Inverseyourself

I guess that would be the Sight'n go function that Garmin watches offer. You point the watch in the direction you want to go (compass on watch face shows you degrees) and push a button. I believe that this establishes a direct line between your current position and the point you want to get to. You then have an arrow that points in the direction you need to go to stay on above line. If you deviate to the right, the arrow will point left and vice versa. It's what's known as cross track error, XTE. This is of course different from navigating to a waypoint without having your current position to establish a line between start and end, since former will not account for current and wind. If I misinterpret the Sight'n Go function, someone please let me know. Jason: You mentioned the new Apple Watch. Any opinion now that it's (almost) out?

On a slightly different note, apart from the lightness of carbon-kevlar boats or hulls, the increased stiffness is (I'll just say probably now) conducive to increased speed as well.

Yes, at least as of 5 weeks ago. Just make sure you put your boat in on the left.....even when no one is at the beach. I got yelled at by some dude from the beach from 100 yrds about why I hadn't put in in the put-in area early in the season.

We feel for you, Pru! All that traveling to exotic kayaking destinations! Such a drag!

Does anyone have any experience with GPS watches on the water? What I want to get out of it is option to read accurate lat-lon off my wrist, track my course and view it on a map once synced with the appropriate program or app on my desk-top or IPhone or iPad and stats like current speed, average speed, max speed and time spent paddling as well as barometric pressure monitoring/rapid-drop warnings apart from basics like time and stop watch function for longer crossings, etc. I've been looking at the Garmin Fenix3 and Fenix5 but most reviews are by runners and triathletes, who have quite different needs that I don't care about (HR, VO2max, step cadence, etc.). These watches don't get good grades when it comes to GPS accuracy but I don't know how reliable that is since you find plenty enough reasonable reviews of this particular feature of above 2 watches. Anyone have any of these watches or similar? Am I better off with a regular GPS? I do like the accessibility of the info on a wrist watch. Any GPS-experts please chime in (Dan....). Andy

That boat is an eye-catcher, Pru!

So many superlatives come to mind, Pru! I'll just also settle for awesome as well. I have so many questions for you, even though I'll unlikely make it to Greenland or Iceland as a paddler anytime soon. Besides, after your trip report, what could possibly be left to discover!? I really need you to go to Antarctica or at least South America for me next! Can you do that?

Bob Levine and I managed to do a few of this then-yet-to-be-named trick during last winter's pool session. It is tricky and Mike seems to indeed have mastered it beyond description.

I can't open the file for some reason but am really curious. Can someone describe it, please?

Interesting. Did they identify themselves, CG, Gloucester Police marine patrol? Why would they even get involved with a couple of paddlers? Did they make an equipment check (communication, signals, PFD-type, etc.)? I have a small white light on one side of my PFD at all times (never use it, even in twilight but would use it with boat traffic present). Are there any mandatory rules about brightness, location, feet above deck etc. of a white light? Andy P.S.: I for one would always comply with ANY request by CG, Harbormaster or police since I would want to avoid them boarding and searching my "vessel" under any circumstances.

Interesting, Matt. Thanks for the insights. I would interpret reach as mainly a function of rotational abilities, assuming that one has mastered extending the active arm as far as possible without locking it. Beyond that, I guess it's a function of paddle length with an inverse relationship of that to cadence - the right balance needs to be found there. Does Shawn say that you can extend your reach by bringing your torso forward BEYOND optimal rotation, extended active arm and increased paddle length? If yes, does he advocate a forward and back motion of the torso, decreasing the angle of torso and longitudinal axis of boat angle during the catch? Or does the torso-boat angle stay the same throughout the stroke? 52/104. I will never reach that over long distances, but I'm also much older :-( These people are aerobic machines! Andy P.S.: I have been using my wing paddle for my Explorer lately. Tried switching to Euroblade mid-trip.....there was so little resistance that I had to check if my blades had fallen off.

Cathy: Glad you didn't get hurt. I can imagine that it was one of those "I'm in trouble but I don't want to create too much of a fuss"-situations, at least initially. Did you think of blowing your whistle? After doing an intense 2 day white water rescue course years ago, I have been thinking of getting back into an eddy as a horizontal version of a Dancing Dervish. Watch a Dervish dance on youtube and imagine doing it in the water :-) Phil: I am home from work and over some ETOH....and so should you be at this time of the day. Why not share the Cobscook story now ?

Thanks Yong, see you up there!

Sounds good,Kelsey, thanks. Are you guys doing drysuits today?

Just confirming: Tomorrow meeting or launching at 11 AM? Wright Landing = Muni Landing off Wright Road on Westport Island, correct?

I assume we'll be going CW. Any way we can have a quick afternoon snack of lobster roll at the Country Store? I agree w Jason that it's the best LR, period.

"Paddling ~6 miles on open water, at night, with no means of communication is just plain stupid and irresponsible"...... ....especially if you look at the Thing that he did it with.

Blue-Gray, please. Can I pick up from Pru on 7/8 at Odiorne? Thanks Andy

Are there NSPN hats?

It's worthwhile practicing taking a pinch of your spray skirt on the side of the coaming and lift it off from there in case your grab loop was accidentally tucked under the skirt or in case the grab loop rips off (unlikely but not impossible, especially if the forces of panic are at work). I have a very tight sprayskirt bungee but this technique works well even with my model. Practicing this with gloves on is even better.

Try Endomondo, it's a free app that I've been using at the recommendation of Matt Drayer.

Barnacles were out in force last weekend and I found them with my Explorer's (HV) keel strip. The outer layer is off in one place and there is a foam-like, softish core exposed now. I am naturally lazy when it comes to repairs and am wondering whether 2 layers of Gorilla tape over the ~2 inches in length of exposed "keel strip guts" will do. I am not sure how the keel strip is put on a kayak, most importantly, whether it is put on the intact gelcoat surface or whether there is a chance of communication of the keel-strip interior with un-gelcoated fiberglass. I would think that former is the case and therefore 2 layers of Gorilla should work but am looking for the opinion of more experienced boat-people. Thanks! Andy

Congratulations, Rob. Your hard work paid off! Well, well deserved! Congrats also to the others who passed.

I can only do 7/22 because of conflicts with training and work. Don't mind me, though. Andy

Great. I assume put in is Stonington?