John STEVENS

My wife Brisa and I would come but it seems like it's full. Let us know if some people drop out. We haven't paddled with you Joe, though I have paddled atleast once with Bob Levine.

Red deck, white hull, with slider skeg (the skeg box was originally fitted as a plastic skeg box rather than a fiberglass skeg box built as an integral part of the fibreglass hull - though this plastic version does work and doesn't leak). I've had the boat only one year and am selling it because I no longer need it, nor do I have space to store it, and it's too big for my wife, I've added a Brunton Compass, and an Immersion Research Reggie backband. The hull is impressively free of scratches for a boat that is possibly 6-8 years old. I bought it from Riverside Kayak in Michigan who sold it on consignment for someone who had retired from kayaking. Great expedition boat. Standard layup. Weight around 65 lbs. Solid NDK stuff. I'm traveling to Europe on MOnday September 24th. If it's not bought by then, then it won't be available til I get back which won't be before Jan 2020. So come and get it. It's on Cape Ann, though I could help get it somewhere else on the North Shore. I'm 6'0" 180 and it's been a great size for me. You can message me on 978-235-0397.

It sounds great. I've done it once before three years ago, with Pintail and others. It's a great trip. I could potentially go Friday or Sunday, but not Saturday...

My wife and I have done two circumnavs, both about 7 days last year and the year before. The first one from Bakeman's beach on Cape Rosier, where we went over to Dark Harbor Islesboro to stay with friends, and down from there to Ram in Hurricane Ridge, then Hurricane, spending 2 nights on Hurricane with a day trip into Vinalhaven. That time it was quite spicy (wind and se-wise) on the south end of Vinalhaven Island, so we didn't make it out to the Brimstones, and just went straight up and around the east side of Vinalhaven, cutting into that bay (can't remember the name of it) and various narrow passages to reach North Haven village from due south, then carrying out through LIttle Thorofare (stayed on a ITA Island there the size of a postage stamp) and then up to the East Barred Islands. Spectacular trip. The second trip we set out from Stonington, Went over to Isle au Haut, down the west side to Duck Harbor, then straight over to the Brimstones - which was a slightly dodgy 5 mile openwater crossing, by the Bandies and Saddleback Ledge, but we fortunately had a blissfully sunny day with calm seas - that was the one stretch I was anxious about, and prepared with a plan B to backtrack up Isle au Haut if necessary. Again we stayed 2 nights on Hurricane and explored The Basin on our day without loaded boats. The Basin was quite cool, and on the incoming tide had quite a bit of current going in, with a nice little rapid you could kind of surf the wave and practice ferrying back and forth across the current like riverboaters do. But like has been said, you've got to get the timing right to get out - we end up portaging over the road to get over the narrow exit at the SW corner of The Basin,and went in to explore Vinalhaven inthe afternoon. The next day we then went up the Hurricane Sound in a blind fog with incoming tide pushing us north, went into Northaven, had a great lunch, and went on through Little Thorofare and around to Mullen Head where there is a campsite, that technically you need to get permission from the Northaven Town Clerk to stay at, which requires a recommendation from a resident to get - bit tricky, but nice spot to camp with great picnic tables. We then went up to Horseshoe cove on Cape Rosier and then down the Eggemoggin Reach, visited Wooden Boat School, stayed on Sellers Island (a MITA place), and then back to Stonington. I'd have to say it's a spectacular area to paddle, because it's mostly protected from the open ocean, lots of islands, and lots of MITA islands, and more MCHT islands if you can figure out which ones they are (they're not all listed in the MITA book unfortunately); with the occasional fog, and currents usually not more than about 1.0 - 1.5 knots (except going into The Basin) which is enough so that you want and need to plan to always go with the current. I'd strongly recommend the 7-day option if you could swing it, as it takes so much effort to get there, and it feels great to get there under your own steam.

I expect to be there and will bring some chips and a dip.

This Swedish website suggests that with every every millibar of increase or decrease of barometric pressure, the sea level falls or rises respectively by 1 cm/millibar. That would suggest that the bomb cyclone that we had with Barometric pressure of 962 millibars, that there would have been a 50 cm (2 foot) rise in sea level. Then on top of that there would be the surges from the sheer force of the wind and the swell pushing water toward the shore. But a 2 foot rise is not insignificant. The eye of the low pressure that we're expected to have tomorrow seems like it will be off shore by 250 -300 miles to the southeast, where they may get pressures of 970 - 972. You would think that just that is going to generate waves on the sea, because it's sucking the normal sea level up by 40 cm, and then tomorrow's wind will supercharge that wave action.

I'm thinking to go out tomorrow from the Lanes Cove side, could head either way, maybe into the wind toward the Annisquam River might make sense for the wind forecast (Southwesterly Bft 4/5). Weather is supposed to be sunny, in the high 50's or low 60's by midday. So I'm thinking to capitalize on this balmy winter weather, though the water's cold so would advise dress for the water temp (drysuit). Any company would be welcome. I aim to be in the water around 11:00. My phone: 978-235-0397

Tuesday 9th August, from Rye Harbor in Rye, NH to Isles of Shoals, and back. Put-in location is here This has a 6 mile open water crossing each way, and depending on how many islands we visit or go around, will determine total mileage, but expect 15-16 nautical miles total. With such an open water crossing and distance, this would be considered a Level 4 trip. Wind has a tendency to pick up in the afternoon, so advice has it to start early, so I suggest everyone arrive by 7:30 am or soon after, and then be ready to paddle, with boats on the beach at 8:00 am, for a briefing and then off we go. If we get off soon after 8, we may get there by 10:30, cruise a bit around the islands, land on atleast one, have lunch and return, ideally with a homeward bound depardeparting by around 1:00 pm to return, in which case we'd be back by 3:30. I haven't been before, but have reason to hope there will be atleast one other nspn boater who has been there more that once before. I'm a relatively new nspn paddler, I live in Europe with my wife, who will be joining on this trip, and we are here only in summer. I've recently passed the BCU 4* Sea Leadership training. I'm not exactly sure of the protocol for posting such a trip as this, but suggest that people respond to me with the information as suggested in the NSPN trip guidelines (below): If anyone has any comments or guidance for me about this, I welcome your advice. I look forward to paddling with any that come. John Stevens 978-235-0397 email: johnpetersstevens@gmail.com Please RSVP from NSPN guidelines: If an RSVP is required for the trip, email the following information to the specified Trip Initiator. 1) Your Name; 2) a description of your boat (color, length, make); 3) an emergency contact for the day of the trip (name and phone#); 4) a way for the Trip Initiator to contact you in the 36 hours before the trip (email and telephone) 5) if the Trip Initiator does not already know you, include your “paddling resume”, i.e., a brief description of your paddling experience. This can include recent NSPN trips you have been on, members you regularly paddle with, classes taken, practice sessions attended, assessments completed, etc. It need not be more than a few sentences. .

Very sad. My condolences to the two wives, their families and friends. Two things stand out to me: 1. With water temperature of 52 degrees F, wearing shorts and t-shirts is dressing for the air and not the water. On Seascape Kayak and Bike's website, they had recommendations recommending clients come wearing shorts and a t-shirt, bring a windbreaker, and only expect to get wet up to their ankles. This all suggests dressing for the air and not or the water. With water temperature of 52 degrees F, this is consideration we all face: do we dress for the air or for the water? 2. That the leader's vhf radio was protected in a dry bag: if it's attached to your pfd, it's going to be more accessible, especially if you get separated from your boat.

Sorry Leon, just joined nspn and just read the protocol If it's useful to know, I paddle a Nigel Dennis Explorer, and BCU 3*

Hello Leon, I'm interested, but I need to be back by 4:30. How much time do you think we'll need? If it's only you and me, perhaps we would depart earlier, or amend the trip slightly. Let me know either on the forum or by phone: 978-235-0397. I'm not far away in Diamond Cove, just past Hodgkins Cove and Davis Neck.I'd meet you by water at Lane's cove or somewhere in between. John Stevens