After several weekends
where the conditions were too wet and windy to get out on
the sea, the weather forecast for the planned Club paddle on
December 20th looked like paddling would be possible.
December is usually
chilly, but when you have to chip ice from the inside of
your kayak rather than sponge it out you know that an extra
layer under the dry suit is a good plan. So having rooted
out the pogies and the hats the advance party met at
Sandsfoot and launched at 10am. There were four paddling
from Sandsfoot – Jill, the fifth person was unable to make
it from Reading because she was snowed in!
Despite the freezing
temperature it was a beautiful bright sunny morning with the
forecast 10 knots of Westerly breeze behind us. We made easy
progress across Portland Harbour and out of the North Ship
Channel. Weymouth Bay was a pretty place to be. We made our
way round the bay to Bowleaze Cove where we met up with the
rest of the group at 11am. Our group now numbered 10 as we
made our way around Redcliff – pausing to try and catch some
feeble surf waves – and along the coast to Osmington Mills.
It was good to see such a large group of Club members out so
close to Christmas. Beats Christmas shopping!
The sea conditions made
the landing at Osmington straightforward so there were no
swimmers – not that they would have counted...yet! The muddy
scramble up the cliff was strenuous but the warmth of the
Smugglers Arms made it well worth it. Our break in the pub
was very pleasant especially as we were joined by Club
members who weren’t paddling and also non-paddling family
and friends.
At 1.30pm we were on our
way again – sliding down the cliff ready to paddle back. As
expected the gentle breeze of the morning had picked up to
20 knots and the paddle back required more energy. The water
as it splashed over the foredeck into your face was
surprisingly warm!! Shortly before we dropped the main group
off at Bowleaze we met up with Hugh deIongh. Hugh had been
sailing in the morning but jumped out of his Laser into the
Sirius and paddled out to join us.
It seemed a
lot further on the way back due to the freshening breeze
which was right on the nose but we made it back to Sandsfoot
with daylight to spare. No one was too keen to do any
rolling practice, despite it being the first outing for
Hugh’s new dry suit. So we quickly changed and packed up the
boats with minutes to spare for the Carol singing in Hope
Square at 4pm.
Happy Christmas Everyone.
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| Clive, Bertie and Ian on the way
to Bowleaze |
The group on the way to
Osmington. |
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| The group on the way to
Osmington. |
New member Geoff in his shiny new
Christmas cag! |
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| The boats at Osmington |
Bertie and Jamie at The Smugglers
Arms |
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| The group, fed and
watered, ready to paddle back from Osmington |
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