Another New Year

Last year a few of us ventured out for a paddle to welcome in the New Year. It was a good feeling to be out on the water, setting the tone for rest of the year. Thought it would be nice to do a repeat.

Together with Richard Mordy from Up and Under and Hywel we set out on a blustery cold morning from Southerndown with the intention of having a big boys breakfast on Tusker Rock. With that in mind I'd packed a portable BBQ, frying pan, bacon, eggs, butties, the works.

Loading up for the Tusker Caff experience

It was cold to say the least, I can't remember the last time I'd seen ice forming on the cliff faces. This was one of those days. Carrying the boat and gear down to the waters edge my hands were painfully cold to the point of being numb. The poggies were going to earn their place in the kit today, for sure.


Leaving the beach we paddled with the last of the ebb and an increasing headwind. Approaching Tusker Rock we were facing a good stiff F5 directly into our faces and blowing against the tide.

At Tusker Rock before the flood submerges it

It was getting a little bit interesting near the rock, with the possibility that the wind would be increasing and the tide having turned and threatening to submerge our planned breakfast spot, we decided not to stop, but to make out way towards Ogmore and catch the beginning of the flood back to Southerndown and a more sedate paddle with the wind on our backs.

Passing Ogmore

The wind dropped a little for the return trip. And we decide to decamp back to my kitchen for that promised breakfast and a natter to talk of trips for the new year.

Landing back on Southerndown beach

Going after buoys

This is Jim's navigation trip. Putting into practice what he did on the navigation training at Anglesey last week.
Armed with his newly exchanged Expedition HV (he swapped is LV over to the HV as he's been eating too many doughnuts) a compass and his bearings (lost his marbles years ago he says), we head out to various fixed objects in the channel.
Leaving Ogmore beach we ferry glide over to Tusker Rock, where Jim takes a moment to refresh himself.

Jim makes a brief stop on Tusker Rock

Neal off Tusker Rock

Tusker Bell (the red thing - not the guy in the boat!)

We head to our first buoy - the Tusker Bell Buoy, which is just a short distance away. Then out on a long leg to the Scar Weather East Cardinal Buoy. Just a blip on the horizon. But we get there. Well done Jim. A short hop to the Hugo buoy and some playing on a little bit of surf on the sand bank.

Scar Weather East Cardinal

This is Hugo, Jim and Neal are surfing the sand bank in the background

Fairy West Cardinal

Then another long leg to the distant Fairy Buoy, before ferry gliding back to Ogmore.

Well navigated Jim, his tidal stream allowances were spot on. Impressive.

It was such a nice evening I didn't fancy stopping, so decided to continue on to Southerndown. Met up with Chris there. He had just bought a Dagger Outlaw for playing in the surf. (Not tonight though, as it was flat as a pancake).

Chris in his new boat

Just a tad over 28km

The Tusker Rock Café

We fancied something a little bit different for our lunchtime stop at Tusker. I had after all paddled from Llantwit Major and had felt some proper food would be in order to fuel my return trip. I had come prepared to produce the de facto greasy fry-up all day breakfast buttie. Eggs, burger, bacon, kebab and red sauce.

We shall have to come back to this caff again. (Some chairs would be nice)

Chris paddls around our private island before the flooding tide reclaims it.