leong

That's the one on my PFD now. I have the titanium version. I think it's not as sharp as the SS version but it sure doesn't rust at all.

Dan, but I didn’t say there was only one answer. The value A = 0 is a trivial case that doesn’t prove whether or not the path lengths are equal or unequal when A is greater than 0. Here’s a simpler example to show what I mean: Question: Is it true that 10A = A, where A is a real number equal to or greater than 0? Answer: The assertion is true when A = 0 and false when A > 0. -Leon

Zig and his paddling partner Zag decide to paddle due north to a waypoint on the beach of Jigjag Island. Zig decides to paddle according to a two-step zigzag course; i.e. Zig paddles half the north distance at A-degrees to the left of north followed by A-degrees to the right of north until the waypoint is reached. Zag is more zigzagedness-minded then his partner. So, instead, Zag paddles a 20 step zigity-zagity course; i.e. Zag paddles 1/20’th of the north distance at A-degrees to the left of north followed by the same distance at A-degrees to the right of north; then he repeats this two step jag 9 more times until the waypoint is reached. Brainteaser: Who will log more distance-over-ground, Zig or Zag? Happy thinking, -Leon Note that "A" can be any angle less than 90 degrees. Also note that the zigzag course vs. zigity-zagity course is pertinent to sailboats tacking upwind.

I’m sure you know that it’s (almost) 30 miles around Manhattan. I had the pleasure of doing the circuit at the NYC Mayor’s Cup races (about 5 hours of hard paddling). Biggest problems were: Docking/undocking ferryboats. Rough water at Hells Gate. Going against the tide in the East and Harlem rivers. -Leon

Oops, I think it's Gould Barn (Bard).

John, That’s a pretty decent polar plot, as good as the Laser that I sometimes borrow and better than my Sunfish. I’m curious: Is it a plot of true wind speed true or apparent wind speed measured on the boat with an anemometer? And if true did you calculate it from apparent wind speed? I guess the Jitdam Kapeel is a Proa. Does it have rudders on both ends, or is it sailed without rudders? I’ve been practicing sailing my Sunfish with the rudder up. It’s not too difficult in very light winds but almost impossible (for me) in heavier winds. Leon

John, What a great experience you had! But even modern sloops are locked out of about a 90-degree arc centered on the wind’s direction. Based on my Sunfish’s performance, I’d guess that those Marshallese sailing canoes are locked out of at least a 110-degree arc, probably more like 150 degrees. I can’t get my head around how the ri-meto’s were able to feel the di lep and use it for navigation under such restricted sailing directions. -Leon

Terra Santa Kayak Expeditions uses NDK kayaks and has BCU certified instructors and guides. I never went on any trips with them but I heard (third hand) that they run excellent trips. -Leon

I never paddle solo without my VHF radio. I believe that a VHF radio is the single most important thing you should carry in/on you PFD.

$20/year + $5 once for the title.

It’s a different world down here in Florida. I needed a name for registering the kayak so the official name on the title is Mr. Q. I chose that name because it’s my QCC700X kayak. I call my Epic 18X Mr. Ugly because it's one of the homeliest kayaks. -Leon PS Florida wouldn’t accept my bill of sale before issuing a title for Mr. Q. So I had to get the QCC factory (a division of Wenonah Canoe) to issue a retroactive "Builder’s Certificate".

Not just France. From Florida Boating Laws: Is a non-powered vessel required to be registered and titled? If the non-motor powered vessel is less than 16 feet in length, it is not required to be registered or titled. However, if the vessel is 16 feet or more in length, it is required to be registered and titled. Accordingly, my 18-foot sea kayak is registered and titled in Florida. -Leon

And I prefer paddling sports where you can paddle back to the put-in. -Leon

The sight of us on the water and this very website has some educational value to those who look. But how do you educate the media to know the difference between a guy walking up a hill and a mountaineer, oops, I meant a pretend kayaker and a sea kayaker? -Leon

Andy, I'm with you 100%. This is one of my screams. There are sea kayaks, recreational kayaks, floating bathtubs, floating mattresses and floating you-know-whats. Unfortunately, the uniformed media lumps them all together and calls them kayaks. It not only gives us sea kayakers a bad name but it has the potential for introducing bad laws. Unfortunately, there is no unique nomenclature to distinguish sea kayaks and sea kayakers from the rest of those floating vessels. Calling a person that paddles around on an air mattress a kayaker is annoying as hell. It’s analogous to calling a person who walks up a hill a mountaineer. -Leon

Amazing, I wonder who shot the video? Perhaps it was a Sherpa on a hang glider. Those Sherpa climbers can do anything. I heard that one of them carried a European climber up to the peak of Mount Everest. Just wonderin’ Leon

Didja all notice that in Andy’s video (at ~ 1:23) Jason fails several combat rolls in a row. Pierre is duteously on station waiting to perform a bow rescue. But Jason finally succeeds and yells out bonjour la bonjour. Obviously, Andy would have come up on the first roll attempt and Pierre wouldn’t be needed. -Leon

You're gettin' soft Andy. When the conditions are just right there it looks like this. -Leon

Here's the Navy report. Wow, this report leaves out more than it says. Assuming one RCB was dead in the water why didn’t the other one initiate a tow? Wouldn’t these sailors know their location (surely they do have GPS’s and other navigational equipment)! Why did they stray from the planned course? Who fixed the mechanical problems so that could leave Farsi Island? Did the sailors see the Iranians removing the SIM cards? Did they see any other equipment tampered with? Why didn’t the Navy ask these questions when the rescued sailors were aboard the cruiser and aircraft carrier? The whole story is full of holes. I have no idea of what happened but I can smell the coming conspiracy theories. Just wonderin’ -Leon

Ditto from me.

Not too significant, but unless I'm mistaken: There doesn't seem to be a "preview" button now? The little "Share this Post" thingie on the top right doesn't show the post number now? There doesn't seem to be a list of people reading the threads now? -Leon

Hmm, it’s hard to figure out how two U.S. Navy boats got lost in Iranian waters. Maybe the guys couldn’t, but you’d think that at least the young lady would know how to navigate. If need be, I’ll donate my little handheld GPS and a deck compass. Anyone else? I also recommend that the sailors study John’s book as a backup for those "mechanical problems". Just sayin’ -Leon PS Pouring rain and lightening now in south FLA

Biff, You are correct, however the situation I described was 1. Not 2. I've been in conditions like 2. several times and each and every time paddled toward safety as if my life depended upon it. Biff, if you continue to insist on hair splitting, you'll give Sir Godfrey unneeded competition. Chip, Christopher and I have a split arrangement: He handles grammar/syntax type hair splitting and I handle engineering/math hair splitting. -Biff Testing, Testing. I previously responded to this post and it doesn't show. But when I choose "quote" I can see my response. "Submit Reply" didn't work. Let see if it works this time.

Gene, Well, as the potential first “first gentleman” (Bubba Clinton) might say, it depends upon what the meaning of the word “condition” is. For example: 1. Given that conditions were manageable and weren’t changing for the worse then you were right. That is, StrongPaddler* had no reason to alternately sprint ahead and then wait for you to catch up. 2. Given that conditions were deteriorating (perhaps a thunderstorm was coming) and StrongPaddler thought that the sprinting demonstrations would convince you to paddle faster then he/she was right. That is, you should have sprinted like hell to get off the water. -Leon * Splitting hairs: Strong is the ability to withstand a great force and power is the rate at which work can be done. Given equal forward-stroke forms, a strong paddler isn’t necessarily faster than his less strong partner; however, a more powerful paddler is faster than his less powerful partner.

If I'm not paddling then I'm probably sailing or biking. Otherwise, I might be reading about one or the other. This is an interesting article. I already knew a few of the facts discussed in the article. -Leon