eneumeier

That's right. IN, not at, Lanes Cove. I could not resist a stroll down to Lanes Cove at high tide this morning. Neither could a lot of my neighbors. Everyone with a dog was out. (Frank stayed home.) For today's workshop we would have: 1) practiced surf launches from the put in at the head of the cove, 2) had plenty of wind and waves to practice skills in right in the middle of the cove, 3) been able to get blown/washed onto the rocks without ever leaving the cove, And, for the more advanced paddlers 4) just try to leave the cove.* As for that cozy lunch beach along the breakwater: the ocean was pouring through the granite and anyone sitting inside would have gotten a saltwater spray shower with every wave. Of course, this storm is nothing compared to 1978, which took out the Lanes Cove breakwater. * This activity would likely have been followed by a boat repair workshop. Liz N.

Hi Al, I get hot easily also. I'm assuming that your paddling jacket was made of something breathable. Putting fleece under it might have made you too warm. I often paddle with two or even 3 layers of thin polypro. I don't get overheated like I would with heavy fleece, but the perspiration has someplace to move to. You might try that. (Bring the heavy fleece for the beach.) If you were getting colder as you paddled, you were definitely underdressed. A neoprene cap would have kept your head warmer than what you had on, which let the wind through. Also, I like pogies for my hands because it is an easy way to regulate my temperature. Sometimes I paddle with one on and one off. I only wear gloves if the water temperature is VERY cold. It was not in CT that day. (Don't ask how I know. :-)) ) Liz N.

From every forecast I have been able to find, "Gale" won't be arriving until later this afternoon or this evening. So, I'll be at Manchester harbor at 10:00 AM - behind the police station - with the intent to paddle to Misery if others show up. Liz N.

Hi Guy, Despite Marc Schlosser's best efforts to convince me that your boat, the Epic 18, is what I should paddle, I'm liking the KajakSport Viviane really a lot. I went out with Marc at Mystic this afternoon and felt really comfortable in it. If Epic could make the Endurance look like a complete sea kayak, instead of one with its bow chopped off, I'd reconsider. For now, I agree with Jed: Life is too short to paddle an ugly boat. :-)) P.S. I realize that the Epic is faster but I'm willing to sacrifice some speed to look good. Liz N.

For the annual post-T day trip we may have SW winds. We will also likely have rain. Ever wonder what the Aleut used since they did not have Goretex? Go to the Peabody-Essex Museum, 3rd floor, and check out the Aleut exhibit. They have a pullover shirt, long enough to attach to the cockpit, completely made out of sea lion intestine and esophagus, circa 1830. Our own Casey Carey has repaired it twice, which involves sewing the strips together with thin (thread-diameter) strips of, yes, sea lion gut. You will have to ask her where she gets it. It seems that the proteins break down over time, faster in the "threads," so it has to be sewn back together periodically. Casey said it has an interior layer, with the seams offset so it is very nearly waterproof, and very light in weight. Also on display are an amazing sea lion intestine and esophagus cape, of the design worn by Russian naval officers, and a 1830 model of a triple kayak - the type used for major seal hunting expeditions. The model has an interesting split bow, which helped shed waves and kept the paddlers more dry. BTW: I'm still planning to launch out of Manchester harbor at about 10:00 AM to get to Misery at 11:00, if others are going to also. (I will do Tucks if everyone else is going there too.) I will be in a boat I am demoing (likely my Blackburn 2004 craft) and need to see how it does in a bit of wind and waves. Comparing the marine and land forecasts for Friday, the trip is looking doable, if a bit wet. Liz N.

>Count me in as an occasional show. At the least, I can carry >the boats. Or tow anyone who wants to see how it feels to go over 7 knots. :-)) >Liz, you'll have to wait until next summer for my next >bluefish dropoff. I had a piece of the last one for lunch. It is still delicious. Liz N.

>I probably won't make >every Sunday (there is good skiing in the winter after all) I ski too. This won't be every Sunday. I'll figure out a tentative schedule but we'll have to be guided by the marine forecast, in addition to conditions on the slopes. I hope to get enough dates in to cover all sections twice before June 1, then start piecing sections together before doing the whole thing at least twice before the race. Liz N.

Alex is bored. Alex wants more competition in the women's division of the Blackburn Challenge. I want more company back in the pack. :-)) To those of you who have been thinking "I couldn't possibly do that" - if I can do it so can you. Read on. The plan is to practice the course in easily manageable sections during the winter and early spring so we are ready for serious training when the weather breaks. Alex will be with us, sharing tips, when her schedule permits. The course breaks down like this: 1) The start: 3 NM out the Annisquam River, against the incoming tide. (They pick a date when the racers have to paddle against the current to make it more of a "challenge.") We'll do this section when it is too rough elsewhere, studying the currents, eddies, sand bars, channels, etc., and learn to paddle strong against the current without wearing ourselves out. 2) The fun part: 4 NM, point to point to point past Lanesville, Folly Cove and Halibut Point to Andrews Point in Rockport. People on the rocks cheering. You are warmed up but not tired. Rah, rah, rah! Lots of comraderie. Oh yeah! I can DO this!!! 3) Sandy Bay crossing to Straightsmouth Straight (boring): 2 NM and traffic starts thinning out. Check in with the folks in the boat and you are halfway home! 4) Straightsmouth to Emerson Point: Only 1.5 NM but how close can you stay to the rocks to save time and distance? 5) Heartbreak hill - Emerson Point to Braces Cove: 4NM if you stay on a heading of 235, which is to say offshore. If there is a headwind, as in 2003, you are already tired when you hit it. I found paddling offshore by myself disconcerting because it was so hard to tell if I was making any forward progress. Was I ever happy to see red nun #4! I want to practice this stretch a lot to get more comfortable with that. Who wants to think about bailing when you have already gone more than halfway? 4) Where is that damn lighthouse and how long is this damn breakwater - Braces Cove to the harbor entrance: the longest 1.3 NM ever paddled. 5) The finish: 1.6 NM From Dogbar to the beach: Boats stay out of my way I'm in a race. How hard can you paddle when you are really tired? We will learn all the course headings and visual markers. And (Ken: you might want to skip this sentence), where all the bailout points are. If you are not having fun, you will know exactly what your nearest options allow. On the thread Ken started about paddling skills, I said I learn best when I am relaxed, not scared. So, that is the approach here. For those who like living/paddling more on the edge, please enjoy doing your own thing. All I ask is that you refrain from drinking all the Ipswich Ale at the beer tent before I get there. :-)) Alex and I want to help more women get ready for the Blackburn Challenge in 2004, but guys are welcome to join us too. The only rule is no whining about the pace, being too cautious, etc. If you want to be put on the list for "training" dates, post here or send me an email: eneumeier AT earthlink.net Most of the paddling will be done on Sunday afternoons, starting (if Gale stays away) in January. Post questions here. Liz N.

>Who was the NSPN >member that moved out here to work at a traditional kayak >building school? Somebody mentioned him to me when I was >back east last summer. I found the school in Anacortes. That would be Bob Arnold, I believe. Liz N.

me too Liz N.

I will bring my electric carving knife ($1 yard sale special) which works great on foam. Liz N.

I can make it after all. Count me in. Liz N.

One of the things I liked most about John Lull's book (if anyone reading this still has the copy I loaned out I'd like it back) is the progression in skills he lays out. I now know myself well enough to understand that if I am scared or intimidated by the conditions I am not going to learn anything. The point at which that kicks in seems to vary a bit but I know it when I feel it and I pay attention. Being scared, as opposed to excited, means being tense and stiff: not good in a kayak. To learn a new skill I have to be relaxed and have confidence that the instructor (whether one of the terrific professionals or one of our great club volunteers) is not going to push me too far out of my comfort zone. I often have to back up to the basics, get comfortable again, then move on to nibble at the next step. I have noticed that others thrive at learning at the edge of the envelope. They likely will go farther in this sport than I will or at least progress faster than me. I think Ken has a really good point about hours spent paddling. Learning how to do something, say torso rotation or bracing, is different from spending enough time in the boat to be able actually do it, reliably, comfortably, without thinking about it - so it is there when you need it. Liz N.

>We were all basically fine, and our boats were all solid. >Having something to do next right away (taking a walk to my >car and loading the kayak) was helpful to my state of mind. >However, in hindsight, I would say we probably should have >taken a few more moments to come off of the experience. I think this is really an important point. In the "heat" of things, it is hard to slow down and take enough time. >I have seen people in hiking and car accidents continue to >function (perhaps in some degree of shock) while they were >actually injured in ways that they didn't yet realize. For this reason the risk management guidelines for many outfitters/outdoor organizations require that anyone being "evacuated" be accompanied. Bethany's situation may not have qualified as an evacuation but she did hit her head and was then going to walk to her car and drive by herself. Having someone go with her would have been prudent. Liz N.

>Would love to join you, at least to listen but will be in >Tortola. "location TBA from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm" Why don't we just join you? Discussing cold water rough stuff while sipping Pina Coladas on the beach sounds perfect. Liz N.

>But, if the paddler who is struggling is also unstable due >to bonking, inexperience, merves. etc. (which the rescuer >might not know), then being attached to a capsized boat by a >short tow seems like it could hinder the rescuer's >manueverability when trying to rescue the person. On the >other hand, a long tow would potentially take too much >precious time while the rope was playing out if the >conditions were quickly taking the paddlers in a bad >direction. Would you need to attach a short-ish tow that you >could lengthen at a moments notice? Wouldn't that be very >hard in conditions that require both your hands on the >paddle and esp. if you are also wearing gloves? If you are paddling with a minimum of 3 people, even more important in the conditions you are describing, one person can stabilize the struggler while the other attaches the tow line and plays it out. The support paddler can paddle next to and keep talking to the struggler to see if instability is a problem. If so, the support paddler can quickly move into position for the struggler to lean on, making a rafted tow if necessary. Liz N.

>I am still tryin' to figure out what happened on that big >wave. I know it involved getting vertical then surfing a >bit (still not sure about the orientation) and being upside >down. No great accomplishment there, but good experience. I had been watching the swells at that spot for a while as every five minutes or so a couple of wide swells would turn into huge waves and break at the submerged rock. So, when folks started heading to that area I decided to stay over to the side a bit to see exactly what Paul had in mind to demonstrate. Sure enough, after being really flat with no action for a few minutes a couple of BIG flat-looking swells rolled in to do their thing. Peter: you had no other options I could see, being where you were at that moment. The water dropped out from under you to stand up, then the wave basically stood your boat on end, back surfed a bit, and rolled it over. I don't thing it flipped you endo. >A note. Getting supremely trashed by two waves and coming >out of my boat twice left me barely able to paddle at 3 >knots. I'm not sure whether it was the force of the waves, >the aftereffects of adrenalin, the cold, or the combination >of all three. It felt like I was padding through molasses. Understandable. Just because a "rescue" is over, doesn't mean it is over. Particularly when cold water is involved, I think it best to assume that things will continue to deteriorate and proceed with an additional measure of caution. Liz N.

>We were about 100 yards from shore >and made the decision to leave my boat, and I grabbed ahold >of my partners bow, on my back, legs on either side of his >boat, and he paddled me ashore. 3 or 4 minutes later i was >back on land and very cold, but happy to be alive. > >PS Thanks to my paddling partner (my wonderfull brother >Brad) for making me leave my expensive equipment behind and >getting me ashore!!! There is a very important difference between swimming 100 yards and being carried on a bow, as you were. You were able to keep your arms and legs tightly wrapped around the boat, significantly reducing the flushing effect. If you had been swimming that 100 yards, you would have lost much more body heat and, inevitably coordination. Liz N.

David, I use one of these - modified - for my sleeping bag. I sealed the seams and tested to make sure there were no water leaks in the bottom and side seams. I'm surprised about the comments that the fabric itself leaks. My test involved turning the bag inside out and FILLING it with water. The water only leaked at the seams, spots I have to fix with more Aquaseal. I pack it zipper up in my back hatch. The zipper will leak but I figure I will have other things to worry about - than a wet sleeping bag - if my kayak is spending so much time upside down in the water that any water in the hatch has time to slip through the outer cover and leak through the zipper. I really like being about to compress my sleeping bag. Oh yeah. My hatches don't leak. Liz N.

Since you asked for comments on the ratio of experienced to weaker paddlers issue ... >In 20/20 hindsight, here are some observations - > >1. we should have left Saturday. We knew Saturday >afternoon that the forecast was calling for small craft >advisory late on Sunday and then Gale warnings on Monday. >Well, in truth, they got there earlier than we suspected and >some of the winds on Sunday were Gale force, not sustained, >but they were all of that and too strong for mucking around >in with folks that didn’t want to play in them. I agree. When conditions change and weaker paddlers are on a trip the decision to change plans or cancel the trip has to be made promptly. Things can go downhill too quickly. >3. our ratio was all wrong. 2/2 is too few experienced >paddlers. If weaker paddlers 1 and 2 are down and under tow >and then something happens to either of the 2 more >experienced paddlers, you have a real hairball. You need to >up the ratio in conditions – seems like 4/2 would be better. > That way, you still have 2 on the weaker paddlers, you >allow for one experienced paddler to have a problem and >still have a competent backup and then one more competent >paddler riding shotgun. Don’t know what the BCU / ACA calls >for but common sense seems to me to be something around >there. I think this depends on where you are and how easy/hard it is to bail out, hitch a ride or stay put. On my Norway trip we encountered high winds while on an island. The group included some very weak paddlers who could not make the crossing in those conditions and few very strong paddlers. We stayed put and the winds died down for a night (gorgeous Artic light) crossing. We also had a ferry option off that island. The ratio posed no danger. It sounds like you did a great job on the tow. I would also be concerned, however, that one of the towees might not be able to stay upright in those conditions. Then you might need to be doing a rafted tow (with the 2 weaker paddlers rafted) - scary thought. If you have no option except to plow through the conditions you described, with weak paddlers, then I agree a 4/2 ratio would be needed. (Which means the converse: if you have less than that, stay put or hitch a ride if you can't find a lee course.) >4. always have a backup plan. We didn’t originally want to >go to the lee passage we took, but it became apparent >quickly where we needed to go and even then, we had a few >outs. There are other islands, we have gear and those >islands have ferries. No shame in riding out on a much >larger boat in much larger conditions. Staying put and hunkering down should also be considered. So what if you miss a day or two of work? You brought extra food, right? Thanks for posting this! Liz N.

>Tows: I agree on the deck mounted tow, but since installing >mine I have had a couple occasions when I wanted to pass a >tow off to somebody else. I carry a belt (homemade like my deckmounted tow) that can be used to pass off to someone else. I'll show you how it works. > I have now gotten to the >ridiculous position of owning both...and occasionally having >both ready. Me too. But I don't think it is ridiculous. Glad everyone was okay. Liz N.

What was the campground like? Was it hard to find your site in the fog? Did the pastel paint on the picnic tables help? Liz N. P.S. My car is still in the shop, waiting for a crank shaft pulley.

>It should be a real scene. >Any takers? Thomperman will be out there in the fog, making frequent securite calls. Perhaps you can find him. :-)) I'm "taking" Bob Foote's class or I would join you. Liz N.

Well. Five of us met and headed out to the end of the Dogbar breakwater to be in position to see all the fancy NY yachts go by. (The cloudy skies caused me to put on my paddling jacket with a hood, for the first time since I bought it 2 years ago.) It was quite cool out. We stopped on the way past Niles Beach to chat with folks who turned out to be from Hingham and wished them luck in beating the Yankees in the race. Learned that they were using VHF Channel 72 and a LOUD whistle blew before announcements were made, and that the race to Marblehead was to start at 11:00 AM. So, out we went and arrived in position at 8:30 AM. (Bethany's back was bothering her and one foot was asleep, so I let her try my way-too-cool waterwings for thigh support. I think I have a convert.) It being too cold to sit there in the rain and wind we went outside the breakwater and paddled down to the Lighthouse and back. 9:00 AM and still no sign of action. Sanjay did some of his cool rolls. We checked out the starfish and sea urchins, traded paddles, etc. All right already - lets get this show on the road. It was POURING RAIN and the wind was picking up. (Glad I had the hood.) A consult with another boat anchored near the Eastern Point Yacht club revealed that, yeah, there was a delay. Two of our number had to get to work so we headed in. Near Ten Pound Island the yachts finally started MOTORING out, some little ones being towed by the big committee boat. Well, big deal. Maybe if it had been a gorgeous day so we could have seen the boats (instead of rain drops on glasses and increasing fog) we would have been more impressed. To see them under sail would have meant paddling out and hanging around until 11:00, or whenever. Our mood had been, well, dampened. So, back to the put in where all agreed that getting on the water is better than not. I learned some ASL from Sanjay, which would be good for all of us to learn and use for signalling on the water. After listening to Sanjay and I talk about how much fun it was, Suzanne and Christopher committed to doing the Blackburn next year. :-))) I take full responsibility for the rain. I'm not going to try to pass the blame off on the CIA, British Intelligence or some flunky at the NSC. I forgot the umbrella. Liz N.

Okay. I did it. I showed up at the Charles to "race" with the sprint boaters and former Olympians. And, I came in way, way ahead of everyone who stayed home to watch TV. Thanks to Marc Schlosser for the forward stroke clinic and video taping last Saturday. My goal for the night was to try to maintain the proper stroke over the distance (which I thought would be 3 miles since I intended to only do the "short course" but turned out to be 5 miles since only that course was being done). Thanks to Ken Cooper for being so encouraging about more sea kayaks showing up. There were more this time. If we get enough of them, we can jam up the river and those fast sprint boats won't be able to get through on the way back from the turn-around to beat us. :-)) I now have a "personal best" time (1:10) that I will try to beat when I do this again in 2 weeks. Interesting (to me at least) highlights: For the 3 mile course you head immediately upstream. For the 5 mile course you head downstream. Never having been there, I just followed the group - catching enough of a glimpse of the last paddler around corners to know which turn to take next. Once I was beyond the range of the casual rent-a-boat paddlers it got very quiet and peaceful. (I realize this is a somewhat different experience than the sprint boaters and other sea kayakers had.) I decided to paddle with my eyes closed to concentrate on my form and how my boat felt. A great exercise: let the paddle drop on the right, at my feet, turn the torso while keeping the high hand high, let the paddle drop on the left, turn the torso while keeping the high hand high - listen to the water, see if I can make it more quiet... quieter paddle, quieter boat, eyes closed. Then all hell breaks loose on the right bank-SPLASH, SPLASH. Two big Labs jumped in the water right next to me. Scared the beejesus (sp?) out of me. I nearly capsized. And broke my rhythm too. ( So much for paddling with my eyes closed. Okay, so I paddled throught the lily ponds, occasionally shaking the vegetation from my paddle - is there a better line through there that others found? Turning yet another bend I see a boat house in the distance. I had not realized there was a second boat house on the Charles. How tasteful to have built it in the same style. Wait a minute. Where am I anyway? In Massachusetts. For sure. Keep paddling. No other racers in sight. Duh! I'm back to where we started. I suddenly had a vague recollection of Marc saying something about the 5 mile course heading downstream then back up and following the 3 mile course. Okay. Now I'll do the course we did Saturday, but I can't remember which bridge was the turnaround spot. Surely I will spot someone returning and can ask. Yep. Here they come. No one looked in the mood for a little chit chat about directions, however. Fortunately, for me, Marc was not feeling that great and decided to paddle about rather than stick to the course. I got to have some company for the last .5 mile up, and the return trip. What I learned: My forward stroke is definitely coming along when I concentrate hard, but falls apart when I tire or stop paying attention. The seat of my Gulfstream (and probably any other boat I ever buy) is definitely coming OUT. I'll fiddle with a foam seat until I get it right. Having to take my feet off the foot pegs to stretch my legs (which were cramping and going to sleep) every 2 miles of steady paddling is not acceptable. And, it causes me to lose time! Liz N.