[Paddlewise] Jon Waterman"s Trip

From: PJ Rattenbury <ratten_at_uow.edu.au>
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 11:20:57 +1100
	Mark: 

	Jon Waterman's Arctic adventure sounds truly amazing.  Folks like him who
venture into the cold,  and there are plenty of PaddleWisers who do,  have
my admiration. 
	Do you have any detail on the sail rig he used on his Klepper?  I presume
he used one of your Batwings?  Has he written any articles one how he
prepared for his adventure;  in particular the gear he chose?  Do you have
any more detail on the book?  Is Jon writing it himself?
	And do you have any more detail on the television special? Is it just on
his journey?  Regards, PJ



At 04:59 PM 11/24/99 +0000, you wrote:
>> I am out tomorrow. It is all over gray here and the temps dropped 
>>  
>> 
>> last weekend few degrees below zero Centigrades. It means below 
>>  
>> 
>> 40 F. Few inches of snow, it is wonderful to paddle when it is falling.
>>  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Do you suppose, any of you, that someone could use a kayak with 
>>  
>> 
>> sails here?
>
>Without a doubt! I don't understand why you would ask the question,
>doesn't anyone around there know how to sail? Tell me Ari if the
>conditions described below sound as difficult as what you describe
>above.  I expect your words are intended just to provoke those of us who
>are not limited by our skills to one mode of propulsion, but I'll bite
>anyway.;-)
>I know a man who has kayaked the NW Passage the last two seasons in a
>Klepper Aerius I with sail rig. Conditions were sometimes like you
>describe or worse, only very windy. The Inuit call this year the one
>that summer never came. During one 400 mile stretch Jon Waterman found
>the conditions too rough and windy to paddle most of the time so he
>sailed instead.  I quote from his trip report that I received this fall.
>
>"When I returned in July, I was horrified to find winter skies and
>stubborn seaice blocking the main Elu Inlet portage.  The wind blew
>constantly out of the north—across vast plains of sea ice—effectively
>refrigerating the arctic.
>        I was lucky, no doubt, but for this demanding passage, I also
>had two years of tricks up my sleeve.  I knew what I could get away
>with.  Nor did it hurt that my equipment was state-of-the art.  Vital to
>my success: a dry suit—which I wore all but one day this summer (and I
>regretted that wet day immensely).  Also, a hikeout sailing seat atop
>the klepper kayak, which allowed me to see over the waves and reduce the
>heeling pressure on the sponsons by dynamic leaning.
>Getting to Gjoa Haven was simply a battle. For two weeks I wondered if I
>would be forced to turn back  because of the big seas.  I was pushed
>(literally—with the sails—and figuratively) to my limits just staying
>warm and making miles.For 400 miles from Elu Inlet to the village of
>Gjoa Haven, I only paddled perhaps 70 miles because of this wind—I could
>always count on sailing my kayak."
>And later: "I rode a westerly gale into Taloyoak and since the waves
>were covering and crashing over my kayak, several villagers watching me
>surf into the harbor thought that I was riding a windsurfer!"
>
>  Any in the US that are interested in trips like this can see some of
>it on a couple of television specials. The first one is scheduled for: 
>January 16, 5 pm to 6 pm, on NBC.  A two hour special will air in the
>spring on Outdoor Life Network.  There will be a book published due out
>January 2001 for those who enjoy reading about arctic kayak travel, by
>paddle or sail.
>
>Good sailing
>Mark
>
>
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Received on Wed Nov 24 1999 - 16:31:12 PST

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