“Across the Waves”
Newsletter
of the
No.29
Peter Owens & Vera Quinlan
After a fantastic week paddling and
climbing on the west coast, ranging from the Burren to the Inishkeas, myself
and Vera Quinlan joined the ISKA meet to
The plan was to meet on
We threw the tent up in the campsite at
Gorteen and then headed in to for a meal with Ciaran Clissman and family (which
was entertaining). All though the evening cars with kayaks drove through the
town and from our vantage point we tried to make out who was showing up –
looked like a big crowd. The weather was looking ok although there was north-east wind of
Situated in the south of
Inishlacken, is habited only in the summer.
But plays host to the two smartest donkeys in
A small group headed off west along the coast to Ballyconneely. Like some aquatic group of hells angels we poured out of the little harbour on the island in formation and headed off in the general direction of Mace Head and beyond. The wind had whipped up the waves making this a lovely run down the coast. Great fun turning on the crests in order to keep the direction right (especially with no skeg!) and in what seemed a few minutes we were approaching St McDaras Island.
This was the designated lunch spot for the
day and a respite from the wind . The island has a restored 12th century church
and an annual pilgrimage is made every year on the 16th of July. We
stopped in for lunch and then a quick walk around the island before it was time
to get back in the boats for the slog against the wind back up to the halfway point
Freaghillaun
We split up into two groups – the speed demons and the sightseers. Des and Sean showed a perfect example of how to disembark from a double kayak while Maurice followed suit. Didn’t think the guru’s ever got wet! Even though we were paddling straight into fairly stiff headwind it was nice to be out there is a fairly bumpy sea – conditions like this would have you a little anxious if there was just two of us – thoughts of will I get that roll first time if I go over are diminished with the safety net of a group of good paddlers. This will help the confidence when facing similar conditions in the future.
Throughout the paddle there were many Hookers off to port, taking part in the Roundstone Regatta over the weekend. It was great to see these boats are still raced.
After a short stay on Freaghillaun, with a superb view on the Twelve Bens and the Maum Turks straight ahead we paddled back on to Inishlacken and our camp-site for the night. It was nice not to be on the mainland. It turned out to be a safer option – later that night the spill off from the regatta in Roundstone resulted in a beach party in Gorteen bay. Some of the paddlers had equipment stolen and incidents with local lads climbing on the roofs of their vans. This was after threats by the campsite owner and the gardai called over ‘illegal camping’ (in camper vans). The owner of the campsite was quite abusive and I will definitely not be staying there again. For the main bulk of the crowd staying on the island, we all had a peaceful night. A wood collection posse yielded enough firewood that would make Johnny Adair happy.
When the light faded , the fire was lit – lots of good chat and a few bottles of wine.
The next morning , after an easy going start we headed off in the direction of Ballyconneely while another group did the long haul to Skerdmore– an 18km roundtrip – the wind had abated so we had a pleasant skim along the coastline. Stopping in a sheltered bay just short of Ballyconneely for lunch , I was impressed by Declan Donnelly and Alan Horner’s 4 course lunch menu (in contrast to my cracker and cheese delights). We paddled back along the coast to Gorteen with and nice swell and tide running before us. Packing up in the sunshine, that was end of another fine ISKA weekend – let em ‘roll’ on.
ISKA News
Dave Walsh
Dave Walsh flagged his retirement as Chairman to the committee back in the autumn of 2001. Reluctantly he was persuaded to continue and agreed that both “Come and Try It “ Meets in 2002 would be his last official duties. In the early summer of 2002 Dave got quite ill and necessitated hospitalisation and surgery. He has had a long and rather remarkable convalescence. In August he has satisfied two personal ambitions and landed on the Bull Rock and the Tearaght as well as half a dozen other islands new to Oileain. The energy of the man will be a severe loss to the ISKA but we wish Dave well with the continued development of Oileain .
Clare Crinnion
Congratulations to Clare who got married on
26th July . Clare moves from
Website
Congratulations and many thanks to Ciaran Clissmann, Paul Smith and Des Keaney for their efforts in redesigning and updating the new website for the ISKA.
Kayak
Pat Diamond
What
an Irish summer, depression after depression and opportunities for kayaking
wasted. But it doesn't have to be that way and for a reasonable amount of money
you can be certain of good kayaking in clean warm waters – 26 degrees C,
stunning scenery and lots of history.
Earlier this year I made contact through the Internet with Zelko Kelemann who runs
a white water and sea kayaking business in
It turned out even better than expected. Croatians are very friendly, proud of
their country and visitors are welcome. Zelko drove a couple of hundred km to
meet us at the airport and brought us to the ferry to
The first morning was spent with Radovan the guide checking the boats and
rolling which was pleasant in the warm water. Radovan, a Croatian student and
excellent kayaker but who had little leadership training, paddled Croatian
style - tight Speedos and nothing else.
In
the afternoon we went for a paddle along the side of the island and an
attraction of the
The next day was a trip around the island -
12km -, which is one of the few with sandy beaches. The west side if the island
has steep spectacular limestone sea cliffs with a cave which is easy to
penetrate in the calm seas. (
As in all the islands there is an abundance of
sea-life and colour - Moray eels, wrasse, coral etc. The trip back to base
along the east side, in comparison to the west, is a bit tedious after a while.
A big plus is that gear can be left safely close to the beach and after a quick
shower the restaurants are only 5 minutes walk for good food and to watch the
sunset (it is a big change to see the sun set every night).
Day 3. was a trip to
Day 4. was the longest trip - my kids
had given up on kayaking at this point and Radovan wanted to circumnavigate
Sipan Island which is a large island
to the north of Lopud. Getting there is an open sea crossing of 3 km and the
wind was getting up from the south. As it has a long way to come, the sea was
getting up a bit and particularly off the southern tip of Sipan where there was
quite a lot of clapotis. The Prijon boats handled it well and we had a
following sea up the west coast. Just up from the southern trip is a large
spectacular sea-arch 30ft high and about 50-ft across. The lumpy sea made the
approach interesting but the water was calm in the cove.
The cliffs on the west side are impressive and show signs of massive folding.
The cliffs, which go on for about 7 km, get steeper towards the end and open
into bay with the next island, Jakljan, adjacent.
The bay was sheltered from the wind and
totally calm making a good stopping off point. Other than a couple of yachts
the place was deserted and was unbelievable in terms of snorkeling.
Passing through the channel brought us to a bay, which is one of the safest
areas for sailing as it is sheltered from all of the strong winds. At the head
of the bay is Sipanska Luka, a small and picturesque village. I have identified
the Hotel Sipan in the village as the base for my return trip whenever that is.
Clean, modern; they were cooking up freshly caught fish on the barbecue as we
were leaving and I was tempted to stay and take the ferry back.
Travelling back along the bay we surprised many of the local nudists who lie
out in the coves. Naturism is popular and it is common to come across naked
bodies of various dimensions, which can be an attraction, or not.
However, after turning the north-eastern tip it was a long slog back with a
stop of after 10 km at Sudarad - an old village with a castle church going back
to 1400's and worth more than the half hour we had to spare. Although the wind
had died off there was still a swell coming up from the south which seemed to
follow us all the way to the beach making it a tough full day kayaking.
Day 5.
The
plan was for an easy day just paddling
around Lopud and fishing. The fish in
Day 6. Was the final day of kayaking and
I had planned to take the ferry to Sipanska Luka and then paddle further north
to Jakljan Island. However, a southerly wind was up and Radovan felt it was too
choppy to go.
It
was the last day and after considering the conditions I went anyway.
Paddling along the bay brought me to the bay at Jakljan which was catching full force of the swell and was a mass of white foam unlike two days before when it was like the scene for a Bounty add.
Jakljan was just a small skip and well sheltered from the wind on the east side allowing safe paddling before crossing to the other side of Sipanska Bay and a relaxing paddle back to the village. The ferry back to Lopud turned out to be the most hair raising of trips when for some reason the boat took the exposed west side of Sipan on the return and it was worth all ten kuna (7 kuna = 1€).
The boat stopped in Suduran and, as the
crossing to Lopud was sheltered and the evening beautiful, there was only one
thing to do. With the help of the ferry crew I was soon back on the water for a
sunset paddle on flat seas - the best finish to a week's paddling.
For me, it was an excellent week of relaxing paddling in almost guaranteed good
conditions. There are routes and locations to suit all capabilities and after
Irish waters it was as close to perfection as you can get. I have charts and
other material and one thing I am keen to do is organise a return trip - anyone
interested should let me know.
Greek
Rod Feldman
Sea Kayak Milos is a new sea kayaking
centre on the Greek
To the kayaker Milos offers relatively calm seas, warm water and a stunning coastline. Explore sea cave complexes, rest or camp on pristine deserted beaches or take a night paddle beneath clear skies. Take advantage of the warm water to practice rolls, rescues and surf techniques. For those seeking a challenge, try around Milos 72km, the record is 13 hours; around Kimolos, 30km coastline, 1km crossing and around Poliegos 25km coastline, 5km crossing.
As part of the days adventure, we also promote out-of-kayak activities; sea-cliff climbing, cliff diving, coastaleering, snorkeling, summiting rocky islets, and visits to historical sites - many only accessible by boat.
About Milo
Milos is the most south westerly of the Cyclades group of islands, in the Aegean Sea, about half way between Athens and Crete. It is accessible by a once daily flight from Athens or by ferry boat from the port of Piraeus (Athens).
Milos is most well known as the discovery site of the famous statue - the Venus de Milo - now on display the Louvre gallery in Paris. Milos has a wealth of history with archaeological sites dating back to 7000 BC, when it was the centre of the obsidian trade, a hard black volcanic glass, used to make tools in the pre-bronze age. Relics of roman occupation include numerous pottery and marble statues - many can be found in-situ in vacant fields; a marble amphitheatre, catacombs and fortification walls. More recently are the reminders of the WW2 German occupation – bunkers, gun placements and storage tunnels.
Today the 5000 inhabitants of Milos are dependent on Mining and Tourism. Mining has occurred since ancient times and currently occupies about half the workforce. This dual economy has preserved an authentic local culture that is not found on many of the other islands that are entirely dependant on tourism.
Milos is, so far, untouched by large hotel chains and package tourism. Most of the tourists are domestic and crowd the island in late July and August. For the remainder of the year the island is quiet and peaceful. Tourist attractions include archaeological sites, 3 museums, over 70 beaches (of which, only 25 are accessible by car), local ouzo bars, restaurants and gift shops, hire car and scooter places. There is much to do on a non-paddling day or for a less-enthusiastic paddling partner.
Geography
As with its more famous neighbor Santorini, 75km to the southeast, Milos is composed almost entirely of volcanic rocks. Unlike Santorini, which was formed from a single volcanic eruption, Milos is composed of dozens of eruptive centers of different ages. The volcanic origin is responsible for the wide variety of useful rocks and minerals that have been mined over the millennia and for the impressive and unique rock formations that comprise the coastline. Although the volcanic activity has ceased, geothermal activity continues to the present day and produces hot springs, a natural sauna cave and impressive colored cliffs, especially in the southern part of the island.
The Island is about 20km in an east west direction and about 10km north south, making all areas of coast easily accessible by road. It has a large bay, opening to the north that almost divides the island in two, resulting a horseshoe shape. The landscape is barren and mountainous, dominated by Profitis Ilias, the highest peak at 752m, on the western side. Including the bay, Milos has a coastline of over 130km.
Of particular interest to sea kayakers are the abundance of sea caves. Numbering well over 100 they are accessible by kayak. Many are in the form of impressive arches and some form tunnels over 60m long.
Weather Conditions
The weather in Milos is characterized by long dry summers and short wet winters. The Aegean Sea has no ocean swell and almost no tide. Wind is the dominant factor on the weather and paddling conditions and it can be strong and persistent any time of the year. On no wind days the water is dead calm, however a strong wind for many days can produce a swell than can produce 5 foot breaking waves on the windward coast.
When to visit
We are open every day from April to November. Spring and autumn are the best time to visit. The autumn months and June have warmer water temperatures while spring is when the island is at its most beautiful, green after the winter rains and full of wildflowers. July and August can be very hot, crowded and accommodation is expensive, but if you really want to experience the “Greek summer” this is the time to come.
The Fleet
We are progressively expanding and up grading our fleet and welcome the input of visitors and prospective visitors as to their preference of craft. At present we have all plastic boats, the majority of which are by Rainbow, an Italian company, available in double and singles. More suited to the beginner and intermediate paddler, the rainbow works well on day trips as it “fits” everyone, is lightweight and easy to handle; it tracks well but is quite short, so it easy to maneuver in caves and handles OK in the surf.
For experienced paddlers wanting a more serious boat for long day, camping and island hopping trips we have some American made boats by Wilderness Systems, the Sealoution and Cape Horne. All rentals and trips include paddle, buoyancy aid and spray deck.
Kayaking Program
For experienced Kayakers we offer guided day trips and freedom rentals.
Guided day trips are planned on a daily basis and take into account the wind direction and experience and wants of the group. A typical day would involve meeting in for breakfast at about 9am, from there a plan is made; departure around 10am and return when you have had enough, usually around 5-6pm. Groups are between 2 and six persons. Price includes a picnic lunch, snorkeling equipment, all kayak gear and local guidance – we guarantee to show you places you would not find on your own.
Rentals can be taken on a day-to-day basis or as a multi-day rental. Day rentals have the advantage of being able to plan the best trip for the conditions of the day, allow paddling with minimal gear on board and being able to return to the village in the evening for a hot shower, a restaurant meal and a comfortable bed. Rental price includes drop off and pick up, either returning to the starting point or one way to a predetermined destination, different paddle location every day.
For those considering multi-day rentals and camping out, we provide a map showing camping spots, drip off and pick up and back up support. You will need to bring your own camping kit, as we do not, as yet, provide camping equipment.
For Further information and prices please visit www.seakayakgreece.com or contact Rod Feldtmann by e-mail rodpetra@otenet.gr.
Paul Smith
Last January I
put some plans together to develop my paddling and experience so that I could
go for Level 3 Sea coach assessment this year.
Elements of my plan included doing a Level 5 sea proficiency training
(that's 5 star sea training for CANI members) with Stephen Hannon, and then
leading an ISKA outing under the watchful mentoring of some of ISKA's great and
good.
On 12 May I was
asked to lead the Inishkeas trip with Stephen Hannon mentoring and generally
making sure I didn't do anything too stupid.
The trip was the 18-19 May. The
published plan was that there would be two trips, an "Advanced" one
to Blackrock, and a second "Intermediate" one which I would
lead. The expectation was that we would
camp on the islands on Saturday night.
Now the location
of this trip suited me very well, as I did the Level 5 training in the same
area in April, and had researched the Sailing Directions, Oileáin, and
Admiralty Pilot at that time. Also I had
a very neatly laminated chart of the area courtesy of Stephen... (Stephen let
me know if you want it back, as I seem to have taken it home again!). The main concern at the beginning of last
week was the weather; each day I looked at the charts and predictions, each day
it was different!
On Thursday I
put a plan together for an overnight trip to the islands and emailed it to
Stephen and Des for (hopefully constructive) criticism. A prophetic excerpt reads:
"My concern is the
changing wind forecast.. The
meteorological situation is generally unstable...there was a forecast
possibility of winds reaching high F5 on Sunday, although the current forecast
seems to be max during paddling times of F4.
Winds will be generally Southerly, There will be some showers on
Sunday, less on Saturday, don't even mention Friday. If weather outlook
on Saturday morning has reverted to probable F5 on Sunday p.m. then there is a
risk of entrapment on island for extra night, and. in this case a return day
trip on Saturday to Inishkeas and camping on Mullet is preferred. Sunday day trip to Duvillaun Mor could then
be possible if forecast moderated by Sunday am."
Des said
"OK". I looked at the weather
again on Friday and thought oh ****! The
synoptic charts for Sunday evening suggested strengthening winds, and Sunday
would likely be wet all day... What were
the chances of getting stuck on the islands with a group?
Friday evening I
finally finished work and loaded the car, and drove to Blacksod. Slept well.
Woke at 08:00 on Saturday morning, knowing we were to meet at 09:30 and
rang the weather to hear the calm composed tones of the weathergirl ".
Saturday Force 4-5, rising to F5-7 overnight, Sunday F5-7 possibly gusts of
force 8.scattered showers" Oh
****! Considered going home. Had a hearty last meal and then proceeded
down the road to see if I could give a group of paddlers an enjoyable weekend,
provide a safe experience for all, manage a group of mixed ability and expectations,
make all the decisions promptly and correctly, keep everyone informed of the
"plan", .... and generally act as a focal point and facilitator for a
group of individuals. I was a little
concerned!
Got to the
beach, looked at the surf, chatted to a few relatively inexperienced paddlers
and a lot more very experienced paddlers.
Realized that the advanced trip was off and that we were sticking
together... I was now leading a trip with a complete range of skills, and very
diverse expectations... and was not happy taking the group on an overnight,
fearing we might not all make it home on Sunday and would not having enough
food to stay till Tuesday. Also morale
on a wet Sunday, waiting for a window to sprint home would be very low, low
morale leads to friction and nerves, nervous paddlers would be tense, tense
paddlers swim, swimmers get cold ... and downwards to the abyss. I felt that Des and Stephen would not be
impressed if I returned with fewer paddlers than I set out with.
So to the
briefing.
This has got to
be good, I felt. I need to manage the
expectations, explain my discomfort, make everyone trust my decision-making,
and give everyone the opportunity of a good paddle... Can I go home yet? My opening gambit was explaining the weather
forecast and my misgivings about the Sunday return, the compromise I offered
was to pack boats but anticipate a day trip; later weather forecast would be
available when we were on the islands, we could revise the PM plan then. I then played my joker "If any of you
want to do anything different then you are free to do so, otherwise I will be
expecting to count 16 boats on the water, and want the group to stay
together...” None of the advanced group stepped away! I was leading a group
including some of ISKA’s most experienced paddlers, some of whom I don't know
.... potentially intimidating.
Dave Walsh then
did me a great service "I won't bother loading my boat, I'm definitely
paddling back this evening" the seed was sown. Recognizing that the S wind would build
overnight and we might be camping out I was not happy with the launch point
-neither was Stephen H, so obviously I agreed wholeheartedly. The option I proposed was Glash beach: this
bit of the briefing was not good, as it was pointed out that we couldn't all
park there, DW came to the rescue again by pointing out a suitable point at the
W end of Fallmore beach. We all drove
there, giving me a few minutes to revise times, tides, effects of weather on a
plan for a day paddle- I should have planned day trips more thoroughly when I
became concerned that the overnight was risky!
Arriving at the
beach I had an opportunity to talk to everyone individually and discuss the
problems of the overnight, and the advantages in not loading boats. By the time we hit the water I was pleased
that my group had all decided to do a day trip, with empty boats.
Then the brain
wave, we had enough radios, I could make life easy for myself and keep most of
the experts interested – "I'll make them all work for me, it might stop
them getting bored and concentrating on my weaknesses!" I became the director mingling through the
group, giving occasional instructions to the "hare" at the front, or
the "sweeper" at the back, or checking that weaker paddlers were well
protected. This is one of the best
reasons I can think of for encouraging more people to take responsibility
during ISKA paddles: it reduces the workload and stress on the
"leader" and allows more time and composure for the decision making,
it also leads to a more rewarding paddle for all.
So come on the rest of you book on a training
course and ask Dave for your subs back!
Pre launch
checklist went well –
–Called Belmullet Radio and told them our
intent.
·
Told
the group about management on the water: Mary at the front, Des at the back,
radios on Ch. 10, stay with your kit if you capsize, keep group tight for first
20 mins till I see how it shapes up...
·
Any
questions? No, good, let's go paddling...
We finally left
the beach at 12:00. Paddled 1.5M in 30
mins with some head wind, confirming a good average speed, confirmed most of
the strengths and weaknesses in the group.
Quick brief to Mary at Duvillaun Beg about the next leg to Inishkea
South using the beacons as a transit, then landing near the quay on Inishkea
South for lunch.
Made sure
everyone knew what we were doing, and then we were off again, this time with
the wind pushing a bit from the left.
During this leg
we were being pushed off line by the wind, so a quick radio call to Mary to
make sure she was aware, followed by a discussion with DW, soon pulled us back
onto the transit. Also by pointing up
into the wind a little the group was noticeably compacted, where previously it
had been starting to spread out.
We landed at
13:30 in bright sunshine and enjoyed a very relaxed lazy lunch and some wandering
about the island. By 14:30 I had again gauged the mood(s) of the group and
decided to offer two afternoon sessions, Des would lead a group round the North
island, clockwise, pushed up the outside by the wind. I would explore or fish off the North island
with the others.
My planned 15:00 departure from the S island
slipped to 15:20 and the time taken by Des's group was longer than I
anticipated- I should have been clearer about their route and time, I did not
anticipate that they would spend time exploring the northern outlying islands.
I radioed Belmullet radio to revise our finish time.
We met up again
after 18:00 off the east of Inishkea North.
Here I made another mistake, I should have paddled on with the slower
group rather than waiting to join up before continuing the crossing; my mistake
prolonged the return trip. In my defence
I was concerned that the wind was freshening and that I wanted to regain and
retain visibility of the entire group.
Also in the growing chop and group spread, radio contact was becoming
garbled and repeated messages more frequent.
In retrospect the idea of meeting off the east
of Inishkea North was a good one, but I should have planned it before we split
up so that Des would contact me when his group was 30 min from the rendezvous
point; giving my group time to put out the trangias, get into boats and paddle
out to meet them with less rushing.
The return
crossing used Glash tower as a reference mark, and starting from the E tip of
Inishkea north gave us a shorter open crossing with less cross wind than might
otherwise have been the case; this boosted the morale of the less experienced
as they could see real progress toward home, even in the infrequent poor
visibility and increasing head wind.
During this leg
I was content to have Des and Stephen at the back chatting, encouraging and
supporting, while DW and most of the rest slowly but steadily increased their
lead. The water sloshing about somehow
managed to penetrate my radio dry bag so; I lost comms, which gave me a timely
reminder of how much I was relying on the radios, and that a contingency plan
would be useful.
Luckily there
were enough people nearby with radios who could relay a message if necessary;
in the event it wasn't.
I hovered in the
middle looking out for hazards, moving inshore of the group as we neared the
mullet S of Glash Tower, shepherding the group out from breakers and preventing
corner cutting in the final stretch. A
real risk was that an expert would go for a play and someone would follow them
in without anticipating the breaking waves.
We all landed by
20:00, I informed Belmullet radio and thanked them for listening out. Thanked all those who had helped me during
the day, and chatted to a few of the others.
Then waited for someone to start directing shore operations i.e. which
pub and when? My leadership for the day
was done, all souls were on the beach, and I think they all enjoyed it –
although I can think of one who might not have enjoyed it until the rose tinted
glasses of retrospect began to focus better.
I had a great
day, and really enjoyed creating a trip for such a diverse group. The subtle art of gauging and managing
expectations will continue to improve with experience, I hope; but I was very
pleased with this first attempt. Thank
you to everyone who was on the trip; the enthusiasm and contentment of everyone
there made it easy to lead you.
Waking on Sunday
morning in a rocking car, I was glad I was on the Mullet. I phoned the weather forecast to hear
"6-7 reaching gale force 8 this morning, falling to 6-7 this afternoon,
then rising to gale force 8 this evening", wrote it down, stuck it on the
car window, and rolled over for another hour's sleep.
When I got home
I checked the observed weather at Belmullet for Sunday. Max wind gust was 52kn! Average was 20kn with 6.3 mm of rain. Nice day to be on the beach. As far as I know no one paddled on Sunday,
although there was a discussion of doing a Level 6 rescue session!
The only
casualty of the weekend was my roof rack, which buckled under the strain of a
crosswind as I left Belmullet town while driving home on Sunday morning (I
don't recommend Paddy Hopkirk roof bars!)!
Des and Stephen
gave me a very useful debrief which has added both to my confidence and to my
training plan! Great coaching and
mentoring skills from both added to my enjoyment and development last weekend
and gave me the confidence to run the trip, thanks to both for putting in the
time and effort to give free coaching.
I strongly
recommend that everyone else does some more training, takes on a little more
responsibility, and makes use of the resource of skilled, enthusiastic and
generous volunteers at the peak of the sport who belong to our club. Sharing the work makes it much more
rewarding, more fun and less stressful.
Doing the training gives you loads of experience, confidence and
judgement in a structured and controlled progression! Well done and thanks to ISKA.
Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus
(Montague 1821)
Derivation: From the Latin tursio for “an animal like the dolphin” (from Pliny), and the Greek ops for “face”; from the Latiin truncare for “cut off”.
Description:
Beak usually short and stubby but sometimes moderately long; head and body robust; colour pattern a subdued blend of brown to charcoal; generally nondescript cape, lighter sides, still lighter belly; dorsal fin moderately tall and falcate; only absent from polar regions.
Size up to 3.9m and 275kg. Males larger than females
Natural History:
Bottlenose Dolphins usually form groups of ten (coastal) or 25(offshore) individuals though herds of several hundred have been reported. This species is most intensively studied of all the Dolphins and have been observed to adapt feeding strategies to take advantage of human activities. Fish caught in nets, discarded by fishermen or stirred up by nets or propeller washes. Co-operative hunting of various types has also been documented. They are capable and willing bowriders they ride ground swell and pressure waves of big whales and frequently can be found body surfing. Bottlenosed Dolphins are the most common cetacean in captivity, they are the mainstay of zoos, aquariums and marine parks since 1914 and are cosmopolitan in world distribution avoiding only the very high latitudes.
Tom Daly
This is the first in a series of articles that will
appear in TnaD previously published in
Sail &Power Magazine 1979/80. The author records his solo circumnavigation
of Ireland in 1979 the first ever solo trip
undertaken in a seakayak.
(Editor)
“Decisions”
Monday, the 8th of July 1979, saw me standing at Raven Pt., six miles north of Rosslare Harbour. I had come ashore to have a piece of chocolate, to smoke a cigarette, and think. For the previous eight hours, the force six south-westerly wind had been trying to push me backwards and out to sea as I had struggled down from the north, keeping close to the long line of sand-dunes. Now I had to make a decision. It was not very different from the dozens of decisions which were forced upon me since I left Brandon village in my native County Kerry, thirty six days previously.
I
couldn't stay in this place for there were only miles of flat low and
featureless sand on which I could pitch my tent. I could turn around and paddle
six miles to the north again but the thought of losing those hard-won few miles
was not very savoury. On the other hand, I could go ahead and cross the two
miles of open, wind-swept water, which separated me from Rosslare Pt. and, if I reached there, I would be in the lee of the
wind and could sneak down to Rosslare Harbour.
My long, sleek, kayak was pulled up on the sand beside me, the wind tugged at my drenched clothes which, after a few minutes, had my teeth chattering and the wrapping from my chocolate went scurrying off over the water. Under normal conditions the crossing ahead would not have cost me a second thought, but I was tired, having been out for eight hard hours already and a sea canoeist isn't supposed to be able to make any significant progress against a wind like that. If anything happened on the crossing, a bout of dizziness perhaps, or a broken paddle, I would be blown out into the Irish Sea with no one to summon help and I would not be missed until my weekly call to Marine Rescue in Shannon became overdue. That would be in five days time.
But, of course, I had to go ahead. If I was to get around Ireland, I had to accept such chances and I had to raise my performance to levels that I did not think myself capable of. I put on my life- jacket securely, got into the boat, slipped on my safety line and headed into the wind.
As always in situations like this, it was an agonising, body-shattering paddle. Head down, shoulders hunched forward, each stroke a deliberate conscious pull, unlike the usual rhythmic, un-thought of action. Three or four strokes and the boat gains some momentum, then the bow crashes into a wave sending a shower of cold, wind-blown water into your face and the boat stops. The whole process begins all over again and you gain another few feet until the combined action of the wind and next wave bring you to an abrupt halt again. And, as always in a situation like this, your mind wanders, "What in the name of God am I doing in a sea like this in such a small boat? Why did I ever begin this mad, crazy venture", and the mind and body rebel against any further action. But you keep going, for there is no alternative.
Why indeed, I must have asked myself a thousand times. It had all begun, what now appeared to be a long time ago - in fact, it was around Christmas of I977. I had been canoeing for a couple of years as a student, in the Physical Education College in Limerick, and I had sailed a couple of dinghies whenever I was in a position to 'bum' one. I had no real experience of the sea, as sea canoeing was "strictly for the birds". Sea canoeists were looked upon with a certain amount of awe by us, mere mortals. On top of this, a person needed a good deal of money to get the necessary gear together as well as transport to get around and being a "poor student" I had none of these.
Canoeing around Ireland would, of course, be a great achievement for any Irish sea-canoeist and the prospect had been discussed often in canoeing circles. Then suddenly, as I was driving home late one night to the remote village of Boherbue in North Cork where I had been teaching for a few months, the thought struck me that I might be one of the first to paddle around Ireland. Of course I was mad! Other people did that sort of thing, one reads about them all the time. But not me. I was normal. I was ordinary. Still, the idea couldn't be pushed away, the seed had been planted and just wouldn’t stop growing.
From that time, it took a year-and-a-half to get ready. It was a time of frustrations, of endless discussions, of study and of banging my head off a stone wall most of the time. Thankfully, many of the details are now forgotten. The morning after the idea first struck me, I put a six foot high wall-map on the floor of the school geography room, got out a piece of string and measured an approximate course around Ireland. It worked out at around 1,600 miles. Within a few days, I had it all worked out - there would be about five paddlers and a back-up team of two with a car and caravan.
I was under no illusions about what I was facing, and knew there would be enormous problems, but I committed myself to a year and half of preparation. The problem was finding others who would be equally committed and soon I was forced to scale the whole thing down.
At the same, time I was looking into the feasibility of the project (after I had decided to go ahead), collected as much information as I could about previous expeditions and studied various pieces of equipment which were available. I had previously read many accounts of various trips on land, sea and air. I was trained as a Canoe Leader, had spent a lot of time camping and in the hills, so that the whole concept of an advanced expedition was not new to me and I also had good knowledge of survival techniques and principles.
I decided to settle for a daring, self-sufficient, two-man expedition and set about finding someone who would be willing to put in time in organising and training but, above all, someone with whom I would be compatible on a long trip. On such an expedition, where the stresses are enormous and where people are living so closely together and dependent on each other, rows can break out over the smallest things and many expeditions have been ruined as a result. After asking a few, I ended up with Michael who had little experience but was game for anything and jumped at the idea. We drove back to West Kerry one evening to talk to Ger Kavanagh, who, with another fellow, had rowed a currach around the country a few years previously. With his words, "don't be afraid of the sea boys, go ahead", I made the irreversible decision to carry on.
Much work was done which bore no fruit - my first job was to get sponsors to finance the trip (I had just borrowed the price of car). I got patrons, printed a prospectus and sent it to the leading newspapers plus the ten top companies on the stock exchange list.
“I had made a fool of myself "
I got two negative replies and the uneasy feeling that things weren't going to be as easy as I had anticipated. News began to reach me about other groups who were to attempt the same trip in I978, one from Scotland, one from Jersey and one from Northern Ireland. I would not be among the first after all. Then came the discovery, after a more careful calculation, that the distance was less than I,000 miles and not the 1,600 that I originally thought. I had made a fool of myself.
Little Headway
The problems were mounting. I was making very little headway and then, one night, in much the same fashion as the original idea had first struck me, I thought, "I'll go alone! I'll just pack my boat and go, and to hell with everyone else". Now, this was pure folly altogether. Solo canoeing was almost unheard of on inland water, let alone on the sea. I rang Ann, my girlfriend, about the idea. She was an experienced canoeist, had done some sailing and, consequently, knew what was involved. "Now hold on Daly. Put this idea out of your head and I'll discuss it with you the next time we meet. Just forget about it", she said, in the same tone of voice one would use when trying to delay a person from jumping from a top story window while the firemen got the nets ready below.
However, when I discussed it with her, explained how it would save trouble and expense, as well as the enormity of the challenge, she accepted it. Indeed without Ann's unselfishness, support and practical advice, I would never, literally, have got off the ground.
The trip now
took on a new perspective altogether, changing from a physical challenge to
more of a mental one. The risks were increased enormously as the lone canoeist
is helpless if anything goes wrong. The Irish Canoe Union washed their hands of
the project and attempts were made to have me expelled from the organisation.
Other canoeists - friends of mine - thought the idea a big joke. I wrote to the
group from Jersey who along with a group from Scotland had completed the trip
at this stage, during the summer of ‘78. They had
been practically reared in Kayaks and were extremely competent, but their
letters were very discouraging .........
“not a thing we would do solo” . . “very big risk” . . “very demoralising
experience”…. “ don't say we didn't warn you”.. etc., etc.
Practical Preparations
However, the more the idea was knocked, the more determined I was to go ahead. Now, I was in the middle of practical preparations. A boat and lots of gear had to be got from England. A full set of lightweight camping equipment had to be put together. I had to take navigation lessons and begin training. There was an endless list of things that had to be done and, on top of it all, came the Post Office strike. I was left with a seventy-mile round trip to get to an automatic phone in order to make calls.
One of my biggest headaches was the general incompetence and inefficiency of a number of firms that I was dealing with - "Sure Tom, we'll have that for you before you go, no problem". But a few short weeks before I was due to leave I had no boat, no suitable paddles, no charts, no tent, and no flares. On many occasions I drove long distances to find that dealers hadn't various items in stock, even when they had assured me beforehand that they would. There was not enough time to do the necessary training, but I did a good deal of roadwork on the dark roads around North Cork and I managed to puke up my lunch a few times in the school gym.
The lack of adequate equipment prevented me from training at sea but I paddled a lot on the lake in Killarney and spent a good while practicing rolling the boat in its cold waters. All this had to be done after a day's work or at weekends. I was writing cheques, hoping that I would be at sea before the bank manager 'copped on'.
When reading books or reports about other expeditions, it had always amazed me how the organisers were left with a last minute, frantic rush after months and even years of preparation. Well, now I understood. On June 3rd., which was my scheduled day for leaving, I was barely ready, even though I had no special food, much of the gear had been borrowed or bought second-hand and other items I could not get at all.
"Would I be adequate?"
During all the preparing and organising, my biggest worry was myself. The boat was good enough - the Eskimos had been using similar designs for hundreds of years and the particular model which I was using had been tried and tested many times. The trip was humanly possible - men had done far more demanding journeys. I was the big question mark. Would I be adequate?
On the morning of my departure I drove back to Brandon, on the northern side of the Dingle peninsula with Ann, who was now in the middle of her exams and had other things to be worried about. I felt I had got my first break as the sun was shining and the sea calm. This pleased me, for I knew that, during the trip, this would be the image that would stay in the minds of my family who had no experience of the sea.
Jumble of
emotion.
As I pushed off and waved goodbye to the family, Ann and a few friends, my mind was a jumble of emotion. The Magharee islands, only five miles away, were hidden by haze and, as I headed North on a compass bearing, my mind raced through what I was likely to face. How long could I hold out for? Would I get as far as the Aran Islands? Could I cope with the Atlantic on such a wild coast ? So many things could go wrong which could leave me swimming, miles out. Perhaps my tremendous respect for the sea was the cause of many of my worries. Only cowardice kept me going – the dread of giving up at that point and loosing face was greater than my dread of the challenge. However, I was also sustained in my faith in the capabilities of the human body - my flesh and blood was the same as anybody else's and, as long as my mind endured, I would keep going.
Having left Brandon in poor visibility, the first stop in my pre-arranged plan was east of Loop Head, 24 miles to the north. Even though I had planned to do around 24 nautical miles per day, I had expected that it would take some time for my body to adjust itself and that I wouldn't make very great progress for a week or so. Now, a severe pain in my back, as well as a general feeling of uneasiness, decided me to head for Kerry Head on the southern side of the Shannon Estuary. My first campsite was pretty typical of many which were to come - the tent pitched on rocky ground a few feet above the high water mark, in a little cove which was not marked on either Admiralty charts or Ordnance Survey maps.
Dear
sir,
I
would be grateful if you would publish this letter in your magazine and convey
my concerns to your members otherwise I will have to pursue alternative methods
to get my point across and these will not be pleasant for you all.
An
incident occurred on Saturday 20/7/02 which caused some consternation, turning
later to amusement involving one of your members and one of my group. We were
dining in a favourite haunt of ours, the channel between Inishlacken and the
mainland, and we observed some kayakers making very poor efforts at fishing.
One of them managed to hook a fish and started to pull it in. One of my
protégés who was also after said fish, unaware of your clumsy ways, also caught and held the
fish.
Now
the trouble started. My protégé swallowed the fish and attempted to swim off
but kayaker would not release it. Very frightened and in some discomfort, he
got angry,[much against the way he was reared]and swam off at speed dragging
the kayaker with him.
Now
the amusement started. We heard the kayaker call out to his friends for help
and watched him panic as he did not know whether to hold his paddle or the
fishing rig. We laughed till we cried [not that you would notice]because he had
tied the line to his kayak and could not reach it to untie it and ha ha, he did
not have a knife to cut it. My protégé started to really enjoy this despite his
bellyache and entertained us all for a while before snapping the line when the
second kayaker got involved the look on that mans face will be remembered for
generations.
We
are currently considering taking a case against you for allowing such inept
people to be on the sea and will be seeking compensation for the discomfort
suffered and the cost of curing the bellyache.
Your
kayaker should also learn 2 lessons. Do NOT tie gear to his boat unless it can
be undone quickly and always have a knife handy.
I
trust you will inform the above person. We look forward to seeing you all again
[purely for entertainment sake].
Take
care and be considerate.
Yours sincerely
S.L KEY
Smokers and Sea-kayaking
Pat
Diamond
This is not an article on the health implications
of smoking for sea-kayakers but is a response to special request for a piece on
the attractions and uses of a smoker/cooker for sea kayakers.
One of the questions that face you as you try to pack for a trip is what food
to bring. Meat, milk and other fresh foods spoil easily and shops aren't
readily found on offshore islands but at the same time Irish coastal waters
have an abundance of seafood, which is free and easily
accessible to kayakers. Shellfish and shrimp are easily collected from rock
pools and as we move into the summer fish, especially mackerel, are everywhere.
Fishing from the kayak is easier than you might think but I am careful to do it
by sheltered rock walls and gullies or on a calm sea - the thought of trying to
roll the kayak wrapped in fishing line doesn't appeal to me.
Mackerel are best caught trawling the line and 2 or 3 are easily caught on most
trips. Other fish such as pollock, which is transformed to a tasty fish by
smoking, are caught in deep water close to rock walls and gullies.
It is advised to bring a knife or other implement to help deal with larger
fish, as bashing them off the boat doesn't work too well – especially plastic
boats. The fishing line should be attached to the boat - clipped to the deck
lines is best - to leave your hands free for paddling etc.
Smokers can be made up easily enough but if you are not too good with your
hands or don't have the time they cost around €60 in hunting/fishing shops. I
use an Abu smoker which is compact (about the size of a shoebox), robust (mine
is almost 10 years old) and easy to use.
To use it is a matter of spreading sawdust - supplied with the smoker or
obtained from a friendly woodworker ; covering the sawdust with the drip tray
which prevents fat/oil dripping into the sawdust; and inserting the wire grill
which lets the smoke and heat circulate around the food.
Food is placed on the wire grill and then
the cover is slid into place leaving a small gap (1/4 inch). The burner is
filled with meths -about 1/2 full seems to sufficient if the smoker is placed
in a sheltered position - this is placed in the stand and lit; the smoker is
then placed on top.
Meat should be cut into bite size pieces to speed cooking time and ensure
thorough cooking. Cooking fish takes around 7 minutes while meat such as sausage
a little longer which is just long enough to get your beer from the
cool rock pool where you placed it earlier.
Total time to clean, prepare and cook fish is probably 15 - 20 minutes so it doesn't take much longer than cooking up other food and is suitable even for a leisurely lunch.
After cooking it is simply a matter of emptying the sawdust residue which is
biodegradable and packing the smoker which takes a minute or two.
Mackerel which have to be just the easiest fish to catch from a kayak are probably
the best tasting fish and are perfect with fresh brown bread, rice or pasta on
a summer's evening
on a deserted beach/island. For a change this year I plan to try smoked
mackerel sushi. It does mean bringing some dried Japanese sea-weed but the other
ingredients are easy to carry including the bamboo rolling mat – so watch out
there might be a treat in store for some of you.
Declan Donnelly
Vegetarian, vegan, low-fat, low-calorie, low cholesterol, high fibre, cheap, easy to make and delicious! Can be made in advance, and brought in a Tupperware on trips to be reheated.
Ingredients
for 2:
2 teaspoons olive oil
l onion, chopped
½ teaspoon crushed garlic (try the tubes in the
supermarket)
½ teaspoon crushed ginger (also in a tube)
l teaspoon curry paste
Tin of tomatoes
¼ teaspoon chilli powder (optional)
6Og (2 oz) split red lentils
l/4 teaspoon salt
Few drops of lemon juice (very important)
Squeeze of coriander (again from a tube)
Heat oil and fry onion until softened. Add ginger and garlic and stir well.
Add curry paste, tomatoes and chilli powder, if using. Cook for five minutes over a moderate heat until creamy.
Add lentils (check them first for any tiny stones) and l20 ml (4 fl.) of hot water.
Cover and simmer for l0 minutes, until the lentils are cooked but not mushy. If the lentils are not cooked after l0 minutes, add a little more hot water and cook until the water is absorbed. If you prefer more sauce, just add a little more water now.
Gently stir in the salt, lemon juice and coriander.
Fail-safe recipe for rice to go with the lentils: Add twice as much water in volume to the amount of rice you want to cook. Put lid on pan and bring to boil. As soon as water boils, remove pan from heat and without lifting lid at all, leave rice for c.20 minutes until rice cooks itself. Rice is cooked when you see little air holes in the rice and all the water has been absorbed.
Pour the lentil mixture in on top of rice and warm through. A blob of natural (low fat, of course) yoghurt on top adds the final flourish.
Des Keaney
“What do you think about helmets Des?” A seemingly casual question tossed at me across a crowded tent on a wet evening on Achill Beg. But it wasn’t casual – it was serious.
What did I think about helmets? Jeez, I hadn’t thought much about them at all. And I was a guy who wore a bicycle helmet back in the Eighties when it was definitely not cool. I’d seen too much carnage on the Dublin to Belfast Maracycles. If I see a cyclist on the streets of Dublin today without a helmet, I question their sanity. Yet here I am, rock hopping every week and no thought of a lid. Odd how the mind works (or doesn’t).
The questioner that night in Achill Beg was essentially a white water paddler. His helmet is as much a part of him as his cag. I mean, when was the last time you saw someone on a river without a helmet? OK, K1 paddlers are a breed unto themselves but that’s a different argument. So what’s different about the sea? Sure, there isn’t much need for one on an Irish Sea crossing. But a spin around Dalkey Island is a different story. I wouldn’t fancy my chances if I were unconscious and upside down among rocks.
So, what to wear? I have a Protec which is too small and gives me a headache in an hour. Also, I suffer from glare and need a peak or visor.
I asked Chris Cunningham, editor of Sea Kayaker magazine who put me on to Eric Soares of the Tsunami Rangers in California. These guys go rock hopping on a scale you wouldn’t believe. I hope to be adding their videos to the ISKA Library soon. Here are Eric’s comments….
“Yes, helmets are important. Looks are a distant concern. Most important is that the helmet covers your whole head, including the ears. Thus, cycle helmets are no good. Ice hockey helmets work well, except the metal parts rust in sea water. We use Gath surfing helmets, as they are light and cover the head close, with no gaps for turbulent water to spin your helmet around--but they are expensive. They are made in Australia, I believe. Also, Romer is very good (Germany). In America, the Cascade Designs helmet is inexpensive and good.
Tell your friends who go in caves, rocks or surf, that a helmet is 10 times more important than a life jacket. Only a full surfer's wetsuit is more important than your helmet, and that's because it keeps you warm. I understand the water is cool in Ireland, yes?”
Does anyone know where these can be got or if there’s anything else appropriate on the Irish market?
Vango TBS Micro 100 tent
Gerry
Spain
As we all know , size matters to expedition
kayakers. In general, smaller is better and makes for easier boat packing.
Simplicity is also high on the list of priorities. When camping , the need to be able to get it up when it's dark,
wet, windy and perhaps under the
influence of alcohol. With this in mind (and to keep at least the thickness of
a flysheet between myself and other snoring paddlers),
I procured a one-man tent - a Vango micro 100.
The tent is a single pole design, the pole running end to end with two sections
pre-bent to give an arch shape. This gives a bit more usable internal space and
headroom than would be the case if the pole was across the width of the tent,
as it is in the other tents in this range.
Given the minimal volume of this tent, it
is quite important that you be able to use as much of it as possible. A worry I
had about the cross-pole design was the possibility of
leaks if your head or feet pushed the inner against the flysheet at the two
wedge ends. The end-to-end pole reduces the risk of this happening
Tensioning bands are used for internal bracing to provide stability and it does
work pretty well. The first time I used
was used this model in anger was at the Baltimore symposium. Set up in
blazing sunshine the day before the symposium started, the tent ended up being
broadside to the wind. Despite this, it stood up well to the elements. The pole
remained rigid and there never seemed to be any danger likelihood of it taking
off in the gale (unlike a few other tents around me).The tent weighs in at
1.7kg and the packed size is 40 x 14 cm so you could fit it in your day hatch
if you wanted to.
This does not include a ground sheet so you
can buy one (optional extra) or make your own from some tarp
(much cheaper). In the unlikely event of a severe outburst of good weather, the
flysheet can be dispensed with and the inner used on it's own.
The inner weighs a tidy 600g and packs down
to less than half the size of the full tent. This is probably not a huge
concern for paddlers but good to know if you want
to do an ultra-minimalist trip.
Erecting the tent is straightforward and quick and can be done flysheet
first or all-in-one. I tend to go for
the latter as it is quicker. Before you hit the great outdoors, a little
practice on your lawn in good weather is a
worthwhile exercise, just to get to know what and where all the bits are.
Instructions are provided on a flap inside the stuff sack so you can't go too
far wrong, but it's best not to have to read them by the light of your head
torch in a gale.
Space wise, this tent is a tight fit (it is a one-man after all!).
External dimensions are 130 x 230cm and max. headroom is 90cm which basically means it's long enough to lie in and sit up in but not a lot more. Between the fly and inner is a small amount of space for storage of gear etc. but it is not suitable as a cooking space.
Inside, there are 2 pockets at either end
where you can toss your wallet, keys, washbag or other small items. There is a
design oversight in that are no ties or loops where you could tie off a
lantern. Eventually I will stitch in a loop or two but in the meantime, I just
use the tension bands.
The inner door is a double layer C zip, the outer layer being a mosquito/midge
net. Unless it's cold, I tend to leave the inner layer rolled up out of the way
to improve the ventilation. Rolled back, all tent doors are secured with a
simple toggle.
Verdict:
The tent is a well constructed, simple
design and is well up to taking a bashing from the Irish weather. It's light
and packs down to a tidy size. It is small. For a six-footer like me, it's just
about big enough. Stuck indoors in bad weather, I imagine it would feel not
quite big enough especially as there is no sheltered cooking space. If it were
a half person bigger, it would make a huge difference (but unfortunately this
is the only size Vango make in this particular design). This is not a tent for
a long expedition. For symposium camping, short trips of 2-3 days or maybe a
week in good weather, this is a fine piece of kit. Best suited to the smaller
paddler with a small boat. If you're over 6 feet, forget it.
Check out the Vango catalogue is online at; http://www.amg-outdoor.co.uk/vango/
Wind Measurement
Since the days of Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857), who introduced the Beaufort scale of wind force, the knot (one nautical mile per hour) has been used as a unit of wind speed. Modern meteorological practice however is to use metres per second (1 metre per second = 1.94 knots = 2.24 miles per hour).
Notable Storms
"The night of the Big Wind" on the 6th-7th January 1839 probably caused more widespread damage in Ireland than any storm in recent centuries. Winds reached hurricane force and between a fifth and a quarter of all houses in Dublin had damage ranging from broken windows to complete destruction. In more recent times, 1974 began with a very stormy period, record speeds occurring at a number of locations on the night of the 11th-12th of January. Trees were blown down, many buildings were damaged and electricity supply to 150,000 homes was interrupted. It was during this storm that a gust of 124 m.p.h. was recorded at Kilkeel in County Down, making it the highest sea-level wind speed recorded in Ireland.
Gale Warnings
The speed of movement of pressure systems is described as follows:
Wind over Ireland
The wind at a particular location can be influenced by a number of factors such as obstruction by buildings or trees, the nature of the terrain and deflection by nearby mountains or hills. For example, the rather low frequency of southerly winds at Dublin Airport is due to the sheltering effect of the mountains to the south. The prevailing wind direction is between south and west. Average annual wind speeds range from 7 m.p.h. in parts of south Leinster to over 18 m.p.h. in the extreme north. On average there are less than 2 days with gales each year at some inland places like Kilkenny but more than 50 a year at northern coastal locations such as Malin Head. Indeed the north and west coasts of Ireland are two of the windiest areas in Europe and have considerable potential for the generation of wind energy.
The Sea Area Forecast issued by Met Éireann contains the following standard elements:
Meteorological or General Situation: A statement of the meteorological situation over Ireland at the stated time and of the adjacent weather systems, e.g. depressions, anticyclones or frontal troughs, which are expected to have an influence on the forecast areas during the following 24 hours. A general forecast follows giving wind, weather and visibility for all coastal waters.
Weather: Terms used to describe weather in the Sea Area Forecast and Coastal Reports:
§ Fine: Dry. Mainly sunny day. Clear after dark.
§
Fair: Dry , good
sunny or clear spells (cloud no more than 3-5 oktas of medium or low cloud or
6-8 oktas of high cloud)
§ Cloudy: 6-8 oktas of low or medium cloud.
§ Mist: Visibility restricted by water droplets.
§ Haze: Visibility restricted by dust or smoke
Wind: In the text of the forecast the wind is given in Beaufort forces.
Visibility: Descriptions of visibility in Sea Area Forecasts mean the following:
§ Good: more than 5nm (9km)
§ Moderate: 2-5nm (4-9 km)
§ Poor: 1,100 yds to 2nm (4km)
§ Fog: less than 1,100 yds, 1,000 m)
Warnings: warnings of heavy swell (> 4 metres) where relevant.
Outlook: a brief outlook for the 24 hour period following the period covered by the forecast.
Coastal Reports (from the following stations):
The coastal reports include:
0. 0-0.4 hPa = steady
0.5-1.9 hPa = rising/falling slowly
2.0-3.4 hPa = rising/ falling
3.5-5.9 hPa = rising or falling rapidly
6.0 hPa = rising or falling very rapidly
0602
1253
1959
2355
Tents for Seakayakers
Danish made tent with some very well thought out design features. It has two access doors with good storage capacity. The doors are located at the side of tent rather than at end either .This gives more headroom for cooking and allows for cross ventilation . The quality of the flysheet/outer fabric Hydrotex 5000mm seems good and durable. Floor/groundsheet is Nylon 210T with taped seams again 5000m was better than I expected at first glance and no dampness was experienced. The poles are tough Alloy #7001 and are anodised against corrosion. I found them good quality but the shorter cross piece is just a little tricky to slot into place requiring an act of faith in the strength of the alloy.
The poles are placed into plastic receiver cups and the tent is fastened to the poles by plastic clips. All are good quality although the webbing from plastic fasteners may need regular inspection. The inner tent at 145 cms is ample for two and one could facilitate a “skinny” third man in an emergency. The maximum inner height is 115cms. I liked the placement of the access doors and the bell ends had an added advantage of allowing three “tie back” positions. A small extra which gave me some difficulty as to its function was a square of webbing. It turned out to be a useful storage accessory that tied into the inner roof space for all those camping essentials that always seem to get lost. The tent is a little heavy at 3.9kg and packsize is 50x15cms but very manageable between two paddlers. Overall a good buy at €220-€240 and certainly competes well with the more well known Vaude Hoban Mark 11.