Letter
from the President
Spontaneous
Boating
Editor’s
Letter
The
Boats We Built
Pushing
my limits
Devils
Island
How
to outfit a Volkskayak
Letter
from the President
from the office
without corners
I really enjoy our meetings and getting together is one of the reasons I love this Association. Having special events and speakers really adds to the joy of this group and is very well received by our members and guests.
This year has been a bit of a struggle to get meetings adopted. Through pressure, coercion and nominating members who arenot present we’ve been able to get most meetings filled.
Sherry and Dave will host the Open House/Movie Night. Don’t forget this is a pot luck munchie evening and you are welcome to bring guests.
Russ Parrot will host the February meeting at BIO. The topic will be flexible but we are hoping for some more of the fabulous film they have.
Andre and Olga Massicotte are hosting the March meeting. Details to follow.
In April (it will actually be May 5) we have multiple hosts. Our meeting will be on the South Shore. Our hosts are Michael Mason for the educational part. He is going to arrange meeting space (maybe a tour) at the Fisheries Museum. Howard and Donna are hosting the play part. This is one of those voting anomalies that can occur when members don’t make it to a meeting. So...... if you see Howard or Donna and they seem surprised, it only means they haven’t read their newsletter yet.
We’re still looking for something in December and don’t forget a donation for the Food Bank when we meet at the Museum. Don’t forget that the water is getting cold now. Dress for immersion and take you dry bag of safety gear. Most importantly, take a friend. It’s the smartest thing you can do to keep safe.
Safe boating
Annie
Spontaneous
Boating
by Gerry Gladwin
Okay, I know when to quit trying to organize things. A few years ago I suggested a paddle from Avonport Beach, across to Middle Bar, where the Avon River flows into the Minas Basin. It is the location of the only golf course on the planet that is completely submerged at high tide. Rye and Anne, Claus and Regina, and Jose and I, all showed up but the wind was strong out of the north making launching off the beach difficult, plus with the wind and the falling tide opposing, it was lumpy in the extreme so it was prudent to cancel and go paddling at Lumsdens Pond instead.
A year and a half ago we planned a paddle from Kingsport Beach to Mud Creek to remind the Bozos on Wolfville Town Council that they had spent over a half a million dollars to ‘improve’ the Wolfville waterfront by eliminating water access. Although a whole bunch of people had expressed an interest in going, only John Hill, Rob Fraser, Andy Nette, Jamie VanBuskirk, Jose and I, showed up. Despite strong winds, we went anyway. The day was hot, the wave action was quite steady, and it was a hard struggle to make Mud Creek and back to Kingsport before the falling tide took all the water away, but it was a good paddle nonetheless, although I don’t believe anyone in Wolfville noticed the boaters on their doorstep. I left a dory anchored out in the middle of the harbour with “Access Denied” spray painted on the side for the rest of the summer while the work crews finished up the ‘improvements’.
In early September this year I planned a trip on the Shubenacadie River to ride 18 miles up river on the incoming tidal bore, from Maitland, on the shore of the Minas Basin. The tide that particular day was the highest of the season (47'+) promising a lot of standing waves and a thrilling experience. About a dozen people from the valley and Halifax planned to go until a tropical depression manifested itself the night before with heavy rains and winds out of the southeast gusting to 70km/hr. Southeast winds on this part of the Shubie cause waves to be smack in the face of the incoming bore. A very wet day with a very high tide and very strong winds on this particular stretch of water would likely generate more action than would be prudent to attempt, especially with the heavy rains besides. If anyone dumped there would be no place to be able to get warm and dry. Hypothermia sucks. Cancellation.
Last month I arranged
to charter a boat to take a group from Halls Harbour on the Fundy shore,
around Cape Split and over to Parrsboro, then back along Lower Blomidon
to the starting point. The day before, I exchanged a number of telephone
calls with Ed DeRoche, the skipper, analysing the weather reports, still
hoping to be able to go on this spectacular trip. On Sunday morning Alex,
Rob, Patti, Ulli, Eric, Laura, Jose and I, showed up bright and early at
the Halls Harbour Beach where we were going to launch a Zodiac to take
us out to the boat. Guess what? Strong winds out of the Northwest - onshore
at Halls
Harbour Beach - not
impossible to launch but very, very wet. No go. Eric, Laura, Jose and I
opted for a walk out to Cape Split instead.
For anyone who has never done this hike it is well worth it; about two hours each way through a beautiful mature hardwood forest out to the cliff at the end where we spent a couple of hours soaking up the autumn sunshine and watching ravens playing in the wind, and peregrine falcons harassing migrating shorebirds.
The currents that squeeze between the rocks at the end of the Split, and the whirlpool action that is generated by the 14 cubic kilometers of water moving by every six hours, is simply awesome. At times the sound is like a rolling freight train. At the base of the cliff, right at the Split, was a 40' fishing boat, awash, driven up on the rocks a few days before by contrary winds and currents after having lost power in the Minas Channel - a reminder that this particular stretch of coastline is not to be trifled with.
So, the bottom line when planning a trip on the Minas Basin is to have an alternate plan. Not only is the wind a factor, but the state of the tide is critical to be able to access the water at all.
Living on the Minas Basin over the years, when conditions were right, I would just throw the kayak into the water and go. It is a marvelous place to paddle but you gotta be spontaneous and go with the holy flow. Maybe I should stop trying to plan to do things on top of the highest tides on the planet.
Having said that, next summer I would very much like to do a trip out to Cap d’Or, on the Cumberland side of the Minas shore. Is there a way to know when the conditions will be right? I wonder how accurate prognostications in The Farmer’s Almanac will be for the end of July 2001? I think that the way to do it would be to spend a whole week in the area camping at Chignecto Park and planning to do a lot of hiking when the paddling conditions are unfavorable. Anybody want to plan a spontaneous week off to paddle and/or hike?
Many thanks to those of you who took the time to contribute to this issue. We now have sensible things to read instead of the lies I was prepared to make up.
Many of you have promised articles for the next issue (January 2001) that sound very interesting indeed. Here are a few.
Alex Chisholm will feature his new paddle design (with photos). It is a very strong, unbelievably light weight beauty. Anne and I have each ordered one!
Bonnie Aalders will share the problems she encountered when a fog bank and rising wind turned a short paddle into something unexpected while exploring part of our coast.
Stan Blake from Maine has promised a piece on a special boat restoration he did last year.
It is always nice to hear from our members who don’t live in this part of the world. I have heard it expressed by several that they sometimes feel they shouldn’t have a say in SWBANS because they aren’t “from here”. Members “from away” make up almost one third of our membership. They live in places like Ontario, British Columbia, California, Virginia, Maine and aboard cruising sailboats. You people have a wealth of ideas to share and we love to hear from you. Fill out the boat design paper in this issue and plan a winter visit.
There is always room for anyone else to send in photos or articles. As before, nothing fancy is needed, just an account of a day on the water, favourite place, or new piece of gear you have tried. It is your Newsletter, keep it interesting by not forcing me write things.
Ryerson
The
Boats We Built
compiled from the
SWBANS Newsletters
I started going through our library of Newsletters. We have a complete set now and I though it would be fun to go over the past five years to reminisce. One thing became very clear. Our members have built a lot of boats. We’ve also done a lot, so my trip down memory lane is going to have to be done in segments. Given our mandate, I thought I would start with boat building.
It’s likely that I’ll miss some, either through oversight on my part or because we have no record of some projects. If it’s my mistake, I apologize for missing your boat. If you haven’t told us about your boat, tell us now so we can update our records.
There have been some designs that have caught on quickly and those will be grouped together. We have heard that some people think the Association promotes one type or design over others. This list is very useful to disprove that theory. Our members have very different tastes and skill levels and have demonstrated that in their choices. Some of these boats were commissioned; some built by our members who are professionals in the field and some by members who began with a love of a particular boat and a desire to learn by doing. For all of us, though, it began with a love of being on the water..........
Volkskayaks
Gerry Gladwin and his VK have been responsible for putting many people on the water and introducing many new members to SWBANS. An association like ours is so lucky to have an active member like Gerry. The following is a list of members who built Volkskayaks: (this list is in no particular order)
Anne Murray, Huguette Pottie, Ross Pottie, Becky Stark, Russ Parrott, Greg Silver, Denise Saulnier, Stan Blake, Jaimie Vanbuskirk, Ron Wensel, Mireille Wensel, Deanna Flinn, Lynn Atton, Anne Clark, Ryerson Clark, Alex Chisholm(2 or 3), Ulli Hoger, Robert Fraser, Jim Creighton, Bonnie Aalders, Andre Massicotte, Olga Massicotte, Liza Hageraats, Brenda Potvin, Peter Shortt, Howard Ray, Donna Ray, Luc Potvin, Bob Mackasey, Peter Dumaresq, Gerry Gladwin (of course), Jose Gladwin (ditto).
Windsprints
The Association was conceived during the building of a Bolger Windsprint. Ryerson and Anne were building Yellowtail at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic when the discussions began to form the Association. Yellowtail joined Stan Blake’s Flounder in the racing fleet and our members quickly joined the madness. Don Ives built Fluke and we all helped Anne Kenney build Heel & Sole at the Halifax International Boat Show. Are you beginning to see the theme? It didn’t last. Alex built the cheap version in the modestly priced Splinter. Linda Day and Anne Clark built Karei and Kevin West built Nomad from Hell. Most recently Sherry and Dave Rimes built Green Goblin.
All but Splinter raced
at the Mahone Bay Wooden Boat Festival in 2000 but some of them changed
hands and names. You may need a Program to keep up with the movement of
Windsprints around our members. Flounder is the father of the group. Always
was and probably always will belong to Stan Blake. Splinter was built on
a shoestring budget and no one other than Alex will ever tolerate the reason
for her name. She really does leave splinters in you. In a boat where you
sit on the bottom that isn’t an endearing feature. Yellowtail is now with
Nick and Faye and is called Lucy’s. Heel & Sole went to Howard and
Donna Ray who raced
her as Blue Magic. Karei is a clammer in the Maggies with Anne & Ryerson’s
uncle. Fluke, Nomad from Hell and Green Goblin have not changed owners.
The fleet of Windsprint racers has remained intact for 2001. Of course, there will be a new addition and we will keep you informed as the project progresses.
Other Bolger Boats
Anko Hofland built a 25' Sharpie, L’ark. Leonie Poore and Peter Bevan commissioned a Birdwatcher. We all enjoyed the running commentary. Itchy & Scratchy, Fraser Howell’s Chebacco Always a treat and we’ve all enjoyed the stories that go with their adventures. Ryerson and Anne Clark threw together a Tortise with a glass bottom panel for their grand daughter. Jack and Lois Bearden just finished a 15' Gypsy.
Kayaks and Baidarki (really, that’s the plural)
Wally Woodbury: Tred Avon Chesapeake Light Craft modified with a “pooch pouch”, Bob Cowan: Chesapeake Light Craft, Jaimie Vanbuskirk: Chesapeake Light Craft, Fraser Howell: Skin on frame West Greenland Kayak, Anko Hofland: Skin on frame baidarka sans skin, Robert Fraser: Several kayaks and double-paddle boats of his own design, Anne & Ryerson Clark; Two Aleutian Baidarki modified to their taste, John Hill: Chesapeake Light Craft
So Many Others so many designs
Richard Salsmen built a 15' Whilly Boat to Ian Oughtred’s design, Enjnar Larsen did a fine job on a 26' Norfolk Island Sharpie, Larry King, an 8' rowboat, Ross Pottie a rowing/sailing 10' Martha’s Tender " Emma K", Barry Shearer has a stunning Peregrine rowing craft, Alex Chisholm spent two years building a 15' camp cruiser named Raven, Ken Lamb built Chelsea Victoria, a 16' ThomKat at the museum, David Keith had a 22' Brewers Ketch built on the shores of Mahone Bay, Eric Vickers has an Acorn Dinghy, Michael Concannon finished a fine replica of Petpeswick Dinghy, John Dixon constructed a real show stopper with this 16' Swampscott Dory "Faire Winds", Doug Kernahan spent a lot of time on building his Trawler Yacht, Richard Greenwood built Frisky Dog, his design, a 19' lapstrake sailboat with very traditional fittings and rigging, Pat & Keith Nelder built Cat Breton a 17' Wittholz cat boat and a Stickleback Dory Wow. If you’ve been counting that’s over 70 and these are only the boats built since the Association began that we know about. This doesn’t include boats members owned when they joined. Obviously, I’m not keeping score and I’m sure there are some missing. We’ve had a very productive five years. Our taste in boats is as eclectic as our taste in beer.....wait a minute.....did someone say beer????????........gotta go.
Pushing
my limits: Looking back on my first year of serious
seakayaking
by Ulli Höger
Hooked on seakayaking, and subsequently building a Volkskayak, the past year had a lot of kayaking for me. I started early in the year with a self rescue pool clinic instructed by SEASUN. In January a bunch of whitewater kayakers welcomed me in their middle and taught me to roll a stubby whitewater playboat.
My Volkskayak became wet for the first time in one of their pool sessions. What a difference! About twice as long, it was so much harder to roll than the stubby. After hours upside down in the pool I had acquired some solid skills in bracing, a bit of rolling, and due to numerous failed rolls, a lot of self rescue training.
In April I took my
first spin on the Northwest Arm. Since I don´t waste precious time
to get out of town for a quick evening tour, I did a lot of paddling between
Horseshoe Island and Point Pleasant Park. Already a legend is my solo circumnavigation
of McNab‘s Island in May. Unforecasted strong wind and breaking swell in
the afternoon made the stretch between the east tip of the island and the
lighthouse kind of interesting. First a bit concerned, the waves were huge
breakers from the kayakers viewpoint, I soon realized that the conditions
were within my abilities. The training in the pool and the work of outfitting
my
cockpit paid off.
It was kind fun to brave the conditions. However, the next day I bought
a set of signal flares, just in case, and I figured that I would need to
learn and practice paddling skills whenever and wherever possible.
A SWBANS trip hosted by Ray and Donna in the Blue Rocks area was one of my next trips. Easy paddling that day and I did my first rolls in cold saltwater. I am still surprised that I didn’t blow them, but the cold water gave me a painful ice-cream headache anyway. Another day Alex, Ryerson, and Anne took me on Lake Banook and part of Shubie -during that trip one knee brace broke and I blew that roll.
Lake Banook became
my Wednesday evening playground. Graham’s Grove proved perfect for practicing
my skills and trying new tricks. I want to know what the outfitter on Lake
Banook thinks about that guy
who spent all summer
falling out of a kayak in front of his customers while he tried to rent
them kayaks and canoes? Alex and Rob joined my weekly “Gettin wet” to do
self rescues, assisted rescues, and paddle braces. I will not forget Alex’s
„That was so easy” when he did his first successful roll after hard practice
and eventually doing some outfitting in his cockpit.
Alex became my paddling buddy during the past year. We explored the Tall Ships in Halifax harbor, George’s and McNabs‘s Island, Lower Prospect, Sambro, Mahone Bay, Cole Harbor, and some other places. We negotiated lumpy seas, confused waves, strong headwinds, following seas, and paddled in a pitch black foggy night out to Strum Island I am looking forward to more such trips with him.
Looking back on my first year as a seakayaker I look forward to the one to come. There are so many more places to explore and things to learn. I will continue to push my limits in controlled safe conditions. Lake Banook might still be OK till end of October for getting wet, and then there will be pool sessions during the winter to flush my sinuses. As long as the H2O stays liquid I plan to use it. Winter is just another time of the year and kayaking was invented in a cold environment. Appropriate clothing for cold water immersion in case of a mishap, proper equipment, and hopefully common sense should keep me out of trouble. So, if you see a kayaker in a Volkskayak on a calm and sunny day in January on the NW-Arm or off Point Pleasant Park, give him a warm “Aloha”, this fool could be me.
Devil’s
Island
by Ryerson Clark
Devil’s Island. The very name sounds inhospitable and conjures up images of pagan rights under a full moon, of ghosts and the undead walking the rocky shores. It is low and barren and, except for visitors and the Henneberry Family who kept the Light, I don’t think much else has walked the shore line. As far as I know a ghoul has never been spotted here. As with any isolated place tales of ghosts abound, but that is another story. Just to be sure, though, we were going in full daylight.
It was a fine day this past September, Anne and I aboard Tully Mars, and Ken aboard Chelsea Victoria had the most perfect sail to this deserted chunk of rock which lies several miles to seaward of McNabs Island, off Halifax Harbour. The day was warm and, most importantly for our small craft, the sea state was such that a child’s toy boat could have made the crossing without shipping water. The wind was a perfect five to ten knots, steady without gusts.
Both boats sailed from
Shearwater Yacht Club, launching from our trailers at noon. We loaded up
with food, drink, safety gear and sun screen and pushed off. The wind was
just filling in from the sea and for the first half hour the puffs were
irregular. We didn’t mind, we were on the water enjoying the sun. As the
wind steadied from the SW we started tacking out Eastern Passage in lazy,
gentle zigzags from McNab’s Island to the mainland and back. We were soon
in Wreck Cove but it was too perfect to
stop sailing to explore
so we maintained the tacking course toward the open sea.
As we cleared Drake’s Passage into the ocean proper, we couldn’t believe how smooth the water was. Normally the swells are four to eight feet here even on a “good” day. We were experiencing one to two feet.
The wind direction was correct to make a quick run back to the shelter of McNab’s Island if things turned nasty, so we decided it was safe to try for Devil’s Island. None of us had been to the Island before, conditions were too good to pass up.
It must have taken just over an hour to get there. On the way we discovered a large reef well out from shore and had to tack a bit to get around it. Other then that it was uneventful. Just beautiful sailing in good company.
Devil’s Island is mostly rock with little space to squeeze a boat ashore on sand. The only sheltered spot we could find was already occupied by a large speed boat leaving no room to land. A bit disappointed, but then remembering,”its not the destination, but the trip” that matters, we turned for home without setting foot ashore.
The return sail was straight in with the wind abeam or at our backs. It took no time at all. We enjoyed the lazy motion of the boats, nibbled on snacks and just relaxed. Sailing through the narrows between Lawlor’s Island and Eastern Passage we saw about a dozen people of all ages fishing for mackerel, making this tiny space even narrower. As we squeezed through I knew none of these “land” people could realize what we had just accomplished. It is a rare day when boats this small, using nothing but the power of the wind, can do this crossing in safety and comfort. We felt great even if we didn’t meet a ghost. We all agreed it was the most perfect day on the water we had ever experienced. The memories will warm us all winter.
How
to outfit a Volkskayak
by Ulli Höger
Outfitting the cockpit ends for many of us with installing a seat and backrest. To control your kayak and to take full advantage of its seaworthiness more outfitting is needed.
You have to wear your yak.
Foot braces are a must. I have adjustable pegs in my boat, but a Styrofoam block resting on the front bulkhead is fine. Closed cell foam is perfect to add the other braces. You can buy this stuff already preshaped in paddling stores, or you can find it free of charge in the form of padding used in packing computers and carve your own braces.
I added hip braces to both sides of my seat. These two foam cubes prevent my rear end from sliding side to side in the seat while edging or leaning the boat. Two foam wedges glued under the front coaming are my knee braces. They allow me to use my legs to control the kayak during edging, leaning, and rolling.
Knee and foot braces are essential to handle your boat safely in conditions other than flat calm sea, and you will be surprised how much easier and more efficient paddling becomes if you wear a kayak as part of your body -even on a calm lake.