News
This page is regularly updated.
Friday 4th. July-
Firstly; Happy Birthday to Caroline!
The weather is awful for the next couple of days- gales and rain. Here comes summer!
Because of the weather the Sea Safety Demonstration was cancelled. Lets hope it's better for next Friday.
I don't think I'll be doing anything until Monday at the earliest, I have had to cancel bookings today. I have even had to move all the kayaks off the slipway- good job I did as the surge in the harbour would have thrown them all over the place!
Give me a call before venturing down.
Monday 1st. July-
Hi, well here we are almost into the main season! The weather has been a bit mixed over the last few weeks, lets hope we get a good summer.
There is some exciting news to tell you about-
Firstly, this Friday the 4th. there is a Sea Safety Demonstration between 1800 and 2000. It's taking place off the slipway so if you want a good view come and take a kayak! The RNLI will be running the demonstrations together with the Coastguard, St. Mawes Harbour, Firebrigade etc... should be a lot of fun and very interesting.
Secondly, next Friday the 11th. Prince Charles and the Dutchess of Cornwall are visiting St. Mawes to name the new St. Mawes ferry.
The visit will take place between 1000 and 1100 so if you want to take a kayak you will need to be here for 0900 and will not be able to re- enter the harbour until after 1100. Should be quite exciting though!
I do have quite a few bookings in now for the summer, so as it starts to get busier do call in advance to make sure I've got the boats you require. See you soon!
Wednesday 11th. June-
Pictures by Mary Alice, www.justnicephotos.com have been added to the "Gallery" of Monday's rescue. They show the dolphins that were saved not the dead ones that most of the media seem intent on showing!
Monday 9th. June-
St Mawes Sit-on Kayaks help in dolphin rescue.
At 0930 this morning we had a call in the harbour office from the Coastguard. They were requesting assistance in Froe (or Porth) creek where a number of dolphins had been spotted in difficulties.
Peter, the Asst. Harbour Master, and myself made our way to the area in my RIB. We were greeted by an awful sight- many dead dolphins and others in a distressed state.
We liased with the Famouth Inshore Lifeboat and were given the duty of ferrying the wildlife volunteers and vets and their equipment to the stranded animals.
Three dolphins were beached at that time and two lifeboat crewmen were already in the water doing what they could. A small pod of six or seven other dolphins were swimming nearby obviously aware of the distress their fellow pod members were in.
Unfortunately one of the beached dolphins was beyond help and the kindest thing to do was to stop it suffering any further. Howerver, the other two were placed on pontoon stretchers, one alongside my RIB and we slowly began making our way out of the creek trying, with the help of other boats, to herd the free-swimming dolphins out at the same time.
By now the tide was ebbing quite quickley and we needed to move the animals out in to deeper water to prevent anymore becoming stranded. We were making quite good progress through the moorings and the six or seven dolphins swam off towards the open sea, or so we thought!
Unfortuately they swam instead into Place creek where we then discovered thirty or forty more! We managed to get more boats, and some friends of mine who had come out in the kayaks, to push these dolphins out into the deeper water of the harbour. They seemed sometimes to be following the ones we had on the pontoons.
Eventually we got out to Carricknath point and it was deemed safe enough to try and float "our" two dolphins off and after a tense second or two they both swam off to join their group. By now it was 1500.
It is a really good feeling to have helped these beautiful creatures and I sincerely hope they don't make the same mistake again with their navigation, whatever the reason was for them being there. It was also a privelege to work alongside such dedicated Marine Wildlife volunteers, the RNLI, Coastguard and everyone else who came to help.
Monday 19th. May-
Hi, the month has been going well with some good spells of fine weather and plenty of boats out.
The Bank Holiday weekend weather is looking quite good too, after some wet weather on Thursday and Friday. So keep your fingers crossed!
The Peekaboos have been proving popular so if you want one be sure to call ahead to book.
Hope to see you soon.
Friday 2nd. May-
Hi, May has begun very nicely here in St. Mawes and the forecast for the weekend is not looking too bad. Bank Holiday Monday and the week ahead look particularly promising.
Hope to see you, but do call first just to check.
Friday 18th. April-
Well, after some lovely kayaking weather (the shorts came out!), the last dew days have been the complete opposite!
Strong easterly winds have made it impossible to send anyone out. Sunday looks to be the earliest that I will be kayaking again. Give me a call first if you are thinking of coming down.
Sunday 6th. April 2008-
We've had all the weather possible in one day today! But it's been far to cold to send anyone out this weekend. Had some brave souls yesterday but told them to come back when it's warmer!
The weekend has been a complete contrast to last week- Wednesday and Thursday in particular were glorious. Had lots of boats out and it was warm enough for just a t shirt. The shorts haven't come out yet- don't think it will be long though!
As always, if you are thinking of coming down call first.
Friday 21st. March 2008-
Beautiful day here in St. Mawes but the fly in the ointment has been the strength of wind. Although the harbour is sheltered the wind funnels down the Percuil making it far too hazardous to send kayaks out. I have been up the river on the RIB this afternoon and it really is rough.
Tuesday is looking like the first day I will be able to operate and then the wind returns for the rest of the week! As always, give me a call first.
Tuesday 18th. March 2008-
Hi, very excited now, as yesterday I launched the RIB! It's great to have her back on the water and I've been making the most of the good weather over the last couple of days.
Talking of the weather (when aren't we?) I'm afraid that it's not looking good for the Easter Weekend! Quite strong winds from a Northerly direction. Although from Monday onwards it is an improving situation. St. Mawes will be quite sheltered, but if you are thinking of coming down give me a call first.
The new lifejackets and buoyancy aids have arrived from Crewsaver, so it's all systems go for the 21st. March. I've also invested in some new Safety Lines to keep your young ones attached to the kayak should they decide to go for a swim! I've also upgraded the Frenzy seats to the Comfort Pro type. These mean you sit a little higher in the boat so keep your backside a little drier and give more support. I'm also fitting Scupper Stoppers in all the scuppers this year which should mean all boats stay a little drier, as long as you remember to bale out any excess water with the sponge- no guarantees though!
The competition was won by Miss. Caroline Ubrig from France! Caroline correctly answered that both kayaks should turn to their Starboard or right. Well done!
Don't forget the ongoing competition for the 12s and under throughout the year- help do your bit for the sea and shore. See the competitions page.
I'm looking forward to a great year, hope you are too and I'll see you all out on the kayaks during it!
See you soon,
Mark.
Hope you like the changes to the site, a new Gallery format etc... plus new chart and new brochure for 2008 to download. Alistair has done a great job again.
PADDLE VOUCHERS AVAILABLE (for Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversaries etc...)
Here's a picture of my new boat! A birthday present to myself!!! She's a bit more practical than "Chloe" was and will be ideal for finding anyone who hasn't come back on time!
People have been asking the name of my new boat well, she doesn't have one yet. I'm waiting to name her after my new girlfriend... whoever she is! I hope she will be more successful than my last one; on our first date I asked if I could see her home... and she gave me a picture of it!
