July 2024 Dorset Sea Kayaking (photos)

Despite challenging weather conditions a group of 12 paddlers and supporting family members enjoyed an exciting club trip on the Isle of Purbeck.

Strong, gusty winds made putting up tents at Woodhyde campsite a challenge on the Friday (I slept In my van) and shaped the nature of the weekends paddling. A Friday evening briefing from Jon and Dave laid out the plan to paddle in the relative shelter of Pool Harbour the following day using both wind and tide to help propel us across the beautiful natural harbour. Saturday mid-morning following shuttling of vehicles we found ourselves on a slipway on the River Frome a little way down stream from Wareham. We initially paddled upstream to Wareham, a gentle paddle along a meandering section fringed with reeds with time to chat to your fellow paddlers and enjoy the scenery.

We turned around at the towns bridge and with the tide behind us picked up speed aware of the gusty wind but still sheltered by the Bankside vegetation.

Eventually the meanders opened out into the wider expanse of the harbour and the shelter provided by the narrower channel was gone. The gusty SW winds were strong creating swell that pushed you along if you were lined up correctly (I wasn’t a lot of the time). I learnt with helpful advice from our sea kayak expert members a lot about correctional strokes and use of the skeg and trim of the boat to keep heading in the right direction. This was the toughest section of the trip which conclude with lunch on the beach of the Arne nature reserve once we had rounded a headland to get out of the wind. After a post lunch briefing it was decided to stay in the south of the harbour in the lee of the wind rather than paddle in the middle of the channel towards Brownsea Island. We pushed across the bay with the sandy cliffs of Brownsea to our left finally coming ashore at the beach by the Studland Chain ferry. We had paddled the length of the bay West to east in challenging conditions and although tired it was enjoyed by all.

Weather conditions on the Sunday (high winds and rain) meant there was no paddling on the Sunday, but Saturday's paddle was worth the trip on its own.

Many thanks go to Jon and Dave for their hard work and organisation that made this trip possible.