Sea Kayaking Safari – Brittany – Day 5

2026 08 20 Île-aux-Moines by Frankie A

Another early departure. 7 am starts from the campsite by now have become routine (or not). We headed to the same drop of point at Pointe de Kerpenhir. After the usual faff a group of 10 paddlers departed and went for the warm up play in the over falls before taking the travelator to set off towards the Ile Aux Moines. Ferry and yacht dodging had become the norm.

Making excellent progress we passed 2 islands with megaliths without stopping (oops) and headed towards Ile Berder and a feature now called Catriona’s Wave or the Muncher. This is a standing wave formed by a causeway between the island and Larmor-Baden. Here the play began. After surfing the wave with the tide attempts were made to surf the wave. Some were instantly successful others needed some coaching and encouragement (plus not being knocked off course by other boats). An attempt at a record for the most paddlers surfing the wave at once. The LCC record that is. The record stands at 5 now.

Having exhausted the play (or just plain exhausted in some cases) we headed off towards Ile aux Moines. Elevenses was calling. And a beach was spotted near Pointe de Toulindac. Heading across more traffic we approached the beach with Keith suggesting that we carried on round the corner to a cafe. After a hearty elevenses we got back in the water and tea there were cafes round the corner. Oh dear. Never mind.

Rounding Pointe du Tre’ch we felt the predicted wind increasing the effort required to progress to the bottom of the island. Lunch was reached at Pointe de Nioul. A very sunny and busy spot on a footpath that possibly led to a megalith or a burial chamber. We gave up walking to find out. Back on the water we rounded the pointe for the journey back to the beginning. This time the capsized catamaran was simply observed. No help offered or needed as they were soon upright. A little bit of tide and wind was encountered as we approached the islands with megaliths. (Well, a lot of wind.) Heading around île Longue, we made our way into the wind using a course set at 90° to cross the channel again towards Locmariaquer and the Pointe of our departure.

After 29 km and quite a lot of intensity minutes, the boats were carried up the rocky beach and the usual post-paddle faff preceded the short drive back to the campsite.

Trip report TBC as the team social evening starts in 45 minutes and I need to do my hair!

Frankie A.