Tallships
2000
Kayaks
and Moonbeams
Rowathon
2000
Notes
on Building a West Greenland Kayak
Mahone
Bay 2000 Races, gossip and more...
Boatshed
Tallships2000
by the editor
SWBANS members had a great opportunity to contribute to this event. The Wheelchair access area for the fireworks and Sailpast was chaired, organized and staffed by our members with some help from a few others.. Jim Creighton, Ryerson Clark, Anne Clark, Andre Massicotte, Olga Massicotte Linda Day, Bill Day and Jamie Vanbuskirk made up the main force making these events accessible to those who might not otherwise have had an opportunity to view the spectacle.
Many members volunteered
in other areas and were able to contribute to the rest of the Event. Hopefully,
next time, we will be recruited early so we can make another great contribution.
Finally, I wanted
to thank all of you who make this association so much fun. Last year was
another great one. We’ve made several changes to the work of the newsletter
to try to share it around and it is working beautifully. The members who
adopted meetings gave us many entertaining hours. The spontaneous gatherings
are my personal favourite. You have been a wonderful goup of people to
have fun with. I am really looking forward to next year
To
Top
Kayaks
and Moon Beams
by Alex Chisholm
What I did on my summer vacation, hmm how many times have I written that before? All those years of hating school and here I am writing what I did... again. Ahh to turn back the clock! Actually, in a way, this is what that is about.
I have spent a fair bit of time (it is NEVER enough!) paddling in my kayak. I haven’t been to any exotic locals or had a huge adventure here but boy have I had fun. I have lots of stories, and I am not sure of where to start. I guess I am just going to share small snippets of things.
Ulli Hoeger and I made up our minds to go to a kayak symposium at Mahone Bay early in the July. We made a camp on Strum Island and paddled back to see what was up. Well lots of plastic stuff and big men pushing there chests out and saying that mine is bigger, better faster. All I could think of was the six million dollar man.... then I met a quiet unassuming man named Forest with his skin Baidarka. He very generously allowed Ulli and I to paddle her. He installed a 5L container of water into her and off we went. I am a good bit taller than Forest, much longer legs I found the Massic (the name given to the middle deck beam that basically hold you in the boat) to be quite low. In fact it was quite a squeeze for me to fit! She was quite different feeling. I never really put her through her paces as I felt quite imprisoned in her but she was very stable and very cool.
The rest of the time
there was highlighted by a wonderful paddle out and around the a few of
the islands of the bay with Ulli and Forest. As Ulli and I headed back
to the camp a large bunch of kayaks paddled out so we joined them for a
hot chocolate and an evening paddle. It turns out that there was no pot!
I, in the every quest to show that the Volkskayak is a wonderful kayak,
I took off to collect a pot from strum.
I was away as fast
as I could, and paddled hard until just out of sight of the group, then
stopped and panted for a bit then off again. I arrived back with my pot
in about 45 min. and covered about two km.
I learned a really important lesson that night. Later on the fog rolled in and you couldn’t see anything. Ulli "Mr. Boy Scout" (always prepared) easily navigated us back to the camp, my gut would have guided us off to the far shore.
Sleepless
One sleepless night
found me paddling solo in St. Margaret’s bay inside Strawberry island.
A cloudless moon less calm clear night, quite magical really. I could have
been paddling those waters this year ten years ago, or ten thousand. Every
stroke of my paddle stirred up some bio luminescence in the water, bright
green blue fire all along the paddle blade and off the bow of the boat.
Truly amazing. I could have paddled all night and never looked back or
been tired but I thought that it would be good to stop so I could get some
rest for work in the morning.
Wet Wednesday
I have been working
with Gerry Gladwin and Volkskayak for some time. We can be found for a
brief period of time, during the summer, at the Maritime Museum of the
Atlantic. I answer a lot of questions about kayaks and kayaking in the
Maritimes, one that keeps coming up is, “ are they safe? ” , “ what happens
if you go upside down? “.
The answer to these questions are not as easy as it seems. Ulli and I started going to Grahams Grove on lake Banook to play rescue dramas out and to try to roll. I must admit that the roll is kinda fun to try. I still don’t think of it as a rescue, it does increase your comfort level and my kayak feels ‘safer’
I invite every paddler out there to fall out of your boat, take a friend and go get wet! Try it with and with out a spray skirt. once you get over the fear of that, try a wet exit... A wet exit is a CONTROLLED exit not just hey look I am out but my hair is dry. Go upside down, watch the bubbles go up to the surface reach up and feel the bottom of you boat, and lean forward hold the combing behind your back and lift you butt out of the boat. Clear your legs ,and swim up to the surface keeping a firm hold on the boat.
That was easy right? CALM is the goal, that’s all that you need to accomplish for the first time. I suggest that after that learn to get back into the boat, assisted and self rescue re-entries. Also braces and edging can be very helpful too, after that rolling maybe?? get help and have fun, you will likely find that after you are comfortable with these things you will feel safer in a wider range of conditions, and you will be!
Rowathon
2000
by Fraser Howell
This year’s Rowathon went well. Thanks for the pledge.(Ed. Note: At the AGM SWBANS pledged $100.00 to this event.) The route started at the provincial jetty at Owl’s Head. The site of the proposed fisherman’s memorial is close by. All the pledges are used for the construction of that memorial, and a picnic/lookoff site.
The participants left together, and were accompanied by a Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel. We proceeded around Owl’s Head, north of Cuckhold I, then over the protected shoals to Little Harbour Head. This stretch is a beautiful, protected area of shallow water and beaches. We continued across Clam Bay, north of Long I and Roger I to East Head, off the mouth of Jeddore. The seas had been placid until the swell from Hurricane Albert which our little company met head on over the shoal water off Jeddore Head. The swell went from 4 ft to 8 ft in about two minutes. At eight feet they were breaking. The Catspaw surfs well, the dories, not as well. They do surf though. We thought we’d lost the last dory as it was caught by two bigger swells that were much closer to each other.
We saw the bottom of the dory as it crested the first one, then nothing for a second. Then the dory rocketing up an even bigger swell, and then they were into deeper water with no breakers. That was Karl Richardson’s dory. He later related how they spotted the large swell, figured that it would break where they were, and turned around to meet it. Pulling like Trojans no doubt. We all went to try to help. When we got to them they were each having a cup of rum. They said they never spilled a drop! From our view, eye level at 500 yards, it had looked like curtains for those seadogs.
We caught the flood to the Salmon River Bridge and proceeded to the Salmon River House Country Inn, where we were met by our enthusiastic supporters. There were large plates of sandwiches, tureens of fish chowder, and beer. Many thanks to our hosts, Adrian Blanchette and Elisabeth Schwarzer.
Our campsite was at the end of the stillwater on the Salmon River. It is one of the best sites I’ve seen in N.S. There is a large clearing with the Salmon River (trickle then) running though it. Back then the next day. But not all the way. There was a 20 kt headwind across Clam Bay, making it impossible for us to cross. We ended the Rowathon back at the Salmon River Bridge. One clear lesson. Be careful of unprotected shoal water. The swell had come up with no warning. If you cross unprotected shoals, stay in the deeper water. A difference of a few feet of water under your keel is the difference between a swell and a breaker. That is not to say that the trip was hazardous, only that there was only one moment of vicarious excitement.
Karl will be planning the next Rowathon. He’d like very much to increase the participation, and is open to suggestions to make the event more appealing to a bigger group. Any SWBANS members input is welcome.
Notes
on Building a West Greenland Kayak
by Fraser Howell
While sitting around a table at Boondock’s in Eastern Passage, our member Fraser Howell was struck with the fact that he didn’t have a skin on frame boat. As he already had plans for a West Greenland Kayak he realized he couldn’t last another month without this boat.
He’ll be elaborating on the construction at our September meeting when the boat goes on display. As he was building and doing the sea trials he sent bits of information. We thought they were too priceless not to share them with you.
07/15/2000
I did a trail of the
kayak this AM in the Arm. I skinned it in plastic vapor barrier to check
out the trim fore and aft while I can still modify it. It moves easily,
but I was expending most of my effort vibrating my upper body at about
100 rpm, keeping it upright. Initial stability is low. Now to the masik
and hoop.
07/15/2000
I’m fairly satisfied
with the trim, its down a little by the stern. I’ve stripped off the plastic
to fit the cockpit hoop, then the canvas. A couple of weeks yet.
08/23/2000
I decided to go with
canvas and butyrate dope. I am taking a break from stitching. The canvas
is nice to work with, but hard on the hands. Should finish sewing on the
skin later today or tomorrow. Then several coats of dope.
08/24/2000
The kayak is progressing.
The first coat of dope tightened it up like a drum. Several more coats
to go. I think I met Elvis while putting on the first coat, but then used
a charcoal filtered mask, and he didn’t come back. For the next meeting
I could bring in the kayak, but I wouldn’t be filling up the whole occasion.
I should be ready for launch in a couple days.
08/25/2000
As for the launch
- that is going to be a furtive obscure event, early, early in the dark
of some early morning, in some remote location. A few birds might see it.
I fully expect to flip right over. Kayak is almost ready, needs some protection
on the keel, a rail on the cockpit for the spray skirt, another coat of
dope on the outside, and a dope inside.
08/26/2000
Done. A very unstable
platform. Tracks very well, straight as can be. It seems fast, but I can’t
tell. Looks great though. I think I’ll get accustomed, but so far 90% of
the energy I am putting into paddling is nerves.
08/28/2000
Third time out in
the new kayak - intro to light winds, wavelets, wake for small sailboats.
Slowly getting used to it, relaxing a bit. Feet fell asleep and p&n
from knees down. Turning radius is down to 40 ft.
08/30/2000
I sewed up a spray
skirt of neoprene. It’s a bugger to fit, but seems pretty tight. I might
try flipping over on purpose tomorrow and get it over with.
Mahone
Bay 2000 Races, gossip and more...
by the editor
On a personal level, this year was the best ever. So many good friends from away coming back to visit and race, and many new friends made.
The festival was much the same as past years, lots of stuff to look at, fast and Furious boats built and sailed, some successfully, and of course, the Small Craft races. These races are sponsored by SWBANS and about one third of our membership participates in them. The boat classes raced this year expanded from Light Schooners and Windsprints to a June Bug class. Jack and Lois Bearden even enticed a sailor to come from Arkansas with his June Bug to race against their beauty, making two in the class. The Schooner class had three boats entered and the Windsprint class seven, though only six raced.
We raced in almost all conditions over the five day event, the only thing we missed was hail! No wind, too much wind and some days both conditions in one race! The winners were chosen on points overall, the best five finishes out of the nine races were counted to arrive at the standing.
Three things stick out in my mind most. David and Sherry Rimes racing with only one day’s experience sailing, what spirit. Young Brent from California beating every boat one race in a borrowed June Bug, and the look on Kevin West’s face at his second place finish in the last heat, a personal best. Watch out next year for Kevin.
The results were...the envelope please...
June Bugs:
1st place...Shoestring
crewed(mostly)by Phillip from Arkansas
2nd place..Beeheld
crewed by Jack and Lois Bearden
Windsprints:
1st place...Karei
crewed by Anne and Ryerson Clark
2nd place..Fluke crewed
by Don and Aubrey Ives and various others
3rd place..Blue Magic
crewed by Donna and Howard Ray
4th place..Lucy’s
crewed by Nick and various others
5th place..Nomad crewed
by Kevin West and Terri
6th place..Green Goblin
crewed by Sherry and David Rimes
7th place and dead
last, Flounder crewed by Stan Blake with no help..
OK, OK, Stan never
showed up to race, but this will teach him to come next year.
Schooners:
1st place..Miscreant
crewed by Paul Middleton of Virginia and family and friends from California.
2nd place. Spirit
of Mahone crewed by Larry Brown of New York and family and friends from
Halifax, Boston and Ohio.
3rd place.. Millabout
crewed by Norman Whynot of Mahone bay and friends.
To
Top
Boatshed
Chesapeake 17
by Bob Cowan
The kayak is a 17 foot
Chesapeake...24 inch beam...44lb....hard chine boat. I just loved constructing
it with my daughter Emily, who at 12 years old, really impressed me by
manhandling the bending and holding of the plywood deck as I ‘nailed ‘er
down!’ It took about a hundred hours to complete, including the 40 or so
in sanding alone!!! The boat was billed as a true touring kayak, and
that is exactly how she turned out...ie. she handles best with a full load,
and just about dunks me when empty. My body weight is not sufficient to
get her low in the water so she reacts to winds a bit. I did install a
rudder system which helps a lot, but I think she will really shine on my
first longer excursion (probably in the spring). I’ve had her in the water
a few times, and really enjoy the final product, although once I have a
seat installed, it might be a bit
more comfy.