Sunny Sunday Kayaking

A group of 29 sea kayakers is an impressive sight as they prepare for departure even more so when 6 of them are in the brand new orange Tiderace Vortex kayaks, which have just been unwrapped in the car park at Ouaisne.

This was the annual visit of Tower Hamlets Canoe Club to Jersey and the plan was to head east from Ouaisne, have lunch on Elizabeth Castle before taking advantage of the increasing north easterly wind to aid our progress back.  As it was the wind and tide slowed us down earlier than we anticipated with the result that it was sandwiches on St Aubin's Fort.

That really didn't matter as we had a really entertaining paddle along a lovely section of the Jersey coastline in conditions, which were quite interesting at times.  As we paddled back into the bay you could feel the warmth of the sun on your face for the first time this year, it really did feel like spring had finally arrived. 

 Its Christmas, in March!  Unwrapping the six new kayaks ready for our friends from Tower Hamlets Canoe Club to use.

 With 29 paddlers in the group, a clear pre-trip briefing is pretty essential.

 Angus just off Noirmont

 Matt paddling in front St Aubin's.  Less than 72 hours earlier we had gone in the opposite direction on our night paddle.

 Janet enter St Aubin's Harbour.  This was a pretty big tide so the water level was dropping at about 90 cm every 20 minutes, so we didn't hang around.  Within minutes it was dry.

 

 Lunch at St Aubin's Fort.  Thanks Matt for this photo.

 Approaching Noirmont, wind and tide with us.  It was a pretty quick run back to Ouaisne.

Nicky passing through one of the narrow channels off Noirmont.

Daily Picture - 63

A day of superb weather was followed by a night on the water.  I have been running an Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning Course over the last couple of weeks  so this evening rather than another classroom session we decided to put the theory into practice and spend a couple of hours plotting a course around the navigation poles close to St Aubin's.

We are just getting ready to launch from Belcroute.

St Aubin's Bay Circuit

An early Sunday morning from Belcroute allowed a paddling circuit of St Aubin's Bay.  High tide meant that it was an easy launch of the pebbles, sheltered from the NW wind, which was blowing over the cliffs. After rounding St Aubin's Fort the wind, on our sterns, speeded our journey to Elizabeth Castle, our second major military fortification of the day. The return, into the headwind, wasn't as easy but the sun was out and it was a great morning to be out on the water.

St Aubin's Fort was our first target.  It was completed in the 1540's when St Aubin's was the main harbour on the island.  Additional fortifications were added by the German's during the Second World War.  Today it is operated as an activity centre by Education, Sport and Culture.

 Heading east across St Aubin's Bay we avoided the hobie cats, which were racing around the Bay.  Elizabeth Castle, offshore from St Helier, was built in the late 16th and 17th centuries.  Sir Walter Raleigh, who was Governor of the Island named the castle in honour of his Queen.

 In the 1970's and 80's members of the Jersey Canoe Club used to leave St Helier every Thursday night and usually included a circumnavigation of the castle on their paddle.  It is an area we venture into less frequently nowadays, which is pity is it is a fascinating historic paddle.

 Elizabeth Castle is well worth a visit on foot.

The end of the 19th century breakwater is painted as a navigation mark

 

 Crossing St Aubin's Bay was straight into the north westerly wind.  Offshore a cruise ship, of which there have been many more in Jersey this summer, lies at anchor.

 There was a slight swell having an impact on visibility, at times.

 We finished with a visit to Noirmont, returning to Belcroute along a pleasant section of
coastline.  A great 6.5 nautical miles.

Boxing Day Sea Kayaking

Boxing Day almost offered some respite from the almost continuous storms of the last few weeks but we probably experienced all four seasons during the course of 2 hours.  Belcroute, on the western side of St Aubin's Bay was the chosen venue, mainly because it gave some shelter from the potential squalls.

Heading south we quickly reached Noirmont before turning and heading across the bay towards St Helier, experiencing some lovely rides on the following swell.  Half way across the bay it was clear that we were going to be hit by quite a significant squall.  The hail proved to be pretty painful but within 10 minutes the sunshine returned and we spent a very pleasant 15 minutes paddling around St Aubin's Harbour chatting to the stand up paddleboarders, who had clearly put some effort into their fancy dress.

This was followed by the inevitable visit to the Smugglers for a warming pint, a traditional that has been part of Jersey Canoe Club's history for 30 years.

Heading out from Belcroute.  There were some very dramatic clouds towering over St Helier.  These had already passed but others were on the way.

 The coast to the south of Belcroute is one of the few sections of the islands coast where trees approach the waters edge.

 Noirmont Point is nearly always entertaining, the westerly swell and wind meeting the opposing tidal streams.  From here we turned north east and ran with the wind into St Aubin's Bay

 This was quite an intense squall.  The hail was particularly painful.  The temperature drop as the squall passed through was particularly dramatic.

 Within a few minutes though the wind dropped, the sun came out and we paddled around St Aubin's Harbour in delightful conditions.

We weren't the only group out on the water, members of the Stand up Paddleboard Club were on the water in some quite spectacular fancy dress.

Back in Action

After nearly 5 weeks without sea kayaking or stand up paddleboarding because of my broken arm I finally managed to get back on the water today.  After a positive result from the doctor yesterday I decided to have a gentle re-introduction to paddling this afternoon.  The westerly force 5-6 and a low spring tide reduced the options considerably but I eventually decided upon a short paddle out from Belcroute.

It is east facing, so reasonably sheltered, and relatively steep so the carry isn't too strenuous.  It was just a pleasure to get out on the water after nearly 35 days of land based inactivity.

In the distance could be seen St Aubin's Fort, it was built in the 1540's to protect St Aubin's Harbour, which was the safest harbour on the Island at the time.  Today it is used as an Outdoor Activity Centre by Education, Sport and Culture for the young people of the Island.

It was just great to be out and I am looking forward to an active summer of paddling and hopefully no more broken arms! 

Looking across Belcroute towards St Aubin's Fort at low water this afternoon.

World Cup Disaster

On yet another day which left the English football fan despondent at least Chris and myself started the day in a more positive fashion. A quick 2 hour paddle out from St Brelade to St Aubin. Jersey sea kayaking at its finest.

As we headed out of the bay a couple of bottle nose dolphins swam past in a rather casual manner.

Chris watching for the dolphins. Bouilly Port is the bay behind

Chris heading north towards St Aubin's. This is one of the few areas of wooded coastline on the island and is unusual that the tide flows south along this section of coast for 9 hours out of every 12.

St Aubin's Harbour. At one time it was the home base for the ships involved in the Newfoundland fishing industry.

St Aubin's Fort. Used as a residential outdoor activities base by the Education, Sport and Culture Department of the States of Jersey. It was updated by the Germans in 1940 with the addition of extra fortifications.

The distinctive black and white tower at Noirmont. Now a navigation mark, completed in 1814 it helped to protect the western approaches to St Helier.