Joseph Berkovitz

https://endurance22.org/endurance-is-found

10,000 feet down in the Weddell Sea. 

If you have two or more people, each using Josko’s strategy, the results may be interesting…

To those who couldn't attend (and for those who just can't wait to see it all over again):

My presentation notes are available here:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1H5zUs_XUk9o-Wm2b16MD6UQBXozyhL1njSAu6axboMo/edit?usp=sharing

I have posted a video on YouTube of the recording of the session, also:

Zoom info is private - if you’re not on the PM thread already please message me for details. 

Of course, I can't explain anything to do with their pricing. They are indeed expensive paddles. I know from talking to Lendal that they really believe in their product and its superiority to Werner paddles, and in their mind the higher price is completely justified. They have also been through some difficult times with the pandemic, they lost access to their factory in late 2020 due to a building safety issue caused by their landlord, and I am sure their space and labor costs have gone up like many businesses. But I don't know the inside story of these recent increases.

I do think the paddles are worth it, though, in terms of the experience they offer a paddler. Besides the blade shape grabbing the water very crisply, they are definitely not made of the same material as Werner paddles, they are very noticeably stiffer and harder (perhaps this is the resin, not the carbon fiber). 

As far as communications go, I have emailed them at their regular contact (sales@lendalna.com) and gotten responses, but sometimes there's been a delay. Going through a dealer might be a better way to get attention. A dealer may not want to (or be allowed to) sell blemished product though. Many high-end manufacturing companies don't want blemished product out there in the world as it can damage their brand, since they only compete on quality not on price.

Thanks everyone for the interest in this trip! Since the waitlist is now as long as the list of people on the trip, we will shut down the waitlist for now. We will post again if more space becomes available.

Most GPS “backcountry nav” phone apps including Gaia GPS do have some version of the feature Leon is talking about. It can take a bit of research to find the feature though. 

To access this feature on Gaia:

- tap your destination on the map. A details panel will appear at the bottom of the screen  

- tap the “…” button

- choose “Guide me” which displays a line on the map from where you are to the destination  

- put the map in compass mode by tapping the cross hair icon until the icon turns green and the map rotates dynamically with the phone orientation  

- maintain course such that the line always points straight up on the screen. (Not like shown below - I need to go more to the left!)
 

Having said all that, I maintain that if you can see anything, using a visual range to maintain course via a ferry is always going to be just plain easier than trying to use a device that is not your eyes and brain. 

Absolutely, this will be recorded and shared. 

Did you know... that NOAA is in the process of retiring the paper-based navigational charts we all know and use, in favor of electronic charts (ENC)? This process officially began in 2021, is underway over the next 5 years, and it will affect all of us. Many if not all of the chart products we use today, both online and offline, will be altered radically. Some have changed already as NOAA has already withdrawn support for some digital services based on the old charts.

Join Joe Berkovitz on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 at 7:00 pm for this 90-minute Zoom seminar, which will cover what our government is changing about nautical charts, why they're doing it, and examine the good and bad things about the change. We'll take a detailed walk through  the use of NOAA's new online custom chart generator which produces PDFs of the new electronic charts covering any desired area. NOAA has stated that this tool is the official replacement for the old paper-based charts (including the digital downloads). Love it or hate it, let's learn to use it!

In order to accommodate a large number of attendees, this will be a structured presentation rather than a hands-on workshop with exercises.

Link to the calendar entry and RSVP

You didn’t specify sunsets etc only so…

They are hard to get now. I advertised my interest as a buyer on this forum and someone eventually contacted me who had one to sell. 

I recently saw a new kayak using a Ritchie F-50 flush mount compass, mounted where a Brunton would normally go. I don’t know if the shape is compatible but it looked like a natural fit and the compass appears to be high quality. 

Phil, we have been using ACA insurance for all these sessions for the last two years because having people in a specific role as facilitators already meant the “peer practice” model did not apply. We don’t use the club waiver for these sessions.

Having not heard from potential borrowers I’m taking the Virgo off the car. See you all there!

j

I happen to have my P&H Virgo on my car. If you are interested in trying this boat tomorrow please respond on this thread and it’s yours to paddle for the day!

for those who don’t know it, the Virgo is a 14.5’ plastic boat that is highly playful and maneuverable but also tracks well and can keep up a decent cruising speed. In my view, a perfect day-trip boat!

Thanks 1,000,000% Janet and Sue - this is terrific news! I hope to facilitate as many sessions as I can make and as you will allow.

Yes!

From the most recent Board of Directors minutes (Dec 2021).

“Skills sessions: Discussion continues without consensus. We are discussing two models, one similar to the last two years but providing some reimbursement to leaders for expenses, or a new approach where qualified instructors would propose skills instruction sessions for fee, the club partially subsidizing and participants paying a fee as we do for pool sessions.”

I think it might be worth having a broader discussion of this question in the club, lest it remain as an item buried in the minutes.

I look forward as an instructor to supporting any and all models that are available. I’ll help with anything. But my 2 cents on the above question is: The latter model (participants pay a fee) does not accord with the club’s long-standing “pay it forward” ethic, and adds a paywall barrier discouraging novices from improving their skills. It also adds a qualification barrier discouraging some knowledgeable experienced members from sharing those skills.   

Why not do both? There are benefits to setting up sessions with qualified instructors, sure. But it’s a totally different project from the original model of Skills Practices in which members share their knowledge in an informal club setting.

Let me put this out there to the membership at large: I think this “problem” would go away if someone, anyone, is willing to do the organizational tasks for Skills Practices. We do not need the Board to decide which model is best, as the original model was simply a grass-roots effort by myself and Bob. It did not need approval, we just calendared it and made it happen. 

so… Is anyone (or a couple of people) willing to organize future skills practices? You don’t need to be an instructor, just a good trip organizer who can network with potential facilitators in the club. It is just not that hard. I’m only stepping away from this role because I have other plans next year and think it makes sense in a club this size to rotate these responsibilities. If anyone is interested in hearing more about what it takes to do this, I’ll be happy to explain.  And if no one is interested, then I guess the model is less sustainable than I thought. 
 

Assuming weather holds I will be there!

I have done this paddle a few times including last year and it is a fun outing. 

Happily, there is no cure. If there were, your insurer would probably find a way out of paying. The only thing is to keep on paddling!

With the best of holiday wishes,

Joe

I have found that a 100% reliable way to force syncing to the cloud is to open a saved track, select Share and then Copy Link. This forces Gaia to push the recording up to the server so that a link can be generated (even if you do nothing with the link in your phone.)

It’s low tide - it’ll probably look super different soon. Often just below mid tide is a great time for long boats at Nahant, the rides are longer and better formed and we can catch waves further out than boarders in areas that aren’t as appealing for them  

Per Rob's comment above, I will be organizing a post-workshop trip. Route and timing to be decided at the event, but likely leaving right after lunch (12:30? and landing by 3:00 at the latest). 

Tomorrow is forecast to be a very calm and windless day with very little swell.

Very cool news about a great area!

I will be paddling out of Marblehead on Saturday morning and visiting rock features in the area that are notable in high water. If people are interested and have cold-water paddling experience, please PM me.