Surfs Up!!! again

More winds, more big swells will it ever end this winter! I met up with Taran at Gileston to check out the breezy conditions with the possibility of taking the ebb tide toward Llantwit Major and on to Nash Point.  It was going to be one hell of a slog in really messy conditions so we drove on down to Barry Harbour again for a bit of surf practice. 

Very messy surf but the conditions beyond the breakers looked a lot cleaner.

Heading out through the shallows.

On the edge of the bay it was big and gusty, not ideal for a trip of any sort.  We opt for a bit of surfing in the swell.  Above Taran back paddles as he sees the big breakers rear up behind him.

I take a ride into shore and head back out taking an absolute beating on the way.

The waves were messy and bongo sliding was common.  We both took some crackers side on, I still think it's amazing how a simple brace on the wave keeps you from going over.

I go over and miraculously role straight back up.  Time for a Mars bar I think.

Taran surfs in as we take a well earned break.

Re-fuelled and back out for some more fun.  Taran heads out for the big swells while I enjoy taking a few fast rides.   

I decide to quite while I'm ahead and not press my luck any further.

I wade in to try an get a few shots of Taran coming in and then call it a day.

A fantastic day in the surf but gagging for a bit of decent weather so as to get a few miles under the boat.

Holm Of The Rising Moon

Something me and Taran have talked about for a while is a trip out to Flat Holm in the dark.  Our night trip to Penarth last week was somewhat of a warm up.  Tonight however was far from warm, but the forecast was perfect for an attempt.  Easterly Force 2, minimum swell and a clear sky. 

It was a strange feeling getting dressed into my dry suite at 7pm and heading off to the Captains Wife, Sully to go for a paddle.  Jules and Andy were also roped into a night under the stars.  We load up with enough glow stick for a night out on the town.

You have to use your imagination a bit now because long exposures don't work on the sea so the pictures are a bit crap.  Above you have Andy and Jules setting their boats on the water.  We set off around Sully Island into a very dark night, the 3/4 moon hasn't risen yet.  There is an overfall off the tip as we round the island, not that we could see it.  Dark shadows outline the waves and a cold spray livens the senses as the bow rises and falls. 

We paddle off on an agreed bearing and then rafted up to discuss our progress and re-calibrate our bearing.  The dark is very deceptive.  Lights blink all around from buoys, lighthouses, towns and other crafts.  That reminds us, we are sat on a very busy shipping lane.    

Above is Taran and the white dot in the centre is the Wolves Buoy about three quarters of the way across.  The lights to the left are Penarth and Cardiff.  It's not as flat out here as what I was expecting from the forecast, but still it's all good.  

The sounds of lapping waves and a dark outline signal our arrival.  Now this is where your imagination comes in.  Above we are arriving at Flat Holm, there is a big cliff in front of me here.

On land I can now set up a tripod and adjust the exposure.  The best shot of the lot.  The orange glow and lights of Cardiff twinkle 8km in the distance.  For those who know Flat Holm this is the beach adjacent to the beach with the slip way.  The main beach was under water with the spring tides.  

I tuck into my limited edition three chocolate Mars bar just as an orange disk rises above Weston Super Mare on the English side of the channel.  What a sight.

The pictures don't do it justice, it was truly a magnificent sight.

It's now 22:20 and we set off without delay.  The tide is already ebbing strongly through Castle Rock.  We make way, above  is Jules with the light of Cardiff beyond.

Cheese!!! me with the moon behind.  We can see a lot more clearly now with the orange glow of city lights ahead and the moon at our backs.  The sky above is littered with starts, it doesn't get much better than this, and all on our doorstep.

Every now and then you would cross paths with either Taran or Jule and get completely blinded by their camera flashes, just as I've done here.  We come against some adverse tide as we near the coastline and make our way on to Sully Island, which slowly appears out of the gloom.

We land back on Sully beach at around after 7.8 nautical miles (13.67km) and 2hr42 mins on the water.  I finally get home around 1am, unload my boat but I think I'll rinse my kit in the morning.

A fantastic paddle and a great way to practice navigation.  Great company as usual, cheers guys, see you on the next one, Steep Holm anyone?

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.