Anglesey Weekend

SUNDAY PADDLE 22/09/2024  –  To the Swellies and Beyond.

Today, as per yesterday, the club managed to put on three separate guided paddles, thanks to the volunteer coaches, Ian, Gary and Keith.  Consequently, there was something for everyone.  I was with the mixed ability group, 10 of us, heading to the Menai Strait under the direction of Keith.  This required a slightly earlier start from the slip at Port Dinorwic (Y Felinheli) on the mainland, but all arrived on time.  

This paddle, to the Swellies and Beyond, offered some challenging waters and being a club trip gave everyone the opportunity to safely push their paddling experience a little further than they might otherwise have done.

This was a fun day with both learning and challenging experiences.

On the shore, before we even got into our kayaks, we learnt to look at the moored yachts which gave up information about the tide and winds, with yachts on the closest moorings pointing in a different direction to those further out in the main channel.  Then, almost as soon as we started, we experienced some kayaks flying past others, who, just a few feet away, were struggling through a back eddy.

So the learning continued.  At the Fish Farm (Gored Goch) Dave showed us how to catch an edge when crossing an eddy line allowing Keith the opportunity to show us a quick, efficient heel hook rescue in fast-flowing water.  Exactly like in the dock only you have a great deal further to paddle back!

The Swellies, which are between Britannia Bridge and Menai Bridge, can, at the right time be perfectly safe, but you need to know what is the right time.  Fortunately, good trip planning meant we did.

So having safely got through the Swellies, and enjoying the experience of being pushed and pulled around in the eddies and boils, it was time for late elevenses /early lunch by Llandisilio Church and the boathouse.  Here we learnt that the tide can come in quickly and try to steal a kayak or two from under your very nose.  

We continued up under the Menai Bridge on the left-hand side, past the car park which can flood, (a costly mistake if you don’t learn that one!) and where, on a very windy corner a very decent fisherman removed his lines so we could pass close in and get a little shelter.  Finally, we reached the little inlet on the left, which had a completely different feel to it. This gave much-needed respite from the wind.   

The tide had now turned, consequently, we were off on the return trip which started by crossing the Straits.  Here we learnt  –  ‘Boy, do the moored yachts come at you fast’.  Even though Keith continuously warned us and we probably all thought we had left plenty of room to pass, we got swept towards the yachts much faster than expected.  For some, it was a bit touch and go for a moment.

Back under the Menai Bridge, swiftly down passed the ‘Swelly Rock Marker’, which everyone passed ensuring plenty of spare room, and down passed the Fish Farm.  Then we headed off towards the right-hand side, under the Britannia Bridge to Nelson’s statute.  Now we had an easy paddle alongside the National Trust property, Plas Newydd, followed by crossing the Straits again to get to the starting slipway at Port Dinorwic.  On this trip, we also learnt just how essential good trip planning is and how useful tide assistance can be. 

Oh yes, and after packing kayaks and kit away we learnt that the pub wasn’t too shabby either.

This was a great trip.  A thoroughly enjoyable day.  When is the next one?