If only I'd known that passing one thousand miles was significant - I'd have celebrated with an extra swig of Staminade. Sid, do I recall correctly that you have paddled the entire west coast of the U.S? Is this written up anywhere for the enjoyment of those who are unlikely to undertake that trip? I have just grazed onto buoyweather.com. Does anyone scan these wave predictions? How do they compare with actual waves / swell? PT *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Peter, > If only I'd known that passing one thousand miles was significant - I'd have > celebrated with an extra swig of Staminade. Every mile is significant. As for the staminade its amazing how far one can paddle if necessary. Generally it is wiser to paddle the extra distance to a safe landing than to hazard a crash landing. This is especially true for remote coastlines like the Pacific coast of Baja. > Sid, do I recall correctly that you have paddled the entire west coast of the > U.S? Is this written up anywhere for the enjoyment of those who are unlikely > to undertake that trip? Since you have asked. I've paddled the California coast (36 days) and to some of the California Channel Islands (Catalina, Anacapa, Santa Cruz) and the Cortez coast of Baja, crossed the Cortez and returned (gyres, upwelling, haystacks, overfalls), circumnavigated Mexico's two largest islands (Angel de la Guarda and Tiburon), paddled parts of the Pacific coast of Baja (a boat-buster), paddled in Alaska, various sounds in British Columbia, Puget Sound etc. etc. Steph Dutton has paddled from "B.C. to B.C." (British Columbia to Baja California) as has Ed Gillet and perhaps several others. No I haven't written anything but would be happy to answer questions. Steph wrote an article for Sea Kayaker magazine about rounding the infamous Punta Gorda just south of Cape Mendocino. It was calm when I paddled it (timing is everything). Briefly I would say paddle in a group of three or less, file a float plan, paddle north to south, carry charts and compass, try to be on the water by 0630 and off by 1400 (to avoid the wind), seek harbors rather than beaches, be mindful of places to land should the weather worsen, drink water every hour, be self-contained, never leave your boat unattended, never expect to be rescued, paddle in late summer or early fall preferably on the half moon, learn how to roll and how to land a loaded boat in dumpers, be stealthy, watch for thieves, jet skis and freighters in southern Calif., carry safety equipment (radio, parachute flares ...), dress for immersion, carry a spare paddle, never underestimate the power of the sea and don't listen to hyperbolic fisherman. > Finally, dance with the waves and sing at the top of your lungs around every lumpy headland. There, I've written-it-up. > I have just grazed onto buoyweather.com. Does anyone scan these wave > predictions? How do they compare with actual waves / swell? The National Data Bouy Center of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has CMan bouys that provide real time data (internet) on wind speed/direction, wave height/frequency etc. which I find very useful. There are plots available of historic data which should be consulted when one plans a tour for best weather. Sid Taylor *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
"Finally, dance with the waves and sing at the top of your lungs around every lumpy headland. " I like the way you put that. Have a crack at poetry some time. "...how to land a loaded boat in dumpers" Now here's a tricky business. I've scanned the latest Sea Kayaker on-line. There's an article by Jon Turk on expedition tactics, and he says something about landing in shore dumpers. I think he recommends against pitch-poling the boat and planting your head in the sand, in favour of turning into a sharp broach and savage high brace and coming onto the sand sideways, if I understand rightly. What do you reckon? PT. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter writes: in favour of turning into a > sharp broach and savage high brace and coming onto the sand sideways, if I > understand rightly. What do you reckon? Kayaks do three thing. 1. Sit still (boring) 2. Turn (YAW) 3. Go straight (balanced YAW) This is where YAW-HOO comes from, but that's a whole nother story. Deciding which choice to make, in the above scheme, is what I call boat control. Deciding which choice to make when landing a big boat in dumping surf can be a challenge. You might want the boat to come straight into the beach, but not straight as to pitch pole. So probably won't want the long waterline and all the tracking aspects of my boat speeding me to shore so maybe if I go sideways. Soon as I get moving toward shore I might hold the boat on a straight course till I get close to the dump zone. Then I might back off the wave enough to NOT surf and begin a gradual turn and prepare for a side surf. I generally keep paddling, especially on the onshore side, to encourage my boat to get sideways. If I time it right, my boat is turning sideways as the wave takes it's dump, I reach up into it with a brace, tilt my boat a bit and Viola, sidesurf. Remember a FULL side surf is going straight in a really short (22 inch or so), really wide (17 feet or so) boat! Keep the onshore knee in control of the edge of the boat and don't lean too much on the offshore paddle and HOLD ON (HOO). Be very careful as the water gets shallow , as it's easy to *trip* over the keel line and do a side head plant in the sand. hope this helps. steve *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
My take on large close-out waves: they're best avoided. Pitch-polling is never good. And neither is finding yourself inside a close-out special, that moment of weightlessness when you're upside down at the apex of the barrel, knowing full well that what follows is a violent inverted impact below-with tons of water hammering down from above, followed immediately by a seemingly relentless thrashing... If a dump zone can't be avoided and I'm not in the mood for a beating, I'll paddle in on the back of one, wait for it to detonate and then paddle like a madman to avoid taking a direct hit by the one behind--and once out of the impact zone, ride the foam pile to shore. If the waves form well defined sets, I'll paddle in on the back of the last, follow the same procedure and hope to clear the impact zone during the lull. Craig *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Peter, > "Finally, dance with the waves and sing at the top of your lungs around > every lumpy headland. " I like the way you put that. Have a crack at poetry some time. Thank you Peter! > "...how to land a loaded boat in dumpers" > Now here's a tricky business... What do you reckon? In my earnestness to avoid dumpers I have become bereft of mastering them. It is probably true that most that make this type of landing will never be sure of a happy outcome. I think the trick is to avoid being slurped back in during those frantic seconds when one exits the boat. With rare exception one will land with, as you so aptly state, a hard broach and savage high brace. Not much side-surfing but a brutal bronco ride followed immediately by a frantic scramble out to grab the toggle. Launching is vastly more assured if a helper can hold your bow till enough energy has dissipated and then released for a ferocious sprint. I remember landing with Konstantin Gortinski at Big Lagoon north of Humboldt Bay. Trinidad Head was six nm on but we had paddled from Point St. George (Crescent City) and opted to land. Landing in dumpers, tired after some 35 or so nm, was not a happy prospect. Who knows, those flaccid arms might object to a shoulder dislocation. Miraculously, We each came in on top without broaching. However, launching in the predawn we got the yin of our yang. Konstantin offered to give me a shove. I readily agreed, knowing how difficult it is to enter the boat, secure the skirt and grasp the paddle before being knocked askew to be glued in an embrace of wet sand. With an oompf from K, off I went, in a gleefull dash and soon traversed the shorebreak. Konstantin was not so fortunate. I watched helplessly as he and 200 lbs of boat and gear were propelled skyward twice before he emerged flayling his paddle with a heart rate in scientific notation and gasping for breath. I have learned that the energy expended punching surf often approximates that burned during a day of paddling. Hence my advice to seek harbors (around Trinidad Head). Sid *************************************************************************** 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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