Welcome to my Sea Kayaking (b)log
Another training run in the Taran to Kilcreggan, this time without cake and coffee! On rounding Rosneath Point, I nearly didn’t bother. The wind was blowing strongly from the west, with occasional gusts. Not only that, but the swell was rather large and, along with the wind, was coming directly at me. I decided...
As I needed to have a chat with Gordon regarding a trip I'm planning, I decided to meet Gordon down at the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club (RNCYC) at the Tuesday Evenings club session. Rather than faff about with putting the roof rack on the car, loading my boat etc I decided it...
A flat calm and very wet training paddle out in the Taran, from the Kirk Brae slipway on Gare Loch to Helensburgh and return. 7.8nm (9.3 miles) 1 hour 46 minutes (Average speed = 5.3 mph) GPS track...
It was one of those days when you seem to be constantly battling into the wind and swell, regardless of the direction you are travelling. Setting off from the Kirk Brae slipway, I headed into the wind and swell. By the time I'd reached Rhu narrows, the wind was coming at me from the...
I missed out on the HCC Tuesday night paddle and as such I was itching to get out on the water. I also fancied trying to see if there were any Mackerel in the loch, so I took along my hand reel and some Mackerel lures. I paddled my Romany Surf as this boat...
With an imminent camping trip coming up, I thought I had better find out a) what kit I can get in my Romany Surf "Irn-Bru" and b) what paddling my Romany Surf "Irn-Bru" would be like when it is fully loaded with all my camping gear. So with everything packed into dry bags, weighed...
Another training paddle out in the Taran. it was a lovely sunny morning for it. I had the wind, tide and swell, all the way to Helensburgh, which made for quick progress. Met the lifeboat setting off for a training exercise. They were being reprimanded on channel 73 by KHM for exceeding the speed...
I rather fancied a long'ish paddle for Saturday and decided I would paddle my Rockpool Taran "Disco Boy". With the Taran being a fast sea kayak, even with my poor forward paddle flailing technique, it is a great boat for handling distances. The weather forecast was for it to be overcast, but with light...
The 6 mile trip to Kilcreggan from Shandon is always a nice trip, with the added bonus of having a coffee and cake at the cafe. With clear blue skies and next to no wind it was certainly a lovely day. Before setting off I telephoned the Kings Harbour Master (KHM Clyde 01436 674321...
The weather forecast for Saturday morning was looking not too bad, despite gale force winds of 50-80mph forecast for later on Saturday evening into Sunday. Storm "Dave" would be making itself felt across much of Scotland. Looking at the various forecasts, I knew if I was going to get a paddle in, I needed...
A sneaky training paddle out in the Taran, seeing as the weather was so nice and Mrs T had gone paddle boarding on Loch Lomond. Bumped into the Rosneath Castle Bay Coastal Rowers rowing their St Ayles skiff. A good bit of exercise against the wind and tide on the way out and positively...
Another training paddle out in the Taran seeing as the weather was chucking it down! I love paddling in heavy rain when the water droplets are plopping all around you. A good bit of exercise on an otherwise wet drab Saturday afternoon. 6.2 nm 1 hour 35 minutes GPS track...
Another training paddle out in the Taran seeing as the weather was set fair. I'd been thinking about paddling to Kilcreggan for a while now, but this was the first day where the weather made it possible. With next to no wind at times and with hardly a cloud in the sky, it was...
Training paddle out in the Taran. Taking a break from chopping down the jungle and taming hedges with my chainsaw. I hadn't really decided on where I was heading and let the wind and swell decide. With the wind blowing from the SE it made sense to plod down to Helensburgh. Fab 7.5 nm...
Training paddle out in the Taran. Started off looking pretty miserable but turned out to be a really nice enjoyable paddle. Out and about in Gare loch Fab! 6.5 nm 1 hour 36 minutes GPS track...
A nice between Christmas and New Year paddle with Helensburgh Canoe Club - Gordon, Steve and Stuart. Not only was it my first trip with the club, it was my first time on Loch Lomond and my first trip on fresh water in my NDK Romany Surf. We paddled across to Balmaha for coffee,...
First trip out in my new boat “Irn-Bru”. A Romany Surf with an orange deck and blue trim, as per the IRN-BRU colours. I have to say I am quite pleased with it. Especially seeing as I have never paddled one of these boats before, even before buying it! Thankfully, and as expected it’s...
