The crossing from Land’s End (the south west tip of Britain) to the Isles of Scilly is nearly 30 miles, heading straight out into the open Atlantic. You cross strong tides at the start, and then two busy shipping lanes. If you are going to attempt this, then choose really solid companions.
On this day I was joined by Kevin Francis, who a week previously had never been in a sea kayak (or indeed any kayak longer than 2.3 metres), and had never paddled more than a few miles in a straight line before. What could go wrong?
“What could go wrong?” Tell me!
I visited the Isles of Scilly way back in 1989. I took a ferry, but the thought of paddling there has always stayed with me.
Hopefully we’ll get a chance to repeat the crossing when we go back to the islands in late May. I quite fancy seeing the Seven Sisters lightship which is just off the route. And maybe Wolf Rock, which is a long way off the route…!