Garmin Fenix GPS for kayaking

I've been using the Garmin Fenix 2 for sea kayaking for the last two years.  I primarily use it for tracking my progress and also analysising my performance.  Here are my thoughts on the device:

Why the Fenix over other GPS devices
I did quite a bit of research when I was looking for the device and because I wanted a fitness & performance tracker, altimeter (for hiking and alpine climbing) and a navigation device there were only two options on the market, the Garmin Fenix 2 or the Suunto Ambit 2.  If you're not bothered about the altitude or navigation (which as well as routes it will give you an instant grid reference for an emergency), there many cheaper waterproof gps watches out suitable for kayaking.
There were two reasons why I went for the Fenix over the Ambit, firstly the wrist fit and comfort suited me better and secondly I already own a Garmin Edge 810, which I use for cycling, so it made sense to stick with the same online/app interface.

Set up.The Fenix is infinitely versatile when it comes to the setup.  Firstly you can have multiple activity profiles, which lets you can customise all of the data fields on each page which you see during your activities.  For example, I have different profiles for running, sea kayaking, fitness kayaking, hiking and mountain biking, within each profile I have a number of different pages with different information on.

Kayak specific setupFor sea kayaking I like to have screens with a lot of information on them, so at a glance I can quickly see as much information as possible without having to take my hand off the paddle to scroll to another page.  Although I have several screens available on the kayak profile the one I generally use for the main screen has the following - average speed, current speed, distance, time. Another sea kayak specific custom screen I've created is one to tell me my OS map grid reference, this can be changed to different map systems. 



For fitness kayaking average speed and current heart rate are the most important information to me, so I have both these on one page ensuring the key information is easy to see at a glance.  The benefit of kayak training to a heart rate is that you can maintain a consistent effort regardless of the weather/sea conditions.



In terms of positioning because I'm mostly paddling a closed cockpit sea kayak, so I either attach it to the bungee lines on my spray deck or occasionally just to the strap of my buoyancy aid.

Glitches, updates & software
Like any computer you need to regularly update the Fenix, some of the updates have caused problems, however it's run flawlessly over the last year. I purchased it fairly soon after it came out some I'm putting the teething problems down to being an early adopter.  The current iOS app is working well and seamlessly syncs with the Fenix via Bluetooth.

Overview
I'm really please within the Fenix 2 it's tough and very well made. As well as the benefits of having a super accurate watch for the mountains, I've really enjoyed being able to analyse by rides, runs and kayak trips.  Although there's a Fenix 3 I'm going to wait, the 2 has more than enough features and the Fenix 4 will no doubt have a built in heart rate monitor.

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Sea kayak surfing the Arnside Bore on a 10.5m spring tide

Here's a quick post with my pics from the Arnside Bore last weekend.  The 10.1m spring tide in Liverpool bay (10.5m Arnside) produced a small but surfable wave, which we managed to ride from Blackstone Point on the edge of Arnside Knott to Ash Meadow (see map below).

Here's the pics...

Here it comes!

Surfing the front of the wave

As the water shallowed and the bore raced across the sand, we moved onto the waves behind the main wave.

A rough ride under the railway viaduct arches.

10-15 minutes after the bore had finished the flood of the tide built up and formed some good sized standing waves and rough water under the viaduct.

This time we caught the bore at Blackstone point and rode it to Ash Meadow, where it shallows and races across the sand flats by the village.

Logistics

Tides
The tide needs to be above 9 metre at Barrow in Furnace for the bore to run. Other factors include, amount of water in the Kent (we went after a sustained period of wet weather), the wind speed (apparently Easterlies are better) and formation of sandbanks (there's not much we can do about this!).
Timing
We found the bore runs approximately 1.15 hours before HW liverpool. We set of 2.5 hours before HW Liverpool and ended up with 15mins wait in the bay. If it’s a sunny day allow plenty of time to find parking in Arnside.

Additional information

Distance
It's about 2-3km depending on where you decide to paddle to, I think we went a little too far.
Water Quality
I'm afraid I have to mention that this is definitely questionable. Apart from estuary silt we noticed quite a bit of plastic and other rubbish being pushed in with the tide.
Access
Parking at Arnside is very limited, so expect to leave the boats and park else where.
Other information
The bakery/cafe on the corner before the hill out of the village is superb.

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P&H Scorpio LV - short review

Here are my thoughts on the Scorpio LV, I've been using it over the last twelve months.

Speed
The Scorpio LV is definitely one of the fastest plastic boats I've paddled, there very little flex in the narrow hull and I'd have thought it would match the speed of many wider glass boats. With a slightly shorter waterline it's a little slower than the Quest LV but noticeably fast than the Atlantic LV I've just purchased.

Stability

Inital Stability
The initial stability is excellent and is in a different league to the Quest LV. Sitting in the boat in choppy water is a breeze. It's initial stability inspires confidence and make you more comfortable in confused water.

P&H Scorpio LV next to the Quest LV

Secondary stability
The secondary stability is a defined solid edge which makes making tight turns easy, even in rougher water. Once on the edge it's easy to hold throughout the turn, allowing you to concentrate on you strokes.

Performance in wind

Performance in wind is dependent on whether you deploy the skeg. Empty and without the skeg the boat does weather cock quite badly, however unlike the Quest LV the skeg is very effective. The model I have has the mk1 P&H cord skeg which initially proved to stiff to use, however in there credit P&H have replaced the skeg fin with a narrowed version which has made its function relatively smooth.

Fit and comfort
When I first took the boat over from my girlfriend I really struggled to get comfortable and had problems with numb legs and pins and needles. After a few torturous trips and advise on the internet I decided to removed the EVA foam moulding from the seat. The instantly changed to boat and dramatically improved the comfort and also slightly improved the stability. I'd defiantly recommend doing this, it instantly improved the boat for me. I other main fit issue I should mention is that it's foot area is quite cramped so if you're over size 9.5 you might struggle will bulky footwear.

Other issues
The general construction/finishing seems very good and the plastic seems very tough and resilient to scratching. It has the capability to take a rudder if required.

Good points
Great stability, speed, acceleration, dry hatches and general good quality.

Disadvantages
A little cramped in the foot area. Seat not comfortable until the foam pad is removed.  The mk1 skeg fitted to my boat is stiff and awkward to use in the cold.

P&H MK1 Cord Skeg

Conclusion
I really like this boat, especially the quality, stability and four hatch design, however it's just a bit too small for me. I've demo'd the standard Scorpio and it feels huge in comparison to the LV, it's a shame P&H don't produce an MV version like the Cetus range for the 5'8" to 6' paddler.

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P&H Quest LV - review

I've owned the Quest LV for three years and used it in conditions up to force 5, 6kn tidal races, surf and in a few sea kayak races. Here's my thoughts on the boat.

Speed

This is tricky to quantify because I've not been out with a GPS, so I can only compare it to other boats I've paddled. It's overall cruising speed feels slower than the Nordkapp, Cetus MV & Northshore Ocean but faster than the SKUK Romany and Northshore Atlantic LV. It's acceleration is excellent and feels better than most boats

Stability

The Quest LV hasn't had a particularly good press when it comes to stability, however I really don't find it too bad.

My first multi day trip in the Quest LV - Islay (Mull of Oa)

Initial Stability
The initial stability is definitely better than the modern Nordkapp but certainly isn't in the league of the Cetus or Tiderace Xscape. The lack of initial stability is only noticeable in certain conditions and circumstances, it's particularly noticeable when it's empty and you're stationary. So taking photos or read the map in choppy or confused water tends to feel quite unstable and occasionally a little unnerving. In forward motion or making maneuvers the boat feels stable and covers ground quickly without drama.

Secondary stability
The secondary stability feels quite gradual and the limits arent immediately obvious, but after a few days in the boat you start to learn how far you can push the boat. In rougher water and windy conditions the boat definately performs better loaded. Although it doesn't compare to the performance of the modern "play" orientated boats in rough water and choppy seas it's really not bad and most kayakers will enjoy its stiffness and fast acceleration in these conditions. It's worth noting my boat has the traditional glass seat rather than the plastic moulded seat/EVA foam moulded cover, I understand this substantially improves the stability and handling.

Performance in wind

Performance in wind is an area which I've been far more disappointed with the Quest LV than any other. I find it particularly difficult when trying to maintain a course with a strong three quarters wind, the boat continually turns into the wind and anything above 15kn becomes a wrestle to keep straight. After paddling the Cetus and similar other newer boats in these conditions it's obvious the manufacturers have made real advances in this area. Having said that I've recently started to wonder whether it's simply down to the design of the skeg rather than the boat. The Skeg on the Quest LV is more of a keel extension rather than a fin (like the Cetus or Scorpio). I'm considering changing to a Karitek Skeg, so if it improves the performance I'll update this.

Fit and comfort

I've paddled many boats over the last few years and the Quest LV is without a doubt the most comfortable I've paddled. I think this comfort largely comes down to it being big for an LV boat, I've size 10 feet and have absolutely no problems getting in and out. Like most glass boats the thigh braces are moulded into the cockpit rim, however they provide a good snug fit and are secure and positive for rolling.

North Uist (Outer Hebrides)

Other issues

The general construction and finishing seems very good. Mines now showing its age with numerous gel coat repairs and star cracks, however the glass is still immaculate. It does seem to be quite a wet boat and despite my best efforts to seal the cockpit and trying various different spray decks, I nearly always end up sitting in a puddle after a long day. However thankfully the hatches seal 100% with no leakage.

Benefits

Good speed, acceleration, dry hatches and general good quality.

Disadvantages

Below average initial stability, poor performance in the wind (especially above 15kn) and a leaking cockpit.

Conclusion

I really like this boat, especially the fit, comfort and quality. I purchased it as a relative beginner and going straight from a Necky Chatham 16 it did feel unstable for the first few trips. If you are purchasing new I wouldn't buy this boat over a Cetus MV or similar, however if you're buying from the second hand market, it's a bargain and will be a great buy you won't regret.

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Staffa, Ulva, Little Colonsay

After the Oban kayak race we headed over the Mull for a weeks exploring. It was our first visit and we planned a clockwise road trip taking in the best kayaking and coastal walking.

The Sound of Ulva 

We paddled out from the small ferry port and headed south east again the flooding tide. The tides didn’t appear to be particularly strong in Sound of Ulva so we made fast progress





Heading north up the coast of Ulva we passed numerous volcanic basalt outcrops and small islands until we reached the shallow area adjacent Little Colonsay. This is interesting area to explore, full of small islands and skerries with plenty of seal colonies and other wildlife to see.

From here we made the 800m crossing out to Little Colonsay. Heading around the east side of Little Colonsay the swell was quite big, so Andrea decided to explore the island on foot whilst I continued out to Staffa.

Once I'd cleared the clopotis on the north side of Little Colonsay, the chop calmed down and I settled into a nice rhythm. Despite only being 5km it does feel like quite an exposed crossing and with the weather due to change I set a relatively fast pace.

I reached Staffa after about 50 minutes and headed straight around the east side to explore Finkles Cave. The swell and clopotis made getting in the cave tricky, so took some pics and moved on (as usual the pics look flat calm!).

Finkles Cave 

After a bit of time looking around Staffa I headed back to Little Colonsay. On the way back I had the pleasure of seeing a Minki whale, it came up right behind me and blew air out three or four times before diving.

I met up with Andrea and we a crossed back to the west coast of Ulva and explored the skerries and shallow water. After an hour of exploring and some lunch we sensed the wind picking up so we set off back.

We were both really surprised at how choppy the south side of Ulva had become, I was quite hard going with the strong wind behind us and clopotis against the volcanic cliffs. After an hour of paddle we made it a around into the calm of the Sound of Ulva and back to the ferry port.

This is a fantastic trip which I really recommend, but it's defiantly one to do in good weather or in a group. It's got an exposed feel and quite committing a crossing so it's got a real sense of adventure.

Additional information

Distance
32.52km

Tides
The tides are generally quite week in this area.

Swell
Apart from the Sound of Ulva most of this route is exposed by Atlantic swell.

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Tayvaillich - Loch Sween & the Sound of Jura

If you've not visited the village of Tayvaillich you've really missed out. It's a lovely spot and a superb base for sea kayaking. From the village itself there's several day and multi day trips which are definitely worth doing.

What makes Tayvaillich so special is it's location, it's on a narrow peninsular jutting down into the Sound of Jura. On the east side is Loch Sween, a narrow shelter loch with densely wooded sides, some of the woodland is among the oldest in the UK and definitely has a prehistoric feel.



The route below is the best way to get a feel of the area, it's starts in Loch Sween and loops around the bottom of the peninsular and back up the Sound of Jura to Carsiag Bay.

Start at the small jetty near the café in Tayvaillich. Unfortunately parking can sometimes be difficult at weekends, so you may need to drop the kayaks and park away from the centre.

Tayvaillich

Setting off from the village you weave through the boats in the natural harbour and out into the loch. Paddling south you pass several islands which are worth exploring and after 10km you reach Castle Sween.

Castle Sween 

From Castle Sween head south to the southern trip of the Island of Danna.

Although Loch Sween is not particularly tidal, the bottom of the Island of Danna is, so ideally you should aim to hit it at slack water. If you decided to do a detour to visit Eilean Mor it is worth noting there is a strong tidal race to cross. When we visited the island's it was flat calm and there was still quite a bit of movement in the water and on another occasion when I did this route in reverse on a spring tide there was some very rough water a few hundred metres from the shore, so plan well.

 View into Loch Sween from Eilean Mor

After heading around the Island of Danna you paddle north up the Sound of Jura, past several small islands which are great spots to see otters. Once you reach Carsaig Bay, there's a short walk back to Tayvaillich, so it's worth having a trolley with you.

Additional information

Distance
28.02km
Tides
The tides are generally quite strong in the Sound of Jura and this route should be carefully planned. They are particularly strong around the southern tip of the Island of Danna and the tide race between there and Eilean Mor can cause very rough conditions.
Swell
This route is only affected by swell from the South, however strong southerly/westerly winds combined with a spring tide can create huge conditions in the Sound of Jura.
Access
Parking can be a problem.

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Solway Firth - Sea kayak trips between Rockcliffe and Kirkcubright

The Solway Firth is one of those overshadowed areas which doesn't seem to attract the sea kayaking crowds. If you live in Southern Scotland or Northern England it should definitely be on your list. The countryside and coastline is varied, pleasant and in places wild, so it's well worth a weekend trip.

Looking at a the OS map or a chart you quickly realise it's essential that you get the tides right. In the eastern end of the Firth the consequences of a mistake with the tides could mean a hours stuck on sand banks, which in places could be up to 10km from the shore line.

This was our first visit to the Solway Firth for kayaking, so we decided to air on the side of caution. We planned a modest route setting off mid way through the incoming tide to ensure a walk across the sand was avoided. We decided to start from the village of Rockcliffe and paddle west along a rocky coastline towards Kirkcubright. Ideally we would have done this in the opposite direction to paddle with the tide, but we were running late and wanted to get on the water.

Starting point - the beach at Rockcliffe

When you're driving along the coast don't be put off by the views of miles of sand, the water is more accessible at Rockcliffe and Kirkcubright.

We set out from the pleasant sandy beach at the end of the road in Rockcliffe and headed south past Rough Island. The water was shallow and we weaved between sand banks until passed Almoreness Point.

Heading towards Hestan Island

The gravelly rib on the north end of Hestan Island was still exposed so we opted for a clockwise loop around the island. The southern tip of the island is rocky and exposed and the easterly wind against the incoming tide kicked up some exhilarating rough water.

Rough water on the southern end of Hestan Island

From Hestan Island we paddled a further kilometre west into Auchencairn Bay and had a lunch stop on the rocky beach below The Tower at Balcary Point.

As you'd expect with estuary water it's full of silt and has a muddy look, but the surface is clean and there was very little floating rubbish or signs of pollution.

The Tower at Balcary Point

Auchencairn Bay

After lunch we headed further west where the coast terrain became a lot more interesting. On the stretch of coast between Balcary Point and Port Mary it was wilder feeling, with high cliffs, inlets and sections of interesting rock hopping.









As you get closer to Kirkcubright the coast becomes more exposed to swell and given the wind speed we experienced surprisingly choppy conditions. In the mouth of the Dee the tide flows at 4kn, so tides are certainly worth considering here.

By the time we reached Mullock Bay the tide had turned and we decide to and head back. With the wind and tide against us progress was slow but manageable and eventually we reached Hestan Island. The gravelly rib on the north end of Hestan Island was fully submersed and the tide was racing across it. We cut in close to the island and dodged the strongest areas of the flow and ended up having a bit of fun in the waves.

From Hestan Island the paddle was straight forward back to the beach at Rockcliffe.

Summary

A varied and interesting paddle, which should definitely be on everyone's tick list.

Additional information

Distance
19.5km
Tides
The pilot for the area is the West Coasts of England and Wales Pilot) and for Kirkcubright Bay E-going stream starts HW Liverpool -0600 and the W-going stream starts at HW Liverpool. There is no information for Rockcliffe . In the mouth of the Dee the tide flows at 4kn.
Swell
Past and around Hestan Island it is exposed to swell from the west.
Access
There's small car park about 300 metres from the beach.
Other recommended routes
The Mull of Galloway is well worth a trip, however it has a very strong tidal race and is exposed to considerable swell.

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Islay and Jura - Gulf of Corryveckan - Day 7

This is the final post describing my sea kayak trip around the islands of Islay and Jura, it covers An Sailean on Jura, through the Gulf of Corryveveken and back to Crinan. 41km

With force 6 easterly winds due to come in mid afternoon, which would be blowing against the ebbing tide through the Gulf of Corryveveken, we had a real sense of urgency as we packed up in the morning. Neither of us had paddled through the Gulf of Corryveveken and with it's reputation we certainly didn’t want to be going through once the tide really got motoring.

We needed to cover 25km to hit the Gulf at slack water so we got an early start. The west coast of Jura is quite interesting but has a bit of a samey feel until Glenebade Bay, where it starts to get more rugged and broken. We didn’t have much time to stop to explore so we pressed on into the Gulf.

 Approaching the Gulf of Corryveveken at slack water

We reached the Gulf of Corryveckan a little later than we'd hoped to and ended up going through 30mins after slack water. We cautiously followed the north shore of Jura staying close to the rocky coastline not entirely sure what to expect. Despite being a neap tide, you certainly get a sense the power of the water through there, everywhere you look there's swirling eddies and areas of moving water. As we reached the east end of the Gulf the accelerating water was starting to be whipped up by the growing easterly wind, this created some roughness but thankfully nothing worse than we'd seen earlier in the trip.

The Gulf of Corryveveken

The Gulf of Corryveveken

We stopped on the tiny beach at Port an Furm for a well earned lunch and watched a boat bounce it's way through the rough water and into the Gulf.

Crossing from Port an Furm back to Crinan focused the mind! Within a few hundred metres of the Jura coast we were fighting with strong eddy lines, swirling water and all sorts of interesting tidal features. Despite aiming due west towards Sgeir nam Faoileann we ended up completely missing the south of Reisa an t-Sruith and after some eddy hopping and serious effort we eventually got to Eilean na Cille.

Crossing the Sound of Jura

By the time we left Eilean na Cille as predicted the wind had got up so we go our heads down slogged our way the final 5km back to Crinan.

Back to Crinan

Final thoughts

If you get the opportunity to do this trip definitely go for it, if you get the weather it's a fantastic location with superb, memorable paddling. If you want any advise or further information on the trip just drop me a line.

Drysuit vs long john wetsuit vs split (cag and salopettes)
After lots of deliberation, we decided to not take our drysuits and go for a split system with a long john wetsuit for an emergency. The forecast was for hot weather and we wanted the flexibility to strip down to t-shirts, however looking back on the trip I think I would have been happier on days 4 and 5 in the drysuit. It's a difficult decision for on a trip like this, 80% of the paddling is relatively easy and because the distances are quite long you want to be comfortable and efficient, however a drysuit would be desirable for the headlands and surf landings. After taking a swim in my cag and sallopettes landing on day four, I switch to the wetsuit for the rest of the trip. It was impossible to dry the wetsuit and I found the dampness really unpleasant. So in summary if you squeeze your drysuit in I'd definitely consider taking it, if you can't it might be work digging out the old wetsuit for a backup.







Use the zoom to view 1:50000 OS Map

[osmap gpx="http://www.seakayaktrips.co.uk/osmaps/ji7.gpx"]

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Islay and Jura - Kilchiaran Bay to An Sailean on Jura - Day 6

Islay and Jura Kilchiaran Bay to An Sailean on Jura  Day 6  47km

This is the fourth post describing my sea kayak trip around the islands of Islay and Jura, it covers to Kilchiaran Bay to An Sailean on Jura.

This felt like a long day, we'd planned to get further than Kilchiaran Bay the day before so we had some good mileage to make up. We calculated that we needed to be at the Gulf of Corryveckan by 1pm the following day, so we at very least we needed to camp on the south west corner of Jura. Thankfully the wind had dropped as predicted so we'd have an easier day.

This section of coastline is really stunning and littered with narrow inlets, islands and rocky coves. Unfortunately the swell was still quite big so we didn't manage to get as close to the cliffs as we'd like to have.

As we passed the point of an Clachan the swell really dropped off and we had a pleasant smooth ride up to Ardnave point.Ardnave point is really interesting and if you've time it's definitely worth exploring. There's some fantastic views and golden sandy beaches.

Watch out for reefs and breaking waves

 Ardnave Point

 Rhuvaal Lighthouse

We stopped at Bagh an da Dhoruis before recrossing the Sound of Islay. By this time we were ready to stop for the night but we had a schedule to keep, to we set out across the Sound of Islay. Crossing the Sound of Islay is relatively straight forward and only 5km across, but because it was already 5pm when we set out we headed straight for Rubh an t-Salilein, which is more direct but extends this to 10km. The Sound of Islay turned out to be a passage used by substantial sized shipping and we ended up having a relatively close encounter with a cargo vessel. In view of this I'd recommend using the shorter crossing .







We paddled into An Sailean to look for a camping spot and found the Ruantallain Bothy. On closer inspection we decided the tent would be a more pleasant option and camped near the beach.

Beach at Rubh an t-Salilein

 Camping at Rubh an t-Salilein

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