becomes a reality
Back on the mainland I emailed Anna to ask for details about buying paddleboards, what specifications to look for and so forth. It wasn’t until a year later, having come out of retirement to participate in the covid vaccination programme, that I thought of paddleboarding again. I had decided that my unexpected income needed to be celebrated, what better way than to buy something I longed for?
Later that summer, I bought a paddleboard and a Dryrobe for a “special price” at our local market. I walked back to the car with a huge smile on my face, carrying the paddleboard in its bag on my back. I rushed home, changed and drove to our nearest riverbank.
Soon I was paddling down the river, the hot sun on my back, the dragonflies all around and to make my day, a kingfisher darting in front of me.
Now, every time the weather creates an opportunity, I’m off. I’ve enjoyed outings in Anglesey with my brother and on several local rivers but best of all is paddling around St. Martin’s, where it all started. There cannot be a more beautiful place to be on the turquoise sea, alone with the elements. “Thank you” is insufficient but thank you Anna and the team for fulfilling this retiree’s dream of walking on water.
If you’ve ever been tempted to try paddleboarding, why not book a hire on your next holiday. Who knows what it may lead to!
St Martin’s Watersports hires paddleboards and kayaks from Par Beach on St Martin’s.
You can book your kayak hire here. If you're looking for further inspiration, here's our paddleboard tour of St Martin's
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