Re: [Paddlewise] Naming your boat

From: Jochen Grikschat <grikschat_at_surfeu.de>
Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2001 01:03:40 +0100
Uuuh Ha! Next challenge:

> Who here has named their kayak?
In germany most kayaks got a name.
Tradition and the authorities like it....

Okay, I lift the shadow:

Very first kayak was a Prijon Taifun, named "SChlappohr", was one of the
nick names of our first boxer lady (Dog).

My first Seakayak was a Q&K Puffin, named Finn, Finn was the name of
newfoundland dog (hugh and stolid dog race) who hit my heart. Dogs are a
central and sentimental part of my life....

Next was a P&H Sirius °hf. I focused all my dreams and hopes on that boat
and found an old excerpt in best of readers digest "Nunaga - 10 years among
the eskimos, from Duncan Pryde". Nunaga, old Inuit word, means "my home -
my country". A name becomes a program....

Next kayak was the TM Umiak, 2nd hand shot. 16 years old, now grown up
(>21). Named oern - scandinavian word for eagle. Okay, that name isn´t
ideal. But you have feel that boat, then you understand.

Next new boat was the KS-OY Artisan, who replaces the Puffin. I wont
another cargo kayak and was swinging 
between Nordkapp. Artisan and Vivianne, but I wont to fit it like a
swimming house. At that time a behave like a lonesome wolf, so a named it
"Canis Lupus", latein (zoological) name for the wolf one of the most
fascinating animals I know. In my opinion Artisan is an independent kayak
with staying power. Elegant, peaceful, ....

My Polo Kayak, a P&H Revenge Nitro in PrePreg Carbon need no name. Nitro -
thats it!

Oern met in Norway the pure luxury, the P&H Spitzbergen (original designed
by Eian Fritid, special shaped for Roy willys needs...). I wa lucky, last
year I found a way to finance this pure luxury. Strange and almost as
dificult to paddle as the Umiak. so I named it "No Panic". You know the
hitch hikers guide to the galaxy from Douglas Adams?
No Panic is really pure fun, and speed and I wont a name the other paddlers
calm down when I overtake them. No Panic .... just buy it!

Then money reaches the end and I´m planning a long distance crossing. Need
an Valley Aleut Sea II for it, but new? Horrible expensive, no sponsors, no
chance to borrow it. then in Sept 2000 an Aleut for 2nd hand. I have a look
and ... fantastic, ideal version and much much equipment. Fair orice, but
quite a lot of money. I resell my Nitro, no problem because fun has gone in
canoe polo. Hope I could renew it someday...
Okay, I buy the Aleut and shortly after that I hear Roy Willy is dead.
Shock! Hard shock! Impressive paddler, one of the best I ever met! And I
think about his amazing tour Vinland 2000. Vinland, expression of all
dreams and hopes for the vikings 1000 years ago! A kind of El Dorado,
Paradise ... where dreams become truth. Vinland, yes thats it. I named the
Aleut "Vinland", also as a honor to Roy Willy and to the first discoverer
of America 1000 years ago. 500 years before Columbus! I hope, I´m deaming I
reach my personal Vinland on my crossing and also for my own life! I´ve to
hurry up now. 29 years and nothing but kayaks in the garden.... 

Kayaks have opened a new horizon to me, the Kayaks names are part of this
horizon. The names are a kind of key for this horizon.

think about 
best regards from kayak-name-country Germany

Jochen Grikschat
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Received on Mon Mar 19 2001 - 16:10:09 PST

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