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Rob, Wow, I know you had your complete kit with you on Saturday, and it does fit comfortably into your hatches. You clearly can pack and unpack the boat in an efficient manner, so there is no real down side. I will admit I am not an experienced day trip kayaker. For me, my kit is a full camping kit. Therefore, I really enjoyed reading how to repurpose my camping kit. The use of the tent footprint is brillant! Rob, inquiring minds would like to know how you maintain your active yoga practice with only half a mat?! Warren

Joyce, Yes, you can most certainly feel comfortable paddling on the ocean in the winter months. It does require practice and none of us get it completely right all the time. In addition to feeling comfortable there are numerous opportunities to experience great joy. Joyce, there are also many opportunities to have fun. However, always remember paddling on the ocean in winter does have risks and paddlers can be stressed and get into trouble. But many of us understand the group dynamics and we practice deploying the “soft skills” of leadership. When you go on a trip with paddlers like Cathy and Rob, who know this stuff really well it can be a lot of fun. But first let me step back…… I mentioned that safety on the water is always our highest priority. We have noticed that when a fellow paddler is under stress, such as feeling cold, sea sick, stomach pain, they will become more self-centered and frequently loose their sense of humor or feelings of joy. So we deploy soft skills, such as asking each other, “Are you warm enough? Are you remembering to drink water?” Now those questions do serve a purpose, but I know they are all part of a carefully scripted behavior which I find amusing. Getting a response does not give us what we truly seek. We are searching for the paddler to mimic the behavior and initiate their set of questions back to us. Sometimes that does not happen so we move to level two in the script. The scripting process has many levels and we can elicit genuine belly laughs as we practice on each other. Joyce, the main take away message here is to always attempt to communicate clearly to your paddling buddies if you are not comfortable on the water. Sometimes we can provide an easy fix. Over time you will “data mine” our knowledge and create your own bank of wisdom and have great fun. After all, life is too short to waste precious leisure time on activities that are not fun! Warren

Andy and others, Cathy did a great job of reminding us that concerns regarding comfort out on the water during the winter season can be a major deterrent to paddling. I might add just a few points regarding what has worked for me. For me, I like to follow the WIP (wicking, insulating, protective) layering concept. I do vary the top from the bottom since I tend to sweat more on the top. I have two different types of wicking items for the top which I choose based on the severity of the weather. They are both manufactured by Arcteryx. One is the Phase SV Crew or Zip LS and the other is Phase AR Crew or Zip LS. The SV (severe weather) is for colder air temperature. I will note there are many great manufacturers of clothing suitable for kayakers, the ones I use simply work for me. I use two different type of insulating items for both top and bottom. I use Ibex Woolies 150 and 220. I have multiple Woolies in each thickness to allow for many different combinations. Just remember you need to be careful with thickness of your top combinations so as not to restrict your torso rotation. Make careful adjustments to your PFD tightness. For your bottom combination, you may need to adjust your minicell foam, if you foam out the forward bulkhead. I always use one wicking layer on top, but vary the number and combination of insulating tops and bottoms based on my analysis of the air temp, water temp, sun exposure and wind speed. It is never an exact science, but if you make careful notes as to what worked and what did not, you tend to get good at estimating the right combinations. In good trip planning, you always allow the group to stop within the first hour of travel to readjust layers, PFD and/or foot placement. It is also a good idea to allow paddlers who tend to sweat a great deal to undergo a change of their top items. They know their need and bring dry items in their hatch. I might also add a few words regarding toes and fingers/thumbs. As we know, a good forward stroke requires the cycling of the legs. During the cycling process in the winter it is good to flex the toes. Just remember not to have socks which restrict the blood flow to the feet. Also during the forward stroke, you need to flex the top hand and during the winter, remember to also flex the thumb, which is not as common a behavior during the summer months. Hope this helps and remember it is not rocket science! Just get it done and get out there! Warren

Rob and Cathy, thank you both for an excellent trip report! You are correct that this trip felt amazing. For me, it seemed to be one of those trips that I will remember for a very long time. As one who enjoys planning trips, all day I felt myself attempting to analyze what were the qualities that this trip possessed. First off is how we all share the need to balance the three important components of safety, comfort and fun into all our trips. We take the time to understand what we need to do to feel safe and comfortable on the water. Therefore, when you eliminate any concerns for safety and comfort, you free up energy to focus on fun. Now Casco Bay is an amazing location, but it sometimes has too many people, boats and wind. Those features tend to distract you from making careful observations of how wildlife interacts with their environment. Yesterday felt special to me because people, boats and wind were absent and the wildlife was in abundance. I felt there were saying to us, “Welcome to our playground! Now watch as we play.” At one point during the day, I said to Rob, “Why are more paddled not out here to enjoy this?” He reminded me that it is the first of February and perhaps some paddlers would think we were nuts! My message to other trip planners is to never stop trying to find just the right combination of factors which will allow you to experience the transition of an ordinary trip to an extraordinary one. Trust me, you will know when it happens and the memories will last a lifetime. Warren

Hey Rick, Did you happen to notice that great looking NDK Explorer LV over in the Classifieds for Individuals section? Seems like it has Janis written all over the beautiful blue deck! Might be a nice reward for working so hard to master the roll! I would really like to see that boat up close at a future Haverhill pool session. Warren

Ed, Burrrrrr...... Just the thought of a cold water immersion today gives me a chill. Warren

Doug, Amazing! Warren

Chris, Thank you for your insight into the Alex Matthews book. You are absolutely correct that a book should never be a substitute to structured learning from a good BCU trained coach. We are very fortunate to paddle in a section of the world where excellent coaches are available. Funny that you mention Sullivan Falls since a few of us have been speaking with a great coach about using that venue to improve our skills before returning to Cobscook Bay later in the season. Chris, if Alaska beckons, and I am not eaten by bears or mosquitoes, I may want to explore the Kenai Peninsula next year. That is when the rough water skills would be essential. For me, I need to first get my head around a series of actions and create a need for the skill. The structure learning enables my body to follow where the mind leads. That is how I learn. Of course, I may change it up completely and just paddle in ponds and lakes. Well......maybe not. Warren

Rick, Congratulation to Janis! I remember looking over and seeing how happy she was. You did a great job coaching! Rick, if you and Janis would like to use my Romany at the next pool session, I can bring both of my boats along and use my Explorer for my pool work. (It is about time I transition to the Explorer in the pool.) Now, my Romany does have the rails installed, but I removed the foot pegs. We can put them back in or I can bring extra minicell foam for Janus to get the right fit resting her feet on the bulkhead. As you know, the Romany rolls on it's own, so we would not want Janis to experience a set back by attempting to roll something she does not feel comfortable paddling. By the way, I can not remember if she needs a Werner Cyprus 210cm, straight shaft paddle, I have extras if you need one. I am signed up for the Haverhill pool sessions on Feb 8 and 22 as well as March 22. Just tell me what you think. Warren

Josko, Thank you for your insights. I suspect I will be adding this book to my library. I have spent most of my paddling career finding way around rough water. Now I need to understand the dynamics involved and see if I can cultivate at least a tolerance for those conditions. Who know, maybe I will drink the Kool Aid and start to enjoy at least the intellectual exercise involved in successfully navigating those waters. Warren

Has anyone read the book entitled, "Rough Water Handling" by Doug Cooper. (I saw it listed in the books section of the Body Boat Blade store.) If so, would you recommend it? If not, any other good books on rough water handling? Seems like these cold winter nights are a good time to curl up with a good book. Warren

Nate, I am looking forward to understanding your technique when we get together in May. With outside temps in the single numbers, it is great to think about paddling off Stonington, Maine! Warren

Katherine, Yes, it will be a great pleasure when that day arrives! Hey Katherine, you need to consider adding interests to your photo?! :-) Warren

NSPN Community, The expedition team now has four paddlers. One opportunity exist, but will go fast! If this is the adventure you seek, act now. Warren

Andy, As Lorrie mentions there are many great threads pertaining to kayak camping. If you have a moment, you might enjoy reading the thread located in the General Message Board entitled, "Kayak Camping Frequently Asked Questions" started on March 9, 2013. The thread had "legs" with 73 replies and 1788 views. At the time Pru and I were planning our "New to Kayak Camping' trips and the thread was seen as an opportunity for many NSPN paddlers to think about camping as an option to consider. Perhaps the thread was the catalyst which was needed, since the trips filled up very quickly and we all enjoyed the experience of camping together. I hope you will consider camping. Remember it is important to obtain a membership in MITA ( Maine Island Trail Association) since the best camping sites are on MITA islands off the coast of Maine. When you become a MITA member you can obtain a guide book to all the camp sites. I have spent many enjoyable winter evening dreaming of camping on my favorite MITA islands. Warren

Katherine, All great ideas listed above! I happen to use the Suunto M-3D Leader Compass which I purchased at REI. Since I wear eyeglasses, I needed to hold the compass in my hands and make sure I could read it easily. The one I use is easy for me to read. This past summer I was paddling with a person who had a good compass but he could not easily read it. He bought it via the web without testing it first. My suggestion is to test it before you buy it. Warren

John, The information above regarding current speed and correction angle explains a lot regarding how trip planning is performed in the San Juan Islands (I suspect in other areas of the world as well). Working with the currents is a really big deal in that location. In the San Juan Islands, max flood and max ebb can be in the 2.2 to 2.7 knot range. Because of that, paddlers typically use current tables to understand the speed and direction of the flow and then pick the dates and destinations to explore. Here, off the coast of Maine, I typically reverse that process for trip planning. Your data does clearly communicate how ferry angle adjustments are not very practical in certain circumstances. In those cases, just go with the flow and enjoy the ride. Warren

Ed, Yes, I had the benefit of tapping into Matt Nelson's local knowledge. He is a superb treacher/coach. Sorry, I do not have the knowledge you seek regarding how a current is affected by a significant change in the ocean depth. I can tell you we did play in the shallow area while the max current was running. The waters were moving in different directions although not as fast as in the channel. Matt would point to the changing direction of the sea weed which was visable in the very shallow areas. A fascinating area to explore when accompanied by a guide like Matt. Warren

Peter, Yes, Prince William Sound appears to be an amazing area to explore. My perference would be to spend time exploring both Columbia Bay and Glacier Island rather than Jack Bay. Jack Bay does appear to be amazing with multiple glaciers, but that area might be saved until an expanded exploration of the east end of PWS is planned. The trip I hope to complete will begin in Valdez and end in Whittier. Part of the logistics will involve taking the kayaks and all the gear on the high speed ferry, M/V Chenega, and travel from Whittier to Valdez at 11:30AM on July 7, 2014. The trip over to Valdez will give us an opportunity to see most of the waters we will be paddling over the following 12 days. I some ways, the logistics may be as amazing as the paddling. Take a look at the M/V Chenega on "YouTube" Keep in mind the shift in the starting location from Whittier to Valdez is done by design since the prevaling winds during July would be out of the east. If the winds do pick up, they will simply push us along on our merry way! Warren

Peter, You are absolutely correct that more information could have been stated. My goal was to find a fun activity. Did you enjoy it? Warren

Patos Island.pdf Ed, It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. Please find attached a picture of the waters in question. Notice the symbols of “A”, “B” and “C”. Originally the idea was to get from “A” to “B”, after calculating the proper ferry angle. Notice the depth of the water in the channel is greater than 350 feet and the depth of the water in West Bank is as little as 8 feet. There was also another concern at Parker Reef, just northeast of Terrill Beach. It is known for being hazardous to kayakers during max current. We would be in those waters at around max flood on purpose to test our skills. I vividly remember dutifully running the numbers in an effort to determine proper ferry angle as well as the preferred boat speed to get to Patos Island without being sweep into the Parker Reef or Rosario Strait. At the time I lost sight of the need to run multiple options first and then select the one best suited to the team and the lowest risks. We ended up paddling from “A” to “C” to “B” and enjoyed a hot cup of tea on Patos Island as planned. Ed, I hope this helps answer your questions. Warren

I wanted to circle back on the ferry angle thinking and mention one other variation to consider. Last summer I was a member of a paddling team which planned to paddle from Terrill Beach on the north side of Orcas Island to the south side of Patos Island, a distance of 5 miles. A direct route would put us on a heading of 315 degree magnetic. We would launch at 8:30AM. The current station had the speed at 2.4 knots, at 10 degrees magnetic at 9:38AM. The route would take us across the east end of President Channel and across the West Bank where there is a dramatic change in the water depth. We suspected the change in water depth could cause a shift in both speed and direction of the current over a distance of 2+miles. A mistake regarding our ferry angle calculations would sweep us into Rosario Strait and then into Boundary Pass which both have heavy freighter traffic. We did, however, want to get to Patos at around 10:30AM. Instead of using our ferry angle approach directly from Terrill Beach to Patos Island, we paddled west along the shore of Orcas Island staying out of the east bound current until we arrived at Point Doughty for a distance of 2 miles. We then launched in a wide arc heading toward Patos while skirting the edge of West Bank for a distance of approximately 4.5 miles. Although the total distance was approximately 6.5 miles we arrived at around 10:15AM ahead of schedule. That day I learned three important lessons: 1. You need a nautical chart that includes detailed water depths to help you estimate what the current might be doing along your route. 2. You need to have a plan prior to launch which includes a careful understanding of your risks. 3. Sometimes the best approach is not a direct route, frontal attack on the problem. Let the forces of nature help you so you have plenty of time for morning tea once you arrive at your destination. Warren

John M, I very much enjoy reading about your insights into paddling Prince William Sound. Although I have a compact and light weight pair of binoculars, I had not thought about adding them to my gear list. Now they are in the kit! I will admit I enjoy the preparation and planning phase of any adventure. So whether it is getting my head around ferry angle calculations for John's seminar adventure or preparing for an expedition on PWS they both present learning opportunities. For me, the more I invest in each, the more I will benefit from the knowledge transfer. I hope you can attend John's seminar on navigation. I would enjoy meeting you and talking about Alaska. Warren

John, You are correct on the distance. The chart I am using does not have a scale, so I referred to the Lat/Long scales around the edge and mistakenly read the wrong scale. (My chart (16708) has a scale of 1 : 80,000. I can see where your chart has a scale of 1 :40,000.) You have touched upon a very important aspect of navigation which we have encounter first hand. The need for two paddlers to attempt the calculations independent of one another and then compare results. I suspect it is not uncommon to have mistakes made. Or in my case, dopey mistakes made! Perhaps the gentle readers of this thread will see how this example can drive home the need for paddling teams with more than one navigator on board. John, thank you for your work on this topic! I look forward to attending your seminar later this month! Warren

Ed, Yes, there is something nice about laying out large NOAA paper charts while holding a cup of hot cocoa and the outside temperature reading -4 degrees. For me, the nautical charts are one of my main safety tools. I need to become very familiar with all aspects prior to a journey. During the San Juan Island trip I purchased a nautical chart which did not have any topographical land mass notations. It was a major handicap as I attempted constant range adjustments with a team that was local to Pudget Sound and all had the proper charts. I will not make that mistake again. And yes, I am talking about making the crossing at Green 11A. By the way, the topographical section of my chart shows an area labelled "LT OBSC" around Red 12 at Entrance Point on the northern side of Jack Bay. It is obvious that the light is obscurred due to the land formation. (As an aside, I could not locate the meaning in my Chart No.1 book. Perhaps it is too obvious to list in the Lights section.) Here is yet another way in which the chart needs to have the topographical land masses. Warren