A Windy Paddle

Peeking out of the tent this morning on the beach at Vignola Mare, the sea seemed reasonably calm so we packed our kayaks for launching. But sea and waves are always bigger once one is in the midst of them. No sooner had I launched when the waves were easily one meter. And then we exited the shelter of the small bay and were right away into waves 1.5 meters in height, surging relentlessly, pushing us southeastwards.

Soon enough, the wind continued to build as well as the waves. Waves reared beneath my hull, setting me ontop of wave crests, sending me careening into troughs often burying the bow. Waves spilled over the kayak's deck, sprayskirt and often over myself. I yelped when a wave washed around me up to my shoulders! It was exhilarating but at times frightening. Even without trying, my kayak would catch a wave and zoom forward, sometimes surfing at least one hundred meters. By now, some of the larger waves were easily over three meters in height. Often, I braced as another big one climbed beneath me. And just for a little more excitement, the wind would blow strong gusts as I was focusing on the lively wave action.

We had planned to paddle to Isola Rossa, but with winds at what we estimated to be a force 6, we stopped after paddling 16 kilometers in about 2.5 hours. So we rounded a garden of rock pinnacles and found a perfectly sheltered cement boat ramp used by the scuba diving groups here at Costa Paradiso. Ironically, all morning we paddled past rugged nature, a paradise of rocks and shrubs, yet here, where hundreds of holiday homes ascend the rocky slopes, it is called paradise coast.


And now, we are pleasantly warm and dry in a bar, though it pured rain and the temperature plummeted since our sunny arrival. According to the long range weather forecast, we will be windbound for several days.


Maybe I'll read my erotic novel which has sat unused in my front hatch. And I'll explore on foot.