Some essential kayak accessories to take with you are a life jacket, mobile phone and a paddle leash. As I am lucky enough to live very close to the sea my neighbour suggested we venture out early one autumn evening for a spot of sea kayaking. Paul owned a Piranha Jet ski which is a surfing kayak and also had a spare one for me to use. Along with our essential kayak accessories we took a can of Guinness each, purely for medicinal purposes of course.

These kayaks are not particularly light to carry and although less than half of a mile to the beach between my neighbour and myself carrying them at either end I was exhausted by the time we got to the sea. Unfortunately we did not have the luxury of kayak trailers which would have been for easier.

I had never paddled this type of kayak before so was eager to try it out. The Piranha Jet ski is very similar to a sit on top kayaks and fits into the category of a waveski kayak. The difference to sit on top kayaks is marginal with the waveski being much narrower with a more pointed bow and stern. Both the waveski and sit on top kayaks generally do not have fixed kayak seats and rely on thigh straps for extra control and manoeuvrability. Both have scupper holes in or around the cockpit to allow water to drain away.

Launching the waveski was a simple affair but as soon as I was afloat the first thing I noticed was how unstable and 'tippy' these boats are. They are very narrow and built that way for speed.

As we paddled out I was quite proud of myself for remaining upright in quite a choppy sea. After about forty five minutes of hard paddling I began to feel discomfort in my lower back due to the lack of kayak seats in the waveski. I had never paddled a kayak that did not have fixed kayak seats and was finding it very uncomfortable which in turn detracted as to what otherwise was a very enjoyable experience.

The waveski performed superbly in the water and when close to the shoreline you get pushed along rapidly when the waves catch under the stern. Slaloming in and out of breakers was also great fun.

As we turned to return back home paddling against the tide was hard work and the pain in my back intensified. Whether it was down to fatigue or complacency I suddenly found myself in the sea. A wave had caught me off guard and tipped me over. Paul who was in front must have heard me yell as I went in as by the time I came up for air he was right next to my kayak.

I have made many wet re entries on sit on top kayaks but getting back on a waveski in the middle of the choppy sea is much more difficult due to the narrow beam. After a few attempts I managed to get back onto the waveski and began an exhausted paddle back to shore.