A wet day at sea (for some of us) WWSKM

Sunday 15th July 2012

Familiar territory

For day 2 of the 1st WWSKM, I had decided to go down to the St Davids Peninsular, and show the others the delights of Ramsey Sound - my patch, (yes I know, I live in Derbyshire). Again, paired up with Jason Cole, we had a total of 8 paddlers.
Using the tides, eddies and some local knowledge it would make for a really interesting day out, but with little paddling effort required, I'll try to explain:
The plan: Leave Whitesands beach after Milford Haven LW (1031), the ebb flow  (South) would flow until around 1330. By paddling out into the flow at St Davids Head, it would carry us to The Northern end of Ramsey Island via the small rock island Gwahan.

For such a clear and warm day, the car park was relatively clear.

St Davids Head on the right

In the near-distance, Point St John, Behind it, the Northern end of Ramsey Island.

We left Whitesands through a good 3ft of surf, one or two of the compact 8 person group hadn't launched through this sort of powerful water before - all went well.

I was taking today as a test for myself after feeling I had not instructed the group well, and not really kept everyone together yesterday.
Today was different, I communicated the plan to everyone, checked everyone was happy they'd understood, and most of all summarised it again. The RED line on the map shows our outward track.

The trip across and into the flow from St Davids Head was absolutely huge! The swell was at least 2.5metres, with occasional breaking waves as we started to break into the ebb flow.

I had the feeling, that most of the group, didn't think we were being carried much, if at all on the flow, I gathered the group, and asked them if they thought we were moving as we approasched the Island of Gwahan. Before we had an answer, we had slipped quickly past and were being thrown around a little in the confused water beyond. Everyone was surprised at how quickly we had been moving without knowing. Its only when close up to a fixed point that the feeling of movement becomes apparent.

Looking back where we had come from. St Davids head with Carn Llidi. Measured in a straight line, almost two miles! Remember how little we needed to paddle to get there?

After a brief rest we passed around the North-East tip of Ramsey and down into the Sound. Now sheltered completely from the North-Westerly wind, it was perfect for exploring the caves and watching the birds and seals.

We were soon to see our first seal, a curious young female, sunbathing, and not in the least bothered by our presence.

Helen and Glyn get up personal, see there pictures and video: click

Finding the entrance to the tunnel cave, I headed in slowly to find a big bull seal staring back at me, as my eyes became adjusted, I could see why he was there - a hauled-out female part way through the tunnel meant it was a no-go area for us today.

There is so much to see along this fairly short stretch, I was becoming aware of time, now only having around 1 hour of ebb left. I gathered us all up and headed down to the Bitches Reef.

Here there were a couple of Hawks flying around above the Island, they'd be after a rabbit me thinks!

Julian, loving the variety of this area.

We passed through the chute and back around the Bitches, hopped across to the far 'Bitch' and then dropped down to the bottom to the bottom of the sound. We needed a break, and some food, so I suggested Porth Lysgi, the wind had now veered SW and was pushing a big swell in behind us, causing uncomfortable clapotis off the South-facing cliffs as we passed.

In the shelter of the beach, we had a perfect spot, and most of us managed to catch a few rays.

New freinds. Everyone was discussing the area, and all were in agreement: we had so far experienced everything, big swells, flowing water, flat calm, seals, birds, jelly fish and of course the sun was out!

The time came to leave our haven, and, for some reason, I don't have any more pictures!

Heres how it went:

The plan was to paddle back through the rough water to Pen Dal - aderyn, and look at the water in the sound. Then either ferry glide over toward the Bitches and drop-down over the reef, or pass close to the mainland and paddle down the sound.

A couple of the group, had a bit of a tough time in the clapotis and were not keen on going over to the Bitches.

I gathered the group, and explained we were to follow my lead, and paddle into the flooding North flow, and then break out and into Carn a Wig. with everyone through the moving water safely, I suggested we paddled out, back into the centre of the Sound and catch a free ride back up to Point St John.

Passing to the West of Horse Rock, I pointed out the swirling white water that on big tides is a no go area for kayakers, and then it was time to break out of the flow and head to the Point of the mainland.

This stretch really does need local knowledge, I had asked everyone to follow me, but we had two groups, me and the guys with me would make a nice easy line across. hitting the 'sweet' spot and making the turn between Carreg garfielog and the mainland with out any hard paddling.

The other group, had to put on a 'spurt' to avoid being carried on North with the tide.

They made it.

Now, I've no idea what happened next, but I remember paddling forward and surfing the overfalls just around the corner, and then realising I was over! I shifted my grip slightly on my paddle ( for a bit more leveredge) and rolled up - straight back over, with the now shortened paddle, I missed the support stroke and took a lungfull of water as I went back in. As I closed my eyes, I noticed a bow approaching close to me, I started to feel for it, but was really short on air, so annnoyingly - abandoned ship!

Thanks must go to Helen for a smooth, and uneventful rescue.

Our next challenge would be to get everyone landed through the surf at Whitesands, this would require a plan.

Glynn headed in first, and kept a patch clear on the beach, and Helen and I explained the technique to those who were unsure of what was to be fair - pretty big powerfull surf, this was underlined by the 100's of surfers we'd need to avoid in the water around us.

Most of the guys made it, one didn't ;)

and then, with just mark myself and Helen to go... Mark caught a wave, a big one, and then the same wave picked up Helen, they had a coming together, both parting company with their kayaks! So 4 of us were now wet!

The pressure was on for me, managed to let two massive breakers pass under me, and then raced in between a couple, before being picked up by another and 'fired' through the soup at an alarming rate!

What an amazing day, and an brilliant weekend.

The 1st WWSKM - heres to more??

1st WWSKM (In at the deep end!)

Saturday 14th July 2012

A massive learning curve!

After managing to secure a late place on the West Wales Sea Kayak Meet, I recieved an e-mail with a list of guides for the weekend. To my surprise I was on the list!
Having never been to a Kayak meet of any kind and normally paddling alone, I had no idea what to expect or what was expected of me.
I decided to plan a couple of straight forward and gentle (ish) trips. This proved to be a success, so much of a success that there were 13 kayakers in the group. All were experienced, some very, others were building up their fittness after periods of non-paddling. I teamed up with Jason Cole, who has some leadership qualifications and plenty of experience.
We gathered at Newport Parrog with the intention of a gentle trip around Dinas Head over to Lower Fishgaurd and return.

I could see all the way to Dinas, its well over a mile in a straight line, and it looked as though the swell around the end was big, producing massive white splashes.

I let everyone know we were in for a rough time around the Head - all agreed to carry on with the journey.

We paddled down the estuary, and most crossed the surf and sat in the surf. 2 were missing, Jason was infact sorting out a jammed skeg at the start.

Approaching Pwllgwaelod, there was a paddler with a footrest issue, a couple of people landed on the beach and sorted that.

I let everyone know that we would now be getting to the big swells, and would need to be happy to pass around the head once committed, all were happy so, we made our way around.

All I can say is: there are no photos, the oppertunities were there, I just couldn't let go of the paddle!

Gathering the group in Aber Pensidan, we were all soaked and glad to have all 12 of us there, 12?!!!!!

Jason was not with us! I tried the radio, but got no reply, so I paddled out a little and looked back, he was safely on his way. Impressed with the local geology he was happily taking photographs.

Julian, I travelled down to Pembrokeshire with this guy after seeing he was looking to share transport on the UKRG forum.

My main reason for this trip: Rockhopping opportunities, after the rough ride around Dinas head it was great to get up close to the rocks, and be able to chat and meet people properly doing the thing we all love.

I'm not going to pretend I can remember all 13 names in the group, but here's Jason gluiding nicely through.

We pulled in at Pwllgwaelod and had lunch and a rest. Here some people mentioned thaat they might not do the return journey. I had infact got a sharp pain in my right elbow ( I think due to gripping the paddle and being a little tense as I tried to lead a group of 13 more experienced (probably) expert kayakers.

I suggested we all went on to Lower Fishgaurd and decide what to do from there as the transport would be easier to sort.

We left the beach and headed along toward Fishgaurd, after only a short distance there was a relentless rolling swell coming from over the right shoulder assisted by a constant following wind, this made for an awkard paddle.

Glad to reach the calm of the Fishgaurd's old harbour, there were 4 people going to leave us here, I decided as the remaining paddlers were all plenty capable of the return journey, to join them, help with transport logistics and save my elbow for tommorrows trip.

8 Paddlers made a safe and uneventful journey back to Newport, the only moment being a swim in the surf for one lucky paddler!

A great day out, I was totally relieved to see everyone back and off the water at Newport.

If I am going to use this as a learning exercise, then I would say: we should have split the group at the start, and nominated assistants. I think we were fine to do the planned trip, the rough conditions around the head though, highlighted how difficult it is to hold a group together in those conditions.

For those who did the return trip, it was 14 Nm, not bad for a gentle trip!

Thankyou to all who came out with me and Jason, it was a steep learning curve for me, I really enjoyed showing a little of what pembrokshire has to offer us.