rfolster

Just a reminder that this virtual event is tomorrow night.  Plenty of room in the conversation if anyone else would like to join in.  Let me know.

I have added Stephanie from the list and removed Joe.

Sunday Zone Forecast: W winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft.
Point Forecast @ Baker I: WNW wind around 12 kt.  Mostly sunny.  High: 51 °F.  Seas around 2 ft.
Water temperature is around 44°-45°

Currently planning to attend (please update if you are or are not going)
Prudence
Vladimir
Jeff
Don
Janet
Joe
Dan
Beth
Stephanie
Mike (maybe)
Cathy (maybe)

Location: West Beach (121 West Street, Beverly MA)
Time: Ready to launch by 10:00am
Duration: 4-6 hours
Trip Route: TBD

Wind will be a factor for the weekend.  Being from the WNW, there will be protection along the shore.  Misery, Baker, Gooseberrys are trip options, but greater wind exposure.  Can go E or W along coast, but limited stops for "relief" breaks.  Feel free to voice your opinions here, but regardless I recommend bringing plenty of warm clothing, food, drink, etc. just in case.

Just a thought: You could do a one-way south-to-north run, maybe Riverhead to West Beach, or Rye to Odiorne (need to think about harbor entry during ebb), or something like that.

4 hours ago, Ray Allen said:

What day is the trip?

There are two trips, Pre-Easter Bunny Plunge on Saturday the 16th, and Easter Plunge on Sunday the 17th.  This thread is for the Sunday trip as Mike indicated.

12 hours ago, Ken said:

Do you have an expected length for this paddle?

Probably 105cm. (sorry, couldn't resist the opportunity for a bit of a paddling joke)

If anyone has time restrictions for the day, post so we can figure out timing.  We are currently up around ten participants, with room for more!  We still need to figure out details, but depending on the group, we can all paddle together or split up into to pods.  We generally plan to start around 10am (I would say that is a "ready to paddle" and start beach briefing), and paddle until somewhere around 2-4pm, depending on the weather.  The goal of the day isn't about distance or speed, but for many, it is the first group trip for the season, seeing friends again, and maybe getting wet for the brave.  And CHOCOLATE!!

I think we will again look at Salem Sound area (West Beach is a typical launch spot), and start looking at weather next weekend to develop a plan.  Wind and temperature are the critical elements this time of year, with water temperatures in the low 40s.  Since those aspects tend to be quite variable, we need to keep our plans adjustable.

4 hours ago, Jim Snyder said:

Please add me to the thread.

Done, and thanks!

Are you new to the club?  Maybe you are a long-time member that hasn't paddled with us in a while.  Join us for a discussion about being a participant on any of the many trips with NSPN.  In this presentation, we can discuss among other things:

• Various ways trip organizers set up registration (and why)
• How you can determine if the trip is right for you (look at Trip Levels web page ahead of time)
• What time do you need to be there?
• On the water - what you should expect from the group, and what they should expect of you?
• What is (was) CAM, and is it still around?  Check out this web page for more info.
• Who's leading these trips, anyway?
• Who can post trips?

Post here if you are interested in attending, and if there is another topic related to participating on trips you would like discussed.  The link for this virtual discussion is posted to the NSPN Business forum (you must be a current member to access that forum).

Link for this discussion has been posted to the NSPN Business forum

The volunteers have started a Message thread to go over logistics, so if you are interested in helping out at the workshop (setup/breakdown, answering questions in breakout groups, presenting, etc.) and haven't been included on that thread, please post here or Message me and I will add you to the conversation.

17 minutes ago, jmcotton said:

There is a minor typo in the flyer …anyway to correct it?

I did find two "about"s and removed one.  Was that it?  Here is the correct flyer: 2022 NTSKW Flyer.pdf

I was able to watch it on desktop (Firefox) and iPhone

Don, there will absolutely be more opportunities. Stay tuned. 

We have a couple of forms that are useful for doing gasket repairs.  Gaskets and glue not included.  More details to be posted soon.

Thanks Doug!

Thanks, Dan.  To clarify, the program I am introducing will be interactive, utilizing remote, in-person, and on-water sessions.  The Zoom session is merely an introduction for members to get an idea of what it is about, and decide if it is something they wish to pursue.

Over the years, a hardy group of NSPN members have gotten together for what first started out as a cold water practice session on Easter morning. While it was short, they had great fun and promised to get together the following years and make it an annual event. Thus began the Annual Easter Plunge.  This will be a combination discussion/paddle/cold water practice event tailored to the wants and needs of the group. You’ll have the opportunity to review tips and techniques for dealing with cold weather and water, test out your gear while we do some cold water rescues, or just have a paddle! LOTS of hypo kits and chocolate will be on hand and careful attention will be paid to all paddlers’ condition and well-being. Come join us for this CAM (Chocolate Adventure Model) event.

You must have the following:
- Food and a hot beverage
- Drysuit with proper footwear and appropriate under layers (if you don't have a drysuit, inquire about borrowing or renting)
- Neoprene cap or hood
- Neoprene gloves or poggies
- Wool or fleece hat
- Wool or fleece gloves or mittens
- Down or synthetic insulated jacket that fits over your PFD
If you have the following, you should also bring them:
- Storm cag
- Warm outer pant layer (worn at launch to unload and pack boat)
- Spare under-layers (in case your primary set gets wet)
- Padding to sit on (camp chair, carpet square, piece of foam, etc)
- Hypo kit (various items to help deal with hypothermia for yourself and/or others)
- Group shelter

We recommend that everyone put together some form of hypothermia kit – see this post if you want more information on what to include: http://www.nspn.org/forum/topic/9825-hypo-kit/. Don’t feel overwhelmed by all the gear. The start of a good hypo kit is a thermos of hot tea/chocolate/soup/water and a warm jacket/blanket/tarp. Do you have any hand or feet warmers from skiing? An old yoga mat is a great ground pad. A tent fly would work as a wind shelter. Don’t worry about packability if it’s just a day paddle – you have plenty of room in your boat. Put together what you can and we will compare different ideas. 

If you would like to attend but don’t have a particular piece of kit, just let us know. We should have plenty of extra stuff on hand to care for everyone. So bring your bunny ears (really!) and join us for some cold water fun! We will even have extra ears on hand for those who don't have them.Location and details to be determined, but will most likely be in MA north of Boston.  For questions, please post here or send me a Private Message.

Post to this thread if you plan to attend. 

WHEN: Thursday, April 14th @ 7:00pm
WHERE: Zoom link to be posted on the NSPN Business forum soon
WHO: Any active NSPN member of any experience

The term "Leader" is often associated with one person in front of the group making all of the decisions, so we often (and in my opinion, unnecessarily) shy away from using the term.  Instead, we tend to focus on leadership, where multiple people with varying skill sets can come together to provide a successful outcome.  This means that, even though someone might not have all of the skills to be labeled a "leader", they may still participate in some type of leadership role with the skills they do have.

The concept of leadership within an organization like NSPN is a vast and complicated topic.  Unlike a professional (paid) leader, or a volunteer "assigned" leader in some leader-led organizations, leadership within NSPN tends to be more fluid among various members on a trip.  If you have been in the club for a while, this idea might sound familiar, and maybe even a bit controversial, but I am looking at a new approach to the idea that aims to improve the dynamics of groups on the water as well as the development and usage of leadership within the club.

I would like to invite any and all club members to participate in a Zoom presentation about a new training program designed to help club members become more involved participants on NSPN trips, gain leadership skills and experience within the club, or provide others with opportunities to learn and develop their participation and leadership skills.  Please come listen, ask questions, and think about whether or not this program might be right for you.

I am very disappointed to announce that, due to lack of interest or response, I am cancelling this New Year’s Day trip.

Since so many people have opted to paddle on Friday instead, I am restarting a new thread for those interested on paddling New Year's Day.  Please post here (or repost if you previously posted last time) if you are interested.

Closing this thread to start a new one.

On 12/26/2021 at 11:47 AM, Jim Snyder said:

Forecast looks a lot better for Friday. Do we want to consider a "New Year's Eve paddle"?

We are approaching 20 participants, so I don't see why we couldn't do both.  Interested in putting another trip together (probably best as a new posting)?  I will be keeping this trip to Saturday.

I am not putting a limit on the number for this trip, but instead will look at running in smaller pods to help manage group dynamics on the water.  Currently, Saturday is looking like a chance for rain, but temps will be in low 40's, and wind looks to be quite mild if any, so should be manageable. 

Based on feedback, we will launch from the suggested Charlestown launch, so please familiarize yourself with it's location and how to get there.  Starting to think about the timing for the day, we need to take into account the hour+ each way between the launch and the open harbor area, plus time to stop for lunch, so looking a potential 5- or 6-hour day on the water.  Sunset is around 4:30ish, and if it is cloudy, it will be dark a little earlier than otherwise, so would like to be back by 4pm at the latest (allowing a margin for safety).  With that said, can we plan to be ready to launch by 9:45am?

Each winter, we make an attempt to hold a conservative trip on New Year's Day to bring in the new year.  Some years, this is a little too challenging to do safely, so maybe we just grab a bite to eat and make up some epic stories!!

Weather is always a big factor in trip planning for a winter trip, so location will need to be determined as we get closer to the day.  Post here if you are interested in going, and join the conversation about how to make it a good day!

If someone is interested in organizing a post-workshop trip, it looks like it should be a nice day for it.