Eastney to Bracklesham Bay - Sunday 7th March 2010

Last Sunday two trips were programmed to take place. By all accounts a good number of members took advantage of the River Hamble trip which was extended to take in the sights of Southampton Water and Calshot. I decided to join the four paddlers that fancied a blast along the coast from Eastney to Bracklesham Bay and a blast is certainly what we got as we battled headlong into a bitterly cold North Easterly..... but it was fun! (in a sort of salt encrusted, teeth chattering way). Music by Mike Oldfield

CK Mer weekend - Baie de Somme

Baie de Somme, vast area of 3500 hectares, with an interesting tide that only appears for the last 3 hours before high water. A tidal bore (mascaret) also appears if the conditions are correct.
(click on photos to enlarge)

The photo was taken walking back to get the car, which is just out of sight and was getting a good sea water rinse.

This was slightly better however than the other paddlers (below) who had decided to use a get-in further out in the Bay. This was because the weather at the time seemed better than forecast. 90 minutes later they returned to find their car on a full (sea) wash and rinse cycle. Photo and car owner Claude Boyer CK/Mer

Storm!....What Storm?

Didn't the weather people promise us a storm today?

There was me thinking I'd have to swap my paddle for my wellies and make do with watching some spectacular waves redesign the seafront..... But, by 10am it was pretty clear that something was amiss.

With not a bending tree or even a flying roof tile to be seen I found myself (as you do) loading my kayak on the car and by 10.30am I was on the water and heading out from the beach, out across the 'mill pond' created by the protection of the small headland at Hillhead.

Once out of the lee of the small peninsular I was met by a decent Northwesterly, just enough to kick up a playful swell, (the boots'll have to wait for another day!).

Music by Snow Patrol

Sallyport to Eastney 21st February 2010

Following an unpredictable forecast, it was decided that Sundays planned crossing to Bembridge be abandoned but the "easier" paddle to Eastney would go ahead. So fourteen of us set off from Sallyport under a grey and somewhat foreboding sky to follow the shore to Eastney. The return leg proved to be quite exciting!