Introduction and looking for advice.

[SlopeSoarer]

They’ve said it all! You are in one of the best places for sea kayaking. I also took it up late on at 58 and am nervous of the sea. But it is an amazing thing to do. Don’t forget, amongst all the sport that you can get to beautiful places and see fantastic wildlife

Yeah I appreciate all the advice and comments and can't wait to get down there. I've pretty much seen most of the island(s) from land and am looking forward to a different perspective and as you say the wildlife is fantastic.

[TechnoEngineer]

I've ordered the Sea Kayakers Handbook

Shelley Johnson's book?
I have the first edition and have to say it's the most useless book on the subject I have ever bought. It's full of waffle.

BTW, welcome :)

As others have said, joining a club is well worth doing, or at the very least finding a pool session to go along to and do capsize drills.

In terms of books my recommendations are:
1) Sea Kayaker Deep Trouble
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sea-Kayakers-Deep-Trouble-Magazine/dp/0070084998

2) John Lull's Sea Kayaking Safety and Rescue
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0899974767/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

3) Burch's Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fundamentals-Kayak-Navigation-Traditional-Technologies/dp/091402552X/ref=sr_1_1

4) Paul Dutky - "The bombproof roll and beyond"

5) Hypothermia, Frostbite and other cold injuries
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hypothermia-Frostbite-Other-Cold-Injuries/dp/0898868920/ref=sr_1_2

6) Technique - BCU Coaching Handbook (much better than others such as the BCU paddler's handbook and the practical canoeing/kayaking handbook)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Canoe-Union-Coaching-Handbook/dp/0954706161/ref=sr_1_1

7) Roger Schumann - Sea Kayak Rescue
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/076274328X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

8) RYA or Reeds VHF handbook

[TechnoEngineer]

In terms of videos I recommend Leo Hoare and Olly Sanders "Sea Kayak Safety" DVD:
http://www.rockandseaproductions.com/in ... duct_id=53

...and "Rough Water Handling"
http://www.rockandseaproductions.com/in ... duct_id=51

[Mac50L]

7) Roger Schumann - Sea Kayak Rescue

The picture on the cover says, "This book is rubbish."

Anyone with any sense does not drag one kayak over another during a rescue. That is a White Water "thing" and shouldn't be considered when sea kayaking.

My experience? Of the rescues I've done two were "get it right or someone dies". No help available, no communications available, just the two kayaks. No way could I have done them by dragging a kayak on to my deck, especially in the sea conditions. A properly done rescue should take less than 10 seconds (5 seconds?) from making contact with the kayak to be rescued.

[UKRGB Moderator]

Anyone with any sense does not drag one kayak over another during a rescue.

This prompted quite a lot of useful discussion which has been split into its own thread here

Please add any further discussion on rescues to that thread and keep this for advice more specific to the OP.