Bay Paddling

Just a nice winters day paddling around the bay with Taran, Peter and Laura.

Night Paddling

The sun sets on a beautiful sunny day and me and Taran take to the water at Sully.  A little apprehensive about tonight's paddle but a paddle in the dark is something I've been meaning to do for a long while.  I've been out on Cardiff Bay in the dark and ended or begun a few trips in the twilight.  

Leaving Sully causeway we paddle out to Lavernock Outfall Buoy blinking in the distance.  There was a bit of swell running through and it was a strange feeling manoeuvring in the dark.

We then head on to the lights along the shore to Penarth.

It seemed to take forever to reach Penarth, however we must have been making great progress surfing in the dark.  Surfing in the dark was great, it felt like we were flying along on the backs of the waves offshore.

Finally the lights come closer and we paddle under the pier.  The orange glow of Cardiff helped light the way in a moonless sky.  I couldn't help peering back to the dark shadows of Lavernock Point wondering what surprises lurk in the dark for us later.  We land just beyond the pier for a break before venturing back, deeper in to the dark.

Approaching Lavernock Point, notorious for kicking up a storm, the darkness denies us the judgement of the   conditions.  The sounds of running tides is amplified and dark shapes start to appear.  Thankfully we passed over with little more than a few small waves and a bit of chop.  It then a straight forward paddle on to Sully, where Taran has a play on the causeway.  A very successful and enjoyable first night paddle out on the ocean waves.  

'Swell' Day Surfing!

A hail storm hammers down, winds gust up and it's bloody freezing.  That was just in my garden getting the kayak out.  I arrive at Aberthaw just after Taran with a grin on my face as a view of carnage reveals itself.    Noel turns up with the same look on his face.  We head for Barry old harbour instead.   

Dark squally clouds linger and pass by, big swell bring in large waves.  We decide to get on the water and get a feel for the conditions.  A securite goes over the radio for a force 10 just as I push off.  

Some of the waves on the beach were pretty huge and after a few bongo slides we take a back seat and ride the swell waves instead.

These shots were taken from the shore.  The weather was very come and go and typically it dies down a lot when I get off the water to get some shots of the action.

Noel who did his first ever sea trip with us last week getting stuck in with the rough stuff.

We stick to the harbour and do a few runs on the waves.

Me and Taran then head out to the marker buoy to enjoy some of the bigger swells off the head land.

This wave in particular takes Taran for a ride and rears up quite big carrying him off towards the cliffs.

We try to persuade Noel out to the edge of the bay but I think he was just about at the edge of his comfort zone.  I know the feeling.

Taran wanders off while I chat to Noel about conditions and limits.

Then like a flick of a switch this happens. (Pic by Taran) Caught in a squall I try to turn my boat toward the beach.  Noel facing in the right direction shoots of for safety, he's safe, now where's Taran? The wind picks up and takes my paddle out of my hand.  Turning for the beach proves impossible.  Taran turns up and we try to sit it out as we get blown closer to the breakers near the breakwater.  Our best bet is to turn in with the wind and try to land.  The Nells Point weather station picks up a max 60 knot wind at this time. 

The weather finally breaks again into glorious sunshine and we make our way back across the bay and call it a day.  A great day to kick off the new year while making the best of the bad weather.

Taran's School for Paddling

Me and Taran were supposed to be in Pembrokeshire this weekend but the weather had a different idea...

Instead I joined in with a club paddle down at Sully.

Seven of us in all with all different levels of experience.  I brought my old Easky down for someone to use.  Gareth was looking well happy with his new Delphin.

"My group this way".  Taran takes the lead heading around the far side of Sully Island.

Getting up close and personal.

 We head into St Mary's Bay to land.

A navy ship passes down the channel, possibly the Exploit that rescued me. 

While Taran runs through turning drills with the others me and Jules head of to find some moving water.  We manage to find a petty bit of swell running into the cliffs and a little flow further out, but in all very calm.

I think it's benefiting Taran as much as it is the others.  He's loving the coaching and to be fair doing a really good job.  By the end everyone was doing a full set of turning manoeuvres.  

Jules starts nodding off again!

We finally set off again back down Sully causeway and land on the beach.

Walking on water, fishermen negotiate the shallow causeway to Sully Island.  I make a quick exit when someone mentioned rolling practice.

SULLY SHIP WRECK - I've wondered for a while what is the ship wreck that lays on Sully Beach.  I have vague memories from when I was a kid, walking over the causeway to see the pirate ship wrecked on the island across the sea.  I've done some digging and it seems there is a bit of mystery surrounding this wreck.  It is believed to be a wooden cutter called the Baratanch, click here for further details.  It was owned at the time by George Binding carrying gunpowder when in sunk on 27th March 1916.  The wreck itself is apparently moving in a northerly direction under tidal influences.  

Burning off The Christmas Dinner

With Christmas well and truly over it was time to get off the couch and back on the water.  I met up with Taran  and a long awaited meet up with Noel at The Knap around mid-day.  The waters look surprisingly calm, not what I expected from the forecast.  

Out on the water we paddled in silence for a while enjoying the calmness and quite.

We played in the flow around the tower at Aberthaw before venturing on to Llantiwt Major.

Taran ventured close to shore seeking out some play time.  Arriving at Llantwit there was a lot of surf breaking on the beach but me and Noel decided it wasn't worth the risk with our boats.

Time was pressing on and the short days meant we had to make our way back before darkness fell.

Waves were breaking on a shallow reef just off the Knap so we crept forward to check it out.  The low light prevented us seeing a wave approaching until it broke and scarred the life out of me and Noel, back paddling in fits of giggles.

We landed nicely through the surf on the soft sand, looking on in dismay at the steep climb up the beach.  An otherwise mundane paddle made all the better with good company.