Jersey Kayak Adventures was formed in 2003 by Gary Kemp and Derek Hairon. The company has since grown to be the leading provider of kayaking on Jersey and has featured on BBC Coast, The Telegraph newspaper and the kayak press.
As well as offering sit-on-top kayaking the company also has a fleet of closed cockpit kayaks which are available for paddlers with more experience or those wanting to progress further.
With the explosion in demand for sit-on-top kayaks, the company has become one of the leading UK outfitters offering tours and tuition for sit-on-top kayaks. Derek regularly presents training clinics and writes for canoeing magazines.
Derek’s book Sit on top kayak, a manual. Published by Pesda Press £7.99 (post free in UK) specifically aims to introduce kayakers to skills and techniques afloat. Click here to read reviews.
All staff are active kayakers who are passionate about their sport. They have a wealth of experience paddling in Jersey waters and overseas.
The company is playing an active part in the development of coastal management strategies with the local environment department. See below to learn more about our environmental support and social responsibility.
We employ local residents who have lived on the island for many years. All staff know the local waters, history and environment. We feel that this background ensures a better quality of service.
Derek Hairon.
Director
British Canoe Union Sea kayaking coach holding the prestigious 
level 5 Coach award. Holds First Aid and Coastal navigation certificates.
A trained teacher who has taught outdoor pursuits in the UK. He has also worked with young people with special needs and challenging behaviour. He has a wilderness first aid certificate and Mencap and Autism training. Derek is one of the first Wildlife Safe (WiSe) accredited guides in Jersey.
Over 27 years sea kayaking experience including major expeditions to circumnavigate Ireland by kayak, North Scotland, Faeroe Islands and Alaska. Also white water-kayaking expeditions in Nepal to paddle the Tamur and Marsyandi Rivers.
When not kayaking he has completed long distance mountain walks such as the famous GR20 in Corsica, cycles and skis.
Gary Kemp.
Director
British Canoe Union level 3 Sea kayaking coach & 5 Star Inland
qualified, with over 27 years experience. Extensive sea kayaking experience in the Channel Islands and adjacent French coastal waters. He has also kayaked in Pembrokeshire, Cyprus, S.E. Spain & Italy.
Completed the first unsupported 30 nautical mile paddle to the Roches Douvres Light House with John Richardson, from the Minquiers Reef. Completed the 1990 Devises to Westminster 125 miles non-stop race. Dragon boat pace man, on the Thames great river race. White Water kayaking expeditions to the French & Italian Alps, Pyrenees, and the Tamar river in Nepal. His kayaking surfing experience includes Morocco, Maldives, Portugal, France, Devon. In 2001 Gary was a member of the Jersey 2001 World Surf Kayak Championship Winning Team at Steamer Lane Santa Cruz California
Other interests include Snowboarding, Motorbike Track days and Enduro riding, mountain biking, and Long board surfing.
Gary has a wilderness first aid certificate. WiSe accredited guide.
Chantal
Chantal is an outdoors enthusiast who is passing on her love of the 
outdoors by leading a Cub Scout troop. She also runs art classes for young people and lectures in tourism and leisure studies.
An active sea kayaker and British Canoe Union level 2 coach with extensive kayaking experience around Jersey, Shetlands, Hebrides, Skye and the Brittany coast.
Chantal often works with our young persons kayaking groups and draws upon her extensive experience of working with young people.
She has also undertaken some major overland treks. This includes overland trips to Nepal via Afghanistan (before the Russian invasion), treks in the Himalayas and walking in North Wales.
A fluent French speaker. She has a wilderness first aid certificate, Mencap and Autism training. WiSe accredited gude.
Alan
A British Canoe Union Level 4 Sea Kayaking coach with a 
Wilderness First Aid Certificate. Alan started kayaking in 1995 when he tired of taxiing his enthusiastic young sons to canoe club events and quickly decided that “if you cannot beat them, join them!” was the best way forward. Alan soon became “addicted” to kayaking and since those early days he has paddled extensively around local waters including trips from Jersey to Sark, the Minquiers, France and his favourite destination the Ecrehous (now nearing his 40th visit!). Alan’s kayaking experience extends beyond local waters having paddled in France, Spain and Scotland and he speaks sufficient French and Spanish to operate in these languages.
Alan’s other interests are sailing, travel and renovating property.
A French/Spanish speaker.
David
British Canoe Union Level 3 coach with more than 10 years kayaking experience.
Dave has paddled rivers in the U.K. and further afield in Europe 
and Africa, including the Zambezi. He has extensive experience of the coastline of Jersey, surf kayaking, rock hopping and sea kayaking around the island. He has undertaken long distance offshore paddles to Les Ecrehous, Sark and circumnavigations of Jersey. In 2008 he is undertaking the Devizes to Westminster canoe race (non stop 125 miles)with John Richardson.
When not kayaking he enjoys running, rock climbing and hiking as well as travelling to far-flung places. This includes a solo overland expedition in his Land Rover Defender from Jersey to South Africa and back. On the way he trekked to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
He recently trekked to Everest base camp.
Krista
One of the first new BCU/UKCC qualified Level 1 kayak coaches. Krista is working 
with us before going to University to study Outdoor Education.
She has been kayaking for three years and has undertaken multi day kayak camping trips around Ile De Brehat and has assisted on the children’s courses.
In 2006 she spent 6 weeks on expedition in the White Mountains of Peru with the British Schools Exploring Society (the youth organisation of the Royal Geographical Society). Krista has recently returned from a three month expedition to study global warming in Spitsbergan with BSES.
A WiSe accredited guide.
John
British Canoe Union level 4 Sea Kayaking coach plus First Aid 
certificate. John has been paddling for 27 years and has extensive sea experience paddling as far a field as the West Coast USA, Corsica, France and Western France. Closer to home he paddles to Les Ecrehous, Les Minquiers and Chausey.
John completed the first circumnavigation of the Channel Islands and also with Gary Kemp was the first to successfully paddle from Jersey to the Roches Douvres Lighthouse.
John has surfed his kayak in the US, France and Hawaii and competed in the World Surf Kayak Championships in Costa Rica. In 2008 he is undertaking the Devizes to Westminster canoe race with David Priddis. A non stop 125 mile race
John also has a love of river paddling (despite living in Jersey with no rivers!) and has travelled to the UK, France, Costa Rica and Nepal to run the rapids.
Kevin
A Sea kayak coach level 3 who has been paddling since a very early age, building 
his own canvas and wood canoe as a CSE project at the age of 15. In the seventies he was Head of Outdoor Pursuits at Horndean in Hampshire, working part time at Calshot Activities Centre. He has taught hundreds of pupils of all ages to paddle on waters ranging form the tranquillity of lake Windermere, the Surf of Bude, and upper reaches of the Wye to the Tidal races of the Solent.
Kevin holds the Mountain Leaders Certificate and teaches Rock Climbing. In 1983 he represented Great Britain as a member of the British Skydiving Team and before retiring was a British Parachute Association Advanced Instructor and parachute pilot.
He enjoys diving, holds the Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver Certificates. He is a keen cyclist and Triathlete.
To pay for all his expensive hobbies he works as a teacher.
Leighton
Leighton holds the British Canoe Union Level 3 Sea Kayaking
award. He has been paddling for 10 years and has paddled to and around many of the pretty and interesting offshore reefs and Islands that surround Jersey. He has completed expeditions in Wales, the Lake District and Northern France.
When not kayaking Leighton keeps himself busy climbing, teaching First Aid for St. John Ambulance and being the Training Officer for the local Air Training Corps.
.
Len
Lens’ kayaking experience started when he was 12 years old in 
Holland. He has paddled almost every type of kayak ranging from open canoe to sprint K4 (4 person). His paddling trips include tackling white water grade 5 rivers throughout Europe.
A British Canoe Union level 4 coach and member of the Jersey surf kayak team. His best result is third in the British surf kayak-ranking list and a third place in the 1999 World Championships in Brazil.
Len is an active sea kayaker who has paddled in Scotland, North Wales Brittany and many European coastal areas.
His other interests are, Mountain biking, Squash, Skiing and walking.
Len speaks Dutch and also a little German.
About British Canoe Union coach awards
On all our activities you are accompanied by a qualified British Canoe Union sea kayak coach with the appropriate level of certification to enable them to operate in the area you are paddling.
The BCU operates a kayak coach structure running 1 (basic coach) to level 5. This means that a level one or two coach is restricted in their operating areas around Jersey. For example a level one or two coach can only operate within very sheltered bays and not head around headlands. This is to ensure your safety and quality.
Level 3 awards upwards require extensive training and experience. All awards must be kept up to date by attending regular updates as well as holding up to date First aid certificates.
All staff have undergone satisfactory Criminal records Bureau Police checks to work with young and vulnerable people and follow child protection and vulnerable adults policy.
Jersey kayak Adventures Ltd is fully insured and adheres to local regulations. As a dynamic and progressive company we assist in staff development by enabling our staff to access training opportunities and to enhance their skills.
Responsible visitor charter.
We can all help to ensure our fantastic coastline and environment remains safe for future visits by helping to do just a few simple things.
In our desire to view wildlife we can unintentionally disturb wildlife. Follow the advice of our trained staff. Read our wild life watching code.
Avoid bringing disposable water bottles with you. Use a cycle water bottle instead.
Try to reduce the amount of throw away and single use items you bring on our trips. Less packaging can make a major impact in reducing the amount of rubbish on beaches. Paper bags and reusable lunch boxes are a good idea.
On all our trips both staff and clients are asked to consider picking up one piece of rubbish from any beach we land on.
Driving and parking can be a nightmare on some beaches. Why not catch the bus or hire a bicycle. Bus times can be accessed here.
Support local business. Buy local, act global. Local business puts more back into the community. To learn more about this take time to read “The small mart revolution” by Michael H Shuman.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Big words, but what do they mean for us in our approach to the environment, community and the way we operate as a business on Jersey.
Jersey Kayak Adventures is committed to reducing the environmental impacts caused by the day to day activities of the business. We will work to improve the environmental impact of our organisation by following these principles:
1.We will comply with the requirements of environmental legislation and approved codes of practice
2.We will aim to improve environmental performance
3.We will reduce pollution, emissions and waste arising from our activities
4.We will reduce the use of all raw materials, energy and supplies
5.We will raise awareness, encourage participation and train employees in environmental matters
6.We will encourage similar environmental standards from all suppliers and contractors
7.We will assist customers and clients to use products and services in an environmentally-sensitive way
8.We will liaise with the local community
9.We will participate in discussions about environmental issues.
10.We will endeavour to buy local products from local suppliers where ever possible.
Care for our environment
Staff have undergone Wild life Safe (training) and follow the observing wildlife code.
We were the first Jersey company to sign up to the Ecoactive business scheme which encourages business to consider the wider environmental impact of their activities and adopt good practice.
We played an active role in the Ecrehous management plan and marine Wild life watching code for Jersey.
Supporting our community
We try to buy from local suppliers whenever possible as they often have greater investment in the local community than large off island organisations.
We support local charities and organisation through donations and have run fund raising events in support of the Jersey National Trust Coastline campaign.
Our Directors submitted evidence and comments on the proposed development of Plemont headland and impact on the Puffin colony, Les Ecrehous management plan and Jersey marine Wildlife watching code.
On a wider perspective Derek Hairon was influential in getting the British Canoe union to change the personal performance awards (star tests) to allow sit on top kayakers to gain these awards.
Staff
Unlike some companies we employ all our staff on contract. We comply with local employment laws and insurance requirements.
We offer training opportunities such as Wild-life safe (WiSe) certification, Autism training and support for staff wishing to develop their kayaking qualifications, First Aid awards and the new United Kingdom Coaching Certificate training modules (UKCC).
All our staff have undergone induction training and follow our written operating procedures which include following child protection guidelines.
