Crossing the Channel

More settled weather so I team up with Elan and Jules for a crossing of the Bristol Channel.  I believe this trip came about because I wanted to explore the far side of the channel a little more than just shoot over and back.  There was no in depth navigational planning involved, quite simply the plan was to paddle directly across with the ebbing tide and see where we end up.  We were departing from Sully so the likely hood was we would end up somewhere between Minehead and Porlock.

I was very hot, probably the first time in the year none of use have worn some sort of cag.

 Image by Jules, me and Elan just leaving Barry in the backdrop.

As you can see I'm still using the Greenland paddles, getting very attached to them by now.

As with other open crossings we've done as a rule we stop briefly every hour to replenish energy reserves and in Elans case plaster on the sun cream.  You can see we are slowly moving down the channel, in the backdrop now Porthkerry and Rhoose.

Mid channel we spot a buoy I haven't seen before, with the tide flow it's not worth trying to paddle closer but I manage this fully zoomed in shot.  It's a safe water marker, set in deep safe water.  They would be used by ships travelling up and down the channel as a way point for safe water.

Within three hours we have hit the coast on the far side.  We can see the bay of Minehead to our left and a steep green cliffs up ahead coming to a point on our right.  Beyond that is Porlock Bay.

We land very briefly for a pee stop and then continue on west with the ebb hugging the steep cliffs and playing in the shallow surf that sweeps in on our starboard beam.

A coast guard lookout, built in 1900, marks Hurlstone Point.  Here the long sandy beach seems like the ideal place to take our lunch break.  

The coastline here is staggeringly beautiful, I need to come back an explore in much more detail.

Left to Right, Tahe Marine Reval, P&H Cetus and the Valley Etain.

We enjoy the beach to ourselves, which seems cut off from any means of public access, except maybe at low water.  Jules notices a line traversing down the steep scree slope and goes to investigate.  You can just make him out at the bottom centre of this shot.

Don't ask, I don't know.

From our lunch stop we round Hurlstone Point and venture out slightly into Porlock Bay.  The steep pebble bay is about two nautical miles wide and about half a mile deep.  We are keen to continue exploring the far side but by the time we cross the bay it would be time to return so we opt to make our return across the channel.  

Again we simply aim our bow perpendicular to the Welsh shore line and make final adjustments as we near the coast.  My phone died about three miles out from the finish so in all the total mileage was about 42-43 miles.  Another great day on the water and another crossing of the channel in the bag.

Crossing The Bristol Channel

This has been one of those paddles we have talked about many times over a cuppa coffee after a paddle but never got around to doing.  Thankfully Eurion gave us that little push we needed to get off our arses and do it. After all the the two day forecast looked perfect for an attempt to cross the channel...

I met up with Taran and Eurion at 12:30 Saturday at St Donnats Atlantic College to load up the kayaks.  By 13:30 we were ready to go. 

We let the coast guard know our plans and set off into the low winter sun.

England was shrouded in haze barely visible on the horizon.

Picture by Taran - leaving the Welsh coast behind, Nash Point lighthouse behind.

 Nash point light house now to the right of Eurions shoulder.  
Apart from a quick stop to check the charts and to take a picture it was heads down all the way.

We were making excellent progress between 4-5kts passing a lone fishing boat mid channel.

Nearing the English coast it starts to become clearer.

We get a fly by from three Gannets who have found themselves unusually far east.

The last of the light disappears behind the steep English coast line and with it the temperature drops.

Eurion seems pleased we are nearly there.

The last slog always seems to go on forever.

An exciting and beautiful moment nearing the shore as the sun dips out of sight.  We make the 12 nautical mile crossing in just over 3 hours.

Picture by Eurion - Approaching Porlock Weir

The low tide wasn't helping the carry up the beach with fully laden boats.

Looking back on the Welsh coast now lost in the haze on the horizon.

We set up camp for the night while the frost settles on the wet boats.

We make use of the local amenities and have a lovely pint in front of a warm open fire.  Eurion settles down for an early night while me an Taran have a coffee on the beach watching the lights on the distant Welsh coast while planning future trips.  We settle into our warm sleeping bags (so glad I spent a little extra for a four season) when the locals decide to have a fire work display on the beach.

Morning at Porlock - After a sleepless night interrupted by fireworks, cars, owls and one really persistent pheasant, not forgetting the minus freezing temperatures it was soon time to get up.

Boats loaded back up we departed around 8:30am.

Nearing high water it was now possible to paddle out from the small harbour this time.

The forecast for the return journey looked good but cloud cover and a chilling wind made for a cold paddle.  Soaking wet kit didn't help matters.

The paddle back was uneventful, I think we were all keen to get back on Welsh soil.  Mid crossing we came across two cardinal markers, the location of a wreck.  The Sea King rescue helicopter also made a flyby as we approached the shore.

Picture by Eurion.

We seemed to cover good ground all the way so we slackened the angle of approach.  We ended up paying for this as we approached fast moving currents closer to shore.  The last leg was an arduous ferry glide  but aided by following waves and wind we managed to avoid being dragged down into Nash Sound.

The plan was....paddle out on the last two hours of the ebbing tide allowing for a four hour crossing.  We should reach mid channel at slack water before making up the ground lost with the first two hours of flood tide.  As it happened the crossing took less time than predicted, meaning we were about three quarters of the way there before the tide turned.  In total over the two days we covered 26.18 nautical miles (30 statute miles or 48.4km) over 6 hours 37 minutes with an average speed of 3.9 knots.

A brilliant paddle guys and another one marked off the 'to do' list.  Thanks to the Atlantic College life boat crew for the coffee and warm after the paddle.  Cheers Eurion and Taran.