Chine bLog - 4. Boating

A great sounding sailing race - the Mill River Race in Vinalhaven, Maine

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:37:40 +0200

Also in the June/July issues of Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine I learned about the Mill River Race, a fantastic-sounding race in and around Vinalhaven, ME. Rather than a standard 'round the buoys deal, the race is an out-and-back through narrow passages. In the map below, it seems to start in the Fox Islands Thoroughfare, near the North Haven label, and head Southeast into that tidal river. That just seems tons of fun because it is so unusual and unconstrained - except by raw nature. Quoting from the article: "... things get tight as the dinghies squeeze through tiny passages, some little more than a boat-length wide... small islands and big rocks create random lees..." I dig that.

View Larger Map

Of course it helps that the race is run in North Haven Dinghies, a classic class of gaff-cats. They look like great little boats. Check out this slide show of the race.

A nice nugget to chew on

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:24:16 +0200

Thanks to the June/July issue of Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors for highlighting this nice quote from author Hal Borland:

From the time we stand in youthful wonder beside a spring brook till we sit at old age watching the endless roll of the sea, we feel a strong kinship with the waters of this world.

The Center for Wooden Boats - Part 1: Sailing the Cape Ann Dory Q'ONA

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:26:00 +0200

I was in Seattle for business last week, which allowed me to make a pilgrimage to the Center for Wooden Boats, a place so cool I cannot contain it to a single post, nor even two. In fact, friends, a roughly two-and-a half-hour visit gave me four interesting posts to lay out for you. This place is everything I expected and then a bunch more.

Here's the overview, for those not familiar. The Center for Wooden Boats is, on the surface, a museum of small, classic boats that happens, unlike others of its type, to be set smack in the middle of a major American city. Right away, that gives it some cache. The thing that first drew me to the place, however, and I have known of it for a couple years, was the fact that this museum has a livery service. In short, for many of the boats, you can not only touch them, you can use them. At a very reasonable cost, too. Brilliant concept, and I have been itching to check it out. Thursday, 6/12, was the big day.

After looking around a bit, I found my way to the livery shack, where the manager, Zach, gave me a going-over on my sailing chops before letting me free on Lake Union. There were some nice options: a few Beetle cats (never actually sailed one), some small prams (seemed a bit tame), some knockabouts (a bit much for single-handing, first time out). Then something a little different caught my eye: the boat I was to come to know as the Cape Ann dory Q-ONA. Now she was the ticket.

Continue reading "The Center for Wooden Boats - Part 1: Sailing the Cape Ann Dory Q'ONA"

The first boats - they may be older - a lot older - than we think

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 03:42:00 +0200

It has been an exciting few weeks for anyone interested in the origins of boats and boating, as we are here at Chine bLog. It turns out that humans may have discovered the ways of the maritime life long before science generally believed. First, I read a great article in the next to last issue of Discover Magazine titled "Did Humans Colonize the World by Boat? Research suggests our ancestors traveled the oceans 70,000 years ago." You can imagine me sitting upright when I flipped to this piece. It follows the research of Jon Erlandson, an archaeologist with the University of Oregon, who has identified dart heads along the California coast dating to 12,000 years ago. They are similar to others found along the Northern Pacific Rim, the oldest being from 15,600 years ago in Japan. They seem designed for hunting marine prey. Erlandson is building a case that the earliest Americans arrived here by boat, hopping along the coast and kelp forests. Wow.

It gets better. Other research suggests older maritime migrations in Southeast Asia (30,000 years ago) and Australia (50,000 years ago). Early humans may have even crossed the Red Sea coming out of Africa 70,000 years ago. Much of the research also uses projected maps of ancient coastlines. It turns out that, even with lower sea levels during the Ice Age, there were several significant straits to navigate to get form Southeast Asia to Australia. We have known ancestors of the current Aborigines were there 50,000 years ago. It always struck me that they must have gotten there by boat - I mean could the sea levels really be so low? It turns out my naive intuition may not have been far off.

While still chewing on this delicious piece of research, I struck, literally days later, a posting by "aqlunafoo" in the Proa_File Yahoo! Group. It references additional research, reported on Science Daily, pointing to a dramatic reworking of Southeast Asian settlement. Scientists had thought humans migrated to Southeast Asian islands from Taiwan 4,000 years ago. DNA studies, however, indicate that Island Southeast Asia was populated 10,000 years earlier than this and that, in fact, migration into Taiwan from these islands may have been the case. "aqlunafoo" suggests the trimaran is the original boat that sailed to Taiwan, and the proa was developed somewhere between Taiwan, the Bismarks and Santa Cruz." Good stuff.

And there's more...

Continue reading "The first boats - they may be older - a lot older - than we think"

Sailing a Delaware Ducker - finale, for now, with Cheaspeake Bay Maritme Museum's Apprentice for a Day program

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:23:00 +0200

And so, like all good things, another set of sessions with Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum's Apprentice for a Day program has ended. And what a way to go - sailing a Delaware Ducker, the sister of the one on which I have been working. We got two little sails in, with some fine tuning of the rigging in between. Video of the sail is below; note that I shot it before we tightened up the snotter to get the sail to lie right. Enjoy, and thanks to our new friends at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum!

Here are the completed boats. That red one is just amazingly beautiful...

Sweet Hawaiian sailing canoes - The Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association [Hawaii, USA]

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:57:37 +0100

I came upon the site for the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association tonight. Mostly info about their race series, but they do have a nice photo gallery that is worth looking at. Looks like these boats absolutely fly - I need to try one.

Photo by Terry Galpin

Location: Hawaii, USA

Traditional boat lovers are in the house! Welcome Indigenous Boats!

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:16:21 +0100

Our good friend Gavin over at intheboatshed.net has score another great find. Thanks muchly, Gavin, for introducing us to Bob Holtzman and his new (I take it) blog "Indigenous Boats - Small Craft Outside the Western Tradition." All of a sudden we find our selves with lots of company here, but heck, if it helps elevate the treasures to be found in other waters, bring it on.

this post on native American whaling craft, especially for its nice picture of a Haida-style canoe. Welcome to our little club, Bob. I look forward to learning from you.

Extreme cruising, anyone? Here's a nice resource: Attainable Adventure Cruising

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:49:36 +0100

Thanks to WoodenBoat's RudderPosts blog, for pointing out a nice new site for our collection. Attainable Adventure Cruising is a collection of tips, tricks, how-tos, etc. for those seeking a little more pizazz in their cruise than Penobscot Bay in July. It is produced by a couple that has cruised to Greenland - three times - as well as Newfoundland, Spitsbergen, and Norway. Looks like these two don't fool around and know the ins and outs of how to approach serious cruising. Good catch, RudderPosts.

Welcome to the world Canoe Sailing Magazine!

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:59:00 +0100

Some of our kindred spirits have been hard at work. Canoe Sailing Magazine has launched online - congrats to the proud authors! I just noticed its birth just this evening and haven't looked at it much, but I am fairly confident I won't live to regret giving it the Chine bLog stamp of approval in the form of a place in our Honor Roll and RSS reader. Todd Bradshaw, he of Canoe Rig fame, seems to be in the mix, so I'm in based on that alone. This looks fantastic, folks - well done!

A great read: the Dye's "Ocean Crossing Wayfarer"

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 04:03:56 +0100

As I mentioned recently, my dad gave me Frank and Margaret Dye's Ocean Crossing Wayfarer: To Iceland and Norway in a 16ft Open Boat for Christmas and I tore through it in several days. Great book for those liking adventure or those liking nice wooden boats.

For those not in the know, Frank Dye began investigating the possibilities of dinghy cruising in the early '60s. He bought a Wayfarer dinghy and began going offshore, into - and then across - the North Sea. He survived force 8 gales and kept pushing. The book details two voyages: one from Northern Scotland to Iceland and one form Northern Scotland to the Faeroe Islands and then central Norway. Both were double-handed trips, and both are full of the fine line between expert seamanship and sheer lunacy. It is all, however, entertaining, the moreso because of Dye's no-ego style (Margaret's words based on Frank's logs).

Even more interesting is the appendices, which detail the supply lists and lessons learned from the trips (the Dye's went on to do many more dinghy cruises). In particular, he reviews equipment choices (including updates in the newer edition on more modern alternatives) and even maps out rigging / layout he used on the Wayfarer WANDERER. Its fascinating and makes you think a bit about following the Dye's brave lead...

A death in the kayaking family - Timothy Gutmann, 1967 - 2007

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:59:09 +0100

As 2007 draws to a close, we can take stock of the year in many ways, and thinking about those no longer with us is one piece. There have, of course been many in our little sphere of interest to think about, and I won't try to go back. I will call out one, though: I recently learned that the brother of a good friend of mine from college died while kayaking off the coast of Maine last May. I was able to find an article about the incident, as well as a letter from his companion and some chatter in a discussion board. I never met Tim and I knew of him only distantly. I can't really count myself as one he touched. He was family of a friend, though, so for that alone I will remember him.

Tim was also a kayaker, though, and was thus a brother of sorts to all of us who, to crib from the Gloucester (MA) Fisherman's Memorial (and therefore from Psalm 107), "go down to the sea in [little] ships." As I suspected, there seems to have been an ample bit of Monday morning quarterbacking around the accident - they were unprepared, showed poor judgment, etc. As many pointed out, however, the "mistakes" the two paddlers made were common, especially for one with many years of experience. It strikes me that it is pretty easy to pick off things that would have been helpful after-the-fact, but how many of us routinely do not bother considering every possible case before setting out on a quick paddle? There are some things I would have done differently, sure, but I have done, and will continue to do, other things that would receive frowns if I ever suffered misfortune (e.g., I prefer paddling alone). I don't dismiss the "should / oughts," but I think they are a bit cheap.

The fact is that whatever spirit one chooses to identify with as master of the seas can basically take you whenever he/she/it deems fit. We all go forth onto the water we love knowing this, and I see no evidence Tim did not set out with similar understanding. There is, in fact, much to suggest things suddenly got hairier than they had been. The distinction of how we tend to view these kind of events was driven home last night as I began reading Frank and Margaret Dye's Ocean Crossing Wayfarer, one of my Christmas presents (more on this in another post). Even in the first chapter, and I believe the Dyes' would support this statement, it is clear that Frank Dye was, in many cases, incredibly damned lucky. The book cover touts his seamanship and courage, praise which IS much deserved, but for all his preparation, I already see many cases where if things had gone only slightly differently, he would have gone down in history as another unfortunate example of someone being 'a bit arrogant in the face of nature.'

In the spirit of messing about in boats, therefore, let us plan, prepare, and be mindful of the ocean's (or lake's or river's) power in the year ahead, but let us not, in the name of caution, squeeze out all the fun and adventure that makes our time on the water so special. Tim, I hope those who knew you will remember you for how you lived and I hope, wherever you are, you paddle continues taking you forward.

Friendship Sloop chatter in the blogosphere

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:16:49 +0100

Courtesy of Gavin over at intheboatshed and his recent discovery of YouTube [ ;^) ], we now see that Ted at Dovetails has posted a nice video of his Friendship Sloop sailing in a brisk Westerly off mid-coast Maine. The page includes some nice profile drawings and photos as well - its a heck of a nice boat.

Searching around for this post left me with the startling realization that, with the exception of a stray mention in the prior post where I mentioned Dovetails, I have never said anything about Friendship Sloops on these pages. I guess I have been focus on the boats of foreign lands as opposed to my native waters, but here's the real irony: Friendship Sloops are one of the most beautiful boats ever. Period. Full stop.

Look at Ted's fine example above. The clipper bow, elliptical transom, and sweet sheer that ties them together, makes for some tremendous lines, and then you typically plop a high gaff and double headsails on her... the result is outstanding. I had an opportunity to sail in the annual Friendship Sloop regatta many years back and it was an amazing experience. I have always loved them; basically, they had me at "hello."

Here's a final Friendship Sloop story: when I was teenager, we chartered a boat in mid-coast Maine and found ourselves not far from Friendship, Maine with a day of crummy weather. At my behest, we made tracks overland to Friendship in an act of pilgrimage. Let me tell you how many sloops we saw there: none. zilch. Z-E-R-O. Our only solace after such disappointment, was a near-miss: and ice cream shop called "The Friendship Scoop."

A nice set of rough sea pics & video

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:45:31 +0100

Our friend David at Never Sea Land found a nice set of pictures of ships in rough seas. They come from the blog Dry Roasted Blend and are so plentiful they are divided into part 1, part 2, and part 3. Some nice videos in here too. OK, let's everyone say it together: "I will not disrespect the sea..."

More on proa racing in the Marshall Islands - videos on YouTube

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:46:31 +0100

Location: Majuro, Marshall Islands

The other night, I added a post about the return of proa racing to the Marshall Islands. Don't you know, then, that days later, we now have some video of the 2001 races. "aqlunafoo" added a post to the Proa-file yahoo group with four interesting videos. Many thanks!

Here are some race videos. As with much on YouTube, it is really a music video, with the ame footage repeated a few time. No matter, its well done and show the boats going through their paces. They look like a blast.

Here is another video, this of a bigger boat from the Marshalls. This looks like it might be a fishing boat, but it is clear it is pretty fast. Another gem here.

The return of proa racing in the Marshall Islands

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:48:00 +0100

We are going around the world tonight here at Chine bLog! Madagascar! Antigua! And now, drum-roll, please, the Marshall Islands! That's right: three oceans, three island nations, and, best of all, three traditional wooden sailing craft! Wooohoooo!

Our offering from the Marshalls (in the middle of the Pacific) is a recent article in Pacific Magazine about the return of sailing races in traditional 18-foot breadfruit tree-log korkor (canoes).

These are, in my humble opinion, some nice-looking proas. It is fantastic to hear news of these boats coming back as a class and of the regatta being a success. I hope these races spread and prosper. Somebody put the next round on YouTube so we can see these in action!

Location: Majuro, Marshall Islands

The right attitude - screw it and enjoy kayaking in Alaska

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:50:36 +0100

I liked this post by Jim Adams of the National Wildlife Federation about a kayak in Alaska. Always nice to hear about someone who has their priorities straight:

Mom was coming for a visit to discuss the wedding plans. And we were starting a long-overdue remodeling project. And Meg's night classes would begin again Monday. The sensible thing to do was to buckle down and get things done at home so Meg and I packed the car and headed south to Seward and Resurrection Bay for some kayaking on what could be the last sunny weekend of the short Alaska summer.

The 2007 Peace Canoe project - an index

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 04:31:20 +0100

I decided it might be helpful for folks that are coming to see info about my Peace Canoe, PEACE OF THE PUZZLE, to have a little better overview page for the project. Below, therefore, please find a list of all the related posts, along with the topics covered.

Walking the walk - a wooden boat (Peace Canoe) for Chine bLog! - Rationale for choosing to build this boat right now.
Beginning work on the Peace Canoe - Materials, making seats, and cutting the chine logs.
More on the Peace Canoe - scarfing sheer clamps and chine logs - Some pointers on scarfing the sheer clamps and chine logs, but please read this one in partnership with the entry below on issues I had.
The Peace Canoe progresses - have plywood, will start cuttin' - Cutting out plywood side panels and using butt-blocks to create the full panel length. Includes problems with the butt-block method.
The Peace Canoe gets seats and gets closer to full sides - Seat unit construction and fitting chine logs to stem and sternpost.
Building the Peace Canoe - time on the Moaning Chair - Problems in scarfing; problems with stems / sternpost bevels; repairing sheer clamps.
Back in business - the Peace Canoe - Fitting the bottom.
Structurally complete! The Peace Canoe gets a bottom - Pictures of the boat before final finishing.
Getting closer - ready to paint the Peace Canoe - Picture of the boat pre-painting.
And that's a wrap! The Peace Canoe is complete! - Pictures of the completed boat in the yard, with better close-ups that the ones below.
Successful christening and launch of the Peace Canoe! - pictures of the boat on the beach and underway.
Initial performance thoughts on the Peace Canoe - What is the Peace Canoe like as a boat?

I hope this series is fun and useful! Enjoy PEACE OF THE PUZZLE!

Northern Forest Canoe Trail benefit auction

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:08:40 +0100

I mentioned the Northern Forest Canoe Trail a bit ago. I see in Paddling.net's newsletter today that they are holding a benefit auction online. Check it out.

Second outing in PEACE OF THE PUZZLE a success

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 03:28:10 +0100

We had a nice second outing in PEACE OF THE PUZZLE on Sunday. We went down to Piscataway Creek in Maryland. Its a nice, protected spot, which, given a brisk Northwesterly, was a good thing. As it was, we pretty much had to come back into the teeth of it, but at least the water was calm. The boat performed well, and the kids seemed to enjoy the outing.

View Larger Map

Some thoughts on the first paddle itself

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:48:11 +0200

Having shown off the boat, I wanted to jot down a few thoughts on our first paddle in PEACE OF THE PUZZLE. We had been doing a bit of sailing on the Potomac nearer to DC, and paddling in this creek, Kane's Creek, was such a pleasure. It was clean! Kane's Creek emerges from a national wildlife refuge and is thus relatively pristine, given its proximity to developed areas. The water was fairly clear and full of life. My kids were dangling the feet and hands in it - a true pleasure of childhood boating - and we had no concerns.

Not so, just downriver from DC. Off Alexandria, we run into a decent amount of C-R-A-P (we saw the figurative kind, but apparently after a good rain...) in the water and on the shore. There, my wife and I couldn't pull the kids' appendages inboard fast enough. I know we have made a great deal of progress, but we need to do more to make sure our urban riverscapes are treasures for boating of all kinds, not just the "nice view, but, dear god, don't flip it" kind.

Of course, I prefer the quiet of a creek like Kane's anyway. There are many little "islands" of aquatic plants to weave around, low bluffs, and just a bit of foliage (its been so hot here...). There is a good trip report for this paddle on Paddling.net.

By the way, thanks to our friends at American Rivers for suggesting we all focus on the joys of clean rivers on this day and others. October 15th is Blog Action Day for the environment. Please join me in helping out.

Successful christening and launch of the Peace Canoe!

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 21:36:00 +0200

Gorgeous October day here outside DC, a perfect day to be on the water. Gulls and an osprey wheeling about, gusty nor'wester keeping things clear and cool, the pleasant surroundings of Mason Neck State Park (map) - just the environment to christen and launch the Peace Canoe. So christen it we did (the kids helped), using the very nastiest champaign I could inadvertently pick up. She is now PEACE OF THE PUZZLE. Enjoy some pictures of her first outing (we were lucky enough to come upon some friendly kayakers, one of whom took our picture and was kind enough to send it).

Thank you to all who have read about PEACE OF THE PUZZLE's birth and provided encouragement along the way. It was a blast and I look forward to some great family adventures ahead!

How cool is this - my Wayfarer Dinghy adventurer surfaces!

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 04:41:00 +0200

A while back I wrote about the Wayfarer Dinghy, a subject that still keeps people coming back to Chine bLog. It referenced my first knowledge of the boat, an adventure in one up the coast of Labrador. Imagine, then, my very pleasant surprise to see that the man behind that adventure found my post and identified himself. Geoff Heath, many thanks for stopping by - I am truly honored.

Excellent paddling - Summer vacation at Cuttyhunk Island

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 05:04:00 +0200

Ah, and so comes to an end our Summer vacation, but what a good one it was. Highlights included some excellent paddling, as seen in the pictures below:

You can also see these plotted on a map.

C IS for Canoe - Green Hour gets a little blue

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 03:14:00 +0200

I have mentioned National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour site before. I was pleased to see the site say the possibilities of getting on the water as an avenue for getting kids involved in nature. Last week's entry was titled "C is for Canoe" and encourages finding a rental place nearby and getting the family out on the water. Here here!

By the way, NWF friends, we are nautically precise here at Chine bLog: the driving tool for a canoe is a paddle, not an oar.

And while I am thinking longingly of destinations... The Northern Forest Canoe Trail

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:15:22 +0200

The American Rivers blog found this enticing idea - The Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a paddling trail from upstate New York to Northern Maine using traditional routes.

On my list - paddling Baja

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:00:19 +0200

In case you haven't tried it yet, among the benefits of Paddling.net's newsletter is the weekly dollop if insiration in the form of a paddling photo of the week. Some are predictably generic (another sunset over the bow of a canoe / kayak, anyone?), but some are nice. Here is a recent favorite of mine, from Baja California. Mmm-mmm-mmm - got to get there.

Nice YouTube video of a proa sailing in Miami

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:40:00 +0200

Interesting video of a proa sailing off Miami. Thanks to the Proa File International Yahoo! Group for noting this. I got to them via our old friend Gary Dierking at Outrigger Sailing Canoes in New Zealand.

A better look at the boat is here:

Continue reading "Nice YouTube video of a proa sailing in Miami"

Inspired? Heck yeah!

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:28:23 +0200

Gavin at intheboatshed.net found this set of camp-cruisers. Gavin writes:

Take a look at these photos - I cant imagine how anyone could look at them without feeling inspired.

Done. I'm inspired. This is a good find - follow Gavin's lead here.

Hidden gems - sailing canoes on intheboatshed.net

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 04:18:11 +0100

Of course, Gavin Atkin over at intheboatshed.net has posted like 50 times since my last one, and there is what I am coming to realize is the usual array of interesting stuff in there. I was particularly interested to see Gavin's discussion of sailing canoes. He begins:

One of the biggest surprises Ive had during the short life of intheboatshed.net has been the level of interest in sailing canoes and canoe yawls: posts on these attract more attention than almost any others.

I agree that there is a small, burning need in a group of people to get more of a taste for traditional small sailing craft. At Chine bLog, I get lots of interest in my discussions of Iain Oughtred craft. Of course that could be because the good man has no web site and there are only a handful where one can find much of anything....

As my two-to-three long-time readers know, I am fully in the camp of people have a thing for boats like these sailing canoes. So it was with much excitement that I found that Gavin had unearthed a set of lines drawings for a number of sailing canoes from various eras. On a quick glance, some really good stuff. This is courtesy of, as far as I can tell, the Canadian arm of the International Canoe Federation's site. I am eager to explore this more, but here is a nice sample:

This would be Wren, by Rushton, always a nice place to start. Here are the lines:

Continue reading "Hidden gems - sailing canoes on intheboatshed.net"

Paddling with legendary spirits - a nice story from Paddling.net

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 04:25:31 +0100

Paddling.net put out a nice story the other day. The writer uses a canoe trip through Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park to explore a fascinating, if luckless, man named John Tanner. Its worth a read.

...To me, visiting a place such as Tanner Rapids perfectly exemplifies a canoe trip in Quetico Park. It's the rich history that first draws you there; to be in the very spot where something unique had once happened. But the real thing that indulges your sense is to be at a place that's just as wild now then it was when John Tanner past (sic) through.

True, witnessing areas are rare in our day and age, but camping out beside Quetico's Tanner Rapids brought me back to a time when wild areas were the norm, and to me that's what a canoe trip is all about.

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail coming into being

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 23:29:00 +0100

The same e-mail from American Rivers that I referenced last night also announced the official creation, courtesy of the pen of George W. Bush, of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, a water trial in the Chesapeake commemorating the English explorer of the Mid-Atlantic. These trails are great. They are designed for small craft, generally non-motorized at that, and provide a lower-risk way for people in these boats to explore and appreciate a body of water. I have kayaked a small piece of the Maine Island Trail Association's water trail along that gorgeous coast and looked longingly at end of the one in the Everglades and in each case the concept is a no-brainer. You take a beautiful waterway, guide people through while letting them go at their own pace in their own way, and provide enough shore access to let the people get a sense of the coast. Maybe this is too tame for the intrepid adventurer, but for folks just messing about, perfection.

Continue reading "Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail coming into being"

Beautiful audio essay / podcast from Nature Conservancy on canoeing Maine's Merrymeeting Bay

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 04:41:13 +0100

This is a really nice audio essay / podcast, done while paddling in Maine's Merrymeeting Bay, where the Kennebec and Androscoggin Rivers, among others, meet. It describes the Bay's features, fauna, history, and prospects while paddle blades dip and swing in the background. Thanks to the Nature Conservancy for distributing this.

Postcard from Vietnam - literally - a panorama of traditional boats

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 03:36:37 +0100

My sister recently went to Vietnam and sent us this great postcard:

This is apparently a floating market, and, while no doubt somewhat touristy, this is still a country with emerging tourist infrastructure - its probably not too far off traditional maritime life. I like that there's quite a diversity of boats, with small pole / oar powered "launches" and larger power boats, all of which appear to be wooden. Give me one of those little canoes like that one in dead center and let me poke around that anchorage - that would be cool. There are probably some interesting boatbuilding techniques and traditions there - use of bamboo, for instance. Always good to be reminded of the numerous maritime cultures out there in the world and how each has approached the water given its needs and available materials. Here's hoping that these traditions don't get squashed as this country develops.

Location: Can Tho, Vietnam

"Last Child in the Woods" - some wisdom to think about

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 04:13:00 +0200

Courtesy of a new client of mine, the National Wildlife Federation, I got a copy of Richard Louv's book "The Last Child in the Woods." The premise is, essentially, that kids these days (and all of us, really) have become disconnected from nature, and that is a contributing factor to various ills, from obesity to ADHD to depression. It also puts at risk future environmental stewardship, as most current conservation leaders can trace their beliefs to free experiences in nature. Kids get outside, yes, but it is in highly structured ways rather than in the form of free exploration. The book, which I am only halfway through at the time of this writing, offers recommendations on reversing this trend, which fundamentally focus on freeing kids to find joy outside.

Continue reading ""Last Child in the Woods" - some wisdom to think about"

Nice Angus Phillips piece on small boat ownership

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 03:22:10 +0200

This was a nice piece in Sunday's Washington Post. Angus Phillips talks about his fleet of boats and his attitude towards the fleet. I admire the ability to have the right old boat for the right occasion.

Boo hoo - poor mega-yacht owners can't find dock space

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 03:02:14 +0200

So I am driving to a meeting yesterday and hear the following (paraphased) promo on NPR:

There are lots of mega-yachts in Florida, but not enough dock space. Some owners are even having to moor their boats in the Bahamas.

Anyone else feeling choked up over this? Didn't think so. Here is the piece on NPR. It describes a 100+ tub with granite counter-tops, a stacked entertainment system, a 30+ launch (!!), and 2 jetskis. What, couldn't fit the golf-course too? Talk about missing the point of being on the water...

Kayaking the magical waters of China

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 04:10:48 +0200

I loved this piece about kayaking the Li River in the region around Guilin in China. This one is high on my to-do list.

Finding the ivory-billed woodpecker - please pack a kayak

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 03:54:37 +0200

I love that the key tool for finding the previously-thought-not-be-extinct,-now-maybe-not ivory-billed woodpecker is a kayak. In this piece, Auburn group discovers elusive bird in Florida, they describe another team's use of the craft in their work. And therein is demonstrated the beauty of a kayak - quick, quite, maneuverable, portable - we owe a great debt to the Arctic "engineers" who came up with this concept.

Saving classic rowing craft - Rowable Classics

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 03:52:12 +0200

My dad, who lives in Mid-coast Maine, pointed out Rowable Classics, a non-profit organization up there that helps restore and and find loving owners for classic rowing boats. Seems like a great idea. When I rowed in high scholl we had some old wooden shells that were beautiful boats. The web site is a little rough - they seem like they really want you to deal offline, but you can see a bit of what they have a do. Rowers among you should check it out.

Pretty desktop wallpaper image from Nature Conservancy - and more...

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 03:17:40 +0200

For those of you bored with your computer desktop, I noticed this nice wallpaper image on Nature Conservancy's web site.

I also found these photo galleries / screensavers from Outside Magazine:

"A Voyaging Canoe for Tikopia" - an effort to keep South Pacific traditions alive

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 04:27:05 +0200

Staying in the same part of the world - and I mean the South Pacific, not Western PA - I note this project: "A Voyaging Canoe for Tikopia," sponsored by British designer James Wharram. Wharram aims to build two double canoes in the voyaging canoe tradition of the South Western Pacific and donate them to two islands in order to perpetuate their autonomy and their traditions.

We should build 2 Tikopian Double Canoes (by Andy Smith, our builder in the Philippines) and give them to the islands of Tikopia and Anuta (its sister island), so they can continue to be self-sufficient and take pride in their ancient sailing heritage. The two canoes would then be sailed the 3000 miles to Tikopia along the ancient Polynesian migration route for handing over to the islanders.

They seem to be asking for various sorts of assistance. I assume this is legit - Wharram is, I believe, an established designer - and the cause is good. A while ago I read The Happy Isles of Oceana: Paddling the Pacific, by Paul Theroux, and, without openly pointing fingers, many of the Pacific islands have had their culture and traditions ransacked over the last few centuries. These were some of the great seafaring people of history, and many now have no connection to the amazing skills and voyages of their ancestors. That is really sad. Good for Wharram to try to pull this off.

Location: Tikopia, Solomon Islands

The Lake Superior Project - two kayakers take on gitche gumee

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 03:39:00 +0200

From our friends at Paddling.net comes this interesting tidbit: under the auspices of Wilderness Classroom Organization (WCO), two kayakers, Dave Freeman and Amy Voytilla, are circumnavigating Lake Superior in order to draw attention to its myriad assets and challenges. Paddling.net will apparently be running stories from the trip; the first one, with an overview, came out in their recent newsletter.

As I have noted in the past, Lake Superior ("the big lake they call gitche gumee," in Gordon Lightfoot's immortal words) is stunning. Being the largest body of fresh water on the planet and being butted against many industrial areas makes for challenges, as its siblings to the South can no doubt attest. Good luck to Amy and Dave on this voyage, and may it inspire others to care so much for this great boating ground.

Mass. may pass Kayak safety law

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 19 May 2006 05:47:37 +0200

I was interested to see Sweet Home Massachusetts may soon have a kayak safety law. According to this article:

Kayakers would be required to wear life jackets and be equipped with a compass and whistle under a kayaking safety bill moving through the Legislature.

The measure, which passed the House this week, would also require kayaking schools to teach and practice the method of bailing out of an overturned kayak before allowing students to head to open water. It now goes to the Senate.

I would be curious to hear what folks think about this. I find myself bothered by it, and not just on the grounds of libertarian political leanings. I worry that a) having these rules creates a false sense of security ("I got my PFD, I can take those waves") and b) having safety tools doesn't mean knowing how to use them. One of the drivers of the law was the case of two women who got lost in the fog off Cape Cod a couple years back. A compass probably would have helped - they probably know the Cape was North, but it might not be so simple. What if there were a current at play?

I guess my beef is that trying to substitute legislation for respect for the water and a basic nautical sense is a bad idea. The former removes incentive, in many people, to develop the latter. Yes, a compass would have helped those women, but more effective would have been developing the thought processes that says a) "I don't know these waters well," b) "its somewhat foggy now and I don't know what could roll in," and c) "when in doubt, stay in sight of shore."

I agree that wet exits should be taught - I think all reputable shops do that as a condition of renting any closed cokpit boat - but again, if its is a mandatory "check this one off the list" thing then will it get the attention it needs to? I think we need to devote energy towards making the public aware of pudent practices and give a clear list of what a good school should teach. That puts someone in places that are teaching what's right because its right and thus giving attention to the matter.

I would be curious to know what others think. I place a huge premium on respect for nature, and the idea of doing something to dull that respect in a person really rubs me the wrong way.

Traditional paddling clothing - before you buy your next dry-suit...

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:30:00 +0200

Fascinating short article from Paddling.net regarding ancient kayak clothing. I think the author's opening says it best:

Imagine kayaking in the unforgiving North Pacific Ocean, where on even a warm day, the water temperature rarely gets above fifty degrees? Imagine paddling without the luxury of neoprene, coated nylon or synthetic fabric of any kind? Imagine wearing paddling clothing without being able to secure seams and flaps with a zipper, buttons, snaps or hook/loop closure strips? Yet, with seemingly crude and environmentally vulnerable garments and gear, the ancestors of modern kayaking plied the sub Arctic waters of the Pacific Rim for thousands of years.

Necessary accessory?

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 03:58:00 +0100

My views on the injection of modern trappings into a small boat experience are now clear. So into that pot my beloved Paddling.net threw this new accessory below. This would be a waterproof case for your iPod. Now I can see if one is race-training this might be handy, but why in heck's name would anyone want this otherwise? Don't get me wrong, I love music, but in my living room, office, car, etc., not clobbering the serenity of being on the water. Again, to each their own, but I think this is the kind of thing that destroys our connection to - and thus respect for - boats and the boating environment, and that is what gets me. I suppose we'll be asked to put sub-woofers under our stern thwarts soon...

Addendum - how could I forget...

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 23:55:00 +0100

... the noise... or lack of it. The great pleasure of my kind of boating is the peace. Paddling (or sailing or rowing) along allows one to feel the wave dynamics on the hull, hear birds, smell the ocean (or lake or river) air - in short, notice those things in nature we often don't as we blow through our days. If only more folks took their time out on the water to appreciate it - rather than rip across it with no greater interest than their drive to work...

A quote to think about...

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 18:49:00 +0100

This from the great Dave Barry:

When you finally see what goes on under water, you realize that you have been missing the whole point of the ocean. Staying on the surface all the time is like going to the circus and staring at the outside of the tent.

That comes from newsletter from The Ocean Conservancy... or maybe it was Oceana... I can't remember which. They both do good stuff. {side rant} guys, you have the same mission! - MERGE for crying out loud and stop splitting resources!!{/side rant}

I think this line is important on a couple levels. One, as a diver, I know full well what he means. The first time I went down and came eye-to-eye with a Yellowtail Snapper it blew my mind. This is a world under threat, and the more of us understand that and care about it the better.

I also think about it in terms of boating. One of the joys, to me, of messing about in small boats is that you are close to the water. You can see beneath the surface and connect with that world so much more than you can in a larger boat. Last summer I spent nearly every day of my vacation out in my kayak, and nearly every day I managed to paddle into a school of feeding stripers ("striped bass," properly, or "rockfish," for those in the Chesapeake area who don't know its real name). It was amazing watching these animals - not that I don't find them tasty, but they are more impressive in the water, away from a plug. Being just above the surface I was able to just float over them and watch them - it was pretty special. I strongly recommend taking in both sides of the water's surface on your own voyages.

Kayak Wiki - a nice idea with some good potential

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 04:10:34 +0100

I recently came across an intersting new site: Kayak Wiki. If you don't know, a Wiki is a type of web site using specialized software that allows anyone to edit a page. They are designed for collaborative content creation. This one is a good start, though it feels like it needs some additional support. Check it out, sign-up, and add / edit as you see fit.

Paddling.Net - a must-know resource for paddlers

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 03:50:00 +0100

I can't say enough about Paddling.Net as a resource for canoers and kayakers. They have a good database of products (boats and accessories), an active classified area, a decent set of destination reports, a strong collection of photos, and a good e-newsletter. It's a must-know for paddlers.

Excellent movie from Raid Sweden

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Thu, 01 Dec 2005 04:21:18 +0100

The recent WoodenBoat has a great article on a type of event that is arising - a "raid", which is a multi-day small boat race/cruise favoring tradition-inspired and naturally-powered craft. Many of these seem to have both oar and sail legs. Sounds very cool. In a related post on the RudderPost blog WoodenBoat editor Tom Jackson, who participated in the event and wrote the article posted a great video from the final leg. Beautiful boats and some honking wind. Quality is so-so, but still enjoyable.