Riding The Squall...

After the relentless high winds in the last month I thought it time to take the sea back from Poseidon's grip. Poseidon on the other hand had other plans, we were about to be humbled.

Shortly after launch Stuarts radio crackled into life, 'FORCE 8 IMMANENT' the coastguard was warning. It was 5-6 where we were paddling & the warning was meant for further West but it was a warning worth listening to. We had planned to ride the storm to Penarth & back but after assessing the conditions it seemed wise to just play & develop our rough water skills around Sully.

I've put together a video to show just how wild it was. No music this time, just the raw sound of nature. Oh, & an expletive as I tested my low brace :D

For A better quality video go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndCLkP2Na2k
After a lairy paddle in the full force of the squall we decided to sit it out & reassess our plans.

A quick hop to Ball Rock seemed good as we wanted some rougher water to play in.

The swell building all the time as it rises over St Mary's Bay sandbar.

Playing in the surf on Ball Rocks tiny causeway, had to be careful though, its deceptively shallow here.

All's calm in the Bay as we hide from the wind & enjoy the serenity of the raindrops uniting with the sea.

Back in the rough stuff again & we're heading for Sully Island again, searching out some surf.

We weren't disappointed, bloody nervous if I'm honest, upto one metre standing waves had formed on the causeway. Luckily I was filming when I capsized & evan luckier to roll up. Would have been a nightmare to perform rescues in these conditions & I was glad too that Stuart stayed sunny side up.

Back in the comfort of my van I can enjoy the sound of the rain on my roof & gaze out to sea with a cup of tea in hand, reflecting on an unusually short but fab trip...

Groundhog Day...

Sometimes history repeats itself, often for good reason.

I first did this paddle a few months back with Stuart, almost as an afterthought, (The Pagan Monk Blog Post). We were setting off to Steep Holm & Flat Holm Island but we wondered if we could cut across the tide to Monkstone lighthouse on route. Turns out we could & it was my favorite trip so far. In fact I think it should become a classic sea kayaking route as it can hold its head up with anywhere else this country has to offer.

The weather was fantastic today, a one day window in the crappy low pressure & high winds that are probably driving us all a bit mad.

With such a good day it would be rude not to do a bit of an epic & repeat my favorite trip solo this time.

I'm testing my newly installed knee supports today, how can one the best sea kayaks ever made come with such pathetic knee supports, my knees don't evan go there???

I practiced a few rolls in Penarth to get me limbered up & set off for Monkstone, three miles away, not looking back once. I was on a mission.

I made it to Mid Cardiff Buoy without ant prob's though it was clear that the tide still had a strong flow.

After squeezing my kayak over Cardiff Grounds sandbank, touching bottom with my paddle as I went I continued on to Monkstone Lighthouse.
I've been holding 4-5 knots till this point & now I was pushing hard to reach 2 knots. The sea had taken on the appearance of a river, flowing quickly under my kayak. The lumpier bit looked a little slower so I headed into it & set course for the lighthouse.

Leaving Monkstone I saw the tide ripping around the rocky outcrop that the lighthouse sits on. I headed straight for it hitting a pleasing 7 knots.

A quick look back at this very special place & then onwards to Steep Holm some 5 miles away.

Totally knackered I arrive at Steep Holm, I made a steady 6 knots getting here but was fighting the tide as I got closer as I'd drifted a little West. I was pushing 1 knot to get around the East side of the Island to land.

I didn't stop long as I needed to make Flat Holm near to high water. I enjoyed the views & wildlife on the North side of the Island & marveled at the rudder, (the arch above) at low water. I've paddled through this at high water, wouldn't think it possible today.

Leaving Steep Holm I've 3 miles to cover to reach Flat Holm, I make slow progress, averaging 3 knots.

My body's crying out for fuel by now, I've been drinking lots & had a snickers on Steep Holm but I'm needing more so I take some time out to refuel & stretch out my muscles. A look at the time shows I'm behind Schedule as the tide turned 45 mins ago.

A bearing of 297︒ gets me close enough to Cardiff South Buoy, it basically marks a straight line between Flat Holm & Penarth & show I'm near enough on course. I hold this bearing till penarth which at 5 knots is getting closer all the time.

I practiced a few more rolls & sweeps, relishing my newly effective knee supports before loading up the van & looking back at the distant islands that I'd been lucky enough to visit.

The Route...
As usual I took my Spot Messenger to track my progress but rather annoyingly I noticed at Steep Holm that it wasn't tracking so it only shows the route as I left Steep Holm. I've filled in the blanks on the map below.
I'm a bit gutted as I wanted to see how much I was drifting on the tide.
Guess I'll have to do it again :)

An online map including Latitude & longitude & times is available via this link for 7 days...

GEEK STAT'S...


Trip Distance 14.5NM (16.6 statute miles)

Maximum speed 7.3 knots

Moving average 3.8 knots

Time moving 03:47:17

Cardiff Bay In The Rain...

After yesterdays nakey cycle I went for a rather fab paddle around the Bay, so good in fact that when Stuart suggested the Bay again on Sunday I thought, why not.

I was paddling today with Richie & Stuart. The idea was skills & rescue practice & thats exactly what we did though for some reason only filmed the seal launches & a couple of my rolls.
In fact I think we forgot about filming Stu, (sorry mate), who did some good rolls & a self rescues. Evan a roll in my boat which he seemed quite taken with.

In all I practiced edging, leaning, sweep strokes, inside turns, cross bow rudders, high braces, c to c rolls, re entry & roll, clamber on deck & performed an x rescue. Stuart had pretty much the same idea & richie just pissed around as usual & practiced his back deck rolls.
It was a good day & we all benefited from it...

Project Nordkapp, Part 4...

Not a lot seems to have happened since the last installment, thats not through laziness, its because each stage requires me to let the resin or gelcoat to harden between jobs...

I made the new coaming which will require quite a lot os sanding before its ready for its topcoat...
Seen here mocked into place its looking a vast improvement over my first attempt. I just need to buy some glass filler to bond it into place...

I've removed most of the gel bond between the top & bottom deck & filled all the holes bar two. These two remaining holes will require a glass patch on the inside so I'll have to wait till cut the rear hatch holes. Other than these two holes she is watertight...

So whats left? Well mostly grinding out cracks & chips then filling those with gel & sanding them smooth as well as making the area around the coaming presentable & ready for the top coat. Sounds simple but its very tedious.

Then I got to fit the skeg, rear hatch, seat & bulkheads. And finally just lay on the topcoat, wet & dry & buff & buff & buff. Hmmm, maybe I should just buy a new boat???

Island Hopping Happiness...

Heading from Sully my destination today was Steep Holm & Flat Holm in order to get some training in for when I continue my Wales Trip... 

Had some fun, (again) on the West side of Sully Island, that is, once I'd pushed through the tide on the causeway as it was flowing at 90%...

 Hmmm, about another 6 miles to go...

 I was being pushed by the tide & far too close to Laverknock Spit Buoy...

Evan closer to the Mackenzie Buoy, in fact I used Hinkly point as a bearing & ferry glided across the face of the buoy with my stern just feet from it.
I could hear the tide was still ripping from the noise it made as it encircled the buoy.
Not sure now if I'd make the West side of Steep Holm, I keep Hinkly Point as my ferry angle bearing till I'm a mile & a half from the Island & then aim for the West side hoping I make it...

Nearly there & it's about to get exciting. I can see from my speed on the GPS that theres about 2 knots of tide still running around the tip of the Island & it was making the water a bit bumpy & confused. There was also some standing waves just of the rudder which I found a bit tense & held my concentration...

I pulled in on Steep Holm for a rest & err,(a number 2(well it was still only 7AM). Moments later these tourists from Weston Super Mare appeared from nowhere. A close call, would of been embarrassing (LOL)...

Back underway & heading for Flat Holm which was looking lovely in the early morning sunshine...

Whoops!, I'd lingered for to long on Flat Holm. I'd planned to leave at slack water & head straight for Laverknock but I wasn't keeping an eye on the time.
The tide had a half hour head start on me & was probably gonna win...

leaving Flat Holm I aimed straight for Laverknock. I was doing O.K. to start with but could see the landscape behind Laverknock Outfall Buoy drifting away so I decided to aim off on a bearing to get me to Sully Island. 

The weather was gorgeous by now & I was enjoying a lazy paddle back & looking forward to some skills practice on Sully causeway...

Geek stats...

Distance 12.3 Nautical Miles, (14.1 Statute Miles)

Max Speed 7.3 Knots

Moving Average 3.9 Knots

Time Moving 3 hours 8 mins

An online version including Latitude & longitude & times is available via this link for 7 days...