Too Fresh For Rescue's (part 2)...

After yesterday's awesome paddle & early rise I could have happily stayed in bed this morning. instead I was up at 07:30 to meet Pete & Gareth who wanted to run through some rescues.

Hmmm, been here before, they'll soon change their mind when they put their pinkies in the water, & they did :D

Instead we chose to do some towing & see what else turns up. As it happened some good opportunities arose to teach reading the currents.

I pop off for a warm up Whilst Gareth & Pete get ready. A reasonably high tide is showing at the fixed cardinal mark.

 The ladies are finally ready ;D

 A quick look at the old harbour wall to warm up.

 Barry Island.

A nice bit of flow at the tip of Nell's Point. I explain to Gareth that this is why I made good progress staying closer in whist he worked up a sweat further out.

 Smoother in the lee of Barry Docks entrance.

Then on to Bendricks rock, amazingly a fisherman had trapped himself intentionally on this small rock that can be accessed at low water.

With some nice flow, (a little more than I think they were expecting) it was a good location for rock hopping & experimenting with turns in a dynamic environment. Gareth was having fun.

 A good place for scraping your hull too.

 Time for Gareth to practice some towing.

 "Yeah, If you could just take me back to the car".

OK, so he wasn't falling for that one :D

More tidal tips on the way back as I sat in the swirly flowing water off Nells point easily leaving the other two behind who were working hard just out of the main flow. Well I did say follow me :D
I waited for them to catch up, Gareth was first & surprised how fast we were going without paddling. Gotta love the Bristol Channel...

Playing It Safe...

Interesting one this, I'd planned to meet Stuart at the Knap at 'Stupid 'O' Clock' & get a lift in his van to Rest Bay in Porthcawl & paddle back.

The weather wasn't great, strong winds, sea state 4 & rest Bay facing the action, hmmm?

Ready to launch into the surf at Rest bay. Its still quite dark hence the blurry image from Stu. In fact I got loads of images of me from Stu, Cheers butty :)

We dabbled in the surf for a while, not committing fully while we thought about what we were doing. The waves were breaking far from shore & it was well messy out there, we had to make a decision.

after a playful few minutes we decided to bail. The chances of a swim were quite probably & we would then of got swept onto the rocks, wouldn't be nice.

Also on our mind was Nash Point, it these conditions it was likely to be huge?

Plan B, after much deliberating we opted for launch at Llantwit, it was a good choice.

Stuarts obviously pleased we aborted the scary water.

 Though there still a good swell here & lots of surfing opportunities.

Going...

Gone...

See what I gotta put up with :)

My turn to disappear...

Aberthaw...

 Time to head out to the tower.

I'd left it a little late & it looked like the tide would push me straight into the side of the tower so I went left instead & missed most of the fun :(

The Rockfall at Fontagary...

Barry Old Harbor...

We were both feeling the cold during the break so we pushed on to bendricks Rock having an absolute hoot surfing the swells.

 Stuart thinking about it?

 Hmmm, not just yet.

 Go Go Go!

 Yeehaa! He seems pleased with that :)

I wanted to practice my rolls but Stuart wanted pretty pictures & asked me to go by the lifeboat. Strangely there were two lifeboats here today?

 The eery calm of a downpour.

 Then back into the swells off Nells point for some more surfing :)

And a postcard view of Nells Point coastwatch station to finish an absolutely awesome day out...

Cruising For Boys...

Errr, I meant Buoys, honest :O

Back in South Wales again for this one & nice to get out far a paddle with Stuart again.

We were planning a one way today & with my van left in Penarth we drove to the Knap in Stuarts van, bugs an all ;D

It was a lot calmer than the forecast indicated which was a bit of a shame. Not only did I fancy a little play but I could of asked a few of the Glam Boaters along if I knew it was gonna be this calm.

 Passing the entrance to Barry Dock with a good strong wind on our backs.

 With the tide right out we would have to pass the South-side of Sully Island.

We were contemplating Flat Holm in the distance when the coastguard weather forecast came in on the radio with a forecast for strong winds. With the North Westerly wind we would be paddling into the wind to get back to Penarth, didn't fancy that much. That combined with just a couple of hours daylight left & we decide against it.

 And had a rest on St Mary's Bay Sandbar.

 Then off again to cruise for boys, sorry buoys ;D

 First Lavernock Outfall.

Then Rannie.

 Then playtime, I spotted a reef-break & couldn't resist.

Couldn't resist pinching a few images of Stuarts blog either, cheers Stu ;D

Stuart took a cracking shot of me rolling. I thought with my 5 star assessment booked for February I'd better get some practice in, about 5 rolls on each side.

Then time to get dry :)