Category: Reviews Page 1 of 2

Words by Doug Cooper

For over 30 years, I have been happy paddling Diolen construction sea kayaks, many of which I have chosen to get made up in a more robust ‘heavyweight’ layup for work and expeditions. This has all changed now, though, with my current mantra being ‘light is right’, and with the new P&H Ultralight construction option available to enjoy, there has never been a better time for this paradigm shift in my sea kayak construction choice!

What has led to this change of thinking, though, and could light be right for you as well? It has certainly revolutionised my sea kayaking experience, and as we’ll go on to explore, it will allow me to continue sea kayaking a lot longer into my ‘twilight’ years!

Sooner or later, a lifetime of ‘exploring my boundaries’ in the world of kayaking was always going to take its toll on my (now) ageing body. With the benefit of hindsight, it is only too easy to offer advice to my ‘younger self’ with regards to taking it easier, warming up more, caring for the body and allowing injuries proper time to recover; however, reality proved to be different!

An ongoing back issue led to 4 months of relative immobility last year, with a constant question of whether I would paddle again always present in my mind during this period. As things slowly got better, the physios prescribed gradually getting back out paddling – this was music to my ears!

During this period, it quickly became overtly obvious that the paddling was the easy thing; that was actually feeling good for my back. However, the moving, loading, unloading and lifting of my trusty sea kayak was the biggest challenge and thing that was stopping me from getting out – it was just too difficult for my recovering back.

I have used sea kayak trolleys for many years now, along with easy load roof rack systems, but even with all that – the kayak still needs to be lifted, and that was a problem for me. I couldn’t help but think – has all this lifting and carrying been the root cause of my back problems as opposed to the actual paddling? Also, for all those people out there who are similarly challenged lifting and carrying their sea kayak (for many other reasons as opposed to purely injury), is this perhaps the biggest barrier to enjoying getting out sea kayaking?

A shout out to my long-term friends at P&H, and a lightweight construction sea kayak was on its way – with the hope of solving all my problems and getting me back out on the water doing what I love to do!

I was still a bit sceptical about how much difference a lightweight boat would make, but I can now say the difference between carrying a 15kg Ultralight kayak and my previous 26kg kayak is nothing other than remarkable. Whether it was me loading/carrying my kayak with a friend or with the trolley or doing it on my own, it made it easy.

This ease of carrying suddenly encouraged and enabled me to get out more; popping down to the water for an hour’s paddle suddenly became easy to do as opposed to ‘more hassle than it was worth’. My bad back still needed looking after, but the paddling was pretty good for it, and now getting to the water was possible; this new lightweight ‘wonder’ boat not only enabled me to get out, but I am convinced will allow me to keep getting out into the future.

As my back recovered and my paddling increased, I soon discovered other advantages of my new ‘light is right’ toy. On expedition, I had previously thought there was little point in a lightweight boat as you just fill it with heavy kit anyway – how wrong was I! I can now carry my empty (or nearly empty) light boat to the water or up to land and then carry my expedition kit to and from it in a not-too-heavy kit bag. A little more walking, yes, but a lot easier on the body – which I now know is important!

I still always use a trolley with my sea kayak when possible, but again, pulling a lightweight boat is so much easier, and there is always some twist in the body when doing this, so my back is thankful!

As my body continued to recover, I could start getting back out in the more advanced environments, enjoying sessions on the Falls of Lora, surfing at the beach, a downwind run or tidal race play. In all of these environments, the lightness of the boat and the stiffness of the hull did nothing other than put a smile on my face. It was more responsive, felt easier to manoeuvre and seemed to want to just ‘dance with the waves.’ Suddenly, my new kayak, which was initially acquired to enable me to get out paddling, was now enabling me to perform better as well – something I didn’t think would be happening at my stage of paddling!

Having been enjoying my move to a lightweight construction for over 6 months, a final previous concern of ‘going lightweight’ is also starting to be dispelled. That being the kayak will be ‘fragile’ and have the potential of breaking!

I’m always careful with my kayaks, but that said, they do get a lot of use in often advanced conditions with awkward landings; this is both empty and fully laden. Despite its weight, I’ve now got complete confidence that my kayak is far from ‘fragile’; the lightweight construction is certainly tough enough for all I am going to be using it for. It will indeed be serving me well for many years to come, as I now believe my body might be as well.

So, if any of the above resonates with your own experiences of sea kayaking and you are in the position to consider investing a fair amount of money, then I can assure you the benefits can be life-changing. You may well end up joining me in my mantra that ‘light is right’!

Scotland, the Northwest Highlands; the perfect expedition venue to take a Volan 160 and Cetus MV for an adventure…

By Doug Cooper

On February 19, 2024

In Expeditions, Reviews, Trip Reports

Words by Doug Cooper

Photos by Doug Cooper & Pete Astles

Every year, my good friend Pete Astles from Peak PS and I block out two weeks in our diary for a Scottish sea kayaking adventure – the primary aim is to get away from it all and have fun. Last year was no exception, and on a warm and sunny June day, we found ourselves in the Northwest Highlands just north of Ullapool on a stony beach, getting ready to set off for 8 days ‘away from it all’. It was that usual start of a trip; two big piles of kit sat alongside two empty sea kayaks, the two of us wondering if it would all fit! Kit for a self-support trip of this length is nothing we are not used to, but our trip was going to take us initially through the Summer Isles where water was scarce, so we needed to fit in extra water; alongside some of the extra comforts two slightly more ageing adventurers now look to take on trips!

I was packing my trusty Cetus MV that I have paddled for many years now, but Pete was in a new Volan 160 that he was looking forward to trying out, and I was very interested to see how it’d compare with my Cetus! I must admit I was sceptical the Volan 160 would fit all of Pete’s kit in, but it passed this first test with flying colours – everything was in, and its carrying capacity seemed not too restrictive compared to the Cetus.

With perfect weather and a myriad of islands to explore, wild campsites to savour and breathtaking scenery to take in, we spent the next five days exploring every nook and cranny of the beautiful Summer Isles. Evenings were spent enjoying watching the sun set over the distant Outer Hebrides, whilst days were spent venturing between the islands, landing on the beaches, and exploring the caves; all under the watchful eye of the resident wildlife and the towering sentinels that are the surrounding Assynt Mountains.

Whilst exploring the islands, we decided to swap kayaks each day, both wanting to discover the performance differences between our two boats. In the calm conditions, both kayaks cut through the water like a dream, with the Volan 160 consistently surprisingly fast – how could this shorter and wider boat maintain its speed so well was our constant source of discussion; the anticipated ‘faster’ Cetus was not leaving the Volan behind that was for sure. Enjoying exploring the caves, arches, and rocks, the manoeuvrability of a kayak makes such a difference to the ease of what can be achieved; we both had to agree the Volan 160 top trumped the Cetus MV big time when it came to this!

Leaving the Summer Isles behind, our journey continued around the dramatic headland of Rubha Coigeach, with expansive views west to the Hebrides, north to Cape Wrath, and east into the mighty Assynt mountains, a sight to behold. A stunning beach provided our camp for the night, a perfect end to this magical day; however, with the sun setting, the forecast advised us all was to change for the next few days. Waking to a sea of white horses, we planned a conservative route to take us ever north, where we planned to finish at Lochinver. Setting off, we enjoyed a ‘playful’ force 5-6 to get us going, but by the early afternoon, this had evolved into a ‘robust’ force 7-8, and thus, a downwind surf to shelter was required.

The ‘playful’ and then ‘robust’ conditions again provided a great opportunity to test how the two kayaks performed. It was obvious that the Cetus MV tracked a bit better in the side winds, but that said, with appropriate trim and skeg, the Volan 160 was certainly easy enough to keep on track. When the robust conditions asked for stability, manoeuvrability, and confidence-inspiring from the kayaks, then neither let us down. That said, in the Volan 160, it was obvious less effort was required to turn in the conditions, and there was definite extra stability to allow for a slightly more ‘relaxed’ as opposed to ‘focussed’ look on our faces! As for the Force 8 downwind surf – well, that certainly put a big smile on both our faces in our respective craft. However, when it came to cutting about on the following sea waves, the Volan 160 won the price for minimum effort and maximum style, but when it came to getting to the shore first in a straight line at speed, the Cetus MV was there to welcome the Volan ashore!

June in the far Northwest Highlands provides close to twenty-four hours of daylight, so, having sheltered from the wind all afternoon, we could make use of a late evening calm period to continue our journey. Our last camp was on the outskirts of Lochinver, where the following morning we could catch a bus to return us to our car. After our brief stormy period, it provided a tranquillity that could be savoured more than usual as we sat and watched the sunset one last time. It allowed us to reflect on our 8 days ‘away from it all’, chat about sights seen and experiences lived, and, of course, most importantly of all, plan where we will head for the following year’s two-week adventure – already in the diary. The final question to ponder, will I be joining Pete in paddling a Volan 160 for the trip – I think I might be!

A Taste of the Ultralight Volan

By David Bain

On October 5, 2023

In Reviews

As a proud owner of a Cetus, I have been on many sea kayaking adventures, exploring the outer Hebrides, the caves of South Wales, and the coastlines of Scandinavia as far north as Tromso in Norway. However, I always thought that a longer, expedition-style sea kayak was necessary for these types of trips – which I realise might be a common misconception. That is until I was told to check out the P&H Volan.

I have wanted to paddle a Volan since its release, and I was curious to see if a shorter kayak could still provide the speed I needed for group paddles and solo missions, while also offering more manoeuvrability for rock hopping and playing along the British coastline. So, when I had the opportunity to try out a demo of the Volan 158 in P&H’s new Ultralight layup, I jumped at the chance to steal it for a weekend.

The Expedition layup of my Cetus, complete with rudders and accessories, weighs around 26 kg. In contrast, this new Ultralight Volan, made of a kevlar/carbon weave with additional strengthening bands, weighed in at only 14.8kgs. It is truly a thing of beauty, and I was warned not to break it!

Despite being designed for touring in the fjords of Norway, lakes from Windermere to the Great Lakes in the USA, and the perfect conditions of the European continent and the Mediterranean, the weather and the tides don’t always tell the story you want to hear though, and the fun Spring tide conditions in Pembrokeshire were calling Gabi and I to make the trip to West Wales for the bank holiday weekend.

As someone who grew up as a slalom paddler, I have developed a strong appreciation for lightweight composite boats, while also learning to avoid rocks. Most slalom paddlers will remember the sound of the first time their composite boat connected with the rocks below, but most also remain true to their composite roots. I was amazed by how light the Volan felt when I picked it up, and in the right light, you could see the construction showing through, which served as a reminder that rocks are not our friends.

This education makes us all too aware that composite boats are not to be seal-launched or landed on rocks.

My first impression of this boat began the moment I picked it up to place it on the roof, but I knew that the real test was to come when we arrived in Pembrokeshire. The Bitches, a tidal race between St Davids and Ramsey Island, is well-known for its fast-moving water, complex eddy lines, and breaking waves and would also be a perfect testing ground to make sure the specification was strong enough to be a P&H Sea Kayak. The new Ultralight construction did not falter in these conditions, and it was an absolute joy to paddle. It cruised quickly up the coastline, ferrying across the flow, through the back eddies and paddling out of the whirlpool-like transitions between all the contrasting flows. The Volan’s manoeuvrability blew me away when I threw it on edge, where I am sure weight is a contributing factor, but not the only factor for this design excelling.

While there was a little more flex in the hull due to the reduced layers of fabric, this was only noticeable when I side-surfed a larger breaking wave on the back of the tidal race. Even then, there was no damage to report, but it’s worth noting that these are not the conditions that the Ultralight construction is designed for.

The P&H design team had a vision for this new construction, and I’m sure that it will be a hit among paddlers around the world. The single-person carrying and loading onto roofs are just some of the benefits, as the Ultralight layup is a game-changer on the water.

Whether you’re touring in the fjords or paddling on lakes in calmer conditions in this spec, or playing in the British coastline with a more hardy Expedition layup, the Volan’s versatility is evident in every stroke and it is firmly on my list as a boat to work towards.

All models of P&H Composite Sea Kayak are available to order in the Ultralight layup now, including the brand-new Composite Virgo!

The Full-Carbon Cetus

By P&H Custom Sea Kayaks

On March 7, 2023

In News, Reviews, Technical

We make many boats each year between our rotomoulding facility and head office in Cheshire, and our composite workshop in Derby; both have very skilled teams using some sophisticated equipment, and sometimes quite basic skills in a sophisticated way.

In my 52 years in this industry, I have seen some exceptional skill and craftsmanship from our team, from our suppliers, and from some competitors, much of which most of our customers would never see or understand.

I am so used to it that I wrongly take it for granted, but occasionally, something I see makes me realise just how far we have travelled and just what a skilled, talented, and wonderful team of people we’re lucky to have building our kayaks.

Recently, I saw a Lightweight Kevlar/Carbon Infusion Cetus with Clear Carbon all-round that was utterly exquisite. From 3 metres away, it looked like any full-carbon kayak, but when I got close, I was “gobstruck” (for our international friends, this means ‘overwhelmed with wonder, surprise, or shock’), speechless, and rendered immobile. I poured over the deck, stroking its form and looking for a blemish that was never found.

For some time, I have been proud of our team’s skill in laying down a full layer of carbon in the hull without weave distortion and folding. The painting of bows and sterns in a solid colour to disguise the cutting of fabric necessary for low-skill manufacture are not the P&H way. To see the deck laid down without such painted segments around its many complex features is an entirely different order of difficulty! There was no fabric weave distortion or any cuts around the RDFs (Recessed Deck Fittings, which hold the decklines, elastics, and handles) or hatches. Around the heavily contoured compass, sail mast foot, and split-paddle shaft recesses there was one little cut which had to be pointed out to me, but I still couldn’t see it. It was invisible.

Steven Pericleous, you are a master craftsman, but so are many more in our team whose skills aren’t so easy to see.

Graham Mackereth

Subject: Thank you

By P&H Custom Sea Kayaks

On February 24, 2021

In Reviews

We were humbled to receive the below email from one of our customers recently. Stories like David’s mean the world to us, and we wanted to share it with you in case any of the ideas, or just David’s spirit, could help or inspire you in some way:

“Dear Graham,

I trust this note finds you well and thriving amidst this challenging world with COVID-19 and all.

My name is David Mercer, a longtime student of John Carmody. If the name doesn’t connect, maybe some of the alterations I’ve requested on my various boats from P&H will: performance seat with the Aries type cockpit, not installing the seat to allow for positioning the seat laterally to allow for the 25 pound lighter weight difference on my left side and most recently… the incorporation of d-rings in the front and day hatches of my new boats to allow for connecting ballast far to the port side.

I’m writing with a much belated thank you! And, in the process, want to convey what a huge impact your accommodating my specific needs and paddling P&H boats have made in the quality of my life.

I lost my left leg to cancer more than 43 years ago at age 27. I was very active and athletic before the surgery and was driven to not let the amputation slow me down. Prosthetics were not as adaptable and innovative during those times. I tended to sports where the mobility was provided. I actively pursued downhill skiing and was addicted to speed. The same with water skiing. I was riding a bike during the summer without my prosthetic but I had been in search of another sport that wouldn’t rely so much on my lower body.

My introduction to sea kayaking was quite by accident some ten years ago. My wife and I had rented a cabin on a small pond in New Hampshire that had two of what I now understand to be plastic sea kayaks filled with leaves under the cabin. I paddled every opportunity I could grab that week, while taking care not to ignore my wife. I was like a fish taking the bait. The hook was set.

Returning home, it didn’t take long to find a rental for the remainder of the summer. I spent that summer on the numerous flatwater lakes in our area. I was getting the added exercise and loved paddling. It was on a lake paddle that I bumped into a group of kayakers. Conversation ensued and I was convinced to join them on a sea journey. I had no idea what I was getting into. That trip convinced me I needed a drysuit and possible lessons or coaching. Through a twist of fate the drysuit connection happened to be a P&H paddler – Suz Hutchinson. Suz introduced me to P&H boats and John.

John has been an extraordinary coach and mentor guiding my development and progression in the sport. I quickly realized how much I didn’t know and actively pursued a course to increase my knowledge and skills.

I swear by the Swede form design of the P&H brand. It has been an extraordinarily stable platform as I deal with the significant lateral weight differential. Additionally, once having been exposed to the more aggressive thigh braces and being able to adjust them individually I have been able to more easily adjust for the mass difference from my natural leg to the prosthetic side. This has significantly benefited me by being able to develop a reliable roll. The d-rings allow me to come close to a neutral position without the need for excessive leaning by adding weight to the front and day hatch without concern that they will move around.

P&H became a socially acceptable addiction. My current collection includes Carbon-infused versions of: Cetus MV, Aries 155, and Volan MV. I also abuse a Delphin 155. My son-in-law paddles a Cetus MV and I just ordered a Virgo for family use.

Kayaking has become a healthy obsession and one for which I am forever grateful. I was on the water 106 days last year while maintaining a fulltime work schedule. The opportunities afforded me by the sport, impacting my physical conditioning, mental health and attitude are immeasurable! I firmly believe that the tangible returns of enjoying international paddling journeys, paddling with our local club, pursuing individual skill and leadership knowledge through the BCU system, rock-play and surfing would not have been available had I not had the good fortune of being introduced to P&H boats. I am a grateful and committed customer.

Deepest thanks Graham for all your help along the way!

David Mercer”

Thank you, David!

If you have any custom requests that’ll help you get on the water more comfortably, please do get in touch: https://www.phseakayaks.com/contact.php

Cold Water Safety Test

By NORTHSEAKAYAK

On March 18, 2018

In Reviews, Technical

After receiving a few questions from fellow paddlers about our survival time in cold water during a distress situation, we wanted to test things out. We often see other paddlers go on the water, poorly dressed and without even a clue that cold water can kill someone within minutes. In our team everybody is aware of that, and so the team members are dressed for immersion. We never had problems, or even cold, when doing exercises during the cold winter periods. During training we do a few rescues, get back in our crafts and paddle further on. That way, we keep up our body temperature. But, we wanted to know what to expect in an emergency situation when we are unable to get back in our craft, or worse, when losing our craft. We don’t want to know what happens when we are well rested, when our undergarment is perfectly dry (no sweat) and when we just begin our training. No, we want to know what will happen when we are tired (or exhausted), when our undergarment is wet from sweating, and when the water temperature is as low as possible in our area. So, we paddled a fast-paced tour (as fast as possible) to sweat a lot, lose energy and get tired. We succeeded in that when entering the safety of the harbor to commence the test. The water temperature is 2°C, which is the coldest the water gets in our area. Safety precautions were taken in advance and the Coast Guard was aware of our test. In the video you will see the stage we went through, from entering the water until we got ourselves in the first stage of hypothermia. After thirty minutes we experienced uncontrolled shivering which was the signal to get out of the water. Of course, it would be possible a lot longer in cold water, in case of a real emergency. But we don’t want to take risks, our goal was already achieved. We were able to conduct a cold-water safety test that was as realistic as possible. That way we can share our knowledge with the rest of the team, and with other paddlers. Our main message; don’t be afraid of going out when it’s (very) cold, but be well prepared. Wear a good quality PFD and good clothing that protects you against the cold water (dress for immersion), field and swim test your gear on a regular base in the conditions you paddle in and last but not least, imagine the worst that can happen and prepare for it! We sincerely hope that our test can help you get a better understanding of cold water safety. We also advise you to have a look at the website of the NATIONAL CENTER FOR COLD WATER SAFETY. You can find a lot of good tips, together with real life stories. Paddle safe and take care of each other!!

Sea Kayak Sailing – Enhancing The Seafaring Experience

By Gethin Roberts

On July 24, 2016

In Reviews, Technical

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South Pembrokeshire

West Coast of Ireland

Sea kayaks enable their users to explore and play on life-affirming journeys. Part of the challenge is to safely utilise the currents, swell and winds. The direct energy of the wind has been largely unused by most modern sea kayakers. In recent decades sailing rigs have become far more manageable to use on sea kayaks and their distribution/availability outside of Australia and New Zealand is only now becoming a reality. This exciting development is opening up brand new sea kayaking opportunities and challenges for all. From downwind coastal runs to traversing huge exposed island chains, like the Aleutians, sea kayak sailing is putting bigger smiles on people’s faces and aiding in epic journeys.

Tropical beach on Caldey Island

Windy day at Cadnant Bay Menai Straits

History

Kayak sailing was invented in 1865 when John “Rob Roy” MacGregor designed and built a sailing kayak for his 1,000 mile journey along the inland waterways of Europe. Those early Rob Roy Kayaks subsequently evolved into the huge variety of kayak types that we know today. Sail equipped kayaks remained popular into the 1930s. In 1934, Alastair Dunnett and Seumas Adam (“The Canoe Boys”) used their sail equipped Lochaber kayaks on an impressive and pioneering journey to explore the west coast of Scotland.

Kayak sailing also became popular in continental Europe during the 1920s and 1930s. In 1928 Franz Romer kayak sailed across the Atlantic from Lisbon to Puerto Rico. He attempted to continue his journey onwards to New York but went missing, presumably killed, in a hurricane. Oskar Speck’s similarly epic seven year kayak sailing trip from Germany to Australia should have been widely celebrated as an amazing achievement. However, arriving at his destination in September 1939 he was interned for the duration of the Second World War.

Kayak sailing subsequently went out of fashion in Europe. Towards the end of the twentieth century sails were beginning to be developed for use on modern sea kayaks by Australia and New Zealand-based kayakers. Sea kayak sailing is now commonplace in these countries and is beginning to take hold in Europe and North America.

Skerries Lighthouse, Anglesey

Surfing in Ireland

Surfing near Stackpole

Why sea kayak sail?

Speed/endurance/fun

Maintaining the top displacement hull speed is easier when sea kayak sailing. It is also much easier to get your kayak planing in swell and tidal rapids. This is particularly useful when attempting to catch less steep waves. In essence you will catch more waves, considerably increasing your speed and range. Average speeds of 7 knots with planing top speed runs in excess of 10 knots are not unusual in conditions where it would be considerably more difficult for conventional sea kayaks to plane and maintain average speeds of more than 3-4 knots.

When the waves become too steep it is best to stow the sail away as it will no longer enhance the experience and will, most likely, become a liability.

Enhanced safety

The sail appears triangular and conspicuous from afar and/or in overhead rolling swell.

The exposure of paddling along coastlines with less frequent safe landings is reduced if the wind and sail combine to add to the kayaks propulsion.

Caldey Island tiderace

Getting into sea kayak sailing

Equipment

The main airfoil sail available in Europe is the Flat Earth Kayak Sails range of airfoils. They are designed and manufactured in Australia by Mick MacRobb. Other airfoil sails are being manufactured for sea kayaks but they are far less common in Europe.

Sea kayak manufacturers

Many composite sea kayaks will need strengthening in order to accommodate a sail mast. You can assess this by pressing down on the deck near the compass recess and gauging whether there is much flexibility in the deck and hull. Most kayak companies will strengthen your kayak by special order. Plastic kayaks tend to be more robust in taking a sail mast.

Since 2012, P&H kayaks have produced all of their composite kayaks with enough strength to accommodate a sail mast. Their plastic Scorpio MKII range of sea kayaks has been designed with sailing in mind. It easily accommodates a Flat Earth Sail and handles superbly well when sailed.

Have a go/purchase

Scotland – Karitec are the main UK distributor of Flat Earth Kayak Sails and have a range of demo boats to try out under sail.

http://www.karitek.co.uk/

England – P&H have demo kayaks fitted with sails and attend many sea kayak symposiums.

http://www.phseakayaks.com/

Wales – Sea Kayaking Wales (SKW) are based on Anglesey and have a range of P&H sea kayaks and Flat Earth Kayak Sails to try out. SKW also run sea kayaking (including sailing) courses in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Llŷn and the Gower. Flat Earth Sails are available to purchase from SKW.

https://seakayakingwales.com/

More Information

http://seakayakphoto.blogspot.co.uk/ – An excellent blog written by, Douglas Wilcox, one of the most enthusiastic proponents of sea kayak sailing in Europe.

http://www.flatearthkayaksails.com/ – The most popular airfoil sail in the UK at present.

Tenby

Geth

www.seakayakingwales.com

Anglesey’s Stacks and Skerries in the Pyranha Octane

By Gethin Roberts

On July 24, 2016

In Reviews, Technical, Trip Reports

After paddling the Octane on Llyn Padarn I wanted to try it out at sea in wind, waves and moving water. My kayaking buddies for this trip were Ed and Abi Loffil.

The Pyranha Octane with the Flat Earth Sail fitted

Ed and Abi had a head start on the outward leg so I followed them 20 minutes after their departure. This leg had up to 10 knots of southerly wind with a slightly post spring tidal current to propel us on the flooding tide to The Skerries. Time of leg – 1.5 hrs.

Approaching Penrhyn Mawr

Approaching the middle race of Penrhyn Mawr

South Stack

Rush Hour in Holyhead Bay

The Skerries

Departing The Skerries

Surfing circuits at The Skerries

The return leg had 10-17 knots of southerly wind against the south flowing ebb tide. Time of leg – 3 hrs.

The rough journey back south

North Stack

Taking a rest at South Stack

Sailing home to Porth Dafarch

The team returned at Porth Dafarch with our paddling friend Jan

Initial thoughts on the Octane

Previous to receiving the Octane I had never paddled a surfski. The closest speedy boat I had experienced to compare it to is the Rockpool Taran. The Octane, like the Taran, is great fun to paddle fast, especially in surf. At speed the surf ski is particularly stable, locking into its watery path. Its stability seemed further enhanced with the addition of the Flat Earth Sail, as this gave more propulsion. It is even better to sail than the equivalent P&H Scorpio or Delphin sailing kayaks as it is super quick and responsive to the rudder. With its open cockpit it felt a lot like a modern sailing dinghy, especially with the gurgling sound of the self-bailer.

Paddling downwind with swell was far, far better than the reverse into wind and waves. The former situation gave much greater speed than the accompanying sea kayaks, whereas into wind and swell the surfski was only marginally quicker, despite lots more effort from my core muscles. I probably need to improve my technique in these conditions.

The Octane is a very positive boat. It rewards good posture and technique with better performance. This feedback is proving really useful as I try to get better at paddling a surf ski.

Next time I want to try some more downwind runs!

Geth

www.seakayakingwales.com

The Cetus

By NORTHSEAKAYAK

On July 12, 2016

In Reviews

When I was looking to replace my trusty P&H Scorpio Lv with a Cetus I spend hours looking on the internet to find footage where I could see the boat in action. I know what you’re thinking, why not testing it rather that looking at videos? Well, I already did and I was sure that the Cetus was going to be my next boat. The kayak customizer page on the P&H site is awesome, I think I made my boat virtually one hundred times. But it’s even better to see the boat on the water, with a paddler in it. To see it’s colours, to see the different options, to see its behaviour,… Even when waiting on the delivery I searched “Cetus videos”. The only downside was that there are not many to be found where you can see the boat from different angles. So I remained a bit unsatisfied for the time being…

With the delivery I felt like a kid with his new toy (and I still am by that matter). It was my first composite boat, new, shiny, glossy! I already paddled several hundred kilometres with it, in a wide variety of conditions. Just like its polyethylene brother, the Scorpio, it never lets me down. On the water it has to perform, it goes fast while being stable, very stable. Even when paddling in rough seas it still feels like I am paddling from my couch. When putting it on edge it steers and turns very well. Anyway, don’t take my word for it. I am perhaps a tiny bit subjective. When looking to buy a quality sea kayak, make sure to test this piece of craftsmanship and see for yourself!

Enjoy our short video, a big thanks to Sylvie, who filmed from different angles to get the best result.

Paddle safe and take care of each other on the water!

Dimitri Vandepoele

NORTHSEAKAYAK

Handa Island – New boat, custom colours and perfect light.

By Doug Cooper

On April 14, 2016

In Reviews, Trip Reports

The Cetus MV was, yet again, my boat of choice to meet all my coaching and personal paddling needs for this year.; whether it is introducing aspiring sea kayakers on sheltered waters, running 5 Star courses in the Pentland Firth, away on expeditions around Scotland’s amazing coastline or playing out at the Grey Dogs, for me, it just does it all. It also gives me a real stable platform for on-the-water-photography when doing my books, articles and sponsors’ photos; with an expensive SLR digital camera in my hand, and the opportunity to capture that ‘perfect front cover picture’, that’s pretty important!
So, when my latest Cetus MV arrived the other week, as always I was excited to get it out on the water, but this boat was just that little ‘more’ special; PeakUK have updated the colours on their sea range of kit this year, and knowing this, it seemed rude not to have a boat to match! With some helpful collaboration between PeakUK and P&H, the colours were matched and that allowed P&H to do their ‘magic’ in customising the perfect boat for me! As you would expect, they really went to town on it and not only was the boat colour matched, but all the trimmings (decklines and bungees) as well – brilliant!!

With the perfect boat from P&H and the awesome kit from PeakUK, a suitably spectacular venue was required for its first outing, along with some great light to get the photos to show it off; the North West Highlands of Scotland were the destination and the amazing Island of Handa was the prime spot to visit. If you’ve not been to Handa yet – go… It offers towering cliffs, caves and arches aplenty, along with the enormous ‘Great Stack’ of Handa. All this is guarded by thousands of sea birds, with the raw force of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the relative shelter and beaches of the Sound of Handa on the other. It’s easily accessible to paddle around, yet once there you will feel on the edge of the world in a very exposed way!

So, with some careful weather watching, some great evening light was found to paddle around Handa Island and ‘wet the hull’ of my rather unique boat – may she see many more such great trips in the months to come… thanks to all the P&H team for making her so brilliant!!