forestknights wrote:Portsmouth Harbour station. throw boat off the train and put in next to HMS Warrior. Paddle the harbour and then out to the IOW.

I would second this - all states of tide access. Portage from train to water - 100 yards.

The image that sticks in my mind most is the ethereal image of him paddling with the sun block on his face. Is it just me or have the producers played on it a bit?

The next image I recall is his son playing in the inflatable kayak.

Why was the kayak not rightable with the hatch open, couldn't it have had floatation added to allow for rolling? I think they reported that the casper cockpit hood did not have a seal (when not over the cockpit), so when inverted, filled with water making the kayak unrightable. That may have been a...

What a tragic story to televise. You could really feel the pain he was going through paddling away from his family on the first departure. The courage to press on at that point was certainly way beyond anything I could aspire to. Watching that part made me realise how different some people see the w...

B&Q do a set which includes a 4 metre length of plastic coated 10mm steel braid cable with an outdoor style padlock (plastic coated etc). Very reasonable guage and only £20. Included is a steel pad eye to bolt on to a wall etc. Wrap the cable arounds the boat three times or more until tight and secu...

Hi Ollie ....The reason I'm looking for a new strobe is the one I have is a torch/strobe design which has worked well though now the strobe has failed and the torch still works.... John I had one like this with a magnetic switch operated through the body of the case to preserve the waterproof integ...

I second Geoff. Go for quality. I have the same Princeton as above. Dive quality will last for several years.

I would add some splits if you haven't got any. Maybe some basic repairs bits too. In case I get seperated from my kayak, I have put £20 in an envelope and then laminated it - it lives in the inside back pocket of my PFD. Get you back to civilisation money. Pump of some sort?

ChrisS wrote:They also sent me a copy of issue 13 ("white cover") although I cancelled my subscription back in the summer.

According to Companies House, company number 06559486 Masik Publishing Limited, incorporated 8 April 2008, was dissolved on 9 December 2008. I'm not sure what to make of that.

Errm....

Few days before, my colleagues had discussion on ferry timings. They told me that ( promy dover ) ferries won't be available on Sunday's, if Monday is a holiday. Ferry timings are based on local timings. Is it so? Any personal experiences? Shortly we will plan to go holidays through ferry to France...

I'm pretty sure the 'white cover' issue is no 12, so it should still be on your original year's subscription as that covered 12 issues. Worth contacting them to chase up. I thought it was number 13 - which I had not paid for. I emailed them to query this, but have not had a reply. That was several ...

I would go for this book from the RYA, or from EBay for less. Everything in it will apply to kayaks but knowledge of the bigger picture will do you know harm as it helps you predict what other vessels are going to do. The format is sketch diagrams with limited text to get the message across and it a...

I microwave the milk before I pour it in the flask so that you don't lose the first 10-15 degrees before the lid is even on.

Given where you are located, if you wished, you could grab the opportunity of a settled weather period at any time of the year and head across to the Isle of Wight for an overnight camp and then back. I have camped out a couple of times along the coast between Newtown Bay and Yarmouth never had a p...

Sgian Dubh wrote:Gusts of 421mph.

You could lose your hat in that. :o)

Not if properly secured with suitable ratchet straps!

Not having tried it, but an up-turned kayak would probably achieve the same thing? Duck your head in to your cockpit and brace against the rim? I have done the same thing in capsized dinghy in rough conditions. You can have a good rest and regain your composure / concentration. I'm not volunteering ...

More of a poll really, but tips greatly appreciated... I made three new year resolutions for 2008. 1) Cross the Solent to start paddling the Isle of Wight coast line. 2) Learn to roll. 3) Do some kayak camping trips. Well: 1) Completed several times over. 2) Ashamed to say I never made the effort. 3...

I don't have any of the books but I watched several of the TV programmes. They were always interesting as far as they went but you never seemed to get any depth of information. Just as you were getting interested in some cliff or spur, they skipped another 100 miles down the coast. Hopefully Mark a...

When I saw this the thread the other day, I though it looked like a Granta, who went on to become Ottersports I believe. I used to have one of these kayaks, but couldn't post owing to PC trouble. You won't need a rudder. They track well enough but not so well that yopu can steer it. Lovely stable ka...

How widespread is the problem of corrosion of the zippers on the pockets of Palm Kaikoura Tour PFDs? Mine has been in use since February and is always rinsed in fresh water after use. All four front pocket zippers are showing signs of corrosion and one zipper has now stuck. I contacted Palm, they t...

Shockingly bad taste from OfCon.

The money is not the issue I think, more the ridiculousness of such an idea. Charitable institutions where volunteers save lives deserve all support possible, not bureaucracy.

I paddle with guys who have Easky 13 and Easky 15. Both are very good boats, though I would favour the 15 for your purposes.

AllanJ - you are quite right.

El Pres - you are quite disgusting!

Very odd. Nothing that unusual in the Solent, but loads of ordinary ones.



Roway Wreck, Southsea

I have often fancied doing an overnight trip to Brittany or Normandy for a bit of coastal paddling, but it has never quite worked out. The group I paddle with can never get time off at the same time. It just seems beyond organising.

One day, probably with just one of them....

Hey Griff!

Do you reckon you could land on those steps? Hell of a seal launch to get back afloat again!

St Helen's dries out on spring low waters. Sounds like a paddle plan.

Don't forget you are now upside down! If you buy a compass, they tend to be zoned - north hemisphere, south hemisphere or equatorial. I think Whitbread round the world yachts used to have to carry two compasses for this reason.

Speaking to a family of airline pilots (two brothers and a son of one) the trouble this year is that the jet stream did not shift northwards as usual - this has stopped the Azores High from spreading hence our naff weather. Aparently.

No, it involved flatulance, a duvet and an unsuspecting girlfriend. It was described as a sign of 'true love'!

I thought a dutch oven was something else entirely....