Kit seen/used in this video The hat - homemade :) Sealskinz Waterproof Gloves - amzn.to/3XH19hN Agug Snorkel Vest - amzn.to/3WIKTva Aqua Marina Cascade Kayak - amzn.to/3kRd0Lm Atacama Drysuit - www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/2023-crewsaver-atacama-sport-drysuit-free-undersuit-6555-red-black-p-22619.html Other kayaking accessories I like can be found here - www.amazon.co.uk/shop/morethanjustacleaner/list/37P7M2N3DS6HJ Other products I like on Amazon can be found here - www.amazon.co.uk/shop/morethanjustacleaner

From experience I can tell you you did the right thing. I use my wavesport scooter on the sea when on holiday. Going out is the easy bit coming back through the surf is the hardest. Had an early bath no end of times going over. Best part is the kayak is self draining but I always get wet. Wetsuit a must.

Karl, you made the right decision, if it doesn’t feel right don’t do it, there’s always another day. Water temp is low and your on your own, much safer to have a buddy with you on the sea. I’ve never used an IF like that but I think one with higher sides would be better as it wouldn’t get swamped so easily, maybe not the Storey though. I’ll tell you my tale of loosing it when we finally get to meet up👍

Well that was interesting and definitely worth watching. Good to see how things can easily go wrong, and how quickly disaster can strike. I’m definitely concerned about the sturdiness of the skeg and seeing how yours has snapped makes me even more concerned. Thank you for all your videos 😘

Totally the right thing not to go. Stay safe everytime.

There's no way I would risk going in. The sea is much less forgiving than a river/canal. And of course we want more videos from you so you've made the right choice. Be safe! 😎👍

We love all your vids this one did not disappoint! Good job on the day and we all learned something, thank you. Keep paddling!

You’re a great bloke Karl

Good call. I've gone in in similar conditions and probably earned someone £250 for the video. Getting back out was just as much fun. Lucky to get away with no breakages and no losses. Someone must have invented a flexible skeg - it would put less strain on the hull too.

Fair play, it's tough to give up like that especially as it's a lot of effort to get the craft inflated and all the gear on. In my experience of being in the sea loads is you just have to watch for a while, learn the sets and lulls and then time a dash out beyond the breaking waves. I've only once in my life failed to get out the back and that was a day in Sennon (far South Cornwall) in probably 6-10ft waves but storm conditions. I tried for a good couple of hours but it was utterly relentless. It's all a learning curve. Best to be safe 99% of the time.

10 out of 10 for the video. I would have made the same decision, unexpectedly big waves, several swims, difficulty getting into the boat, lost pump, broken skeg. You made the right decision.

Wow, glad you're ok. I think you made the right move not going back out. This was a good lesson video 👍

I think you did the right thing. You wasnt being a wuss, you made a calculated assessment of the risk and made a decision based on that. It is good to see when things go wrong because it helps others to learn. The waves didn't look that big but it showed just how powerful they can be. Thanks for sharing.

It looks like you had a stimulating morning Karl. Some thoughts... A lot of inflatables sit high in the water, which can make launching in waves quite difficult, as the boat can move all over the place. I have found it easier to launch with hard shell kayaks. Sometimes with an inflatable I haven't bothered with a skeg. From your description it appears that you were trying to get in/get going in water that was too deep. It seems to have been a mistake to try and launch beyond the breaking waves, rather than in the shallows closer to shore. Experienced surfers, surf kayakers, sea kayakers etc generally have a good long look at the sea conditions, set formations and distribution of the breaking waves, wind direction etc before heading in. One way to launch, but it comes with risks, is to use the rip currents to get out back, as the rip currents are often calmer than the other parts of the beach breaks and less effort is required. If you get it wrong on the east coast though you could end up in the Netherlands. 😬 I don't envy you trying to get going with the inflatable with the camera in addition to the paddle. Quite a bit of a faff. Have you had any kayaking lessons Karl? I'd strongly recommend them and we are heading towards the time of year when clubs start holding kayaking/canoeing lessons and awards training. Anyway, we can all get it wrong. I managed to capsize a hard shell stable kayak in a canal last year as a result of not concentrating on what I should have been doing. I meant I practised my self rescue though...😊 Keep paddling.👍

The best call - you can’t take any chances at sea. Live to paddle another day!

Karl I've given you a thumbs up for effort 👌

Yet another brilliant video Karl and couldn't agree with you more about showing how things could go wrong instead of using clever editing, we look forward each week to learn something new from you mate. And like you showing everyone me falling in I'm going to show this to everyone I know 😇😇😇 Love ya man!

At 2:09 I had a bad feeling about this. The waves are much smaller in HK and I still get thrown off my paddle board. Good video anyway

Definitely did the right thing there! Safety is paramount.

oh no! But honestly, the universe is keeping you out! Deceptive tide that. I love when you see the tide change from high to slack. You can just see the energy fall out of it!

It’s good that you show the “learning experiences” too rather than just sunshine and perfect trips every time, much more useful for us beginners. In this case you confirmed me in my decision of not getting the story division kayak that i originally wanted and instead go for the higher priced advanced elements expedition elite, in part because of the flimsy skeg all these cheaper inflatables seem to have. I had a feeling they would snap easely, so myth confirmed:) On the elite it’s a shorter sturdier built-in skeg and it can also carry a LOT more weight, so maybe check it out for longer trips if you don’t know about it already. And i wouldn’t go anywhere without the pump btw, so you made the right decision going back.

When that much goes wrong so early, walking away is the sensible thing to do.

Hi karl, you did right to call it off. Do you carry any alternative gear ? I mean, instead of having a wasted trip, maybe you could of turned it into a sea swim, hiking / ramble / walking trip or sea fishing trip. I always try and have an alternative plan just in case things don't go right. Cheers.

Never regret the times you call a trip off - Always better to be safe than sorry. My dad and I got rescued by RNLI once when I was a kid and my dad didn’t call it!

Karl you definitely made the right decision, when in any doubt walk away while you’re still able to, you will have plenty more opportunities to kayak mate 😉

If have stopped a trip on river Elbe after 600 km just 12 km from home. After 3 days against the wind this was the right decision. Sometimes you even have to stop just before, but WHY NOT if it is the right decision.....

Such a shame! At least you tried, mate. But safety first 👍🏻 I would have done the same, not worth the risk.

You did the right thing. But I would suggest if you're planning on going Sea kayaking, is to invest in a kayak designed for sea paddling.

Disappointing but the right thing to do.

Learn for the next time you see waves like that, it means you don’t go out

Binge watching 😁