The weekend of 13/14 October 2012 saw 6 IoPCC members
heading down to Penzance for a weekend of Rough Water
training with Paddlecrest Coaching aka Richard Uren BCU
Level 5 Sea Coach. We stayed at the Backpackers Hostel
within Penzance YMCA. This provides conveniently located
accommodation which is warm, dry, clean and has hot showers.
The downside was that on this occasion there was apparently
a lot of noise in the early hours of Saturday morning.
On Saturday we launched at Porthgwarra. The first hour was
spent paddling out into the tidal race off Pillar Rock at
Gwennap Head. This was quite challenging as it was large and
moving. We then headed off down the waves with the wind in
an easterly direction and headed for Logan Rock. This was
quite a scenic stretch and although the sea was quite lively
the sun was out making for lovely bright Autumn colours.
When we reached Porthcurno it was obvious that the surf was
quite large. The intention was to surf on Pendower Beach but
this was going to be quite challenging. Richard went into
the beach first and we followed one by one with varying
lengths of swim. I think David swam most of the way and was
quite exhausted by the time he reached the beach. We had a
break for lunch and watched the waves get bigger as the tide
flooded over the bar.
After lunch Richard paddled out through the surf making it
look quite easy. It wasn’t. I watched as the others made
abortive attempts at getting through the surf and ended up
being thrown violently up the beach. Tony and John both had
long swims in their efforts to get through the aggressive
surf. Ian made it through and then I did. Richard went back
in to help the others. Tony appeared looking very wet
closely followed by John. David managed after another couple
of attempts. It was looking as if plan B was going to be put
in force (Rich having to tow John’s boat off the beach and
John M yomping to Porthcurno where the launch was easier)
but eventually after several exhausting efforts John managed
to get through the surf and we were able to paddle back
round Minack Point. The wind had increased which in turn
made the sea rougher. We had a brief play at Pedn-Men-An-Mere
off Porth Chapel but it was a bit too sporty to linger for
very long and we headed along the coast back to Gwennap
Head. We then paddled out the 2 kilometers to the
Runnel Stone. We were paddling across the wind and swell
which is quite uncomfortable. Although the swell was large
it wasn’t breaking, so intimidating but safe. The Runnel
Stone (or Rundle Stone) is a hazardous rock pinnacle
situated about a mile south of
Gwennap Head, that used to show above the surface at low
water until a steamship struck it in 1923. A buoy currently
marks the position of the Runnel Stone. Until May 2012 it
was topped with a flashing light, a bell which peals with
the movement of the waves and was also fitted with a whistle
set in a tube, which emits a moaning sound when there is a
good swell running. This mournful sound got increasingly
louder and more eerie as we got closer. It wasn’t a happy
place to be and felt quite dark. On 13 May 2012 the buoy was
replaced by THV Patricia and the new Cardinal Buoy is bigger
– quite huge when sitting next to it!The wind and tide
took us quite a long way East on the return journey to the
coast. The wind increased and the salt washed off us by a
squally shower. The sea state increased and we were all
quite pleased to reach the safety of the little bay of
Porthgwarra. Just as the elastic bands became refreshingly
slack Richard had us all practicing balancing skills on our
kayaks which resulted in plenty of swimming and self rescue
practice before landing at Porthgwarra.
In the evening we all met up with Rich and his wife Karen at
the Sportsmans Arms in Heamoor for a good meal and plenty of chat.
On Sunday we headed to Carbis Bay. The weather was
disappointingly calm and I think Richard was wondering what
he was going to do to stretch those elastic bands. His
worries were unfounded and a brisk northerly breeze got
going and the sea state soon became choppy.
We headed round St Ives to Porthmeor Beach where the surf
was perfect for us to practice landing and launching in the
surf zone. Some waited for the sets so they could surf the
bigger waves and some waited for the sets to go through and
landed on the smaller waves. Tony likes big waves!
After a couple of hours playing in the surf we had lunch and
headed off to Clodgy Point where there was some moving water
and a bit of an overfall. Well it was good and rough and
Richard had us manoeuvring in it. Paddling around in circles
then paddling backward through it then following him through
it close to the rocks then paddling backwards into the
roughest bit doing a 360 and paddling out again. All very
good practice for improving our paddling skills, balance and
confidence.
We paddled back across to the Island and had more
practice paddling round Maen Derrens which are offshore
rocks. The swell made the water quite noisy and rough around
here and we practiced paddling round them getting as close
as we could.
We had a brief break on the little beach at St Ives Head and
then paddled down the side of the breakwater and had a
tour around St Ives Harbour.
We then proceeded along Porthminster beach which has a
dumping wave. We were just following Rich very close to the
beach when one of those surprise large waves came from
nowhere and violently capsized three of us and dumped us
unceremoniously up the beach. JC was delighted that I
suffered, as so far I had not capsized! He was so delighted
he even managed to get a photograph of it!
We had a bit of a play off Porthminster Point. When we were
in sight of Carbis Beach we practiced rescues several times
as we made our way to the beach. As we got closer we sat on
the back decks of the kayaks and rode the surf onto the
beach with varying degrees of success. Needless to say we
were all very glad to be in dry suits!
This was an excellent weekend training. We were all
stretched and I was certainly quite scared at times! Based
at Penzance there are many opportunities for varied
paddling. Whatever the weather and sea state Richard always
seems to take us to the ideal venue to practice our skills
and extend our comfort zones. And it was fun! (if rather
wet!)
|
 |
 |
| Saturday morning at
Porthgwarra |
Richard |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Pillar Rock
excitement |
Heading East |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Leaning Gwennap Head |
The Minack Theatre |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Beach debris |
David swam for a long
time |
| |
|
 |
 |
| John Christmas |
Tony, impressive in
the surf |
| |
|
 |
 |
| John M bouncing his
way out again |
Pedn-men-an-mere |
| |
|
 |
 |
| The two John's |
The Runnel Stone buoy |
| |
|
 |
 |
| Ian just bobbing
about |
Richard |
| |
|
 |
 |
| John M surfing |
Clodgy Point |
| |
|
 |
 |
| St Ives |
St Ives |
| |
|
 |
 |
Barbara takes a
swim...
at last!! |
Heroes! |
|
