Welcome To Go Sea Kayak

Welcome To The Go Sea Kayak Blog...
This Blog is A Record Of My Personal Adventures And Wonderful Kayaking Lifestyle. It Is Also A Taster Of What You Can Expect If You're Adventurous Enough To Tag Along. Why Not Get In Touch And Join One Of Go Sea Kayaks Guided Trips On The Beautiful Mediterranean Island Of Sardinia, You Won't Regret it!

Thursday, 24 March 2011

A Beacon Of Hope...

Another fabulous sunny day, I'm getting a bit jammy with the fab weather up here in North Wales. I haven't been Idle the last couple of day's either, they were just training sessions for my around Wales trip & not worth Blogging. I've promised myself to practice rolling every day & without using a nose clip. Tuesday I had a splash about in Trwyn Y Penrhyn & yesterday in Bull Bay. The rolls are coming along nicely(ish)...




Having done a reccae from the cliff top I had a fair idea what to expect as I headed out of Borthwen, on a calm day like this you can clearly see the currents & eddys on the water, & they can hit 4 knots through here...
 Had to go in, I can't resist a cave...


Time for a rest at Trearddur Bay, felt like summer until I waded into the water (Brrrrr), not looking forward to rolling practice later ...


Back underway & I decide not to hop from headland to headland & to just aim for the furthest cutting out several bays. Despite heading into the dying flood tide I still made just over 4 knots...

 I chose to head out to & around Rhoscolyn Beacon & hoped the turning tide didn't throw up any surprises in the overfall however unlikely that was...
Cheesy does it!

The Tower marking the entrance back into Borthwen. Bloody great, thats gonna mean more rolling practice (Ice cream head here I come) :(
Not a huge paddle, about 7 miles all in but a great day out that's left me hungry for more, hmmm, where too next???

Monday, 21 March 2011

Puffin Island...

Today's route & I'm playing it safe. There's monster tides running today, Probably the biggest of the year so the tides will be running at quite a pace. Back home in South wales I would be quite happy as I know my local stretch, but around here I ain't so sure. I plan to leave three hours before high water pushing against the tide by staying close to shore & then to ferry-glide across to the Island. I do this as I don't want to be pushing against the tide on the way back just incase I can't make it. It's a short route, just five miles from Trwyn Y Penrhyn around Puffin Island & Back. Hope I've judged the tides right, there's some nasty overfalls near to the Island...

 The scenery around here is amazing, I've rather fallen in love with this beautiful Island...

First sight of Puffin Island & I'm watching to see what the sea is upto, feeling a bit apprehensive as it can hit 4 knots between the mainland & the Island on tides like today's...

Approaching Twryn Du Lighthouse I can see that the water is moving but can't tell how fast? I push out into the flow feeling as I go. Turns out it ain't to bad & only a slight ferry-glide was required...
 Nearly there, I'm happy to get the camera out soon as I pass the main flow...
I spot a Seal by the rock & paddle closer, Turns out it was not alone as I was surrounded by about 20 Seals. I try taking a shot as one comes right along side me when I'm shaken by a whack, another Seal was trying to get onto the back of my kayak! Where as I'm quite happy being around Seals I really didn't fancy a capsize so I push on...

 I'm followed by a group of Seals along the length of the Island, I chance getting the camera out again & this lovely Lady? popped along side...
As I passed a large group of Seals on the beach some of them, big bull Seals got in the water to investigate. I gave them a wide berth...




The trip back to my van without incident & I enjoyed practicing my forward paddling stroke into the slight headwind :)

Sunday, 20 March 2011

3 Star Training (Anglesey)...

Just had a fabulous weekend on Anglesey doing my '3 Star sea Kayak' training & Assessment which I'm over the moon to have passed.
I did my training with Roger from Coastal Spirit who I'd highly recommend.
Photo courtesy of Roger...
Day One & we headed out from Bull Bay & paddled to Hell's Mouth & back on the North East of the Island & back again. We kept stopping along the way for various practice sessions with myself & Jill being put through our paces...


Day two & we were in the Menai Straight in pretty strong winds, it was quite an eye opener as at one point we were surfing in following sea's whilst ferry gliding across the current.




 A fab weekend, just looking at the map to see whats next. No rush to head back south :)





Wednesday, 2 March 2011

First Blood...

First Blood for my New (second hand) Valley Nordkapp. I invite Stuart for the test paddle, the idea being a splash around Sully Island or may be Lavernock as the weather was quite changeable with high winds & showers & A force 4-5 sea state. In the end, we ended up paddling to Cardiff Bay & back (about 8 Nautical miles)...

The first launch & full of anticipation as to how my new boat is gonna handle...
Strange having a yellow boat...
Stuart take's a piccie of my smugness...


Really feeling the wind all the way from Lavernock to Penarth, was really hard work but I couldn't stop grinning. I was in a Nordkapp :)
Getting ready to shoot the pier...

Stuart showing off...


Rainbows at the Bay, looks calm enough but the wind nearly blew me over at one point...
Approaching the 'Rannies' at Lavernock I start scanning the horizon, hunting out waves, looking for my thrill. In this wind it could be a wild ride & I wasn't to be disappointed. As I got closer I found them, found the waves I was looking for. I turn sharp left heading straight towards the confused waves this area is known for. Paddling hard, slightly side on as I move further from the shore to hit the biggest set. I hit the first wave with a reassuring lift as I climb up the face & smash back down the other side submerging my bow. On through the waves I push, Glancing back to see if Stuart is still 'sunny side up', He's fine. All too soon the waves subside but I spot another set further out, paddling hard again, I'm gonna get them, rising up the wave again, yeehaa! this is what sea kayaking is all about. As I clear the last wave I settle back into a steady stroke, body shakey from the adrenalin. A proper test of my new boats ability, not huge waves but plenty enough for a thrill. I love the Rannies!
Another squall shower in the distance, I keep wishing they'd come right over me, let me feel the power of nature.

Back at Sully Island I pass my camera to Stuart so he could film me rolling. As I'm going under I hear Stuart saying 'hold on'. Too late, I'm under & I roll back up, just about. I decide to try again evan though the water was bloody freezing, stuart filmed it OK this time, shall we call it a clamber back on deck roll? (Whoops). Stuart nailed a roll too which was cool...
The weather finally clears up, what a wonderful day & what a wonderful new boat...