Wednesday Night Paddle 9th June, 2010

As mid-summer's eve approaches and with the evenings getting lighter, the "Hard-core Wednesday Night Crew" decided it was time for a celebration and a trip to the pub was called for!

We met at Eastney and paddled for an easy hour on a rising tide to The Royal Oak at Langstone.
The middle of Langstone harbour was full of jumping fish and a beautiful area of calm right in the centre of the the busy Solent conurbation - the rush of traffic and hustle & bustle everyday life seemed far away.

We were joined by two new Wednesday evening recruits to the crew - Steve and David. Welcome on board boys and we hope to see you again!

Landfall at Langstone Mill

New recruits David & Steve, about to undergo their initiation Ceremony "Drinking of the Pint"

The motley Crew!



"Just the one, honest my lud"

Time to get the Greenland paddles out for the trip home.

Seriously, it was a lovely paddle and it would be great to see more members coming out on Wednesday nights, especially in the summer. They are short paddles, tailored to the standard of the attendees and are a great way to get some experience and meet other club members in an informal environment.

Netley to Stokes Bay - 6 June 2010

This was a 20n.m. trip which felt like 30n.m.

The down ward leg was nice and easy with very little wind, even the sail boats were struggling to fill there sails.

Just after lunch as we got back on the water the wind came from side on, followed by a change in direction right into out faces, which left us with a monumental battle to get back.

Lets just say there is a few aching bodies today !!!

A double thumbs up from our trip leader.

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.