Not what I meant, at all.
By "train", I meant: SEA KAYAKING TRAINING
Leave the hi-pro regimens to the gym rats. Might work for you on land, won't on water over time.
Build up your paddling distances as a runner would pre-marathon. The longer paddles in the mix will help you sort out gear AND fueling issues.
Why don’t
you go for the Tsnunami 16---roughly the same design but longer and probably faster---more comfortable and able to hold a lot more stuff---and besides you will look like a real sea kayaker not like a creek boater who missed the take out point
I'm also a little confused as to why you turned up your nose at all those british boats---VCP and NDK are two of the most known sea kayak builders in the world. Are you from the UK or the US---if the UK I'm reasonably sure it would be easier for you to find a brit boat than the W/S Tsunami--and even if you are from the US I don't think you want to bring your own kayak with you but buy one there.
You might want to try paddling a few different boats between now and your big trip---you wouldn't want to be in those waters(some of the roughest in the world) with a boat that doesn't suit you. And realistically the only way to see if a certain boat is for you is to paddle it.
Finally I sense from your post that you don't have a lot of experience paddling on the ocean--do you know how to use a chart and compass and a GPS? And are you able to predict the tidal currents from a nautical chart and tide tables? Those are important things to learn===also have you talked to anybody who has made this trip? Might be a good idea before attempting it yourself Anyway have fun
ps I just read your uk posting and I see that your storage shed is only 12 feet---you can probably store an RM Tsunami 16 outside in a moderate climate if you cover it with a tarp and put it on some kind of supports to prevent it becoming sway backed. Shouldn't be a real problem assuming you have a back yard that's at least 16 feet long.
setting off from
creagan cottage Reiff Achiltibui,,this isnt a link/but you can see the photos i took some years ago, its the place im setting off from too,
Another thought Celia
I wouldn’t think any charitable group or organization is going to sponsor a beginning paddler on a dangerous life threatening trip that hasn’t been done before or requires a skilled seasoned paddler.
They could receive more bad publicity that would negate any amount of money raised.
Had that thought
It occurs to me that there is probably some decent oversight on this trip that has not been mentioned here yet (or on the message board in the UK). The sea there has just plain bigger conditions and, unless someone regularly paddles in northern Maine, significantly colder water than anything in the usual paddling venues on the US east coast. So there is a certain risk level that they just can't get under.
I wouldn't be surprised to hear, if we do hear more, that there are set routes that are monitored and mandated check-in points.
Agreed, fatalities on a fund-raising paddle would be lousy advertisement.
One thing that they commonly do in the UK is to identify various paddling areas as to estimated level of difficulty - so for example really challenging tidal races or similar areas are easily identified and a route can be set to avoid them. (Some of thse areas have like no useful slack - they are like Woods Hole).
somtimes
the hardest part of guiding clients on an overnight or longer trip is packing thier boats at the begining----never ceases to amaze me how much stuff can be crammed into a 16’ Eskia
re lessons
im getting plenty of exercise, the lessons are on their way,as with the boat,
re train
i know, its all on the cards,its not started to build up yet,but its only around the corner, my buddies in the lakes, its an early start,then towards the end its three weeks in Florida, back to sunny old Blighty, and off
Reiff to Blackpool
When I read this thread and learned your planned route I took a look at some maps and plotted a route down the west coast of Scotland, thru the North Channel and into the Irish Sea from Reiff to Blackpool in legs of 10 to 20 miles.
Assuming you’re not going skip any of the coast this plots out to approx 920 miles, not the 550 (as the crow flies). It also assumes the coast is hospitable enough to allow you to put in and take out at such manageble intervals
All the more reason to heed the advice of those telling you to talk to more experienced kayakers and get some experience yourself before you do this.
Exactally what I mean
Trying to fit everything in is a feat in itself, trying to remember the location is hopeless. In doing long distance trips I have found that after a week or more when I empty and repack the dry storage compartment I am surprised at some of the things I find that I forgot I packed especially crammed all the way back in the stern (I only have 1 dry storage compartment).
Couldn’t imagine what it would be like on a crossing where I didn’t have this luxury.
always amazes me…
how much $#!+ they bring and expect to cram into a sea boat. and oh by the way…PLEASE bring me a sexy little sports model!
yeah right!
=:-0)
steve
re what i mean
How much gear for a month? although there are shops and stores scattered down the coast,im planning on carrying a certain weight,boat depending,im allowing slim 70 ltr rucksack rear, and dry bag front,anything else can be picked up on route,as little on deck as possible, map compass & bilge pump,
Tsunami
When you say “multi chined hull” what exactly do you mean? Are you refering to molded in ribs like some of the rec boats have?
The WS Pungo has a sort of v-hull the full length. Is the bottom of the Tsunami flat or rounded, or is it also a v?
Thaks, I sure cannot tell much from the WS website, and nobody around here has these in stock.
There is a lot of ice on our pond this morning. I think the paddling is about done for 2007!
cYa, Jim
As to how much gear
First, are you sure that there aren’t planned stops and changes to replenish along this route? I have a hard time believeing such hasn’t been set up.
Second, it is quite hard to answer a general how much gear question. It’d be easier if you posted a list of what you currently plan to bring - specific items, and get feedback on what people feel is missing.
Thanks much
I only have North American charts - it had occurred to me that what you did would be a good exercise. Appreciate that you took the time for this thread.
Scoper - dodging around that amount of coastline has got to put you in spots where you will be tempted to get to your next stop in the face of conditions that you, or probably anyone, shouldn’t be out in. Destinationitis is a powerful thing in a normal paddle, and gets more so as you get tired or uncomfortable. And as above, there are areas of that coastline where it’d take someone with a lot more time in a boat and lessons than you can pile up between now and then to be able to land safely. It’s just getting too hard to figure out what is going on - checked the thread in the UK and there is little info there as well.
What is the charity, is there a support system and/or criteria etc.?
“Destinationitis” - cute word OK Celia
I’m adding this word to my dictionary.
This has been a good posting and I’d be curious to read “The Story” from this day forward; how he prepared, what he took, daily reports of the trip and hopefully the successful and wonderful ending.
Good luck scope
Richard
re how much gear
nearer to the date im having certain items posted on to certain destinations, where some coastal villages have post office ,storage holding,
re gear
sorry celia, my minds wandering -tired ,
you know
It might be a real good idea for you to take two or three 1 week long trips, sort of mini practice ones, before going out for the long one. It will give you a good idea of the conditions to expect, what kind of gear you need, how much food and water to pack etc.
You don't want to be like the fellow from New Hampshire who decided to paddle the Maine Island Trail a couple of years ago from Machias to Portland 345 miles, more or less(200 miles as the crow flies). He left out certain items like a vhf radio but did take a cell phone.
He fell out of his boat while landing on a beach about 6 miles from the start of the trip--he was still at the mouth of the Machias River and hadn't reached open ocean yet. He wasn't wearing immersion type clothing(kind of a must for early June off the Maine coast) and got hyperthermic--
He managed to call his wife who called the local sherriffs deputies who "rescued" him from the beach, warmed him up and arranged for road transportation for him and his gear back to NH. He had very little kayaking or camping experience and none in ocean paddling.
My point is that with the right amount of experience he could have avoided the embarrassment and finished the trip instead of bailing out on the first day. We all want to see you succeed in your quest so do yourself a favor, buy a boat that suits both you and what you want to do and get some practice in it and in the ocean prior to setting off for the big one. Good luck and keep us informed about your progress.
re to all
Thanks to all taking part ,having your say,i find myself reading them over, as im doing long hours and ,may have been a little quick to reply to some,and maybe a little slow to reply to others,Thanks I WILL keep you all informed