Anglesey Skerries by sea kayak

A Porpoise, a Peregrine,and a Puffin! Amazing conditions for March,at the time I thought"This is probably summer 09" wasn't too far wrong!
Launched at Sandy Beach,just east of Holyhead Breakwater,got to Church Bay and decided to go for it.Not to be taken lightly this one,the tide race is formidable,and exposed to wind from any direction,I have been through on big boats and it is challenging with wind over tide.
On the way across I was quite apprehensive in case the wind got up,seeing the Porpoise's was great,always seem to be in pairs,see them briefly,then they dissapear.The water clarity was amazing for March,never,ever seen it this good north of Holyhead,at any time of year.
On the west side is the historic wreck of the "Royal Yacht Mary" built in1659,wrecked 1675,found in 1971,some of the antics of the divers made the national press,most notably "Feuding Frogmen" one report said a diver was stood on the rock overlooking the wreck with a shotgun,and lurid tales of recovered cannon being hidden and transported in empty coffins! fantastic bronze cannon and other artifacts are displayed in the Maritime Museum at Liverpool.Diving is strictly banned,as it is on the wreck of the"S.S. Castillian" which is approximately under the Puffin you see on the way back!
The atmosphere and sunset on the return journey was just splendid,and the sense of achievment,palpable.This trip has been on the to do list quite a while-managed it first go,in March! wouldn't have bet much on that one!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• yt:stretch=16:9
• Sandy Beach
• Holyhead Harbour
• Holyhead Mountain
• Church Bay
• Carmel Head
• West Mouse
• Royal Yacht Mary
• Porpoise
• Puffin
• Peregrine Falcon
• Seals
• Skerries
• Lighthouse.Rockpool
• Kayak.

[nericksonnick]

Seal behind you at 3.33

[GBPaddling]

@nericksonnick Indeed,they follow you all around the rock,and part of the way back.They usually always do this,sort of "Escort you off their patch" as it were.On the Farne Islands,I was followed by 20-30 for a mile or so.

[AsteroidTV]

are there actually porpoise's (Dolphins) In Anglesey?

[GBPaddling]

@AsteroidTV Indeed there are,did you not see it in the video? I see them quite a lot,but they are very elusive to film.Unlike Dolphins,they don't leap clear of the water,and you tend to see them 2 or 3 times and then they dissapear.I have been told the best place to see them is off Point Lynas.You can walk to the lighthouse and observe off the headland.

[onlywhenpissed]

3 miles on my SOT? Defo not worth the risk! Thanks for the heads up.

[GBPaddling]

@onlywhenpissed Not sure what you mean,but if it's the Skerries,they are at the Northwest corner of Anglesey approx 6 miles North of Holyhead,so that would be quite a paddle from the mainland!! Think you're getting mixed up with Puffin Island at the Northeast extremity.For launching here,You could launch at Sandy beach,as I did,which is about 5 miles direct,or Church Bay which is about 3 miles directly across,but be aware this trip is a serious undertaking,in anything but ideal conditions.

[onlywhenpissed]

Frank. How long does it take to paddle from the mainland? The Menai bridge is only short but what about a kayak crossing? How long would it take on my sit on top on a calm day?

[GBPaddling]

@onlywhenpissed There are quite a few around Anglesey,as you would perhaps expect,also quite a number of Choughs,and Ravens,as well as all the usual seabirds,it really is some place!

[GBPaddling]

@hellooldchap Yes indeed,don't forget it was March! better than most of the summer.

[onlywhenpissed]

There was a family of peregrines two fields upstream from me this year. We watched the parent training the juvenilles and it was amazing. We could have seen them by walking but to see them from the water was better. Nice one with the video again Frank.