Re: [Paddlewise] Jon Waterman"s Trip

PJ,

I agree that trips like Jon's are facinating.  I have enjoyed reading
his books on mountain climbing for similar reasons.  Jon is quite an
adventurer and also a good writer and has produced some great videos so
this trip should be documented well.  Interesting to me also is that Jon
does not have as much experience kayaking or sailing as a lot of us but
is very inteligent in the sense of being adaptable.  I have seldom met
anyone who could grasp new concepts as quickly as Jon.
His rigs were slightly different for both seasons.  He approached us
quite late with little time before his trip. The Klepper is pretty small
and he had to carry a lot of gear for self supported arctic travel as
well as cameras, still and video, and satilite gear to contact a the
source for an educational web page. Because of payload limitations, I
was doubtful at first that we could provide a full windward sail rig
with outriggers that would fit his parameters.  I quickly built an
experimental lug sail but it was too heavy and bulky so I suggested a 24
square foot BATWING.  Jon rejected it because of weight and bulk and I
proposed an 18 square foot BATWING and the addition of a 14 sq ft light
nylon headsail to use off the wind in light wind conditions which he
accepted. He also took our BOSS outrigger system.  After the first
season Jon concluded that he wanted more sail area and was willing to
carry the extra gear for the wider wind range he would obtain and he
took a 24 BATWING and the same jib.  For a small part of the trip his
fiance joined him with a Nautiraid Grand Raid rigged with a 32 BATWING
and the BOSS outriggers.  We value Jons feedback in regard to his arctic
sailing experience with these three rigs.
The book will be written by Jon. My information from Jon on this is:
> >         I believe my Knopf book (due January 2001) will be titled:
> > Miles From Nowhere;
> > A 2,000-mile Journey Through the Northwest Passage, Into the Lost
Culture of the Arctic
Part of his travels on this trip were on foot, skis, dog sled etc. but
he also had a great interest in the inuit culture.  The book and
television shows should reflect that interest. 
I really don't know much more about the TV special but will try to find
out.  One of his sponsors was the Outdoor Life Network. It was
originally planned that they would do a 1 hour special.  During the trip
they decided to up it to a 2 hour special.  Here is all the other
information that I have as of now.
>         On January 16, 5 pm, NBC will be airing my hour-long film, one
> of a series
> of six adventure films being produced by The North Face in conjuction
> with
> NBC, and rented from Outdoor Life--who will probably be airing a two
> hour
> documentary of my trip later in the spring.  
>         As of Oct 1, my Adventureonline.com site, which is presently
> inactive,
> will be updated with bigger photos and my summer journals.  And I'm also
> writing a story for Adventure magazine, to appear sometime in the late
> winter/spring.  I'll keep you posted about it all.

I have really enjoyed all of Jon's books and videos and am especially
excited about reading and seeing more about this trip. If you have any
more questions that I have not been able to answer, please ask and I
will try to find out.

Mark


PJ Rattenbury wrote:
> 
>         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


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