Its getting near darkA short practice paddle at St. Philips on 7 October is my #10 paddle of the year. If I were compiling a list of scary paddles, it would be #1.
It was windy with winds off the land at SE yet the wind waves were coming out of a SSW direction. We paddled towards St. Thomas Cove where we turned to go back to St. Philips. I dropped my skeq to surf the 1 metre wind waves. Clyde and Tobias stayed near the cliffs; I a bit further out into the bay. Gradually, the wind pushed me further offshore developing some separation between us.
Darkness fell and I lost sight of the other two. It was un-nerving. Starboard wind gusts threatening to knock me over with wind waves overtaking me on my rear quarter, all in darkness. I was on my own should anything happen.
Near St. Philips I lifted my skeq and the wind pushed the stern downwind allowing me to paddle into the cove where I met Clyde and Tobias coming down the coast. I felt a tremendous relief.
Racking the boats took three of us, two to hold the boat onto the roof rack and one to tie it on. The wind was that strong. A number of lessons were learned.
Tony,
ReplyDeleteTobias and I were also very relieved to see you emerge from the darkness.
A lesson learned Clyde.
ReplyDeleteTony :-)