You can always rely on the weather!

2nd day of kayak testing

Saturday 9th April 2011

After a long day yesterday, I had a good nights sleep, and infact, slept in until 0830 when I woke due to the fact the sun was burning through the tent walls!
Packing everything away and eating a couple of croissants and a big mug of coffee, I drove down to Porth Dafarch and got the boat down to the water. The tide was out, but would be an hour or so into the flood now.

The weather forecast all week had said '3 to 4 mph winds yesterday (Fri) and picking up a bit today, I was hoping for a bit of swell, maybe some rollers coming through the mouth of the bay - Nothing! Totally flat calm, no wind and really hot in the sun.

Looking straight out to sea - glassy and calm.

The Kayak felt far better today, I felt instantly at ease with it.

I was going to go in a Westerly direction, toward Trearddur bay, but I could here at least three jet skis hurtling around, and with thaving spent yesterday listening to jets and helicopters, I decided to head East toward Penrhyn Mawr.

Looking on toward the Rocks that create the famous and popular Penrhyn Mawr overfalls.

A small but seemingly powerfull cruise boat was sat in the surf.

I let the current take me toward the first gap, nearest the main headland.

As I got nearer, I could see the route through was easy, no standing waves, but I had to decide do I drop down through or stay this side? After all, I needed to get the kayak back to Brookbank at Stockport before 1730.

I decided to pass through, high water was at  2pm, it wasn't far to get back to the car.

As I paddled with the flow, I realised I'd definately have to wait for the slack water! The water was really pushing through, and the drop from one side to the other was a good 10".

I sat and surfed from side to side for a while, and had a go at picking my way up the eddies back to the top.

I didn't waste the energy trying to get back up at this point.

The Reval did seem to accelarate pretty well though, I'm still impressed.

Looking toward South Stack lighthouse, I knew I didn't have the time to get up there and back. So I resigned to paddling around the coast edge of Abraham's Bosom.

I had noticed this morning as I got myself down to the waters edge that the seat in the kayak was sat on what looked like a 30mm thick block, fibreglassed into the hull in the centre. I reached down into the water, and felt the underside of the boat. It felt as though I was sat a good 50mm away from the outer hull, maybe this is the cause of the tippyness?

I just paddled about gently, it was good to be out again.

This rock formation had me staring at it amazing shapes for a while.

I'm not sure I'd like to have been around when this rock face collapsed.

Big entrance, tiny exit.

I was thinking - I really owt to find a beach and get out for a stretch and some lunch.

I only found steep rocky beaches, and full of part submerged hull scratchers to make the approach dicey

I eventually found a little beach with a solitary rock in the approach, I paddled alongside it, and leaned over onto it. Undoing the deck and getting my feet off the foot pegs was good.

I decided I would wait until the rock was completely submerged before starting to make my way back, its surprising how quickly the water rises when you sit and watch it like this.

Within 40mins I was on my way. Passing around this stack, it was black in the shadows around the otherside, but alive with lichen growth on the sunny side.

I found that the kayak responded very well to some good strong edging and some bow rudder strokes when weaving around the rocks - good. I enjoy rockhopping and exploring close-in.

Getting back toward Penrhyn Mawr, there seemed to have been an increase in swell.

Not far now, and I'd no if I was to get back.

It was pretty clear I wouldn't be getting back up yet, the flow was still there, and so was this group of kayakers, 3 trainees with an instructor. I had a chat, and listened in to what they were doing. Pushing their personal boundries! I certainly didn't fancy pushing mine today. I passed up the 'chicken shoot' and headed up the eddies, I had a go at getting up through the flow this time - no chance, I made reasonable progress but the channel started quite narrow between two rocks causing the water to speed up considerably as it squeezed through.

I contemplated having a play, but opted to carry on breaking in and out of the flow where I planned to pass back over the flow.

A group of play boaters arrived out in the big standing waves and all seemed to be enjpoying themselves.

I noticed that I could work my way up the eddies and into this little inlet.

I managed it, and got some lunch whilst he flow slowed, only the last hour left now.

Anyone reckognise this? Its the brake disc, driveflange and caliper from a mini cooper S! It looks as though someone had thrown it over the cliffs and its been slowly decaying ever since.

The trainees paddled in and joined me for lunch in what the leader decribed as 'the classroom'

In the general chit-chat they asked where I was from, and as normall I got' oh, Sheffield, that great sea kayaking city near the sea! It surely is a long way to the water, but it certainly makes it special.

Eventually I said my goodbyes and paddled out into the chicken shoot and passed easily now up through the last of the flow.

I wished I was staying another day, but hey, ho. Got to get the boat back.

Conclusions:

Well, what do I say. I had great expectations of this kayak, and by and large they were fullfilled. It wasn't that I disliked the vally Aquanuat I have been paddling, in fact far from it.

I Have been considering getting a composite boat for a while, my main worry was that I would feel restricted when rockhopping due to not wanting to damage the gel coat. Having paddled in this one over these two days I think those worries are unfounded - I didn't put any extra effort into avoiding contact, I think I have always tried to avoid the best I can, and I didn't have any scrapes.

I love the boat, I like its lines, I know thats not what its about, but it looks good to me. I like the generous rocker, I expected it to be agile, and it was.

I didn't expect the tippyness though. I still think the seat to be a little high, and would have liked to have had another hour, without the deck bag and my stowed gear in the hatches to see how it went unladen. I did feel much more comfortable over the time I had it though. Suppose you can't have agile without some degree of instability.
Lastime I demoed a boat I didn't even take it off the roof racks! Theres no way thats going to happen this time though, for a start this one is all white, I don't know why, but I'm not keen on white things some of the bits on my Mountain bike are this colour and I hate em!
I got back to Stockport with time to spare, and handed the boat back. I was thinking if I had the money I would have bought (or ordered) one there and then.
I did enquire as to what the stock was, and in what colours. Not white or Pink, would love one in the Lime green, or orange, or even blue. There stock was limited in store, but across the group there were blue and red. They also had the Orange one below.

Well, decisions, decisions! I like Orange! I like the boat, I like paddling it.

I perhaps need to shed a stone in weight, but I've been looking for something to motivate me on that subject for a while anyway - perfect reason!

I had a sit in this one. It felt totally different, I got out again and spotted why: the seat was a different design, the moulding was nicer, and even better, it was fitted much lower in the hull - no 30mm block under it. A much nicer backrest also. Sitting back in it agian, I found there to be more footroom, and my legs where in a better more relaxed position, my knees seemed to fit nicely under the thigh grips.

Looking at the general condition, ( it is ex-demo) the deck is in very good condition, a couple of bits here and there. The hull has what you'd expect from a demo boat. The keel is scratched, but I intended to affix a keel strip to any boat I bought anyway.

Long story short and all that...........I have put a deposit on it. I now seek sponsership, gifts etc to gather the rest of the balance together, Brookbank have very kindly allowed me time to do this, and are to allow me to pay as and when  I can. I hope this is going to be quick, I'm gagging to get out again.

Not a massive paddle, but a big day for me. Start of a new era............

Hooray!

Back in the sea!

Friday 8th April 2011

Ok, so Its not been a long sabbatical, Back in Febuary when I sold the Aquanaut, and wrote the last blog post I was thinking this might go on all through the 1st half of the year, if not all.
I aimed to have tested a couple of possibile contenders for a new kayak, made a decision and bought one in time for a annaul trip to South West Wales.

Back on March 19th  I went over to Brookbank and had a general look at the Tahe Marine Reval range.

This one is the Reval Mini LC version, LC means Large cockpit aparently! The whole thing was completely different to the Much shorter Mini.

This is the one I wanted to try, but unfortunately I had timed my visit with a big show in Ireland, all the kayaks had gone over there.

Not to be deterred, I went ahead and booked a demo boat for this weekend just gone - Friday thru Saturday. My intention to head over to Angelsey and put it through its paces.

I spent the 2 weeks from booking it to picking it up fretting about the weather, I had no worries there though! Picked a pefect one there didn't I?

After an initial panic over a communication error, (someone had failed to reserve it in the diary), and then going to make sure it was adjusted correctly revealled it was a PINK version! I was going to have to get in touch with my femmenine side!

Arriving after an uneventful journey, I decided to launch from Borthwen, you'll note the kayak is NOT pink! We managed to find this white one. I loaded all my kit in to it and set about taking pictures of it.
Its (to me) one of the best looking boats I've seen - compact at 4.83metres (15'10") and 52cm wide (20.5"), with loads of rocker and a nice low rear deck.
My thinking is: should make a perfect agile little day boat, I can't see me wanting to go on any long expeditions, maybe the odd overnight trip. Mostly day trips, and playing around in the surf.




                                     
I took a series of photo graphs along the deck from bow to stern, I still cannot believe how pointy it was at the bow (and stern) seemed to be much narrower here than the Aquanaut was.

Subtle, simple graphics.

Round hatch at the front has plenty of unobsructed storage, in fact looking at the manufacturers figures, it holds marginally less than the Valley Aqaunuat, infact overall capacity is 110kg the same for both boats.

My only note so far is that it has a flat area for a compass, not the normall reccess found on other boats - don't fancy cutting a hole to fit a Silva 70p in there!

I'd already put the deck bag on, but as in the recent review in Ocean Paddler magazine, there is no deck elastics for those of us who normally carry the split paddles on the fore deck, there is space in the cleats by the compass housing though.

The cockpit coaming was well made, not sharp to touch. It looks small here and its dimensions are a tad smaller than keyhole, but I found I could get in fine, and when seated I could tuck my knees up to my chest and back without scraping my shins down the front edge!

The day hatch ( and the forehatch) both have the new Kajaksport hatch covers that are dual density, the centres are harder and more plastic-like, the edges are conventional rubber - these felt very secure. The rear hatch is a standard Kajaksport type and I presume this is because there isnt one available yet. Deck elastics here were simply laid out, but adaquate for stowing the splits securely.

Pointy stern! Toggle doesn't sit right at the back here, not really an issue, except I normally ties a flag to the back to warn people of the overhang when its on the roof of the car!

Stern view, I love these sleek lines.

Time to get in the water I think! I had made an extensive list of questions I wanted to ask my self whilst out in the boat, unfortunatley the kids have been going mad with the printer recently, and I found it to have run out - I'd have to manage from memory.

I sat in the boat, fitted the deck and slid into the water, blimey! I couldn't believe how tippy it felt! Whilst in the shallow water I had a warm up, and performed a few support strokes to get a feel for the boats stability charicteristics. It seemed to have a very low initial stability but felt more reasuring when edging and leaning righ over during the sculling support - need to practice sculling for support on the left! I seem to be ok on the right though

Paddling out of Borthwen, it was clear I had picked a perfect weekend - save for the sea mist it was warm, still and calm. Heading toward the old lifeboat house, I wondered if there was a little swell out of the mouth of the bay? I wanted to try the boat in as many different scenarios as possible.

Paddling out to Rhoscolyn Beacon I was surprised to find little swell, although the race was running but only had the last hour of flood left to run. I had a little play here, it wasn't the Bitches, but there was flow, I found a section that held me, and had a try at moving my weight around a bit. Knowing that I'm getting toward the ideal paddler weight for the boat, I wanted to see if I could get the nose under the wave - not really!

I headed around to Silver bay, I felt as though the kayak had speed, and accelarated nicely. What I now realised was that I had forgotten the gps, I wanted to see what its comfortable cruising speed was.

I landed through the surf onto the worlds steepest dumping beach! I wondered if I'd get back through it at one point, but manged to find a fairly flat time to launch through, I was expecting to get a face-full of spray, whatr with the kayak being pretty narrow in the bow, I didn't.

I passed through the mist that seemed to line the coast edge, and set off against the now ebbing tide up the estuary toward Four Mile Bridge, I didn't expect to get far, and I was right! Using the map, it was really difficult to navigate up here, I kept finding myself in dead ends!

Definately a dead end here, sorry looking boat has had its final moment.

Now that does look like a place to live!

This is an island in the middle of the estuary, it looked like a perfect beach for a lunch stop.

My own island, my own beach for a few minuits!, it wasn't to be, as I slid onto the sand, I put my hands down to push myself up out of the water, they sank in the muddy silt the was lying there to catch me out, with the tide ebbing, I figured I'd need to wade through it to get back out, I left my island adventure to the birds.

I had suddenly noticed a lot of activity at RAF Valley airfield, looking out to sea I could see the mist had drifted out revealing the sand dunes that form a barrier between air base and sea.

I decided to have a spot of lunch up on the dunes.

Could it be HRH Prince William? If it was he was having fun doing fast approaches and then pulling up and heading back around for another go.

Eventually they got bored, but then 15 of the Hawk trainer jets left for a blast around the mountains.

When they returned one by one they gave an aerobatic display each - good to watch, but I bet even better to perform!

The sea mist had really gone now, the sun was burning, I realised I'd left the sun screen at home!

Back in the water and heading for Rosnieger, just through the rock islands you can see the Lleyn Peninsula.

I had a chat with two other kayakers here, and they were asking me about the Reval, they'd heard good things about them, but never seen one. I asked them how it was sitting in the water, I had no way of seeing if it looked over loaded or not.

One of them said "much more gear in the hatches, you'll be dipping your elbows in the water!"

Looking toward Rosnieger, I paddled hard to see how the kayak felt on a sustained paddle. It felt good, it seems to glide well, It is a short boat at 15'10" so its never going to have a high speed, but the manufacturer claims it to have good speed qualities, I agree, it seems as good as the Aquanuat to me.

Arriving on the beach, there was still no surf or swell, so no testing here. I had a stretch, and a snack and got back in, heading straight out to the tip of the the rock islands at Ynys Feirig.

I seem to have developed a spot of salt on the lens here, and surprisingly found a bit of swell, still noything to speak of though. I tried to go as close to the rockas possible to try and paddle through some rougher water.

The boat seems to be fine, I've got used to the tippyness by now, and only now and then do I get a wobble on, mostly noticed when taking pictures.

With Rhoscolyn beacon in the distance, its easy to think I havn't paddled far, when actually its about 2 3/4 miles straight across here. My shoulders are starting to feel a bit tired now, so I steady up and concentrate on some paddle stroke honing. I alternate between a low angle and a high angle stroke across here giving differant muscles a turn. Its 4 months since I last paddled and I'm feeling it a bit. 

Approaching Rhoscolyn and Borthwen, I was pleased to have been out again and in such wonderfull conditions.

Landing at low water I had to carry everything up the beach, what an amazing place it is here. I'm enjoying the Kayak. I now head to the campsite, and decide to have a meal in the paddlers return pub just down the road.

The evening view through the tent door.

In the pub, over a glass or two of cider I had time to reflect on the kayak.

It is proving to be what I expected, easy to paddle, although very tippy. Agile, is an understatement really, it is a very manoverable boat, but seems to have the speed aswell.

My only doubts are the tippy-ness - will my back be supple enought to handle the movement? sleeping on the ground in the tent will tell me in the morning! I'm also unsure of the waterline when I'm sat in it, I am inside the guide weight, but am also a good stone over my weight from a year or so ago when I first hurt my back.

I've been looking for something to prompt me to get this extra weight off - I might just have found it!

More testing tommorow