February 2018 - Sea Kayaking Wales

February 18, 2018February 18, 2018

Ynys Gybi (Holy Island) Circumnavigation, Anglesey – 17 Feb, 2018

Saturday 17 February was a sunny day with a playful swell hitting the westerly shore. The tidal range was in the spring end of the spectrum and the wind was around force 4 from the South, backing West later in the day. The Ynys Gybi (Holy Island) circumnavigation seemed like a good plan.

Leaving Porthdafarch

Rhoscolyn Head

The Beacon

Roger Chandler’s group on their way out to Rhoscolyn Beacon

Borthwen

Cymyran Straits

RAF Valley

Approaching Four Mile Bridge

Entering the Inland Sea

Stanley Embankment

The 2 PM Ferry

Crossing to the break water

Holyhead Mountain

North Stack

South Stack tiderace

A bit of a surf session with tired arms…

Approaching Penrhyn Mawr

Mini Mawr

Back at Porthdafarch

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018

The Menai Straits – 13 Feb, 2018

A lovely journey from Menai Bridge to Plas Newydd. We had lots of fun playing with the current at the Menai Suspension Bridge, Swellies Pole and Ynys Gorad Goch before cruising to Plas Newydd and back to Menai Bridge. There was only an 8.6m tidal height at Liverpool. Nevertheless, plenty of intertidal life was exposed in this interestingly biodiverse coastline.

Paddling today were Dave and Geth.

February 14, 2018February 14, 2018

Ynysoedd y Moelrhoniaid, The Skerries – 5 Feb, 2018

Ynysoedd y Moelrhoniaid (Island of the Bald headed grey seal) or the Skerries.
Richard J, Paul and Steve.

What a great way to spend a cold Monday in February! HW (Liv) was 1438 (9.1m) and the flood runs until 1353. We put on at the beautiful bay of Porth Swtan (Swtan is a Whiting in Welsh) at 1225 and ferried to the Island. It’s an interesting ferry. Using transits, we could feel areas of faster/ slower water. The crossing took just under an hour. It’s always magical to arrive at the Skerries. Inquisitive seals are everywhere and the island certainly lives up to its Welsh name!
All day, the quality of light was amazing. Refractions causing distant objects to appear as if floating. However, the real ‘jewel’ of the day was an amazing view of Isle of Man. It would have been an excellent day for this crossing! But there again, all three of us were recovering from the lurgy, so maybe not.
We lingered for lunch and simply gazing at the view until cold prompted movement. Or maybe it was seeing the ebb tide increasing around Gull Rock? We paddled around the island, now feeling some considerable foce in the ebb. Another ferry took us across to Ynys y Fydlyn and one of our favourite areas of sea cliff and Coast. And so back to the vehicles.