Gcosloy

I prefer Stohlquist-the gaskets are thicker-the suit sizing is better fitting and while they use their fabric, not Gore-Tex it breathes just fine. And I love the neoprene neck over latex which is not an option with Kokatat. Oh yes-on sale half the price of Kokatat. Had one for 3 years no problems yet!

Still, its much better than the 50's and 60's. Of course we had a little more than 1/2 the population then but drivers would routinely through not just butts out of their windows but uneaten food, paper wrappers, cans, bottles etc. The shoulders of major roads were littered with this stuff. And most of the population was yet to return to the glories of nature, hiking and camping so it could have been better in the wilderness if you didn't mind polluted streams and some rivers that regularly caught fire. Just saying, in the past polluters like smokers were given a pass-no more-we've made a lot of progress.

It appeared that the rescuer of the swimmer paddled backwards toward the beach while the swimmer hung on to his bow. Perhaps it made no difference but I would think there would be more power and control the other way round. All in all I thought it was a successful rescue and the decisions made, appropriate.

Its all relative-the body anticipates the same temperature its been acclimated to. Any change is felt as being too warm or too cold independent of the actual thermometer. If it stays constantly in the 30's here in NE for a week or more a warmup in the 40's will be welcome. Conversely, a descent from a consistent 40F into 30F will cause many claims of feeling cold. I lived in Minnesota for a year and found the winters quite tolerable even when the mercury was below 0F at night and 10-15F during the day. The reason I believe was that the temperature rarely varied and one got used to it.

It was 30F when we met this morning. The day ended at 40F. Seas were flat, hardly any swell but some fun rock play perfect for beginners so I wasn't too disappointed. No surf at Wallis Sands but nice lunch with Cathy, Steve and Bill. Bill finished the day with his mandatory roll which I would not emulate but admire. Winter paddling reminds me of an Ingmar Bergman film; its different but as an acquired taste, ultimately enjoyable.

I'm in.

Paddle more with friends. Continue rock gardening in moderate conditions. Do more off-shore surfing in moderate conditions. Consider taking the camping plunge: need to get some gear, learn more about cooking.

Well said Liz. Do you think there may be a correlation between not voicing concern and perceived expertise. Its the experts among us that should know better and yet anecdotes seem to indicate this?

What struck me was the contrast between the Blogger's reticence in mentioning his strong misgivings about the site choice and his admirable tenacity and perseverance during the 2 hour rescue phase. Maybe its a generational thing but there seems to be more of a nod to politeness and not ruffling feathers over demands to discuss safety. I agree with John when he wrote: " I wonder whether the group mentality and the scheduling of the event overrode the instincts that said "this isn't safe". Maybe one of the things we need to do during beach discussions of planning before trips is to encourage the outliers and dissenters to speak up. As an aside, many of these SK rescue stories either have large groups or are led by competent instructors. Statistically, speaking do we know what is the ideal group size for safe paddling all other things being equal?

Its 34 degrees in Kittery for a high, wind 17 by 1pm and 21 gusts so it should feel more like 23 degrees. I'm happy to wait for a 35 to 40 day with low winds. Wave height is not as much an issue. Keep posting Blaine.

Went out shopping with Lo in Greenland, NH this afternoon. 28degrees, 15wind and 20+gusts. I don't think I can stay warm enough in those conditions to enjoy paddling New Year's Day. I'll watch the forecast and hope that the winds moderate but if they don't I'm no show!

Hey Blaine, If conditions don't get any worse I'm in. HT for Jan 1 is 1:09PM which allows for a circumnavigation of Gerrish as well.

Christopher, Having to work on New Year's Day is perhaps a bummer. On the other hand in this economy being employed is a plus. And don't even ask me about my status: unemployed and unemployable! But it does leave oodles of time to paddle! Hope to see you on the water some time.

Thanks for the offer Jeff. I think I'll wait until the weather is warmer before doing this. My garage is too cold to work in during the Winter.

Ah, gives me chance to go to Home Depot and buy another tool, priceless!

I like the suggestion with this modification: snap a carpenter's chalk line down the center. Position for 2" keel strip painter's tape one inch +1/4" on either side of the center line. Clean the hull from the chalk line with alcohol or whatever solvent works and apply the strip. Remove the tape before applying heat.

After reviewing the video I'd be concerned about centering the strip on my Boreal Ellesmere whose rounded hull has no pronounced keel line. Can you get by with the hair drier or do you need a real heat gun?

Odiorne on the North side of the bridge is not ideal(parking for about six)but folks can unload and then park on the road if there is not enough room for cars. The tides/current are not propitious for a Pierce launch on Jan 1. With flood tide we could paddle up the Piscataqua to Hilton Park and turn around on the slack. (Problem: with the hydrology of Great Bay however slack water does not happen at high Tide but perhaps 2 hours later.) I like Bob's idea of Odiorne either a circumnavigation or a trip down the Rye coast and we can work out the parking problem, I'm sure. Besides, based on the weather we may not get near 16 souls. Paul's suggestion of a go round Gerrish is always welcome and Kittery Wharf should be empty Jan 1 with plenty of parking. (In fact based upon the forecast Gerrish offers protection from wind/waves on half the journey of 8.5 miles.)

I use my Garmin 60csx to record trip tracks, speed, elapsed time and to be able to track back to the nearest harbor if necessary. One feature is the Mark or MOB (man overboard) which records Lat/Long at current position. Helpful if you're talking to the CG during an emergency.

Maybe its just me but I find the biggest impediment to enjoying winter paddling is the low position of the sun in the sky. Even as early as noon if the sun is within 180 degrees of a half circle in front of me I have trouble seeing the water scape. I wear prescription glasses and polarizing clip on sun lenses but it doesn't help much. Does anyone have a suggestion. I know they make shooter glasses in a color or tint that causes some dilation of the eyes and thereby better vision. Anyone else have experience with this?

Marc, I see no correlation between frequent rescue practice and wear or abuse to the layup. If you said that you wanted to concentrate on rock play then your conclusion about poly boats being more robust would make some sense. T-rescues do not wear, scuff or damage composite boats. T-boning? What's that?

Phil and Ed, Yes I would agree; I purposely avoided adding group paddling because that adds complications that sometimes are independent of conditions. Years ago I got sick, nauseous, dizzy to the point that I could hardly paddle straight coming back from Marblehead to Manchester harbor. Dee Hall stayed on my beam and talked me back safely. The conditions were light wind, moderate chop no big deal. The mix of paddlers and their range of skills or lack thereof contains a whole other set of potential risks in groups. I was on a paddle this late summer where one went over in serious bumpy water and four or five of his companions crowded around like he was putting on a show. No one of the otherwise skilled paddlers offered any assistance and a lone paddler quite a bit further out and called by radio raced to the scene with a fast and clean T-rescue. I was even further away and this account came not as an eyewitness. What does it mean to "function as a group" when some cannot perform a simple assisted rescue, or contact tow someone away from rocks or out of the breakers? As much as I appreciate the emphasis on beach briefings largely initiated by the Cam workshops the NSPN has put on the last few years there is still a great deal of reluctance during these briefings to identify holes in the skill set of individuals or full disclosure of medical issues that could make the difference between life and death. I'm sure this is omitted so as not to embarrass those being questioned or to relieve the awkwardness of the questioner. Perhaps these sensitive questions could be handled via PM's or emails before the trip?

A recent paddle in a day of high swells and strong winds prompted the thought: Just what represents risk and danger to us sea kayakers. Clearly, experience and skill may minimize the risk inherent in the worst conditions, nevertheless it might be useful to discuss conditions independent of paddler skill or to assume that conditions pose uniform threats to all paddlers in a strict linear fashion based upon experience. In other words a 5* paddler may be able to easily navigate big breaking swells but cannot deny that they pose more risk than say flat water with moderate chop. So here goes: Strong winds and gusts often provide no more than annoyance and impediment to rapid forward progress up to 20 to 25k. Above this stronger gusts abeam of the kayak can cause a capsize by catching the blade of a high angle paddler. Low angle paddling will minimize this. Waves, swell, rollers and breakers are another story. Swells of 5 to 8 ft. (I don’t recall being in anything larger.) with decently long periods can provide some of the safest and more enjoyable rides out there. It’s like being on a rapidly rising and falling elevator, providing you either quarter or stay parallel to the swells. Big swells at your stern can provide even more thrills but are more risky in that more skill is needed to prevent or overcome the tendency to broach. Waves that break, even small ones pack the energy of mass, which non-breaking waves do not and are more problematic. Even a one footer breaking can flip you if you are not anticipating it by bracing into it. Even large breaking waves can be paddled safely by heading into them. Caught on your stern and you are surfing which requires even more skill than many of us possess. Breaking water in and among rocks is dangerous and even if your bracings skills avoid capsize the kayak can be moved rapidly into rocks that you’re trying to avoid or navigate around. Sometimes the breakers will come from two different directions, which make it even more difficult. Another condition that requires care and skill is strong current, not just to go against but to anticipate unpredictable areas of current, rips, boils etc. The Piscataqua River near Portsmouth is rich in these conditions. Finally, particularly here in Maine, the seacoast contains so many rocks, reefs and shoals that depending on the tide if you don’t possess the “local knowledge” to avoid these hazards you can find yourself plunging into a hole formed by the undertow with solid rock waiting to greet you. Well, this is my list; I’m interested if others have different experiences to add or subtract from my conclusions.

Leon, I know you love the paddling in Florida over the winter months. Is this what passes for a tow in Florida?

I vote for Joppa Flats. One, if it's a cold or windy day, there is more protection from the elements in Plum Island Sound and tributaries. Of course tides and currents become more of a factor than in the open water. Two, I have no idea where the median NSPN population lives geographically but given the early sunset we should want an early start. I live in southern Maine and would not make the trip for Boston Harbor. I'm sure I'm in the minority with this attitude but I think more participants will come if the put-in is "North Shore". Four or five hours on the water should not be dampened by two or more hours of driving each way. JMHO.