It always surprises me that I don't see more Paddlers (Kayakers or Surfskiers) at Langebaan and Saldanha Bay. Without exeception I regularly meet the same people on the water and the vast majority are locals or perhaps, more accurately, weekend Langebaan property owners.
Langebaan has to be one of ( if not the) best Paddling areas in the Country. Theoretically it fulfils all the requirements with none of the "risks" of other locales. If you fall out of your boat in the Lagoon and lose it in a gale force SE all you need to do is float until the tide drops and then walk home! (not quite but almost). There are no fish of the "wrong kind" - the biggest I have seen is a 1.5 metre thresher in the mouth of the lagoon that blissfully ignored everything around him/her. This weekend two endurance swimmers were training off the breakers between the main beach and Mykonos. The biggest thing they met was a surprised seal. In fact I'm not sure if there are many fish at all although a few seals and plenty fisherman.
Paddling is of course easiest in the Lagoon itself but the bay is almost as easy with only a gentle rising swell closer to The Strandloper. The breaks and shore landings can be tricky on the beach between the Groyne and Mykonos (the bay itself) due to the slope of the sea bed. You may get wet if your timing is off.
Accomodation in Langebaan is plentiful although not exactly cheap. There is one good camping facility at Lenjtiesklip. The ablutions have recently been upgraded and the sites have power and water. It does however feel more like (is?) a caravan park than a true campsite like Tietiesbaai at Paternoster. However if you have a "friend" with a plot or house in Churchhaven...
As I say - pity it is not used more by the paddling fraternity. Distance maybe?
regards
Monday, October 10, 2011
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Thanks for The Race
I know that this is a bit belated but many thanks to Margaret and Derek for arranging the race.
regards
Paul Weber
regards
Paul Weber
Monday, September 26, 2011
Kayak Race Results
 |
| Start of the race at Long Beach Simons Town |
| Name | Time | Av speed kph | % of winner |
LONG COURSE - 11.7 km | |||
| KAYAKS | |||
| Derek Goldman | 01:12:27 | 9.7 | 100% |
| Ryno Lamont | 01:13:26 | 9.6 | 101% |
| Mark Webb | 01:17:00 | 9.1 | 106% |
| Basil Thomas | 01:19:38 | 8.8 | 110% |
| Anton Kryshaar | 01:23:49 | 8.4 | 116% |
| Chris Kruyshaar | 01:25:07 | 8.2 | 117% |
| Paul Weber | 01:26:04 | 8.2 | 119% |
| Hendrik vd Heever | 01:26:57 | 8.1 | 120% |
| Mike van Huysen | 01:28:19 | 7.9 | 122% |
| Rob Hewitson | 01:29:10 | 7.9 | 123% |
| John Laurence | 01:31:29 | 7.7 | 126% |
| Paul Whitmill | 01:37:28 | 7.2 | 135% |
| Geordie Kohler (Rowing) | 01:40:15 | 7.0 | 138% |
| Willy Steenkamp | 01:52:03 | 6.3 | 155% |
| Emile Kruger & Partner | 01:22:32 | 8.5 | 114% |
| Jurgen Briegel & Partner | 01:50:33 | 6.4 | 153% |
| WOMEN | |||
| Viv van der Heyden | 01:45:29 | 6.7 | 100% |
SURFSKIS | |||
| Andrew Turner | 01:01:45 | 11.4 | 100% |
| Mark Beck | 01:02:47 | 11.2 | 102% |
| Paul Jenkins | 01:03:04 | 11.1 | 102% |
| Mike Van Wieringen | 01:17:12 | 9.1 | 125% |
| Mark Coram (Surfski) | 01:17:19 | 9.1 | 125% |
| Wayne Coram (Surfski) | 01:19:20 | 8.8 | 128% |
| WOMEN | |||
| Kim Kruyshaar | 01:29:31 | 7.8 | 100% |
| SHORT COURSE - 6.3 km | |||
| KAYAKS | |||
| Christo van Schalkwyk | 00:49:25 | 7.6 | 100% |
| Dermot Magowan | 00:49:29 | 7.6 | 100% |
| Sean Burr | 00:50:07 | 7.5 | 101% |
| Marco Schiess | 00:50:44 | 7.5 | 103% |
| Roger Steven-Jennings | 00:56:28 | 6.7 | 114% |
| Sandy McLea | 00:59:46 | 6.3 | 121% |
| Bart McLea | 01:00:19 | 6.3 | 122% |
| David Kohler (Rowing) | 01:14:03 | 5.1 | 150% |
| Ian Lints & Roger Creswell | 00:50:10 | 7.5 | 102% |
| SURFSKIS | |||
| Andre/ClaireLaure (Double ski) | 00:37:44 | 10.0 | 100% |
| Andrew D'Legg (Surfski) | 00:48:08 | 7.9 | 128% |
| Paul Lotter (Surfski) | 00:52:12 | 7.2 | 138% |
| Barbara Calothi (Surfski) | 00:56:49 | 6.7 | 151% |
Monday, August 22, 2011
More animal encounters
I have had two separate interesting encounters in the last week.
The first was near Boulders penguin beach with these harmless sharks:
And then this cormorant decided to use me as a taxi:
The first was near Boulders penguin beach with these harmless sharks:
And then this cormorant decided to use me as a taxi:
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
How good is Google Earth?
When Google Earth first came out I was gobsmacked (I was also awestruck but awesome is such an overused word) but heck it is an awesome program - and it's free! People use it all the time now when planning hikes and paddles, two guys paddled the length of the Orange River and collaged together the whole river from Google Earth printouts to help them plan.
Then came Google Street View and people tried to get themselves into these shots or if they were lucky/unlucky were in them anyway. Here's the street view of our jetty where regulars will recognise the blurs that are the card guard and vendors who work there.
Now I imagine few people can say they that they are visible in Google Earth but I am! - well anyway I recognise the smudge that is me but nobody else would! Below is the wide shot of the jetty and yacht club and further below are the blow-ups of the marked rectangles.
The yellow circles highlight two of the white double kayaks we take day trippers on, seen in the top picture, and in the red circle is me leading the group back.
But the point here is not to boast and this post is really all about this last picture.
Behind the kayak you can see some circles which is movement from the paddle strokes in the water! Now that I think is awesome!! And that the use of all these exclamation marks is fully justified!
Then came Google Street View and people tried to get themselves into these shots or if they were lucky/unlucky were in them anyway. Here's the street view of our jetty where regulars will recognise the blurs that are the card guard and vendors who work there.
Now I imagine few people can say they that they are visible in Google Earth but I am! - well anyway I recognise the smudge that is me but nobody else would! Below is the wide shot of the jetty and yacht club and further below are the blow-ups of the marked rectangles.
The yellow circles highlight two of the white double kayaks we take day trippers on, seen in the top picture, and in the red circle is me leading the group back.
Behind the kayak you can see some circles which is movement from the paddle strokes in the water! Now that I think is awesome!! And that the use of all these exclamation marks is fully justified!
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