Sun 13 Feb 2011 - Bracklesham and Chichester Harbour

Originally planned to go on the "Poole to Old Harry Rocks" trip, but a forecast of strong winds led to it becoming cancelled. As a secondary option I'd considered doing some kayak surfing at Bracklesham Bay; the surf forecast was predicting some big surf, and a southerly F5 wind which *should* have been cross-shore. Low water was about midday, neap tide. I was accompanied by two paddlers I know from London, Jae and Paul. We took sea kayaks.

We arrived at the car park at 9:30AM, got on the water at 10. The wind felt like it was blowing on-shore and it was really hard work to get out through the breaking waves (often at 4 or 6 second intervals) and strong wind. It was full-on effort with no time for warming up. After breaking through about a dozen waves, I couldn't see any end of the surf zone, so decided to wait for the end of a set to turn the boat and start to head inshore. My inshore surfing wasn't very good; I was slightly concerned about the bow sinking and being pitchpoled, and rather than using ruddering to keep straight I just kept allowing the boat to be broadsided. Some of the foam piles were the biggest I've experienced so far. It was good fun and worthy experience, although I much preferred to be in a big playboat.

Although it was fun, the amount of effort required was a bit too much. The conditions were better for the dozen or so kite-surfers there, some of them having lots of airtime. We probably should have got there an hour later, with the water lower and less groyne hazard. We decided to pack up and go for a paddle from Langstone Bridge. We went into Chichester Harbour, the wind was strong, about F4, against us, but we managed quite well. About 1 foot of swell was whipped up by the wind. We were passing Thorney Island, and noticed a channel that might take us to the shore. It did, although it was tricky to find where we could land without getting muddy, and I managed to get practically covered in it! We had a bite to eat, then decided to head back, zooming along with the wind and swell behind us, by which time the tide was rising, and we explored the marina and had a closer look at Langstone. We then got out on the very slippery sea wall by the car park. The whole thing was quite an adventure!

There's a video of my comedy-stand-up-after-exit-in-mud here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odf1BCX68D8

Some photos follow, as well as the route taken, surf and wind reports. Distance covered was approximately 4km each way. It was pleasing to see confirmation that what felt like F4 in the harbour was F4, similarly F5 in the sea.