Buffels to Simon's Town paddle

The weather for this Sunday looks great but potentially the 5 to 6 meter swells may be the problem. A possible alternative is to launch at the north slip at Millers and head to Smitswinkel Bay and then run back with the swells to Simons Town.
I will not be able to make this paddle as I am working. If you want to do it please call the shop 786 2626 to let us know so we can plan.

Derek

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This paddle scheduled for Sunday 23rd is postponed to the next Sunday due to the windy weather forecast. Also means if you are a rugby fan you can watch the World Cup Final and not miss the paddle :)

Whale Watching from Kayaks

I agree with Paul, Langebaan is a lovely place to paddle and it's actually not too far away. But what it does not have, and which our home base of Simon's Town has, is this...



There can't be many towns in the world where you can watch whales breaching while paddling in the harbour! Are there?

LANGEBAAN

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

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

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%