Dee Estuary Paddle 13th January 2024
Karl was looking at the weather and with high pressure predicted little surf was expected so he suggested a local sea trip to Hilbre Island.
16 of us turned up at West Kirby Slipway but a small front was due about midday and the Arctic NW wind was forecast to be force 4 gusting 5. This would produce lumpy conditions with wind against tide and with the two very mixed groups it was decided to take the tide up the estuary past Dee Sailing Club and into the Heswall marshes via the moorings.
We headed out into the Estuary to catch the tide as two groups of eight. The small swell caused a few of us some problems we surfed our way forward. After getting used to the conditions we made excellent progress speeding past all the moored boats. To our left was Thurstaston with the sand and boulder clay cliffs from the last Ice Age now visible due to erosion. We then entered the moorings with many pre-loved boats and yachts overwintering in the shelter of the Marshlands.
We took the last of the tide up through the marshes following the main channel (The Cut). After haling out we had lunch and drinks and tried to keep warm. The return journey was into the wind but an ever-increasing tide pushed us along and around the corner to the slipway at West Kirby Sailing Club.
We were invited into the bar by the sailing club for a post paddle drink and were welcomed back in future. This was a very friendly move by the club and its officials and was a big bonus at the end of a 4 hour trip.
Thank you for the report.
I would just like to mention that we had a welcome invite to visit the bar (with free coffees/teas) from West Kirby Sailing Club (not Dee sailing club which is situated a bit further on the estuary).