December 8/9th
What better way to celebrate having a new boat than to go
out & use it. The boat in question
is a Tiderace Pace 17S and its sleek form and smooth curves look
tremendous. I will have to wait till the
spring to properly load it up and do some expeditioning but I did get across to
Skye to make the most of a small weather window.
This was a SSKeG arranged weekend with Kevin Williams (Chief
Guide at SouthSkyeSeaKayak) leading. Just
a select few were present given the winter weather on the Friday but by
Saturday morning we were prepped and assembled at Armadale beach. What remained of the wind was now a westerly
at about F3 although the sea state was pretty benign in the sound. Paddling south down the coast was
straightforward enough and the Pace was taking it all in its stride. This boat seems to paddle fine with or without
the rudder in its unloaded state.
The looming island of Eigg was part of the view most of the morning leg, and Mallaig was off our port side.
Lunch was on a pleasant sandy beach (Rubha Shleite) as the tide continued to fall.
Back to Armadale and a search for an open coffee shop was in vain so superior planning took over and we had team-pizza in Broadford. 27 kms for the day.
Sunday was colder, clearer, less sea running, but with the
odd vicious squall blowing through. We
launched off the gravel at Kyleakin within sight of the Skye bridge and headed
east into the open water of Loch Alsh.
Then a 90 degree turn south into the funnel of Kylerhea.
We were just dawdling really but with an outgoing tide the GPS showed 16 kph as we went through the narrows. Boily water with some random whirlie-gigs but easy enough to paddle across. Then a 15 minute session on a playspot just after the old ferry slipway (west side) before cruising on south.
The refreshment stop today was on the mainland side (Sandaig islands) although we had to huddle up to keep warm this time. Moving on we made a crossing of the sound back to the more sheltered Skye coastline giving way to a coastal freighter rushing south.
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| photo credit to David Musk |
Dark clouds massing on the mountains meant that the ever changing rainbows were bright and distinct – still tricky to paddle under the arch though isn’t it.
We landed in the sheltered bay of
Isleornsay and sorted out the boats/gear after logging 25 kms – great to have
Kevin’s trailer to make the shuttle easy.
So an opportunity grasped and made full use of. Two full days of sea paddling on the west
coast of Scotland in December. It was good
to meet new folk; thanks to Kevin, Janni, Mick, David and Ross for good company
and a bit of craik. I look forward to paddling again with you guys.
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