Our Scilly Adventure - May/June 2011 - Revision history

Danabel: /* More */ changed title to direct people to the photos if interested

2011-09-02T15:02:35Z

More: changed title to direct people to the photos if interested

Ianh: Format stats

2011-08-19T11:43:25Z

Format stats

Ianh: Embed video

2011-08-19T11:41:32Z

Embed video

Danabel: added video, thoug i can't find a way to embed the video directly, like

2011-08-19T01:53:12Z

added video, thoug i can't find a way to embed the video directly, like

Danabel at 01:44, 19 August 2011

2011-08-19T01:44:51Z

Danabel: updaed formatting - a little more readable

2011-08-19T01:38:52Z

updaed formatting - a little more readable

Danabel: added in planning

2011-07-03T19:42:43Z

added in planning

Aferrar at 14:22, 13 June 2011

2011-06-13T14:22:04Z

Aferrar at 12:44, 13 June 2011

2011-06-13T12:44:17Z

Aferrar: Created page with ''''Our Scilly Adventure''' – May/June 2011 By Alastair Ferrar '''The Plan''' One cool Tuesday evening in February at the Prospect of Whitby as we were warming up over a pint o...'

2011-06-13T12:21:16Z

Created page with ''''Our Scilly Adventure''' – May/June 2011 By Alastair Ferrar '''The Plan''' One cool Tuesday evening in February at the Prospect of Whitby as we were warming up over a pint o...'

Show changes

@@ Line 161: / Line 161: @@
 :''Tide'': initially northeast 1kt turning south 2kt
-== More ==
+== Photos and Planning ==
 * Photos: http://www.flickr.com//photos/27664453@N08/sets/72157626897365982/show/
 * Planning {{forum|35|659|Forum post for planning}}

@@ Line 151: / Line 151: @@
 == Crossing Stats ==
-''Start to Finish'': St Mary’s Pool to Sennen Cove
+:''Start to Finish'': St Mary’s Pool to Sennen Cove
-''Distance'': 53.3km 28.7Nm
+:''Distance'': 53.3km 28.7Nm
-''Time'': 8h 59min
+:''Time'': 8h 59min
-''Ave moving speed'': 3.3kt
+:''Ave moving speed'': 3.3kt
-''Ave overall speed'': 3.2kt
+:''Ave overall speed'': 3.2kt
-''Weather'': fine and sunny
+:''Weather'': fine and sunny
-''Wind'': initially northeasterly 3, then 4, then 5
+:''Wind'': initially northeasterly 3, then 4, then 5
-''Sea State'': moderate 3, gentle swell from northwest 1m, up to 1.5m at times, wind waves 0.5m from northeast becoming choppy 1.5m
+:''Sea State'': moderate 3, gentle swell from northwest 1m, up to 1.5m at times, wind waves 0.5m from northeast becoming choppy 1.5m
-''Tide'': initially northeast 1kt turning south 2kt
+:''Tide'': initially northeast 1kt turning south 2kt
 == More ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-* Video of the trip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG4I8ZDj4VM
+{{TOCright}}<youtube v="mG4I8ZDj4VM" />
 == The Plan ==
@@ Line 89: / Line 88: @@
 Tonight was movie night on Bryher (something about the ghosts of Samson Island, or so I was told) at the village hall, but I stayed at camp to finish repairs and get to grips with the sticky situation I had managed to get myself into.
 ==  Thurs 2nd – Testing repairs to St Martin ==
@@ Line 151: / Line 149: @@
 We loaded up and made it back to Penzance just in time to collect the others as they disembarked from the slightly delayed ferry and to find a campsite for the night to rest our weary bones.  ''Lesson: if in doubt take the ferry''
 ''Start to Finish'': St Mary’s Pool to Sennen Cove
 ''Distance'': 53.3km 28.7Nm
@@ Line 164: / Line 161: @@
 ''Tide'': initially northeast 1kt turning south 2kt
+== More ==
 * Photos: http://www.flickr.com//photos/27664453@N08/sets/72157626897365982/show/
 * Planning {{forum|35|659|Forum post for planning}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:53, 19 August 2011
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−	~~By Alastair Ferrar~~	+	* Video of the trip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG4I8ZDj4VM
		+

	== The Plan ==		== The Plan ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:44, 19 August 2011
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−	== ~~Planning~~ ==	+	== Links ==

−	* {{forum\|35\|659\|Forum post for planning}}	+	* Photos: http://www.flickr.com//photos/27664453@N08/sets/72157626897365982/show/
		+	* Planning {{forum\|35\|659\|Forum post for planning}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 By Alastair Ferrar
-'''The Plan'''
+== The Plan ==
 One cool Tuesday evening in February at the Prospect of Whitby as we were warming up over a pint of fine Ale, Ailien mentioned that she would like to cross from Lands End to the Scilly Isles in the summer (an open sea crossing over 50km) and make a holiday of it too.  This caught the imagination of some of us who very quickly got thinking about how, where and when.  Great idea, a holiday with white sandy beaches, clear blue water (in England!) AND an added prospect of a greater challenge of the sort that none of us had yet encountered. ''But lets park that idea for a while.''
@@ Line 17: / Line 9: @@
 ''Lesson: listen to reason when it is presented''
-'''Fri 27 – London to Sennen'''
+== Fri 27th – London to Sennen ==
 Friday evening after a busy work day I turned up at the Madera’s who, for once, were late and made me wait (firmly seated!) while they finished prep and packing.  At 21.30 after loading the boats, and one and a half hours after our scheduled departure, we were on our way, waving goodbye to the others who had just arrived at the basin to load boats.  ''Lesson: Always add an hour''
 We arrived in Sennen Cove near Lands End at about 3.30 in time for a few hours kip on the roadside next to the car.  At 7am we stirred with some polite exchange with a local man probably on his way to work and probably wondering why on earth we chose his driveway.
-'''Sat 28 – The outbound crossing'''
+== Sat 28th – The outbound crossing ==
 We took a short walk out to the headland to feel the wind on our faces and make our final decision on how we would get to the islands only to find a 4 maybe even 5 southwesterly wind – nice wind but wrong direction.  After agreeing how wise we were to have bought ferry tickets in advance we quickly visited the spot Michal had less wisely diced with death some 5 years earlier while lead climbing off the sea cliffs of Sennen Cove.  It was a scary story to hear while peering over those very cliffs, I quietly wondered, and hoped that Sennen would not haunt us with disaster this time, as this is exactly where we intend to land a week later after our return crossing.  ''Hmmm, is there a lesson hidden somewhere here?''
@@ Line 33: / Line 25: @@
 After a well deserved dinner in the Mermaid on the quay, we had decided that day 1 of our Scilly experience would involve paddling around St Mary.  After dinner, I found myself leaving the restaurant last, only to be faced with a bill larger than expected and no visa facilities.  ''Lesson: never leave the restaurant last.''  Someone in our group forgot to pay thanks to the dizzy waitress who frankly cocked it all up – luckily Michal (who played no part in creating the bill) came to my rescue with a crisp pink note and liberated me from dish duty.  It took until the next evening before I realized that I had left my camera hanging over the chair in that very ill fated restaurant the night before.  As Julian later put it… that was Mistake No1.  ''Lesson: Valuable things should never be hung over the backs of chairs in pubs''
-'''Sun 29 – St Mary’s & Gugh clockwise'''
+== Sun 29th – St Mary’s & Gugh clockwise ==
 We all surfaced at around 8 and slapped together a quick and meaningful breakfast under M&N’s light weight shelter.  The weather had turned slightly overcast with a northwesterly 4 (gusting 5).  The sea state was a moderate 3 with wind waves approx 1m.
@@ Line 49: / Line 41: @@
 After a generous swig of the essential Madera stash of Highland Park single malt and some communal campsite cuisine, we closed the day in style.
-'''Mon 30 – To Bryher and onward'''
+== Mon 30th – To Bryher and onward ==
 My brother’s 40th birthday and our relocation from the Garrison to Fraggle Rock on Bryher.  I had realized that I had too much stuff to fit into my boat, Mistake No2.  I now had to find a way to stash surplus kit at the Garrison for the next 4/5 days, luckily the campsite was up to the task.  I think it was only the Madera’s who managed to get everything into their boats, including chair, communal shelter and generous amounts of alcohol - Ailien had the kitchen sink.
 ''Lesson: pack, then halve it''
@@ Line 65: / Line 57: @@
 On arrival Ailien was well progressed into the preparations of the culinary delights that were to follow.  It is impressive what combining ingredients and adding some creative thought and unexpected spices can create. An astonishing spicy mixed seafood medley, WOW, there were smiles all around – certainly my tastiest campsite meal ever.
-'''Tue 31 – Eastern Isles and the Holy Grounder'''
+== Tue 31th – Eastern Isles and the Holy Grounder ==
 A gentle start to the day saw us finally meet some friends of the Madera’s (Nick and Ali) who just happened to be visiting their in-laws on the Scillies while we were there.  Poor planning and unreliable comms meant that they only had to wait an hour and a half (!) for us in their rented plastic double, but that didn’t seem to dampen their spirits at all.
@@ Line 82: / Line 74: @@
 On arrival both boats were taken up to camp ICU.  Michal promptly resolved the footrest issue on Natalie’s bumblebee with some fiberglass repair before dinner and I thought I had better wait until first light before assessing the damage and making a start on the battered Reval … soon to be named ‘Holy Grounder’.
-'''Wed 01 – Boat Repair Lesson 001 and Abbey Gardens Tresco'''
+== Wed 1st – Boat Repair Lesson 001 and Abbey Gardens Tresco ==
 Today our group split into three.  MN&T went north around Tresco to look for rocks to play in.  J&A went on a ‘Zen’ calm water paddle around Samson accompanied by Red Mullet and Kelp with some shallow water husky towing for added fun on their way back.
@@ Line 98: / Line 90: @@
-'''Thurs 02 – Testing repairs to St Martin'''
+==  Thurs 2nd – Testing repairs to St Martin ==
 The foghorn kept me (and I’m sure most of us) awake for a fair chunk of the night, odd because there was no fog to speak of.  But a small price to pay for paradise.
@@ Line 109: / Line 101: @@
 Tordi bravely volunteered to dress (or undress!) our two giant crabs (but not Julian’s because Julian could do it himself) and prepare dinner.  I have to say, crab is… well it’s crab I guess. ''Lesson: only order crab in restaurants.''  But thank you Tordi for your stout effort.  The evening finished in the pub with some animated discussions about sea tides, open crossings and ferry gliding.  Natalie finally put an abrupt end to it as it continued outside our neighbour’s tent after midnight. ''Lesson: debating after alcohol is loud and goes in circles''
-'''Fri 03 – West of Bryer to St Agnus – the moment of reckoning'''
+== Fri 3rd – West of Bryer to St Agnus – the moment of reckoning ==
 Quick breakfast, decommission the camp and then pack the boats with everything for our trip back to St Mary’s via St Agnus.  I thought it would be fun to head north around Shipman Head and down the west side of Bryher to fully test my boat while loaded, so after Ailien and Kieran took a look over the headland we were good to go as a group of seven around the bad side of Bryher.
@@ Line 122: / Line 114: @@
 At 22.00 after leaving the restaurant Michal was making cold meat sandwiches on the pavement while I was drawing cash and excitement levels were growing.  We knew sleeping tonight would not be easy.  We managed to pack our boats by midnight (aided by the carefully selected street lamp) to settle into our sleeping bags looking over the darkened water of the bay with a carefully reserved beer in our hands.  What adventures would the morning hold?  ''Lesson: late night beer means nature calls''
-'''Sat 04 – St Mary’s to the mainland'''
+== Sat 4th – St Mary’s to the mainland ==
 We bounced out of bed at 2.00 having had not much more sleep than simply a calming of thoughts under a bright street lamp. Our faces filled with the obvious glee at the thought of stripping off and getting into our cold, wet kit, some of which I had thoughtlessly chucked into my not very dry cockpit only for it to soak up the last remaining water at the bottom of the boat.  ''Lesson: Never soak tomorrow’s clothes in water overnight''
@@ Line 157: / Line 149: @@
 We loaded up and made it back to Penzance just in time to collect the others as they disembarked from the slightly delayed ferry and to find a campsite for the night to rest our weary bones.  ''Lesson: if in doubt take the ferry''
@@ Line 169: / Line 162: @@
 ''Sea State'': moderate 3, gentle swell from northwest 1m, up to 1.5m at times, wind waves 0.5m from northeast becoming choppy 1.5m
 ''Tide'': initially northeast 1kt turning south 2kt

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:42, 3 July 2011
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		+	== Planning ==
		+
		+	* {{forum\|35\|659\|Forum post for planning}}
		+
		+
		+	== Report ==
		+
	'''Our Scilly Adventure''' – May/June 2011		'''Our Scilly Adventure''' – May/June 2011
	By Alastair Ferrar		By Alastair Ferrar

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 '''The Plan'''
-One cool Tuesday evening in February at the Prospect of Whitby as we were warming up over a pint of fine Ale, Ailien mentioned that she would like to visit the Scilly Isles in the summer.  This caught the imagination of some of us who very quickly got thinking about how where and when.  It didn’t take Michal long to say ‘and we can paddle there… and back’ – an open sea crossing over 50km!  Well ok, this got some of us interested at the prospect of a greater challenge of the sort that none of us had yet encountered. ''But lets park that idea for a while.''
+One cool Tuesday evening in February at the Prospect of Whitby as we were warming up over a pint of fine Ale, Ailien mentioned that she would like to cross from Lands End to the Scilly Isles in the summer (an open sea crossing over 50km) and make a holiday of it too.  This caught the imagination of some of us who very quickly got thinking about how, where and when.  Great idea, a holiday with white sandy beaches, clear blue water (in England!) AND an added prospect of a greater challenge of the sort that none of us had yet encountered. ''But lets park that idea for a while.''
 Ailien opened the trip to less experienced sea or WW kayakers on the club forum with the view to introducing others to a taste of the sea, island hopping and wild rocky coastlines.  We soon had a confirmed group of 8 paddlers - Ailien, Martin, Michal, Natalie, Kieran, Tordi, Julian and me.  Ailien was hoping to include a 3star sea assessment for Julian, Kieran and Tordi during the trip, but this all fell through after Martin, the most qualified amongst us and the person who would supervise Ailien during the assessment, cancelled at the last minute.
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 Once the hilarity had subsided we were on our way again across St Mary’s Sound towards The Gugh and St Agnes.  The sea state was picking up at this point and Kieran was doing very well in what must have been some unknown territory for him – an ‘open crossing’ into a stiff breeze and on bumpy water.  With the wind on our front starboard side and gentle tide moving SE we ferry glided across the sound, past the bell buoy cardinal and then allowing the wind to blow us south towards Hoe Point.  We enjoyed some gentle playing in the rocks and moving water before the sheltered water of the Cove between the two islands.
-Before stopping for a beer at the Kings Head we played in some waves.  Interestingly we paddled over a sand bar that had small breaking waves coming at us from both sides (north and south) and meeting in the middle – sadly not quite big enough to do much with.
+Before stopping for a beer at the Turk's Head we played in some waves.  Interestingly we paddled over a sand bar that had small breaking waves coming at us from both sides (north and south) and meeting in the middle – sadly not quite big enough to do much with.
 After a quick Guinness we were on our way back to St Mary’s.  The fog had settled, St Mary’s had vanished from view and we were in a beautiful eerie light heading on a NE bearing towards Bartholomew Buoy which we could only just distinguish in the fog.  ''Lesson: always take compass''.  Before too long we were navigating the rocky shore of the Garrison with some slightly more daring rock hopping attempts before landing back at the Mermaid where we would store our boats for the night.