A Solo Sea

Kayak JourneyTo The

Isles of ScillyLevel 5 Sea kayak Coach Roger Chandler loads up his sea kayk

and sets out in perfect conditions for a sepectaular solo seakayak journey to the Isles of Scilly.

Something had caught my attention.A large fin was moving slowly acrossmy path. It was a shark at least 3.5metres, my pulse quickened, ‘jaws’has a lot to answer for! I just kepttelling my self it was a Baskingshark, a plankton feeder and then Inoticed a second one. This wasshorter and probably a young one. Iwas keen to get a photo but alsoensure I kept my distance, notwanting to spook mum!

I had been waiting for the last 9 monthsfor settled weather and time off work tocome together for a paddle to the Islesof Scilly. As I drove down on theMonday, I realised that it was thelongest day and with it being the bestforecast, I was keen to make the mostof it and paddle out that evening.

Gone to the Birds

I began my paddle at about 5pm andwent out to the Long ships lighthouse;this was where my compass bearingstarted. I was nervous and excited as Ipaddled out, but conditions wereamazing. I decided to take a break onthe hour, for food and water and it wasin the second hour that I began to settleinto a rhythm. It was another 3 hoursbefore I could just make out thebeginnings of the Isles of Scilly. I wasvisited by many gannets, shearwatersand an occasional storm petrel visitedme, all flying in and checking me out.The sunset was stunning and the moonprovide adequate light, and with theoccasional shooting star, it really wasquite magical.

Star Gazing

I arrived at the first group of island,called the Eastern Isles at 11pm and Iwas pleased to have covered the 42k in6 hours. I could hear the occasionalsplash and deep breathing nearby, Idecided was an inquisitive seal,although my senses were twitching Ittook another hour for me to find asuitable place for the night. I was verycontent and had a brew, before fallingasleep under the stars.

Sunrise was spectacular and I watchedit for 20 minutes or so, before returningto my bivi bag. At 0700 I got up andpacked away my kit and decided to goover my return journey. This was to takein the Seven Stones Light Ship, about athird of the way back and a little furtherto the north.

Ship A Hoy

I paddled in to St Marys that day andhad a wander around the shops andthen moved on to St Martins. The wholeplace had a real Caribbean feel about it,and the colours of the sea and sandwere amazing. I decided to stay thenight and have a paddle around theEastern isles, and see the seals beforesettling down for the night. On thecrossing out I had only seen 3/4 largecontainer ships on the horizon, and bythe time I got into the Traffic SeparationZone (TSZ), all was quiet.

A few seals guided me out of theEastern Isles, the next morning andthen a small pod of porpoises joined me.I soon saw the Seven Stones lightship,it was certainly worth the de tour, just forthe crazy demonised sea gull recording

AUTHOR

Roger Chandler is an active Level5 Coach -Sea, who runs CoastalSpirit with his partner Sonja. ANorth Wales specialist seakayaking company who also runREC First Aid courseswww.coastalspirit.comCoastal Spirit is a professionalpartner with Peak Uk and wewould like to thank them for theirsupport.

You can follow Coastal Spirit andRogers adventures on his blog:www.northwalesseakayaking.blogspot and onhttp://www.facebook.com/people/Coastal-Spirit/100000102778514

and the add excitement of the shallowerground which forced up the occasionallarger curling swell.

On the crossing back I only came acrossone tanker and I had the situation of uppingmy paddle rate to see if I could passbeyond it, to realising I couldn't ... it wasbest to sit it out and have a break, and viewfrom a distance!

The End in Sight

On approaching Lands End, the place wasquite different than before. A gentle broadrolling Atlantic swell had developed andnow it was opposing current and the cliffsat Lands End, it was very atmospheric. Ontop of this I was tired from being out in themid day sun, having run out of water andhour or so ago.

Just after 1500, I was safe through thereefs and surf, pleased with myachievement. I loaded all my kit and boat,on to the van, phoned Sonja and then wentlooking for an ice cream!

TOPTIP

If going from Sennen Cove, park at thesmaller harbour car park, pay for the daysyou believe you will be gone and leave anote for the attendant, to say what you havedone.

“The sunset was stunningand the moon providedadequate light, and withthe occasional shootingstar, it really was quite

magical”

The islands have a wealth of flora and fauna The locals were very friendly!