Amazing People - Sean Morley

Photo: Sean Morley Collection

During my recent travels I had the great pleasure of meeting up with Sean Morley, who is a renowed British paddler currently living in California. Though our paths have crossed momentarily in the past at symposiums and trade shows, this was the first time I'd had to really talk with him. Sean is clearly a pleasant guy to be around with a rich and open outlook on life. And like many others, he's keen for people to enjoy themselves on the sea and is forging his way ahead in that line of work.

Sean originates from Cornwall and began expedition sea kayaking in 1996. He set a record for the fastest crossing of the Irish Sea in 1998. In 2004 he went on to complete the first solo circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland, the first ever to include all the inhabited island. Details of his exploits can be found at Expedition Kayak. 

Now a resident of Marin, Sean is working with Sea Trek on a number of their sea kayak clinics as well as being the West Coast representative for Valley Sea Kayaks. Sean has also featured in the This Is the Sea series of sea kayaking DVD's as produced by Justine Curgenven. If you are ever near Sausalito, call in at Sea Trek and say "Hi", you might just get some time on the water with Sean as well.

Paddling The Bay

I do enjoy my sea kayaking and if there's a chance to get on the water I'll take it. Doesn't have to be big and bold, just some quality time away from the rest of the world. So on a recent trip to the States and having hooked up with a very helpful outfitter, I found myself exploring a new stretch of water and the chance to see a fabulous monument to human endeavour from an entirely unique persepective.

Leaving the protection of the marina in Sausalito with my rental kayak from Sea Trek. You can almost make out the high rise buildings of San Francisco, Alcatraz and the Bay bridge on the horizon. The weather gor worse after this.

My target, now clearly insight, between the wind and rain. At one point I almost lost complete sight of it and land when the sea mist came in.

I stopped for a rest just before Lime Point to give myself a moment to think through the next part of the paddle. There was never any break from the wind. It was only later I found out this area is known as Hurricane Corner!

I was actually quite relieved to get round the corner into some shelter again from the constant wind and rain. Though I had my own trusty base layers on, the rain was pretty much getting through everthing and it wasn't a warm day.

The only other boat on the water that day! the comment on my return was something along the lines of "mad dogs and Englishmen..........". All good clean fun nonetheless. And like the Governor of California might say "I'll be back"

The Golden Gate Bridge. was the largest suspension bridge in the world when it was completed in 1937 and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and the United States. It is currently the second longest suspension bridge in the United States after the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City.

Monday Morning Wave

Photo: Scott Aichner

"I think the actual act of surfing is a little over-rated. Sure it's fun, but my peak experiences frequently come when I'm not standing on a board. Few things in life create long term memories like a heavy wipeout. It can be tuff to recall a good ride after the next set, but a solid spanking stays fresh for decades." - Grant Washburn (surfer, cinematographer)

In surfing, it's the journey that counts, not the destination. Kirby Brown, in no hurry to reach the shoulder, taken in by his surroundings... in Western Oz.