The PSK Hub – Performance Sea Paddling Stuff
Pull up a chair, it’s a long one… I was asked about the effectiveness of the rudder during/countering a bongo slide while riding the River Dee Bore: “Does the rudder have any effect to help escape the bongo?” Well, no, not really. Let me try to explain. The Rudder As the boat moves forward the …
Continue reading “Rudder Effectiveness During A Bongo Slide”
by Mark Rainsley Why? Numerous beautiful and varied islands and reefs, challenging tidal conditions and open crossings, using the southernmost toilet in the British Isles, the potential chance to annoy the French or cause an international incident. Start/ finish: St Malo (Brittany) or Granville (Normandy) to Goury (Normandy). Mileage: Minimum distance about 180km (we paddled …
Continue reading “Island-hopping the Channel Isles – the Channel Isles Grand Tour!”
by Mark Rainsley Why? Because: Joining up the Orkney Islands and Shetland Island archipelagos, Britain’s outmost and northernmost communities. Spectacular coastal scenery, abundant marine wildlife – especially seabirds and cetaceans. The chance to reach the very top of Britain, Muckle Flugga Lighthouse and Out Stack rock. Start/ finish: Various launch possibilities on the UK mainland, …
Continue reading “Muckle Flugga or Bust! – paddling to the top of Britain”
by Mark Rainsley Why? Because: Cornwall. Wonderful maritime scenery and culture, incredible and sustained cliffs; the finest such scenery in the UK. Rounding the Cornish peninsula is simply an outstanding wild journey/ expedition. Start/ finish: Cornwall (obviously) begins at Plymouth Sound and ends at Marsland Mouth, both being borders with Devon. Various launch points possible …
Continue reading “Paddling around Cornwall – the Kernow Grand Tour!”
The UK has a number of rivers that form tidal bores. From a kayaking point of view many of these are surfable – to a varying extent. While some provide a dynamic, boisterous challenge, others are little more than a tick-in-the-box for the ‘bore-spotter’. For a bore to form we need a wide, flat estuary …
by Aled Williams
Penrhyn Mawr is arguably Anglesey’s best sea kayak play-spot. It is easily accessed, lying only a short distance off the coast of Anglesey. This is potentially a complex, weather and tide governed trip that includes kayaking in areas of strong tidal currents. Perfect for practicing rough water techniques and playing in waves, boils and eddies; however, in poor conditions this can quickly become a very confused and treacherous piece of water. Paddlers should be aware that they would be taking on the most powerful force of nature found on the Anglesey coastline, prepare themselves accordingly and adopt a defensive mind-set when playing in this location.
by John Willacy
A guide to surfing the waves of The Swellies, on the flood.
by John Willacy
A guide to surfing the waves of The Swellies, on the ebb.
by John Willacy
It was now more than two hours since I had rounded the harbour wall at Dun Laoghaire, the GPS showed I was now nine miles off-shore. As I ventured further from the sanctuary of Dun Laoghaire the conditions had grown steadily worse. Ahead of me lay 40 miles of open water to Holyhead, which still lurked beyond the horizon. It was coming close to decision time; do I continue and hope for the forecast improving conditions or turn back and face the disappointment of the slog back to the harbour?