Kimmeridge Bay to Durdle Door

4 of us decided on the kimmerage paddle on bank holiday Monday, as I had also offered to do a trip to Symonds yat.

Allan Sturman, Clare Thurger, Sheila Villet & myself set off to a really calm sea, max wind speed 2mph & 0.5knot Tidal assistance. I think every other Sea Kayaker on the south coast had the same idea as us.

We made a brief stop at Lulworth cove where there was 100's of people lined all around the stoney beach. There was a small group of novice kayakers that set off from there in borrowed boats, to our amusement this one guy (15 stone Mr Mussel type) was showing off to his mates how strong & fast he could go took 4 strokes and promptly fell in, to which he started to scream "Help me" as he doggy paddled back to the shore. That was the only kayaking he did that day.

we set off again around the corner to have a play in Durdle door and stopped for lunch in St Oswald's Bay. The return leg was rockhopping all the way to Worbarrow Bay where we stopped for a quick visit to Tyneham village.

A really great day was had by all

Photos by Alan Sturman

Hill Head to Upper Hamble - Sunday 30th May

With no club trip programmed this weekend, due to the Jersey Symposium, a couple of us opted not to battle with the Bank Holiday traffic and instead stayed local (to battle with a stiff Westerly, which seemed to veer NW as soon as we reached the Hamble).

We headed west from Hillhead with an F4 against us, it was a bit of a slog but an hour or so later we entered the Hamble and after dodging the procession of pleasure craft we paused at Hamble village for a coffee.

Continuing up river we found the strong Spring flow more than negated the wind that now whistled its way down river on its way to the Solent. Ignoring the chattering of the rigging we shot past the remaining yachts that were still tethered at their berths, their stable mates off to join the seemingly endless stampede to open water.

In contrast the Upper Hamble was a picture of serenity and despite the Jolly Sailor looking very inviting we resisted temptation and continued with the flow.

Timing our return with the ebb we cruised down river (though somehow we still had the wind against us) and once at the entrance we were suprised to find the mass exit still going strong.

With the Westerly now on our backs we found exhilaration in the strong following sea that pushed us back along the coast and also helped make this twenty miler feel a bit of a breeze.

Iconic Portsmouth

Round Portsea Island - Saturday 22nd May 2010

Liz & Peter Bisset hosted three french paddlers over the weekend and on Saturday Peter led a trip around Portsea Island and it's iconic landmarks. It was a great opportunity to see historic & modern Portsmouth and introduce some local colour in the form of Rob McC, RichardB and Sprucey!

There will be blue Birds over, the White Cliffs of (Do7%r) Portsdown Hill!

The Gosport Foreshore - now all marinas and waterside flats.


As usual, the narrow harbour entrance was busier than the January sales!
Spinnaker Tower and the Lipstick


The Old harbour walls and the New Spinnaker tower


Yes, we got wine too - Haut Medoc, no less!


The Ferry Boat Inn, Hayling Island (even busier than Portsmouth harbour entrance - it was good our guests brought their own wine!)

City of Sails (and Kayaks)


UUmmm?? (You tell me ....anyone for Jacks?)

Mince alors, nous sommes allés en Angleterre et il n'a pas plu!

Warmth, wall to wall sunshine, the slightest of breezes - Yes it's true (you didn't dream it) our summer has started!..... OK, perhaps it's best not to get too carried away, but it's true to say that for those of us that were lucky enough to join the trip from Lepe to Yarmouth last Sunday; we couldn't have wished for more perfect conditions.

Launching from the shingle beach in front of the beach Cafe at Lepe we made our way across the shallows to the deeper water at the mouth of the Beaulieu River before heading out into the haze of the Western Solent. We were accompanied by three like minded friends from across the Channel with whom Pete, Liz and some other members had spent the previous few days showing off the delights of our home patch (Could it be that they had brought the weather with them?).

The Solent gradually began to fill with a cacophony of fair weather pleasure craft and we wove our course through the melee, maintaining a respectful distance as we frolicked in the gentle wakes that rippled across the surface of an otherwise flat calm sea.

Before long we arrived at Yarmouth and finally settled for the beach in front of the Sailing Club, we sprawled ourselves and our 'gubbings' across the shingle. As we prepared our cuisine, right on cue, there appeared a French man with a bottle of Beaujolais!

With such a glorious day it seemed a shame to head back, so after lunch we extended our trip for a brief exploration of Newtown Creek, some of us feeling compelled to sampling the constituency of the local mud (a seemingly regular theme to PDCC trips of late).