August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Information about ISKA meets
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conorsmith
Posts: 206
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am

August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by conorsmith » Thu Jul 27, 2017 2:19 pm

With the postponement of the ISKA meet, a group of Clare paddlers are hoping instead to head to Connemara for the weekend. The plan so far:

- Meet noon Friday Renvyle House Hotel. On the water for 2pm sharp, heading west to Shark for the night;
- Saturday morning circumnavigate Shark, finishing on Boffin;
- Sunday morning heading to Turk for the 3rd night;
- Monday morning, back to Renvyle House Hotel and home.

We are happy to open this meet up as a Peer paddle to anyone else interested. It is very much weather dependent - the final decision will be made next Wednesday and can be changed to suit conditions!

Anyone joining us MUST be Level 3 ability. Please be honest with yourself about this, regardless of whether you hold a certificate or not. You must have all of your own equipment and be able to manage yourself at a competent level within a group. This is open water distance paddling and while we will all look out for one another, there can be no hand holding.

Shark is an uninhabited island, bring everything you will need for the night. Boffin has facilities, including shop, bars, restaurants etc. Turk also has facilities but less than Boffin.

If you cannot join the group until Saturday morning or if you need to come in on Sunday, you must organise your own group for this part - suggesting minimum 3 persons. You are on your own for these crossings but should let us know beforehand to expect you.

Please let us know well in advance if you hope to join us. Do NOT just turn up on the day. Comments, queries and confirmation can be posted below for discussion. Call me if you have questions - 086 - 8 2 8 3 8 4 7

colinfrancis
Posts: 120
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by colinfrancis » Thu Jul 27, 2017 3:37 pm

Hopefully see you then .on the Friday,

sfrawley
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:52 pm

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by sfrawley » Thu Jul 27, 2017 4:01 pm

Hope to make it on Friday too
Sinead

seamusomahony
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by seamusomahony » Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:35 am

Looking forward to this, hope the weather co-operates

conorsmith
Posts: 206
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by conorsmith » Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:18 am

I have 11 confirms with a number of undecideds. If you are looking to join us, it is important to confirm.

At this point we have a reasonable idea of what to expect. Tracking the forecast you can see things are picking up Wednesday/Thursday, dying off over the weekend with winds possibly increasing again Monday. Taking everything into account, I think it would be unwise to come in off Turk over that distance with large numbers. If we were to reverse the route heading to Turk on the Friday, conditions are still lively for a big group.

As of now the safer option would be to leave instead from Cleggan on Saturday, heading for Shark. Circumnavigate the island Sunday landing on Boffin for the night, returning Monday. The islands will offer reasonable protection from the swell, with the wind on our back on the route in. This might open up the meet to others unable to travel Friday?

The new plan is to depart from Cleggan 12 noon sharp Saturday. If you arrive for 10ish, you can comfortably pack your kayak, dispose of your car and be ready to hit the water on time. On a bank holiday weekend, the harbour will be busy - we will load from the secondary slip to the right out of the way. Please do not be late and have us wait!

Oliver's Bar backing on to the pier is open from 9.30am, serving breakfast.

I will travel up Friday afternoon and camp in Streamstown that night, only 10 minutes down the road from Cleggan. Speaking to Chris, the rate is €15 for the night and he can accommodate - mention ISKA and my name. Anyone arriving earlier looking to paddle, you might post to see if others are interested in joining you. If you are new to the area, Inishturk and Turbet are lovely islands a short paddle from the campsite and certainly worth a visit.

Conditions are still changing daily and the eventual route will be decided at the weekend. That said, we are still happy to paddle in the area, mainland based or otherwise. The islands are just the preference.

If you have thoughts, comments or otherwise, please post or give me a call - 086 - 8 2 8 3 2 4 7
Last edited by conorsmith on Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

conorsmith
Posts: 206
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by conorsmith » Wed Aug 02, 2017 5:12 pm

For the weekend and especially Sunday, the weather is not what we hoped and offshore camping is not wise. We are still interested in getting away and a number of us will travel to EcoBeach camping Streamstown Friday afternoon. Hopefully there might be some paddling that evening.

On Saturday the plan is to meet at Cleggan Pier for 10am. The likely scenario if conditions allow is a day trip to Bofin and hopefully Shark, returning that evening. You can choose to come home afterwards or perhaps stay another night to see what Sunday actually brings.

Highlighting already conditions will be testing, you need to have all your own gear and be able to manage yourself. While we will all look out for one another, there can be no hand holding in this instance. While a pity, unfortunately we cannot open this up to everyone.

Drop me a line if you have any questions - 086- 8 2 8 3 2 4 7

If anything changes, details will be posted here.

brianmacmahon
Posts: 178
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by brianmacmahon » Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:22 pm

What a weekend lads.

We were poxed with the weather. Stunning sunshine and sea conditions.
Connemara never disappoints.
Thanks to everyone who made it a fantastic few days paddling.
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Back of Cruagh
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Some of the WISKA crew
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Cruagh launch - Tricky
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conorsmith
Posts: 206
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by conorsmith » Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:58 pm

13 paddlers in all over the weekend. Most arriving Friday afternoon and evening, with a run out around Cruagh and landing for a walk about. Saturday we left from Cleggan Strand for Shark, spending a little over an hour on the island before a circumnavigation. Nice bounce on the way out with testing conditions for those looking to push their limits around the back of the island while under supervision. A quick stop on Boffin for a pint and back in - 32km in all. 2 of the group went directly to Shark Friday evening for the night, hooking up with us along the way Saturday.

Weather and conditions were much better than expected. A good stiff F3 during both days with clear skies and sunshine for the most part. Passing squalls missed us bar the tail end of one lasting only a few minutes. Rain only during small hours of Sunday morning had no bearing. Sunday was dull and blowing F5, with everyone heading off around lunchtime after a slow lazy breakfast. With the uncertainty over the weather, it was the right thing to go ahead as there was always somewhere to paddle in the area and we were lucky to have gotten the best of it.
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Chris McDaid
Posts: 169
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:35 pm

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by Chris McDaid » Wed Aug 09, 2017 10:13 pm

Outstanding weekend, thanx Conor for organising :D

Cheers,
Chris

conorsmith
Posts: 206
Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:37 am

Re: August Bank Holiday Weekend - Alternative Option

Post by conorsmith » Sat Aug 12, 2017 3:36 pm


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