Hi Ken. Nothing wrong with pedants - especially when trying to uphold science and reason. Carry on challenging - it is good for any debate :)

Hi Ken ! Thanks for that - it'll teach me not to be flippant - of course there isn't much meat in air bubbles but what I had in mind is the rotative tendency inside a breaking wave - (all that waveology) - the opposite might be true in trying to roll back uphill - ie support/paddle on the shore side...

Nice blog tho'. Interesting to read and is drawing lots of help. Is good,eh?!? Small suggestion for support strokes - if you have sea handy and something much less than storm conditions - go into very shallow water and fall over with your support posture - onto breaking waves and attempt recovery .....

Commonsense and good seamanship abound on this thread. Technical aids though are helpful. Not so long ago the notion of a handheld GPS would have seemed a dream. I was following up the radar reflector ideas started by incayak. The "see-me" from munro engineering http://www.sea-me.co.uk/about.html an...

Chris McDaid of West Mayo Paddlers just messaged that WISKA have pics on their facebook page. I don't have access. I just lifted this photo of Loop Head day before yesterday from https://www.facebook.com/doonbeg Photo by Carsten Krieger. date 9th December. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5665268...

Eshaness photos. I think these answer the question about the term "phenomenal" ! Quite stunning and a brave photographer to gather them.

John here. Thanks for this info on use of SARTS Ian .... and to all contributors for the insider knowledge from the bridge. Ian, I think the little book you are referring to is the RYA book (International Regulations ..etc) Order Code RG2 by Tim Bartlett. This is cheap and good. ISBN 978-1-906435-19...

Breathtaking ! THANK YOU JIM.

Looking for a pro-active system. SART is about £450 - AIS transponder £550+ depending on Class. Both depend on someone actually watching the radar. This could get to be a very expensive hobby.

Interesting article that one - thanks. Loved the HAT ! Wonder if a SART (not used together with a reflector) would be a possibility. Expensive - and ??legal?? for this purpose ? Otherwise still best to use the radio and stay in touch with Coastguard. I know they try to keep shipping aware of the pre...

One of these was taken at Portrush this morning at 0945 by westbay surfboards for their site. http://www.westbaysurfboards.co.uk/westpic/ https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/56652685/New%20Folder%20%282%29/portrushcam.jpg These others were taken at Kinbane Head 10 miles east of Fairhead at about sla...

Hello. I live a few minutes drive from Torr Head - 12 miles across the North Channel and Kintyre Peninsular. Went there yesterday for photos (from the cliffs) but visibility down to a mile. Lots of Cat's Paws and fine spray - the ebb had just started with a southerly chasing it -- was blown flat. Th...

Hello 'Big Fish' - I have the 70 deck mounted - no problems (so far). The jewel is the Suunto - love it. It lives in my shirt :) My post was for fun xmas stocking fillers ... after posting I thought "Oh Yes" - OPSAC / LOKSAC waterproof bags - always handy - great for phone or cash in PFD pocket -- b...

For Fun - and maybe help Kirsten with building the Xmas wish list. (It Seems a very modest one) Backup compass - a nice to have accessory. I 'lost' my Frances Barker liquid prismatic some time back - replaced it with a Silva Ranger 15T (an old baseplate model - I think the new one is type-CLS) which...

I think your compass has the same innards as the 70. This is a very robust unit indeed. Easy to read and I think most importantly has a quick card settle time. The value of this will become clear in unsettled water.

Sounds SO impressive ! Dive groups from here (Rathlin area) visit but their photos taken underwater and in calm. If there are photos from either land or water of extreme conditions at Corryvechan - I'm sure there would be much interest in seeing them! I think perhaps there might be a lot of spray to...

Is this the maritime equivalent of looking into an open grave ??

Sorry Jim. No quibble intended - was thinking only about flexibility in the lower back - Yoga style exercises are definitely reckoned useful.Cheers, John.

Amazing ! The video makes the point very well! You could cover some distance in a day.

Ah! I wonder how long this is going to last ? My German walking maps for the Eifel are already double gridded Lat-Lon and UTM.
How long before OS goes for this - It's only a matter of time before someone re-introduces round pin electric plugs :)

Thanks you for this ladies -- beautifully written and quite tears at the heart strings - you have such patience - that has to reap reward. I wonder if I could venture a suggestion -- my head now on the block ! .... see many folk keeping "upright" as they try for the surface ... but leaning forward r...

I hope knowledgeable members can develop this thread further - is already very interesting and promises to become more so - for those of us who have no experience of skis and very probably are looking for application to conventional sea kayaks. Thanks for the good stuff already posted. We look and l...

All true. For me, I have an old long john to wear with cag. Fine in summer for a knockabout. Gets cold standing about on the shore though. One step better I think is Reed bib and brace type paddling pants _more air on the skin and a cag to suit the conditions/activity. Better still is to get a dry-s...

Norway - Winter Paddle Gathering - Orsvagvaer - 13 - 15 March 2015. Details still to be finalised. Registration at https://www.facebook.com/login.php?next ... Ffref%3Dts

I concur Franky. No one should be crowding any marine creature's space if they can avoid it and accept the consequences if they do. If the Telegraph article was drawn from the Royal Society report someone has taken a pretty big leap - anything for a good headline, eh?? If seals might one day adopt a...

Done. That's next year's holiday sorted !

Same date 30.5. 2015 Belfast Sea Kayak race (is that the same as the Bangor Bay race??) and 28th of June Coquet Island race (Amble, North of Newcastle upon Tyne). I've just had a message from John S. of Belfast kayak Club - as follows "Hi John I don't think we have decided on a date for 2015 yet. T...

Aren't they lovely :)

. Yes it is easier to lift on to the car, but it also necessitates more heavy ballast (water bottles etc) being carried down to the water. Lucy Lucy, I'm another one who feels better with some extra weight on board. I use Water bags wrapped in grip-film. My tip is to fill them with the water ur abo...

Cheap non slip mat through Amazon: Try http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yorkshire-Linen ... B003VY7DIE There are various firms offering this sort of thing - I have found the small rolls the handiest. J.