Round Portsea & Hayling Islands

Not many words this week- we are all too tired after a fast paced 22nm paddle around the two big Islands. Just some great pictures from Steve Woods.

Perfect paddling conditions in beautiful sunlight.

Despite my previous post, you can get under the Hilsea Bridge at the top of a 4.5m tide - Duck!

Sister ships of the one on Portsdown Hill! We're getting weary now.

A brief rest before the last push out of the harbour and home to Southsea.

Mother's day paddle - boats big and small

A delightful A-grade paddle on the upper Hamble on Mothering Sunday saw club 9 paddlers meander their way up to Botley.

It was a day of boats big and small, boats old and new and a different view or take on the sport/pursuit of kayaking.

Compare & contrast! Safety gear - what's that? No BA, no cag, no tow line, flares, VHF or spare paddles - just a supermarket carrier bag with some energy bars and a drink! Our competitive brothers take a very different view to the risks, especially as they paddle very tippy, super light K1 race boats.

Easy does it.

Last one to the head of the river's a sissy!

The all important briefing. Note the pre-ordered Sunny Weather appearing on command!

A new boat for some - the first few paddle strokes.

Making our way upstream. Sadly (?) we couldn't afford the big blue boat on the right.

A cheaper alternative?

Turn around at the top of the river before an easy tide assisted early return to Swanwick and home in time for Sunday lunch.

WW weekend

Here is a video from Richard H

Nab Off and Calshot On

Two separate trips this week. Spence & Sprucey's aborted attempt (due to fog - only 300m to 1nm maximum visibility) and the very windy Sunday paddle from Stokes Bay to Calshot.

On the beach at Bembridge- visibility getting better - do we stay or do we go? It was good watching the big fat heron in the background stalking the water's edge.

Bembridge - ready to start a Nav Ex on the way home

The amount of plastic floating on a tidal eddy was very sad. If we all picked up just one piece of plastic on every trip we went on and brought it home for safe disposal, the sea would be a much nicer place?

Sunday's trip from Stokes Bay to Calshot was wet, windy and bumpy. The wind on the return leg was up to 32knots at times. Of course (due to excellent planning by the trip leader!) we had wind and tide behind us both ways! It's not often that happens.

Calshot for lunch. It was bit too windy for photography on the way home!