Hi Paddlers, I am planning to paddle to Horn Island (10 miles off-shore mississipi). I have limited open sea paddling experience and I will like to get some advises on what safety equipement to bring. (extra paddle, flare, radio, sea anchor?, ...) I have an inflatable sea kayak (Aire sea tiger), I realize it is not as fast as a proper sea kayak, but I don't have the room for a proper one! I will like to know what is the average speed of a proper kayak in calm sea condition, average paddler so I can compare with mine. Thanks Bruno ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bruno Roussennac wrote: >I am planning to paddle to Horn Island (10 miles off-shore mississipi). I >have limited open sea paddling experience... While this island is about 6-7 miles off shore, it is not really an "open ocean" crossing. One suggestion would be to get a copy of the NOAA chart for the area. You should be able to plan a fairly direct route from the Pascagoula waterfront to Horn Island that keeps you in shallow (less than 6' deep) water almost the entire time. You'll also need to investigate tidal currents. Be sure you wear good sturdy shoes as the bottom is likely covered with oysters. Also, with a water temperature of about 85F, there is little risk of hypothermia. >and I will like to get some >advises on what safety equipement to bring. (extra paddle, flare, radio, >sea anchor?, ...) Here is some info you may find useful: trip rating scale: <http://www.nspn.org/NSPScale.html> suggested/required gear list: <http://www.nspn.org/NSPGear.html> skills lit: <http://www.nspn.org/NSPTechnique.html> >I have an inflatable sea kayak (Aire sea tiger), I realize it is not as >fast as a proper sea kayak, but I don't have the room for a proper one! I >will like to know what is the average speed of a proper kayak in calm sea >condition, average paddler so I can compare with mine. Somewhere in the 2.5-4 knot range for most paddlers/boats. Brian *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Unless things have changed since I was there, you'll also need to bring your own water. I don't recall tides being a big issue though wind can be as the water is so shallow. Check in with some of the rangers at the parks down there as they can be really helpful. There's lots of nice paddling around. -Patrick At 11:53 AM -0600 6/25/03, Brian Curtiss wrote: >Bruno Roussennac wrote: >>I am planning to paddle to Horn Island (10 miles off-shore mississipi). I >>have limited open sea paddling experience... *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> From: Brian Curtiss <bc_at_asdi.com> > While this island is about 6-7 miles off shore, it is not really an Actually, Horn Island is about ten miles directly south of the Mississippi coastline. You can make a stop-over along the way on Round Island. > "open ocean" crossing. One suggestion would be to get a copy of the Not exactly but open ocean experience is a good idea simply because it is not a continuous barrier island and the miles in between islands as well as island to shore can get "interesting." You will be dealing with very large ships as the route takes you right through the ICW. Not sure I'd want to paddle the distance in an inflatable. I'd look for a kayak to rent if you can't take one with you. Also, just an fyi, there are alligators (which should come as no surprise with anyone familiar with paddling the Gulf coast area). They are quite shy. I wrote a story about a trip Bob and I took out there seven years ago. It may be useful or not. But you can find it along with some photos at http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/hornIs.html The Round Island light house is no more. It was taken out by hurricane George. Too bad as it was an interesting landmark. Check recent charts because the barrier islands can change shape and/or location after hurricanes. > NOAA chart for the area. You should be able to plan a fairly direct > route from the Pascagoula waterfront to Horn Island that keeps you in > shallow (less than 6' deep) water almost the entire time. You'll Huh? I wouldn't count on that. > also need to investigate tidal currents. Be sure you wear good > sturdy shoes as the bottom is likely covered with oysters. Also, Horn Island was sandy as I recall. Very fine quartz. But there are plenty of oyster beds in the area. Be sure to take a *good* patch kit. We ended the very short life of an inflatable when it blew onto a just-below-the-water oyster bed at Goose island on another trip. Fortunately, it was just a few feet from shore. Oyster beds are hard enough on plastic kayaks. I will never again take an inflatable out there. But that's just me. Except for the bugs, it was a great trip. Would do it again but would wait until later in the year and after hurricane season. Jackie *************************************************************************** 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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