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rick stoehrer

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Everything posted by rick stoehrer

  1. FOLKS - The leaves are about to put on their show, the air is getting nippy at night and the AUTUMN GALES are finally just around the corner. Come and learn and challenge yourself to a day with Keirron Tastagh or Harry Whelan....they're doing stuff with boats that most of us only aspire to doing. Pete Jones with his endlessly deep bag of coaching tools, tricks and tips....Eila Wilkinson with her keen, well traveled eye...these are the real deal/been there, done that lads (and lassy's) and none of us should miss time on the water with them. The Gales are nearly upon us...what're YOU going to do?
  2. we'll see...i think being about as flexible as a canned ham will have more to do with it than much else....
  3. for the first time in my life...i opened my eyes underwater while performing a role. contact lenses had previously prevented me from doing that but now after the cataract surgeries, there are NO contact lenses....so THAT'S what the surface of the water looks like from down there...huh...i had no idea.
  4. ...and on a, oooh, boy, don't do that note.... ...it's been a busy summer at work so i haven't paddled nearly as much as i have in years past....this weekend i put the vest mounted short tow onto a bow to pull a raft during a rescue...only to find that last year when i put this thing up, i DID NOT in fact have a daisy chain in that line that would allow it to cleanly play out and give me room to manuver boats....nope, i had clipped into the system in rough moving water with a line that put the raft RIGHT BEHIND my waist and THAT, also in fact, was bad..... so...one dunk in the water later i unclipped myself from the raft and i fixed the gear. ....sooo, while we all say it and we all mean to do it, it's probably an outstanding idea to check your gear...everytime.
  5. Spent the weekend with Greg and Kayak Waveology teaching and paddling over along the tip of the N fork of Long Island. Despite the strange customs (they like the yankees?) and language (which seems to be english adjacent), the paddling was outstanding and the company, paddlers fantastic. The Flood and Ebb work between Orient Point and Plum Island (and no, you still cannot land there - they WILL arrest you) and if you've got any wind or sell working against it, it is MORE than enough to keep any thrill seekers in check. We primarily worked between the point and orient point lighthouse (which is tipped at a bit of a jaunty angle) and the current and waves working through there were fine for what we were doing....off in the distance between the lighthouse and Plum we could see some seriously large stuff working but that was too far, too powerful and too much for reasonable people to be fiddling around in.... you can take the LONG way round and drive OR take the ferry from New London....there IS a campground on E end about 15 minutes from the ferry/put in - no ocean access there though so you'll either have to take your car or sort out the logistics of moving boat and kit to campground. it's a blast but can be a sketchy place to paddle - lotsa very fast water pushing you towards a busy channels and a lotta boats....behave accordingly. but go....it's fun as hell
  6. 10 YEARS! 10! Greg Paquin (and NSPN's own Paula Riegel) at Kayak Waveology is having the 10th annual AUTUMN GALES off of Fishers Island sound this November! 10! THAT has to be some kind of regional record for annual symposia, yah? Clearly he's doing something right. For 10 years, the AUTUMN GALES has gathered paddlers with world class coaches and local guides down in Stonington Borough CT for a weekend of paddling and instruction in the reefs and races of Fishers Island Sound. 10 years of instruction, learning, fun, sun and saltwater. 10 years of some amazing paddlers and scenes...watching Harry Whelan put on a peerless tutorial on surfing a long boat....Barry Shaw one year surfing and just PLANTING the front end, doing a pirouette and then paddling out through the surf again to avoid a directionless paddler down wave (and after 10 years, I still can't believe he was so timely or elegant)...seeing a couple really humdinger waves coming over and through Wicopesset reef one year with so many boats spread out and watching a buzz lightyear clad Jon Tobiassen going up, up, up and others yelping in unmitigated JOY (looking at you smiley Genn Gatan). 10 years of briny Gales memories...visceral, vivid, lasting memories, etched in salt. I wouldn't trade them for anything. What are you waiting for? As ever, the Stonington Portuguese Holy Ghost Society has their Fry-day night fish fry....and this year, there's a band! Dance, sing, carouse....but come Saturday morning, we're on the water! Paddle knackered my friends. Come. Learn and push a boundary. Dance. Sing. Tell and hear a story or two and enjoy the quintessential New England village of Stonington Borough, CT. http://www.autumngales.com/
  7. 11 AM Service - Bedford Center Cemetery, Friday the 6th. http://www.bedfordcemeteries.org/CemeteryLocator.asp?Identifier=12
  8. I was just contacted by a friend...... Most of you probably do not know Jed Luby. James Edward Luby III Jed was instrumental at the nascent stages of the club and loved the sport and applied an intellectual and analytical passion that was something to see....you think you understand something and Jed would be over there parsing it 72 ways to Sunday. He was instrumental in my development as a paddler...HE made me want to be much, much better...and introduced me to the BCU and to lifelong friends and to a path that I've enjoyed everyday. He had a similar impact on a lot of people. It is with the heaviest of hearts and through tears that I tell you that Jed Luby has passed away. I will post more information regarding services, etc., as they develop. For know...I rejoice in having known him and think about the void his absence leaves....like a ship moving through fog....you may not see it, but you sense it and see the swirls and eddies and deal with impact of the wake. Even on fringes....he left big ripples in the pond. You'll be missed Jethro.
  9. i will still not be carrying an ID to show the CG. statute is below....white light to be used in sufficient time to avoid collision.... § 83.25 Sailing vessels underway and vessels under oars (Rule 25). (a) A sailing vessel underway shall exhibit: (i) Sidelights; and (ii) A sternlight. (b) In a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule may be combined in one lantern carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen. (c) A sailing vessel underway may, in addition to the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) of this Rule, exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower green, but these lights shall not be exhibited in conjunction with the combined lantern permitted by paragraph (b) of this Rule. (d) (i) A sailing vessel of less than 7 meters in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Rule, but if she does not, she shall exhibit an all-round white light or have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision. (ii) A vessel under oars may exhibit the lights prescribed in this Rule for sailing vessels, but if she does not, she shall exhibit an all-round white light or have ready at hand an electric torch or lighted lantern showing a white light which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision. (e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward, where it can best be seen, a conical shape, apex downward. A vessel of less than 12 meters in length is not required to exhibit this shape, but may do so.
  10. Once again Greg Paquin and Kayak Waveology is bringing the Autumn Gales Symposium to the quaint and lovely town of Stonington Borough, CT. This years extravaganza is Oct 20-22nd. In it's 9th year, the event has grown and solidified itself as one of the premier training events of the year along the east coast and this year is no different....venues and coaching staff are phenomenal. Join Nigel Dennis, Eila Wilkinson, Harry Whelan, Pete Jones, Greg Paquin, Paula Riegel and assorted others as they shepherd you about the lively waters off of Stonington Borough from one end of the Race to another. Great friendly people, keyed in coaches, lively water and one of the most picturesque little hamlets you can imagine....don't miss it. http://www.autumngales.com/
  11. tarpon creek sugarloaf key fla....mangrove cut between the gulf / atlantic side....hundred and hundreds of thousands of small fish and critters in among the mangrove roots, clear, moving water, warm...roll over, watch em all and roll back up or just hope in, tether off and move along in the current.....amazing.
  12. audi allroad...low, long roofline. plenty of room for stuff. quattro and snows are an unbeatable combo come winter. fun to drive....huge sunroof.
  13. i can help as needed with the on-water stuff. just send me an email. as phil pointed out, reasonable is a big ask.
  14. for those paddling on these waters... http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20161207/york-paddlecraft-fee-draws-ire-of-locals
  15. Looking forward to helping out and seeing folks at this event! If you need or want to try a drysuit and haven't before...come. Pipe up to Michael over there and a suit shall appear for you to try as if by magic...or suze....definitely one or the other. ...AND there is a delightful wood stove burning in that shop so no one has to get or stay cold! See you Saturday! http://newburykayak.com/event/cold-water-workshop/
  16. I have not read the article....based on the quote above my thought is that Jeff regularly leads and paddles in waters that are a lot more dynamic than most of what we see here on a regular basis and his points about tide races and winds, especially winds coming around a headland are not wrong - that's exactly what's going to happen. so what he has to say makes a lot of sense...... that being said, i would not discount totally a position of maximum usefulness sort of thing in your travels. working here in the states, some river current and even on the sea...i use this position of maximum usefulness thinking all the time and will often physically put my boat between an obstacle (dock) and the ducklings in my charge....for the very reason that Jeff cites, moral and legal obligation....I want to be between them and the most imminent danger....where things are liable to go sideways, soonest. you still communicate with the group....you tell them what's going on and where to go - what the concern is and what to avoid and make sure they have a finite destination (or a 2nd lead to gather to) beyond the danger point and then place yourself between them and that point (with enough room to actually DO something if this goes south)....then if indeed, they get swept to the obstacle/danger point you are LITERALLY right there to correct with a push or a tow. avoid and minimize risk and consequence. myself, i would be unlikely to read a portion of anything, take it as dogma and then make all other philosophies verboten....well...until i do, anyways! have fun
  17. Heading outta Hampton Sunday morning to see if I can knock off the winter rust a bit. 9 ish? Hopefully a wave of two to be found. No idea how to post this to trips...move at mod discretion. Call or pm questions....comes on spring!
  18. old string but i just saw it....fwiw... we found that if we could preserve our night vision we could see pretty well at night...if you preserve your night vision....so....we took very small lume sticks and stuck them UNDER a portable deck compass mounted with bungies....we taped them in there....you crack the little sticks (as many as you can jam under there) make a ball of tape and then tape that onto and under the bungie attached deck mounted compass...voila...a lit compass with no light reflected back off of glass of the compass distract you or trash your night vision. actually worked really well. for reading charts, yeah a white light head lamp set to low is more than enough. make sure to keep the thing angled toward your immediate foredeck...you don't want to trash someones night vision....and they'll let you know if you do. loudly. at night we set up very specific roles....too easy to lose track at night....so YOU will navigate, YOU other person will be the last man and no one gets behind you, YOU other person will keep the group together....that way the navigator can concentrate on just navigating....everyone sings out their number in the group repeatedly...so if there are 6 people ANYONE can sing out their number and then you go through the cycle til everyone is accounted for....so member number 5 shouts 5, and then # 6 shouts 6, #1 shouts 1....so on and so on until everyone has piped up. before you launch you may wanna talk about your "plan" if you get separated...whistles, waiting...safety bearings and radio frequencies....some things to think about. float plan? you got someone waiting/knows you're out? they expecting a call? how long you wanna wait in an emergency for the cavalry? attach glow sticks to the bow (the end the rescuer mostly wants in a rescue) or both ends of the kayak and attach a glow stick on a line to your pfd....that way if your out of the boat, you can swing the glow stick around and the group can find you (light and movement) and your boat has glow sticks on attached so that can be found too.....you of course, have a strobe for emergency....and a radio. what else? merry christmas to all.
  19. he / they coulda bought or brought any damn thing they mighta thought of bringing. i read the word "flip" or flipping" repeatedly and not the word "capsize" or "capsizing"....when's the last time you heard a capsize referred to as a flip around here or anywhere else with experienced folks? just vernacular? a regional semantic difference? what do ww guys call it? they referred to current...there was current? they were about in the middle of the length of the lake, right? i understand the wind coming down off the mountains and blowing you offshore but what current? again...semantic differences or....a lack of depth of experience? i dunno....i read a story about guys/friends that are very experienced and worldly in one endeavor (mtn climbing) that gauged those risks well enough to make it into their 70's...maybe they just didn't have the same depth of experience in small boats and as a result, didn't adequately gauge those risks. the ole "you don't know, what you don't know" bite you in the ass thing. in the final analysis....who knows? rest easy and peace to those that loved him. other than that...what else you gonna say? he lived a full and adventurous life. we should all be so fortunate. given a choice of exits between wearing a diaper and tied up with tubes in a bed and something out of doors and around boats and nature...yeah, door # 2 please. not yet. not for a long ass while....but yeah, door #2.
  20. ...and he grew up to be thankful you weren't reading ozymandias...percy would be a helluva thing to saddle a kid with...
  21. this site and this url has been our online home for...20 years? There are VOLUMES of information (some good, some bad), all or our squabbles and all our victories recorded here. The memories of the club and it's members. It as much as anything else, is NSPN. The forums we have work plenty well enough. Yeah, I sound like the last guy selling buggies as roads are getting paved for them newfangled automobiles, but that's my 2 cents. ...for her quirks and scars and as many things she can't do as can, she's beautiful and our home. "All things counter, original, spare and strange: Whatever is fickle,, freckled (who knows how?): With swift, sweet, sour, adazzle, dim; He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change..."
  22. i took a prep class upta beans. waste of time, really. once the instructor started to present nav to the class pete casson and i quietly took him aside at a break and then subsequently took over the instruction - the instructor had little grasp of it and sure couldn't explain it. that worked out better for all - the class had almost no experience and would never have sorted out what the heck was going on from the incoherent and sometimes incorrect information being presented....so we did that. read a few book on the critters - seals, birds, shellfish....read some stuff on weather...know your rules of thumb (tide/current/weather), know your nav COLD. remember safe, legal and fun and you'll get through the written. as far as the oral....the ONLY tool at hand for the state is the intimidating, hairy eyeball of the folks giving you the exam....they are there to rattle you....if you can get rattled in a room with nothing "real" at stake, what are you going to do if/when you have a situation? that's what they're doing. you KNOW more than them in regards to sea kayaking....be slow, be methodical, be thorough. challenge them right back. they give you a scenario where you've done a bunch of things wrong and then tell you to find the missing kayaker that you wouldn't have lost in the first place if you'd approached the journey correctly without some of their crazy scenarios....so tell them that....and then search in an expanding grid and never separate the group. first contain, control and then search. you may find the missing paddler, you may not....just don't make it any worse and go about it methodically. the hiccup with the maine guides test is that there is no on-water component....the state hasn't ever taken that step. and they're probably not qualified to suss it anyway....i've suggested for a long time that the state partner with the aca/pna and leave it to the paddlers to come up with an on-water skills assessment/certification. once that's in hand, the candidate submits copy and schedules the MG test for the written/oral. this would close the gaping hole in the process....a test for an on-water activity that has NO on-water component.
  23. the way i do allows for a little bit of movement once the sticky pieces are joined and allows you to make sure it's in the right place before it becomes more or less "permanent"....so far it's worked. does the same hold true if i wait till it's past tacky? honestly 5 minutes or so is all the patience i have for this sort of thing and i don't think i've ever tried it that far out.
  24. getting in... weldwood contact cement applied liberally to both surfaces. wait 5 minutes or so for it to get tacky...place the piece. sit in the boat (bring a book) for awhile until that bond is secure and then later use weights, bricks, sand bag, whatever to maintain pressure. geting out... i slide a thin, flexible metal ruler beneath and work it around...pull off the piece. then soak the crap out of the remnant with WD-40 and use a nylon brush on the end of a drill...repeat. the wd-40 seems to loosen up the adhesive pretty good and the spinning nylon brush doesn't seem to beat the crap out of the boat too badly. generally there is some light swearing and a beer but your experience may vary.
  25. That...IS AWESOME! FLA has awesome ocean/seascapes to explore (tar-poooooons!) and it's filled with cutting edge, self medicating crazy people that have access to drive through liquor stores. Sunsets with the fair and lovely Janis in KW; cocktail firmly in hand after a day kayaking, snorkeling, diving, sailing....maybe some plantain madura at le maison de pepe's right there at Mallory....must be quiet down there now, it's a million degree's....hmmn....I feel a trip coming on....
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