A Stroll in the Sea of Kattegat
Thursday afternoon I left Grenå harbor for a new attempt to reach Sweden some +100km to the east. No I didn’t plan to paddle the entire stretch in one go but wanted to reach the island Anholt so wonderful located halfway between our two countries in the sea curiously named Kattegat.
I opted for a late start as the forecast announced the west by northwest wind was decreasing from a force 6 to a 5 during the afternoon and evening. I hoped to reach Anholt before sunset though the knowledge of the Anholt lighthouse was a reassuring thought.
The 50km trip was a lumpy experience in chaotic waves spiced up with regular rain showers. The Inuk performed flawless in it’s usual no-bullshit-keep-going fashion. I had lowered the seat before the trip to increase the stability and was rewarded once in a while by being able to take one hand of the paddle and grab a snack.
I landed in the surf after some 6 hours of concentrated paddling feeling quite good. Quickly build up the tent at the exposed beach to get away from the driving rain.
Checking the forecast friday morning I decided for a change of plans. The crossing to Sweden is west/northwest while the force 5 wind was coming from north/northwest. It would be quite a struggle and I set my eyes on the tiny island Hesselø 56km to the south and 25km north of Zealand. For a number of years I’ve been wanting to go to Hesselø and here was the perfect opportunity.
Leaving at noon the paddle to Hesselø was superb. Sunny weather, wind in my back, the mp3-player loaded with careful selected songs and little traffic to worry about. The wave pattern was much to messy for any decent surfing though and the speed was accordingly low. After some 5-6 hours I spotted the island and later on landed at a sheltered beach. Definitely one of my best paddles this year.
Hesselø is privately owned and visitors are not welcome. I halfway expected to be forced to stay at the beach(according to danish law, you’re permitted to make a stay for a day at any beach). However I never saw anyone nor did I make a big fuss of my arrival and build up my tent in a corner. I might very well have been alone on the island.
Saturday morning I set course for Zealand and paddled to get in position for the crossing back to Jutland. Easy day.
The wind Sunday was perfect with a light breeze from south east once again blowing in the right direction. With the wind changing it’s direction the current changed direction too and helped pushing me to the north. With only a moderate effort I was regular pulling 10km/h.
After about one hour paddle I passed the Sjællands Rev lighthouse. Apart from that it was really an eventless day. A stroll in the park Kattegat alright.
View Larger Map
This concluded my 2008 Kattegat adventure. Next year I’ll make another attempt for Sweden. Let’s see – I might reach Norway instead.
I’ve uploaded some more photos to my sea kayak club’s gallery.
I’ve uploaded three of the GPS tracks to motionbased: Jutland to Anholt, Anholt to Hesselø and Zealand to Jutland. These might come in handy for paddlers considering the same crossings.
Next Up: Tour de Gudenå in two weeks.
hi Peter I write you of new for having a your judgment on new boats for masters of the Nelo and the Vajda. Since your judgments on tracer, k1 trainer, lancer, rapier, v10 are for me turned out all exact ones would want that you compared the stability of the tracer with that of the Msonic and with that of the Vanquish classic. Eventually also with the lancer. Excuse for the disturbance and salutes from Livorno (Italy). Giampaolo
Hi Giampaolo
I wish I could give you a better answer but the truth is that I haven’t paddled the Vanquish Classic or the MSonic. Nelo writes that the Classic is ‘a very stable racing kayak’ while Vajda writes on the MSonic “The M Sonic was developed to split the difference between the Civet Cat and the Supersonic line in stability”. Both kayaks sounds alot like a modernized Lancer to me.
I think you should give both kayak a try.
Best regards Peter
I left a message on forum for Peter’s (or other members) opinion on Vanquish Vintage without having read this page.
I thought Vanquish Classic as a racing model (I now looking for a fitting boat).
Congratulation to Peter: his web site and comments are very interesting.
Funny but perhaps useful: I now browse by means of Google-Chrome and his anholt-picture doesn’t show up while I can see it using Internet Explorer.
Suggestions on fitting kayaks or a stand-alone contribution on them are always welcome.
Regards
Hej Peter,
Vi mødtes i Hesselø Bugt, du kom fra Anholt, Hesselø og var på vej tilbage til Grenaa. Du i en rød Kirton Inuk, jeg i min blå Francesconi Esplora. En model, som jeg nu erfarer, at du har padlet flere kilometer i end jeg, jvf. din beretning om Havkajakroernes Blå Bånd. Jeg har kun kajakket en enkelt sæson.
Jeg var- og er stadig imponeret af din solotur til Anholt i stiv kuling. Puha! Samtidig har du sået et frø i mig: Jeg vil også padle til Anholt – dog hverken solo eller i kuling.
Jeg har allieret mig med en erfaren ekspiditionsdeltager, og jeg vil kun gå ud i let vind + stabil vejrudsigt. Det bliver forhåbentlig i forsommeren, når jeg har fået opbygget lidt form.
Er der noget særligt, man bør overveje på så lang en tur over åbent vand?
Mvh. Kasper Bækgaard
Hej Kasper
Sjovt at høre fra dig – sikke noget dejligt vejr vi havde den dag!
Ja Esplora’en kender jeg særdeles godt. Det er en rigtig fin langturskajak.
Det er et godt mål I har sat jer. Jeg burde jo nok advare jer mod sådan en tur, men hvis I træner målrettet ser jeg ikke noget problem.
Her er nogle råd jeg lige kommer på:
1) Sørg for at være i god form. Tommelfingerreglen for kryds på åbent hav er at for at krydse N km skal man have kræfter til at ro 2*N km.
2) Lav nogle lange ture langs land hvor I ikke forlader kajakken. Prøv at sidde i kajakken en hel dag.
3) Lav en lang række kryds først. I kan evt. tage med på min årlige Bælthavstur: http://unold.dk/paddling/samsoe2009.html
4) Sørg for at have en sikker selvredning – også selvom I ror sammen. Ultimativt ruller I sikkert.
5) Medbring om muligt en håndholdt VHF radio.
6) Start ud fra Grenå på en god sommerdag. I får med stor sandsynlighed følgeskab af en række sejlskibe.
7) Prøv at tage til den jyske vestkyst og prøv grænser af i brændingen.
Måske er det ikke realistisk at I når alle disse ting til forsommeren, men så kan I jo træne mod et mere overkommeligt mål i år og gemme Anholt til lidt senere. Hvad med eks. Hesselø?
Held og lykke!
Venlig hilsen Peter
Hej Peter,
Tak for rådene! Jeg blev helt opmuntret af at læse om din årlige Bælthavstur. Den vil jeg mægtig gerne med på. Det kan blive en kæmpe oplevelse, som jeg vil glæde mig til.
Det vil også være en ganske pæn udfordring for en på mit niveau: Endnu har jeg kun padlet kystnære dagsture på højst ca. 40 kilometer. Overby Lyng – Rørvig tur/retur har været en tilbagevendende fornøjelse i sommer. Oftest med medvind på udturen og modvind på hjemturen. (Men jeg har jo altid kunnet ro til land, hvis jeg fx. skulle tisse. Hvad gør man, hvis trangen melder sig, og man er 20 kilometer fra nærmeste kyst?)
Rulle kan jeg ikke endnu – men planlægger at få det lært inden den 20. maj.
Du har nok ret i, at Anholt bliver for stor en mundfuld i forsommeren (for mig – ikke min makker). Din Bælthavstur virker som et mere realistisk mål.
Vi ses forhåbentlig!
Mvh. Kasper