Sunday 27 April 2014

Shooting the Surf

I was unable to paddle this weekend, my wife was busy with our eldest son and football training so I was left to entertain Zakk our middle child.
Living so close to the shores we often visit the coast for some farther son time but today a few friends were heading down to the waves for a bit of surf action.  So to kill two birds with one stone I took Zakk for a play and brought the camera along to photograph Chris, Eurion and Andrew on the waves.
The carry to the shore.
The waves always look smaller until you sit on the water.
Eurion was the first to break through.
Then the ride begins...


Saturday 19 April 2014

Skomer Island

Myself and Elan made a trip west with the promise of some fine weather.  We left a car at Dale with the intention of paddling out from St Brides Haven, around Skomer and Skokholm, cross over to St Anns Head and into Milford Haven to land at Dale.
 Ready to launch at St Brides Haven.  We made a beeline straight down onto Skomer Islands north coast hoping to catch the last of the southerly flow that would take us down the west side of Skomer and onto Skokholm.
Grey Seal
 Skomer Island is a wildlife haven and within minutes we were surrounded by many of its residents.

 Puffins

 Porpoise
On Skomers western point we enjoyed a close encounter with a pod of Porpoise.

We explore the rugged western approaches of the island but it soon becomes apparent that the low wind forecast was not entirely correct.  A stiff wind blew up from the south meaning if we wanted to carry on with the intended plan it would be a battle into the head wind all the way. 
The wind on tide made for some interesting conditions in 'Little Sound' where we decided to make a break against the flow back onto the sheltered northern side of the island. 
 Original plan aborted we decided to take a relaxing paddle back along the old red sandstone cliffs to St Brides Haven with a lunch stop at Martins Haven.
Conditions couldn't have been more different as we weaved in and out of the kelp covered boulder fields admiring the beauty of our home coastline.


 Not the intended route today but the close encounter with the pod of porpoise easily made up for it.

Monday 14 April 2014

Barry Races

Into April now and the weathers gone pear shaped again.  Strong wind forecast so myself, Jules and Taran head on down to Barry for a bit of action on the tide race that forms off Nells Point.
 ARRGGHHH there be pirates!!! Now laddies contain yourself.
From the shore it looked relatively flat and gusty but out on the headland the strong Bristol Channel currents were picking up some pretty sizeable waves.
 I love this shot, dark blue skies adding to the drama.
We land at Jacksons bay on the far side of the head.  I decided to walk back up to the head and get some shots of the guys running the race....



I jumped back in the boat for one last run then it was onto pleasure beach for a bit of surfing before returning to the cars.