The Exe

Steve at Tiverton on the Sunday, hull speed just not quite fast enough to surf the wave despite several attempts.

Water levels for the Exe at Tiverton from the EA website, note the excellent level for our Club trip on Saturday. A long day out from Exebridge to Tiverton, fun, with plenty of incidents as usual.

From the November Scrapbook

Rafting up by Horsesands Fort for the 2 minute silence on Remembrance Sunday

Rafted up, unfortunately the raft drifted into the Fort during the 2 minutes, necessitating an emergency break-up as the gun sounded to resume normal activity.

 On the way back from Fishbourne, paddling ahead of a training ship.

 Crossing Portsmouth Harbour on 18 November

 and the lunch stop at Fareham.

 Chichester Harbour last weekend, sunshine in the morning,

but a wintery sky on the way home.

Kimmeridge - Durdle Dor 29th July

Alternatively, Durdle Dor or bust and it was bust!. The main party were baulked by the wind & waves, electing to stop at Lulworth Cove for a well earned lunch. The hardy few pushed on, only to be turned back by the security marshals patrolling the Weymouth Olympic Sailing area.

Many thanks to Glynn & Helen Carter for these fantastic pictures.

Swanage Weeklend

Despite the poor weather forecast, 14(+1) hardy souls arrived at Woodyhyde Campsite just outside Corfe Castle on Friday evening and Saturday morning this weekend. The forecast of SW – WSW F4-5 was spot on and Saturday saw a dry day with plenty of afternoon sunshine through the gaps in the clouds.

We tackled a simple but interesting (due to the wind) paddle from Knoll car park, Studland and into Poole Harbour circumnavigating Brownsea Island. It was tough paddle with a consistent 18-20knots of wind accelerating through the gaps between islands to 25-28knots on the nose. It was hard work for most of the group and we abandoned our intended lunch stop at Shipstal Point on the Arne peninsular and went ashore at Pottery Pier on Brownsea Island instead.

Lunch saw one of the rarer kayaking injuries one is ever likely to encounter. One unlucky paddler received a 4” slice to his right cheek care of an irate Peacock who wasn’t getting as much of the paddler’s lunch as he would like! It was potentially a very serious injury but the group’s first aid skills handled it well. All that was required at hospital later was a tetanus jab. Well done team!

An enjoyable surf down the back of Brownsea was followed by another slog into the wind back to Studland but the sun stayed out and we were back at the campsite in time for a an evening swapping tall sea stories around the braii.

Bank Holiday Chelsea Kayak club Visit

The early May bank holiday saw members of the Chelsea Kayak Club visit the area and the club for two days of paddling on the South Coast.

On the Saturday, Portsmouth (and Chelsea’s) Richard Bate put them through their paces with a skills training day in Langstone Harbour’s famous ebb tidal flows.

On the Sunday they joined in with Portsmouth Club’s circumnavigation of Hayling Island. Here are some pictures taken by Steve Woods of the lunch stop at The Ship Inn and the surf landing out at Sandy Point.

April Sunshine, Showers and Smiles – Poole to Wareham

Today’s paddle was promoted as a gentle, flat-water bimble from Lake Pier in Hamworthy to Wareham and back. Crossing the open upper section of Poole Harbour it actually turned into a slightly harder push into a, strengthening, SW wind, ebbing tide and a river flow strengthened by the past week’s heavy showers.

Lunch was taken in the lee of the town centre bridge soaking up the last of the sun’s rays before the ominous dark clouds brought a blustery 18knots to blow us home in just over an hour.

The dark clouds and cold shower couldn’t dampen anyone’s enjoyment and there were bright smiles all round. It was great to see a turnout of nine including a new member Gordon and Anne in her new Avocet. Thanks to Simon for his organisation and leading on the day.

The briefing.

Sharing The river Frome with other users.

Redcliffe Yacht Club - right on the water.

Darkening skies behind Wareham Priory.

I hope my sparkling Rockpool never gets this neglected.

A pair of Mallards in their natural habitat - water and a posh hostelry close by.

More local fauna - a bearded Spurling in it's natural habitat - water and a posh hostelry close by!