South Coast July?

We rarely get any kind of surf on the South Coast in the summer - that is why there is a growing interest in sea kayaks. But July isn't offering much sea kayaking weather. Windblown and messy at Highcliffe but enjoyable all the same

Less Than Three?

More and more of our canoe club members are taking up sea kayaking to while away the summer when the rivers are dry. A couple of weeks ago a few of us enjoyed an 'afternoon at the races' and the swells and waves came close to tipping us over. It seemed sensible for us to devote a few evenings to practice 'rescues'. How difficult can it be to get back into your kayak should the unthinkable happen?

We tried a variety of assisted and self rescues from the 'leg over' and 'ladder' to the re-entry roll with various degrees of success.

Perhaps the overriding lesson learnt was – getting back into a sea kayak alone is more difficult than it looks. Either lots of practice or don’t paddle alone or don’t fall in!

I enjoy paddling alone - but, while my roll has always proved solid, I will make a point of practicing other techniques (eggs and baskets)