PreChristmas Paddle Just after we got back from overseas, one of our members suggested a preChristmas paddle, just after the newsletter had been posted. A quick note via e-mail and phone calls to likely paddlers brought a good response from the Network members resulting in 25 at Cass Bay on a late Saturday afternoon. I'd brought 3 kayaks, one for each for us and one for Anita, a new paddler. We loaded suitable food and drink, checked that our new paddler had all she needed and launched. As we cleared the bay it looked like a World War II convoy, heading across the harbour for Quail Island. It had been blowing briskly most of the day but the tide with wind knocked the sharpness off the waves. Despite that, there were one or two new paddlers wary of the conditions. I left W. to look after one while I shepherded Anita, her earlier look of worry slowly turning to a smile and a grin as my big boat eased its way over the waves in its usual nonchalant way. W. wasn't so happy as she prefers to paddle in those conditions and escorting a slow paddler wasn't her preferred way of going. Once we were across the harbour and round the end of the island the seas became smaller and from behind but just steep enough for me to get some runs, dodging through the piles on both jetties before rounding into the bay with a picnic ground, for the meal. It had been a gray, warm day but the sun now tried to shine through as it neared the crater rim. Greg passed round the promised Christmas cake and others added fudge and chocolate. It seemed a pity we hadn't arranged to camp the night so back in the boats to continue the circumnavigation, passing by the dozen wrecks at the west end of the island before heading back across the harbour on a much reduced sea. It seemed a bit early stop once we were back at the pullout so it was a chance to swap boats. I had a few prospective builders try the Mac50, one barely noticing the performance of the boat being totally distracted by the ease of use and comfort of the rudder pedals compared with his kayak. It amazes me that there is still an NZ manufacturer using the worst pedals in the world (American sliding pedals). I had a go in an X-Factor and sprinted against its original paddler. I was left wallowing in his wake, mainly because he has been training for the One Day Coast to Coast, a race across the South Island of New Zealand by bike, foot and kayak. Even a racing sea kayak like the X-Factor didn't help me as my boat is probably no slower. As the light finally faded Anita could be just seen paddling the Mac50 round the bay and James's white knuckles shining as he paddled my kayak. Alex Alex (Sandy) Ferguson Chemistry Department University of Canterbury New Zealand *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Uhh... I have put up a sign: CAREFUL! SEA KAYAKER HIBERNATING. You all, have Happy Holidays... Ari - gloomy Finland & misty Newcastle *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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