Rachel Harries

Qualifications:

  Coaching:

    Paddlesport Instructor

    Shelter water coach (in training)

  Personal Performance:

    Sea kayak award

    Paddlesport Safety and Rescue

I started my paddling journey in 2017 when I volunteered for a month on a sea kayaking expedition lodge on a remote island near Vancouver Island in Canada, one of the most beautiful places in the world to paddle. When I came back I knew I had to be near the water, so up and moved to Devon, joined Totnes Canoe Club, bought a wet suit and didn't look back. In my first year, I did the open canoe course twice, then offered to help out, talked myself onto the sea kayak award and gradually decided to dip my toe into white water, including in open canoes. I was lucky to be mentored by Julie Perren as part of the British Canoeing ShePaddles programme, which massively improved my sea kayaking.

I love expeditioning, packing a tent, food and everything I'll need into my boat and setting out. My kayaking has taken me to the lakes of Finland, Croatia, Norway's Arctic Circle paddling under the midnight sun, the Isles of Scilly (twice) and all over the Devon coast. I'm now training to be a sheltered water coach, love helping beginners develop their confidence on the water, and I'm passionate about getting more women into the sport.