Kayak trip planning (thinking aloud)
Jul. 10th, 2010 09:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andygatesThe Sunday geohash for the 51,-4 graticule is a reachable spot off Woolacombe Bay: halfway between Baggy Point and Morte Point and out a way. Since I can't bike right now, I'm going for the Pirate King achievement* in spades.
The local guidebook says that the area is doable, noting that the Bristol Channel's tidal stream is the big determinator in these parts. The trip from Westward Ho! to Ilfracombe it rates as moderately challenging, with this section being the easy part (the estuary near Appledore and rounding Morte Point being the tricky bits, plus the consequences of bad weather or timing).
Bristol Channel is something you paddle with, not against, and it's a new moon so that's spring tide (which is the most tidey of tides). The spring flood - the incoming tide - is timed from 13:30 locally. You don't want to get that wrong, as the spring ebb is the short cut for a transit to Lundy. The trip will, therefore, be a roughly 10km loop clockwise from Wooly beach round to Baggy Point, across and out, then back across to Morte Point and back along the coast to start, and start time will be lunchtime (heading up to Baggy Point on the dregs of the outgoing tide).
Weather says we can expect the usual SW at moderate speed: should be no whitecaps, and the wind is with the tide. (wind going against the tide makes for lumpy water and ugly kayaking: the inflatable's flex is nastiest in chop). Air will be warm, water mild, so it's a toss-up between wetsuit and rashie; will take both and decide on site.
Abort points: If the open water off Baggy Point is ugly, abort. If the tidal drift is naughtier than the expected up-to-4-kt NE**, abort into shore before heading out into even faster streams. Aborts are just for the hash -- like climbing, it's aborting the peak ascent, not the day's fun. A straight transit will still be an adventure, and so will just messing around.
Paddle plan: 10km shouldn't take more than 3h, especially with tidal assist for the open leg. Advise the Wooly beach lifeguards what you're doing and give them the mobile number. The mobe is getting double bagged this time. ;)
* There is a geohashing achievement called Minesweeper for getting a hash in all of a 3x3 grid of graticules. I propose the Pirate King for a hash scored on water in all of a 3x3 grid. It is, it is, a glorious thing.
** Bristol Channel does get plenty faster, but not in this location.
The local guidebook says that the area is doable, noting that the Bristol Channel's tidal stream is the big determinator in these parts. The trip from Westward Ho! to Ilfracombe it rates as moderately challenging, with this section being the easy part (the estuary near Appledore and rounding Morte Point being the tricky bits, plus the consequences of bad weather or timing).
Bristol Channel is something you paddle with, not against, and it's a new moon so that's spring tide (which is the most tidey of tides). The spring flood - the incoming tide - is timed from 13:30 locally. You don't want to get that wrong, as the spring ebb is the short cut for a transit to Lundy. The trip will, therefore, be a roughly 10km loop clockwise from Wooly beach round to Baggy Point, across and out, then back across to Morte Point and back along the coast to start, and start time will be lunchtime (heading up to Baggy Point on the dregs of the outgoing tide).
Weather says we can expect the usual SW at moderate speed: should be no whitecaps, and the wind is with the tide. (wind going against the tide makes for lumpy water and ugly kayaking: the inflatable's flex is nastiest in chop). Air will be warm, water mild, so it's a toss-up between wetsuit and rashie; will take both and decide on site.
Abort points: If the open water off Baggy Point is ugly, abort. If the tidal drift is naughtier than the expected up-to-4-kt NE**, abort into shore before heading out into even faster streams. Aborts are just for the hash -- like climbing, it's aborting the peak ascent, not the day's fun. A straight transit will still be an adventure, and so will just messing around.
Paddle plan: 10km shouldn't take more than 3h, especially with tidal assist for the open leg. Advise the Wooly beach lifeguards what you're doing and give them the mobile number. The mobe is getting double bagged this time. ;)
* There is a geohashing achievement called Minesweeper for getting a hash in all of a 3x3 grid of graticules. I propose the Pirate King for a hash scored on water in all of a 3x3 grid. It is, it is, a glorious thing.
** Bristol Channel does get plenty faster, but not in this location.
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Date: 2010-07-11 08:19 pm (UTC)1: A good surf beach is not a good kayak beach.
2: I need a hat that ties onto my head. Consider it an offering, O tenders of the Wooly force-field.