The ‘Wrong’ Way Round, by Kevin Jackson (bib no 33)
A benefit of being retired is that you can take as long as you need to recover……or wonder why you entered in the first place. A good friend asked whether I should be doing this at my age!
You can away opt for the ultra, straight through in one push. Hats off to Paul Simmons for winning; the BaySup team and all those that completed it. I decided on the 2-day course, it was challenging enough.
As it is a downwind event, this year we did the route in reverse, Inverness to Fort William, to take advantage of the forecast for N/NE winds.
Day 1 the long one 48k
Assembling in Inverness for a 7:15 start, the sky was cool and grey. A short canal section and a couple of quick limbo paddles under bridges put us within reach of Loch Ness, with the finish point somewhere at the other end, only 35 km away. You can’t see it, but you know it’s there! Leaving the security of the flat water, the real fun began. The wind funneled and swirled, and the fetch increased, providing a decent downwind paddle that intensified the further we traveled. The loch had its fair share of boat traffic, sending out delayed wakes that kept me on my toes. I spotted one approaching and turned to face it, only to be stopped dead by its power. I nearly went over the front of the board, a stark reminder to stay focused for the remainder of the section.
Loch Ness is a serious paddle. For starters, it’s cold. You need to stay focused as there’s no respite from the conditions, and it remained cool throughout. Where was the sun? Shore landings were few, and escape routes even rarer. So, with my brain in gear, I plodded on… and on… and on. The hours blended together until the end was finally in sight. Now, the question became: which side should I be on, left or right? Approximately 3 km to go, and the water began to change significantly. I sensed a sting in the tail, and I wasn’t disappointed!
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The long fetch producing a readable wave had nowhere to go, so it began to rebound. Closer in, a strong river flow added to the mix, as a final twist was about to unfold. The Loch Ness cruisers reversed out of the canal and swung around to begin their journey, causing a huge water displacement. Waves from different angles collided with the downwind waves, resulting in chaos with bumps and breakers everywhere. To make things more challenging, a much stronger wind was pushing me into the mix, just when I was feeling the most tired.
Relieved to have stayed upright and reached the end, I swung into the canal and found a free pontoon to exit. However, there was one final sting: my board was blown under the pontoon and collided with a steel support—there was only one winner there! A cracked board and, after much swearing, I went to look for Liz, my wife and shoreside support.
Unbeknownst to me, she was having her own epic adventure. Our van had broken down, leaving her stranded in a layby on the A82. After both setting off to Inverness much earlier that morning, Liz finally made it back to our accommodation at 7:30 p.m. that evening, along with a relayed van. I think Liz had the harder day by far…
Thanks to Jason for looking after my board and to Vanessa for the kind offer of transport at the end of day 2.
Day 2 the short one – 44k
Another grey, early start began with a canal section, complete with a few portages to warm us up. Loch Oich came and went, and we enjoyed a nice, relaxed paddle until we reached the 17 km stretch of Loch Lochy. Once again, the wind picked up, and the flat water quickly turned into downwind conditions. So far, so good. I couldn’t remember which side of Lochy we were supposed to exit from, so I chose the left. A basic error, as the exit was on the right. [Insert – race management realized there was an exit issue and sent someone in hi-vis to signal the paddlers in.]
With cramping calves, I attempted to cut across the chop—not the best option, and soon enough, I took a swim. More cursing followed, and I realized I needed to put another top on fast. I always follow the maxim, “dress for the swim, and you won’t be disappointed when it happens,” but I had failed to do so. I decided to get ashore and sort myself out.
As I exited Loch Lochy, the lock-keeper shouted, “be aware there’s a large vessel coming up.” A few smaller boats sped past, producing nice surf wakes, but feeling tired, I bypassed the play option, not wanting to end up in the trees. Then the larger vessel came around the bend—and it was more than large. It was more like a cruiser, easily the height of a normal house, with those on the top deck looking very far up. It didn’t leave much room on the side either. No room for error, for the skipper or for us!
The final portage at Gairlochy seemed to go on forever. Just 10 km to go. Vanessa informed me that my van had been fixed and that Liz would be waiting at the end, which was great news to lift my spirits. The sun came out, the autumnal colors along the canal were stunning, and I set off for the final stretch. In the far distance, I spotted another lone paddler. After some thought, I decided to set off in pursuit.
A final burst around a bend, and the finish bell could be heard in the distance. It’s a great feeling—the sense of accomplishment after completing two days—and finishing with a cloudless Ben Nevis as the stunning backdrop was a real bonus.
Summary
Extremely well organized, this event provides a true element of adventure, with a level of uncertainty of outcome. It meshes together the security of the canal sections, the motivation and support at the checkpoints, with the more extreme isolation and challenge of Lochs Ness and Loch Lochy. It requires skill, endurance and commitment. What really stands out is the camaraderie of all those involved, on and off the water, and this sums up the SUP spirit. The final evening prize giving and meal really exemplifies this.
Huge thanks to Emma and the team for the organization. Great stuff team!
Would I recommend it? Absolutely, but don’t underestimate the scale of the challenge. Do your prep and make sure you can enjoy it too. Go for it.
And now, a couple of days later, thoughts begin to formulate for next year and what would I do differently…..
Article Written by Kevin Jackson, Bib no 33 in the 2-day challenge.