Visits to Coquet Island are always different. Last Sunday there were dolphins but not as many seals as on Wednesday. Our group of sea kayakers was round the back of the island when a passer-by on a motor boat told us there were dolphins heading South on the landward side. After completing our circuit there were no dolphins in sight so the group split in two. One group went to Hauxley beach for coffee while the others went in search of the dolphins – and did find some as you can see in the photo above. The coffee group got to practise surf landing and launching at Hauxley beach before heading back to the harbour.
Two weeks earlier the sea group didn’t make it round the island after finding the sea was more lively than expected. Because of an off-shore wind the group followed the coast and did a little rock-hopping on the way to coffee at Hauxley beach. The wind didn’t seem too bad and a trip round the island was judged possible but the crossing turned out to more exciting than anticipated so the group headed straight back to the harbour without going right round. You can get an impression of the sea state in the picture below. All photos Richard Sill.
