The previous trip report describes an old fool falling on the foreshore and needing towed back home… so no more paddling for me for a bit. But in the meantime the Lumpy Sea Sessions had attracted a massive uptake. When you reach a certain level of ability and want to go out in more challenging conditions there’s a dilemma- the fear of finding you’ve gone beyond your limit usually holds people on the more cautious side of ‘exciting’. These Lumpy Sea sessions are a kind of heavily supported peer paddle, with a good ratio ( 1:2 or better) where people can push themselves to the edge of their skill set in a supported environment, with guidance and coaching. It works well.
The attitude of all was excellent, and a reminder that morale and mutual support as well as skills keep you upright when the spray flies!
It “takes a village to bring up a child”, and a club to enable such things to run….(without any useful input from me, the person who devised the thing in the first place). A big thanks to all who stepped in offering their skills and experience- a magnificent dozen leaders picked this venture up and knocked it out the park.
Four sessions have now taken place with over 25 people on the water each time. Locations round the Forth were used- making use of tides under the bridges when the wind wouldn’t blow, hiding in Portobello ( and Inchkeith) when it did. Seacliff and the Bass provided a good challenge for the first session, then conditions moderated for the next two, but this actually turned out to be a real benefit- allowing a good level of consolidation. Excellent to see progress in skills but above all confidence on the water. Our last session at St Abb’s included a training exercise with the lifeboat – very useful for all, including the Coastguard shore teams who were also present. We then paddled round the superb cliffs, with a nice bit of surge around the reefs (ask Ben, Sam and significant others who totally immersed themselves in the activity) . Great to be able to go in and out of the stacks while there are no birds. A stiff westerly gave some good bounceback and a fight across to Pettico Wick, and then some more ‘rescue practice in dynamic conditions’ and a sea shanty or two got us back to Coldingham in time for some surf landings ( and rolls).
I was able to join this trip , as a passenger in my own double, with a dutiful manservant in the front cockpit doing all the work- truly glorious day, good paddling, swell, surf, bounceback and excellent company.
We should do it again….well yes, actually….. we are, those superb leaders have volunteered for more and a second series of 4 sessions starts on March 5th.
Many many thanks to the considerable number of you who made this series work so well.
David Simpson