Random…..met two guys at Abereiddy the other day, they had unintentionally paddled their tandem sit on top kayak from Whitesands!
Having travelled up from Cardiff for a morning paddle and a cheeky fish, they ventured off the beach at 7.30a. They did a little fishing, popped around St Davids Head, then spent 45 mins trying to paddle against wind and tide to get back around the head and return to their car.
Mother nature won! The onshore wind was pretty fresh and an incoming tide meant they just couldn’t make it back….they decided to paddle with the elements, a shore fisherman further up the coast directed them to the dot on the landscape and they ended up at Abereiddy!
Upon reaching land (2.45pm!) and more importantly people…they sought out a phone (in this case us) to call a taxi to return to their car.
They had take refreshments along in the form of energy drinks, crisps and fruit and were both wearing wetsuits and buoyancy aids. But had very little safety equipment (flares, map, comms, first aid kit etc).
Lesson learnt folks…..check and double check tides and weather conditions before venturing out on the sea, carry a phone or some form of communication, it’s also worth contacting the local coastguard with information such as you planned route, when you’re leaving, when you plan to arrive, how many people are with you, vessel/boat colour type etc…. 😉
