Our approach to Carnage Corner.

As we approached the rocky coastline at the north end of Culzean Bay...

...Jim was really powering the Taran, catching every wave in order to nose ahead of the kayak sailors.

However, as we passed the point, the wind increased and Jim inevitably fell behind the kayak sailors.

One of the dangers in kayak sailing is that a mixed group can become very spread out. David, Phil and Tony were well ahead  so...

...I sprinted on and...

 ...told the others to blast ahead, while I stayed with Jim. Despite being without a spraydeck...

...David seemed quite unperturbed as we approached Carnage Corner.

  A wide angle lens always makes the water look flatter than it really is...

...but this is a notorious piece of coast for kayak carnage. I have written about a previous epic in these very waters: "Attrition on the Clyde" in which a party of 8 was reduced to 3.

The clash of a Titan and the Olympians; a seakayaking tale.

In the shelter of Carrick Bay at the south end of Culzean all was calm but...

...beyond the reef a deliciously steady 14 knot cross off  wind was blowing.

Jim was in his awesomely fast new Rockpool Taran but he was the only one without a sail. Who would have the advantage..?

Tony and David were looking confident as the breeze picked up as we left the shore.

David was trying out my current favourite kayak, the Delphin, but his spray deck wouldn't fit. Was he bothered? Of course not. Back in the 50's and 60's, when David started kayaking, only a few Inuit people and nancy boy westerners used spray decks! But even then, David had a sail on his skin on frame Tyne double.

At first Jim in the Taran easily kept up and indeed, when he caught a wave, the Taran would come from behind and rocket ahead.

However, by the time we passed the castle (about a third of the way across Culzean Bay)...

...David, Tony and Phil started to really fly in the freer wind. Then, as their trio of sails rose and...

...fell in the swell, they powered ahead and Jim and I were left in their wakes...

On the dog and bone at barking Barwhin.

I was really keen to try the Cetus MV as soon as possible and Saturday's forecast looked ideal. The Met Office Inshore Forecast for the Firth of Clyde was for Force 5 to 7 SSW easing to F4-5. XC weather was more moderate.

 Whatever, conditions looked ideal for a downwind blast from Maidens to Ayr...

...so Jim, Phil David and I left shuttle cars at Seafield and were on the water at Maidens by 1015. From the shelter of Maidens Bay we looked out at windier conditions beyond.

We picked up Tony at the north end of Maidens Bay. His wife had dropped him off at the south end of Culzean Country Park while she went a walk with Bob the dog.

 The wind increased as we approached Barwhin Point, it was just as well I put the 5D Mk2 away...

 ...before we got to the Point as Jim and I braced as the waves steepened.

Tony got a phone call from his wife once we had rounded the Point. Bob the dog had slipped his leash and was bounding over the rocks and cliffs after us!

We decided to nip into Port Carrick...

 ...by taking the short cut inside Glasson rock.

Wild barking on the beach announced the arrival...

...of Bob before us!

Some revealing photos!

 Da Du Da Du

 Da Du Da Du

 Ta Du

Boom

 Ta Du

Boom

Yes it's a shiny new P&H Cetus MV. I am lucky enough to have this on long term loan from P&H, so hopefully I will be able to give some good feedback and reviews. I have previously had long term loans of P&H, Valley, Seakayaks UK, Rockpool and Point 65 sea kayaks, so I hope any future reports will continue to be as impartial as possible.

The gathering night had all but extinguished the last embers of the day.

 After rounding the Heads of Ayr, the offshore wind drove us to the northeast towards...

 ...the rising full moon...

...and the town of Ayr under a the dusky pink sky.

Away to the northwest, Arran's ridges soared above the gathering sea fog and...

...by the time we made landfall, the gathering night had all but extinguished the last embers of the day.

As if in anticipation of the sun leaving the day.

The SE wind gave us welcome assistance as we made our way north towards the Heads of Ayr.

 As the sun began to sink slowly and steadily below a layer of low cloud...

 ...we were bathed in the most beautiful warm light.

For a moment time seemed to stand still and even the calls of the sea birds died away... 

...as if in anticipation of the sun leaving the day.

After sunset, a chill wind from the SE sprang up and whisked us on, towards the twinkling lights of Ayr.
Photo Philip Toman.

Moonrise over the Heads of Ayr.

 As the sun began to set, an offshore breeze picked up and...

...pushed us on towards the Heads of Ayr.

We revelled in the magic of the moment...

...as the sundowner gathered strength,...

 ...the smells of the land filled our nostrils and...

...the Moon rose over the Heads of Ayr.