CR5 Issue 157 June 2018

It’s Dark Outside,
So Pick Up Your
Paddle
by Kate McLelland
“I’m in the centre of London ...
No traffic, no street beer din,
no synched steps of business
folk rushing for the train… I can
breathe. The air here has rarely
felt so clean; I’ve never seen the
city with so much sky.” So writes
blogger Sam Haddad on the
website mpora.com, describing
his night-time journey along the
Thames in – of all things – a kayak.
Sam is just one of a growing
number of outdoor adventurers
who like to explore the UK’s rivers,
lakes and coastal waters by kayak
as darkness falls. It’s one of those
off-the-wall activities that have
recently grown in popularity and
are particularly favoured by social
media users looking for quirky and
unusual experiences to post on
Facebook or Instagram.
The Oxford Dictionary defines a
‘kayak’ as “a canoe of a type used
originally by the Inuit, made of
a light frame with a watertight
covering having a small opening in
the top to sit in”. These vessels are
supplied with a twin-bladed double
paddle, which is used to propel the
kayak through the water.
Kayaks are light, manoeuvrable
and hard to capsize, but to the
average landlubber a kayak may
not seem the obvious choice for
a nocturnal adventure in a busy
waterway. It’s hard to understand
the attraction of this type of
transport until you hear the firsthand
accounts of people who
have actually experienced night
kayaking: “It was like a dream”
…“We couldn’t stop talking
about our experience for days”
… “Outstanding and magical.”
(Comments left by first-time night
kayakers on the travel site Trip
Advisor.)
Participants who go night-kayaking
in cities enthuse about the beauty
of buildings silhouetted against
the evening sky, the reflection of
city lights on the water and the
magnification of small sounds
you would be unlikely to hear
during the day. Those who prefer
to explore rural waterways, lakes
or coastal areas wax lyrical about
the brightness and clarity of the
moon and stars, as well as the
opportunity to spot nocturnallyroaming
wildlife such as owls, seals
and otters.
Don’t underrate the risks
Despite being an enthusiastic
proponent of night-kayaking, experienced
sea kayaker Duncan Smith
is aware of the dangers: “On nights
where the moon is not providing
natural light you are more reliant
on your night vision. This can be
cut dramatically by the glare from
any head-torch or deck light you
carry and whilst you can see into
the distance … it can be difficult
to see/read the water in front of
you.” He adds: “Sound seems
amplified in the dark, to the point
when tiny waves breaking on the
pebbled shore can sound like huge,
dumping surf.”
Dipping your toe in the water
If you’re keen to try kayaking by
night but have never used a kayak
before, you should take your first
trip under the guidance of an
experienced leader. Organised
excursions are available across
the UK, with many different
experiences to choose from:
try kayaking in rural Perthshire
(where you’ll end up toasting
marshmallows around a camp
fire); exploring the city of Bristol’s
historic harbour by moonlight; or
taking an LED illuminated trip up
the Helford River in Cornwall. Most
excursions include instructions
on how to handle a kayak, but if
you’re in any doubt about whether
the route would be suitable for
you, you should check with the
operator prior to booking.
Join a club
If you are already familiar with
kayaks but have never ventured
out at night, you could join a club
for support, companionship and
advice. There are numerous kayak
clubs throughout Britain – contact
the British Canoeing Union
(britishcanoeing.org.uk) to find
your nearest group, but be aware
that not all clubs practice kayaking
after dark.
When you read the testimonials
of people who have experienced
night-kayaking, it’s easy to
understand why it creates such a
sense of awe and wonder. Noisy
daytime environments become
peaceful, skies become bigger
and familiar landscapes take on
an eerie new beauty. But most
seasoned kayakers will also admit
to enjoying the moment when they
reach dry land, looking forward to
the chance to warm up over a pint
or two in a cosy local pub.
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