17 Apr 2021 (photos)

With restriction starting to ease, we are now more able to explore our coastline. Using the neap flood tide to assist our journey east from the Martello tower at Seaford to Eastbourne Holywell. We were, however, hindered by a very chilly NNE wind which, fortunately for the most part of the trip, didn’t present too much of a problem as we were sheltered by the cliffs. The beautiful blue sky was clear, except for a helicopter filming a Supermarine spitfire which was executing some magnificent aerial acrobatics over the backdrop of the seven sisters.

The halfway point of the 15km trip was at Birling Gap where we stopped for a coffee break. Steve was first ashore and he found a spot where a dog had left a little present for him which he managed to find with his foot. The beach was full of visitors from London. We didn’t see any bathers as the water temp was 9°C and still a bit chilly. The sun was bright and warm but they were protected from the cold air dressed up in their puffer jackets and designer jeans.

It wasn’t only the spitfire that was the subject of a photo shoot; us paddlers had attracted the attention of an amateur photographer who asked if we minded being photographed. Dave H instantly adopted his provocative 'lying on the bonnet of a super car' pose. Coffee break complete, it was time for the drain off, which was complicated by the hordes of visitors which, by the way, we didn’t think would have been there as the steps at Birling Gap were supposed to be closed. Anyway, a spray deck has many functions. We relaunched to the sound of camera shutter clicks, as the photographer captured our departure. Fortunately, everyone managed to stay in their boats.

Some of us engaged in a bit of rock hopping as we approached the marvellous red and white Beachy Head lighthouse and we spotted a solitary swallow, presumably just arriving from North African or maybe Europe, it is not always easy to tell. We passed over the tide race at Beachy Head where the waves were about 0.5m but bumpy. We followed the coast past Cow Gap with the steady 10knt of the NNE creating a bit of chop. We arrived at Holywell 3 hours on the dot, which included the break at Birling Gap. Mark stayed with the boats and we shot off to get the vehicles left at Seaford.