A few lengths before breakfast…
Today we rose early and headed north for another Saturday of kayaking action. PC, Tommy Andy and myself arrived at Whiterocks beach just as the sun was beginning to show it’s face.
However after a (very) short time in the water we found that the surf was just too big and messy to be any good, so we put the boats in Tommy’s van and headed around to the east strand. When we arrived we found there was a surf competition on, but not just any competition, these guys were pro’s! It was the UK Pro Tour, the guys who get paid to surf.
So we headed further up the beach to avoid getting in the way.
The surf was pretty big at the east strand, and fairly relentless, the tide was going out and there was an offshore of somewhere over 10 mph and building. So we headed out into the fray and began surfing the white stuff near the beach, after a few rides we began to head a little further out, and I pushed on out to the main break, my arrival somewhat overshadowed by a stonking great 15 (at least!) foot wave which picked me up and spat me out upside down. I gathered my composure and rolled awkwardly upright only to find, while I was still unstable, the next wave landing right on top of me. This time my lungs were empty and I had little choice but to bail out.
When I got to the surface I was already out past the break and began to head for shore, Tommy and PC came out to see what the fuss was all about and kindly gave me a bit of a tow back to the break. I say a bit of a tow, it was about 25 minutes worth of swimming and towing! Constantly being pushed out by the tide, wind and it’s driven current.
Finally I got to the break and got pushed in by the waves, gently refusing a kind surfers offer of riding on his board. when I got to the beach I was greeted by the familiar face of Dingus McGee (Ian to his friends) who had flagged down a passing ambulance (yes, an ambulance passing by on the beach) to give me some medical advice. “Get some warm tea in you” they said. I was happy to cooperate.
While I had been floating around, contemplating the ocean and it’s ways, I noticed PC had drifted out a bit. Again the “bit” can be replaced with “a lot” and was well on his way to the skerries. He had taken my paddle from me while I was swimming and was struggling to paddle with both of them. I was somewhat torn between losing my nice paddle and PC going on holiday to Scotland, but in the end we were willing him to leave it and paddle in himself. But as we had no way to let him know, he carried on with the paddle.
In the end the ambulance (the one on the beach, just passing by) guys radioed the folk at the surf competition and asked them if they could have their jet-ski guy nip over and give him a lift in. Which he did. Paddles and all.
So in the end, while it was all my fault and I had the longest swim of my life before breakfast. In order to point the ridicule elsewhere…PC had to be rescued while he was still in his boat.
Seriously though. I think I was getting a bit cocky in the surf, having been out so regularly recently and not having any bother, having some dry runs etc I think I was forgetting just how big the sea is. I should have stayed closer to shore and surfed the smaller stuff, where a swim would be a matter of minutes.
Stay safe kids!
