Go Sea Kayak Blog: Tyla Images Expedition Around Wales Day 18...

Monday, 18 July 2011

Tyla Images Expedition Around Wales Day 18...

Hells Mouth To Porth Dinllaen...

I've been dreading this day since the moment I came up with my around Wales Idea. The tip of the Lleyn is a daunting challenge & deserves respect.

I set of at 9AM & slowly made my way to Porth Meudwy 7NM away, hopping from headland to headland along the way. I planned to head around the tip on the young flood & had plenty of time to get there so I was in no rush.

Arriving at Porth Meudwy I still had half an hour to wait before I could go.

I have to admit that I was rather nervous & blowing out frequently like there was an inflatable paper bag against my lips (LOL).

Once around Pen Y Cil there was some quite obvious flow, not all going in the same direction. I hit a few overfalls early on but the waves were tiny & quite playful. It was going well & I was hugging the cliffs real close as the main current was still ebbing, maybe I'm a bit too over cautious?
I crossed some small bays feeling for any opposing flow & checking my speed on my GPS as I went, (still blowing out occasionally (LOL).

I bumped into another kayaker, Jim, near the tip & going the other way on the last of the ebb. Strange to think I just wanted to get around the corner to the safer water & her I was chatting about kayaking.

It did finally get interesting as I approached Braich Y Pwll overfall. It was quite bumpy & I was enjoying the ride till I tried to get round the point. The ebb hit me & I was being sucked back towards some standing wave that I'm sure weren't there a moment ago. I had to paddle hard, really hard to break free.
The rest of the journey to the next exit, Porth Oer was thankfully uneventful.

Relieved & very chuffed to be at Porth Oer again I contemplated setting up camp early but the sea was too calm to waste & the flow was now going in my direction.
I treated myself to a cheese & tomato panini & a cafe latte in the cafe there, (bliss).

Back underway & I decided to head for Porth Dinllaen to camp on the beach there. I encountered some bumpy water as the tide raced around the headlands but nothing to worry about.
It was the last 3-4 miles that were to get a bit worrying. The wind got stronger & stronger in my face & the wind against tide conditions were getting scary.
I looked at my options & decided to stay well out from the shore & use the tide to get me there quicker.
Despite the strong headwind I was making 3.5 - 4 Knots & evan 5 Knots for a short while.
I was paddling hard & the kayak was rising on the waves & smashing down into the next ones.

The last time I paddled at Porth Dinllaen it was quite calm & the overfalls at Carreg Ddu were quite bumpy evan then, I was dreading what they'd be like in these conditions.

Reaching the headland at Porth Dinllaen I rested & ate a snickers in the lee of the headland preparing myself for rounding the tip.
The overfalls were pretty impressive but I hugged the shore tightly & avoided the worst of them.
What I hadn't counted on were the big swells steepening into waves as I approached the lifeboat station. It would of been scary but the lifeboat men were ready for a launch & were watching me.
I landed right next to the station & got the camera ready to catch the launch. Fab time for the batteries to die (LOL).

There was nowhere to camp near the station so I got back in my boat & made my way across to the main beach to set up camp.

What An Amazing Day!!!

GEEK STATS...

Trip Odom 23.3 Nautical Miles, (26.8 Statute)

Max Speed 6.7 Knots

Average Speed 3.3 Knots

Time Moving 07:03:43