Sully Island - Lavernock, Sunday 20 Nov 2005

High pressure produced good conditions well suited to a gentle sea paddle. Grant, John N. , Dave C. and I met by the Captain's Wife pub in Swanbridge and launched just after 12 noon. Low tide at Flat Holm was due at 15.30 but already by 12 the causeway to Sully Island had appeared so that a paddle around was not possible. Instead, we paddled up to Lavernock point. A bit of energy was needed to paddle against the tide stream to get up across the two weir like features but it was possible, the longer boats have a distinct advantage over Dave C.'s short un. COming back we pulled out into the tide stream a bit and taking a transit on a buoy between us and Flat Holm could enjoy the speed we were travelling without doing anything. Grant went and spoilt it a bit, making it all hard work by leading us too close into the shore so we were paddling against the eddy. Doh! But after a bit of cajouling he relented and let us pull out a bit further (he had made the kind offer of suggesting I might go by myself first). As it was about 1.30 when we approached the beach again, John N. decided B&Q would be more interesting so rushed off. The remaining 3 of us went half way around the island, came back, watched me splash in the water a bit practising my roll, and got out about 2. Finished off with coffee (honest) for me and Grant in the Captain's Wife. Very enjoyable. You should have come.

I found this link which contains some pictures of the area: not us kayaking though.http://www.glyn-ryland.com/sea.html

 

4 Star Training - 13 Nov 2005

Here is Grant's report of the event which Grant, over L3 Inland Coach organised, on the lower Taff, from Radyr weir down to Llandaf rowing club.

"Participants = Rob Green, Matt, Andy Peate & Grant 
Phil Davies turned up but after looking at his personal kit & experience we decided this
was possibly a bit ambitious given the water level (med - high)  That said,each participant laid out their equipment to see if it matched the kit list on the syllabus.  Andy P was closest with Matt needing a lot more kit.
Participants arranged the shuttle and a warm up/stretch. After agreeing signals and action in the event of a capsize we set off and covered the following:
1. forward and reverse ferry gliding - each participant did a ferry glide while the 3 watching focussed on their body, blade or boat and provided feedback on angle of attack, edge, body forward or back etc
2. break ins/outs - started with the absolute beginnning (edging the boat) then paddling across eddy line, then eyes shut, then looking down river to initiate turn.

This worked very well and gives the coach lots of time to spot things and make suggestions - eg leaning forward during a reverse ferry glide to stop the back of the boat catching.

After this each participants led for a section of the river, playing follow my leader to practice what we'd learnt.  Half way along we stopped for throwline practice - the amount of improvement over the session reflected how much scope for improvement there was!  Lots of practice needed here!
Then surfing small waves which was fine - well done. 
Matt had a good suggestion for getting to the top of the eddy by aiming to break out above the start of the eddy.  He then led an exercise/demo that really helped to
show how this could be done.  Afterwards Andy went off breaking in and out with lots more confidence than before.

Feedback - all 3 candidates have a good chance of passing the assessment - well done  Matt's interest in coaching is really coming through - as shown by the breaking out exercise he used.

Highlight of the trip - Rob Green paddling aggressively across the eddy line when breaking in with his eyes shut - conclusion - next time you break in shut your eyes Rob.

So, lovely day and thanks to you all for the trip - regards, Grant."

Afon Afan, Sat. 12 Nov 2005

Medium water (heavy showers during Friday night, but died out by morning) was a good level for this trip. John C., Tim and I ventured out, and put in on the Corrwg a half mile of so above the confluence with the Afan. (Picture on my blog from the previous time I did the run in January: http://journals.aol.com/hyfforddwr/CanwioHywel/entries/547)

The run down to the Afan was like a pinball game, a narrow run down, few eddies and lots of rocks. A few hundred yards past the confluence I luckily spotted in good time what I'd been looking for - a pipe all away across the river, just above the water. There was a long prickily portage river left and then the fun recommenced. Tim put in his first swim, getting caught out by a rock coming down a rapid. We recovered everything and started out again. We'd only gone another 100 yards or so before we came across the next pipe and did another portage river left. We then found we could have run all the way down and taken out easily on the left or even easily run over thh stone weir on the left.

Then run then continued, Time putting in another swim, this time caught out by another rock mid-channel as he tried to make my break-out - where I'd only gone to provide cover as I'd seen it was a bit tricky.

After that the gradient eased a bit but there were plenty more fun rapids, and a few small mostly broken, maybe natural, weirs until the take out just above Pont-rhyd-y-fen. We then went up to the mountain bike centre at Glyncorrwg for a coffee.http://www.the-dropoff.com/images.php

 A great day out which we should think about turning in to a regular club trip. More continuous and tricky rapids than Usk, Tal-y-bont to Llangynidr, and the Wye, Llangurig to Rhayader, it's a good long mostly Grade 3 trip. Bigger water might make the Corrwg and top section with the pipes too exciting but medium water it's great.