Paddles with an Anas acuta...... unashamedly biased toward the sea kayak of that name (actually the voyages of two boats, one 'traffic over gold', one 'quill')

Sunday 28 June 2009

A New Toy to Play With

The club had an old boat gathering dust, broken cockpit rim, flaking paint and varnish, but basically sound. 

A couple of days work and she was on the water, recognise it?

It is a boat with a reputation for instability so I tried a set-up roll. Despite  being a bare wood cockpit with no seat and nowhere to wedge your feet, knees or hips, it came straight up. You can see that my bottom slid to the side and needed a little wiggle to get me stable again.

It is an Angmagssalik, designed in 1960 by Ken Littledyke, who invented the stitch and glue method of plywood construction whilst making it. Despite the passage of time, plans and kits are still available and it was used for the first circumnavigation of Britain.

After half an hour you feel completely at home, 

and it is stable enough on flat water, but I would like  a seat, foot rests, and something for my knees or hips to brace on before venturing far offshore.

Liz liked it as well, A faster boat than the Anas acuta, but very far from being as comfy.

Thursday 18 June 2009

Paddling in the Rain

Last night, 11 of us went paddling in the rain and wind. The sea was a warm bath covered in white horses. It was too gloomy to take pictures, but it reminded me of a Summer day last year.


Calmer conditions, but it rained,

and rained,


and rained!