Ecrehous Day Trip

The neap tide, today, meant that timing for departure wasn't as crucial on some other days but we were still on the water promptly just before 09.30.  The Ecrehous is one of the great, if not the greatest, one day sea kayaking trip.  

Just over 5 nautical miles north east of Jersey it is necessary to allow for tidal drift as on springs the tidal streams can reach over 5 knots but as you start to enter the reef it soon becomes apparent that you have arrived somewhere really special.

Today was no different.  If you are ever in Jersey with a sea kayak, a visit to this special place should be high on your list of priorities.

 

The view across the pool towards Jersey, it wasn't as busy as on some other summer days.  Whilst sitting on the bench having lunch a grey seal spent some time swimming around in the water below us.

Looking north across the reef.  In a few hours time all of the rocks would be submerged by the rising tide, next Tuesday would be even more interesting as the tides are so much larger.   Today's high water was 27.9 feet, in 5 days time it is 39.6 feet!

Looking along the shingle bank its hard to believe that on Spring's standing waves develop as the tide runs across the bank.

If time allows when visiting the Ecrehous it is always worth walking north, partly to escape the crowds but more importantly to view the dramatic seascape.

 Looking across towards the Normandy peninsula of France.  The clouds defined the edge of the land.

 Nicky paddling past one of the huts as we paddled north to catch the last of the south flowing flood tide.

 The edge of the reef, it was right hand sweep strokes to line up for a 5 mile crossing.

 Visibility was pretty good today so Jersey was clearly visible as soon as we left the Ecrehous. After about 1 nautical mile we had several groups of bottle nose dolphins pass in front.  They seemed pretty focused on heading west so they didn't stay and investigate.

An Ecrehous milestone

Nearly 6 miles north east from Jersey, in the direction of the Normandy coast can be found a little piece of heaven.  The Ecrehous are a reef of rocks, which are part of the Baliwick of Jersey and are a favourite destination of boat owners from both Jersey and France.  

I first paddled to the reef towards the end of the summer in 1974 but 39 years on I still leap at the chance to head out across the water.  On spring tides there are cross currents, which run at about 5 knots during certain hours of the tidal sequence so appropriate navigation is essential.  A couple of weeks ago I was lucky to complete my 150th kayak trip to the reef.  

Whenever my kayak heads through the outer rocks towards the main island I still feel the same excitement as I did all those years ago.  A visit to the reef should be high on the wish list of any sea kayakers.

My first visit to the Ecrehous, the last Sunday in August 1974.  Notice the general purpose kayaks and home made paddles.  The kayaker is Derek Hairon who now runs Jersey Kayak Adventures.

The scene at the 1st Jersey Sea Kayaking Symposium in May 1992.  Over 60 sea kayakers headed out to the reef that day, leaving from 5 different locations.  Many of the main influences on sea kayaking were present that day, Frank Goodman, Howard Jeffs, Derek Hutchinson, Kevin Danforth, Duncan Winning, Dave Patrick, Gordon Brown etc.  Visit number 49.

The first time I really used a GPS.  Chris at the Ecrehous at the beginning on January 1997.  Visibility was under 100 metres all day, it was a 38 feet tide, dark when we left Archirondel and dark when we arrived back.  I have hardly paddled without my GPS since.  This was visit number 62.

 Looking across the main Anchorage from the bench.  Jersey is visible in the distance.

 One of the narrow passage ways which thread their way through the small buildings.

 Flying back to the Island from Cherbourg we had this great view of Marmotier.

 Dawn after a night spent sleeping on the shingle bank.  I just love lying in my sleeping bag, next to my Nordkapp and watching the sunrise over the French coast.

 A small tidal race on the east of the reef, France is just visible in the distance.

One of those unforgettable summer days.  We are heading through the northern part of the reef in July 2011.  This was trip 135 

 Celebrating with the odd bottle of champagne.  Trip 150.

 On our return to Jersey the following morning a number of bottle nose dolphins joined us in perfect conditions.  The Ecrehous are visible behind.