Southampton Docks

Heading out from Hythe Marina, I kept to the shoreline and worked my way up past Marchwood and Cracknore Hard. This route keeps you well away from the shipping channel along a edge of a nature reserve. Its a strange situation to be on one side of the water surrounded by fields, woodland and nature whilst looking across at the hustle and bustle of a major city.

Ferry Terminal

From here I passed a huge berth with numerous cranes, lit up like christmas trees and then on into relative darkness winding my way up until I was in striking distance of Redbridge Flyover. As time was pushing on I turned about and with the tide now dropping enjoyed an easier paddle back towards Hythe Marina.

At this point something quite unexpected happened. Shortly after rounding the berthed container ship, a reasonable distance out into the channel, I heard a loud splash and noise behind the kayak. Turning I could see nothing in the beam of my head torch. I kept paddling hard towards the shore when another loud splash came from my right side.

Hotel & West Quay

For the next 10 minutes or so, the seal kept alongside me, stopping occasionally to pop its head up and stare at me with a loud snort before surging on to catch me up. I kept my course straight and maintained speed so as not to scare it away whilst it almost bounded along next to me. Then as quickly as it had appeared it vanished.

A little research once back home has revealed that it is likely to be one of a colony of Seals based in Chichester Harbour, as this article from the Southampton Daily Echo explains.

The seals are part of a colony of 16 that inhabit Chichester Harbour, but they have been spotted roaming the north coast of the Isle of Wight, in Southampton Water and as far north as the Itchen River.

Similarly, the National Oceanographic Centre in Southampton reports frequent sightings of a Seal in Southampton Water.

As for me, well once I got over my initial shock and fear I was left speechless. Having paddle around the Solent Area so frequently during the last 3 years I have never encountered a Seal, then suddenly in the space of two weeks I have two experiences. It made the paddle a truly special one.

Southampton Panorama

View Southampton Water in a larger map

Freezing Night

Early indications of the cold conditions manifested themselves in iced up puddles on the slipway. I layered up well and broke out my thick Yak fleece hat and Lomo gloves before launching of the beach by Calshot Castle to avoid the icy slipway.

With the tide at it’s lowest point I was glad of the glassy conditions as I crept out around the shingle bank and made a beeline for the Power Station outfall – a concrete tower that sits several hundred metres of the coast. From here, the clear conditions and bright starlight allowed me to fix a bearing on Stansmore Point and dig in for a quick paddle to keep warm. The sea remained flat calm and mist hung on the surface of the water creating an eerie glow from the LED lights on my deck.

Stansmore Point

Pulling up on the beach at Stansmore Point I was thankfully downed a steaming cup of coffee before breaking out the camera for a quick photo session. As I was packing up my kit, the two headtorches bobbed into view and the fishermen appeared on the walk back out to Lepe Beach. They stopped briefly to see what I was up to saying they had watched me paddle past stating to each other ‘he must be bloody mad’! Coming from folk who are happy to sit in freezing conditions watching a thin line disappearing into the dark I wasn’t sure who were the mad ones in this scenario!

Calm Conditions

As I reached Calshot the mist rolled in heavily and within minutes all but the nearest of buildings was hidden by thick fog. The ships horns started to boom down Southampton Water as I loaded up and worked hard to clear the car which was enveloped in thick ice.

All in all a great paddle despite the cold!