Last weekend we made an anticlockwise circumnavigation, starting from Lee on Solent. Reeth Bay just after St. Catherine's, with 31 nm under our belts, proved to be the perfect spot for the night. Leaving only 24 miles for the Sunday. Tides with us all the way and ideal conditions with just the right amount of movement in the water. Plenty of time to enjoy the scenary and paddling, rather than the head down slog that this trip can become.
Tuesday, 7 July 2009
IOW circumnavigation
Last weekend we made an anticlockwise circumnavigation, starting from Lee on Solent. Reeth Bay just after St. Catherine's, with 31 nm under our belts, proved to be the perfect spot for the night. Leaving only 24 miles for the Sunday. Tides with us all the way and ideal conditions with just the right amount of movement in the water. Plenty of time to enjoy the scenary and paddling, rather than the head down slog that this trip can become.
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.