rylevine

Gene, That's great. Thanks. - Bob

Last year we had to limit the numbers in the pool session to about 30. There is a maximum of 10 boats allowed in the pool, and we want everyone to get sufficient training and boat-time. If you are interested in the pool session it is necessary to reserve the spot. Please send the $15 payment to Doug Mogill c/o NSPN P.O. Box 341 Derry, NH 03038 Checks should be made out to NSPN and NTKW should go in the memo section and a phone number provided. Also, please register for the workshop at the email address ntskw@nspn.org. I'll be sending more information to both workshop and pool participants. Looking forward to the session! Bob

Lisa, Yes. It would be great if volunteers and presenters can bring their boats for the pool - especially if there are particular boats that people want to try out. Bob

Gary, I'll be soon posting a pdf for distribution on this thread. Thanks! - Bob

8th Annual New to Sea Kayaking Workshop Optional Pool Session Need advice on getting started? Looking for others to kayak with? Wondering which type of kayak is right for you? Don't miss our annual New to Sea Kayaking Workshop! Learn what equipment you'll need. Learn about safety. Find out what a beginner's trip is like. Discover places that offer classes and specialized training. Discussions with new and experienced fellow kayakers. Plan future adventures! Back by popular demand: Camper’s Corner in which experts will discuss gear and techniques for kayak camping. Where: Portsmouth Seacoast Family YMCA, 550 Peverly Hill Rd, Portsmouth, NH 03801 When: Saturday, May 10, 2014, 2 - 4pm; Pool Session 4:30-7pm Fee: WORKSHOP is FREE & open to the public. POOL SESSION COST $15 will be applied to a free year membership to NPSN and will be used to help cover the cost of the YMCA rental for this venue. Register: Bob Levine ntskw@nspn.org Questions: ntskw@nspn.org Basic Overview: How to choose equipment: kayaks, paddles, clothing and additional equipment. Overview of skills, training and what to expect. Locating and experiencing initial on-water training. Open discussion and questions welcome. Workshop followed by optional pool session in adjacent YMCA pool. Wet exit, strokes, rescue techniques. Kayaks and gear provided.

The NSPN Board of Directors (BOD) is announcing a new program available to NSPN members entitled the NSPN Leadership Training Fund. The goals of the program are to encourage posted NPSN paddles, and to assist members who would like to participate in formal leadership training. The program would start immediately and run until January 1, 2015. The NSPN BOD will renew and, if necessary, revise the rules for the program for each subsequent calendar year. The basic structure of the NSPN Leadership Training Fund is outlined below. More details are provided on the NSPN Business Forum posting; and questions can either be posted in this thread (guests), the NSPN Business Forum (members), or directed to leadershipfund@nspn.org. The premise is simple: Members conduct a requisite number of qualifying paddles through the Message Forum, complete leadership training, submit a form and receive a $150* check! In order to qualify for reimbursement, for each of three trips you must: 1) post the trip on the NSPN Message Board, 2) write up a pre-trip float plan, 3) post a trip report on the NSPN Message Board, and 4) complete a training course from the approved list, or a customized training course with a leadership component. The NSPN Board of Directors has allocated a total of $1500 from club funds for the Leadership Training Fund. That’s 10 possible $150 reimbursements this year and 30 possible trips for the club! Trips must have at least three participants and be of a duration of three hours or more (less if the trip plan is changed due to circumstances described on the form). You must submit the completed Leadership Training Fund Reimbursement Form with a copy of the receipt from the training and the written float plan for each of the three trips. The form and documentation may be emailed to leadershipfund@nspn.org, or sent via mail to the address on the form (members, see NSPN Business Forum posting with attached form). Upon receipt, your form and documentation will be reviewed by two NSPN Board Members, and if all steps have been completed and the necessary documentation is provided, a check will be mailed to you at the address indicated on the form. Further details on the program include the following: Regularly scheduled club practice sessions such as the Seabrook Surf Sessions or the Chebacco or Walden Pond sessions are not included in trips eligible for reimbursement. You may request up to 2 reimbursements a calendar year, as long as you have completed the required trips and documentation for each. You may request a 3rd check for an additional set of completed trips, and will receive one if there are still funds remaining to be disbursed at the end of the year. If all funds have been disbursed, your qualifying trips will carry over to the next fund year, and a check will be issued upon approval by the BOD of new funds for the program. This reimbursement would count as 1 of 2 in that new fund year. Trips do not have to be completed in the same calendar year. For example, if you post and complete two trips in 2014, and a third in 2015, you may submit for reimbursement in 2015, and the trips from 2014 will count. Training does not have to be completed in the same calendar year as the trips. You may submit for reimbursement once you have completed and paid for your training. Reimbursement is not retroactive. Trips and training courses must occur after the start date of the program – March 1, 2014. Two NSPN Board members have been designated to review forms to ensure there is no favoritism or bias when reviewing reimbursement requests. The list of approved courses are BCU (3*, 4*, 5*) training and assessment, ACA IDW (2, 3, 4, 5), ACA ICE (2, 3, 4, 5), Wilderness First Aid (WFA), WFA Afloat, Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning, Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning, Kayak Guide Training, and Maine Guide Training. It is possible to obtain reimbursement for a leadership training course that is not on the list or one that is a customized course. In that case, it is necessary to provide the name of the course, instructor name, date of training and a note from the instructor describing the leadership component of the course. In the event there is uncertainty of whether an applicant has completed the necessary trips, or taken an approved training course, the larger Leadership Training Fund Committee will review the application and make a decision. * Each reimbursement will be for $150, or the cost of the training, whichever is lower. NSPN BOD members are excited about this new program and hope that it will be successful in encouraging more paddling trips, and in encouraging members to continue training and improving their paddling skills.

Cathy, Thanks for the pictures. Hard to imagine now, but they will be appreciated in July with 100 degree temps and high pressure flattening the ocean. Bob

Nancy, Sun and I plan to bring an appetizer. Bob

The website looks great. Thanks to the BOD website committee, and in particular Cathy and Jason for working with the designer. - Bob

Thank you to the teabags (Pru and Dave from NSPN among them). Having tea-bagged on two previous assessments, I can say it is a unique learning opportunity but also a real service to the paddling community. Bob

I would like to thank the NSPN safety kayakers; Rob, Cathy, Pru, Beth, and Jerry for insuring the safety of the swimmers during the Salem Swim and Fin. Afterwards I had quite a few of the swimmers come up and personally thank us. The proceeds of the meet go to Salem Sound Coastwatch, http://www.salemsound.org/ Bob

Following email from Michael Medlock, the organizer of the Swim and Fin: Please RSVP here and directly to Michael at michael.d.medlock@gmail.com Greeting to all, The 8th Annual Swim & Fin hosting the New England Open Water Swim Championships are just around the corner on Saturday, August 24th. Once again thank you for your generosity last year. The help volunteers such as yourself have provided to us has made the single largest annual fundraiser for Salem Sound Coastwatch. We ask for your help again this year in making the course a safe one for all the participants. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are able to attend and/or suggest any friend. We need kayakers and paddle boarders to patrol the course, lifeguards, boats anchored at the turns, and a boat for the head referee. We look forward to you help in making this the best Best regards, Michael Michael Medlock Race Director, 8th Annual Swim & Fin Salem Sound Coastwatch

Dead Horse is at the Willows near the tennis courts, and it is pretty muddy at low tide. An alternative for the Willows is to drop the kayaks near the pier (at the end of the road with the arcade), and then park near the tennis courts. The pocket cove to the right of the pier (facing toward Beverly) does have swimmers, but it is usually easy to launch there and is relatively tide insensitive. I've only parked my car at the tennis courts, never with a trailer. BTW, I think the road in front of the arcade requires a turn-around, so scope it out before venturing in with a trailer. Bob

Eric, I'm glad you came. It was a lovely day on the ocean. "New boat syndrome" will just require a little practice to settle down. Bob

SALEM SOUND SWIM AND FIN RACE: http://www.swimandfin.org/ Safety kayakers are needed to monitor swimming races in Salem Harbor. NSPN has a tradition of providing volunteers for this event. Safety kayakers activities include: 1. patrol a zone 2. identify tired, distressed or disabled swimmers 3. signal a rescue boat 4. offer the swimmer support 5. carry AND use a hand-held radio (we may have a _limited_ number of radios available but kayakers with their own radios are best) Details on meeting place and time to follow, but the races start at 11:30. RSVP here or PM me if interested. Proceeds to benefit Salem Sound Coastwatch. Bob

Congratulations everyone!

Also, the endpoint of all the movement through the passage and around NSPN rock is deep water - so after swimming you're good to go back a try again! Cathy, thanks for the report. Definitely going to explore Rafes Chasm. It was impressive that Robert was able to go so far back into it. Thanks to Blaine for calling the trip. Great paddle. Bob

I've also wondered about current prediction. Attached are some considerations based on tidal ranges in Boston Harbor. Tidal range is HT - LT depths encompassing the full depth change in the cycle. The max flood and ebb currents are at particular depths and reflect the topography at those times. Yet, if I understand it correctly, there are many locations where currents are linearly dependent on tidal range. Current_vs_Tidal_Range_Boston_flood.pdf

Blaine, I'm in. Thanks. - Bob

Good paddle is shaping up. Conditions look mild: http://graphical.weather.gov/sectors/massachusettsMarineDay.php#tabs http://magicseaweed.com/Cape-Ann-Surf-Report/370/ 10:42am HT and 4:41pm LT 9:30am Beach Briefing. Riverhead. Will finalize paddle plan at briefing. See you there! Bob FYI, Salem Ferry; arrive to Salem via Marblehead Channel about 45 mins after leaving Boston May 23 - October 27: SaturdaysDeparts Salem - 8 AM, 10:30 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM, 8 PM Departs Boston - 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 9 PM

Yet another excellent training session. Thanks to Peter, Rick, Scott, and Rob. It was interesting that the group dynamic on crossings improved from the first to second session; and even as more crossings occurred during the second session. I think a big part of that was the practice and debriefings after each trial. Bob

2013 NSPN Solstice Paddle Saturday June 22rd Riverhead Beach Marblehead, MA L3 Pod led by: Bob Levine & Blaine Bjornstad Beach Briefing at 9:30am Launch at 10:00am Most likely we will head out to Bakers Island. More information to follow as we get closer to the date. There will also be L2 and L2+ pods from the same put-in. Announcements for these pods to follow. Please post below if you are interested in joining the L3 pod. Bob

It was an excellent session yesterday. Great review of towing, rescues, channel crossing, and general leadership skills. Thanks to Scott, Peter, and Rick. - Bob

Big Thanks to all the Volunteers at the NTSKW Pool Session yesterday! We had 16 participants and more than ten boats available for wet exits (with and w/o spray skirts), and self- and assisted-rescues. The feedback I've received from the participants has been extremely positive and grateful. Bob

The NSPN New to Sea Kayaking Workshop Pool Session is May 11, 2013, 1:00-3:30 at the Haverhill High School Pool, 137 Monument Street, Haverhill, MA 01832. We have about 16 participants of the Gould Barn NTSKW that signed up for the pool session. As was done at the Gould barn session, we will break up into groups with a leader or leaders around a kayak. The goal is to have participants become comfortable in the boat on water and try out a wet exit without a spray skirt. I'll have skirts available if people want to try with one as well. The rest of the session is demonstration and teaching of forward stroke, edging, sweep turns, low brace, and possibly a T-rescue - as time permits. Volunteer leaders and boats are needed. Please post here or PM me if you are available. Thanks! Bob