DATE: Friday 24th - Sunday 26th September 2020

LOCATION: Anglesey

PROVIDER: Sea Kayaking Wales

DISTANCE: Not Recorded

PHOTOS: KEW Paddlers Facebook Page

FRIDAY

The beginning of our weekend trip started with the long drive from Northamptonshire to the bunk house at Anglesey Outdoors. Upon arrival we got settled in our rooms and went for a stroll along the coastline that was around a 5 minute walk away. After the drive a leg stretch was very much needed.

Returning from our walk along the cliff tops we headed to the campsite bar and restaurant, The Paddlers Return before settling down ready for the upcoming weekend of kayaking.

SATURDAY

CONDITIONS: Winds - 15 knt Northerly, Swell - 1.2M

MORNING:

Bright and early we headed to the truckstop nearby for breakfast and to meet up with Richard and Paul our coaches for the day. Over breakfast we had an introduction to each other, they got to know about our paddling abilities and what we wanted to get out of the weekend. Its safe to say our brains we’re struggling to keep up with all the new information so early on into the day, sea kayaking is like no other kayaking we’ve experienced before.

After Breakfast we headed for and Launched at Trearddur Bay where we spent around an hour getting used to the crafts as everything we know about maneuvering a whitewater kayak was the opposite for the sea kayaks. It took some getting used too!

When we all felt confident enough we headed on out of the bay hugging the coast around to Borthwen via White Arch (Bwa Gwyn) which was a tight scrape in places. Along the way we checked in with NCI lookout at Rhoscolyn to inform them of our movements and our intentions to go around Rhoscolyn Beacon. They were keen to know if we were going to be doing rolling and capsize training in the tidal race.

AFTERNOON:

Our lunch stop was at Borthwen this was such a picturesque place to stop, with the sun shining through the bay.

After lunch we headed out to beacon with the flood tide against the wind it created some choppy conditions. Having gotten through that first experience of a choppy sea we had one unexpected capsize, even though we can all roll this gave us a good reason to get some rescue practise in using the heel hook rescue method in a sheltered spot.

EVENING:

Its safe to say we all enjoyed the day and were suitably tired, not too tired not to go to The Paddlers Return for some food and a drink though, we talked over what we had learnt and achieved during the day. With some jokes about the unexpected swim!

SUNDAY

CONDITIONS: Wind - 7 Knt Northerly, dropping as day went on. Swell - 0.7m

MORNING:

Again another morning visit to the truckstop for breakfast and a look at the conditions to decide where best to paddle. This time we only had Richard with us for the day.

After Breakfast we headed for and Launched at Porth Dafarch, having gain confidence with these kayaks on Saturday we headed straight out with the early flood tide hugging the coast, rock hopping and cave exploring. We got to see some very large seals up close and personal, its safe to say some of us were a little nervous of them that close. they also smelt really bad!

Sticking tight to the rocks further around the coastline we made use the of eddy in Abraham’s Bosom to get to South Stack.

AFTERNOON:

To get back from South Stack to our lunch spot for the day we then did a wide loop to use tide to carry us back to Porth Ruffydd.

After lunch we paddled out to Penrhyn Mawr to await the development of the famous tidal races and surf waves. We practiced surfing in outer race before returning to Porth Dafarch to finish our weekend. It was then time for the long drive home…