We set off from Swanage in a pea soup fog, following the cliffs to keep our bearings. The sea was calm and smooth. As we rounded St Alban’s Head, the fog cleared and we set up camp for the night.
The next morning, we woke up ready for the last few miles of paddling to Kimmeridge. However, the wind was really howling and there was five miles of surf breaking on the reefs between us and the cars. We weighed up the conditions carefully. We knew that we could probably break out to the back of the waves, surf the wind-driven swell downwind for an hour, work our way back in through the surf and reach the cars.
It was a nice plan. But we walked home instead.
“Knowing when not to go”. I think this is probably the most important skill for any seakayaker to have, regardless of their experience level.
Yes, reviewing all the recent UK sea kayak incidents/ accidents, it is clear that the decisions and actions which ultimately led to the accident were taken before getting on the water, not afterwards.
Seamen know that more important than all the lifejackets, lifeboats and flares in the world is the knowledge and the courage to tell the others that today we stay ashore.
“If he be not afraid of the sea when he goes to sea he will be soon drowned. We be afraid of the sea and we go to sea, but we do drown not often.” or words to that affect.
Hi Den. See http://southwestseakayaking.co.uk/2007/02/20/moderate-or-rough-occasionally-very-rough-in-west/