HW between Kimmeridge and Weymouth occurs 4 hrs. and 45
mins. before HW Dover.
Tide Times : The E going inshore flood stream begins 3 hrs.
before HW Portland. The W flowing inshore ebb stream begins
3 hrs. after HW Portland.
Max.Rate Sp. : Flows reach up to 1.1 knots on the flood and
1.4 knots on the ebb.
The group led by Tony Sandry was :- Athol, Jeff, Lee,
Barbara, Ian, John, David and Ken. We got on the water with
the minimum of faff and delay around high water on a Spring
tide. Today's outing was the alternative to the planned
Sussex Lighthouse trip on Tony’s home turf, cancelled owing
to an adverse weather forecast in the area. Our prompt start
was aided by a large group of paddlers from Portsmouth Canoe
Club planning the same trip and competing for space on the
small slipway.
As we paddled out of Kimmeridge Bay and rounded Broad Bench
the increased wind in our faces and sea state reflected the
days forecast of wind over tide, BF 4 - 5. These were the
conditions, in fact, that the Club had been hoping for in
vain at our 4* training course in Cornwall with Richard Uren
the previous week. Some 4 Km. out of Kimmeridge as we were
approaching Worbarrow Tout in an increasingly rough sea I
lost a left foot pedal in my Cetus, a recurring problem. A
request to Barbara at this point to raft up and open my
spray deck was met with a howl of disbelief! Clearly I still
have more to learn about timing and personal safety in the
lumpy stuff!
The army gunnery school begins at Broad Bench but there was
no military activity on land. But not so as we approached
Mupe Ledges as the security to protect the Olympic Games
sailing came very much into view with a Royal Navy warship
positioned in the approaches to Weymouth Bay. We were
clearly showing up on the radar as speed boats were barring
ours and other vessels from going eastwards towards our
planned lunch stop destination of Durdle Door. Overhead a
military helicopter made a couple of passes nearby.
Ken, having put in at Lulworth Cove joined the group as we
passed Arish Mell and confirmed we could go no further than
the Cove. We progressed through the breaking waves around
Mupe Rocks, some group members being more adventurous than
others, and on under the high cliffs to the mouth of
Lulworth Cove. Here the East wind blew in our faces and the
sea became increasingly choppy and confused. By this stage
we had been paddling more or less for some two hours and
lunch was a welcome break.
On a crowded beach we were able to top up our suntans and
were joined by Athol's partner, and other members of the
Club, Kate and Bertie.
As we were setting off for the return leg the Portsmouth
paddlers arrived looking tired and in need of a rest. On
leaving the shelter of the cove we discovered that in
addition to the clear blue skies the expected tail wind had
strengthened somewhat and something of the order of a 2
meter swell had appeared and replaced the chop. Challenging
stuff on a full stomach! Someone suggested we were being
given a 3 knot helping hand at that point making for a
faster return home.
As we approached Broad Bench breaking waves were evident and
the prudent took a wide berth. Tony, our leader, said he had
been bracing himself for a possible rescue scenario as he
saw myself and John battle through a quick succession of
three or four breaking waves over the ledge. However,
everyone returned without incident and in the calm of
Kimmeridge Bay we reflected on a bright, breezy, stimulating
trip and the absence of the forecast showers with the
Portsmouth group coming into view behind us.
|
 |
 |
| Leaving K-Bay |
Magnificent cliffs |
| |
|
 |
 |
| David sans foot peg |
Athol |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Ken dropped in |
Choppy water |
| |
|
 |
 |
| John |
Jeff rock hopping |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Lunch at Lulworth |
Jeff still at it! |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Tony- he who must be
obeyed |
Athol |
| |
|
 |
 |
| And back to
Kimmeridge |
Meerkat or mongoose?? |
|
