Penlee Point and Cawsand

Photo Credit: Paul Hewson

This was an interesting day, sandwiched between outburts of Storm Éowyn saw very little wind, but some large low frequency swell. My weather API suggested 2m; it was hard to believe it was that big. However, it was low frequency, and I didn’t get far enough away from anyone to “calibrate” my call on this. Indeed, we managed to paddle across the sound outside the breakwater.

Photo Credit: Paul Hewson

We did a little rock hopping on the east coast of the Sound before crossing. Rather than ask if we wanted to paddle outside the breakwater, Adam asked us to rate our comfort levels from 0 to 5, and pointed out the possibility of hiding at the end if we needed to. We then went to have a closer look at Penlee Point on the basis it was relatively well sheltered on the west of the Sound. I did a bit more rock hopping and was surprised by the swell, I had been planning a nice bow rudder manoeuvre but ended up with an ugly handbrake turn and a lot of back paddling. Some paddlers went and had a look at the big swell just round the corner. I had to decline as I needed the loo. We couldn’t land on the small beach at Penlee Point so went back to Cawsand. We had some home made tablet, I got coffee from the shop and we listened to some bagpipe music.

Photo Credit: Paul Hewson

The paddle back was fairly uneventful. I do find following swell more challenging, and I think there was some bounceback from Fort Picklecombe.

Photo Credit: Paul Hewson