When there is no wind and an outgoing tide at Dittisham, one can clearly see from the way the boats lie to their buoys the large eddy which diverts water which should be heading downstream through the nick seen on the left of the picture. It is not too difficult to paddle against the tide on the Dart, because there are many eddies, though not always in predictable places.
Once out to sea the rain and warm sea encouraged roll practice.
Heading back to Dittisham, on the day of the carnival, the rain had become persistent and forced the revellers to squeeze into a tent. Rain doesn’t matter to a kayaker, they are waterproof, and the rain calms the waves.
tim P