Scottish Sea Kayaking Photo Gallery

**"BCU Sea 5* assessment weekend Kyle Akin, Skye."**

2 day paddles from Kyleakin out through the tidal narrows under the Skye Bridge, 12/13/03/05.

12/03/05

There was a lot of snow in Skye this weekend Force 6 N wind kept temp down spring tide going out through the Skye bridge narrows was impressive. It was a privilege to be invited by Gordon Brown to be a guinea pig for the 5 star assessments at Skyak Adventures. There were 4 candidates, 7 guinea pigs and 3 assessors; Gordon, Donald and Ken.

07:55 Blackrock Cottage, Glen Etive, Stob Dearg Buachaille Etive Mor in sunlight.

08:03 Three sisters, Glen Coe.

10:02 Kyle Akin from above Kyle of Lochalsh. Our launch site was the old ferry slip at Kyleakin, above the small island.

10:03 Kyle Akin.

GPS track

We arrived on Skye at 1130 am on Saturday and were made very welcome by Gordon’s wife Morag, despite the fact she was looking after their 2 week old baby son! Then we broke into our two groups and were introduced to the candidates, who we had not met before (I knew Richard C so was put into the other group). We had come prepared for a night paddle but Gordon said that due to slight inclemency of the weather, we would return before dark! The candidates introduced themselves and asked about our experience. In this company I felt pretty humble but I was struck how friendly every one was. Then we were off to Kyleakin. Although it had been planned to be on the water by 1300, a leisurely briefing let the wind die a bit and we launched from Kyleakin slip at 1500.

15:08 John (guinea pig) and Calum (candidate).

15:09 Ken (assessor)

15:09 Ken and Gordon (assessors)

15:09 Ken, Gordon and Mike (guinea pig).

15:13 Gordon.

15:13 Ken and Gordon.

15:24 Gordon, Alan (candidate) and Calum.

15:25 Gordon and Calum.

A fast ferry over the other side and out to the skerries beyond the Skye bridge narrows led to navigational exercises in hail, snow and a slowly easing force 7 down to force 5 north wind. Then back through the bridge going much closer to the lee rocks than I would have dared on my own.

15:42 John.

15:44 Richard (candidate), and Gordon.

15:55 Ken and Mike.

15:58 Alan.

16:36 Alan.

13/03/05

09:02 Isle Ornsay from Duisdalebeg looking into the mouth of Loch Hourn.

GPS track

The next morning the conditions had not improved so we again went to Kyleakin and out to the reefs for some “incidents”.

10:43 Calum, Mike and Alan.

11:00 Donald (assessor) in "Somerled" and Mike.

11:10 Donald and Alan.

11:18 John in his brand new islander boat and Mike.

The incidents took place in force 5 to 6 N winds, lumpy seas, about 50 m off a heavily breaking lee shore. Casualties were landed on a rocky reef without a beach. As I had a dry suit, I got into the chest deep water to help land the casualties.

11:30 Calum towing Alan and John (who has a "dislocated" shoulder.

11:31 The tow.

11:52 We landed the casualty here.

We then headed back through the bridge where the spring ebb was at its maximum against the N wind. It was quite lumpy and as the other group were coping with a real incident (yes a fellow guinea pig got wet) Donald asked the candidates in our group to take the guinea pigs out for a play. I have been in waves before, but always with an onshore wind and a sandy shore. I would not have dreamt of doing this on a powerful ebb tide on my own but I enjoyed it immensely. Then Gordon announced that it was time for the guinea pigs to get back while the candidates were assessed on their wet skills in the middle of the rough stuff.

12:51 Alan heading towards the Skye bridge in some small waves.

13:02 The narrows under the Skye bridge.