West Coast Gliding

Unlike yesterday, the Atlantic is not in a good mood, and the temperature lurks around fourteen degrees Celsius while argumentative little waves bustle in from the fog. We splash into the freezing, salty spray with visibility hovering just beyond the twenty metre mark, sticking close to Hannes who seems imperious to the cold and sets a brisk pace. I keep a wary eye out for whales (on a previous trip a southern right had surfaced from the mist right underneath one of the kayaks, capsizing it), but today we seem to be the only remaining living beings on the planet.

That is, until we hit the Cape fur seal colony. Within seconds we’re surrounded by hundreds of diving and splashing seals, grunting and squealing as they frolic around the kayaks, imbecilic grins beaming from their whiskered faces. With the cold forgotten, I try to get up close and personal to capture their sleek antics on my underwater camera, but the thick mist and drizzle do not make for great photographic conditions.

When we eventually head back over the gunmetal grey swells, a few inquisitive pups escort us as we ride the tide towards the beach. Long after we leave the seals behind, I still hear their grunts echoing behind the shifting layers of mist. Over a steaming cup of coffee, we discuss the day’s kayaking. Hannes is a little grumpy - we didn’t see southern rights; the seals are so much better when the sun is out and there was not a two ton sunfish anywhere to be seen. I’m happy though; it gives me all the more reason to return.

Getting Crafty

Kayak-building technology have come a long way since the early days of animal skins stretched over a whalebone frame. Although the occasional wooden kayak might make the odd appearance, most modern craft are manufactured from polythene plastic, polycarbonate, fibreglass or Kevlar. Variations in length (suitable to either one or two paddlers), hull and rocker shape, weight, stowing space and seating design are all important considerations before making a purchase, and an informed decision can only be made after spending at least several hours paddling the craft.

Traditional kayaks are rigid hull craft with sit-in cockpits, where your lower body are inside the hull and is sealed in by a spray skirt. Although this design offers exceptionally good tracking, speed and manoeuverability, launching and landing requires a certain level of skill. Sit-on boats are a lot easier to get used to as you sit on top of a craft which is also more buoyant - a disadvantage is prolonged exposure of the lower body to the elements.