South West Sea Kayak Meet 2009 - day 1

Taking the day off work I share a lift with Richard to get down to East Prawle on the south coast of Devon to partake in a weekend of paddling, entertainment and scialising. Mark Rainsley, after the successful launch last year of his guide book on paddling the South West, decided to run an informal gathering of paddlers to take in some of this wonderful coastline. The only problem is that when we arrive at East Prawle in the afternoon we can't see very much at all. The fog is so thick you can hardly see 50 feet in front.

Unperturbed, Richard and I pitch our tents and head off to find an early evening paddle before the main event starts tomorrow. Launching from the pebbled Blackpool Sands beach we head east into the fog towards Dartmouth, rock hopping and exploring on the way.

Memorial near Meg Rocks 

We came across this memorial cross fixed to the rocks, but didn't get close enough to read the inscription. Neither of us have been able to find any information about it yet.

Kingswear Castle at the entrance to the Dart

Richard took some photos of the interesting little finds we made on the way.

A fairly short little paddle but none the less was a good appetite whetter - that ensured a thirst needed satisfying at The Pigs Nose . . .

"What... is your name?"

Finishing a lovely (and well deserved) pint at the Newport Boat Club in Parrog I dart across country from Poppet Sands to arrive at the Lobster Pot Inn at Marloes. Preparations are to be made here for a second day’s paddling down in Pembrokshire.

I meet up with a merry band of paddlers to indulge in a few beers, late tucker and to browse over maps and charts, before paddling proceedings begin in the morning– a trip out to Skomer Island.

The last time I was here, apart from being filled with anxiety over Jack Sounds reputation, I was also a little late to take in the ground tunnel antics of the nesting puffins at close hand. Not so this time, on both accounts. This time it’s earlier in the season and I expect to see the puffins up close and personal.

Morning sees myself, Claire, Mark, and Chris launch from Martin's Haven. I'm trying out a glass version of my trusty plastic Capella. Shiny and rigid, I quite like the feedback that the boats stiffness gives me.


We go down with the flow of the ebbing tide, through the Sound, before crossing over to the south side of Skomer. This way we have by-passed the more confused larger water of the tide race, and begin to explore the base of the cliffs.

Plenty of different bird life to observe and get close to on the water.

Guillemot

Puffins taking off and landing are most comical to watch

It's not long before we reach Seal Hole, where we quickly become the observed, and followed.

Grey seal in pursuit - at a distance

Mew Stone

Once we reach the Mew Stone, the ground swell that has been building up over the last day makes its presence known. We decide not to go around to face the brunt of the Atlantic and return in the relative sheltered water.

Paddling through the cave on the east side of The Neck will take you from the southern shore to northern side at the right state of tide and with some lucky timing. (This explains the little 'overland' track on the gps track - was in fact underland.)

Climbing up the steep path from the jetty to the top of Skomer I saw the sight of a man running at full speed to intercept us. The man now stood at the top of the winding path like the bridgekeeper from the Python’s Holy Grail - Bridge of Death scene. . . . the comedy of it, I half expected

“What . . . is your name? What . . . is your quest? and What . . . is your favorite colour?”

No such thing, it was the resident warden, receipt book in hand, demanding our landing fees. Some extortionate price was mentioned. . . good grief, didn't he know we had just taken our life in our own hands and paddled here. . . from the mainland as well - for gods sake do we have to pay? Neither of us had any cash. Diplomatically Chris put the warden at ease - negotiated our payment when we returned to Martin's Haven. So on trust we were let onto the island. Our puffin quest now unhindered we meet up with the remainder of the group who had taken a leisurely trip over on the boat, and go to watch the comical puffins come in to feed their young.

For puffin good photos

The trip track

In search of The Witches Cauldron

Richard's description of his journey to the Witches Cauldron provided the inspiration for this trip.

Arriving at Newport Pembs, I was surprised to find the place full up with kayakers! Should have guessed really that on a Bank Holiday weekend down here there may be a bit of sport on. It was the Newport Bay Spring Festival.


We followed a mass of kayakers out of the Nyfer estury, where we parted company by heading up the coast north towards Cardigan, as they went south on their race.

What an interesting coastline we had in store for us.


Towering cliffs, in places over 150m in height, lined the coastline. They have fantastic cross sectional patterns. The wavy strata looks to have been buckled under great forces of some other time.

I know nothing about rocks, but even so, it didn't stop me being transfixed by these weird shapes in some child like way.


With only a few exit points between the almost continuous cliff line, this is a committing trip.


A few caves were dotted along the way to provide the usual distraction,


and a well formed arch to shoot through with the swell.


The swell and wind had picked up quite quickly. Stopped to take a few photos and to start to look for the entrance to the cauldron, before I knew it I was a fair way behind the group, so aborted the cauldron seek to do a bit of catch up. Hywel, Adrian and Steve had continued on to get around Cemaes Head for some shelter.

We woke up a few seals who were asleep bobbing at the back of the cave.

Arriving at Poppit Sands, our journeys end, the swell had picked up enough on the incoming tide to provide a good sized wave to end with a bit of surfing. What more could you ask for at the end of a very picturesque paddle. Shall have to return another day to find out if there is any broth in that Witches Cauldron!
10Nm (19km)

Boys heading out to the buoys

Jim, Neil and self head out with the ebbing tide from Llantwit Major beach. There is a little surf breaking on the spit as we launch from the plateaux to the east. The sun is out in a cloudless blue sky, a little bit of swell, this looks like a superb paddling day.

Reynard's Cave at Tresilian beach

To begin we tucking in and follow the shore westward, pop in for a visit to Reynard's Cave at Tresilian. Passing Nash Point lighthouse and move on out to East Nash buoy to pick up the Nash passage rush.

Approaching Nash Point lighthouse

East Nash cardinal buoy

From here we head on over Nash Sand Bar and out to the channel. With the following sea we get a few nice pick me up surfs on our way out to the Mid Nash buoy. We are now about 6km offshore, and it is just fantastic being out here.

Mid Nash Cardinal buoy about 6km offshore

Journey continues towards Tusker Rock which is fully submerged, marked close by with the red danger buoy.

Tusker danger buoy

We are joined at Tusker Rock for a short while by a seal who popped up and followed us for a bit towards Porthcawl.



Yes indeed. A very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

10.6Nm (a shade under 20km) trip with a nice 6.5 knot kick through Nash Sound.

Paddling with company

We've all probably done it, put out a call to your mates; anyone want to come along for a paddle? Before long there are a bunch of you on a trip. By default, if you like it or not have you become a "leader of sorts"? True or not?

They are grown ups able to make their own decisions, right? Yes but you but them in a situation didn't you by calling them up for a paddle. Did they check the weather, the route, check out the dangers, have they made a judgement if the paddle is suitable for them, or are they coming along on the same basis as going for a stroll in the park.

I had expected that faced with being put in a potential life threatening situation most people would have concerns regarding their own self preservation. It seems not with group behavior. Paddling as a group, is there an expectation that it is safer, and does this delay bringing to the fore any apprehension or fear? Certainly paddling in a group can be safer. More resources to call on, possibly more options available. But bad group paddling must bring with it some element of danger of its own. I mean bad as in a group that are mismatched in some or many ways. Objective, fitness, experience, expectation would be some of the things that first come to mind.


There are many reasons for people to go out kayaking: rockhopping; sightseeing; mellow social paddle; taking time lots of stops for photos; vigorous A to B and many others.

Knowing the other padddlers expectations and objectives for a trip would go a long way to making it a safer proposition.

I never really considered many of these things in planning trips.


I got to thinking about roles, responsibilities, expectations and the leader by default thing and realised that this was quite a complex issue. Group paddling can get really difficult the more you start to think about it. At the end of the day I realised I knew very little about the whole group issue, so decided to seek out a bit of training in leadership on the water.

I had occasion to see Nige Robinson in operation when he was charged with overseeing the running of the Stackpole Sea Kayak Festival last year. Since, relatively speaking, he was just down the road I fixed up a week end of BCU 4 star leader training with him.

It felt a little bit like doing advanced driving. Mentally quite intense, felt at times as if I were projecting myself into and trying to paddle, everyones boat at once, running through “what if scenarios” all in parallel. Was an excellent weekend though.

smurff . . .

. . . just can't get enough. Really enjoying the Impulse. Compared to the Maverick it has loads of volume at the back so being cartwheeled on the out is a thing of the past, and my feet still have blood circulating after 10mins! Comfort. Ah you could probably fall asleep in it.

Sometimes it goes very wrong, but then that's part of the fun of it

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