With a perfect weather forecast of variable 1-3 Beaufort winds, smooth seas, 15 degrees temperature and springtide I thought (on Saturday morning): why not!
On my first visit to Anglesey in 2000, I paddled around the island with a paddling friend in 4 days. Nigel Dennis' comment was: "Some people paddle it in one day you know?" So it was allways in the back of my head to give it a go someday. Yesterday was that day.
The only issue this time of year is daylight hours. I paddled in the pitch black until halfway across Trearddur Bay. Despite GPS I had a difficult time around Rhoscolyn for all the black rocks popping up late in front of me preventing a proper cruising speed. And being stalked by a breathing seal or dolphin? Using the eddies all the way up to South Stack for the tide was still ebbing; LW Holyhead at 07:15; HW at 13:30.
Beyond South Stack the tide turned. I lost 15 minutes at the Skerries for a pee & leg stretch break. Although the break was planned, I lost precious current, that was even audible... At Middle Mouse I saw a Dolphin twice, wow! I did not use my planned stop at Point Lynas to take full use of the conveyer belt tide towards Puffin Island.
Halfway across Red Wharf Bay I did not seem to make good progress anymore. To take good care of myself for the remainder I needed to land at Penmon, where I was greeted by Phil and his clients, cookies and tea. From the start I did not have to wear a cag. By now my shirt was soaked and I was getting cold. Time for a dry shirt and cag. For me it felt I already nailed it. The rest was just making the miles. After the break I was a half hour behind my original schedule. That proved vital in the time to get around for it was now ebbing north, out of this end of the Menai Strait.
At Beaumaris boats where lying at different angles from their mooring buoys and soon therafter bows lined against the current, my direction, yes! Now catching the full ebb towards Abermenai Point; home run. At Menai Bridge I rearranged my maps to be sure not to forget it once it would get dark. I was now looking at at least one-hour-and-a-half later arrival than planned, aiming for 20:30. Instant soup at Abermenai Point and headlamp check and off for the last stretch. I made it back by 19:55, in the dark, for my first one-day circumnavigation of Anglesey.
This was pure for personal achievement. It is also the last trip with my 'Tweety' Explorer sea kayak. I am getting a new Explorer in my familiar colors Yellow-over-White; "Tweety II". It's first trip was Falls of Lora, it's last trip with me around it's home island Anglesey for a fitting 'farewell'.
If I would paddle it again I sure would better my personal 'record', for there is enough room to tweak it and make even better use of the current, not to have to work so hard towards and after Puffin Island. With a standard (none-racing) sea kayak (Explorer) and a bigger tide, I could better my time by 60 to 90 minutes, without 'racing'. For this was a gentle and rewarding (long) day paddle.
Worst things on the trip? The boat carry to and (worse) from the beach to my car, sore feet, and a not-working (cold) shower at the B&B. All gear now rinsed and ready for paddling tomorrow, Tuesday.
Statistics
| Plan | Location | GPS |
| 04:45 | Cable Bay | 04:45 |
| 05:45 | Rhoscolyn | 05:45 |
| 06:45 | Penrhyn Mawr (arrive) | 06:45 |
| 06:45 | Penrhyn Mawr (leave) | 06:50 |
| 07:15 | South Stack | 07:20 |
| 07:30 | North Stack | 07:35 |
| 08:45 | Skerries (arrive) | 08:50 |
| 09:00 | Skerries (leave) | 09:00 |
| 09:45 | Middle Mouse | 09:55 |
| 10:30 | Point Lynas (arrive) | 10:45 |
| 11:00 | Point Lynas (leave) | 10:45 |
| 13:00 | Puffin Island (arrive) | 13:00 |
| 13:00 | Puffin Island (leave) | 13:25 |
| 14:30 | Swellies | 15:35 |
| 16:00 | Abermenai Pt. (arrive) | 17:10 |
| 16:00 | Abermenai Pt. (leave) | 17:30 |
| 17:00 | Llandwyn Island | 18:15 |
| 19:00 | Cable Bay | 19:55 |
| Total Time | 15:10 | |
| Total Distance | 66,7 | nm |
| Total Distance | 123,5 | km |
| Average Speed | 4,9 | kn |
| Maximum Speed | 8,0 | kn |
| Tides LW 07:15 1,1 - HW 13:30 5,4 | 4,3 | m |
Nutrition: 2 slices of toast with thick bacon for breakfast; 6 slices of bread with peanut butter & jelly; 2 bananas; 6 mini blueberry muffins; 5 bounties; 2 chocolate biscuits from Phil, half a liter of yogurt; 1 big cup of soup; 2 liters of water.
For humbling record times for the circumnavigation see John Willacy's Anglesey Circumnavigation page.
P.S. Last week I had some wonderful paddling days with Rowland Woollven, Bonnie and Andrea. The pictures and postings of that follow later.
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