Day 40 Circumnavigation of Ireland

It took just over 3 hours to cross the bay, on a silky sea, with no wind. Shearwaters were out in big numbers, zooming about and rafted in big groups bobbing about. We could even see the Isle of Man this morning. 

We pulled up on to the beach and Justine called Susanna on her mobile. Her and Willy were on the way.

They both had sorted out a place for us to leave our sea kayaks, on the harbour front. And then we whisked off too their house for welcome showers and coffee. Currently sat in a sunny lounge, enjoying a rest. Mmmmmm, lunch is on the way...

Crossing to Annalong with the Morne Mountains in the background



Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Day 3 Ireland

Woke to a sore back and on closer inspection I realised it was bruised! Probably due to the extra rotation I was throwing in! I decided to cut the waist band of my fleece trousers which I thought was the likely culprit! It worked! Fun and games continued though with me further snapping a tent pole as I shook the sand out of it whilst breaking camp! Fortunately had a repair sleeve so could fix it straight away! Lovely bright morning with the day bringing much better weather and lighter winds than forecast. About 25 nautical miles covered today.

Sonja
www.coastalspirit.com

Blue skies and silky seas!

This weekend was the last of our Winter Skills programme, but with temperatures in double figures it was more like a super summers day!!

Sat saw us off to Rhoscolyn to get some tide/current and out in some distance ...

Jon on one of the narrower rocky channels

As we paddled towards Rhoscolyn head, the ebb had begun, but only just which allowed us to paddle through. There was a reasonable swell running so the various cave sna darches were out of the question ... but the sun was great!

and at times the swell pushing up over the shallower sea bed gave some exciting moments!

Sue keeping her eyes open and looking out for bigger swell ...

Sunday and another forecast of light winds and a stable high!!
Leaving Cemais bay on the way to the brick works ...

Douglas taking the far side of middle mouse and the last hour or so of the flood ..

Jon working the far side flow, which we stayed with for 20 minutes ...

Zoe getting to grips with her NEW boat ...

Kath ...
Rich ...

and Keith ...the photo says it all!!

We then headed back to Anglesey, using the last of the flood to push us up the coast ...

Jon and Middle mouse in the distance and a few porpoise sightings!!

The brick works and lunch ...
On the way back we kept closer in, exploring the channels and experimenting with strokes ...

Keith even found a channel which was new to me!!

Super weekend and what amazing weather ... I LOVE my job!!

roger chandler

www.coastalspirit.com

sea kayaking anglesey

&

north wales sea kayaking

Bespoke sea kayaking- North Wales, Anglesey

Keith was back and keen despite the weather! After a coffee we had a plan, Moel y don - Menai Bridge, working with a following sea and then tidal flow, eddy turns & ferry glides with considering angle, commitment to edge and positive strokes.

We covered the ground so quickly that at 1330, as the current turned we decided to paddle back into a slowly declining wind and with the assistance of an increasing current.

With it just after high water we took a break and shelter in this boat shed, fantastic and then back into it!
Fair play to Keith, some good paddling and increasing wind against tide saw us soon back at the start and then on to the newly refurbished Anglesey Arms for refreshments.

Day 2: North coast Anglesey and putting down some mileage. Aim was to go from Porth Eilean to the brick works and back, around 16k. Forecast was due to increase later in the day, but it was great to paddle in our thermal tops, enjoying the sunshine!

As we approached Porth Eilean, we came across, 3 small pods of porpoises and I managed to just catch a fin on camera!

Despite the weather two super days on the sea were had, with varied conditions, some super wild life and great mugs of coffee!

north wales sea kayaking courses

www.coastalspirit.com

Bespoke sea kayaking- North Wales, Anglesey

Monday was a super day at Treadour Bay, with Ian, Mark, Jo and Helen on our Bespoke sea kayaking course, going over edging and the whole body, boat, blade way of working. All 4 of them picked up the differences with handling a sea kayak really quickly, which meant ...

... we were able to go further a field and get into some gentle swell and with the sun shinning down, summer was really here ...

After some lunch we then went around Ravens Point, which on a spring tide/ebb, provides a great intro to rough water and current, to great success and whoops of joy ..

We paddled across to the White arch and then ...

through the Black arch ... and then made our way to a small bay and had a break.

On our return to our start point the beach was really full, and we had a bit of a walk and carry, well you cant have it all ... or can you!

xplore - Rhoscolyn Head & Beacon, North Wales Sea Kayaking

We worked in the inner channel to begin with as it was wind against tide the outer race was fairly big and this gave us enough to work with. Stern rudders and using the body to trim the kayak, was the main task.

With 1.5 hours before slack water we then paddled out to the Beacon and ran the outer race, were a good swell was running!

This time only Bens Paddle blade!

After a few runs and turning in the current and swell we headed into the wind and paddled up the coast to the headland and into a cave, with some good reflective small waves.

For July it was a cool day, with a N wind and some showers ... hot chocolates in the White Eagle as the right finish to the day!

Sea kayaking courses Anglesey.

www.coastalspirit.com