Surf launching

As I think I've already said, I've been lucky enough to find a kayaking club here that's friendly and very welcoming to paddlers with disabilities. We're also lucky to have several coaches and experienced paddlers who spend a lot of time passing on their skills. Today's first lesson was launching through surf.....

We started off (after loading the club trailer) by getting changed at Macduff and leaving our dry clothes and some cars there, ready for the end of the day. My car was then left in the 'middle' of the paddle at Gardenstown, so that people could finish paddling at lunchtime if they so chose.

We had plenty of time to contemplate the surf while we were waiting for someone to drive back to Macduff to retrieve the key to the trailer box which had been left in the pocket of someone's shorts there so we could get the paddles out.... 

We're all sure the surf got bigger in that time... nerves were building in some cases (including mine!! not helped by meeting one of my pupils who then sat down on the beach by the boats to watch and see if I capsized....)

This photo courtesy of my friend John. Thanks!

Eventually we were all ready, and after some words of advice we were pointed at the surf and set loose.

Two paddlers, including one of the most experienced, were first out, to act as a point of reference for us, whilst the other coaches remained ashore to set us off, and to fish us out as necessary (luckily they only had to do that with one boat.)

Into the surf...

The coaches wondered why the paddler who capsized lifted his paddle up as he met each wave.... he was obviously only copying those experts ahead of him who'd made it safely - and made it look easy...

Finally we were all safely out, in amongst the 3m or so swell, and we headed off towards Troup Head...