Walney 3 star

A gull's view of the Furness landscape on Sunday morning would have taken in seven long, brightly coloured objects atop car roofracks converging on Roa Island as the tide lapped at it's high point around the pillars of the coastguard boathouse. The gathering of aspirant 3 star paddlers had been awaited for some weeks - opportunity to get together as many of the Sea for Cumbria crew as possible on one training mission. This was the time to check and practice technique, safety and equipment. Nigel Dykes very kindly agreed to guide us through the BCU syllabus with a well thought out set of exercises and challenges. He skillfully and inclusively managed the six of us who had made the trip by encouraging peer (not pier) feedback and focussed reflection.

A moderate to fresh breeze made for testing conditions but all paddlers remained upright until time came for some deliberate over-turning. Kevin put in a commendable effort at self-rescue with a paddle float, got back in after a couple of wobbly moments and then, along with Jasper, nearly capsized with laughing over the action of a bilge pump. It's the simple pleasures - eh lads! Ladies sipping tea in a nearby yacht appeared a little bemused. Mark & Mike were on cheerful good form and, despite much talk of beer and pies, performance suggested tip-top condition. Ian piloted his Tempest with aplomb but in his heart I know he's an Aquanaut man! We missed Andy and Wendy (of course) - otherwise engaged in Saudi and Morocco respectively.

A zig-zag back through the yachts and buoys brought our day on the water to an end. With less than four weeks to go before the big trip the urgency of sorting out some pretty important details is working to the fore of our group's minds (hopefully!). Debrief and deliberations gave way to the the reversal of the scene witnessed some eight hours earlier as loaded roofracks headed north and east along the coast road - only this time the low water revealed the full height of the concrete support columns of the RNLI building - a gauge to the impressive tidal range.

Solway part 1 - Silloth to Bowness (and back)

Despite protestations over an early start to catch the tide, four of us made it out on Saturday 17 May. Jasper, Andy, Ian and I launched at 08:00 from the Silloth RNLI lifeboat ramp three hours before high water (HW). With cunning use of a newly acquired admiralty chart and tide tables we had worked out that we would be carried with the incoming tide up the firth, that we would stop for an early lunch at HW (however far we had got) and return to Silloth with the outgoing tide.

Our sources of local knowledge were otherwise engaged - Kevin and Mike couldn't make the trip this time - but things actually went to plan. An entertaining paddle around the sand banks gave a feel for the differences in tidal flow between the channel and the flats. Our mid-morning malt loaf stop (essential) on the sandy flats near Morricambe Bay saw us moving boats every few minutes in an attempt to keep ahead of the incoming tide. As we paddled, I amused myself and probably irritated everyone else by shouting out the ground speed reading from my GPS every few minutes - we actually raced along at 7 knots at one point albeit briefly - probably averaged 4.5 and covered about 20 Nm all in . NE force 3 meant a head wind to start but a welcome push from behind on the way back.

During lunch on the beach at Bowness-on-Solway Andy outlined his vision for a better Britain and Jasper enjoyed his sardines - I would vote for them both.

Each trip out presents opportunities for reflection - it is gradually sinking in that we need to be continually mindful of paddling as a group and of ensuring that we are all, if not in the comfort zone then, enjoying the adventure zone!

The early start had not been sooo early - in fact we all had an hours extra sleep due to the fact that I hadn't initially adjusted tide times for BST and we didn't need to be roused from slumber until after 5 a.m.! Hopefully Jasper has some photos on his James Bond wrist-mounted spy-cam - watch this space.

Oh...some more reading recommendations:

Reeds Practical Boat Owner Small Craft Almanac 2008 - lots of lovely info about tides. Go on, ask me a question about neaps in Wilhelmshaven or St. Malo.

Another favourite which seems quite pertinent to our intrepid exploits is:

The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W. E. Bowman - originally published in 1956, I think, but a classic and well worth a read. A tale of mountaineering daring do that epitomises something of the British explorer tradition. Well worth a read.

Ever onward...