Treasna na dTonnta 66 winter 2022

Treasna na dTonnta

Cover photo: Mark Stephens

Inside

Welcome to Treasna na dTonnta 66

2022 saw the sea kayaking community fully emerge from Covid restrictions with renewed paddling activity. From open crossings, ISKA and club meets, individual adventures at home and abroad, Irish sea kayakers have had an active year.

Thank you to everyone who kindly offered articles and photos for this issue. TnadT would not happen without paddlers taking the time and effort to share their experiences and knowledge with us. Please keep them coming: helpful guidelines for contributors are at the back of the magazine and on www.iska.ie. Special thanks to East Coast Sea Kayak Club member Adam May who designed and printed this magazine to such a high standard.

In the last edition we had an update on the new Canoeing Ireland Sea Kayak Awards. The Sea Kayak Awards Review Group consisted of a representative group of paddlers from ISKA, clubs, independent paddlers and instructors. After consultation with, and feedback from the sea kayaking community they have produced an innovative new system of Sea Kayak Awards. Find out which award you might choose in our Focus section.

ISKA plays an important role in both supporting and generating a vibrant sea kayaking community in Ireland. Marie and Albert Boyd describe their first year as ISKA members.

Photo: Bridges of Ross, Emma Glanville

In Review, Rob Scanlon discusses a fascinating book about tides. This book enables us to look at the tides on a global scale through their dramatic local effects.

We are lucky to have professional paddler Dave Horkan advise on his top tips for better forward paddling in our Technique section.

Ireland is considered one of the best sea kayaking locations in the world. In our Location section Graiguenamanagh based sea kayaker Denis Staunton describes paddling one of the jewels of the south east – The Hook peninsula. Mick Carroll and friends travelled to circumnavigate the island of Elba in Italy, and David Glasswell describes paddling every inch of the Cork coastline.

We all like to talk about our paddling equipment. In this issue I have a look at Tow Ropes.

Not all sea kayak incidents happen on the sea, in Troubled Waters first time contributors Hazel Johnston and Robin Kavanagh have an equine tale to tell illustrated by artist Emer O’Boyle.

Paddle safe and enjoy the sea — Sue Honan

ISKA News 2022

Welcome to the Irish Sea Kayaking Association

annual Symposium 2022 in Ballycastle, County Antrim. It is 18 years since we last held a Symposium in Northern Ireland which is way too long.

2022 has been a reasonable year, our membership is now at record levels (over 220) so we must be doing something right! The year started with the running of L3, L4 & REC3 training courses which were well attended. It is always good to see the membership increase their skill levels. Our thanks go to the providers and the Committee members who organised the training, Sue Honan & Fiona Trahe.

After the restrictions of the Covid pandemic of the last couple of years, it was fantastic to return to Streamstown for our traditional first meet of the year. As always Kris & Tatjana at Acton’s made us feel very welcome. A huge thanks to Peter Hennessen, Dave Glasgow & the evergreen Martin Guilfoyle for the organisation of the food, bell tents and an excellent €1350 raised for the Clifden RNLI. Next up was the West Cork meet held in Allihies, organised by Steven Darby & some helpers. An excellent weekend was had, with visits to Dursey, Bere, Bull Rock & Coulagh Bay. An excellent location to which I’m sure we’ll return before long.

With the vagaries of the Irish weather, the Mayo meet returned to type and had to be shelved. It isn’t always like it was last year! Unfortunately the East Coast meet also fell victim to weather. Anyone seen the Child of Prague?

Our new northern rep, Joe Regan held a successful meet in the Ardglass/ Strangford area, ably assisted by Peter Kirk, Steve Smith & Vernetta Hillen. A great weekend was had. It is good to see a resurgence in our Northern membership and great credit must go to Joe for the networking he’s doing amongst the NI sea kayaking community.

The Clare meet organised by Conor Smith ended up in Connemara due to the weather and fun was had by all. Several training meets were supported by ISKA this year. REC3 courses and L3 and L4 Sea skills courses were well attended. Despite a woeful forecast the Donegal meet organised by John Dempsey went ahead and turned out lovely.

After many years in the role, John Dempsey will be stepping down as Treasurer/Secretary at the end of 2022. He will be a very hard act to follow, filling that role while also organising meets and this Symposium, which will be his third. A huge thank you John, from the Committee and all of the members. Fiona Trahe has agreed to taking over the role as treasurer/secretary and we wish her well in the role.

To everyone I’ve paddled with this year at all the meets, a huge thank you. To the Committee members, also a huge thanks for all the work that you do behind the scenes. To Sue Honan & Adam May for the excellent publication you’re currently reading, many thanks.

Have a brilliant Symposium everyone!

Chris McDaid

ISKA and Us

Treasna na dTonnta welcomes first time contributors Marie and Albert Boyd who have joined the ISKA fold.

In May 2021 we joined ISKA not really knowing what to expect. We began a journey which can only be described as crazy. Our first trip in June 2021 to the Roaring Water Bay meet showed us the very best of ISKA. Good company, great paddling and camp fire chats designed to scare us new members. Several more amazing meets gave us the chance to interact with paddlers from all over the country (a fact we put to good use as we travelled to new places). In the company of the North Mayo Sea Kayakers, WISKA, West Cork Kayakers, East Coast Sea Kayaking Club and many other individuals we have been lucky to cover quite a bit of our super coastline. When pushed to name our favourite paddle we just aren’t able, as our coast is incredibly beautiful. Places such as the Cliffs of North Mayo, Dunbriste, the Inishkea Islands, The Bridges of Ross, The Caves of Doon and the Slieve League cliffs all opened up for us a new world which has left

us awed and excited. (I won’t say speechless, as for me that seldom happens.) Our exploring doesn’t stop with the paddling but also allows us a tiny glimpse into the past as we walk the remote islands off the coast. Abandoned homes, church ruins, beehive huts and spectacular lighthouses give us a snapshot of a life so different to ours.

The last two years has seen us make new friends with whom we have shared great days both on and off the water. Lots of laughing and slagging has shown us that a sense of humour is an essential piece of kit required at all times. We had hoped to make a great impact on the group with our excellent paddling skills. Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case as there is photographic evidence of our less than perfect moment. (Thanks Chris and Dave).

If you are still reading at this point we would like to thank all those who have helped and advised us along the way. We are looking forward to many more exciting and fun times ahead with ISKA.

Marie and Albert

Photo: Stags of Broadhaven, Chris McDaid

Live the Adventure

Review

Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean

by Jonathan White

Rob Scanlon

Every now and again, an online retailer’s algorithm actually does an amazing job of recommending a great book. I listened to this as an audiobook and found myself driving a bit more slowly to hear more before arriving at my destination. I ended up downloading the book to a tablet just to see the maps, photographs and diagrams and would have to recommend the written format more.

The author is a Californian sailor, surfer and diver. In a very selfdeprecating way, he starts his discussion of tides with a story of when he got tidal planning very wrong and ended up flooding his yacht, which ended up on its side during a spring tide. The reader can appreciate that he is learning from every person he meets through the course of the book.

He outlines the most interesting parts of the world for tides, such as the Bay of Fundy, China’s Qiantang river tidal bore, and France’s Mont St. Michel, as well as lesser known areas such as a surf break in California, Ungava bay in northern Canada and a tidal powered water mill south of London. He doesn’t just describe the places and the tides, but is also a bit of a travel writer and seems really interested in the people he meets, how they use the tides and their expertise.

He is very interested in the interplay between life in the oceans and the tides, starting with the smallest invertebrates in the intertidal zones (that have built in tide clocks, and seem to get “ tide-lagged” for a few days when moved from one tidal area to another), to bird and mammal life, even early humans.

He delves into the history of tide theory, and goes beyond the modern era scientists such as Laplace and Newton, describing how the Gauls noted the difference in spring tide heights between January and July, a 4000 year old tidal clock in India, and the 9th Century Muslim astrologer Albumasar. He also describes old theories of tides; the ancient Chinese imagined a celestial water wheel and the ancient Mãori imagined the whims of a woman god. One of my favorites was Leonardo da Vinci, who thought it was breath of the earth itself, and tried to calculate the volume of the earth’s lungs!

While describing the different places, he starts to weave in how the tides function, starting off with the basic earth-moon-sun model, and moving on the harmonics of the different bodies of water that make up the oceans, and why different oceans react in different ways to the same tide generating forces of the heavens, the gravitational relationships between the earth, moon, stars, planets and the peculiarities of the earth’s own orbit.

The different oceans each have different periods of oscillation. The author gets you to image a table with different size bowls of water on it. If you kick the table leg regularly, some bowls will slosh more water as their period of resonance matches the rhythm of the kick better than others. From this we learn that the Atlantic has a 13 hour resonance, the pacific 24 hours and the Baltic 27 hours. These bodies of water get a regular “kick” from the moon and the sun, the Atlantic reacting more to the moon and the pacific to the sun’s gravitational effects.

He outlines some of the 400 possible effects on tide, but most countries use between twenty and sixty parameters when calculating their tide tables.

Ireland itself gets a few mentions, including the 4 tides a day in Courtown and tide power generation in Strangford lough.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is much more than a book about the mechanics of the tides and has added a few ideas to my lengthening bucket list.

Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean.

Author: Jonathan White

Publisher: Trinity University Press; Reprint edition (5 July 2018)

Paperback: 360 pages

ISBN-10: 1595348050

ISBN-13: 978-1595348517

Literary Awards: National Outdoor Book Award for Natural History Literature (2017), Washington State Book Award Nominee for History and Nonfiction (2018)

Treasna

Photo: County Down coastline at dusk, Mark Stephens

The new Canoeing Ireland Sea Skill Awards

Since the last issue the Sea Kayak Awards Review Group (SKARG) has worked intensively to provide draft documents for review by Irish sea kayakers. This review process occurred in June of this year.

The response was overwhelmingly positive and based on the feedback we received the group has worked hard to produce an innovative and engaging awards scheme which will be introduced in 2023. The summary below should help you identify the level most suited to you. Further details on each award will follow soon.

Canoeing Ireland Sea Skills AwardsCapturing the Journey

from Level 1 to 5

Welcome to the Canoeing Ireland Sea Kayak Skills Award scheme. The sea kayaking community has designed a scheme that reflects the needs of the modern Irish Sea Kayaker. Included in each award is a series of specific outcomes that will allow each sea kayaker to take their training at a pace that is sustainable and manageable for them. This also includes how you choose to be assessed with the inclusion of a modularised system of assessment. The Level 1 to 5 naming has been retained with a new “descriptive name” for each level which will help you identify with your progression goals for the future.

Your journey through this exciting scheme will be supported by your “Paddler Profile” Book, in which you will record your progress through the various levels. It will enable you, with the assistance of your Instructors and Assessors to reflect on your progression at all stages. In doing so it is envisioned that you will engage in high quality learning experiences and have an enjoyable journey from the Sea Kayak Level 1 Discovery Award all the way to the Sea Kayak Level 5 Horizon Award.

Sea Kayak Level 1 Discovery Award

Welcome to the sport of Sea Kayaking. In this award you will discover the fundamentals of the sport across a range of topics such as safe paddling, technical skills and strokes, equipment knowledge, some basic rescues and develop a general feel for the fantastic opportunities ahead for you on your award scheme journey.

‘I can control a kayak safely in L1 conditions. I am ready to join a trip led by a qualified leader/ instructor. I know the basic safety rules of kayaking. I can demonstrate the fundamental paddle strokes and am aware of kayaking equipment and its purpose. I understand how to leave no trace of my presence on the seashore.I can identify the next step involved in the Canoeing Ireland sea kayak skills awards.’

Sea Kayak Level 2 Peer Award

Progressing from your Discovery Award it is time to learn the dynamics of team / peer paddling. Once you have completed this award you will be competent enough to plan, prepare and paddle safely in a group on sheltered coastal waters while gaining in confidence.

‘I can control a kayak and confidently paddle with peers in Level 2 conditions. I am also capable of joining more experienced kayakers on a trip led by certified leaders or instructors. I can work with others to perform an assisted rescue as a swimmer and as a rescuer. I have a fundamental understanding of weather, tides and have been introduced to basic navigation skills. I know methods for summoning outside rescue assistance. I understand how to reduce my impact on the environment and wildlife while sea-kayaking. I can identify the next step involved in the Canoeing Ireland sea kayak skills awards.’

Sea Kayak Level 3 Explorer Award

The Explorer Award is about continuing your progression. You are now beginning to explore new environments, to undertake your first camping trips and venture into more active conditions where you are experiencing the effects of wind, surf, tide and moving water. This award opens up the possibilities to explore Leadership and/or Instructional qualifications.

I can join a group of peers on a day-long trip. I can plan a trip incorporating weather, navigation and tidal information. I can assist a suitably qualified sea-kayaker in group management and rescues. I have access to the necessary equipment. I have the skills to safely manage my kayak on coastal trips in L3 conditions. I can launch and land in small surf. I can rescue myself unassisted from a capsize in deep water.

I understand the effects of wind, wave, tide and coastal features on the sea kayak. I can summon outside rescue assistance. I understand how to reduce my impact on the environment and wildlife while sea-kayaking. I can identify the next step involved in the Canoeing Ireland sea kayak skills awards.

I can join a group of peers on a day-long trip. I can plan a trip incorporating weather, navigation and tidal information. I can assist a suitably qualified sea-kayaker in group management and rescues. I have access to the necessary equipment. I have the skills to safely manage my kayak on coastal trips in L3 conditions. I can launch and land in small surf. I can rescue myself unassisted from a capsize in deep water.

I understand the effects of wind, wave, tide and coastal features on the sea kayak. I can summon outside rescue assistance. I understand how to reduce my impact on the environment and wildlife while sea-kayaking. I can identify the next step involved in the Canoeing Ireland sea kayak skills awards.

I am eligible to enter the following:

I understand the effects of wind, wave, tide and coastal features on the sea kayak. I can summon outside rescue assistance. I understand how to reduce my impact on the environment and wildlife while sea-kayaking. I can identify the next step involved in the Canoeing Ireland sea kayak skills awards.

• Sea-kayak Club Leader pathway.

• Sea Kayak Instructor scheme.

I am eligible to enter the following:

• Sea Kayak Instructor scheme.

• Sea-kayak Club Leader pathway.

• Sea Kayak Level 4 Adventure Award training course.

• Sea-kayak Club Leader pathway.

• Sea Kayak Instructor scheme.

• Sea Kayak Level 4 Adventure Award training course.

Sea Kayak Level 4 Adventure Award

At this stage you have amassed significant experience. You are competent in advanced open water conditions. You are beginning to undertake longer and more challenging trips / expeditions where your planning and decision making will be critical to the success of your adventure.

I am an experienced confident paddler, capable of handling my kayak in L4 conditions. I have the necessary equipment. I can assess the sea/weather conditions and plan a trip safely according to the peer group’s skills. I am a competent paddler capable of good decision making in L4 conditions. I can confidently kayak roll. I am competent in chartwork and in navigating over open crossings. I am competent in navigating in limited visibility (darkness/fog). I am able to reflect upon my own development as a paddler.

I understand the effects on the sea kayak of wind, wave, tide, and coastal features and can adapt a trip to suit these. I can summon outside rescue assistance. I have an understanding of my own and the group’s effect on the environment and wildlife. I can identify the next step involved in the Canoeing Ireland sea kayak skills awards.

Note: Paddlers get issued with a Sea Kayak Paddler Profile L4/L5 AFTER doing the mandatory Level 4 Adventure Award training course (for which Sea kayak Level 3 Explorer Award certificate or Approved Prior Learning is a prerequisite).

Sea Kayak Level 5 Horizon Award

PLEASE NOTE: this award is still in development, and we aim to have it ready for Springtime 2023.

Five Tips for better forward paddling

Dave Horkan www.dhkayaking.com

Dave Horkan, winner of this year’s Devizes to Westminster Race and forward paddling consultant for Online Sea Kayaking, gives his Top 5 Tips for more efficient forward paddling.

1 Posture

Sit up straight. Lean slightly forward from your belly button. Your back band is there to remind you to sit up, not to carry your weight.

2 Paddle

Feather your paddles. For your paddle to work ergonomically with your body, you need to feather your paddle 45 degrees or more. Ideally around 60 degrees for a good high angle forward stroke with good core rotation.

3 Legs

Don’t forget your legs and pay attention to what is going on under the deck. You should drive the power from the stroke into the kayak through your legs. Driving the leg too early will not deliver the optimum power from each stroke. Timing is key!

4 Don’t push

Do not push with the top hand. Pushing with the top hand shortens the effective stroke and slows you down. The top hand should be delayed going forward for as much of the stroke as possible.

5 Purposeful Practise

Take time every session to finish with good technique to build up muscle memory.

Treasna na dTonnta #66

2022

Treasna na dTonnta #66

2022

Location

End of a 10 Year Project

Paddling the Cork Coastline

By David Glasswell

I have a confession to make. I’m not a real sea kayaker. Or at least I wasn’t. Anyone who knows me knows that my true passion is white-water. Please don’t stop reading! Contrary to popular opinion, it doesn’t rain all the time in Ireland, so white-water can never be an all year round pursuit.

Fairly early on in my paddling career I realized that I needed something to fill the gap and hopefully keep the skills up to scratch during the dry periods. Was sea kayaking the answer? Yes, up to a point. It helped keep the muscle memory going but something was missing. My joie de vivre and enthusiasm weren’t there like they were for white-water.

So, about 10 years ago, I came up with a plan, a goal, something to spur me on. I would sea kayak the same way I do white-water - as an exploration, an adventure. I would kayak the whole of the coastline of Cork. But this is the thing I decided to grit my teeth over, not the easy way point to point. I would do it the long way, into every nook and cranny, through every arch and tunnel, into every cave and cove and all the islands. All 1200km of it!

At first it seemed like a daunting challenge. There weren’t that many local kayakers around back then. And trying to coordinate schedules was a fairly fruitless exercise. But thing have changed in the last while. There’s now a club in West Cork with a large cohort of keen paddlers and several other groups of friends. It’s no longer necessary to head out solo. (Although some of the caves still are, with others hovering patiently out to sea, waiting to see if I make it back out!)

This summer has seen the fulfilment of that quest. The last major section from Ballycotton to Youghal bridge was completed last week (Late Aug. 22). Somehow, along the way, sea kayaking is now something I love.

So let me indulge in a few highlights from this magical coast.

The Mizen. Probably on everyone’s bucket list. The first time I paddled through the tunnel under neath the signal station was pretty special. Bull Rock. We (Jose Carlos Alonso, Clara Laplaud and I) made it out

one year just as the gannets were fledging. As well as the spectacular scenery, the air was full of down as the parent birds plucked it out of their complaining offspring. It was also one of those rare calm days so we were able to land on the south jetty. The video of that day is by far my most watched video on YouTube.

Kilcatherine (North Beara between Eyeries and Ardgroom).

Spectacular scenery again, a couple of tunnels and an amazing encounter. We spotted a Minke far off in the middle of the bay and thought ourselves lucky. Five minutes later there was an almighty splash behind us. He’d obviously been as curious about us as we had been of him and had diverted course to investigate! He must have swum practically underneath us but we wouldn’t have known except for his sudden course correction to avoid the shallows.

Allihies. So much good stuff here, Pointnadrimna has many arches and a long cave that is not much more than a boat width but it goes 50m into the cliff. And a cove covered in Verdigris from an exposed copper ore seam.

One final one. Near Adrigole there’s a small pool, shaded by oak trees and accessible only by a crack in the cliff the size of a doorway. It’s so cool, like something from Lord of the Rings.

A few ‘Thank Yous’. To all of those who’ve joined me on my adventures, that have put up with my foibles and hung around while I explored. Thanks to my sponsor CH Marine. Feel free to visit my YouTube www.youtube.com/c/dglasswell or my photo site www. kayakwestcork.shutterfly.com

And for the future? Will I start again? Or there’s always out foreignWaterford and Kerry!

Cullenstown Beach—Sandeel Bay—Duncannon Harbour

Gallivanting in the South

August 2022, Paddlers: Denis Staunton, Tony Walsh and Ray Darmody

We all have the tick boxes, far off Western and Northern destinations that we so want to explore. Places that after we visit leave us content and happy for weeks. And it’s great to have these tick boxes, it’s what makes paddling spectacular. But sometimes it’s the small local trip that can be up there with the tick box trip and leave you in a state of contentment for weeks after. I want to share one of those trips with you.

I live in Graiguenamangh, Co. Kilkenny and although I have the Copper Coast within an hour’s drive, my local sea paddling area is The Hook Peninsula and the nearby coastline. Over the last number of years I have built up a knowledge of the area from paddling, exploring, snorkelling, swimming and walking and it’s all in The Hook - in abundance.

Keen to share the knowledge I have gained and with a mad desire to show it to other paddlers, I planned a weekend camping trip. I invited a number of paddlers of which two obliged and our adventure commenced.

On Friday 12 August 2022 we met and parked some of our cars on Duncannon Pier, reloaded our boats and gear and shuttled the remaining vehicle to Cullentstown Beach which is west of Kilmore Quay. Before we ever took a boat off the car I wanted to show Ray and Tony the “The Shell Cottage”.

The Shell Cottage is a local treasure, borne from 30 years of a life’s work by its then owner Kevin L. Ffrench. He decorated the entire external surfaces with shells that he sourced locally. He created intricate murals and designs from these shells on the walls of the cottage and one can only look in awe at the time, patience and effort that Kevin put into these artworks. The timbers in the roof of the cottage are from local shipwrecks in the area. This was a great start to our adventure.

We packed our boats, made a few small checks and we took to the water. Our first destination was the Keeragh Islands, only a 2km trip south of Cullenstown Beach.

The Keeragh Islands are a pair of small rocky Islands that are designated a Natural Heritage Area. Up to July they are a breeding ground for seabirds and landing is prohibited but however come the end of July, the islands are deserted with nothing left only old nests, the odd carcass and smells. It was a notorious area for shipwrecks back in the day, so much so that the owners of the islands built a small stone shelter that had a fireplace and supplies in it for anyone who got marooned there. The remains of this hut are still there on the main island. The Keeraghs are well worth a visit with a small sandy landing on the west side of the larger island. It’s a superb

place to snorkel. So the 3 of us spent an hour snorkelling in crystal clear waters, had something small to eat and returned to the water.

We crossed Bannow Bay* estuary and headed for Baginbun Head. Conditions were perfect with a flat sea, little wind and beautiful warm sunny weather. I told Tony and Ray about a tricky wild camping spot that I previously discovered but I that I have not used, right on Baginbun Head. It tickled Tony’s curiosity so we had to wet land and climb to see it. We left Ray to attend the floating boats. It was worth getting wet for. It’s a ‘beaut’ of a spot, enough for about 2 tents and we left “the spot” with the promise that we will return and avail of the opportunity to camp there at some other stage.

The evening was pushing on so the focus now was to find a camp spot for the night. We passed Carniven Bay and headed west along the coastline heading in the direction of Hook Head. We eventually arrived at Sandeel Beach and we decided to set up camp on the sand on the eastern end of the beach. It was now dusk with darkness coming. We were accompanied on the beach by a few fisherman. It was a stunning location. We had a full moon lighting up our camp site on what was a warm and breathless night. Tony opted to remove his fly sheet from his tent and expose his inner mesh tent so that he could sleep under the full moon and the stars. No campfire needed. We had full tummies, plenty of chat and all 3 of us tired and content from our first day’s paddling.

The next morning we awoke around 06.00 to glorious sunshine and perfect sea conditions. We had breakfast, packed our gear and loaded our boats but before we left we all had an early morning swim.

Paddling west along the low lying coastline and enjoying the early morning tranquillity we arrived at our first stop which was Slade Harbour. We needed a toilet break and some water but I also wanted to show Tony and Ray, Slade Castle.

Slade Castle built in the late 15th century. Unfortunately it is not open to the public but it can be walked around. The castle is in very good condition and looking through the small windows and doors one can see the layout where floors, staircases and fireplaces were. Of most interest is the “murder hole”. A canopy that was built over the main entrance through which boiling liquid could be poured down on any unwanted intruders. The castle has excellent views of Bannow Bay and Wexford Harbour which was important for defence. It would be great to see this castle made safe and be opened to the public.

We set on our merry way and again after a short distance we arrived at our next destination and landed on a rock shelf.

Halfway between Slade Harbour and Hook Head is a fantastic jumping spot. It is a well-known location for coasteering, both for training and fun. You can jump off numerous heights and into crevices and caves that have crystal clear water. Tunnels can also be swam. Another tunnel can be walked through and with a little bit of climbing it can be exited through rocks. We had a ball for an hour or more. We were not there on our own as Hook Adventures had a group out in the same spot coasteering, and one of the leaders that I know very well was with the group. However conditions have to be right to jump here and we were so lucky to have the ideal conditions to enjoy this location to its best.

On with our journey and we continued on to Hook Head itself. For the most part conditions can be very challenging around Hook Head so it is only on a few occasions that you can land in around the lighthouse vicinity. Again because we had the perfect conditions we were able to land on a rock shelf right under the lighthouse on the East side. Up to this point I have only been able to snorkel here on 2 occasions but Ray, Tony and myself were able to enjoy an hour’s

snorkelling here at this amazing location. The depth and the colours in the water are fantastic. It’s unspoilt snorkelling at its best.

Time to get going as we were now into our 2nd hour of a flooding tide that would help us round Hook and get us up the estuary into Duncannon, a distance of about 12km. We planned it perfectly as we also had a gentle F2 SW pushing us up along the coastline. Along the western side of the Hook Peninsula there is the famous Loftus Hall to be seen along with some beautiful sandy beaches, namely Dollar and Booley Bays. There is also a hidden cliff face just before Broomhill Point that is worth visiting. Waters around Broomhill Point and the western side of Hook in general can be quite challenging so it was great to be able to enjoy this coastline in sublime conditions. With the flooding current coming into its strongest we “sailed” up the Suir estuary to Duncannon, “shot” around the pier and landed at the

slip in Duncannon Harbour for our designated time of 16.00.

We were buzzing. The boys (including myself) had a ball. It was just fantastic to be able to share this coastline and all it has to offer with Tony and Ray. Memories were made. Maybe in the future an ISKA meet could be arranged for this area. We will see.

On contacting Tony the next day he said “I went to bed that evening to relive the whole experience in my head, I got as far as parking in Duncannon on Friday. I was asleep by 9.00pm”

*Bannow Bay is an adventure in itself. From a kayak on full tide you can visit Tintern Abbey, The Seven Castles of Clonmines and the “The Port Lairge” ship wreck. Also the ebbing/flooding tidal stream in the entrance of Bannow Bay can be great fun depending on weather and sea conditions.

— Denis Staunton

Based on the cracking Copper Coast in Co . Waterford .

• Guided trips .

• Expert local knowledge .

• Training courses and bespoke coaching in a range of conditions . Facebook: @CopperCoastKayakAdventures

Email: CopperCoastKayakAdventures@gmail .com Website: CopperCoastKayakAdventures .ie

A circumnavigation of Isola d’Elba

ECSKC paddler Mick Carroll describes an enticing trip to Elba.

Last February in the depths of an Irish winter as thoughts usually turn to paddling in warmer climes, our plans began to take shape. One of our group, a group that had paddled together in Galicia the previous year, had the idea of paddling in Elba. We had to check exactly where Elba is located before the thought became a plan.

Elba is an Italian island 12km off the west coast of Italy, and east of the French island of Corsica. It is famous as the first of two islands to which Napoleon was exiled. It is ironic that Corsica, which is within sight of Elba, is also the birthplace of Napoleon.

The Group

Our interest of course was the possibility of circumnavigating Elba within the week planned. The group comprised of Anne Canders, Ray O’Donnell, Chris Hamilton, Tom Maguire, John Lawlor and Mick Carroll. All ECSKC paddlers except Anne Canders, who paddles with Cormorants out of North Dublin. We are all quite experienced and could be expected to handle the distances and conditions we were expecting. As most of us were familiar to each other there was a good rapport within the group.

The Plan

The idea was to paddle the 120km coastline in six days, though we had eight days to do the trucking to and from Elba. You can do the circumnav in five days if you push along each day cutting across some of the bays. The Italian Coastguard rule that kayakers should not paddle beyond 300m from shore posed a dilemma at times for us.

The route we took involved flights with Ryanair to Pisa on Sat 20 Aug. We stayed in Pisa that night in our quirky B&B, enjoying this lovely city including the famous Leaning Tower. Next day a train trip brought us to Piombino Maritimo, the ferry port for Elba. Ferry to Portoferraio and taxi to Marciana Marina, was a bit of a hike but all connections were carefully planned and worked perfectly. We met our provider Giuseppe from Sea Kayak Italy Isola d’Elba at Marciana Marina. They are the only providers in Elba and co-owner Giuseppe was very helpful.

The Equipment

The boats and general equipment were a mixed bag. The kayaks are all fibreglass of an Italian design and construction. Some of us had the larger boats and others a smaller type. They were carbon fibre construction and quite adequate for the task. The PFDs were well worn, adequate but with no pockets for bits and pieces. The paddles were a bit of a let-down and anyone who didn’t bring their own regretted it. They were a split paddle with carbon looms, but the blades which were nylon plastic had a greatly accentuated curve which was hard to get used to. Spray decks were very good and fitted the boats well.

The Trip

Shopping was done at a supermarket near the provider and boats loaded at his place. Trolleys were provided to bring the loaded boats 300m or so down the hill to the sea...no problem. As the transfers were so efficient on the Sunday, we were able to launch at 16.30hrs and paddled the 18km to our first campsite.

These campsites were marked on the map provided by Giuseppe which showed pay campsites and wild campsites. The wild campsites were usually either stony beaches or covered in petals from a sea flower –soft to camp on but which gets into everything. There were plenty of wild camp sites and even more pay camp sites. We only stayed one night in a pay campsite all of which were remarkably busy and the six tents were squeezed into a single camper van site. It worked okay with great facilities and showers.

The

Conditions

The weather was quite hot averaging 27oC with the water temperature the same, so a refreshing swim was a pleasure at the end of a paddle. Most had a dip at lunch time, at the end of the day and in the morning. No critters were found but we were not advised of or expected mosquitos with which we had several itchy encounters. Some elected not to bring a sleeping bag as night temperature was a balmy 26oC. We had little or no wind with just a gentle breeze on the water which helped to make the paddling a pleasure. There was no issue with wind or waves to note throughout the week and the boats and paddlers were able to handle anything we encountered which was not a lot really. We did miss a huge storm by a few days which took the life of one sailor. 40-60 knots of wind were reported.

The Routine

Generally, we paddled from 09.00hrs to 12.00hrs then took a break for a restaurant lunch and swim until 15.00hrs to sit out the worst of the heat. Then we paddled again until 17.00hrs or 18.00hrs.

Once at a campsite we set up tents and communal cooking produced some great meals washed down by great and cheap Italian wine – 10 Euro for 3 litres. We made good progress in the light winds and perfect paddling conditions. Wonderful crystal-clear water, some very nice sandy beaches many of which were crowded by tourists. We kept to the wild camp sites with little or no public access where generally nobody bothered us. There were plenty of shopping areas to resupply water and food. Water – we drank copious amounts in the heat. Each of us carried about six litres per day.

Summary

Elba was a revelation to us with just one of the group having been there before. It is not an island that is well known to us in Ireland, instead drawing most of its numerous tourists from Rome. The people were universally friendly and welcoming, often surprised to hear the English language. The island of Elba is a hidden jewel of Italy that provides an enjoyable warm water paddling experience for sea kayakers. The costs are minimal with Ryanair and Aer Lingus flights to Pisa with cheap and plentiful public transport links. Restaurant prices are very reasonable as is the price of alcohol. The weather is beautiful, the water is clear and warm – bring your snorkel and the winds are light. With free wild camping sites everywhere it’s a cheap holiday. Even if you did not want to kayak here it is still a great holiday destination. Book your campsite early though as it is extremely popular with Italians. We also booked our train connections but not the ferry as they are numerous and frequent.

Tow Ropes

Sue Honan takes a look at an essential piece of kit.

Years ago as a newbie paddler, I attended an incident management course and heard the gently diplomatic statement ‘If you haven’t got a tow rope you’re no feckin’ use to anyone!’ At which a few of us tow ropeless numpties swiftly looked down at our feet, and then got to grips with using them on the water – which was after all, why we were there.

Tow ropes are basic safety equipment, loved as much for their usefulness as they are disliked for their ability to tangle paddler and kayak in knots if not used carefully. Paddlers should always carry a tow rope appropriate to the environment in which they paddle, and know how to use it. This article will focus on long tow ropes for sea kayaking.

Length

Sea kayaking tow ropes are longer than those used for river paddling 10– 15m is the standard length. The longer line is to facilitate towing in a following sea and rough water. The last thing you want is a towed kayak screaming down a wave into your back on a short length of rope. Hopefully group members will have the same length tow lines otherwise combination tows are more difficult to do – someone will end up working harder and staying on course becomes problematic.

Attachment Points

This can mean two things: how it is attached to you or how it is attached to the kayak. Either way you must be able to reach and deploy your line quickly. Many paddlers wear them around their waist. If you wear your tow line, your body can be put under considerable stress, especially in rough water or surf. For this reason, some tow lines have a stretchy shock absorber connected to the line that is meant to buffer your body from sudden strain. The drawback of these is that they are bulky to stow away. When wearing your tow line make sure you can swivel the belt around your body so that you can bring it to the front to open or stow the line quickly.

Also to prevent body strain, the tow line can be attached to the kayak

In addition, make sure the Karabiner used to clip up and on to the deck lines has a smooth nose that will not snag the deck lines.

Photo: Use a karabiner with a smooth nose to prevent snagging on deck lines .

The karabiner attachments needs to be easy to hold in rough seas with cold hands. Some paddlers replace the supplied krab with a climber’s quickdraw.

ease toggle on belt .

Quick Release

Most tow line belts come with a small ball or other shape on the end of a small bit of rope at the gate to help you find it and release it without looking. Practise releasing your tow line under tension when you next paddle with a friend. You could also practise releasing your tow line when upside down under water and with your eyes closed.

A knife carried on your pfd is useful to cut a line if snagged or trapped. If like me your knife is mainly used for clearing stones out of skeg boxes and slicing cheese, it may be a bit blunt. You will be surprised how blunt your knife may be so test it on a spare bit of rope.

Floats

Tow ropes usually float and some tow systems come with a float attached to the tow line. Make sure your float can move along the whole length of the line (to a metre or so from the waist connection) so that it does not snag under deck lines when threaded through multiple kayaks.

Combination tow line, short tow and throw bag

In rescue situations where you might not want to go in to a tricky spot, a throw line can be used to bring a paddler to safety. The Hf Throw -Tow is designed to act as a tow line, throw line, short tow and drogue. The Whetman Sea Guide Mk11 is a nice, low profile short and long tow combined that stows easily and is not too bulky at the waist.

Photo: Hf Throw- Tow worn at front .

Photos: Whetman Sea Guide Towline Mk11

Fitting your tow line

It is personal choice as to which type of bag you prefer ( zipped, pouch, or Velcro opening) and there are plenty of options on the market. Ideally when choosing a tow line, try a variety of tow lines on while wearing your own or similar pfd. Sit down wearing them both. Does it fit your physique? The key point is: can you easily deploy the tow line with one hand if you needed to? Usually tow lines are deployed in tricky situations where taking two hands off the paddle could be difficult. While most people try to anticipate when a tow might be needed and have their bag open and ready at the front, zipped bags with clips can be fiddly. Velcro covers are quicker, e.g. the Whetman Sea Bean.

Photo: Towline worn at front with krab attached to split D-ring for easy deployment

Whatever you choose, practise deploying your tow line on the water in conditions until you can do it efficiently and try it with your eyes closed. Practise on land too! Make sure your belt is loose enough to slide around your waist from back to front and vice versa.

Care for your tow line

Always rinse your tow line in fresh water after use and let it dry unfurled.

Check the karabiner for wear and tear. Zips on the bags can seize up with salt so check they still work and use zip lube. If you have daisy-chained your rope and have not used it in a while, the rope may be full of kinks and not deploy smoothly. The rope can sometimes weaken when kept for long periods daisy chained. Always unfurl it completely when rinsing and drying. Check the shock absorber connections to the belt for rust or corrosion just in case, especially on old tow lines.

Photo: Tow lines worn at back

Clipping on your tow line

Tow lines should be clipped on with the krab opening upwards. This is to prevent accidental disconnection of the tow line should it twist under tension. Also clip onto one deck-line not both, so that if the screw holding the deck-line to the deck is pulled out, the krab cannot slide off the deck- lines.

Caption: Kinked and weakened tow rope after prolonged periods stored daisy chained .

There are different ways of towing suited to different situations and not all tows require a tow rope. Why not consider attending an incident management course to learn the various methods from an experienced instructor or coach? Paddle safe and enjoy the sea!

Sue Honan

Troubled Waters

A Pain in the Calf

Not all incidents happen on the sea. Here is a cautionary tale from a trip to Roaring Water Bay by Hazel Johnston and Robin Kavanagh, illustrated by Emer O’Boyle.

One warm, sunny, blue-sky day in June 2022… a happy, ice cream and coffee-filled bunch of paddlers departed Schull, on their return journey to their base-camp on Middle Calf Island. Their cheerful chatter echoed across Roaring Water Bay when over the radio came…

“Chancer-Chancer-Chancer…… Pilibin-Pilibin-Pilibin … Over”.

“Read you Pilibin…. Go ahead”.

“Arrived back at Campsite…. there has been much destruction… Over”.

“Read you… How bad is it?… Over”.

“One tent totally down and badly damaged… other tents partly down”.

“OK… Whose tent is badly damaged … Over”.

Holy Cow! We all listened and waited with baited breath, hoping not to hear our name.

“Robin’s tent is totally flattened and damaged … I’m looking for her permission to start repairs … Over”.

The morning had started out so well. Most of us had slept like babies, awaking to huge cheers resounding across the beach as news broke that Ireland had scored their first try against the All Blacks. We were all looking forward to a day of paddling around Roaring Water Bay.

As we all scrambled to get organised for the day, we had a visit from the Middle Calf Residents Association, the herd of blue-eyed, hairy horses who reside on the island. Some of the more seasoned campers in the group had previously informed us of the quaint, shy herd of wild horses that lived on the island. This time however, it seemed that something had changed.

This herd trotted over the dunes in full force as if following an order. They proceeded to boldly swagger into and around our campsite, while avidly hoofing, sniffing and stomping around our tents.

Scenes of discouraging “shooo’s”, lots of arm-waving and pot-banging ensued for the hour prior to our departure and all campers were strongly advised to seal up their food or better still, take it with them. Robin had followed suit and the only pack left in the vestibule of her tent, was one containing several bags of aromatic coffee (ironically named ‘Grumpy Mule’!).

It seems that coffee grinds was today’s drug of choice for these gangsters and Robin’s pitch had taken a severe hit. Thankfully, following several hours of temporary tent repairs, Robin managed to sleep reasonably well in her tent that night.

To add insult to injury, however, the tick-ridden beasts had clearly left more than a broken tent pole and a shredded flysheet, along with their hoof-prints. Robin awoke the following morning at 5.30am to find an even bigger gang of the blue-eyed, hostile, hairy hoofed herd surrounding her tent. At about the same time she became aware of a well-replenished tick, making itself at home on the back of her head.

Poor Robin was really in their firing line. It seems the gangsters were back for their caffeine fix and it took a hefty amount of pot-banging and expletives from Robin, to finally send them stampeding back to the other side of the island.

Thank Goodness for Robin’s prevailing sense of humour, Tom & John’s tent repair skills, and a super-dooper tick remover.

Note to ALL: It is likely that during Covid Lockdown campers may have used the island as a retreat. It’s possible that the hairy hoofed beasts were regularly fed or petted by campers or food scraps may have been carelessly left behind.

Consider carefully any plans to camp on Middle Calf Island. Do not feed the horses or encourage them to interact with you!

Contributors and Guidelines

Treasna na dTonnta is the e-zine of the Irish Sea Kayaking Association. It is edited by Sue Honan and designed by Adam May.

We are grateful to the following paddlers who kindly contributed to this issue and provided photos.

Albert & Marie Boyd, Jamie Calahane, Mick Carroll, Willie Collins, David Glasswell, Sue Honan, Dave Horkan, Emma Glanville, Hazel Johnston, Robin Kavanagh, Niamh Kenny, Tom Maguire, Phil Marsden, Adam May, Chris McDaid, Frank McLoughlin, Emer O’Boyle, Samantha Rhodes, Rob Scanlon, Denis Staunton, Mark Stephens

Notes for contributors

• Treasna na dTonnta welcomes articles and photos

• Send as word document. There is no need to format the document.

• Please send photos separately as high resolution files.

• Credit the photographer and name those visible in the photo with their permission

• Have fun writing!

— Thank you.

Treasna na dTonnta #66

2022

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