Day 32 Ireland

Toast just tastes so good! We had a leisurely start after our later night. 24nm and camped West of Melmore Head. We had 2 hours into a headwind this morning and then the wind eased. We landed on Inishbofin for lunch and even found a table to use! The island though was very quiet and it had an uneasy feeling about it. We've tended to have current against us and by late afternoon I was feeling sluggish. Andy used their 1:50000 to locate a narrow channel which had good level grass close to the beach. We've just repacked the boats for a 0530 start to attempt to get around Malin Head just after midday ahead of the bad weather.

Thursday night and close to our camp

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

Day 20 Ireland

After a super evening and night cap with Harold, Betty was up cooking us an Irish breakfast to set us up for the day. Big thanks for looking after us so well. We were on the water after 9am and started our first crossing to Kerry Head. We had a F4 against us and an ebbing tide.........oh hum.......! Sometimes that's just how it is. We took a longer break at the headland before crossing the Snannon. There was a good swell running as we crossed and much steeper waves as we got closer to Loop Head. The cliffs, rock formations and birds were stunning. At 4pm we came across a potential landing and camp but we now had tide with us! We paddled on..................It wasn't until after 7pm that we found another suitable site! 3.5 hours of paddling in reflected waves and clapotis today. Very tiring and the longest Ive paddled in before. Wind is supossed to be going west tomorrow so this could help us up to the cliffs of Moher.

Leaving our hosts Harold and Betty Whelan at Fahamore













Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 15 Ireland Circumnavigation

On the water at 6.30 to start our 12 nm crossing to the Skelligs. The approach was stunning with alpine mountain tops poking out of the sea and 30,000 pairs of Gannets. A hundred or so soared above us...magic. Justine managed thirty minutes on the island in between the tourist boats arriving and saw the bee hive huts and thousands of Puffins only a metre away!

(We then had a 20nm crossing to the north east tip of Great Blasket.) One of the tourist boats mentioned a gale warning..time for us to go. the wind was mainly on our backs F3/4 and then James who had chosen to join us pointed at the sea and on cue 15 Risso's Dolphins surged forwards..fantastic.what a day!

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Ireland and Day 14!

Later on Friday night (yesterday) another paddler arrived! His name was James and he had 6 weeks off to paddle and explore Ireland. Today we were up at 05.30, it was calm and clear. Paddling past Mizen Head with the Fastnet lighthouse to the left we crossed to Dursey Island and had lunch. We decided on an Island camp tonight on Deenish Island. 32 nautical miles and a happier Barry! Hoorah! Its a good grassy camp...

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

6th day of paddling around Ireland

After breakfast with Mick's whole family and various admin tasks we were on the water by 11.30. Winds were generally ok apart from when a squall came crashing through. As with earlier in the week we had another  heavy hail shower. Paddled on until 8pm, making up our time and camping at a cove just west of Mine Head. A light tea of salami, couscous and red pepper, washed down with a nice mug of tea..............

Sonja

www.coastalspirit.com

Ireland Day 5

Super day today, weve been put up by a paddler that previously held the record and have a chicken casserole with spuds!

Sky blue calm day today, kept close to the shore as the tide was against us at the start and made our way to Kilmore Quay and with an hours wait the "chippy" was open!! Beer battered haddock and top chips!!! Back on the water and heading for the "Saltees" and the Gannets colony. Amazing..! We paddled to the large Saltee, got on the tide and headed across to Hook Head, our first bigger open crossing.

Justine had a call earlier in the week from Mick O Meara about picking us up and the offer of showers and a floor to sleep on. Justine gave him a bell whilst we were on the water and we aimed for Ballymacaw 5 nautical miles away. Got there just before 21.00 and Mick soon arrived. Fab evening and so welcoming...big thanks Mick.

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 4 Ireland Circumnavigation

Relaxed start to the day, crossing was super with gannets soaring in the wind and over 100 seals bathing on a sandbar. Landed just round from Carnsore Point covering the 12 miles in 2hrs 10 due to a gentle  F3 and a following sea. Staying put here for a bit, Justine's not feeling too hot and Ive developed a rub. Time for a mug of tea..................



Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Coastal Spirit Rapid Development Expedition Skye Thursday 18th April

Following the earlier tent epics Gary, Zoe and Roger relocated to a nice cosy hostel to escape the incessant wind and rain!

Thursday had a relaxed start to the day, with a good breakfast, sorting of kit in the drying room, book reading and out by 11. Plan was to find some surf, due to more strong winds (and more rain ..). The first potential venue had more wind than surf so the group headed off to Glen Brittle Bay, a long shot but the swell might just have reflected round the coast. 

They got lucky! Around 2ft and with a small bar, which increased and steepened a wave.

 A super day made out of the bad weather. 
Their aim is to be out early tomorrow and get a paddle out to Soay Island and Loch Corursk. 

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Wind blown surf and tidal flow paddling

Zoe was down for the day and i was able to pick her up from Bangor station and then on to some breakfast as I talked through the weather forecast.  F5-7 from the E, with heavy rain, brightening up latter as the wind went more SE and decreased, in strength.  So a two venue day would make sense, surf and then flow!

We drove to two venues on the east coast, Benlech and Treath Bechan.  The 2nd was better as the bay was slightly protected and the waves were steeper, but as it was run high water there was little beach left and a lot of rocks!  Benlech on the other hand had much more space, despite being messy.  We worked with a couple of runs with feed back breaks in between, while I also did a couple of demo runs and took lots of photos, so Zoe could view latter.

Aim was inside edged stern rudder and blending into inside edge to leave the wave and running right, so as to avoid being blown down wind (yep ... there was more South in the wind!)  It was great seeing how Zoe had progressed, with confidence and skill.  Her reaction were great and it was a tough place to be working ...

A quite moment ... while I was on the water (photo taken by Zoe)

There was a couple of other guys out, also catching waves ...  back in the car park, boats on the roof and time for some lunch and tea at the cafe and uploading photos to Zoe's lap top, so we could talk through.  Then on to Menai Bridge, and the swellies for some tidal paddling.

The Straits was on the flood, so was flowing against us and provided a great task of eddy hopping up and then powering forward, towards Britannia Bridge.  Zoe led a good line and then once at the bridge, we did a couple of ferry glides, before I then led, into a couple of faster eddies.

The sun was now out and turning into a beautiful afternoon, and I set a number of circuits, increasing the precision and difficulty as I went.

Zoe leaving an eddy and working her way back across the main flow.  A super and varied day for Zoe, who has really developed and moved forwards.  Zoe now has chosen to join our Guide and Performance Training Programme

Interested in doing something similar? then contact me for more details ...

Roger
www.coastalspirit.com
info@coastalspirit.com

guide and performance sea kayaking
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north wales sea kayaking