Author: Gordon Smith

Paddlers: Gordon, Steve, Iain, Mark, Simon, Finn, Paddy, Martin

Tom organised and joint RNLI/HCC exercise on the Clyde. From an HCC perspective, the main objective was to practice VHF comms, from an RNLI perspective the objective was to prioritise different issues as the scenario unfolded.

The scenario involved a party of 8 kayakers getting split into two groups by high winds. One group ended up on Ardmore Point, with one of the paddlers suffering a dislocated shoulder. The remaining kayakers radioed for help. Whilst the lifeboat was proceeding to deal with the Ardmore group, this group suffered a capsize and were unable to get the kayaker back in their boat and radioed for further help.

The lifeboat response to the scenarios was as hoped. HCC were impressed by the lifeboats response and the feedback from the RNLI was that HCC’s radio calls were effective. and they were impressed by the level of safety kit we carried. However, the following learning points were noted:

• There was no point in having a handheld VHF on low power – after first real transmission I switched to full power, otherwise I wasn’t heard
• I noticed that not all handsets received equally well – I heard some bits of messages via others VHFs, not my own
• I’m going to move my VHF to the right hand side of my BA – Im right handed and it was awkward to use with it on the left
• I was surprised at how often I forgot radio protocol, missing out ‘overs’, not getting call signs correct etc – it’s really good to practice
• Even in daylight, the LED flare was extremely effective for locating the group on Ardmore |Point.
• A suggestion for lifeboat crew: if pulling a kayak up onto the Rib, lift by bow so that it drains.

A big thanks to Tom for organising and a special mention for Paddy for going in the water and Finn for dislocating his shoulder. A full set of photos can be found here but some highlights are below:

Paddlers: Gordon, Geoff, Edward

Weather: F2 SW

Distance: 17.5km

Launched from the carpark at the North end of Croy Bay, realising with hindsight that we should have parked by the toilets and used the slipway rather than carrying the boats over the rock breakwater. Pleasant paddle SW passed Culzean Castle, Maidens and on to Turnberry point for lunch and then doubling back.

None of the forecast sun but lots of Cormarants, or were they Shags? (must learn to tell the difference).

Paddlers: Gordon, Michael, Lorna, Edward

Day 1

Light winds. 15km

We set of in idyllic conditions from a stony beach below a layby just West of Roshven, making our way West and then South to just before Singing Sands. Stunning views of the Small Isles to the West and of the Cuillin to the North. Just as we were discussing what could make the trip better, we saw a Minke Whale a few hundred meters away.

We stopped for lunch just South of Smirisary although if we had paddled a little further we could have landed on a stunning sandy beach rather than a very rocky one. The sandy beach is more or less due West of the North end of Eilean Coille. This would make an excellent camping spot although likely to quite busy – lots of people had walked in via Glenuig.

Another stop at the SW corner of Eilean Shona (another stunning beach). Then onto a wonderful camping spot – a grassy knoll at the East end of Camas an Lighe (aka Singing Sands), landing on the East side of an outcrop of rocks.

Day 2

NW F1-2. 24.5km

Lorna spotted some interesting tracks among the dog and human footprints on the beach – later identified as otter. We followed coast back up North and into the South Channel of Loch Moidart where we were pushed gently along by tide and wind. Lots of seals on the small skerries. We stopped for a leg stretch and explore at Castle Tioram (now very securely closed for access) before moving onto the small islet between Shona Beag and Riska Island for lunch. This had been described as an ideal camping spot in previous trip reports but we felt ours at Singing Sands was definitely superior.

We then paddled out of the North Channel and around Eilean Coille before another leg stretch at the beach identified the previous day. The final leg too us back to the cars. As we passed Samalaman Island a large flock of unusually silent birds (later identified as Manx Shearwater) alerted us to possible shoals of fish and we spotted a Minke Whale again in the distance.

Paddlers: Gordon, Seb, Alice and Jim

F3-4 SW

25km

The original plan had been to paddle round Lismore with an overnight stop at the South of the island. However, with very strong winds forecast for Sunday, we curtailed it to a day trip.

We set off from the northerly of the two laybys opposite Shuna on the A828 (OS 937503) as launching here is easier.

Heading south round the outside of Shuna, we were buzzed by the Waverly as we made our way across to the skerries into a stiff head wind and choppy seas. After a quick leg stretch at the northern bay of Rubha Ban, we continued south to Castle Coeffin for lunch.

The journey back north was much easier with the wind behind us, passing seals perched on the last bits of drying rock as the tide rose. As we followed the northern coast of Lismore round to Port Ramsay we saw goats on Eilean Ramsay and an otter swimming across the channel in front of us.

Another quick stop by the Lime Kilns on Eilean nan Caorach, a quick circumavigation of Castle Stalker before heading back up the Sound of Shuna and home.

Leader: Gordon

Paddlers: Al, Alice, Martin, Stuart

F1 Wind. 22.7 km

First club paddle of the year. A glassy day with even less wind than forecast and occasional glimpses of sun.

We launched from the beach to the West of Helnsburgh Pier – the slipway being inaccessable due to the cordons for the pool roof. Took in the sugar ship and Ardmore Pointon route to Newark Castle. The sugar ship definitely looking the worse for wear after the storms with large cracks and and buckling around the hull and large splits in the deck.

Returned along the north edge of the shipping channel, watching “Craner Swift” and “UCrane Bolt” unloading a container ship. The crossed back over to Rosneath Point passing an anchored naval boat for a leg stretch before returning to Helensburgh pier.

Joined by couple of seals along the way.

Leader: Gordon

Assistants: Alice, Paddy, Stuart

Paddlers: Al, Colin, Damien, Edward, Geoff, Seb, Stephen H

Conditions: Light Southerly breeze veering to stiff westerly F3-4.

Distance: 16km

Even after a couple of dropouts a big turnout – 11 of us altogether, necessitating some assistant leaders. We set of from Helensburgh Pier in almost still, misty (or atmospheric) conditions and paddled a little way up the Gareloch to minimise crossing distances and then followed shore round to just West of Kilchreggan Pier for lunch. The sun duly came out but the wind also veered to Westerly and picked up – the crossing over to Royal West at Greenock was quite lumpy. Deciding discretion was the better part of valour we headed back across to Kilchreggan peninsula to get some shelter rather than returning via the sugar ship as originally intended.

Quite a few eider ducks and a couple of seals poking their heads up but generally not much wild life seen. The Hebridean Princess crossed in front of us as we were crossing back to Rosneath Peninsular and surprised us by heading up into the Gareloch and anchoring off Rhu Marina.

As a grand finale, we were treated to a demonstration of Paddy’s fish roll – ask him about it!

Paddlers: Gordon, Stuart and Norrie

Winds: F3-4 SW to NW

Total Distance 36km

Norrie’s Relive Video

Neap tides and relatively low winds made trip round Gigha look attractive. Fairly late start on Saturday from the beach just South of the ferry terminal at Tayinloan. Plenty of parking (although this is apparently not always the case) and easy access for launching.

Saturdays paddle took us across the sound of Gigha to Eilean Liath and then South with the last of the ebb tide inside Gigalum Island and to the West of Cara Island for a late lunch stop. Here we were meant to ask permission to land from the island’s ghosts. However, they appeared to have smiled on us anyway as when Gordon got back into his boat he realised that he had paddled from Tayinloan with his car keys on his deck!

We went round the Mull of Cara and into the more exposed West side of Cara and headed North to Cuddyport beach where we set up camp for night in a delightful spot after just over 15km of paddling. Gordon’s son was first mate on Provident, a Brixham Trawler celebrating its 100th anniversary and en route from Dublin to Oban. As luck would have it, they were anchored in Ardminish Bay so we walked over and were treated to a tour of what is a wonderful boat.

We hadn’t seen much marine life during the day, but in the Garden of the Gigha Hotel we did see a very bold hedgehog. The hotel is currently closed but hopefully will be refurbished in the not too distant future. In the meantime there is a horsebox bar in the garden.

On Sunday we paddled North with the last of the flood tide up the stunning West side of Gigha – the tide timings allowed for a very leisurely start. We stopped of in a small bay with an old mill – now converted into a house and with a couple of other We arrived with the end of the tide at Bagh na Dorlinne for lunch and then paddled round the North End and South with the ebb tide. A final crossing back from South of Arminish Bay back to Tayinloan completed just over 20km for the day and a very enjoyable trip.