Post by chris329a on Jan 28, 2010 16:45:52 GMT
Well, where do I start? I set off at 9am from my place having a bit of a nightmare when the rear number plate fell off the car when I was shutting the boot 
, which delayed me a bit. It was quite chilly still from last night and on the way down there was ice on the side roads near keyhaven.
I got ready quite quickly as only had one rod with me as the main excercise was paddling..... phoned in paddle plan to CG and off I went!
Keyhaven was lovely.
As I had been delayed a bit I was getting worried that I'd miss the end of the ebb, and miss my "lift" out to the Needles. As I neared the castle (having never been there before), in my hurry I made a wrong turn and came to a dead end
After a quick call to the Mrs to see if she could find the chart on the computer at work (no such luck!) plan B kicked in!! I paddled as hard as I could uptide towards the shingle bank as I knew the sea was obviously on the other side.
To the amusement of a couple walking by, I proceeded to heave my yak up the 45 degree bank, half sliding up the side as I went! By the time I got to the top I was knackered....
A 5 minute breather (and sweaing) and I could see my aim in the distance
but knew that the trip out was going to much tougher as I was going at an angle accross the tide and more importantly accross the nasty breakers.....
Luckily the wind was Westerly as predicted, but of course wind against tide is bad news...... There was a big swell at this time, with massive rolling breakers to my right. You really had to keep your wits about you to avoid getting a massive wave flooding in....
After about an hours paddling at a reasonable rate of 3-4 mph, I reached the marker buoy opposite the lighthouse ;D. I paddled to within a safe didtance of the lighthouse but conscious that the tankers were coming through all the time.
I was well chuffed that I had made up the time. Anyway a few pics later and a quick radio check to CG, I decided to have some food. By this time I could tell the wind was going to pick up (it was forcast 4-5 after 3pm), and the swell was increasing. I would say that at that time the big waves were easily 8 foot high, and deciding that it was far too dangerous to anchor up i tried to tie off to the buoy. What a nightmare! The waved were so big that I was getting slammed up against the bouy and going up and down like a yo-yo about 6 foot! At this, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd better not stop, and better get a move on before the weather comes in.....
I was paddling against the tide slightly, as slack was 1320, but if you don't move the conflicting tides throw you around. After an hour I made made little progress but felt a lot safer moving. By 1420 (flood beginning) I was moving at 4mph easily and could breathe a sigh of relief! The fog had come in and it was messy out there...
www.flickr.com/photos/35618437@N07/4311167911/in/photostream/
Going through the trap was easy in comparison to the rest by now, and to be honest not a problem when you are glad to be out of the main channel! I really enjoyed the rest of the trip back (the proper way!) and realised that when I made the mistake at Hurst Castle I WAS ONLY 30m FROM THE RIGHT WAY OUT!!!!!
Oh well! When I landed I felt fine apart from the usual cold feet. The 3mm neoprene divers gloves are excellent and my hands were toasty. When I landed, I looked at the GPS and I had done 11.5 miles.
It got back to the car and phoned CG to let them know I was back, and they said it was 3 degrees
Look at the state of my hands
Anyway - things I have learned / did right.
1) Study the charts loads, either take one with you or what I do is take a photo of it and use that when I'm out. That saved me getting into trouble and I'm glad I do it.
2) Don't arrive too late!
3) Always have a contingency - mine was to go over the shingle if I was late, which worked out fine.
4) As said on here loads - IF IN DOUBT DON'T DO IT! Experience has taught me that when the breeze starts its usually the start of bad weather. If I had ignored this I would have been stuffed.
5) Hot tea in a flask with tonned of sugar is a godsend and gives you loads of energy and warmth
6) Don't open your lunch box at the Needles - they will get soggy!!!!
Instead take loads of Bananas 
, which delayed me a bit. It was quite chilly still from last night and on the way down there was ice on the side roads near keyhaven. I got ready quite quickly as only had one rod with me as the main excercise was paddling..... phoned in paddle plan to CG and off I went!
Keyhaven was lovely.
As I had been delayed a bit I was getting worried that I'd miss the end of the ebb, and miss my "lift" out to the Needles. As I neared the castle (having never been there before), in my hurry I made a wrong turn and came to a dead end
After a quick call to the Mrs to see if she could find the chart on the computer at work (no such luck!) plan B kicked in!! I paddled as hard as I could uptide towards the shingle bank as I knew the sea was obviously on the other side.
To the amusement of a couple walking by, I proceeded to heave my yak up the 45 degree bank, half sliding up the side as I went! By the time I got to the top I was knackered....
A 5 minute breather (and sweaing) and I could see my aim in the distance
but knew that the trip out was going to much tougher as I was going at an angle accross the tide and more importantly accross the nasty breakers.....
Luckily the wind was Westerly as predicted, but of course wind against tide is bad news...... There was a big swell at this time, with massive rolling breakers to my right. You really had to keep your wits about you to avoid getting a massive wave flooding in....
After about an hours paddling at a reasonable rate of 3-4 mph, I reached the marker buoy opposite the lighthouse ;D. I paddled to within a safe didtance of the lighthouse but conscious that the tankers were coming through all the time.
I was well chuffed that I had made up the time. Anyway a few pics later and a quick radio check to CG, I decided to have some food. By this time I could tell the wind was going to pick up (it was forcast 4-5 after 3pm), and the swell was increasing. I would say that at that time the big waves were easily 8 foot high, and deciding that it was far too dangerous to anchor up i tried to tie off to the buoy. What a nightmare! The waved were so big that I was getting slammed up against the bouy and going up and down like a yo-yo about 6 foot! At this, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd better not stop, and better get a move on before the weather comes in.....
I was paddling against the tide slightly, as slack was 1320, but if you don't move the conflicting tides throw you around. After an hour I made made little progress but felt a lot safer moving. By 1420 (flood beginning) I was moving at 4mph easily and could breathe a sigh of relief! The fog had come in and it was messy out there...
www.flickr.com/photos/35618437@N07/4311167911/in/photostream/
Going through the trap was easy in comparison to the rest by now, and to be honest not a problem when you are glad to be out of the main channel! I really enjoyed the rest of the trip back (the proper way!) and realised that when I made the mistake at Hurst Castle I WAS ONLY 30m FROM THE RIGHT WAY OUT!!!!!
Oh well! When I landed I felt fine apart from the usual cold feet. The 3mm neoprene divers gloves are excellent and my hands were toasty. When I landed, I looked at the GPS and I had done 11.5 miles.
It got back to the car and phoned CG to let them know I was back, and they said it was 3 degrees
Look at the state of my hands
Anyway - things I have learned / did right.
1) Study the charts loads, either take one with you or what I do is take a photo of it and use that when I'm out. That saved me getting into trouble and I'm glad I do it.
2) Don't arrive too late!
3) Always have a contingency - mine was to go over the shingle if I was late, which worked out fine.
4) As said on here loads - IF IN DOUBT DON'T DO IT! Experience has taught me that when the breeze starts its usually the start of bad weather. If I had ignored this I would have been stuffed.
5) Hot tea in a flask with tonned of sugar is a godsend and gives you loads of energy and warmth
6) Don't open your lunch box at the Needles - they will get soggy!!!!
Instead take loads of Bananas 
totally nuts :smiley-happy068: , awsome read and adventure , look forward to the next one 
, awsome read and adventure , look forward to the next one 
