Post a Comment On: Sea Kayaking Beyond the Break

With continuing high pressure and fantastic weather, today had the feeling of being a scorcher. First paddle this year in a short top me thinks!

With a fairly big spring tide and mirror like conditions Hywel and I decided we'd head out to Steepholm in the middle of the Bristol Channel.
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Leaving Penarth we could just about see Flatholm through the fog. I had some unreasoned desire to go around the north of the island . . .

After a fairly steep ferry glide out towards the landing jetty on Flatholm, I finally gave in within yards. The flailing blurred paddling in almost tropic conditions was just a little bit too much like hard work. We decided to go down around the south of the island and immediately accelerated to some 5 knots without lifting a blade.

Scooting around to the lighthouse we start our second glide across to Steepholm. It doesn't take us long.

[Image] Within a short time, Flatholm seems miles away, and the mainland has totally disapeared
[Image] Arrival at Steepholm [Image] The spit on Steepholm with Brean Down off in the fog [Image] A very low tide [Image] An alternative landing spot with convenient steps [Image] High tide mark? As we paddle around the island and hit slack low tide, Hywel mentions that his GPS is indicating an altitude of minus 8m.

[Image] Rudder Rock at low water
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[Image] Steepholm [Image] Hywel on Steepholm having lunch with Flatholm in the distance and nothing else [Image] No horizon
Leaving Steepholm just as the tide begins to flood, it is noticeably eerie out here. No sound, no movement. Passing Flatholm I notice some disturbed water and something sticking out of the water. So with some more frantic paddling I try to gain ground and get closer to investigate before it is lost to the flood.

[Image] Approaching the Wolves
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[Image] Wolf Rock as the flood starts increase It is the Wolves, exposed, just. These rocks have claimed a few lives in their time.

[Image] Hywel sitting on some turbulent water before the rocks, above where we thing the masts of the wreck might appear on an even lower tide. [Image] Hywel at the Wolves with Steepholm in the distance [Image]

[Image] The chart indicates that there are exposed masts at the chart datum.
With the high pressure and millpond conditions, we might have seen them had we arrived a little earlier. It could be the masts of the sloop William and Mary which struck the Wolves on 28th October 1817
 Her topmast remained some feet above the water, to which the crew adhered until the boat returned. Our informant saved himself by swimming, and was two hours and a half in the water, when he was taken into the boat. He witnessed the heartrending scene which took place on the sinking of the vessel. A Mr Barron, his mother, and four sisters (who had their man-servant and carriage on board) were among the passengers; the cries of the young ladies were most distressing. They all perished! They went down in each other's arms.  54 passengers were lost, including 22 women and children. Only one person survived.
50 bodies were recovered and buried on Flat Holm. [Image] 14.7 Nm