The days are getting shorter, the leaves are mostly gone, and the water is getting colder. The Osprey have moved on and geese have arrived. As the temperature drops, many paddlers are hanging up their paddles until spring returns. However, for the dedicated members of our sea kayaking community, winter offers unique opportunities to be on the water. While winter …
Coordinator’s Column: Reading the Water
Sea Kayakers are frequently in a very dynamic environment. Frequently we deal with wind, waves, tides, and currents. To make it even more confusing, these forces interact with the land to produce micro environments that are constantly changing. To paddle efficiently, a kayaker must learn to “read” the water to see currents, rips, eddies, and hidden hazards. This skill allows …
Coordinators Column: Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Sea kayaking is what we do. We paddle for the adventure, beauty, and solitude on the water, but it also carries inherent risks. Every trip on the water may expose the paddler to dynamic and sometimes unpredictable hazards. Successful sea kayakers are not just skilled paddlers; they are also thoughtful risk managers. By developing a mindset of risk assessment and …
Coordinator Column: Messing Around in Boats
There’s an old quote from The Wind in the Willows that says, “There is nothing — absolutely nothing — half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” That’s especially true when you’re in a sea kayak with nowhere in particular to be. While most of us take our kayaks out with a destination in mind, sometimes the …