My post last night was written as the winds blew to over 70 knots here. Guess my juices were flowing. And talking about weird weather and such, when I got up this morning it was the weirdest sight ever: Snow trucks were plowing the roads -- only there was _no_ snow. All the snow fell north of where I live in Victoria BC, here at the bottom of Vancouver Island (as it usually does). No, the snow plows were plowing small branches and debris off the roads from the wild night of wind. My sister lives a bit closer to the sea, and her LR window blew out in the night (she doesn't love the wind like I do!). Anyway, DL's top-ten pointers for storm paddling: 1. It is best to have a few years experience, before doing anything too serious. I survived the first decade by luck. After twenty years, I'm only just getting it down to a science. 2. Try to paddle with at least 3 or more paddlers (if you can find any). Most head back in before getting near the edge. 3. Don't do it if you are out of shape. Stretch before heading out. Eat well prior to leaving. 4. Expect the unexpected. One year I shivered so hard I pulled a muscle in my upper arm. So overdress. Avoid artic outbreaks. 5. Avoid dumping surf and logs. 6. Quit while you are ahead -- live to fight another day. And don't storm paddle to battle your personal demons or prove something to yourself. A purist paddles simply for the fun and skill-building and within limits while still pushing the envelope. 7. Pick your spot carefully. Deep indented bays work best to begin with, as long as there are no middle-rip currents if you bail. 8. Stick to lee-shore beaches. 9. If you do venture off-shore, especially solo, rate the conditions and go/no-go decision to whether you can get re-enter your kayak in those deep water conditions. Extreme sports are a hot issue these days, but the ocean is ancient in its demand for respect and the necessary seakeeping skills for your vessel. 10. Enjoy your particular locality. I'm blest with year round rough water paddling. I'm not sure what fait brought me to the shores where I live, but I am grateful (and I love the calm days too!). Normal hard-core paddlers may all be on the river over the winter, but why be normal? :-) One more quick point for newer paddlers: Squalls and gusty conditions should be avoided until you know how to harness them. Yesterday afternoon, Ross Bay here in Victoria was blowing 25 knots, with gusts to 60 knots until later when all hell broke loose. If you know what you are doing, you can run out to sea in the lulls, then turn and run back in with the squalls or gusts. This has the benefit of allowing you to head straight into and over big wind waves without the resistance of a huge head wind, yet enjoy the waves associated with those higher winds that the gusts are helping generate. The other option is to find a bit of an inlet where the wind isn't so severe (when it is continuously high), yet where the wind waves are reflecting around a blunt point and moving down the channel. It is very intoxicating to paddle into fast moving head seas. Your forward speed, combined with the opposing wave movement creates a sensation of you traveling at lightning speeds into and over the waves. While you are not really moving that fast, the false sensation can be so real feeling, that I often develop a second-wind, finding a Nirvanah-like state. It is difficult to describe to the uninitiated. And oh yeah, buy a boat with first, second, and third stability :-) DL (hopefully on-topic) *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Doug, I just want make sure I understand what is meant by "lee shore". I take it the lee shore is the shore where the wind is blowing from the sea toward the land? Jack Fu ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug Lloyd <dlloyd_at_telus.net> To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Friday, December 15, 2000 8:07 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] Winter Wierdness and Being Cool <snip> > 8. Stick to lee-shore beaches. *************************************************************************** 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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