North Coast Cornwall Paddle Event

Ever since paddling in the Molokai in 2001 I have been searching for that all time downwind event in the UK, right from the start on the plane home! The Cornish peninsula in the SW of the UK is possibly the most prime location for downwind paddling with North and South coast running along the predominantly south westerly wind back up with swells arriving from deep in the Atlantic. Paddling from one Island to another just Molokai was the go and I tested a possible event by myself in 2007 on a prone unlimited board, several crossings and seven years the Celtic Crossing was born. 52km of open water, highly technical, challenging navigation and the same awe inspiring connection with being miles away from land as Molokai. Just colder!

The Celtic Crossing is amazing event and still remains a bucket list paddle even today but, the extreme logistics involved made it challenging to say the least. Enter ‘the event without a name!’, 53km of well groomed Atlantic swell, pushed by prevailing south westerly winds assisted by less technical tidal flows makes this not only a better option in terms of conditions but far more accessible to a great number of paddlers.

The last time I did this with Jack Coope a couple of years ago, we had four hours of pure downwind surfing. Just saying! – Glenn Eldridge, Ocean Sports Centre.

The event will cater for Elite and Intermediate paddlers; only Elite paddlers can complete the event as an ‘Iron’ (straight through, no stopping) whereas less experienced paddlers, relay teams and changeover outrigger crews must reach mandatory check points at St’Agnes and Newquay.

Change over check points:

• Carbis to St. Agnes 23.4km
• Agnes to Newquay head 14km (16km to harbour)
• Newquay head to Trevose head 14.5km (17.7km to Harlyn)

We have chosen tides which allow for the course to be run in reverse, leaving on a 7am tide from the Ocean Sports Centre, at Carbis Bay allows a full six hours of tidal assistance. If the wind is from the North East we will be able to run in reverse leaving midday from  Harlyn beach, finishing at Carbis bay.

The event will involve some immense logistics along with unprecedented safety cover; based upon interest so far we are looking at possibly a hundred paddlers, this will require at least ten water safety crews, a staff of land based spotters on standby at key locations throughout the route as well as real time online tracking systems giving competitors the greatest degree of safety.

Categories

• Prone board 12ft & 14ft
• Single ski
• Double ski
• 14ft SUP
• OC1
• OC2
• Six man Outrigger Canoe

All of these can be completed as relay