Having initially groaned at the thought of travelling from Dunbar to Largs for a few hours on the water, boy am I glad that I went!
The sun hid itself for the first hour or so but that didn’t stop one of the support team from showing us how to empty water from a kayak before even setting off, a helpful if unexpected demonstration.
A warm up paddle straight across from the Yacht Haven to Cumbrae where the glorious anticlockwise circumnavigation began. The sea was calm and helped us gently to our sea legs as we made our way round the north point to Fintry Bay for a lunch stop. We were warned of slightly choppier water as we headed down and round the southerly point. This proved to be true but none of us could be deterred from the promise of an ice-cream stop at Millport on such a beautiful day. I was none the less unprepared, when I turned the corner of this serene island, to find a substantial town with pipes and drums playing and a bouncy castle awaiting us. The ice-creams and coffees were very welcome, as we amateurs were feeling the 13km in our unskilled bodies.
We continued on our way, the chat decreasing as the wave size increased, then for the final leg back across the busy channel, our leaders bunched us together and kept us safe as ferries, naval vessel and Sunday trippers held doggedly to their courses. Our helpers kindly took turns at demonstrating the well known kayak-tug technique with one of our more weary paddlers, while the wash from 2 full sized tugs caused some added excitement during which, by hook or by crook, we all remained upright – well done team!
All 18 of us safely back at the Marina, there was a jovial debriefing in the bar before the final farewell.
Susan Taylor