Ocean Kayak Race

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Adventure Kayaking in the Menai Strait

Chris McSweeny / 31.05.2011

The Ocean Kayak Race is an exciting new race for sea kayaks and surfskis. Based on Anglesey, it was organised by Adventure Elements in conjunction with Open Adventure, adding a bit of adventure to sea kayak racing.

The original idea was an event based on the open sea to the SW of Holyhead – a stretch of coast familiar to those who did the coasteering in last year’s Open 24. There were to be some compulsory checkpoints defining the shortest route, with optional checkpoints each worth bonus time deductions – all to be completed within a fixed time limit. That was Plan ‘A’ …

High winds in the days before the race creating huge swells, and high winds forecast for the day of the event put paid to that. Instead we had plan C in the Menai Strait (plan B was the NE coast – flatter water there, but strong offshore winds). The new route was a downwind, downstream run with an optional lap of the Swellies - a stretch of very fast flowing currents in the middle of the Strait.

A variety of craft lined up for the start; long sleek surfskis, slightly shorter but just as sleek racing sea kayaks, a variety of touring sea kayaks from the fast to the not so fast and a handful of doubles. I placed my Epic surfski near the left end of the start line – the finish was to the left, so I figured a few metres closer to that wouldn’t do any harm.

The race started and those paddling sea kayaks jumped straight in their boats, but with an understern rudder on my ski I had to run into the water to get enough depth before jumping on and paddling off. It was clear the skis had an advantage here though – no stopping to put on a spraydeck – so no surprise to find myself in the lead. What did surprise me was how long I held the lead.

I was expecting to get hauled in by the kayaking specialists, but the rough conditions with big confused waves allowed me to get some good surfing runs, and maintain my advantage over a small group behind. As the incoming tide was sweeping up the Strait I headed out into the current to get the advantage of the flow. Picking a good line was clearly important, so I kept a careful watch on John Willacy in the group behind – being a local and the record holder for circumnavigating Anglesey I assumed he knew the best route (he is at least easy to spot in his pink boat!)See All Event Posts