Menorca - a sea kayaking paradise and an open crossing back to Mallorca.

Following our successful paddle around Mallorca, we took a day off and managed to stay and catch up with my good friend Pete and his family.  This also allowed us to wash and sort out kit, charge phones/cameras and pause for a moment.  

Now I had heard of this but I hadn't really realised how significant this wind was ...

The strong Tramontana wind is a fairly regular feature of the region in all seasons except summer. This variant of the French Mistral wind blows NE-SW across the landscape for 3-12 days at a time, and can be bitter when the Pyrenees are covered in snow and ice. 

This we experienced the day after paddling on to the North coast of Mallorca, with big swell and increasing winds.  Yeah, it was cold too...

The forecast looked good for Tuesday and a ferry on that evening could also work.  We had the one trolly, so we would try and walk the kayaks on, one at a time.  Getting them on from Alcudia was fine and free, getting them off was more difficult!  When we arrived we had to move the sea kayaks as one unit and with full kit and 12lts of water that was going to be challenging. We got the impression the Boss guy wanted to go home!!

Theres a special feeling walking a sea kayak on to a ferry, which feels like a real adventure ...

Wishing we had brought two trollies ... after realising it was a 2km portage to the beach form the ferry port!!

Into the beautiful setting light of the day 

We played with the swell and the light on the wall, savouring the moment ...

Rounding the Southern tip, with the top light of the lighthouse and looking for a place to camp!!

Bay after bay just looked amazing and with so much wild camping potential

And yet more magical colour and clarity ...

The cliffs were smaller than Mallorca, but still stunning

Clear evidence of cave dwellings ...

A beach bar at Cala Binidall with Wifi for forecasts and a cool beer ... perfect!

Super little camp ...

Crossing the entrance of Mahon

Time for lunch ...

The final push back to our start point, and into a head wind, but with some fun swell

With the evening paddle on the first day and 3 further days we were around Menorca and to be honest i felt like going around again and this time much slower.  After Mallorca, finding places to easily camp/bivi was such a relief and the island was so green and softer.  We had been told that camp/bivi was almost part of the Menorcan culture and the problems were more with the incomers who now own property!!

We made it about 120km around, but again we were able to cross from headland to headland on the North coast, if you had to keep closer in the mileage would go up. 

We landed back at Ciutadella and discussed options.  I was super keen for the crossing, so headed off for more lunch type food and some more water, while Barry went off to the ferry port to clarify times.  We both met back at a cafe with Wifi and decided to find a sheltered bay, to camp again for the night and if the forecast held for the morning we would go for the crossing.  


Open Crossing to Mallorca

The wind was a f3 East, there about, but 3-4km limited viability.  Not ideal, but at least the wind was in a helpful direction.  The main channel was about 40km across so we felt 7 hours and that would be done, then it was about getting back to Alcudia and were my van was.  We set off on a bearing and after 1:30 hours we lost sight of land and worked on finding some rhythm ... as we left the shelter of the island swell got more confused and running at two different angles making my sea kayak more difficult to manage ...

It felt good to see the ferry from Mallorca ... 

The confused swell that was running ...

And now the ferry from Menorca ...

Now we hadn't been able to get a map that had both islands on.  This was the best we could do ... ;)


Around the 5 hour mark we saw Mallorca, but to be honest it was confusing and disorientating.  What part of the island was it?  I'd left my Mallorca map in the van.  Well it was sunny before and I could see the whole island from Menorca!

Around 7hours, 30 minutes we had reached the Southern headland of Alcudia Bay and now the job was to paddle and find the van.  10 hours 40 and over 60 km paddled,  the job was done.  Wet tired and hungry we changed and loaded the kayaks.

Pleased to be in dry clothes and on the way to find some food.  Happy days  ;)

Big thanks to P&H Custom Sea Kayaks for the Cetus mv and Hilleberg the Tent Maker for my solo tent.  For support from Reed Chillcheater for my deck and cockpit cover, Mitchel blades for my paddle and Kokatat for paddle wear.

And once again Mr Shaw, it twas fun fella  ;)

Roger

PS:  keep your eyes open for a sea kayaking expedition back out to Menorca in October 2016, with warm seas and settled winds - email me if interested - roger@coastalspirit.com

Sea Kayaking Courses this Winter and into the Spring!

The following Anglesey, North Wales courses from CoastalSpirit, have a few spaces left on them:

Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning (OWNTP) - 30th Sep or 24th October - theres no need to be going for your 5 star leader.  Have a good understanding of coastal tidal planning and keen to learn more complex planning.  Cost £90 and its a theory based day.

InterMediate sea kayaking with 3 star training (and assessment if suitable) - 3/4th October and at £160 for the weekend.  2 places left

Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning (CNTP) - 10th October and £90 for the day.  No need to be going for the 4 star leader award.  Having a basic understanding of coastal tidal planning is useful.

4 Star Leader Training - 11/12th October at £160 or with the CNTP above £230 for the 3 days. 2 places left

5 Star Leader Training - 25/26th October (incl night navigation) at £160 or with the OWNTP on the 24th Oct £230.  2 places left


Winter Sea Kayaking is at three levels, so you can get more from the course and allows you to keep those skills active, develop further and meet like minded people.  So when the Summer arrives you can go and have your own adventures ...

And may be, if were lucky, experience Anglesey and Holy Island as its rarely seen ... Gogarth Bay above

InterMediate Sea Kayaking for those working on 3 star skills:  7/8th Nov; 6/7th Feb and 12/13th March.

InterMediate Plus Sea Kayaking is for those who are working towards the 4 star leader award or similar skill level and want coaching and to develop further while in a moderate sea environment: 19/20th Dec; 23/24th Jan and 20/21st Feb

Advanced Sea Kayaking is for those who are working towards the 5 star Leadership award or similar skills and want further support, coaching and guidance in an advanced water environment: 21/22nd Dec; 30/31st Jan and 5/6th March.

Further details on the Winter weekends can be found here

Move towards 2016 with fresh skills, confidence and ability.  Contact me for further details or to book a place.

Thanks, Roger

roger chandler
www.coastalspirit.com
info@coastalspirit.com

Surf, flow and rough water - 4 star leader training, Anglesey,

Rich, Douglas, David, Hazel and Leif were joining me on a 4 star leader training course.  Both Leif and Hazel had done the previous days Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning theory day.  In brief the 4 star focus on personal performance and leadership in a moderate environment.  Some people end up doing just the training and some times a year later another training, choosing not to go any further, but having gaining skills, awareness and techniques.  

While other chose to work towards an assessment. To quote Canoe wales   -  "Successful performance at this level indicates that you have the skill level required to lead a group of 4 competent paddlers (Paddlers who do not require coaching to be in/on that environment.) for a short journeys (6-8 miles), up to "moderate conditions" (winds up to force 4 or sea state 4). The award shows that you can judge the conditions and the standard of the group to make appropriate decisions, understanding the need to modify plans when required. 

Well after discussions, planning and coffee we headed NW to Trearddur Bay, for some surf and working in wind.  Working in 3 small teams, we went through rolls, and rescues (keeping the water in the boat to shorten the rescue time) and then self rescues.  Then putting them into the conditions, which were super .... and pretty chunky closer to the flag pole.

Then surfing with purpose ...

We rounded up the day with a rocky landing or two, from the kayak (no towline) and body surfing the kayak back out to swimming in on a towline and focus on careful management of line and quick release on the front.
 

The 2nd day we went to the Menai Straits and the Swellies for work in current, leadership and scenarios ...

Rich finishing the day off ... before individual debriefs and action plans ...

Leif and Hazel were on for another two days and so we worked again to avoid the wind but get some conditions. Point Lynas gave us just that ...  rolling and surfing for Leif, then back in the bay more complex rocky landings and gully and rocky rescues working with contact tows and towlines ...

and Hazel got her roll back ...  ;)

4th day was back in the Swellies, and personal skills on eddy turns, ferry glides, rolling in flow, self rescue and not to be out done ... Leif pulled off standing up in a kayak ... ;)

Great few days and the next 4 star leader training is down for the  10-14th April - (CNTP 10th, 11/12th 4 star leader training and also 2 further days training/development on 13/14th April).

Thanks,
Roger


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InterMediate sea kayaking - Bespoke

Sea kayaking over the last few weeks along the Anglesey, North wales coastline and out to the various islands has been magic with this settled and super sunny conditions.  Kath and Douglas were back for a 3 day Bespoke sea kayaking course with an InterMediate focus.

The Stacks just had to be done, with a super forecast ... caves, arches, tall clifts and some gentle swell and tide races.  Porth Dafach to Parliament House cave and then back, allowed us to play on the start of the flood at Penrhyn Mawr at the end of the day.  

Both Kath and Douglas did eddy turns and ferry glides creatively ... its all about stretching that comfort zone .. ;)

After Kath had achieved an extended paddle roll, (thanks to Sonja), the previous day.  So a shorter paddle form Cable Bay out and South, then back, would work well.  The clarity and sea colour was very Mediterranean  ... and we even saw 5 seals and had some small gentle rolling surf on one of the golden sandy beaches ...

The last day was forecast F3 NW and despite an ebbing tide (not quite on springs), it all looked good.  Douglas kindly provided the shuttle and we headed out from Cemlyn Bay for the first Cardinal Mark.  We were soon on the Skerries and paused for a surf in the flow ...  The terns were stunning and creating quite a display for us.

Room at the top of the world and one of my favourite lunch spots ...

Tern and chick looking pretty good and i guess close to really taking to the air!!

The other inhabitants watched us leave ... as we passed rafts of Puffins ... magic ...

All in all it had been a magic 3 days, with it being Kath's first time to the island and Douglas second and a pretty good wildlife display.  A good focused and relaxed time was had and Kath's gone away with her roll .. whoop, whoop ... Now that cant be bad!!

The next InterMediate sea kayaking course is 25-29th August and 2-5 days can be chosen, then its the 6/7th September.  Details can be found here

Roger

www.phseakayaks.com
www.kokatat.com
www.chilcheater.com
www.mitchellblades.com

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