Small-boat notes from Victoria Harbour and the outlying islands
The narrow gap at Lei Yue Mun runs hardest about two hours after high water at Quarry Bay. If you are paddling east in anything smaller than a sampan, hug the Kowloon side and wait for the back eddy behind the lighthouse rock before you commit.
On springs the stream can reach three knots. On neaps it is a pleasant drift, and the fish market steps make a good place to land for lunch.
From November the north-easterly sets in and the harbour chop gets short and steep by mid-morning. Leave early, carry a spare paddle, and keep an eye on the Observatory's strong monsoon signal before heading past Cape Collinson.
The kaito from Aberdeen only runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, weekends and public holidays. Miss the last sailing back and you are sleeping on the pier, so check the timetable twice.