This night trip was one of many workshops offered to the 250 participants at the Hanko Sea Kayak Gathering. 

 

Nightpaddle past Gäddtarmen/Hauensuoli towards Östertistron rock.

In big demand for tours and evening courses I decided on short notice to lead a paddle. 9 participants enrolled at which the symposium required an assistant leader. Peter Rikberg wolunteered. The major part of the paddlers arrived at the meetingpoint by kayak. To be quickly off I made a group split, equipment check, map check and a roll-count on water. The first leg went out to the white tower of the coastguard and pilots was shared with visible directions, and only an approximate info on where we were supposed to go, and how. Maps were not reviewed yet. We had 4 maps and formed groups of 2 and 3 paddlers. Our start was at 21:20 and next checkpoint and furter planning was to be in shelter of the wind close to Tulludden. The sun was setting and a bank of clouds rising in the west. It would get dark soon unless the moon had clear sky.

 

Arrived at the calm spot we made a new roll-count for the excercise. We reached number eleven and could start reading maps. Direction Albertsklackarna needed every group to find themselves on the map first. On new years day five years ago a cargo ship was grounded by Albertsklackarna, and during storms white spray is seen everywhere because of the numerous low rocks. A volunteering group was offered to lead us forward towards "klackarna" once they had shared their plan for the group transfer past the fairlane. Later the leading group was to be swapped for another team.

 

The first leader group took us into the direction of the opening between Högskär and Gäddtarmen. My knowledge about the group was thin. It was based on observations from the paddle against the wind towards the white watchtower in addition to a couple of paddlers I knew had been trained on rescues. Everyone seemed to handle their kayaks fairly well and we could keep a good pace despite the headwinds. Bouncing waves one meter of hight were to be expected west or behind Högskär. No possible landing spots were available on the west off Högskär. The dusk was quickly turning into darkness. Voice communication drowned out by wind and crushing waves. The west side had lots of fairway blinking lights while none of them clearly standing out from each other. We had all the harbour and city lights on the east where we came from. The water tower, church, radiomast with read outstanding read lights, harbour and the pilots white tower. The profiles of the islands were also easier to recognise on the east. Fishing wessels were anchored making good railing points. In lee of the wind voice contact was good, less risk for capsize and fast drifting kayaks.

 

Together with Pasi we agreed on a route change to stay here in lee. In a couple of minutes the whole group was back on calm water and chatting within the group was possible. I suggested leadership change and Peter with his group knew our position. Since half of the total tour time was spent I decided to shorten the tour from Albertsklackarna to the closer and more sheltered Väster- and Östertistron. There would be a small section with higher waves. Peter picked up the line panels on Måsskären for navigation from the map. This proved to work well. North on Måsskären our navigator Peter was close to be left alone with Peter leading to the left and the rest of the group going to the right off the closest skerry. One observant of the last paddlers realised what was happening. In the end averyone followed Peters chosen route which I agree was a good and safer choice. A tighter group had avoided the group deviation from the start. Coloured lights, a different one for Peter had helped too. As the group was assebled in big haste a number of adjustments and rule settings were not the best. Several paddlers had launched already as we gathered, and I had only white ledlights to the HSKG event.

 

Initially members of the subgroups did not take the grouping seriously. I constantly counted paddler lights on towards Östertistron. This to instantly become aware of changes and not to loose someone. After paddling up through and against the waves to Östertistron and another reminder of staying in subgroups it seemed that a bit of angshousness made paddlers take the groupings more seriously. In darkness you can possibly keep control on two or three fellow paddlers, but keeping a group of ten ungroupped paddlers could be too mutch if there is no inner grouping and control.

 

Next leadership change was when back in lee behind Måssskären. A group of three women was close to the leading paddlers got the last turn. They asked for a round robin count in all the perfect situations. They skillfully directed the goup also through a crossing with another night paddling group. We were back approximately 10 minutes late. Well done.