I love Tuesdays like these ...

Chatting with Justine and Barry on Sunday night, Tuesday's forecast was looking good for Rhosneigr and this time at the beach behind the dunes (wear the guy sells the wetsuits in the summer).  I had Olly Sander's P&H Aires and I was determined to make the most of it while he's working in Scotland.  

From the beach it really didn't look much, but occasionally a break appeared and I was excited to get on and have a play, what ever.  Phil Clegg was on his short surf board, Barry had his Avocet sea kayak and Justine was in a surf kayak

This time i was working on less speed to remain on the top of the swell, before committing to a side too run down and keeping my body more forward, particularly at impact!

Justine below coming towards us (with top blade blocking her face) and about to use the pile to cut back ...

Barry maintain super position on the lip, before hard cutting down the face ... and serious commitment to the turn ...

I then started to play about with outside edge, high stern rudder on a diagonal run ... and more of my body forward ...

Phil below and Justine paddling back out ...

It was a magic five hours and when we stopped, we all realised how hungry we were!  Big thanks to both Barry and Phil for the photos of me.  Until next time ...I can't wait!!!

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

personal paddling skills
+
sea kayak surfing

A super sunny Spring weekend ...

The advanced sea kayaking weekend, called Perform was back and so was some super sunny blue sky weather.  Zoe, Gary and Andy were on for the weekend and we were soon sat down planning the day and having a coffee.

Rhoscolyn was the original plan for some swell, wind and current.  But with a F4/5 S/SW forecast I wasn't sure it would really work and particularly for the first day. We headed for Porth Dafach, to have a good look before committing to our original plan and we were pleased we did.  It certainly was the forecast and a good  2 ft of surf in the bay and confused water.  We headed North for Cemais Bay

Zoe on the left and Andy working in the flow off Middle Mouse ... and Gary below ...

We paddled on to the brick works had the best sunny lunch shot of the year so far and then worked our way back into the bay of Hells Mouth, to catch the beginning of the early ebb and some lovely gentle and playful current ...

The weather was so lovely that another paddle out to Middle Mouse, just had to be done, before heading back into the sunshine and Cemais Bay.

Forecasts were mainly saying F3/4 S/SE, although one was still F4/5 and we were keen for some surf and swell.  A journey back to Porth Dafach, had to be done, to see if Rhoscolyn could work or we would pick to working between the bays.  

There was a good ground swell running and a mix of 2-3ft surf was channelling into the bay... but the wind was F2.  We decided to get on and work our way to Trearddur Bay and then back.

Zoe and Gary ... I was trying to capture the rise and fall of the swell,  which is all ways difficult, but an impression can be gained form this shot, above.

We stopped at at Porth Gain for early lunch and to soak up some sunshine ... before heading into Trearddur Bay to see if there was any surf ....

Andy above ... and then two of Gary and Zoe on the last couple ...

There was some good mixed surf and good runs in and I found my self saying just another 10 minutes and then another 10 mins would be OK...

We headed back to Porth Dafach, with a gentle breeze on our back's and at the entrance of the bay, I briefly parked the group close to a buoy as I paddled in to watch the surf.  Rather than settle down it had increased in size with an occasional HUGE bank of swell pushing through.  Thankfully this just had a very gentle curling top ...

We were soon at the beach and on for more surfing ... what a weekend as we packed the van and drove back to Menai Bridge and a real feeling of Spring.

Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayak surfing
+
north wales sea kayaking

Blue Sky Surfing ....

I had received a text on Sunday night, from Barry Shaw who said he'd been in contact with Phil Clegg and surf was looking good for the following morning, was i interested ....!!

I do love my job, lets face it ... even at this time of the year there's magic days out on the sea.  I do love getting out my self and playing, experimenting and keeping my skills and ability sharp.  Some shuffling round with boats and a short surf board for Phil, coffee and off to Rhosneigr, and Broad Beach.

As we drove across I was beginning to feel the excitement and anticipation.  The Wind Guru website said 1.7 mt, 14 sec swell interval and with a gentle offshore breeze, the forecast was looking perfect!

Barry taking a few waves in the Gemini SP and Phil, just making sure he's not the target ...!!

Phil above and Barry running hard and fast ...

Barry popping his head out the other side ... and below Me in the Tiderace Xtra HV, considering going right .... and committing...

It was a super Spring blue sky day, with great clean surf, friends, fun and hot chocolates to finish with.  Lets see what we can do next week!!

Roger

sea kayak surfing
+
sea kayak course's

A Weekend of Differences ...

Coffees and a bacon roll for some started the weekends InterMediate sea kayaking and turning was a focus.  The planning and where we were going to paddle was down totally to the group.  Trearddur Bay to Rhoscolyn and back, was the groups plan.  

Once on the water, focus was on inside turns, ten bow rudder, cross deck and then blending, to an inside turn to get more out of the turn. 

Jon working his way through one of the channels ...

Jon keeping eye contact with me as Tracy and Keith paddle through ...

Andy with some brief action ....

The White Arch was blocked due to lack of water, so we were unable to paddle right through, but it was still worth it looking back out ...

We were now 4 hours into the ebb, and I was surprised just how calm and silky it was.  We had a 9.7mt spring tide so despite the time  ...

Back close in for some movement, with Sonja above .... and now time for lunch ..

Heading back we picked up on a short and small section of the flood tide and did a short piece of towing and working with the flow, before heading back to or start point.


Sunday - The forecast had changed from the previous day and so our plan did also. SE 4/5 increasing 5/6 East.  A down wind run from gallows point to Menai Bridge and a play in the Swellies ... but were was the wind.  A live forecast was saying F3 NW!!

Jon heading down the Straits with the hills and mountains of Snowdonia clad in cloud!

Tracy working one of the shoots .... and we certainly had flow ...

Andy and then Jon ....

Jon hitting the flow ...and riding it through, without a low brace and channel speed with down stream edge ...

The wind never arrived but at the end of the day, to be in the Straits without the wind blowing, was great.  We had some lunch and ten eddy hoped our way back up to Menai Bridge and look forward to hot chocolates at Dylan's ;)

Roger

www.coastalspirit.com

intermediate sea kayaking
+
paddling in current