Paul Sylvester

When the sh hits and you miss your "reliable roll" it is demoralizing and can be a bit scary. Having a drysuit on, (being comfortable for some period of time in the water) and all the safety gadgets will be huge while you figure it out. From the archives experience....

With this post I officially cancel the trip. Maybe try for next year?

All, Ditto what Rob said above. Given that no one has signed up I do not see anything happening this Saturday for this trip. We are going to have some long period swells which will wrap around the islands and could make it choppy as we approach the Shoals. Wind forecast is lite and variable right now and sun all day. I am due for a good surfing day and am leaning towards a plastic boat surf and rock play day somewhere near the NH seacoast. Standees will be all over the beaches so I will look for the offshore breaks and ones with no boarders. PM FMI , subject to change..

Starting a new thread to avoid confusion because the original post was trying for a weekday. Trip is set for Saturday 9/21/19 w/ BIB at Rye Harbor, NH at 8:30 am off water around 3-4 pm. About 7NM of open ocean so a level 4 trip. If we have not communicated I will vet and want to know you are ready. More details on the calendar posting. A nice trip on the right day and is a long crossing but once there very scenic.

Set for Saturday 9/21/19. Leave Rye Harbor by 8:30 am. I'll put it on the calendar for sign ups. If we have not had some contact I will vet you as this is a committed trip and not to be taken lightly. As we get closer I will watch the weather and sea state and make a final determination. If we cancel I will plan a back up paddle nearby. More to follow.

There is a very large security perimeter and a large fine. But you should not have needed to reverse. Just cross by Badgers Island? Either below or above? Last I knew the Kittery lobster boats were using the channel by the new drydock. I usually continue up past Warren's so I cross closer to the middle bridge. I went around Gerrish. Outside first,and met the AMC group and then back to Odiorne. There were a lot of people otw which was nice to see.

I will probably put in at Odiorne but it will be earlier. I may come around and meet you or just head around Gerrish solo. Unsure right now.. FWIW even at very low tides once you get past the mud at he ramp there is a small channel and enough water. It has changed some since previous years when there has been almost no water or channel.

9/14 would be a conflict with the Woods Hole tidal skills weekend with Greg at Kayakwaveology . Trying for 9/21/19

Yes it has been mentioned. Tentative 9/14.

Tentative Saturday 9/7/19 from Rye. thxs,

Direct from the "that's neat department" Had some old flares that were 3-4 years past the date and shot them all off last night. Four pencil flares and one smoke flare. Smoke flare was about 10" long and was very bright and not fun to hold when it was going off. All pencils went well. The first one got taken by the wind and went into the neighbors yard just as they were pulling in their driveway (about 350 feet away). I did not make that mistake again. Quite surprised they all went off.

Canceled due to lack of interest. I hope to post this trip for a weekend day before the end of September.

I should be there for 9. BTW tides are good for a loop around Gerrish. About 12 miles.

In an effort to get away from the SOS paddles: Left from Dover Point (Hilton Park) 7/29 Monday at noon and headed up the Salmon Falls river on the last of the flood current. Paddling my Explorer in the summer heat I saw just a few other boats all day. Made my way up past the Cocheco River turn off and continued up the Salmon Falls River. Stopped for a break at the Rt 101 So. Berwick boat launch as an ebb was starting. I had never been beyond the bridge and wanted to head up to the South Berwick dam so I could check it off my list. Only a few houses and very quiet with brackish water and shallows on the edges of this wide river. The river narrows quickly and soon I was at the historic Hamilton House. Then passed an old dam on the right that we called "Lee's Mills" when we used it as a swimming hole as teens. The dam is in disrepair and car travel over the top has been stopped due to safety concerns. Maybe this dam should come out? The water was dropping fast and the river was getting skinny but my Explorer did not complain. Went past a fresh smelling farm on the left and the Vaughn Woods trails were on the right (prior to Hamilton House) Soon I was at the dam and ready to turn back. The water under the dam is full of weeds and not that pleasant. No smell fortunately.. Trip back was uneventful with some minor headwinds on a very small ebb. Stopped at the So. Berwick launch for a stretch and found a very gross mud. Before long I was in sight of the put in and done. About 15 miles total and off the water by 4:30. PS: On the river I grabbed what I thought was a rubber ball. It had a bulge and crack in it...when I gave it a squeeze it exploded all over me and the kayak while emitting the most foul of smells. It was some kind of duck or seagull egg I guess. White and almost the size of a tennis ball. After some rinsing most of the smell was gone thankfully. That was a first for me...

If you are interested you need to sign up on the calendar so we have an idea on the participants and we can plan this. Looking for four minimum for safety. If this falls through I will find a Saturday or Sunday or go solo. Thanks,

8/12/19 Isle of Shoals from Rye Harbor. BIB at 8:30 am and back by 3-4 PM. Looking for that perfect summer day and will do an alternate inland paddle if needed or delay the trip to another day. This is a level 4 trip based on the crossing and exposure. Wind, weather and swells may cancel this. We will seek to maintain up to 3.5 knots and stay as a group. Please have all safety equipment and a properly outfitted sea kayak. If I don't know you please answer a few questions: Have you done 2 or 3 14 mile days this season? Have any medical concerns or liabilities that would hinder you on the crossings? Are you comfortable in level 4 conditions? Any ACA or BCU certs? Capped at 8 max but dependent on other leaders signing up and the strength of the group. Please PM me any answers as I am vetting so we can have the best experience possible. thxs

You have salt marshes, sand dunes and no Greenheads? Not sure I buy that and the jury is still out.. Need further data..

8/19/19 is the first day back from the Lobster Buoy Maine trip. We are both on that trip and it might be a bit much to be gone for a long weekend and then do a shoals trip.

Well done, What boat and paddle did you use? I certainly plan to do another Blackburn...Maybe next year....assume it was flat and a fast day?

Just too crazy lately to get away so regrettably I have to drop.. Hope someone else can take my spot.

,To hijack....As a Subi owner I am more interested in why a 2015 is going away for three weeks and what happened? We own our second one, a 2015 (burned on the first)and trying to decide if I should dump it. Seeking local knowledge..thxs

Planning an Isle of Shoals trip from Rye NH but the date is variable as I usually make my own schedule. Plan on a weekday this July/Aug. Leave from Rye harbor by 8:30, am back by 3-4 PM. I am looking for interest from people that are ready for a long boring crossing of 6-7 miles with time at and around the islands once there. You must be ready and well equipped for the open ocean and all that involves. There will be some vetting. Please post here or PM me if interested and which weeks or days might be best. thxs