Kayak Therapy – An Evening Paddle from Seaford to Cuckmere Haven

 After an absolutely scorching day working away in the paint booths at work, the thought of sitting indoors editing video, writing blogs, and fine-tuning film scans just didn’t appeal. Instead, I loaded up my new-to-me Perception Triumph 13 kayak and headed for Seaford. The plan: a beautiful evening paddle around to Cuckmere Haven, with its iconic view of the Seven Sisters.

I did pack my RealitySoSubtle 6x17 pinhole camera and tripod, thinking it would be nice to capture some images from the rocky beach—a spot now much harder to access since the Hope Gap steps were closed. But by the time I got down there, the wind had picked up and the light was fading behind clouds. Photography plans shelved, I decided this one would be all about the paddle.

It was a hard 1.8 miles into the wind and waves, but a good test for the Triumph 13 in choppier conditions. It’s narrower and less stable than my previous kayak, but it cut through the swell nicely, with the rudder system helping keep me on track. I was looking forward to the return journey—wind at my back, casting out lures as I drifted along.

Paddling back proved more challenging than expected. With waves pushing from behind, the kayak was constantly tipping at odd angles, so I had to focus on keeping balanced. Eventually, I found a calmer stretch, sat back, and got a few casts in. True to form, I caught nothing—apart from a few knots and tangles in my fishing line—but it didn’t matter.

For me, kayaking (and cycling) is therapy. It’s my reset button. Out on the South Downs on my bike, or on the sea in a kayak or paddleboard, I lose myself in the landscape. Evenings like this are a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do is just step away from the screen and head out into the world.