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.