Hastings 21st April 2002

I had been looking forward to going Windsurfing all week, however, Sunday morning brought bright but calm weather ( no wind, no windsurfing) . So I spent part of the day servicing my Gilera Runner (125cc Scooter) instead. In a flash of inspiration, whilst waiting for the transmission oil to drain, it occurred to me that a Canoe might give me some fun and exercise over the coming months.

I asked around, and a few days later drove up to London to look at a second hand "sea kayak", which I bought. The rest, as they say is history. Well, not quite.

I launched my "new" toy in the river Medway, and paddled with Maidstone Canoe Club a few times, and started to learn some of the required paddling techniques. The first few outings saw me in full wetsuit expecting to make a wet exit at any time. Then I bought a buoyancy aid (actually a PDF), and a waterproof (and breathable) Cagoule. This gave me some basic clothing to wear in my "new" Kayak.
Surfing the internet one evening, typing in "canoe", I found the SESK website. I started to realise that Sea Kayaking might be more interesting than my local river. My first paddle on salt water was the start of the year amble around Chichester Harbour. A weekend camp at the Woodmills Sea Kayak Seminar taught me some more basic paddling strokes, a first lesson in navigation, a night paddle on a very calm Solent, and an Air sea (Canoe) rescue exercise by HM coastguard, gave me an insight to sea kayaking.

On the morning of the 21st April, I loaded my Sea Kayak onto the roof of the car, packed the boot with a large flask, sandwiches, my wet suit and paddle, etc. and set off for my first ever real sea trip in a Canoe (sorry, Sea Kayak).

I arrived at Pett Level (on the south coast of England, about 5 miles SW of Rye, East Sussex); at about 9:45 am to find an assortment of Sea Kayaks overhanging both ends of their owners cars. We all unloaded our Kayaks, changed, and made ready to launch. Our leader Nigel Williams, gathered us around for a quick briefing: discussed the safety equipment being carried, the day's plan, asked us about our own canoe experience, and gave me some advice regarding a beach launch into the surf. As the tide was still some way out, we helped each other carry our kayaks across the sand to the waters edge.

A few worrying moments as I paddled out thought the gentle surf, we grouped up, agreed a lead boat and a tail boat, and begun our day's adventure. The difference between standing on the beach looking at the sea, and sitting in a small boat (a Kayak) a couple of hundred yards out from the beach is amazing! Clear sky, bright sunshine, a gentle breeze, and a pleasant swell on the water: just enough movement to make you pay attention to the movement and direction of the swell: So unlike a calm river or lake, where the movement of the water can (almost) be ignored.

So, we (our group on the day comprised 3 "young" ladies, and 7 "blokes") paddled along the coast towards Hastings, admiring the view of the empty beaches and open sea. Soon the shoreline changed to cliff faces with the occasional house on top. Fairlight cove came into view (you may have seen pictures on the television) with gardens & sheds & ends of houses fallen & just about to fall, as the cliff face collapses. We continued paddling past the fishing boats at the eastern end of Hastings. Making our way past the "crowds" on the beaches close to the town, Nigel found a quiet beach at which to stop for lunch. Some words of advise to the novice paddlers (me), and we "surfed onto the beach. One Kayak just managed to catch a larger wave at the wrong moment, which resulted in an unplanned swim!

Within a few minutes we had spread out on the beach in shorts and t-shirts soaking up the sun, whilst enjoying our packed lunches and a well deserved cup of tea. A few bought an ice-cream, and others applied anti-sun cream as we packed ready for another launch into the surf. The waves were crashing gently onto the foredecks of our Kayaks as we fitted our spray decks, so we paddled swiftly through them, for the first 20 yards or so. Once we were all safely back on the water, we began the paddle back past the now familiar scenery. Whilst paddling along, and talking about paddles and paddling techniques, for a few minutes, I swapped paddles with Nigel: the difference in weight and feel, between my old alloy shaft paddle, and a new Lendal expedition blade with glass fibre shaft was incredible: I have put a set on my shopping list! The swell increased slightly during the second half of the day, giving some small breaking waves close to shore. This gave some of our group the opportunity to "play" in the waves near to the rocks. The rest of us rested for a moment, and watched. All too soon, we were surfing in to the beach at Pett level, at the end of a great day out.
I would like to thank Nigel Williams for leading us on the day, as I am sure we all enjoyed ourselves.

Clive Leonard
(Took up canoeing a couple of months ago)