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Beating the bounds report
Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th June.2006
Dave Harlow had the idea some months ago of organising an event that would try and get a large number of club members on the water over a weekend as part of the clubs 50th anniversary celebrations. His idea was to have a number of different groups setting off at the same time to cover all the areas of the harbour. This covered the points furthest north, south, east, and west, and also to some of the more remote parts of the harbour that many members may not have had the chance to paddle to. There was a good variety of trip lengths too, so there was something there for everybody: if they wanted a good long stretch or something less tiring. Poole Harbour is one of Dorset's gems and some of the less explored areas are some of her best kept secrets.
The forecast for the weekend showed stronger winds than Dave would have chosen, but neither England's first match in the world cup nor the wimborne folk festival put off a good number of paddlers unloading their boats and preparing to explore. Dave had organised the day with his known precision and attention to detail, providing the trip leaders with clip boards, laminated charts and tidal flow information. Folk signed up for the trip of their choice with enthusiasm, and there was a lovely buzz in the atmosphere and a touch of a regatta feeling.
The wind strength was easily between a 4 and a 5 on the Saturday and presented a challenge to some paddlers, and they rose to the challenge, and a fantastic opportunity to play for some others. Sunday was the calmer day and brought out some of our juniors on to the water, and some of the Saturday paddlers who found the chance of another paddle too good to miss. And Dave too; who had the desperately hard task of waving everyone off on the Saturday and not being able to join in with conditions the he would have loved, as he remained on shore on marshalling duties.
Two different days, two different paddling conditions. Showing us just how special a place Poole Harbour is, and what it has to offer us a one of the best canoeing playgrounds in the country. Thank you Dave for organising such a brilliant weekend.
Thanks to Sarah Kelly for this report.