Wind and Water

September 24, 2007 on 9:16 pm | In Sea Kayaking |

What a day yesterday. We had been watching the weather - it becomes a bit of an obsession when you ‘live’ in the outdoors. I don’t know about other Outdoor people but I have a real problem with the BBC TV weather and their fixation with rain when we all know it is the wind which is important, I will get off my hobby horse now.

So back to yesterday, the paddlers in Stornoway Canoe Club look for the strongest wind and the biggest waves before they start dusting of their gear and heading for the sea. So when it was forecast for a south westerly force 7-8 we all started to get excited. In these conditions it is a case of getting blown from one place to another while whooping and howling down the waves which are blown up.

Eventually there were four of us when we got in at Maraig in Harris into Loch Seaforth. The intention to get out into the Loch and scream up to Kintarvie past Seaforth Island.

Once we were out of the bay the wind was being funneled up the Loch and the surf up and to the North west of Seaforth Island was great with yells of delight all round. It was one of those trips where one wave just connected to the next and they were all taking you in the right direction.

On the south side of Seaforth Island in heavy rain there is a waterfall over one of the cliffs and when the wind is howling the waterfall is blown up ad looks like smoke. I was told by Murdo from Ardvourlie when they were children they were told the smoke was from the witches chimney and it showed she was home.

On the stretch from Seaforth Island the wind picked up and there were a few squalls rattled through and Allan caught one wave and surfed it to the point it capsized him and he swam. It is good practice to do a rescue in conditions like this but not something I want to do too often.

It was surprisingly tiring and carrying the boats up the croft to the car seemed a long walk and the boats had put on weight

As the home of storm paddling the Outer Hebrides are hosting the 2nd UK Storm Gathering on the 11-13th October in Stornoway. It is the chance for like minded paddlers to get together do some paddling and get some coaching in more advanced conditions

Tim Pickering
http://www.canoehebrides.com
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