josko

I've also found that tape on the shaft takes away from paddle 'responsiveness' and adds blisters. I do try to wash both hands and paddle if I think there are traces of oils on either.

Shazbat!

Is there any indication of when Maine's test-or-quarantine requirement for MA might be lifted?

Huge thanks to Matt Drayer for an impromptu surfski lesson this morning.

Whitetips scare the living daylights out of me.

We are on the menu.

Just as we're ready to finally get to Maine: https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/27/us/possible-shark-attack-maine-trnd/index.html

Primary stability is a bit like bicycle training wheels - feels great at first, but it's worthwhile to take the time to do without them. Boat designers have a design trade-off between primary and other maneuvering options: tracking, turning, surfability, etc. If you pick a boat with high primary, the learning curve is very quick until you start to demand more from your boat, and then you hit a proverbial 'brick wall'. Boats like thew Nordkapp deliberately sacrifice primary stability for other seakeeping features, and they assume their paddlers will take the time to overcome lack of primary stability. So I would suggest to take a BCU 2* class or somesuch to learn how to overcome balance issues. For me, it's hard to imagine an Explorer would give you problems in rough water (unless you;re over 6'4", 250 lbs), and with just a few hours of practicing bracing, you'll learn to take full advantage of the boat.

You just have to be faster than the slowest member of your party.

Just for completeness sake:

Here is a link to a New England Journal of Medicine review article on marine envenomenation: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199108153250707?query=NC I found it accessible and worthwhile. (One may need to register to get access.)

I've seen two Portuguese man o'war jellyfish in Buzzards Bay this week, and have a reliable report they are 'unusually' thick this year roughly 30-60 miles south of Martha's Vineyard and Block island. This is a good time to think about what to do if encountering one, or if someone in your party got stung.

I was stopped on Rt 24 at the RI border by M state police who wanted to know my quarantine plans. I showed them my essential worker paperwork and let me go, but they were dead-serious.

Not quire sure where to put this, but our AMC trip 'Intro. to kayaking Woods Hole' just opened up two slots. If interested, sign up via https://activities.outdoors.org/search/index.cfm/action/details/id/119029&act=15

At the entrance to Falmouth (MA) there's still a sign that requests out-of-state visitors to self-quarantine for 14 days.

A slightly mellower trip today:

Just for completeness' sake:

Just bought one of these and found it turns itself on and off spontaneously (and annoyingly) while in the pocket of my (MsFit) PFD. The power button is just too accessible.

What's the difference between an expedition and a camping trip?

if anybody has an idea how to pack a 2-pc paddle for shipping, I'd love some advice.

Tides and wind forecasts are ideal for a jaunt down the Elizabeths this weekend. Going around Naushon from Woods Hole is a 20 mile trip. If you're up to a 20 miler, it's a pretty trip. There'll be a ~2 knot current push all the way back. Still, it's a Level 4 trip by NSPN standards (distance). My default will be solo fitness paddles both days, but I'll adapt to the pace of the group if folks show up. If wind kicks up stronger than we'd like, we can go partway down Naushon to Kettle cove or West beach, and surf home.

I guess I'll be dealing with Werner directly, too. This is what I got back from info@ospreyseaandsurf.com: "The company that you purchased the paddle from, Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures, has gone out of business. We are in the process of opening up a new kayak business at the same location. Since this is not the same company, we don't have the sales records of any previous transactions. Do you have a receipt for the Werner Ikelos? How old is the paddle? Due to delays with the pandemic, the business has not fully opened yet for the season. We are anticipating opening in a few weeks. Currently there is no one at the kayak shop as we work to get prepared for the season."

Global cooling is upon us.

Rob, did you deal with them direct, or through a dealer? Did you have to ship the paddle back for button replacement? I just noticed on the Werner website their warranty is only for one year.

Point I was trying to make: if we know a great white will bite your boat just behind the day hatch and then retreat, can that help us mentally prepare for such an incident?