Yesterday I bumped into an interesting video by Teamorigin, British America’s Cup team. The video introduces the history of America’s cup and features a duel between Team Oracle (US, current title-holder), and Teamorigin skippered by Ben Ainslie. The teams recreate the very first race around Isle of Wight island in Solent, which was the starting point for this long lived yacht match race cup in 1851. The race footage on board is interesting, however it would be great to see more – one cannot find enough material of this good quality for education: commentary, anecdotes, tactics and boat handling! Read more
I’m re-emerging after busy times with a life-affirming message: it’s winter but life is not over! There’s no time for winter blues, when you can do so many fantastic things outdoors. Coasteering! Surfing!
Weekends in Wales and Cornwall were absolutely fantastic despite rainy weather. What can rain do for you, when you’re spending hours in the sea anyway? Soak you from head to toes? *Tilts head back and laughs manically*
Who’s scared of cold waters when wearing 5mm winter wet suit, wet suit boots, balaclava and a buoyancy vest? Yes it felt cold at first, but the sea was much warmer than air, so actually it was comfortable out there.
Coasteering is a physical activity that encompasses movement along the intertidal zone of a rocky coastline on foot or by swimming, without the aid of boats, surf boards or other craft. It is difficult to define the precise boundaries between, for example, rockpooling and ocean swimming. Coasteering may include all or some of the following:
Swimming or Adventure Swimming: in calm water; rough or white water; and/ or tidal currents. Dressing for swimming in the sea (wetsuits, buoyancy aids etc) is an integral part of Coasteering]; even on routes where it is possible to stay dry. A route, or activity, where the group start out with the intention of staying dry – whether through route choice or the use of ropes and harnesses – is not coasteering.
Climbing, scrambling, sea level traversing: the very nature of the coastline that is needed for coasteering demands aspects of these activities. Ropes, as security on rock, are not used. Any climbing activity usually takes place above deep water, with safety spotters used where appropriate. There is a similarity to the sport of deep-water soloing, but this would normally be carried out by experienced individuals not wearing equipment suitable for coasteering. Coasteering is never a dry, climbing activity.
Jumping and Diving: are often seen as an appealing and exciting part of coasteering. These activities actually make up minimal content of a coasteering session.
A defining factor of coasteering is the opportunity provided by the marine geology for moving in the “impact zone” where water, waves, rocks, gullies, caves etc, come together to provide a very high energy environment.
I’m thinking of going back some weekend and carry on paddling in the wintery sea.
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@gossy01 The race 11 starts today, we'll slip lines at noon local time, 6pm in UK. The actual race starts later, Le Mans style out there. 1 week ago
