Re: [Paddlewise] Lastest Sea Kayaker Magazine Issue

I've been lurking on this list for a very long time.  I rarely see anything 
that gets me fired up including the thread a few months ago about crossing 
shipping lanes since many of the people on the list are nothing but "arm 
chair" paddlers.  This is most obvious by reading the posts that speculate 
about the trip Duane Strosaker and I did implying we had thrown safety to the 
wind.  THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ASININE.  YOU ARE UNINFORMED!

Granted, Duane didn't post on PW all the boring details of the preparation, 
training and planning we did the full year PRIOR to the trip.  I will briefly 
discuss this BORING stuff here.

Training:  We did crossing (thru the shipping lanes) to Catalina, Anacapa, 
Santa Cruz.  The return trip from Catalina (19NM) was done at night in the 
presences of at least 4 GPS, 6 compasses and 5 VHF radios and at least a half 
dozen assorted flares on a clear, calm night.  We paddled together a lot on 
the weekends between trips, usually 10 to 15 NMiles.  To really test our 
stamina, we did a 13 3/4 hour circumnavigation of Catalina Island (43 
NMiles).  For anyone to say we've done "few" crossings obviously doesn't know 
the type of crossings Duane and I have done.  I suppose Ed Gillet also has 
done "a few".

If you want to test your rolling and surf zone skills, take your sea kayak 
surfing.  We did this several times to practice our skills in some four-foot 
surf.  Its fun rolling a full swamped sea kayak.

We've hosted ocean rescue sessions where we practiced as MANY rescues as 
possible.  We did self rescues and group rescues.

Preparation:  Although we occasionally monitored the offshore weather buoys 
the ENTIRE year prior the crossing, we did several buoy checks EACH day for 
the entire month PRIOR to the crossing.

While on the trip, we had daily contact with the forest rangers.  Each day, 
THEY KNEW exactly where we were and were watching for us.  Each day, the 
ranger on the island would radio ahead to our next landing spot letting them 
know WHEN the kayakers would be considered "Late" in arriving.

We listened to the weather forecast EVERY morning and evening and sometimes 
in the middle of the day.  We also made note of WHEN the forecast was last 
updated.  A forecast that is 12 hours old may need to be questioned (better 
or worse) when it normally is updated every 3 hours.  When we launched at 
9:30a on the first morning, the forecast was OLD and the weather at the buoys 
was less than predicated.  After paddling out 8 miles in clear, calm weather, 
we stopped and got another report at the channel buoy.  The wind that we 
would have expected at noon, DID NOT EXIST.  This was our "GO/NO GO" point.  
If the winds HAD been reported at buoy, we would have gladly and without 
question or debate, turned around and headed back to the mainland.

Safety Gear:  We each had a GPS, compass (I had two), a VHF radio, flares, 
EPIRB (Duane only), light sticks, reflecting mirror, flash lights, 
desalinization pump (me only), pumps, paddle floats, helmets, spare paddles, 
8 days food and plenty of spare batteries (The typical safety gear).

Moving ships are NOT that quiet.  Their engines make a very loud, deep 
rumbling noise.  Assuming the captain is willing to talk to you, how many can 
speak English?   Yes, you NEED to be alert when you are crossing the shipping 
lanes.  When we crossed them in the fog, our heads were on a CONSTANT swivel 
and our ears were perked, listening for ANY unusual sound.  When you paddle 
with someone as much as I've paddled with Duane, we don't have THAT much to 
say, and it is real easy to listen.

One question, are ANY of you THIS prepared for a trip half as challenging?

In all, Duane is probably the most skilled/safety conscious paddler I know.  
I trust him with my life. He's level headed and skilled.  Anyone of you 
should be so lucky to paddle with such a kayaker.  It is only by advancing 
your skill level does the envelope of opportunity also grow.

NOW, WASN"T THIS A BORING POST?

Jim Gabriel - the lurker
p.s. I have evidence of the sea/weather conditions during this crossings.  I 
have a digital waterproof video camera and have the trip on tape.

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