The trip starts from the slipway behind the pub at Eling heading to Hythe. You will see some barges made of concrete, busy straddle carriers shuffling the containers in the docks, some gigatic cranes and boats to match their sizes!
The Needles on the Isle of Wight is an iconic passing from Keyhaven to Freshwater. With the correct conditions, the Hurst Point play and the exploration of the caves and rocks leading to Freshwater will make a day of exhilarating day outing.
Hurst Point play:
To the east of Southampton, this is one of the few trips that club members enjoy more recently. The Fareham Marina provides a dedicated parking area. There are a number of landing spots with cafes and pubs along the Portsmouth estuary. Portchester Castle is a must visit from the water - it is also a potential launch point for circumnavgation of the Portsea Island (Portsmouth).
This is another classic club sunset paddle from the heart of yatching haven Lyminton to Hurst Castle.
Landing at Hurst shingle:
The classic rock hopping and gardening trip concluded with a thrilling tide race at Peveril Point near Swanage Pier.
In a typical rock garden, members will make sure someone is overlooking them while approaching a feature, and there is usually a one-out-one-in policy in any right space such as a cave or recess. While enjoying the hopping fun, members are also reminded that a feature easily navigated by some else may change completely over the cycles of sloshing wave - it has nothing to do with one's ability to pass.
For developing members, the tide race awareness is essential. They are encouraged to ease in from eddy lines and gradually build their confidence in the dynamic water streams. The timing of maneuving up, down and transverse in the racing zone is all about saving energy and letting the water flow to do the most work for you!
The Calshot is where annnual club BBQ evening is held with unbeatable view of sunset and marine traffic going in and out out of Port Southampton.
A glorious autumn day with fantastic rock and wave scapes to explore. We didn't collect long mileages but repeatedly swept the entire coastline rocks and caves, packed with numerous simulated and simultaneous rescue scenarios, all thanks to our dedicated leaders and conscious crew!
An early morning launch from Lepe to the Fort with two groups.
The diverse geological and biological features around the caves leading up to Dancing Ledge from Swanage offer some of the stunning visual, acoustic, and tactile, i.e. if you are daring enough to land on some of the rock shelves, senstations one can ever imagine to experience! The trip can be extended to Chapman's Pool for lunch depending on the tidal, wind, and swell conditions, as well as group ability and size.
