December 2007 Portsmouth and District Canoe Club

Trip List 2007 Dec  Next Item Back to Top
Eastney – Langstone
Navigation Training
River Hamble from Warsash
Round Langstone from Eastney
Round Portsea Island from Eastney
Round Portsea Island from Sally Port
River Dart Weekend
Sally Port – Seaview
Sally Port – Stokes Bay
Stokes Bay – Fishbourne

Navigation Training Day     Next Item Back to Top

So far 6 people have expressed interest in attending the navigation day. We need 10 people to make it viable, in view of the preparation work required. If you are interested, and you have not contacted me so far then please let me know.  I have made a provisional reservation for a hut for the 3 February. More details will be sent out about 1 month before the event.

Dave R

Chairman’s Report     Next Item Back to Top

Thank you to everyone who came to the AGM and the after meeting paddle. The club appears to be in good health, and I hope you all enjoy the trips that are arranged. The pool sessions are continuing with good attendance and it is still the clubs target to encourage members to gain the best skills and abilities. Those skills can be needed as the last trip I led was in force7 conditions, ok it was Langstone harbour. Even so, I’m glad no novice paddlers turned up for the novice trip, as I would have had to cancel it. It is a recurring theme I hear from trip leaders that they need to know who is coming before you turn up, because a trip may be altered or cancelled due to weather or even that the leader has become unavailable for some reason.

On a similar note Steve E is planning a River Dart weekend 16/17^th Feb. If you want to come you must contact him by the 13^th Jan, as accommodation has to be booked, please don’t be disappointed by leaving it to late. Next year looks exciting as w/end (some not at bank holidays so check you can gave a day off if required), week trips are proposed, again contact the leader if you want to be included. My last plea on this area is if you want to go to the Jersey Symposium in May. A number of folks are and have arranged their ferry crossings already, if you want to go and share transport then put something on the Forum to see who else is going, or contact a committee member who might be able to point you in the right direction.

Plus, I’m sure Dave R would like me to encourage you to contact him early if you want to book on the Navigation Day in Feb.

I hope you enjoy reading the trip reports in the newsletter, it is dependant on you to write them. Feel free to make them as entertaining as you wish. The facts and figures are good and a little insight to the fun that we missed so can inspire us to make sure we make it on that trip next time. Look through the programme, and make a date of the trips you want to do, then consider, what needs replacing in your kit. This is traditionally the time of year to feel the packages under the tree, and although the new paddle etc. will be nice to have, what about your First-Aid, your flares, are they in date? During these dark evenings when maybe you can’t get on the water, but only dream of the trips to come, get the dry bag out and just check through everything, fills the time while waiting for the man in red.

Please take a moment to look at the minutes of the committee meeting. It will inform you of what we are up to, and if you have any comments or subjects you wish to raise feel free to contact any of the committee members. It leaves me only to wish you enjoyment on the winter paddles, and do check the Forum for any extra private trips going on or the Wednesday night venues. Wishing you all the seasons’ greetings and a happy new year.

Russell P

Alpha jewels glinting in the October sunshine    Next Item Back to Top
and 124,000 tonnes of Norwegian granite.
By Mike C

Dave W's trip Keyhaven to Newtown (and back!). The paddlers were Dave, Richard B and Mike C (designated scribe). Unsure of the launch site I was a bit early and found some free parking, the main car park being pay and display until after October 31st. We just had to lift the boats over the sea wall to the water. A ten second briefing from Dave saw us off, lightly clad, into a gentle easterly breeze. As soon as we were on the water Dave asked me if I would concoct a trip write up to keep John B happy. I'm indebted to John and Tymele for providing Bank Holiday Lodging so I could hardly refuse. The problem being to make some kind of a report out of what was a very pleasant, uneventful and rapid (spring tides) trip; fabricating tales of daring do or scandals involving minor Royals not being viable options.

The wildlife interest came in the form of a couple of egrets (small white heron like birds which are not often seen in the UK). There was some speculation that they might be asylum seekers or illegal immigrants. I observed one fishing using its' foot to stir up the mud and then making a quick jab at what ever had been disturbed. Keyhaven does seem to be a prime location for the Great British Lesser Spotted Twitcher, recognisable by their camouflaged goretex jackets and binocular optics around the neck.

Dave then spotted an ocean rowing boat moored and announced that it looked like one of those 'trans Atlantic ones' I have to say that his perspicacity was rather less impressive given the six inch letters 'www.atlanticrowing.co.uk' written large along the side. Anyway it was a fine boat with round bilges and composite construction, not one of the plywood ones.

A little further on Richard asked whether Hurst Beach was 'natural'. My early arrival had enabled me to do some research, and affixed to a massive lump of granite on the shingle is a metal plaque explaining the large Norwegian granite blocks which have been used to stabilise the beach east of Milford on Sea (all 124000 tonnes of them). The granite is of course natural it's just not in it's natural place! The pebbles being natural in every sense.

We had decided to cross over to the Island side as soon as possible and enjoy paddling inshore. A few yachts, with spinnakers set, were running westwards at the edge of the channel out of the flood; amongst them there were a couple of gaff rigged traditional boats with tan sails. All very picturesque.

Lunch was taken at a small quay about a kilometre north of Shalfleet where there were a number of clinker dinghies moored. One of the boat owners turned up for a sail and when he took the covers off the little boat we could see what a beautiful example of wooden boatbuilding it was. The class of boat is a called a 'scow', the oldest one there was about eighty and still being sailed. They have metal centreplates and a balanced lugsail rig, there are no decks and not much in the way of buoyancy which could result in a damp ride in any kind of a sea.

Paddling back to Keyhaven we took a direct route in the main channel and consequently made excellent time. Abandoning ideas of playing in the moving water, as there looked to be no waves, we headed straight into the harbour.

Thanks to Dave and Richard for an enjoyable trip.

And what of the Alpha Jewels oh patient reader?............... google it (or ask Richard)

Brittany 2007     Next Item Back to Top
By Richard G

Mid-August a group of six in two cars – Steve E, Richard B, Jenny W, Pete and Liz B and myself were on the ferry to north Brittany - French holiday season you say - must be mad. But actually not crowded but lucky we had booked a campsite. We arrived early morning and some of the group drove west to set up site whilst the rest of us detoured by my house to check on the building work arriving later.

The second day and good weather. We were up early and off to Ploumanach further west to head out for the Sept Iles. A group of a lot more than seven including the rocks but conveniently grouped together to match the name.

We had spent hours carefully planning our strategy and headed out of the little bay in the centre of town. We had decided on a heading of 030deg but half way over, as we did not seem to be experiencing the tide we had allowed for, altered course more directly to the first of the main islands Iles aux Moines. Only a few minutes later finally and getting into the tidal flow we altered the course back to 030deg. Paddling easily to the small harbour where Pete narrowly avoided the outgoing cruise ship as it altered course towards him and I. Falling in as I landed provided, some light entertainment to the fifty or so passengers who, having opted for the easy way to get to the islands, were disgorging from the incoming cruiser to tour the island. We continued out to Ile Rouzic the outermost island to view the thirty odd thousand gannets who live there apparently only since the 1930s. Where they lived before that is a mystery perhaps their previous roost sank under the weight of the mounds of guano now accumulating on this island and turning it completely white. On the way back through the islands we spotted a lone seal before landing again on Iles aux Moines. Although this time it was on the west side of the narrow neck where we had landed previously where again we offered light relief to the now re-embarking tourists by way of Steve face down on a rock being massaged by the two girls.

After lunch we set off to paddle past the most southerly of the rocks noticing the tide which had now turned and was running rapidly through the islands and headed off to the mainland this time sticking to our chosen course and arriving spot on at Ploumanach. We briefly toured the rest of the bay but returning to our setting off point were barred from entering as it had now become a swimmers only beach. Even after a swim in the next bay we could still see the warden patrolling the rope stretched across the bay so headed into the yachting harbour. Whilst Steve went to collect his van we floated around and Jenny magicked out ice creams served in glass bowls from the quayside hotel which we ate bobbing on the water. Finally Steve returned with Tymele in tow having bumped into her in the car park. John B though was nowhere to be found – probably having snuck off to hire one of the millions of sit on tops available on the nearby beaches. (editors note: Actually I was admiring other scenery but don’t tell Tymele!)

We paddled round Ile Brehat from Ploubazlanec finding an exceptionally friendly seal and some strong tides between the islands.

Sunday was windy and we opted for a trip down the river from Treguier to the mouth round the little island Iles d'Er and back passing a regatta on the way and watching a dog trained to rescue people on windsurfers etc. I think by the third rescue everyone was getting bored and the spectators wanted to know if we were going to do a turn for some light relief.

Firstly lets get the advice out of the way. If you have a 2 week old kayak, beautifully finished with sparkly bits all in the right places don’t go to North Brittany. This is the place where the coastline makes Southsea shingle look like cotton wool, where putting your tiny mitts anywhere near the rocks will make them look like mince meat, this is the place for 8 year old Dancers with stainless steel keel strips, Kevlar strips you name it, anything but new boats, especially mine.

Rock climbing. I don’t know anything about it and if I was supposed to go up some vertical lump I would have thumbs on my feet. Rock climbing in a kayak? Silly idea, where would put all the pitons and rope stuff and the little bag of chalk? It would all get wet. No, so I avoid rocks, especially in Northern Brittany, especially in a newish kayak.

Day 3 of our stay in North Brittany. So far I had been paddling about a 10 NM more than everyone else each day as the short routes between the rocks were being studiously avoided for the rock free by-pass routes via the Channel Islands on the outside of the rocks. However I have to admit I was becoming a little sensitive to the jibes from my companions, and after all weren’t the Welsh related to the ‘Bretons’, and wasn’t my kayak made in Wales, and isn’t it called a Rockpool. (cue manic laughter). OK lets get to the point, there I was following Richard Glover through a space, rock-hopping I gather its called. I wasn’t too far, not too near and Richard passed through a gap at the top of the wave. "Right", I said, "my chance now, I’ll pass through at the bottom of the wave", but no. A freak because it could only have been a freak wave, lifted my svelte form higher, much higher. When I had bought my kayak I considered all sorts of things but mainly how I was going to go forwards, not this sideways malarkey. So here I was with my gelcoat life flashing past me being swept up and onto a piece of prime Brittany coastline. And then the waters receded with me sat in a kayak on a rock 3 metres above the water. Ha ha very funny, get out of that without moving as Morecombe and Wise used to say.

But I had recently passed my 2 star rock climbing for kayakers. So get out of the kayak, smiling to the audience as though you had meant to do this. With a flourish of the forearm, chuck the offending piece of fiberglass into the water, and follow it into the water at a safe distance, whereupon a keen member of the audience will have you back into the vehicle in a jiff. Piece of cake, didn’t even scratch the kayak. (much)

The weather changed Monday night. The patron of the campsite had gloomily talked of a cyclone over Britain going round and round, sending bad weather to France. It arrived that night and the wind blew all night off the sea, making the taut canvas of the tents vibrate against the pull of the extra pegs we had put in. In the morning we drove to Port Moguer near Ploua and found a little parking spot near the beach that had a landing ramp. Huge walls projected from the sea. We paddled north to Brehec with a real push across the bay, all heads down and the wind whipping around us.

Agnes and Richard G circled like sheepdogs making sure some of us, particularly me, didn't get too near the shore and swept in. It took a lot of concentration to deal with the wind behind us and big waves as we pushed on round the point, with regretful looks towards the little town in the bay we were leaving. Further north we stopped at a pebbly little wind-swept beach and Peter asked plaintively why we hadn't stopped at the previous bay with its sandy beach and cafes. Obviously not properly initiated into PDCC policy. So we ate lunch and threw pebbles at a bottle disconsolately. After a brief rest we struggled, now against the wind, back across that bay after eating our usual apple and honey cake. We surfed and practised in the waves further down and decided to go on from where we had started to see the harbour of Gwin Zegal. This was created by ancient trees stuck in the sand with either roots or deformed branches held out to the sky to which yachts could be tied. This was a system invented by Irish monks to moor boats and this, the only one remaining in France. They didn't have pile-drivers so I don't know how they got them deep enough into the sand under water to stay firm.

We went to look for a cafe (what's the point of going all the way to France if you can't have a good cafe while out paddling), but the wind was too strong to go further so we turned back. I eventually persuaded some of us to stop for a coffee in Plouha, it was easier having French Agnes on board who understood the need. Then we set off looking for a restaurant on the way back, lost one car but, Liz Steve, Richard B and I got to see the church at Kermaria which had ancient large wooden figures of the apostles, painted and lined up in the porch. We took pictures to show the others over a great supper in Lezardrieu with big helpings and lots of cider recommended by the patron with his huge belly and even bigger wife running everything smoothly in the kitchen with only one helper. She made up for Steve's comments about women after we had had him follow us around the town a couple of times looking for the restaurant Agnes had eaten in once before. We were looking for the best food but he thought three women in a car couldn't map read. (He enjoyed the food when we got there).

Our last day, Wednesday was to be a short day so that we could pack up and head for the ferry, forecast was westerly F6, but in the morning it was light F2-3 so we trollied the boats down to the beach. In between the first launch and the last, the wind sprang up to F4-5, nevertheless we set off NE along the coast, expecting the tide to bring us back. The coast is a maze of islands and rocks with uneven rocky shoals running out 1.5nm from the 'shore', the charts are not very helpful because each metre of tide completely changes the topography and we had a big spring tide of 7-8m. Going inside of the first island, the ebb was fast against us, able to suck us back up the standing waves despite the wind, now gusting 6, and waves behind us. Surfing down a wave, Liz capsized and after a couple of failed rolls on the 'wrong' side had to exit. After making our way inside the islands we had lunch on an island near Bugeles. The tide was now very low so we had to paddle back round the outside of the islands into the swell, waves and wind with only a gentle help from the tide. Agnes left some gelcoat on a rock and ended up on the rock out of the boat, but made a neat re-entry. In general the larger gaps in the rocks looked more attractive than the tight ones today and all gaps more attractive than the choppy open sea. A hard won 8nm and a fine goodbye to the sparkling sea, delightful swell and gelcoat eating pink granite rocks of Brittany.

Circumnavigations of Alderney   Next Item Back to Top
10^th August 2005 and 5^th August 2007
by Tim G

Alderney is the third largest of the Channel Islands, approximately 3 miles long by 1.5 wide. It is the most northerly of the island group and lies about 8 miles off the Cherbourg Peninsular. It is roughly shaped like a slice of cake lying on its side; high rugged cliffs to the southern end and shallow sandy bays to he northern end. As the tide ebbs and flows from the Gulf of St Malo, very strong tidal flows with large over falls develop around the island, the Alderney Race along the SE coast and the Swinge along the NW coast. Tidal stream atlases tell you that tides of up to 7 knots flow here; local fishermen will tell you that in some places it can exceed this.

I have regularly spent family summer holidays camping on the island; chatting to visiting sea kayakers from the Netherlands, France and Guernsey over the years was a major stimulus in my joining PDCC to follow this branch of the sport. On the basis that I have now soloed the circumnavigation twice I am assuming that this has not been a fluke, hence this report. The seas here can be extremely severe however, which is why I didn’t make the trip during my 2006 visit as I judged the conditions unfavourable. The 2005 trip was in a sea equipped Perception Dancer and the 2007 trip in a Pyranha Orca. The Dancer although slower than a sea kayak performed well in these waters as there are significant sections of rock hopping, broken water and strong uncharted back eddies.

I allowed three hours for the 8+ mile trip to allow plenty of time to judge water conditions and take in the magnificent scenery. Leaving the camp site at Saye Bay on the northern tip of the island 4 hours before local HW to get tidal assistance for an anti-clockwise route. Weather conditions were clear, sea state slight, visibility good (but instantaneous sea fogs are common) and wind SW F1-2.

On leaving Saye Bay you are soon looking into the harbour entrance at Braye, with a breakwater over half a mile long built in the mid 19^th century to enable the Royal Navy to monitor French Naval operations from their nearby base in Cherbourg. The breakwater was originally 400 yards longer but was allowed to fall into disuse; however this now forms an artificial reef that can cause over falls along side the harbour entrance – tricky? Keeping away from the outer edge of the harbour wall to avoid clapotis, a rock garden commences under Fort Tourgis (one of the large Victorian garrison forts), approximate running distance 2.0 Nm, with the small island of Burhou, home of the puffins, to the west.

This marks the start of The Swinge, I had planned my arrival here for slack water but the tide had already turned against me. The over falls were too strong to paddle against so I had to stay close to the shore to find a helpful eddy.

As the causeway to Fort Clonque, the next obstacle, was dry there was no alternative other than to punch my way around the outer edge of the fort to pick up the tidal stream that would assist me around the southern end of the island. Theory and practice disagreed once again as I faced the full force of the tide powering into the end of the island from Guernsey. After a good workout through some very confused water, Les Etacs (local name the Garden Rocks) appear just off the south coast, approximate running distance 3 Nm. These are home to one of the largest British Gannet colonies, these magnificent birds always oblige with a dazzling display of dive bombing.

Paddling became easier along the east coast once the tidal stream had become less turbulent, with high cliffs bathed in sunlight and sea caves to investigate. This is the most inaccessible section of coast, Telegraph Bay being the only practical escape get out point for three miles, approximate running distance 3.5Nm. Cachliere Pier (local name Chicago) is a notable landmark along this section of the coast, approximate running distance 5Nm. It had been used for the export of quarried stone between the wars but was sabotaged by the Germans during the occupation in case of Allied landings. To the SE is the prominent French nuclear reprocessing plant (Sellafield equivalent) at Flamanville. Generally known as "Flammable" by the islanders as it glows orange at night, but the French insist that this is due to the sodium flood lighting – well who is going to argue with a two headed Frenchman with a gun?

The last mile or so of paddling along the north coast is also a rock hopping delight within view of Quesnard lighthouse, more Victorian forts and German fortifications. Corblets Bay can produce good surf conditions here.

Sally Port from Eastney 4^th November 2007    Next Item Back to Top
By Simon D

Dave W (Trip Leader), Pete & Liz, Francis, Jenny, Colin, Paul, Spence & Me.

The weather leading up to this weekend had been absolutely glorious, probably the best continuous run since April, it couldn’t last, could it? After all it was November!

Arriving at the car park at Eastney there was a nip in the air and the sky gave no clue to what the weather had in store, I was met by the sight of several neoprene clad figures buzzing about in a blur of activity. Good turn out, lots of new faces, I thought, oblivious to the fact that there wasn’t a kayak in sight. As I started to unload my boat it dawned on me; air bottles, flippers, big serrated knives, it was now 9.45am and there wasn’t a paddle to be seen, I must be in the wrong place!

There followed a panic stricken phone call to Dave W, who calmly told me that he was in the next car park, at the same time a convoy of car topped kayaks entered the car park, phew!

We readied ourselves and Dave rounded us up shortly after 10.00am for a briefing on the beach, by 10.15 we were on the water and making our way to the mouth of the harbour, gently assisted by the outgoing current.

The temperature began to rise disproportionately to our efforts and as we reached open water we were bathed in warming sunshine, prompting several comments about the lack of sunglasses, sun lotion and suchlike. The sea state was slight and the gentle breeze was hardly noticeable, with smiles on our faces we savoured our good fortune.

Our progress was only hindered by our contentment to maintain a relaxed pace. By 11.00am we had reached the channel markers at the submerged barrier where a number of fishing boats had congregated adding to the surreal atmosphere of the day, here we stopped to regroup, replenish and to get some photo’s.

Once Dave had checked that we were all okay (just a formality in the conditions) we pressed on, passing South Parade Pier. A gentle swell appeared as we passed the beach at Southsea creating a few waves and whilst they couldn’t really pass as surf the temptation was too great for ‘some’ who just had to have a play.

As we altered course at Southsea Castle to follow the shoreline towards Portsmouth Harbour we were met by a wonderful cooling breeze which served to remind us of the extraordinary conditions that we were enjoying in November! It wasn’t long before we reached the Hovercraft slipway and as it was getting ready for take off and we were looking for any opportunity to prolong our journey we opted to sit and watch, and listen to a few of Spence’s jokes.

At around midday we arrived at Sally Port, trying not to disturb the sunbathers we pulled our kayaks ashore and cracked open the…..soup? Well it was cold when Spence got up. We had our lunch and chatted, after a warm and surreal half an hour on the beach we packed up our gear and slid back into the shimmering water.

The sun warmed our backs as we paddled the return trip at the same relaxed pace as our outward leg, the serenity interspersed from time to time with some frolicking in the wakes of passing craft.

At 13.40hrs we arrived back at Eastney where some could not resist the urge to cool down by trying out their rolling technique before reluctantly dragging themselves and their boats ashore. For Paul and me the temptation was too great and we extended our trip with a gentle cruise around the glassy waters of Langstone harbour. Our efforts were rewarded by great views of a solitary yet inquisitive grey seal, fishing lazily in the shallows.

WANTED – Newsletter Editor!    Next Item Back to Top

Dear all, at the AGM in Nov 1996 I took over from Noel C as Newsletter editor. Each year I have pondered who might like to take on the role and none have been forthcoming. Unfortunately I am very involved in other things and work is posting me abroad again more often. So, with reluctance, I have decided it is time to step down as newsletter editor. I would like to thank Richard B for doing the printing part but a sincere thanks to ALL who have contributed over the years. A few years ago I managed to get some copies run off by e-mail. This has greatly reduced the print run from 110 copies. There are now 90 sent by e-mail and just 59 by post. Thanks to you 90, it has made life a lot easier.

John B

AGM 2007 Minutes     Next Item Back to Top
11 November 2007 – 10.00 am

1 Calling to Order

PDCC Committee Meeting Minutes    Back to Top
18^th November 2007

PDCC Asset Register 2005-06 as at 5.11.07

10 Next Meeting. 20^th Jan venue to be announced.

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