We often explore the wonderful coast
in this area. It is quite possible to paddle a kayak from
Dartmouth to Brixham for example. Exploring a coast by kayak is actually more
interesting than in any other type of boat - we can get right in close
to the rocks where there is more to see.
Safety:
We have ways of towing kayaks if someone gets
tired or unwell. We also have methods of emptying kayaks and putting people back
into them if someone tips over. With a little training a group
can operate pretty safely and deal itself with all common problems. If
you fall in you can hang onto your kayak and you are supported by this
and by your buoyancy aid until your chums get you back in your boat.
There are beaches close by we can land on easily if needed. We
often take VHF on our longer coastal trips. So long as the weather
forecast is favourable we can paddle along the coast with no
problems.
By contrast, if you fall off a yacht or motor cruiser whilst out at sea
your chances of survival are not always good - it is not easy to
get a big boat alongside a casualty and it can be really seriously
hard to haul them back on
board. Our 'man overboard' drill is practiced regularly. We can put someone back in a
righted and emtpied kayak in about 90 seconds usually - ask your
skipper what his equivalent would be! So if you started
reading this thinking you're safer on a yacht you are probably
entirely mistaken.
The photos below shows how intimately we
can explore the rocks. Most yachts would never dare to be so
close for fear of hitting unseen rocks - our shallow draft and
excellent ability to manouvre means we can get close in. So long as it
is fairly calm the rocks are easy to avoid.
Being near the cliffs we see birds,
seals, caves etc right up close.
