A paddle from Baiter in Poole around Old Harry Rocks to Swanage bay

The tide was ebbing and the four of us approached the narrow entrance to the harbour and the sandbanks ferry

We decided to go behind the ferry but it meant a quick sprint as we were carried towards it by the accelerating flow through the entrance. Dave related that on one occasion a dinghy had been swept clean underneath the ferry!

Once past the ferry the flow diminished and the route was along the training wall, a line of rocks that can be crossed in a few places.

It's a busy spot and it's easy to be caught off guard with the wash from the boats

Approaching Old Harry Rocks one can see the small arches that can be paddled through on the highest tides

Break time

The stacks align with the Needles on the Isle of Wight

Some shallow caves. Then we split up with two of us continuing to Swanage bay and the others returning to Studland.

On the return leg a breeze picked up from the south west and there were some small runners to catch

Rounding Old Harry again

WW2 pill box on the cliff at Redend point - a listed building. From the autumn of 1943, Studland Bay became an amphibious assault training area as part of the preparations for D-Day

As expected there were many holidaymakers enjoying the weather. But as we progressed down the long beach at Studland the wind became offshore. There were many people on SUPs and the conditions were ripe for a situation. Sure enough we came across some teenagers in trouble (not the people in the picture). Two in the water about a hundred metres offshore, with their SUP about 20 or 30 metres further on, with a parent on another SUP thinking she could somehow get their SUP back to them - little chance. I towed the SUP with the teenagers on it back to the shallows with a friendly but firm warning about offshore winds ! Stuart helped the other SUPer back to the shore.

As we came back through the entrance the incoming tide met the south west wind and there was some lively water.

We crossed to Brownsea Island for a brief stop then continued in the lee of the island.