THE COASTAL ADVENTURER
William Thomson explains why the December solstice marks the ideal time to go kayaking and become one with the natural world
It might be winter but with the right gear the cold season is perfect for a kayaking trip, says William Thomson
Last month we explored the ‘celestial sphere’ and learnt how it affects what we see in the night sky. But it influences our days too; once a year, the sun makes a complete orbit around this sphere, a journey we call its ‘ecliptic’. Throughout this annual migration, the sun’s declination (position north or south of the equator) rises and falls, being most northerly at the June Solstice (23˚ north) and most southerly at the December solstice, when it drops to 23˚ south. The biggest effect this has on us, far to the north, is that the mid-day sun is much lower in the sky – just 17˚ above the horizon, as opposed to 63˚ above the horizon in June. The days are also much shorter; at the end of December the sun does not rise until 8am and sets shortly after 4pm – that’s a total of eight hours less daylight each day than midsummer, which adds up to a staggering 56 hours less sun per week. This can be a depressing thought, but if you look on the bright side, things can only get better from here. Every day after this month’s solstice, the sun will rise a little earlier, climb higher into the sky and set a few minutes later.
With this positive mindset, the adventure goes on. The secret is to choose your activity with care, selecting one that takes into account the prevailing conditions of the season. Wind is the major factor, a result of more lowpressure systems passing through on account of the Jet Stream travelling southwards with the sun. These increased and often powerful winds can make pursuits like stand-up paddleboarding almost impossible, as you struggle to balance in the choppy seas or make headway against the wind. And while you might think sailing would be well suited to the gales, it is a mainly sedentary sport with little body movement, so you get agonisingly cold. In addition to the wind chill, the sun’s rays heat the air less effectively than in summer, because they are reaching us at a shallow angle as a result of the sun being so far to the south in the Celestial Sphere. So we need an activity that keeps us warm, something with lots of movement to keep our circulation going. And it needs to be able to keep us safe in the stronger winds and rougher seas of a British winter.
KEEP A LOW PROFILE
One of my favourite coastal adventures that ticks these boxes is kayaking. Your low profile in a kayak makes it much easier than a paddleboard at punching
into the wind, and a less experienced paddler will find it easier to handle choppy seas than on a SUP. Then there’s the warmth that comes with paddling hard, safely wrapped up in a Gul dry suit with hi-tech Finisterre thermals underneath, accessorised with Sealskinz waterproof hat and gloves. Even the coldest coastal waters around the UK are no match for this modern kayaking outfit. But the secret is to not push your luck. You have to accept that you cannot do things in winter that you do in summer. The adventures will be shorter, less ambitious, less frequent. But vitally, they will keep you going through those long, dark days. They will give you a reason to keep an eye on the forecast, to keep yourself fit and to stay in tune with the tides. The alternative is that you give up on adventures and just wait for spring, but for many of us that is simply not an option. We need the water, or a sort of depression sinks in.
START NOW
Winter kayaking is a very different experience to summer paddling. You cannot simply jump onto a sit-on-top kayak in your swimsuit and just hope for the best. In December, the sea temperature drops to a bone chilling 8˚ Celsius which can present life-threatening dangers such as cold-water shock and hypothermia. Even a quick dip can lead to disastrous consequences for the unprepared. Luckily though, the equipment you need to safely paddle in the winter is out there; the essentials are a dry suit, hat, boots and gloves. A dry suit differs from a wetsuit by keeping the water out, so you can wear warm thermals underneath. In contrast, a wetsuit is designed to keep a thin layer of water between the neoprene
and your skin; this heats up and keeps you warm. While wetsuits are perfect for both surfing and swimming, a dry suit is a must for kayaking in the winter and it has the added advantage of keeping wind chill at bay. Finally, you need the kayak itself. My favourite option is the Oru kayak that ingeniously folds into a carry case to make it easy to transport to sheltered paddling locations.
REWARDS
Kayaking is a wonderful aerobic exercise and upper-body workout, particularly for abs, lats and biceps. The rigours of paddling have the added advantage of keeping you warm on winter paddles, pumping blood through your system while the endorphins surge. Best of all, it’s open to everyone; you don’t have to go on a course to try it.
This is not to say it is a low-skilled activity; as you become more experienced you can upgrade to performance kayaks and learn technical disciplines like the eskimo roll and riding in waves.
One of the strengths of kayaking is that it opens up the opportunity for long-distance cruising on multiday trips. While December might not always lend itself to this, the winter months are a perfect time to plan trips and keep your fitness up, ready for the longer warmer days of spring and summer. There’s no better feeling than packing the essentials into a cruising kayak and setting off into the wilderness for a few days. Scotland’s west coast is particularly well suited to this, thanks to stunning sea lochs and the freedom to camp wild.
This immersion in nature is where kayaking comes into its own. The ergonomics of sitting low in the water mean you seamlessly merge into the environment. Where boats often scare away the birds and seals, kayaks smoothly drift among them, just another creature of the coast. Even paddleboards can impose on the natural world; the silhouette of a human standing seems to startle wildlife. But tucked into your kayak, at the surface, you are welcome. And if you struggle with balancing on a paddleboard, in a kayak you don’t need to worry about falling into the water at that crucial moment seals swarm or a basking shark passes underneath. Next month: William starts a new series exploring the geography of the coastline around the UK and how it shapes our adventures.
TIDE SCHOOL
You can book William for an event to boost your knowledge of the sea, increasing safety and performance. For more details email William@tidalcompass.com
‘Kayaking will give you a reason to keep an eye on the forecast, to keep yourself fit and
to stay in tune with the tides’