Solent Sea Kayaking

Photography is a relatively new hobby for me and provides an added dimension to paddles, particularly when paddling local routes repeatedly.
A recent post by a superb Sea Kayaking photographer Mark Rainsley on the excellent South West Sea Kayaking website about the kit he uses, along with a couple of email enquiries about my own [...]

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had a couple of great night paddles and one aborted paddle. I recently outlined my self enforced criteria for deciding when to paddle solo at night and the routes I’m prepared to paddle.
Last week I set out in wonderfully calm conditions and enjoyed a great paddle along the [...]

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had a couple of great night paddles and one aborted paddle. I recently outlined my self enforced criteria for deciding when to paddle solo at night and the routes I’m prepared to paddle.
Last week I set out in wonderfully calm conditions and enjoyed a great paddle along the [...]

Just a quick post to wish all readers of Solent Sea Kayaking a very Happy New Year.
I saw in the New Year watching the Fireworks over Southampton from Hythe Marina then headed out very early on New Years Day to watch the sunrise over the Solent in very cold but beautiful conditions, launching from [...]

The weather forecast was for freezing temperatures dropping to -4 degrees centigrade however after a couple of very breezy nights the wind looked set to stay below F2. Grabbing the opportunity for a paddle I headed down to Calshot.
Early indications of the cold conditions manifested themselves in iced up puddles on the slipway. I [...]

Ok, my self imposed rule for this post – affordable! Not necessarily stocking fillers, but not huge expensive gifts like shiny new sea kayaks, as much as we would all like to Santa to add another Kayak to our rack. Hopefully this list will give a few ideas. I’ve added 10 items that I use [...]

Having been off the water due to a back injury then the recent atrocious weather tonight provided a spectacular if unexpected return to night paddling. I’d neglected my usual daily inspection of the weather forecasts and tide times having settled my little ones down for the night I stepped outside to be greeted by a [...]

Hythe Marina is my closest put in for paddles using the Public Slipway. It is situated opposite Southampton Docks where the large cruise liners and various cargo ships berth. For me it’s become a playground not only for paddling but also practising my photography skills. I thought I’d share a few of my recent efforts.

I’ve had a few queries about my night paddling so thought I would share some thoughts. Regular visitors will know that I fit my paddling around a pretty hectic work and family schedule. A large proportion of my paddling has therefore been late evening or very early morning based.
During the summer this provides some [...]

Forces beyond my control have conspired to keep me off the water for the longest period in the last 12 months. A week and a half ago I had a night paddle in some stormy conditions. Landing in some small but confused surf led to a cockpit full of water. Somewhere amongst emptying, carrying and [...]