On a very wet and windy mid-September Saturday a motley collection of experienced and novice paddlers put on to the Menai Straits to sample the delights of salt water.The rain stopped briefly:

But then lashed down:

First, some work on handling skills:

and a demo of rescue techniques:

Lunch on a beach only just big enough for the boats:

An impromtu slalom between the legs of an old footbridge:

Then, as the rain cleared, a journey up the Straits to look at how the other half live:

And then back to the launch site, coping with a stretching headwind and swell.

Later, we drove across Anglesey to meet the Holyhead Coastguard for a couple of hours of highly instructive chat about their work with sea kayakers.

Many thanks to Richard Janes for a brilliant day, despite the sheets of rain.