Kayak and (accidental) swim training
Liz and I had decided to spend Saturday kayaking. The original idea had been to put into Loch Linnhe and explore around Kingairloch, but there was no wind and the water was so flat that we decided to look for some lumpy stuff.
So we went to Ardnamurchan.
We have to practice controlling our boats in surf. Not whizzing down the face of the waves, leaning back with full stern rudder (although that would be fun!) but timing our landings and launching on surf beaches.
We'd previously admired the beaches of Sanna Bay, but after driving there we discovered we couldn't get the car near enough to the sea to launch without a LONG carry. So we drove around to Portuairk, launched, and paddled the short distance over to Sanna Bay.
There were only quite small waves on the beach, so after messing about for a while, we paddled further out to sea, crossed the bay a couple of times, then headed around to take a look at Sanna Point. The swell, wind and topography created some curious paddling conditions which were rather challenging.
I've recently bought a new camera (Canon EOS 300D), so I scrambled onto a skerry, hauled my boat up and fixed a 300m lens onto the body before shooting a few frames of Liz. Looking at them now, the water does seem rather rough!
http://www.SimonWillis.co.uk and click What's New
After eating lunch, we paddled out still further. On the way back we went looking to play in some of the white water. This was my un-doing.
I suddenly found myself on my side, with the high brace almost working... but not quite! Then I was underwater. Instinctively, I got out, and Liz towed me away from the surf before doing an X-rescue.
I was angry that I hadn't even attempted to roll, so back in calm of Portuairk, I deliberately up-ended to practice my roll. The first time I discovered that the bouancy of the BA moved me around the cockpit, so driving up my knee as part of the hip "flick", simply pushed off the spraydeck ! I was swimming again.
The second time I was more prepared, and .... almost made it. This really is something I/we need to practice in sea conditions. I reckon a dry suit could be called for.
It was a great day, if somehwat chilly, and I now have a stinking cold. But it was well worth it. Let me know what you think of the photos - there's a contact button below them.
So we went to Ardnamurchan.
We have to practice controlling our boats in surf. Not whizzing down the face of the waves, leaning back with full stern rudder (although that would be fun!) but timing our landings and launching on surf beaches.
We'd previously admired the beaches of Sanna Bay, but after driving there we discovered we couldn't get the car near enough to the sea to launch without a LONG carry. So we drove around to Portuairk, launched, and paddled the short distance over to Sanna Bay.
There were only quite small waves on the beach, so after messing about for a while, we paddled further out to sea, crossed the bay a couple of times, then headed around to take a look at Sanna Point. The swell, wind and topography created some curious paddling conditions which were rather challenging.
I've recently bought a new camera (Canon EOS 300D), so I scrambled onto a skerry, hauled my boat up and fixed a 300m lens onto the body before shooting a few frames of Liz. Looking at them now, the water does seem rather rough!
http://www.SimonWillis.co.uk and click What's New
After eating lunch, we paddled out still further. On the way back we went looking to play in some of the white water. This was my un-doing.
I suddenly found myself on my side, with the high brace almost working... but not quite! Then I was underwater. Instinctively, I got out, and Liz towed me away from the surf before doing an X-rescue.
I was angry that I hadn't even attempted to roll, so back in calm of Portuairk, I deliberately up-ended to practice my roll. The first time I discovered that the bouancy of the BA moved me around the cockpit, so driving up my knee as part of the hip "flick", simply pushed off the spraydeck ! I was swimming again.
The second time I was more prepared, and .... almost made it. This really is something I/we need to practice in sea conditions. I reckon a dry suit could be called for.
It was a great day, if somehwat chilly, and I now have a stinking cold. But it was well worth it. Let me know what you think of the photos - there's a contact button below them.
posted by Simon Willis at 1:08 PM
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