GENERAL PLAN - "KAYAK ECOSSE" 20th June to 19th July 2009
Expedition Aim:750 Mile clockwise direction voyage around Scotland's mainland by Kirton Expedition Sea Trek Kayak by Mark Bragg
Equipment :
Details of Kayak: Red Deck, White Hull, Fibreglass construction. Hydraulic Skeg & Rudder fitted by Karitec. Buoyancy, 4 separate compartments, 3 filled with dry bags / general stores. Foot pump for central compartment.
6Watt Hand Held VHF, Smoke & Rocket Flares, (PLB) McMurdo 210 GPS EPIRB, Mobile phone, Radar reflector, Gortex Exposure bag, First Aid Kit, Bouyancy Aid, Manual Lifejacket, Strobe light, crash helmet, whistle, (Possible Irridium Satellite Phone).
Other equipment:
Navigation equipment (Night Compass, GPS Charts, tide tables/atlas, OS Maps), 5 days hot food supply, 2 days water, Tent, spare dry clothes.
Timescales/ Route plan:
Start point - Workington (North Cumbria), Saturday 20th June 2009
Finishing at Berwick upon Tweed (Under the Bridge).Sunday 19th July 2009
Average distance over whole trip: 25 (land) miles per day. Maximum expected daily distance 80 miles.
Main Plan (Plan A) is to complete the whole trip in under 4 weeks averaging 40 miles per day on West Coast taking rests before undertaking exposed crossings such as Ardnamurchan Point, Cape Wrath, Pentland Firth, Duncansby Head, Inverness area, Fraserburgh / Peterhead area and Forth estuary crossings.
Fallback Plan (Plan B) with bad weather or illness/injury is to complete the trip as far as Aberdeenshire, then finish the trip during evenings & weekends later during the Summer.
I intend to contact the coastguard at the beginning and end of each day as part of my normal routine by VHF or mobile phone (conversation or text) or satellite phone (if available). My CG66 is registered at Aberdeen Coastguard, EPIRB at Falmouth Coast Guard. 1st Shore Contact is Nigel Lammas. 2nd Shore Contact is PJ Bragg. I will take heed of the weather forecast each day and adjust my goals according to the conditions. On some sections other kayakers will join me..
Hazards:
Generally in accordance with the Expedition Kayak Risk Assessment as available on internet:
Limitations of own Ability & Equipment: Open sea Crossings in excess of 26 miles will not be attempted
Not to set out in head or side wind force above force 5, tail wind above force 6.
Limit of capability Head Wind Force 7, side wind force 6, Tail wind force 8.
Max Sea State 3 meter swell. Beach landing 1.5 meter waves. Night paddles in sheltered waters under ideal conditions are likely to take place on this trip.
