Isle of Mull Sea Kayaking ...Holiday!

The first self catering 5 star accommodation sea kayaking course was to the Isle of Mull and Sonja, Barry and myself were heading up the programme for 9 keen paddlers.  Five days sea kayaking with one day off.  Cooking in teams for 3 nights and eating out on the others.  What follows is an insight into the first two days ...

The first day was out of Loch Tuath to Calgary Bay, about 20k and with an increasing F3 SE wind.  This allowed the group to adjust and get used to conditions and see the coastline passing by ...  Its a beautiful place ....

Our 2nd day with a light NW F2 and increasing to F3/4 as the day went on was to paddle either out to Staffa, taking in Gometra and Ulva (39k) or round Gometra and Ulva (34k).   We started as one team, and Sonja led an on the water stretching session as bodies were tight after the previous day.

We soon saw our first otter and latter a super few of a sea eagle.

After our main break we then moved into our two teams.  The wind was now about F3 ...
fresh but bright and Jon, Sedge, Tracy and Andy, Nick and Douglas were on for Staffa, while Kath, Ann, Sandra, Sonja and Barry continued round Gometra ...
 

Having been out to Staffa once before, I wasn't really prepared for Fingal's cave.  My previous trip, was on the rapid development expedition, 1.5 years ago, but due to 2mt swell and shallow reefs we hadn't been able to get that close.  The sun was beaming into the  entrance of the cave and the light was reflecting of the surface of the water and bouncing round the ceiling of the cave.  It was totally magic and very special ....

We crossed back to Gometra after another break with all keeping a good ferry glide angle in the increasing F3/4 wind ...

The South side of Ulva, had stunning rock formations ....  and an hour or so later we were out of the wind and looking up at Ben More, with great light and colours ...

The Gometra and Ulva team, also had a top day, with it being the biggest mileage paddled for many and traffic scenery ...

We all returned to our start, tired and satisfied and on the hill side we were greeted by two Golden Eagles, soaring above.  What a top day ...

Roger

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Sunshine and Cloudy Skies - IntroMediate sea kayaking

Mark, Jo and Helen back for another few days summers sea kayaking, but sadly Helen had twisted her back .... After a chat, we headed for the West side of the Straits to avoid the swell and wind.  We worked on inside and outside edged turns, with emphasising the body  ....

And had a exploration as we paddled towards Britannia Bridge ...

The flow had just started to ebb as we got there so it was a great opportunity to introduce stern rudders as we had a gentle wind against tide ...

We even managed to meet up with Helen for lunch ... happy days!

Rhoscolyn for the 2nd day and a refresher of the previous day and looking for more edge!!

Although it was initially F4 from the W, it was due to settle to F2/3 and become sunnier ...  We did a couple of circuits of a small island on the edge of the bay, really pushing inside/low brace turns and then paddling back up using stern rudder to correct and control boat angle ...

A short lunch break and the decision was to head on to Silver Bay, which would allow the skills learnt and practised so far to be put into a journeying context.

Another short break and then due to good skill development and light winds we paddled out to Rhoscolyn Islands, and sat watching a young seal who seemed just as interested in us ...

I guess the photo below says it all as we paddled back into the bay!!

Mark was on for some fun and balance and he did pretty well ....

The final day was in the East part of the Menai Straits due  to an unsettled and F4/5 forecasted winds ...
Eddy turns, stern rudders and ferry glides ....

Sunshine, clouds and a few showers, but it was really warm ...  then a paddle back to the boat yard and a drink on the balcony at Dylan's, while we reflected on the last few days wrapped up a good few days.  Hope that back settles down and is good soon, Helen.

Roger

Intromediate sea kayaking
A gentle introduction to swell, wind, current and surf  ....