Local Knowledge . . .

Lesson 1: You can't get it all from charts, but it does help if you use the right charts.

This trip I did something different to my normal planning. I thought I'd plan the trip from a land map. (After all, most people I know use OS maps when they paddle). Besides, I hadn't laminated the chart and the GPS software was OS based. (So I guess I was just too lazy to plot my waypoints by hand).

The 48km trip from Penclawdd to Tenby was an ambitious trip, but with perfect timing for an early morning spring high tide, and equally perfect weather forecast, what could possibly go wrong. We would make easy meat of the Carmarthen Bay crossing. (Thinking back on it, Jim did mention something about a really big swell, but it didn’t really register).

8.20 am

Penclawdd is, a tranquil place, on the Lougher estuary. Famous for its cockles and laverbread, harvested here from before Roman times.
None of that this beautiful morning, cockle beds were well and truly covered by seawater.

Any one for fresh cold cockles?

Jim sets off

After a quick call to Swansea Coast Guard, we're on the water just as the tide turns.

Ripping along now at over 6 knots. Sun on our backs, perfect. As we approached Whiteford Lighthouse the ocean swell became noticeable.

Now you see the lighthouse.

Now you don’t.

Where did this surf come from. That wasn't in the plan.


How did we get in front of the surf zone without really going through it? Strange.



I like using the spray deck I was using to day as it has a handy front mesh pocket to carry my day and night flare on my person, it is also easy to put on. I hadn’t anticipated any surf. It is not the spray deck of choice for going surfing, easy on – easy off.


We headed out towards open water, the surf increasing as we progressed.

Two rather large waves, one from the left, other from right, joined together and seemed to rise to twice their individual heights and broke on me broadside. No problem, I can deal with this, just dig in and bongo slide. (Always works in the surf kayak, not so today). I was over. My thigh had dislodged itself from its grip, so I pulled my bum back in to the seat and orientated myself for my roll, waited for the aerated water to die.

Nearly made it! Nearly isn’t good enough good boy!

The surf dump had popped the spray deck – I’ve practiced rolling with a boat full of water, so that chestnut doesn’t wash. I can think of excuses, whatever, with lungs newly filled with air I sat upside down and decided to bale out. I had failed and was in the drink. Deal with it. It, was cold!
Jim came along side and I was very quickly back in my boat.

Lesson 2: Adapt to changing circumstances.

Feeling a little bit taken aback by events we decided to land and assess our situation.
Not knowing how deep the surf zone extended on this weird beach, or how many more of those big fellers we might encounter before breaking out, we decided on a change in plan.

Paddling just inside the break amongst waves we could comfortably handle, we would make progress along the coast (10 km) until we came to the Towy river mouth and break out there.
Ha, ha that was the plan. The strange "captivating" beach of Pembrey, however, had other ideas.

After a reviving hot drink of chocolate we got on our way. It was going to be slow hard work now and the effort soon had me warmed up. I was glad to be moving, standing around would have let the cold get a hold.

The effects of the second highest tidal range in the world is best seen on spring tides. Particularly on flat beaches. Both Pembrey and Pendine Sands are very flat. As a consequence the tide goes out at a walking pace. Jim floated his kayak in the water, jumped in, by the time his deck was on, the tide had receded a good 8 feet!

OK, who nicked the sea then?

This was to become a real pain. We were constantly being land locked, and often suddenly paddling in less than a foot of water. Quicker to jump out and push the kayak into deeper water or over the sand bank that had appeared from nowhere. Time is ticking by, we are not making the distance anticipated. No assistance from outgoing tidal stream and we are almost pushing our kayaks along the seabed with our paddle blades in places. A quick call to the coast guard to let them know we will not be making Tenby, but are aiming to complete at Pendine. (Ironically the location of many land speed records).

We are paddling (walking, dragging) inside a Ministry of Defense firing range. Notices, (we notice on our arrival at Pendine), warn of not touching any objects on the beach as they may be unexploded munitions. Someone is having a laugh.

It turned into a 21km trudge with some compensation being a days worth of broadside practice.
We arrived at Pendine feeling the need for a well earned rest.
At least I had finally tested in anger the suitability of my paddling gear. No dry suit, but a wicking layer system I had borrowed from my MR days. Wet suit boots for feet, fleece trousers under Palm Cobra pants for lower half, on top a long sleeve wicking shirt under a long sleeve thin fleece, under Palm Yukon cag.

As I paddled, the clothing began drained itself of the water, collecting at my feet and at the cuffs of my paddling top. To be emptied every time I got out to drag the kayak across the sand! The water ingress is mostly through the jacket neck which doesn't have a seal. The ankles and wrists have very effective seals. Most importantly, although wet, I wasn’t cold. However I wonder how effective this set up would be with a strong wind blowing and less mild temperatures.

Tenby is just a little bit further around and across there!

Lesson 3: Admiralty charts are good at showing things under water. 

OS maps are good at showing things above the water.

Trip stats: Distance 21.2Nm (39km) Time: 7hrs 50min. Max speed: 6.6knots Av speed: 3.2knots

Murky Waters

A familiar throb throb throb was in the air as I left the house before first light. Looking out to sea I spotted the light hovering over the bay and assumed a search at first light was in progress. As I picked Adrian up, Atlantic College ILB was being made ready to assist, confirming my bleak thoughts. Not a great start to the day.

Neal rounds Lavernock Point

Penarth were launched their lifeboat (another Atlantic 75) for its regular Sunday practice as we met up with Hywel, Neal and Jim for the put in. Our objective today was to return along the coast to the west finishing back at St. Donats. A nice trip with the ebb (we thought!). Forecast was 4 to 5 in our faces, dropping off to 4.
As we were in the shadow of the high cliffs we checking into Swansea CG by phone. They informed us that a missing persons search was in progress and to expect some radio chatter.

Hywel enjoys a moment of calm (water)

Crossing Sully Bay towards Nell's Point became quite exciting for a while, the waves pitched up by the tide going against the gusting head wind. Even so we seemed to make a good 5 knots.

Catching the rays at Ffontygary Caravan Park

Jim - all smiles in his shiny new boat
(before he christened the hull on the rocks)

The Green Green Grass of . . . Aberthaw Power Station

Nice view of the 1500 megawatt coal burning, with gas turbine back-up, power station that sits on the estuary with the second highest tidal rise in the world. So I can see the logic of rather than tidal they consider it a prime site for a nuclear power station.

Water intake tower at Aberthaw
(a great place to store the radioactive by-products perhaps)

Jim plays with the cooling water being returned to the sea
from the power station condenser

We find a sandy spot to stop at Limpert Bay for our well earned lunch. The tide rapidly drops off leaving us with a short carry to get back on the water. Powering on we pass surf breaking off Col-huw Point and continue along the Heritage Coast towards St Donats.

Arriving well exercised we are faced with the sobering scene of the local constabulary maintaining a "body watch" outside the lifeboat station. The college lifeboat had had the grim task of finding and retrieving the body of an apparent suicide jump at Southerndown.

What ever the reason for such an incident, my thoughts are with all those that have had to, and are left to, deal with the aftermath.

Trip stats: 31km; Av 3.4 knots; 6.5 knots max; 5.5 hours.

Blue Tips in Wales

Well that's how they felt anyhow.
And my feet were like:


The extremities suffered today, strange as I was surfing for half an hour less than Friday, with no significant difference in wind. But then there is no steelworks next to Southerndown. That could be it.
Some stonking great waves today, a few forward and reverse loops, (not by design, but must have looked very impressive), unfortunately no photos, so unashamedly for self-gratification purposes I post another picture of the surf on Friday.

Together with this hamster photo I had previously refrained from posting.

I've spent the last hours thawing out and walking like some hunched up troglodyte, moaning about my pummeled and over worked muscles.
A sorry sight, but a good reason to get back out again.

Surfing Aberavon Brrrrrrr!!!

I have been bottled up like a champagne cork waiting for the chance to go surfing again. With large swell predicted and a long period I was really looking forward to this years first proper surf session. (I'm excluding the last trips surfing as that was in the seakayak).

I was expecting to be frozen.
So it was rather a nice surprise that after 3hrs I could still feel me extremities. I tried a skull cap for the first time which probably helped things a bit. Did nothing for appearances though – there should be a warning on the label to the effect that all wearers faces will look like hampsters.
Who cares. Generally not a problem, but today Chris C was able to take a few photos up close and personal. Here are a few with the hampster shots taken out as you would expect.







Sets were coming in regular and the small amount of wind was offshore. Every so often some nice big waves came in.
Thanks for taking the pics Chris.

Mince Pie Trip

Happy New Year!
A chance at last to get out and blow the cobwebs away.
Nice afternoon paddle with Hywel, Neal, Chris and Jim (in his shiny fast new boat).
Llantwit Major to Ogmore River mouth provided a great start to the year.
Bit of a swell, provided some nice surfing opportunities.
Starting as I hope to continue.


Chris and Neal passing Nash Point Lighthouse.


Jim flying past the Nash Sands East Cardinal Buoy.
Tide alone was moving at a sedate 4 knots.

Through little eyes

That's me, paddling at sunset as drawn by my daughter, Morwenna (5).


As seen by Rhydian (3). "Have you been in your kayak?" he often asks.


I get the faint impression he can't wait to get out on the water!


By Llewelyn (8)


and Taliesin (10), who started to surf kayak this year.


It's always nice to make it back home.
Happy Paddling for 2008!

Best Kit

I had to think a while when asked what is the best bit of kit for Sea Kayaking. To my mind there isn't a right answer to this. Not one piece could I single out, as it all could be needed, and when in deed it is needed it will be the best bit of kit at the time! It's about having the kit available to deal with what arises.

At the end of the day I concluded that the best thing in Seakayaking was the ability to make the right decisions. To gain this, learning through experience was high on the list but this wasn't really kit. Learning through others experience would also be valid and to this extent the kit must come down to books and blogs.

So there is my answer.

Paper Anniversary

It's year to the day since I started seakayaking!

I've met up and paddled with some great people during this time and discovered the diverse world wide community of paddlers through their various blogs, books and DVDs.
Without exception, everyone who I've paddled with or talked to regarding all aspects of seakayking, have been enthusiastic, encouraging and helpful.

I am now seriously hooked on this tremendous sport. With the exception of the last two frustrating months of post-operative waiting, it's been a fantastic year, and I can't wait to get back into my boat in January!

The little fella above in the paper kayak was a bit of fun to make, if you fancy having a go, then download the pdf file from here. It only takes a few minutes to put together. Go on you know you want to.

XXS is good

Following on in my failed to roll when solo in rough water capsize scenario. I have so far managed to get back into my kayak with re-entry and roll with my paddle float assistance. I can now support myself while I start the process of pumping out the water from my cockpit. I don’t have a foot or electric pump. My spray deck is tucked under the twin seal waist of the paddling top, so I can’t push the pump down the front and have the spray deck back in place. I think it is going to be difficult to keep the big waves from refilling the cockpit.

Unless I have spent extra cash on a Reed spray deck with a bale hole.
Which I haven’t.

But seeing this spray deck gave me an idea to adapt my existing deck to have it’s own retrofitted hole.

I came up with the idea of using the smallest dry bag I could find (an ExPed XXS which cost less than a pint of beer), as a ready made sealing hatch device. So now all I have to do is cut the bottom out of the bag, make an appropriate incision in the spray deck and sew/seal the bag in. The bag is small enough I think, that when rolled right up, will not allow water to pool.

Magic.

When it’s done, a picture will surely follow.

Please Sir, Blow in the Bag!

I’m on my own. First line of defense is to roll. If that fails then it is a re-entry and roll.
Ok so I’m back in my boat, upright and the cockpit is full of water. That is why I’ve got a pump. It is a hand pump. To pump the volume of water that remains in the cockpit is to say the least tiring, it is really hard work.

So considering that conditions must be pretty difficult for me to have capsized in the first place, I can see a spiral of events here. Pumping out, getting tired, trying to stay upright. It is not unreasonable to say that during this operation a capsize is again likely to happen, the re-entry and roll may or may not happen depending on how tired/cold I am etc.
To increase my chances of staying upright while I perform the vertical stroking of my bilge pump, I have considered a paddle float.


The philosophy here is that it should make the re-entry and roll easier, but more importantly act as an out rigger providing stability while pumping out the cockpit. I am assuming a hunch forward position over the paddle shaft and leaning into the float, while using the pump.

Down side of using a float is the delay of getting out of the water while inflating the bag. Considering the advantages of stability the float will offer during pumping, I think it is a trade off I am happy to make.

Other uses for this kit include a pillow while camping and as a splint device for leg or arm. This requires cutting the bottom of the float between the seams of the two floatation chambers. An arm or leg can then be put through and both chambers inflated to provide quite a good splint, (blow really hard!). This could also be used to provide pressure to an open wound. This sort of effect is used to a greater effect in MAST pants (military anti shock trousers), but that is a different story.

GlowStick alternative

Glow sticks (chemical light sticks) are relatively inexpensive, last for 6-8hrs and then you throw them away. These Lazer Stik devices are LED powered, waterproof (100m), float upright and can be turned on/off when required. The 6inch wand gives off a nice broad beam so I've got hold of a red one to use as a deck light to look at my chart and general night time use. You can also make them flash if you want. In a group night time paddle they would be useful to put front and back of PFD so that everyone knows where everyone else is. I found glow sticks very bright at night and put them in a net bag to reduce their intensity. I don't know yet how bright these LED's are in comparison.

Compass Light

This was my attempt at creating a deck light to illuminate the forward mounted compass.
It has the additional use of being able to secure some plastic/drybag as an emergency hatch cover if needed.
I used a red "Guardian" LED light threaded onto a short length of webbing, then stitched a double length of bungee to go around the hatch cover rim.

It sits nice and securely inside the rim of the cover so wont easily get washed off. (A small piece of string attached to the tab on the hatch acts as a safety just in case).
The red light was chosen to give illumination but not to reduce the effect on loss of night vision,

There is very little light spill from outside of the compass well. The image below is from the front right looking back, from the cockpit there is no glare at all from the light.

Illuminating

To make the most of my kayaking down time, I've been getting stuff together to enhance my night time paddling experience. The SOLAS self adhesive tape has now arrived. Now if I am in the beam of anyones light, glow like a glowing thing I shall. Love the way that stuff reflects light.

Came across a few interesting tiny waterproof lights. The Guardian (above), which is really tiny (41 x 33 x 33mm 20g). It is described as "Rugged-designed to withstand being driven over by an average car". Why?

Useful design traits however are the fact that it is water proof (100m), is very very tiny, batteries last for ages, easy to use with cold hands. You can make it flash but this requires the batteries to be turned around, not recommended out on the boat. It comes in White, Red, Yellow, Green, Blue and Infrared. You can apparently see the light, so to speak, from up to 2km at the front and 0.5km from the side. All this for less than £8 and that includes batteries.