East Coast Kayaking

Today was the first day this year that I have been out kayaking off the east coast of the Island.  It was just a gentle paddle around the area to the south of St Catherine's, the base of Jersey Canoe Club.  The breakwater is the most visible reminder of a grand project by the British Admiralty in the middle of the 19th century.  It was due to join up with the southern arm, which was due to be built out, from the coast, close to Archirondel.
On the way south we passed the small cottage, L'Hopital, which was built as a hospital to meet the needs of the hundreds of workers who were employed on the construction of the breakwater.  It has had a chequered history including being a tea room and as a private residence.  Today it is a self catering property, helping to meet the needs of the tourist industry.  It must be one of the best places to stay on the Island, if you are a sea kayaker.
Continuing south the next obvious building also has a role to play in the tourist industry.  Archirondel Tower.  Built in 1792 as part of the Islands coastal defences against the French military it has recently been refurbished for basic accommodation for up to 10 people.
The small headland between Anne Port and Archirondel is interesting from a geological perspective, providing evidence of some volcanic activity in the distant past.  The columnar rhyolites are easily visible from the sea but are missed by the thousands of people who drive along the road above.
Once past the rocks of the Jersey Volcanic Group we crossed Anne Port, a small bay, which must have seen more attempts at preventing coastal erosion than anywhere else on the Island.  The authorities have used rock armour, cliff pinning, netting, beach replenishment, gabions and a sea wall to help prevent erosion, all is needed is a groyne and there would be pretty much every type of coastal protection.

 L'Hopital is in a superb position, just above the shoreline.

 The white building is the base of St Catherine's Sailing Club.  Originally it was the carpenters sheds whilst the Breakwater was under construction.

 Looking into Anne Port.  Some of the coastal defenses are visible at the rear of the beach.

 Paddling past the columnar rhyolites at La Crete Point.  There is a much better view from a kayak than from the road.

Arriving back at Archirondel.  The end of a rather pleasant way to spend a March afternoon.

Les Dirouilles

To the north east of Jersey there are two reefs, Les Ecrehous and Les Dirouilles.  Without doubt the most popular area of this Ramsar site is Les Ecrehous but today our destination was Les Dirouilles.  

It was a large Spring Tide and although the tidal streams were running with significant energy we were able to use some of the speed to our advantage.  It was at times like this that confidence in the GPS is important, monitoring our drift and fine tuning of our bearing ensured that we weren't swept past the rocks.

Very little has been written about the reef but it is known that in 1816 40 people were drowned when a ship, La Balance, which was sailing from St Malo to Canada struck the reef.  It must have been in totally different conditions to those we experienced on the reef today.

The calm waters, fast moving streams and lack of any other people combined to produce a truly memorable day.

 Approaching Les Dirouilles.  When we left Jersey the tidal streams were running at over 4 knots, fortunately they were mainly in our favour.

 Pete is just visible threading his way through one of the numerous channels.

 Janet with a rather large smile, after a superb crossing from Jersey.

 Landing wasn't straightforward but it was a great place to swim.

 A very sheltered pool!  There can't be many days like this at Les Dirouilles.

 Looking north across the reef.  Next stop Alderney, about 30 miles away.

Although we were on the reef for only about an hour, the tide had dropped over a metre, and this wasn't at the time of maximum change.  The tidal range today was 11 metres.

Time to hitch a ride on the flooding tide back to St Catherine's.  At times our speed over the ground was over 7 knots.  The joy of a free ride!

Daily Picture - 69

A visit to St Catherine's to collect some kayaking equipment from the Jersey Canoe Club premises made me realize how few times I had ventured to the east of the Island so far this year.

The breakwater was part of a plan to build a significant naval harbour, work commenced in 1847 but had been abandoned by the mid-1850's.  Never seeing using as a naval harbour it was given to the States of Jersey in 1876.  Today is see's plenty use by a wide range of recreational activities such as fishing, sailing and kayaking.

Some Christmas activity

It has been a tradition for nearly 40 years to go for a swim on Christmas morning. Members of the Jersey Canoe Club have been entering the water at 11.00 on Christmas Day long before swimming increased in popularity.  Although some of the public swims on the Island now attract over 200 people the Club has never sought publicity but with word of mouth our only form of advertising we still manage to attract a good turn out.

This year the conditions were completely benevolent.  Light winds, warm sunshine, an ideal tide height and a water temperature of just above 11 degrees.  After a quick dip it was the traditional mince pies and mulled wine before heading off for a family Christmas.

Preparing for the swim at St Catherine's

A selection of the Canoe Club group just before 11.00

We didn't hang around too long!  It was 11 degrees but still felt pretty chilly.

Boxing Day has always been a paddle out of Ouaisne and this year was no different. Approximately 20 members of the Jersey Canoe Club gathered in the car park in rapidly deteriorating weather conditions.  Just after high water on a spring tide it was obvious that there would be an entertaining tidal race off Noirmont, so that's where we headed.

We were not disappointed, there were some delightful waves to surf, some interesting moving water and the deterioration in the weather conditions was delayed.  Two hours on the water followed by a pint in the warmth of The Smugglers was a perfect way to start Boxing Day celebrations.

Launching from Ouaisne

Heading along the side of Pt Le Fret in rather grey conditions.

Noirmont Tower from the east.

A bit of chop is always enjoyable.

The German Tower at Noirmont is clearly visible as we headed back towards Pt Le Fret and Ouaisne.

One of the great locations in Jersey, La Cotte de St Brelade.

By the morning of the 27th December wind had increased dramatically, gusting to 50 knots so looking down from the cliffs the sea state had deteriorated significantly since the day before, although the sun was shining down  and what had been a rather grey landscape.

 

 Ouaisne with some surf rolling into the beach, in contrast to the day before.

 The swell was starting to break against Pt Le Fret.

 Looking down in La Cotte de St Brelade.

St Catherine's

For over 20 years the Jersey Canoe Club has paddled from St Catherine's, on the north east corner of the Island, on Tuesday evenings between April and September.  A large 19th Century breakwater provides some shelter from the strongest tidal streams and the north easterly winds.

Originally designed to be a major harbour of refuge, work started on the 27th June 1847, on the southern arm of the breakwater, which was designed to run out from Archirondel to meet up with another arm running out from Verclut Point, slightly further north.

Work was abandoned on the southern arm but the northern one was completed although it has never really been used for anything apart from walking along and fishing from.  A remnant of when relationships between the British and French were not as good as today.

 The breakwater at St Catherine's.  It was a beautiful evening for the final Tuesday night paddle of the season.

 The Jersey Canoe Club premises.  The Club has operated from this building since 1991.  It is in an ideal location for kayaking.

 Paddling around the end of the breakwater.  The date stone on the end is 1855.

 At this time of the year the evening light is always special.  It was possible to see the French coast behind Alan.

 Although it was only a neap tide there was still some tidal movement off La Coupe, the north east corner of the Island.

Looking west from La Coupe, the headland in the distance is Tour de Rozel, one of the finest white water play spots on the Island.

Sitting off Rozel, one of the small north coast harbours.  It would have been great to go further unfortunately we had a Canoe Club Committee meeting to go to.

 Returning towards La Coupe, St Catherine's is just around the corner.  A lovely final evening paddle of the summer season.

A Grey Day

For the first visit of the year to the Ecrehous we selected a day with very little wind but also lacking in colour.  A complete contrast to the more colourful days of summer. for example our last visit in September.

The great thing about visiting the Ecrehous in the winter is the lack of other visitors, one local boat was just getting ready to leave when we arrived and after they left we had this delightful corner of the Parish of St Martin to ourselves for nearly 3 hours.

A Sandwich Tern flew past as we were leaving, a bird more usually associated with warmer times and hopefully and indicator of some pleasant days ahead so that we will be able to head out to Ercehous again, before too long

Heading north along the west coast of Maitre Ile.  Although it is the largest island of the reef people rarely land there because of the nesting birds, including a large cormorant colony.

Lunch was in the shelter of the buildings as opposed to being on the bench, the obvious choice on warmer visits.

 Although it wasn't a particularly large tide the shingle bank was still breached by the tide.  This photograph clearly illustrates the lack of colour, the kayaks being the only highlight.

The view north from the bench.  The line of breaking waves, in the distance, is an indication of the large swell which was running.

Looking south towards Marmotier.  During the summer months this area would be a hive of activity

Jersey is hidden by the low cloud, which had dominated the day.  Landfall is still over an hour away.

Milos Training

At the end of October 30 sea kayakers from Jersey are heading to Milos to raise money for two local charities, Jersey Hospice and Centre Point. The participants have been training regularly since the end of April, many having to make the transition from sit on top's to closed cockpit kayaks.
Today was our first day trip as group and conditions could not have been better. We headed from St Catherines along the north coast of the island, having lunch at Bouley Bay, after a number of the paddlers had been introduced to the delights of tidal races.
On our return we celebrated with ice cream in temperatures approaching 25 degrees, more like the Greek Islands than the Channel Islands in September. What was particularly satisfying was that everybody came away realizing that they were better prepared for the circumnavigation of Milos than they thought.

Approaching Rozel, the first small bay and harbour on the north coast of the island.

It was only a neap tide but there was still a bit of movement at Tour de Rozel.

As the day wore on the conditions just got better and better. Sea kayaking in Jersey can be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.