WOMEN’S SEA KAYAK FESTIVAL
Looking Back and Looking Forward
When Julie and Natalie started the Women’s Sea Kayak Festival in 2015, we wanted to create something we felt was missing: a space where women could come together to paddle, learn, share experience and have fun, surrounded by other women who loved sea kayaking.
From the beginning, we also wanted to create opportunities for female coaches and leaders. We believed — and still believe — that seeing women in these roles matters. It gives other women something to aspire to, creates opportunities to develop and share expertise, and helps make sea kayaking feel more accessible and welcoming, as well as encouraging more women to take those roles themselves.
Over the years, the Women Sea Kayak Festival has grown into much more than we could have imagined when we started. We have learned from the women we coached and from those who coached alongside us. We have made lasting friendships, been inspired by people's journeys, and have ourselves been enriched by being part of such a generous and supportive community. Every Festival brought new ideas, different perspectives, unexpected challenges, plenty of laughter and countless conversations on and off the water. That is probably what we are proudest of: not simply having organised a series of successful events, but having helped create a community where knowledge is shared freely, women encourage one another, friendships are made, confidence grows and, above all, people have fun on the water. That is what makes us most proud.
After six editions, however, we feel it is time for us to take a pause from running the Festival in the way we have done until now. This is not about closing the door on WSKF, but about allowing it to evolve. We are very happy — and genuinely excited — to see others take the idea forward, bring their own energy and ideas to it, and give the Festival a life beyond the way Julie and I have run it.
We feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to start this journey, and even more fortunate to have shared it with so many wonderful women, coaches, paddlers and friends.
So, with a great deal of pride, gratitude and affection, we are handing over the reins — and looking forward to seeing where the next chapter takes the Women’s Sea Kayak Festival.
Julie & Natalie
WOMEN’S
SEA KAYAK FESTIVAL
2027
Discussions are being held on the future of the event. If you're interested to come,
pencil the dates below into your calendar.
Location:
Preliminary dates:
Price:
Cornwall
14.05 - 16.05 2027
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
£TBC
About The Festival
What is WSKF?
The Women’s Sea Kayak Festival was first held in South Devon in 2015, running every two years since. In 2023 the event used a new location in the area of Rame Head, South Cornwall. In 2025 we return to our original location in South Devon with new dates.
Our Festival’s aim is to welcome female paddlers, encourage participation and provide new experiences for all women sea kayakers along one of the most beautiful and exciting coastlines in the UK. With a relaxing, sociable atmosphere our emphasis is on learning and inspiring women to paddle with confidence and having fun. We are proud to support female coaches.
Organisers
We are proud to organise and run WSKF to have fun and inspire others to kayak more.
Location and Campsite
Festival gallery
Reserve your place!
How to fill in the form
Your paddling level
Intromediate paddler:
Has some paddling experience, maybe in a different craft or non-tidal environment. The paddler can perform different paddle strokes to get them where they want. They paddle in a group, usually with more experienced paddlers leading them.
Intermediate paddler:
Has been paddling sea kayaks for a while and is quite confident in their paddling strokes. They are looking at ways of transferring their skills from flat water to the moving water environment. An Intermediate paddler wants to start to paddle independently and with peers.
Seasoned paddler:
Is paddling regularly with a peer group. They are comfortable with their own paddling. They know there are things to improve but they can get where they want on the water. Such a paddler at the Festival is looking for new experiences, new places to visit and new people to meet.
