Sea Kayaking - Brixham to the Dart Estuary

We'd been trying to get out on a sea kayaking trip for a couple of months now, but whenever we had the time off and had the kayaks with us the weather was rubbish (very windy)

The weather was brilliant

Andy on our way towards the estuary

After a lunch stop we headed back to Brixham

Andy captured a great view

Baby Seal

On the way back we found a little friend on one of the small islands

He was very inquisitive

We found this spooky cave on the way back that we explorered

Cool paddle pic

Kayaking on the Dart Estuary - Totnes to Stoke Gabriel

Me, Andy and Ewart fancied a spot of kayaking over the weekend, with no water sea kayaking seemed the best idea. We went to look at paddling the teign estuary first but it was so windy we decided that it wouldn't be a good idea, we then headed to the Dart and got on by the rowing club in Totnes.

Andy and Ewart looking at all the birds

The tide was out when we got on, but was on its way back in, so we decided to head down and see how we got on, atleast if we had enough and headed back the tide would be with us.

Lots of birds

We managed to make it down to Stoke Gabriel, we encounted a bit of river swell cause dfrom the incoming tide and the wind and ended up surfing our way down to the entrance to Stoke Gabriel, where we stopped for a bit of lunch.

Ewart and Andy

On the way back even though the tide was going back in, the wind was so stong that it was very hard work, when we made it round the bend it eased off a little but it was a knackering paddle and i was glad to get back to the car park and be able to take a break. It was a nice paddle, but much better on a calmer day!

Sea Kayaking at Meadfoot Beach

We had a new demo boat at work which i wanted to test, so i took the P & H Delphin 150 and Andy paddled the Delphin 155. The conditions were a little rough but as we didn't want to drive to far we settled on getting in at Meadfoot beach and just paddling round the islands (Thatchers Rock and the Ore Stone). It was fairly choppy but the Delphin's handled it really well. There not super fast boats, but then only being 15' and 15.5' i didn't expect them to be as quick as say a Scorpio, but they didn't seem slow either. They were stable and forgiving, we really felt like they looked after us. The Delphin is a boat that is really worth looking at if you want a sea kayak, but your looking for something thats going to look after you. I'd feel more than happy to use these kayaks paddling round the coast and taking pictures.

More details can be found on the AS Website, both sizes are available to try and i would really recommend giving them ago. The Delphin 150 is one of the most comfortable, enjoyable sea kayaks i have paddled.

Sea Kayaking - Isles of Scilly

I've just come back from a week long trip to the Isles of Scilly with Mike Bradford and seven other fellow kayakers. I took the trusty P & H Scorpio LV, my sea kayak of choice.

The view from the pub on St Agnes



I finely got round to putting up some more details of my trip

 

We spent a night in Penzence before heading to the Isles of Scilly which gave everyone a chance to get to know each other and so we didn't have to drive a long way in the morning for the early morning ferry.

Day One

We travelled from Penzance on the Scillion II to St Mary's where we witnessed our kayaks being unloaded which was a little scary to watch as they where unloading them three at a time. We then loaded up the kayaks with out stuff ready to paddle the crossing from St Mary's to St Agnes. It was a pretty rough crossing and we were paddling into the wind, but we made it. When we got to St Agnes we unpacked our boats, pitched out tents and then went off to explore the island.

My home for the week

Day Two

After a deciding the night before that we the next day we were gonna paddle round St Agnes and then cross over to St Mary's and paddle round there, we got kitted up and set off, the weather was a little calmer. We paddled 30 km and on the way back we had to go round the bottom of St Agnes to get back to the campsite as it was so rough and windy. We were all pretty knackered by the time we got back, so i had my dinner then headed for an early night.

 

One of our many lunch stops with gorgeous views

Day Three

After a long days paddling the day before we decided to take it easy and just paddled round some small islands just off St Agnes including Annette, We paddled round Annette then went off to explore some of the smaller islands/ outcrops where we found a couple of inquisitive seals and one even posed for a picture. The weather then started to close in so we called it a day and headed back to camp.



Seal posing for a picture

Day Four

The weather had improved a lot, the wind had dropped as had the swell meaning that we could venture out further. We decided to head round Samson, Bryher and Tresco, when we made it round to the northern point of Bryher is was very rough with big swell, as we paddled round we came across a place called Hell Bay, named so because so many ships had been wrecked there, once they got into the bay they couldn't get out again. As we paddled round the headland it became very rough but once we came made it round and started to head in between Bryer and Tresco it all went very calm again. After stopping for some lunch we headed south back to St Agnes again.

The castle on Tresco another lunch stop

Day Five

Today the plan was to head upto St Martins, as some people had been ill the last couple of days we paddled past Tresco, stopping for a quick coffee at the gardens entrance so that they could see it to. We then headed onto the Eastern Isles where we found loads of seals and stopped for a spot of lunch on a lovely peaceful beach were we caught afew rays. We then continued on to St Martins where half the group paddled round the northern side (the ones that still had lots of energy) and the rest of us paddled round the southern side, the sea was so pretty and clear you could see the bottom. Yet another 30 km day of paddling.

Mike Bradford our coach

Day Six

Our last day in the Scillies, we got up and started packing everything back into our drybags and then into the kayaks. I may have quickly snuck off for a quick sausage sandwich with a couple of the guys before heading back to the camp to finish off (paddling energy). We then paddled over to St Marys for the last time landed the kayaks and unpacked everything and put it in our big bag ready to be loaded onto the ferry again. We arrived a bit early which gave us a bit of time to explore a little of St Mary's (the biggest of the islands) before sailing home again.



The sunset from our campsite



I would strongly recommend this trip to anyone, we had a total mix of abilities in the group and everyone got on fine. Although it can get a little choppy and windy at times, it is a beautiful collection of islands and perfect for wildlife spotting. Its worth going with a guide or coach for a first trip, as although the tides aren't massively big it can be hard work after a long days paddle making crossings. I enjoyed it so much I'm already trying to work out if i can go again next year.

P & H Scorpio LV, i found the boat had plenty of room even to fit all the stuff i took for the crossing to the campsite and back again. It sat well in the water loaded and empty no problem. I felt comfy and confident in the kayak and got on with it really well. It was stable even in the rough and windy conditions. Defiantly taking it out again soon.

 I went with a local coach called Mike Bradford, who i would strongly recommend he was very organised, easy going and knowledgeable on the area.

http://www.mike-bradford.co.uk/

Sea Kayaking - Budleigh to Sidmouth

After a lazy morning we finally got ourselves organised and picked some kayaks up from AS Watersports and Collected Tom and headed to Budleigh for a late afternoon paddle.

Andy was paddling the new Valley Etain, Tom was in the P & H Scorpio LV and i was in the Valley Avocet.

 After getting kitted up we launched from the beach and started our paddle round to Sidmouth, its rough about a 7 mile paddle. It wasn't the calmest of days but nothing to testing either.

Tom getting to grips with a sea kayak, a little different from his squirt boat

After arriving at Sidmouth, Andy showed us a very interesting way of landing after picking a very steep area of the beach which seemed to be the roughest area and got very wet! Tom and me then found a lot nicer area and stayed pretty much dry. We then treated ourselves with some cheesy chips before heading back again.

My brightly coloured boat on our trip back

We had a challenging landing when we got back to Budleigh as the swell had picked up a little and it was a bit of a steep beach, we managed to land fairly smoothly though.

Just as we got out and went to grab the car it decided to tip it down and we got wetter getting changed than we did kayaking.

Sea Kayaking - Easter Weekend

On Friday we paddled from Totnes to Dartmouth on the River Dart

We started at high tide and got in at the Steamer Quay car park

I took the P+H Scorpio LV out to decide whether to take it on my Scilly Isles Trip and Andy took the Valley Nordkapp

The view down river from Totnes

Dartmouth Castle

On the Saturday we paddled from Broadsands round to Torquay

We had a beautiful sunny day

 A guy out fishing on his sit on top

 Broadsands beach

Summer Plans

I managed to get myself onto a trip Sea Kayaking round the Isles of Scilly at the end of June.

Happy days, 7 days paddling round the Isles of Scilly.

I've been there camping when i was younger and always wanted to explore it further and this is my perfect chance.

Sea Kayaking - Broadsands to Berry Head

On Sunday we borrowed a couple of glass sea kayaks from work (I paddled the Valley Avocet LV and Andy took the Valley Aquanaut HV) and we headed down to Broadsands.

We got all kitted up and got onto the water just before low tide, we then headed out around Brixham breakwater and round towards Berry Head

Andy following along behind me

Andy posing for the camera

Andy checking out the Starfish

All the Starfish that were revealed on the very low tide

We continued around Berry Head and found these little guys on a rock, we took a couple of pics while keeping our distance because we didn't want to upset them.

Then we headed back round to Broadsands again, with the wind behind us it was alot quicker heading back.

Sea Kayaking - Seaton to Branscombe

Information source from South West Sea Kayaking by Mark Rainsley

Seaton to Branscombe and back

Get in: Seaton Beach

Get out: Branscombe Beach

Distance: 5-6 miles ish

We had a few days holiday so borrowed a couple of Perception Essences from the work hire fleet, Andy paddled the 17 and I took the 16 because it’s a little smaller on the cockpit and a better fit for me being a smaller person. We stayed at a campsite near Seaton, got up and had breakfast, then sorted our kit out and headed down to the sea. We parked on the road side near the River Axe and paddled down with the tide, we headed out and round to the right. It was a nice still day, I just had a light weight cag on and a thin Helly top.

Andy paddling form Beer to Branscombe

It’s a lovely section to paddle, we went round past Beer which is a very lively seaside town and round to Branscombe the tide was just high enough to paddle though the arch then as we started to paddle along Branscombe beach, we aimed to paddle up to the far end of the beach, it was a hard slog as we got a head wind.

Andy looking at the rather impressive arch

We eventually got there and came into the beach for a spot of lunch and a bit of a rest. After a bit of lunch we started to cool down so headed back off again, it was much nicer paddling with the wind behind and we zoomed back. The tide was a fair way out by the time we got back and we had to walk the boats over the beach which as it’s a chunky pebble beach was very hard work, we then managed to paddle up the now shallow River Axe and got out again.

On our way back to Branscombe

It was a very enjoyable day and I’d like to do it again, it have would have been better if we were able to do a shuttle and paddle further round instead of having to double back.

Sea Kayaking - Polzeath

We drove down and stayed overnight in a campsite on the cliff above Polzeath. We got up in the morning and it was a beautiful sunny day, though a little breezy. So we paddled out and had a look round the cliffs to the right as we were think about heading out to a rocky out crop, but it was very choppy and windy so we decided just to stay in the bay.

 We stayed out to sea and paddled round to the cliffs on the left, then headed round to the mouth of the River Camel, we could see the small town of Beer over looking the river, we then headed back into the beach.