scamlin

I assume this is open ocean but the articles don't say. However, the examples involved mariners reporting wave heights while at sea. The articles do say that the technical definition of "significant height" corresponds closely to estimates of wave height by experienced observers under real world conditions. Your question did prompt a thought: if these are, in fact, open ocean forecasts and observations, then the wave height when they hit a reef or beach could be even bigger as they feel the bottom and stand up. Yikes!

The key for me is that for a given NOAA wave height forecast, 10% of waves will be average 25% higher than forecast 1% will average 67% higher .03% will be twice as high. So, for example, if the forecast is 5-8 feet (as it was last Sunday in Casco Bay) with a period of 7 seconds, you can expect: a 13 foot wave every 700 seconds or about once every 20 minutes a 16 foot wave (peak to trough) every 21,000 seconds, or about once every 6 hours. Something to keep in mind when punching through surf or playing in rock garden. Scott

While digging deeper into the NOAA site, I found a couple of good article defining and explaining "significant wave height". They are a bit technical but not much. A good reason to read it is that this definition is what NOAA uses when it forecasts wave height. One thing I finally got clear: Wave height measured by NOAA really is the distance from the trough to the crest of the wave. Why is the significant wave height different from that? Read the articles. http://www.vos.noaa.gov/MWL/apr_06/waves.shtml http://www.vos.noaa.gov/MWL/aug_05/nws.shtml Scott

David: The forecasts we got on WX Channel 1 did include a Stonington-Merrimack River synopis ("out to 25 miles) all weekend. This corresponds to the synopsis included in the on-line marine forcasts. The synopsis was along the lines of "cold front moving through this evening with chance of thunderstorms followed Monday by a weak cold front." This information is actually quite valuable for getting a sense of what is coming up in the next couple of days and helps interpret the forecasts. There was also a North Atlantic synopsis. For example, the following is the synopsis for Portland tonight: ANZ100-061315- 923 PM EDT WED JUL 5 2006 SYNOPSIS FOR STONINGTON ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE NE ALONG AN OFFSHORE FRONT TONIGHT. HIGH PRES WILL APPROACH NEW ENGLAND FROM THE W ON THU AND FRI. LOW PRES WILL PASS SE OF THE WATERS SAT. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH SUN...AND STALL NEAR THE WATERS MON. What is missing is what NOAA calls a "Coastal Marine Forecast" which includes predicted wind speeds and directions, wave heights and some precipitation and visibility information. I've included tonight's Coastal Marine Forecast (overnight for Portland) from the online version: ANZ150-061315- /O.ROU.KGYX.MA.F.0000.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/ STONINGTON ME TO MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT TO 25 NM- 923 PM EDT WED JUL 5 2006 OVERNIGHT SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...BECOMING W 5 TO 10 KT. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT. PATCHY FOG AND A CHANCE OF SHOWERS. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM. The bouy reports seemed to be the old ones, though I noted that out of perhaps six bouys, only one station (Portland, I think) included wave periods, perhaps more important than wave heights as it indicates the total energy of the wave and therefore how much it will stand up when it feels the bottom. This may be more a problem with funding cuts limiting NOAA's ability to maintain the bouys themselves, rather than a policy change on reporting them on the broadcasts. While I'm at it, the Channel 1 told us to listen for weather alerts, such as the following: ANZ150-041445- 913 AM EDT TUE JUL 4 2006 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WATERS... AT 911 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A CLUSTER OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS...PRODUCING STRONG WINDS...17 MILES EAST OF PORTLAND BUOY...OR ABOUT 21 MILES EAST OF CAPE ELIZABETH...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 KT. MARINERS CAN EXPECT GUSTY WINDS UP TO 30 KNOTS...LOCALLY HIGHER WAVES...AND LIGHTNING STRIKES. BOATERS SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR IMMEDIATELY UNTIL THIS STORM PASSES. INTENSE LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. IF CAUGHT ON THE OPEN WATER STAY BELOW DECK IF POSSIBLE...KEEP AWAY FROM UNGROUNDED METAL OBJECTS. My VHF manual insists my radio will beep if a special weather alert is issued by NOAA such as the one above. In 8 or 9 years of paddling, I've never heard one. By the way, while browsing the lists on the NOAA site, I came across an announcement about three new variations on the "Small Craft Advisory" headlines. See http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/notification/ol...l-craft_adv.txt for details. By the way, my VHF got a clear signal on Channel 10, Mount Washington! Winds on Sunday were about 65 mph. Scott

Altruistic crabs? Carnivorous clams? Monomoy is a wondrous place.

Credits: Photographer: Linda Shelburne. Paddle Maker: Brian Nystrom Coach: Brian and Linda Venue: Looks like the Reading Y to me.

Here's a video of the second part of a butterfly roll. http://www.kayakpics.com/gallery/b_roll Scott

The current in Plum Island sound turns about an hour AFTER high water due to the size of the basin it drains. So at 10:30 AM was actually at the mid-point of the ebb. Scott

Heidi: Most paddlers find wetsuits with sleeves end up restricting movement and chafing in the armpits as 3 mm neoprene is just too stiff. Full wetsuits with long sleeves are used more by surfers and rafters. That's why most paddlers use "Farmer John" or "Farmer Jane" sleeveless wetsuits (with short or long legs). I'll also echo Kevin that a relief zipper is a must. It's a pain to have to take off your PFD, Sprayskirt, paddle jacket, etc. to pull down the wetsuit, particularly in bad weather or exposed situations. Men's models need a zipper that goes down to the crotch. Some women's models have a crotch zipper that women find very convenient. NRS makes good versions of both. See http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?fid=2221&deptid=1163 for the women's model. Most of us wear something under the wetsuit for comfort such as a polyester t-shirt or long sleeve poly top. A key for good cold protection in a wetsuit is that it must fit snugly. If it gapes anywhere, you'll get cold water flusing inside, which defeats the point of the suit (which is to allow a minimal amount of water in that your body can warm). Sleeveless wetsuits are particularly vulnerable at the armpits and below the back of the neck where wetsuits don't fit well. Suits with sleeves don't have this problem as much. A sleeveless wetsuit works well in combination with a some kind of top. The combination gives you the flexibility of layering as needed. Basically, you need to think about keeping warm when you get wet (the main point of a wetsuit) and keeping cool when paddling (all that work builds up body heat). There there are several choices: A paddle jacket or drytop which is worn over the wetsuit. A jacket or drytop does not keep you warm: it just keeps you dry. You'll need a polyester top or fleece under the wetsuit to insulate you. You can vary the thickness of the fleece under to adjust for temperatures. Paddle jackets have tight but not waterproof cuffs and neck (neoprene or similar), with a cinching waist. If you roll or go for a swim, you will get seepage but mostly stay dry. They can be ventilated at the neck to cool off when paddling and are easier to put on and off. A drytop has latex seals at the cuffs and neck which are waterproof but some find they take getting used to. If you roll, a drytop will keep you dry but if you swim, the waist usually leaks. Drytops are a bit harder to get on and off due to the latex seals and cannot be ventilated when paddling. Drytops are more common on whitewater kayakers than sea kayakers. There are also hybrids: my favorite is a Kokotat GoreTex jacket that has latex cuffs and a neoprene neck. The wrist gaskets keep my arms dry when paddling but I can ventilate at the neck if needed. A consideration with either paddle jackets or drytops is the material. Waterproof versions for occasional use can be inexpensive but can be sweatly and uncomfortable when paddling much distance. Breathable jackets and drytops are vastly more comfortable, but more expensive. The most breathable are Gortex but also the most expensive. Less expensive breathable fabrics work well at a lower price. Good, inexpensive non-breathable paddle jackets can be had for well under $100. A GoreTex paddle jacket is in the $200 and up range. Drytops start around $125 and go up to quite expensive. Another direction for tops are lighter weight neoprene. NRS makes a series of thin stretchy neoprene tops (long sleeve, short sleeve and vests) called Hydroskin that are plenty flexible to paddle in but provide some warmth. (Many manufacturers have their own versions). They are very popular because they are comfortable. In fact, they come in bib versions much like a regular sleeveless wetsuit. However, the material is not nearly as warm as the standard 3 mm neoprene wetsuit material. They do complement a sleeveless wetsuit well: many of us wear them under the wetsuit. They are typically very snug which helps control flushing. Another material with similar uses is a "fuzzy rubber" top: a material made of a rubberized skin and fleece lining. Again, waterproof and more comfortable than 3 mm neoprene but not as warm. A variation has a smooth knit nylon layer with fleece lining (Henderson was the first with this product) which is very comfortable but not waterproof and is more like super fleece. Hope this helps. Scott

When my neck seal blew on my drytop last year just at the beginning of trip leader training, I called Kokotat on a Thursday and arranged to ship it for reconditioning and new Gortex booties. I told them about my situation and asked if they could loan a suit. They gladly sent me a new suit overnight (literally) in time for trip leader training that weekend. I paid for shipping; they charged $300 to my credit card and refunded it when I returned the suit. I had the loaner for about 5-6 weeks at no charge (other than shipping). Conclusions (based on a sample of one)? Ask for a loaner rather than wait for service (though this does not address gaskets that fail on a trip). Kokotat gives great service. Scott

Yes, there was a death from a failed wet exit and it was here in Massachusetts, in Buzzards Bay about five years ago. The medical rulings were inconclusive as to the cause of death. The best analysis I've seen was Chuck Sutherland's article in Sea Kayaker magazine in 2004. Chuck is one of the most widely respected experts on kayak safety. See http://www.seakayakermag.com/2004/Dec04/Loss01.htm He states that inhalation of sea water was the primary cause of death, not a heart attack. The conclusion was that while uncommon, panic and inhalation of water on the first ever wet exit is not rare. The author suggested that wet exits should be done in a supported environment (instructor physically holding onto the kayak and/or paddler) until the paddler is used to the experience. A dry run-through on the beach is not a substitute for experiencing the panic. Many of us as instructors, trip leaders and friends have taken people on paddling who have not had previous wet exit experience. I have. The incident on Buzzards Bay and the Sea Kayaker analysis convinced me that the risk is real and that a dry practice is not sufficient. The notion of requiring outfitters or vendors to dunk their clients before trips would require real changes in practices. But that essentially is what scuba diving outfitters require. Interestingly, diving is a self-regulated industry (I think), but still they require a lot of training and certification before vendors sell equipment, rent it or take you out on a dive. Where do we go from here? Scott

Brian: Without taking sides on the merits of the proposed legislation or any legislation, I think there is a logic that connects regulation and education. Practically speaking, the effective audience for the law are those in the industry such as vendors, outfitters and trainers, not the novice paddlers. In principle, regulation often (not always) prompts people to do something they are not opposed to but don't bother to do. Vendors selling kayaks, outfitters renting kayaks and guides or instructors putting their clients into boats are best positioned to educate--which as you point out is the key. Simply put, regulation can give those in a position to educate a reason to do what they should be doing anyway. For both the educator and the naive public, a law can nudge them towards learning more about what they should know. It is a way of signaling that something is important or at least worth listening to. Some (perish the thought) will do it because it is a regulation. Some will ignore the law or even reject it as an unwarranted intrusion by government, but if it leads to even some education, it can help. I know from my own experience trying to get people to change behavior that an external reason (in this case a state regulation) is often what starts the change process. Scott

This trip is on for Sunday leaving from Pavillion Beach. We will circumnavigate Castle Island. Launch from Pavilion Beach in Ipswich to paddle the Ipswich River, the hidden canal, Essex Bay and Ipswich Bay along Crane’s Beach. Level 2/3. RSVP to Scott Camlin by Friday. Scamlin at restructassoc dot com

Another method for holding the paddle is to tuck the middle of the shaft under the bottom edge of the front of your PFD. It stays put while fiddling with skirts or pumps, yet is instantly available and in position for a brace if needed. I'd think that any of these methods (Reentry and Roll or Cowboy) would do better if the paddle is always in position for a brace throughout the process. Scott

Bob: The reattachment of the spray skirt while underwater is something I'd consider an advanced version of the re-enter and roll. The technique I've practiced is to put the boat on edge and half fill the cockpit. Get legs in the boat while laying more or less on your back along side the boat with your head above water. Then duck briefly underwater, pull your butt into the seat using your underwater hand. Then roll (with or without a paddle float attached to the paddle). It's very quick (10-15 seconds) to get back upright. That's why it can work in very rough seas. No need for extended fiddling while under water. The obvious disadvantage is a flooded cockpit: you have to paddle out of trouble (race or surf zone) or hook up with another paddler before pumping out. This is one reason why paddlers in some parts of the world (Australia for one) consider a foot pump a necessity for ocean paddling. The technique of putting the spray skirt on underwater is a challenge (many have a problem doing this upright on land). It requires a full inversion unlike the variation above and it can be difficult to get the spray skirt attached before running out of air. Scott

The closing time is more or less timed to sunset, so it varies by the season. I think it is 8/8:30 PM in June/July. The closing time is usually posted on the gate of the main parking lot (not the boat ramp lot). As David indicates, the pond is closed a half hour before the gates to the parking lots are closed. Scott

Yep, a trip leader can require immersion protection such as a dry top. There may be a conversation with the Trip Coordinator if the requirement is out of the ordinary. But generally the club gives the trip leader the discretion if there is a rational reason for the requirement. The basic logic is that if club members do not like they requirement, they don't have to go on the trip. Participation of both the trip leader and member are voluntary. Scott

Al: There is no official water tempature policy in NSPN to my knowledge. Bill is correct that we have used a rule of thumb: wetsuits below 60 degrees and drysuits below 50 degrees. But the requirement for any trip is up to the trip leader, depending on conditions and skill level. Most would consider the above guidelines a minimum. As for Hydroskin, there has been debate over the years about it. It is .5mm of neoprene (compared with a standard 3mm in regular wetsuits), with a nylon skin and a liner. I have several versions of it and wear them regularly, but would not consider them comparable to a wetsuit which is six times thicker. It would not, in my opinion, be suitable for cold water (under 60 degrees). Some people use them as a mid layer under a drytop, a drysuit and even a wetsuit. I use them for "warm season" when the water is mid-60s. It gives some insulation in a swim without being too hot or restrictive. I find that they are not really warm in a wind, especially when they get wet (evaporative cooling). You'll need a paddling jacket of some kind if the air gets cool and breezy. Scott

David: Is that a birdfeeder? Scott

Keith: Good to see you on the water and the board. Just one question, Professor, about "First step was to just stop paddling.... Boat followed it's natural tendency, turning into the wind (had the skeg up)..." In my exprience, boats at rest end up broadside to the wind, tending to point up into the wind (weathercock) only when paddled forward. Now the question: did I misread your trip report? Does the AA HV have unique characteristics? Were you paddling to stay in place? Just curious...or as Richard says, living to learn. Best Regards, Scott

Paul: In support of your tip to avoid the shore area: Ionized hair standing on end. I mean really on end: straight up 4" or 18", however long the person's hair is. Not all of it, but similar to when you rub a balloon on your sweater and hold it over someone's head. It is a definite indicator of pre-strike charges building up. (Remember, the main stroke is UP from the ground). I've seen this effect only three times in my life: 1. On the water in a 1/2 mile wide cove surrounded by 100' cliffs (Shetland Islands). 2. On the beach at Wells Beach in Wells, ME. 3. On the beach at Hammonassett Beach in Madison, CT. It's only three data points, but I've never seen this phenomenon inland. And I've only heard of it inland on exposed ridges and mountain tops above tree line. So maybe there is something to your tip. Anyone have additional sightings of this effect? If we collect them, maybe we can get a statistically valid sample. Scott

Karen: Well, if you have to replace that expensive paddle, at least you got a great story out of it. Thanks for the write up. Scott

Ken: First, the club does not have a policy on lightning in the sense that the board has approved it. The trip leader program has taught a standard kayaking protocol, which boils down to one basic rule: get off the water and stay off until the danger has passed. There is no "official" rule for when danger is over, but we teach the informal 30-30 rule: don't go back on the water until 30 minutes after the last time you counted 30 seconds between the lightning and the sound of thunder (which implies 6 miles away). The theory is a strike can happen at least five miles from a storm. (In practice, almost anything can and will happen. We're playing the odds here.) Trip leaders are taught to call off a trip if the National Weather Service predicts thunderstorms and that happens fairly regularly (several trips a season). There are no protocol or cutoff if the prediction is "X% chance of thunderstorms". Ultimately, the club depends on the trip leader makes a judgment call when to put in or get off the water, weighing all the factors. That's the only official club policy I know of. The other protocol we've taught is that if you're caught on the water, spread the paddlers out (say at least 100 feet apart) instead of rafting up. This will not reduce the risk of a strike, but rather increase the chance that someone is still alive to call a May Day if a paddler is hit. In trip leader training several years ago, I believe we did repeat the theory of a cone of safety near a tall object. Frankly, today I would mention it either to debunk it or describe it as a long shot. The fact is, no one knows: maybe it really does work. That's the past and current state of the club approach to lightning risk, as far as I understand it. As for the theories: The main reason to get off the water is that there are almost always better options to avoid a strike on land compared with water. The theories of how to avoid strikes on the water are mostly untested and in some case quite fanciful (see Derek Hutchinson's really silly and untested design for a kayak mounted lightning rod in his early books). So, with all due respect to Richard, the only time to consider on-water options is when there is no way to get off the water. For example, I've told the story of sitting in a cove surrounded by a 100 foot cliff in a thunderstorm with 21 paddlers. When a woman's 18" hair was standing on end (pre-strike ionization), some of us positioned ourselves about 100 feet (i.e. 45 degrees) from the cliff and spread out. (And made a point to get far away from the electrified lady). There was no place to land; the only way out was to paddle back around a point and almost a mile down an exposed coast to the nearest takeout. We avoided the numerous caves in the cliff on the theory that a strike might travel down the wet cliff face into the cave. The point is there were no reasonable options to get off the water, so we entered into the realm of "better than nothing". To my knowledge, there are no proven methods for reducing risk for kayakers; most are based on untested applications of observations or electrical principles. The Coast Guard and many safety publications have guidelines, but they are more common sense than demonstrated ways to reduce risk. Personally, I think that the forces involved in lightning are so huge that they overwhelm the efforts of paddlers and the particulars of a given setting, making the strike path close to random if not a complete crap shoot. I'd love to see some tested observations or theories, but I don't think they are out there. The only advice I'd take as reliable is to stay indoors or inside a vehicle. But I knew a girl who was reading in her bedroom and saw a bolt blow a foot wide patch of plaster off the wall, travel across the ceiling and exit through the opposite corner of the room (she was unhurt). And then there were the boaters who took refuge in a WWII concrete bunker/watch tower on a Maine island several years ago and got hit when a strike traveled through the wet structure. As I remember, one died and the other was seriously injured. Like I said, the mismatch between the magnitude of the voltages and the particulars of the situation make it capricious in practice if not random in fact. Beyond the risk of a hit, there is a second reason to get off the water. The wind and waves during a thunderstorm, particularly the kind on a fast moving cold front, are at least as dangerous to a kayaker as the risk of lightning. Scott

John: I never sweat like a pig in my drysuit. In fact, I often put my regular clothes over the long johns and tops after a paddle. I sweat a lot more in a wetsuit which is why I wear my drysuit into June and starting in September: it's just more comfortable. Brian mentioned the key: get a breathable drysuit. GoreTex is most breathable but most expensive. There are other brands out that do a good job with other coatings. As for the latex neck seals: if it's choking you, it's too tight and you can do something about it. The trim vs. stretch wars are played out on this message board every year or two, but I can tell you that a simple but careful trim will immediately make a drysuit comfortable. Don't settle for less. Just plan on replacing your seals every 2-4 seasons, depending on use. Scott

I'll echo Ken: 4-piece paddles travel fine in a duffle. I wrapped mine in a wetsuit. Fuel bottles, even new, are forbidden even in check baggage. You might get it through, but if they have to go digging for it in check baggage, the results may not be pretty. Scott