The Balanced Boater

Rob and Sharon's Southern Summer Adventure

2012-01-31T22:57:00.000-08:00

I was delighted when Greg Simson, Commodore of the Tassie Sea Canoe Club, invited me down to spend some time with he and other club members, especially when they suggested early January and I realised that I could take Sharon along and extend our trip to take in some of the sights around Hobart and maybe even sneak a little paddle across the Mercury Passage to share the delights of Maria Island with her.

Commodore Greg shows off the modern Tassie Rig (designed by Tim Parker)

The Tassie Sea Kayak community has a long and distinguished history of paddling some of the most challenging waters in Australia and they have pioneered the use of very big rudders and a number of elegantly simple sails. Many of the members still paddle boats built with the club's "Greenlander" mould. Handcrafted fittings and sails figure heavily in many a paddlers' setup. I am currently researching different sails and was lucky enough to spend some time discussing Tasmanian sail rigs with some of the pioneers and stalwarts including Jenny Scott, Veronica Steane and Mike Emery who have used these rigs to great effect in challenging conditions.

Guy's sail uses a flexible mast and single line control

To use a Sundin style sports analogy the Tassie club punches well above its weight with around 170 members and a vibrant calendar of activities. With a burgeoning membership the club is looking to the future with an eye to maintaining club standards and promoting the philosophy of safe and self sufficient adventure on the cool and restless seas that surround them. As the club grows numerically I hope they can preserve the sense of a real sea going community that has been the backbone of their club for decades.

I was there to give an outsiders perspective on Sea Kayak Leadership; as well as a low key presentation on paddling around Sydney, leading groups on the NSW coast and an overview of the recent North Reef Expedition.

After this session I witnessed just how fast the weather can turn nasty even on the Derwent and in the aftermath how useful power can be to a seakayaker when Peter Kelly successfully towed a supported paddler with a swamped cockpit into a 40-45knot headwind!

I also spent a very rewarding day with Peter and a group of his mates who have embraced the challenge of skeg boat paddling. With the notable exception of local Brit boat enthusiast, Geoff Murray, rudderless paddling is still considered a fringe activity in Tassie.

The coldest day was reserved for private coaching with Hobart paddlers. I spent about 6 hours standing in the Derwent delivering rolling tuition which really wasn't so bad: at about 17degrees the river water was about double the air temperature!

After a walk into the magnificent old growth forests with Peter as our guide we headed north to Orford to head out to Maria Island. Despite a strong wind warning we made the crossing and setup camp. From this point the photos speak for themselves.

“It’s just over there."

Painted Cliffs

Darlington Sunset

View on the walk to Bishop and Clerk

Leaving Darlington with a full kayak

Fishing boats sheltered under the Fossil Cliffs.

Sharon paddling along the Fossil Cliffs

Sea Cave in glassy conditions

View of Schouten Island from Maria Island Sea Cave

Perfect Caving Conditions

Dwarfed by Stack

Friendly Darlington Local

Single Shot

2012-01-31T18:50:00.000-08:00

Andrew Eddy took this one while I was busy snapping away a few weeks ago and he thought it might go well with the blog on photos. Thanks Andrew.

Moving Targets

2011-12-07T23:23:00.000-08:00

Oscar's comment on my last blog prompted me to write this as I have been asked this question about hand held and fixed cameras many times before. First let me confess to knowing very little about the technical craft of photography and relying heavily on the ingenious technologies built into modern waterproof compacts, especially image stabilisation and auto focus.
All my still shots from the kayak are taken using a handlheld compact camera. When you see a camera mounted on the foredeck in some shots it is there to capture video for the EK website or Mark's Vimeo channel, fixed cameras work pretty well for video.

By using a handheld camera I can quickly change my point of veiw and shoot from as high as my outstretched arm will reach all the way down to just off the surface of the water. I try to avoid too many bow shots except when I think it will create a sense of proximity to the subject or add interest in some way.

I have tried using continuos shooting modes with fixed cameras but have discovered that the boat moves far more than my head or my hand producing mostly blurred and poorly framed images. The exception being self portrait type shots that work with a fixed setup where the boat and I are moving at the same rate.

My motivation is always to try for images that convey something of how it really looked from the seat of my kayak on the day so I can share some of the beauty and drama that I encounter at sea.

In my efforts to capture shots that depict sea kayakers in action I have found the following to be helpful:

Try to watch the action (waves, wildlife, light shifts ) as they approach the subject and synchronise the shot based on what is coming into the frame rather than what has just happened.

Steady yourself in steep conditions by relaxing and letting your hips ride the bumps.

Use a one handed low brace to deal with breaking waves.

Occasionally I have to do a "camera roll" which always seems to get a laugh from my buddies and I think the fact that I am unconcerned about the potential for capsize means that it doesnt happen as often as it should and I can focus on taking the shot.

Experiment with lanyards that allow plenty of reach and then use a quick release just in case of entanglement.

Choose a camera that has a quick setup time and minimum shutter lag. (The Canon Powershot D10 and the new Nikon AW100 seem to be the best I have used in wet and wild conditions.

Finally remember that when you are taking photographs you are often breaking a golden rule by turning your back to the sea so keep a lookout and be alert for warnings from paddlers looking over your shoulder towards the incoming waves.

Rebound

2011-12-06T15:30:00.000-08:00

Matt and Fernando paddle backwards watching out for the big ones.

Matt and Fernando surf to seaward.

Fernando and Andre

Bouncy conditions

Froth and bubble

Steep ( spot the paddle and bow toggle)

As above

Along the coast at Dover Heights there is deep water right up to the cliff face. Add a fat easterly swell to a light southerly wind and you can find some interesting multi directional water along this stretch.

Local knowledge is invaulauble in a spot like this. Matt grew up living along these cliffs and most of the group have paddled here many times before. We know that, with the right combination of current and swell, there are a series of very predictable long shore rips that drain to the headlands at either end of this cliffy embayment and then out to sea.

Yesterday these factors allowed us surf the rebound and just generally bounce around at the base of the cliffs, cautiously confident that most of the wave energy was driving us away from the rocks.

Sydney Noreasters.

2011-11-29T21:21:00.000-08:00

The image above shows Chris and Bob clawing their way up the face of a solid wind driven wave.

The crest of this wave is about topple onto Chris whilst Bob sneaks past this one only to be "surprised" by a similar wave on the way home.

There is a sense of randomness about these toppling crests and sooner or later your brace, balance and composure will be tested in these conditions.

This photo was taken approximately 2 nautical miles due east of Bluefish Point in deep water. The observations from nearby Western Harbour Channel lighthouse and Little Bay AWS were both in the mid to high 20knot range for most of the day prior to and during the paddle providing us with a "developed sea".

The group of seven used a buddy system with a skilled rescuer in each pair and the group leader was a free agent to oversee the group. VHF protocols were implemented and radios used. Full safety kit was carried and the rescue and self rescue skills of the senior paddlers were tested and current. A float plan was lodged with a reliable land contact. With all these precautions in place the group were able to challenge the skills of the less experienced members without running out of resources.

A couple of rescues, rolls and one very important high brace saw the group safely back inside the harbour before dark - an exhilirating afternoon made possible by our teamwork and mutual respect for the sea.

High Brace, Low Brace, No Brace.....

2011-11-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

All too often a brace is a brake, a defensive drag against the water and a sure fire way to slow down, and yet ironically some paddlers try to apply it at the exact moment they are wanting to go faster.

The "No Brace" is simply my way of describing the technique of not responding to acceleration or directional drift with a defensive stroke. It is a bit like learning not to hit the brakes when your car loses grip and starts to slide on a wet or icy road. As in the car analogy, sudden deceleration tends to make the impending loss of control into an inevitability.

The first step in developing a good No Brace is to to sit on the shore before your next paddle in following seas and challenge yourself not to drag the blade behind you in a trailing brace to hold your line. Instead, when you feel a wave lift you and the boat starts to slide, just keep paddling, try to take off very square to the steepest part of the wave and only use sweeps, edges and forward strokes. When your experience tells you to hunker down with a trailing brace or rudder ignore it and put in a big sweep on the other side, instead of being defensive, focus on staying in control by maintaining drive!

The ''No Brace'' could also be described as the "body brace" in that you can brace against the heeling force of a wave with your hips or even hips and knees and simply maintain a good stroke. Remember to be patient, despite the car analogy above, course corrections take time in any boat, and you may have to wait a second or two for the edge to bite or the sweep to take effect.

An interesting technique in developing a good No Brace is to paddle abeam to trains of short steep, closely spaced overtopping waves on a windy day in an area of short fetch like a wide bay, see if you can paddle a perpendicular course without using the paddle as a crutch, use only sweep and forward power strokes while you do all the bracing with your hips and knees. Your cadence will need to change so you can meet the oncoming crests with a good strong catch and some of your strokes will have to be carefully placed over the high side gunwale, and timed so as not to trip you up, but the emphasis on bracing without having to stop paddling is a valuable skill to acquire.

When your "no brace" is working well you will get those extra couple of valuable strokes in at the take off point in a running sea instead of putting on the brakes. Even when rudder strokes become unavoidable you need to keep them crisp and decisive, feel for a blade angle that moves the stern without hauling on the brakes and creating excess drag. An effective stern rudder looks and feels very different to a heavy trailing brace and in a running sea will often get you back on line in the time it takes to make one forward stroke.

The less you use the stern rudder, the less you need it and linking rides by building up speed from consecutive waves will get easier. As a novice sea paddler I can remember being a lot busier than my more experienced mentors especially in following seas and then I learnt the "No Brace"; real life proof that "less is more".

Down Hill Paddling

2011-09-28T02:20:00.000-07:00

Below is a scrapbook of images from this weeks Tuesday night paddle from Watsons Bay to Malabar. A brisk Northerly gave us a steady push and multiple runners combined with the stunning evening light to make the car shuffle worthwhile.

(above: Paul digs deep)

(Above: Rae directing traffic)

(Above: Wendy leads the way)

(Above: Gary contemplates)

(Above: Shaan chills out)

(above: Paul in the fast lane)

(above: Rae in top form)

(above: necessary deck clutter)

As we surfed along the coast I occasionally caught a glimpse of car headlights along the beachfront or a TV set flickering through the window of a clifftop house and I was struck by the contrast - our small group out among the wilderness of swells and waves while the vast human energy of Sydney kept humming, oblivious to the other world just beyond the line of cliffs and beach breaks.

Lesson on a stick..

2011-09-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

In the warmer months I look forward to spending some time with all three types of paddles enjoying many styles of kayaking.

For exercise I like the solid grip of the wing and the feedback it provides you about catch and rotation. The wing is uncomprimising power.

For all round boat control my flat "euro" blade feels superb, allowing fast linking of sweeping, slicing and power strokes. My favourite all rounder for rock hopping, guiding and surf. If there is manouvering to be done the flat is so versatile.

The Greenland stick is so quiet in the water it is clearly my stealth blade of choice and wonderful for support and rolling strokes. It is very tactile and generates lift that can be harnessed for many purposes.

The simplistic myths of the "weak greenland stick", the "brutal flat blade roll" and the "joint destroying wing" are surely behind us and need no further refutation. Let's just say that in each of these crude stereotypes the problem lies with poor technique or understanding rather than equipment.

In my paddling world I am wary of dogma, I don't choose to become an advocate for one style of paddling or one style of paddle because I don't have to. Besides, the principles of good body mechanics remain the same no matter what you have in your hands. If you are happy with your paddle of choice, and you are neither critical of others or curious by what other paddles may have to offer, then this challenge is probably not for you and I have utmost respect for whatever your choice.

On the other hand, my challenge to the zealots is to try the other blades regularly and develop an understanding of why they have succeeded. If you can use all three with a reasonable level of competence then you are in a better position to decide whether you would still really rather chase running seas with a stick, do the reverse sweep roll with a euro blade or rock hop with a wing.

Obviously we might often combine rolling, touring and rock gardening all in the one day so there is a need for realistic comprimise and I respect that we may have different priorities in choosing the right paddle for us.

From the elegant simplicity of the stick to the advanced geometry of the wing I feel there is much to learn by keeping an open mind. If you want to understand the appeal of other paddles and styles try paddling a ski with a stick, greenland rolling with a euro and surfing with a wing.

These have all been done before with varying degrees of success and high degrees of fun.

If you approach these "left field" challenges with an open mind you will not only learn why all these paddles have their niche; you will also learn about your ability to adapt to the improbable and discover that it doesnt pay to take yourself or your favourite style of paddle too seriously.

Every paddle requires different techniques. To adapt to any boat-paddle combination is to learn about yourself and that is why I see each of my paddles as "a lesson on a stick".

North Reef Atoll

2011-07-31T17:55:00.000-07:00

We arrive at North Reef with the last colours of dusk, the surf sounding ever more alarming as it works against the fringing reef. With a heavy break to starboard we probe the lee hoping dearly for a gap before we reach the waves that are wrapping around from the other side and obscuring our horizon to seaward. I take a mental snapshot of Chris just outside the impact zone slipping off a large hollow wave that is about to wash through sharp tendrils of coral.

Smiles all round as a clear lead opens up, there is the occasional convergence of waves reunited after travelling the island perimeter from opposite directions but they have spent most of their energy in the process and collide without force. Our boats grind up onto the beach under the darkest of starlit skies.

North Reef ; the namesake of our mini expedition and a convenient turning point for the return to the mainland, is not even an island. Some historical photos show the light house completely surrounded by water with no land around it, others show terra firma but no vegetation and yet others show a very different landfall to the tiny vegetated haven I walk around at first light with camera in hand, trying hard to capture the essence of this wild and beautiful place.

On the south east shoreline, just above the high water mark I find a rusted cable and stout anchor post; evidence of a system of huge guy lines that helped steady the light tower during heavy weather when it sat totally exposed on the coral crest and I wonder how the men who worked on this lighthouse without families and friends felt about North Reef?

The historical record contains the sepia image of a weather beaten lighthouse keeper alongside the following inscription neatly carved in a plate of whalebone:

"North Reef Atoll

No beer Atoll

No Women Atoll

Nothing Atoll."

Was this all they felt for their place of voluntary exile? Or was their lonleliness tempered by moments of awe and feelings of inner quiet like those I enjoy on my morning exploration?

North Reef is nothing without the movement of the waves, the waves are its creator and its reason for being, the lighthouse an enduring signpost on the frontier between deep ocean and the vibrant life cycle of the inner reef.

For me "nothing atoll" is a place of energy and abundance, but then again, its easy for me to savour this idea as I pack my boat seeking another landfall before the next ebbing tide.

Confessions of a Bad Blogger

2011-07-15T06:08:00.001-07:00

Reading through many other blogs I am fascinated by the level of self cosciousness and introspection required. It seems like the great skill in writing a blog is in writing a lot about very little and frankly when I sit down at the end of another day of rich and diverse paddling experiences I am overwhelmed; I simply dont know where to start and yet I feel that same urge that all bloggers possess - that desire to share something about myself with an often unknown audience.

Today was a wonderful day to be on the ocean, the sky was heavy with serious clouds and the swell had some real weight behind it, the ancient sandstone cliffs of Sydney framed the seascape and concealed the city from veiw creating an illusion of remoteness to add extra drama to the heaving sea. I have no images except those in my minds eye, the camera stayed in my pocket as an open water novice deserved my constant attention.

The last month has seen me often sit down to write a blog about the many and varied places have paddled and the people with whom I have shared the delights of kayaking on the sea, and yet the words never seem to do justice to what really happens.

There was a wonderfull long weekend on the North Coast running Kayak surfing workshops with fellow instructor Karen Dallas and the simple pleasure of watching the smile on paddlers faces when they found themselves carving and sliding on the perfect little waves of Arrawarra Headland.

The deep heavy troughs off Sydney heads with Matt, Shaan and Ian very focused, and cheers all round when Ian rolled saving a tricky rescue in conditions that Matt (a known rough water enthusiast) later rated among the biggest he had ever paddled.

Surfing sow and pigs reef in the middle of Sydney Harbour and watching a refracted swell steepen and obscure a passing manly ferry and the south head lighthouse before engulfing me in a wall of whitewater.

The personal challenge of Greenland rolling at the pool with "the splinter group" - improving my dexterity by solving three dimensional puzzles upside down, underwater and on one breath.

Idyllic calms off Little Beecroft with a group of NSWSKCs best leaders as we push home into the sunset after an afternoon of rescues in rock gardens and wave washed ravines.

Serious training for the North Reef Expedition and the comraderie of planning and preparation.

The many hours of coaching groups and individuals in waves and calms, surf and rocks, sharing the many facets of sea kayaking and respect for the sea.

Maybe one day I will spend less time on the water and more time in front of the computer perfecting my blogs, arranging images and writing in depth technical analysis but then again.........

Sea Kayaking Around the World.

2011-05-08T23:36:00.000-07:00

The languid twilights of summer have passed with their welcome afternoon sea breezes and temperamental southerly outbursts.....

......and with the passage of the seasons have come shorter days on the water and time to catch up on all those neglected blogs I meant to write.

From around the country and around the world paddlers of renown and enthusiasts alike have visited to enjoy our beautiful City with its rugged coastline and gentle harbour.

Just before Christmas, local hero Stuart Trueman took the afternoon off from his circumnavigation of Australia to paddle with us for the afternoon, even though it meant paddling the same stretch in the afternoon that he had just finished in the morning.

This year Ginni Callahan made a return visit to inspire and challenge with her engaging style, valuable insights and personal flair on the water.

One of Ginni's paddling colleagues, respected Dutch coach, Axel Schoevers joined her to present some excellent boat control courses with an emphasis on finesse and water feel. Mark and I had a very entertaining paddle along the cliffs with him and caught a few nice waves on the point break at Fairy Bower.

As there are so few other people in Australia who make a living out of Sea Kayaking it is valuable for me to just share ideas and talk about different approaches with other professional instructors like Ginni and Axel.

It is also rewarding to see that the exchange cuts both ways with Axel enjoying some different sea conditions and the occasional big surf ride that he assures us is hard to come by in Holland. Ginni and Axel also developed a real liking for the local Aussie sailing rigs and they plan to share the joys of lightweight sailing rigs beyond our shores.

Tsunami Ranger Captain, Jim Kakuk was also in Sydney. He is a quiet legend with a very different approach to kayaking. Jim has a strong preference for the wash deck kayaks that he and his team have pioneered. After a short paddle to The Gap we had a long chat over lunch about the evolution of these craft and the Tsunami Rangers philosophy on the sea, skills and safety.

Hot on the heels of Aussie adventurer Sandy Robson who came to Sydney to research the first leg of her voyage to re trace the Epic journey of Oskar Speck was German author Tobias Freidrick. He was also here to research the Speck archive for his upcoming book.

Whilst in Sydney Tobias visited the Australian Maritime Museum, and travelled to the central coast where Oskar lived for many years. Over dinner at Doyles it was fascinating to hear what Tobias had discovered during his visit and at Watsons Bay the next day he spent a morning with local enthusiast, Peter Osman checking out folding, segmented and hard shell kayaks.

As you can probably tell I value these exchanges of ideas and techniques with paddlers from far and wide so I was delighted and honoured when the formidable Sean Morley, who featured in "This Is The Sea 2" invited me to attend San Francisco's Golden Gate Sea kayak Symposium 2012 as one of the Instructors. It is going to be very different instructing in such an unfamiliar environment but, frankly, I can't wait.

We have some very fine coastline and some excellent paddlers but regardless of who you are and how well you paddle there is always so much to learn and so many ideas to share. So if you want to leave the warmth of a Sydney summer and head for the cool waters around the Golden Gate Bridge next February then check out the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium site and the enthusiastic blogs from last years attendees. It looks like a brilliant event.
Registrations will open soon and it would be nice to see an Aussie contingent and a few familiar faces amongst new friends on the other side of the world.

Bass Strait: First Woman Solo Crossing.

2011-03-06T22:25:00.000-08:00

It was great to receive one last update text from Shaan Gresser on Friday the 25th February to confirm that she had safely arrived at Little Musselroe Bay and in so doing, became the first woman to kayak across Bass Strait single handed.

Last year when we discussed her preparation for the solo trip I asked her whether it might be a "first". She just shrugged her shoulders and made it obvious that this was not even part of her motivation for making the crossing. For Shaan, the freedom of travelling on her own and the opportunity to explore the wild and beautiful Islands of Eastern Bass Strait were the key attractions.

Shaan rightly recognised the precarious nature of solo paddling and set out to make herself as safe and self sufficient as possible through solid training, good technique and detailed research of the Straits. Although lacking the brute strength of some other paddlers, Shaan made up for it with fitness and attitude. In the months leading up to the crossing her increase in speed had many wondering what was driving her and now they know!

Shaan's success is a reminder of what we can acheive if we commit ourselves to a challenge and keep a clear sight of our goals. Her trip should inspire many of her peers who have the ability and the desire. I am sure many will ask themselves why they shouldn't be next and hopefully they will pull out the maps and start planning.

Congratulations Shaan.

Stuart Can Do It - Stuart Trueman's Biggest Adventure Yet

2011-01-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

Many years ago I can remember sitting on the beach at North Era and reluctantly deciding to join the rest of the group portaging all our gear and boats about a kilometre over a steep hill and muddy track to South Era to avoid an almost impenetrable surf that had built up overnight. I say "almost" because Stuart Trueman was already sitting out the back.

With a minimum of fuss, he had paddled straight through the whole horrible mess. An air of dread descended among the so called "hard men" who were still back on the beach. Discretion was no longer an option and boats were readied for the challenge. (So much for the non competitive nature of sea kayaking!)

A paddle was broken, backs strained and egos battered but ultimately the rest of us walked to South Era. From that day forward I realised Stuart was a pretty unique and focused character.

As I watched him paddle into Watsons Bay many years later nothing had changed except the challenges just seemed to be getting bigger. Given the sheer scale of his present undertaking and the distance he has achieved already, it was great to find his dry wit and good humour intact.

It was a highlight of recent evening paddles to have Stuart as our special guest and a real privilege to buy him a beer. In return we got to hear his understated but at times chilling account of paddling the big cliffs at night and trying to land through heavy surf only to discover undercut rock platforms where he had hoped for sand.

Stuart's respect for the achievements of others separates him from most others at the sharp end of the kayaking world. On numerous occasions I have seen him listening to vivid accounts of more modest adventures with the same genuine keenness as he would if he were comparing notes with peers. Then again he has so few equals in the sea kayaking world that these exchanges are probably an important means to remind Stuart that there are many people from a pretty broad demographic in the paddling community who share his passion for open water adventure.

I think Stuart is refreshed by these meetings with paddlers experienced enough to grasp the enormity of his project. To sit around a table with people who at least speak the same language of sea kayaking, must be very reassuring when compared to the chance meetings with so many strangers who, despite their good intentions, know nothing of kayaking and just keep asking WHY? or even worse, dismiss his efforts as "madness".

Stuart left Sydney on Wednesday. I paddled with him for a while as he eased into the steady pace that has pushed his kayak to so many wild and wonderful places. As I watched him disappear along the cliffs of North Head I realised that regardless of where I was over the next 7 or 8 months I could be pretty sure that Stuart would be out there clocking up the sea miles heading for Broome and planning his next adventure.

Owen, Bill, Mark, Rae, Stuart, Wendy, Matt and Brett off Diamond Bay.

Sandy Robson.

2010-11-18T04:23:00.000-08:00

I first met Sandy a few years ago, about 1nm SE of Cape Banks. She had just paddled from Melbourne, visiting Sydney enroute to Cape York so I organised to escort her to Sydney Harbour and show her around.

When I left La Perouse to find her there were camera crews lining the shore hoping to snap photos of a Great White shark that was reputed to be eating pelicans and stray dogs around Botany Bay. As I launched you could almost feel the air of hopeful anticipation that I would lure up the monster and become a newsworthy victim in gory full colour.

Long before I spotted Sandy their hopes were thwarted as I became an ever diminshing but intact dot on the horizon and a story of far more substance quietly paddled under their noses.

The next chapter in Sandy's adventurous story is planned to commence next year when she retraces the first leg of the epic voyage of German adventurer, Oskar Speck who paddled a folding kayak from Germany to Australia arriving in North Australian territorial waters at the onset of WW2.

She was recently in Sydney to research the Oskar Speck archives retained at the Australian Maritime museum and also test paddle some boats while she was here.

Sharon and I were lucky enough to catch up with her for a meal, share some paddling stories and to talk about her upcoming trip.This is a fascinating project and one worth following over the upcoming months.

I will put up a link to her new website as soon as it goes online.

QSKC Big Weekend.

2010-10-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

(photo courtesy Eddie Safrik)

Last Friday night members of the Queensland Sea Kayak Club were out in force to hear what three of their most adventurous members had been up to out on the Capricorn Cays. This trip has caused a buzz of interest along the east coast; especially North of the border where there is a sense of excitement that a trail through the offshore cays has been forged and pride that local QSKC kayakers made it first.

I suspect google earth has received a hammering from many of the eighty plus members and guests who crammed into the beautiful old Yacht club in Brisbane and were inspired by the Capricorn Cays story. It may very well be that even as I write this report cyberspace is buzzing with virtual trips as many ask themselves whether they might have a crack at this logistically convenient but challenging voyage that has been waiting so many years to be paddled.

It was a really upbeat and positive night and I was honored to be invited to introduce the boys and speak about the significance of the trip.

From their presentation we learned how team work and cohesion helped them through their toughest day on the water and it was a relief to see the contrast of paradise juxtaposed with the hardship of getting there. There were images contributed by all three paddlers with photos, chart extracts and GPS tracks arranged so we could match the images with their location and chronology. The teamwork that had served them so well on the trip was in evidence throughout the show with the guys working together to convey to the audience just what it was like to kayak out among the cays. I was especially impressed by some of Eddies beautifully composed seascapes and the groups underwater wildlife images.

Commodore Graham (aqua) Dredge and his team of volunteers are to be commended on a great night. There was strong sense of community in the waterfront clubhouse making it feel very cosy despite the wind flogging the rigging of nearby yachts, and rain lashing the weatherboards. As I looked around the room I realised how many of these people I had paddled or trained with over the last few years and knew I was among friends. So I settled in, enjoying the good vibe, trying not to think about how I would manage the training scheduled for next morning.

The following day didn't really dawn at all. The cloud hung low maintaining a deluge over Gary's place on the ''Sunshine Coast'' and the sky stayed a dull predawn colour until just before we packed the car and headed for Mooloolaba Beach.

With a Gale forecast and the closest coastal observations at Cape Moreton already recording mid thirty to low forty knot gusts we opted for a morning of stroke blending and balance skills on the coffee coloured canals of the Mooloola River. As we lined up to launch I was pleased to see the vast majority were skeg boats well suited to some of the tight turns and other tricks we were going to try.

The plan had been to use the sheltered corner of the ocean beach to start the day then work out into more exposed conditions just before lunch, but the wind kept us inside the river all morning. Fortunately I had designed a plan B program with Gary late the night before and this kept us busy until lunch.

In the afternoon the group composition changed a little with some of the morning group retiring to warmer places and some new recruits joining us for a session on mentoring skills aimed at guides and leaders. Peer review and role play exercises raised some interesting questions and a few laughs.

Throughout the day I was impressed with how receptive paddlers were to new approaches and different techniques. I think local instructors and senior club members should be pleased with the way their next wave of adventurous kayakers are developing, it is a credit to all involved. The QSKC is a relatively young club but they are definitely coming of age as the skill base continues to deepen.

I have always enjoyed paddling with the Queensland Club, the hospitality is warm and the passion for paddling is hot even when the weather isn't. Special thanks to Gary, Eddy and Paul for a fine presentation and the invitation to come along to the show, Commodore Dredge and his team for hosting the evening and organising the training day, to Gary again for being an exemplary host and fellow instructor and, most important, to all those who attended training on Saturday for your commitment and good humour.

Above: All smiles, whatever the weather. (photo Graham Dredge)

Above: Gary helps Martin fine tune his roll. ( photo Graham Dredge)

Above: The group tries a rotation exercises I picked up from Ginni

(Photo Eddie Safrik)

Above: Commodore Dredge pictured admiring the new club support vessel named in his honor.
(photo Eddie Safrik)

Making The Grade

2010-09-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

(Above: posed rolls in flat water are only the beginning. Photo: Sharon Betteridge)

During skills assessments I always take the time to remind participants of the artificial nature of certification, after all it is the skill and judgement and not the piece of paper that matter. In a tricky situation the most futile strategy would surely be to wave your nicely printed certificate at an angry sea.

Just the same, a valid assessment provides a good opportunity to demonstrate both physical and communication skills in swell, sea and surf. The best rolls happen spontaneously and effective boat control is proven during rescues or other realistic tasks at sea. It is simply not possible to second guess how paddlers with apparently solid skills on the flat will adapt to dynamic water; some paddlers who work with the waves actually look better when it is lively whilst others operate with little or no feel for the sea. To 'keep it real' I often postpone assessments because the day offers too few or too many challenges.

Last Wednesday I drove past twenty of Sydney's favourite ocean beaches through heavy traffic, en route to Barrenjoey. The reason for the extra drive was a heavy 2-3 metre southerly groundswell that was hammering the open coast producing surf way beyond the: ''surf to 1 metre" specified in the award.

The extra driving provided us with a short paddle to surrounding headlands where we worked through rescue and towing scenarios in rebound and a freshening sea breeze. These activities were intensive but not unrealistic when you consider how often rescues, self rescues and towing happen in clusters in real life. At lunch we negotiated the surf at Umina Beach and as planned, the waves were worn down to manageable size by the natural breakwaters of Broken Bay, Lion Island and the reef off the southern point.

Sitting off the point of Umina it was still hard to imagine that the two metre plus mounds rolling under our boats had really lost much power as they pounded the middle of the beach and everyone seemed pleased with the easier landing through smaller surf and reflected waves close to "kiddies corner". After lunch and a stretch we took to the surf to demonstrate support strokes,control strokes and rolls. By this time the break zone had become more erratic with onshore wind chopping up the surface and a few rips cutting across the break to add an element of surprise.

The debrief is always a tough time for me. There are clear guidelines for the assessor and all the boxes need to be ticked for a successful performance. This is easy when you are reading through the document in a comfy chair at home, but on the day, there are always many shades of grey. As always the big hurdles seem to be surf and the reentry and roll in open water. These are also the easiest ones for the assessor; a roll that doesn't finish with the paddler upright is is obviously not working no matter how you view it and support strokes that don't work in small waves are also pretty plain to see. What is harder to measure is the attitude that will make a safe sea paddler. Fellow assessor Stuart Trueman once commented that skills without judgement just increase the ability to find trouble and if we focus on self rescue as the answer to every situation then some paddlers will make their plans based on getting out of trouble rather than staying out of trouble in the first place.

At the end of a long day, despite a generally strong performance everyone still had some work to do to complete their assessment, so it was rewarding that the group viewed the exercise as a valuable learning experience in its own right and a chance to take stock of personal progress. Beyond the piece of paper it is this self awareness that will stand these paddlers in good stead as they "make the grade".

Onshore Winds

2010-09-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

Recent winter westerlies and pulses of groundswell have created some clean and heavy surf against the coast. Serious surfers live for the alignment of these wind and swell events but for sea kayakers these conditions mean hard launch/landings on open beaches and a perilous slog across embayments or when returning from offshore islands.

In contrast, the onshore winds that shred the swells and ruin the surf, also kick up steep sided wind waves right against the coast providing hectic but often enjoyable kayaking conditions.

In deep water the rounder and more majestic swells travel far faster than we can paddle. According to the "Users Guide to Australian Coast"*, deep water swell waves with a 15 second period between crests will have a wavelength of 350metres and be travelling at 45knots! These are the impossible rides we try to catch as they roll under us at sea, and by the time they are are slow enough to catch they are in shallow water with almost vertical or barrelling faces that munch sea kayaks.

By comparison, even large wind waves of comparable height produced by a recent change will travel at only a fraction of the local wind speed thus providing steep close spaced waves that may travel within the sprint range of kayaks and other paddle craft and dissipate into foamy turbulence when they approach the beach.

Initially the new wind produces ''chop" travelling at around twenty percent of the wind speed. Over time this will approach 50percent of the wind speed as the waves reach a fully developed state, at which time they will be around 5 times as steep as swell waves of the same height.

So local winds produce waves that are steep, relatively slow, and close together even in deep water. When these winds are onshore, typically from the southeast or northeast, we are fully exposed as soon as we reach the sea and with careful planning or good luck we can often enjoy a downhill ride home at the end of our exertions.

The following shots were taken paddling into a fresh ENEaster earlier this week, there was almost no underlying swell off Sydney so almost all the wave action was the result of existing local conditions. When we had finished our workout we turned downwind and the following seas provided some excellent runners for everyone. There are no downwind images because :

1) The return paddle was over too fast.

2) I was having too much fun to take photos.

3) I was too busy listening to the skeg hum.

Hans approaching some wind driven waves .

Note the difference in elevation between Matt and I. This is a good indicator that things are getting steeper.

Henry in the foreground with the Stern of Alan's boat pointing skyward in the background

Alan about to get wet. Sooner or later the toppling crests dont break somewhere else.

*For an excellent discussion of wind, waves and swell see "The Users Guide To The Australian Coast" by Greg Laughlin, New Holland Press 1997.

Solo

2010-09-01T01:31:00.000-07:00

This week I cancelled my Tuesday night paddle and headed to the Blue Mountains for the launch of Vicki McAuley's book, SOLO.When I returned home just on midnight I started reading and after just a few pages I was compelled to read the whole book in one long sleepless sitting, I simply couldnt put it down.

The book stands as Vicki's personal tribute to husband Andrew McAuley and a chronicle of her personal voyage as she learns to live with her loss and find the courage to keep going.

It is a powerful and honest account and through the pages you get the feeling that Andrew's spirit of optimism and passion continues to support and inspire her. It is an exploration of what drives an extreme adventurer written by the person who knew him best.

Many modern adventurers claim to be ordinary folks who just want to do extraordinary things but this book avoids this cliche to present Andrew as a gifted natural athlete driven by an impulse to explore the limits of human performance. To those of us who paddled with him at one time or another I think this is a far more honest appraisal; he really was an elite adventurer without being elitist.

Anecdotes covering earlier kayaking expeditions and climbing adventures are interwoven into the text to illuminate the bigger issues of outdoor adventure, self sufficiency, and community attitudes to risk. Also included in the book are emails and letters that cover a broad range of opinions along with Vicki's responses, but the key to the success of the book lies in her willingness to write from the heart.

It has been famously said of adventurers that if you need to ask the question then you will never understand the answer. For those who ponder these issues Vicki's brave words will help to enlighten.

If you buy a copy through the EK website, Vicki receives all the proceeds.

Tuesday Night Light

2010-08-19T01:12:00.000-07:00

A few shots from Tuesday night.

Great location, fine company and beautiful twilight.

Lively Conditions Off Sydney Cliffs.

2010-08-15T01:08:00.000-07:00

The two photos above are from the same general vicinity. I have included the first shot, taken on a gentler day, to give some sense of proportion for the second shot. As most paddlers know, it is difficult to convey a sense of scale when paddling in strong conditions and it never quite looks the same on a still image but I couldnt resist snapping a few shots last Friday when Chris James and I headed out for a short paddle off Sydney Heads and down to Diamond Bay.

With the ferry services cancelled due to the weather the only other watercraft was a huge tanker that bludgeoned its way through the waves and seemed to bounce around a lot more than our tiny craft as it headed for deeper water.

If you look carefully along the waterline in the left hand portion of the photo above you will see Chris's cap just above the wave.

Northern Epic - They made it.

2010-08-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

At 6.30 last night Gary called from Gladstone - mission accomplished.
Before they even arrived back on the mainland the trio had traffic issues to negotiate, dealing with the big boats moving in and out of the Harbour. They used VHF radio to report their position to the Harbourmaster who plotted their course and relayed their position to shipping. Fortunately their communications were well received.
With the last big crossing behind them and their final destination in sight they left Facing Island after a quick break and headed into the Port in fading light for a very satisfying 65klm final day of paddling.
Last night they spoke of a day of contrasts: in the morning, surfing across coral bombies in water so clear that the well submerged reefs looked treacherously close to the surface and in the afternoon, dodging heavy shipping in a busy port.
The other notable comment from all the boys last night was how well they had been treated by the good people of Lady Elliot Island Resort and the Rangers, Marine Researchers and yachties they met along the way. I have the impression the kindness of these people will form one of the enduring memories of this big paddle.
So congratulations, to Gary, Eddie and Paul on your Unique unsupported sea kayak adventure out to the Capricorn Cays and back. I know there are many of us looking forward to hearing the whole story through your words and images sometime soon.

Northern Epic - Almost There....

2010-08-08T05:01:00.000-07:00

One of the few mariners calculations that I remember is: "the square root of the height of an object in feet is the distance in nautical miles that it is first seen from the seat of a kayak". If the sea is flat you can add an extra three nautical miles (but this is hardly ever the case) so I just allow the extra as a margin for error.

So what has this to do with Gary, Eddie and Paul's big adventure? Well, by looking at high points on charts for the Capricorn Cays and the adjoining mainland it becomes obvious that on most days of this trip they have paddled on open ocean toward an empty horizon without the comforting visual reassurance of seeing land until their last few nautical miles.

Tomorrow however, they will be paddling to the mainland from Masthead Island. This tiny isle has only a few metres of elevation and is less than one nautical mile in length. Their destination for the day will be Facing Island off Gladstone. As they approach, the hinterland will appear as isolated high points like small islands and then slowly consolidate into the vast land mass of the East Coast.

When their boats grind up onto the sand of Facing Island and they look at the busy shipping lanes out of Gladstone Harbour what will they feel? My guess is a mixture of deep satisfaction at the adventure they have shared, relief that they have achieved their goals safely, and trepidation at how they will adjust to what we call the "real world". For a while traffic will sound louder, the air will smell heavier and everything will seem just a little too complicated. On the upside they will look forward to family and friends, and to sharing their adventure with us.

Tonight's update from Masthead Island included: another serious shark encounter for Paul; a chance meeting with a marine researcher who owns a vintage Nordkapp and lives on Heron Island; and a lunch break on Wistari Reef as the tide slowly reclaimed it for the sea. The guys were also pleased to add sea snakes to the lengthy list of wildlife that have been checking out their inaugural northern migration.

I can't wait to see the photos.

The Northern Epic Continues...

2010-08-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

When it became obvious to me that I wasn't going to make it to the starting line for this adventure I offered myself as weather monitor and land contact. It is not the same as being there, but I feel privileged to be offering forecasts and plotting their progress. This way I can share some of the adventure vicariously as the boys island hop through this remarkable chain of coral cays.

At Lady Elliot Island they were happy to stay put through a cycle of weather changes that included moderate to strong nor-easters and assorted offshore winds. With no need to force the pace to catch another weather window they used this time wisely, swimming with Manta Rays and reef fish in the pristine waters, refuelling and reflecting on the lessons learnt from their first big crossing.

When I spoke to Gary about the relatively ''short'' 40km hop to Lady Musgrave I could tell that he had really started to live and breath with the rhythm of the outer reef environment and was very tuned into weather shifts and how they would affect conditions.

On Sunday afternoon they easily made this crossing to Lady Musgrave and settled down to a couple of days of fishing, snorkelling and chilling out.

Last call was at lunchtime today from tiny Hoskyn Island where they had stopped for a break.

It is possible to visit this remote archipelago just by jumping on a charter boat for a day or to take your tent and camp for a while, or even to hit the resort with nothing but a few clothes and a credit card; but I reckon there is something special about arriving and leaving by kayak, in your own time, on your own terms, with a sense of freedom and adventure worthy of such a place.

Autumn/Winter.

2010-08-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

Sea Kayakers around Sydney are getting tougher or the clothing is getting better. Just last week I had an 8.00am rolling lesson with air temp at 7deg C and water temp 19deg C; and the Tuesday night paddling contingent continue to stop for a few deep water rolls in the inky dark waters off the cliffs of Sydney and Botany Bay.
Warm water and cold air are a great combination for Autumn/Winter surf training; the cold air keeps the swimmers away and the warm water reduces that slap in the face feeling when punching out. The lack of competition for small surf gives sea kayakers a chance to stretch out a bit.
With a clear and wide line to the beach I snapped the self portrait above practising reverse endos at lunchtime at a surf training day.
Why is it whenever I pull this stunt everyone is looking the other way?

This shot of Neil was taken the same day using a one handed low brace with camera in the other hand.

A couple of resilient Kiwis in OZ just to test boats. "We never get weather like this back home."
In the last few months I have hosted visits from USA, Canada, New Zealand, Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania,Victoria and from regional New South Wales. Some have come along to try boats but most have been here for tuition or some guided paddling in warm open water. It is very rewarding to be part of the global paddling community, to share ideas and proudly show off
the waterways that make up my "office"

Sharon leads the way around Point Perpendicular, The Beecroft Peninsula. On my day off from kayaking commercially I often find myself drawn to this part of the coast and when I get there I cant resist going for a paddle.

Sharon's Saturday morning paddle, rain hail or shine. This paddle has become a regular fixture for Sydney kayakers. I think the success of this paddle lies in the simple formula of regular exercise, supportive environment, friendly crew and fresh coffee.

Seals are where you find them, and this one was happy to stay put regardless of interlopers in kayaks. The cool conditions have brought a number of these Southern visitors up to the city for winter.

Around Sydney the urban paddler can expect to see more dolphins, whales, seals, sharks, fish and seabirds than ever before, there is even a couple of turtles if you know where to look. To find a time of more abundance in the waters around Sydney would probably predate our use of sea kayaks in the area. Maybe the seasonal visitors of my childhood including, hairtail and slimy mackerel will return in due course.
I know we can never do enough as a community to protect our natural heritage but we need look no further than the way sea life has bounced back as evidence that recent initiatives to manage the city fishery and water quality are helping. Imagine if we all did a little more....

Photo by Eddie Safarik of me checking out a rock garden just north of Sydney Heads. I can't wait to see Eddies pics from the Bunker/Capricorn Expedition when they have successfully returned. (see last blog)

Rae about to be engulfed in the soup. Another fun day with a small group and gentle waves on the Central Coast.

Gina surfs across the edge of the rock platform at Malabar. Things to remember when kayak surfing at Malabar:

Wear a helmet.

Tuck if you capsize.

Don't broach right.

Don't drink the water.

Colour photo of a monochromatic day.

Paul demonstrates some of his Greenland skills. This is a growing niche with more and more paddlers enjoying the physical and technical challenges of traditional techniques. The low volume Greenland style boats are great for getting the feel for these skills.

The boat and the paddle: just add water - If rolling is on the agenda these are the right tools for the job.

No, this isn't world renowned kayak instructor Ginni Callahan directing traffic while Ian takes a nap.

This is part of a workshop on Greenland Rolling and Ginni is describing the relative angle of the boat to the water surface. Meanwhile, Ian is showing how it works when your back bends the right way. (don't try this at home)

Ginni shows how it is done. Her flexibility and finesse were inspiring. Although her visit coincided with the end of the really warm weather many of us have persevered through the cooler months so I am expecting there will be some noticeable improvements in the gentle art of Greenland rolling by the end of this summer.

Gina backs into a sea cave off the Toll Gate Islands. With the occasional bigger set coming through backing in was a good strategy. As with many rocky play spots, good control forwards, backwards and sideways make the whole activity safer and more fun.

Sometimes your forward stroke is your best defence. Gina running a tight gap off Gorilla Bay, South Coast, NSW.

This is Danny Blackwell heading out with the Tuesday night group for one last paddle before heading off to Africa to paddle across Lake Victoria with a couple of his mates. Since this photo was taken the trip has been successfully completed.

Well done Danny. A big adventure to raise money for a very worthwhile charity.

Part of Sharon's Saturday group off Bradley's Head. The historic lighthouse marks the big left turn that all shipping has to make after on its way to Sydney Heads from port facilities further up stream. Kayakers get one last look for heavy traffic before heading North towards the outer Harbour.

Days are finally getting longer again and the city skyline is often still illuminated by the afternoon sun as we leave for our evening paddle.

The winter southerlies have provided some great opportunities for getting out in the breeze, riding the waves and practising skills in open and moving water. As local paddlers get more skilled and keener to advance they are realising that Sea Kayaking can be year round sport and there is no need to lose all that hard earned paddle fitness and skills just waiting around for summer.

Northern Epic

2010-07-29T22:33:00.000-07:00

At 7.24pm on Tuesday I received the phone call I had been waiting for all day as a very relieved Gary Forest, Eddie Safarik and Paul Wilton recounted the travails of their big crossing from Sandy Cape to Lady Elliot Island.

In a straight line this is 85kms of open water and about the same distance paralleling the coast. Apart from the likelihood that this is a kayaking ''first", the group were initially drawn to it because of the unique paddling environment to be found at the maritime crossroads between Fraser Island and the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef.

Like many other points of convergence between major geographical features around the world, the turbulent waters filling the void between the worlds largest sand island and the world's largest reef system are notorious among mariners for producing difficult conditions. To this you need to add the 35kms of shifting bars and shoaling water known as the Breaksea Spit that runs North of Fraser. In his famous guide for cruising yachts Alan Lucas says of the area to the north of Sandy Cape: "the most predictable currents on this chart are those setting across the Breaksea Spit. It is dangerous to underestimate their strength which easily reach 2.5knots in places and will cause a heavy break against an easterly swell."

The boys were well prepared but challenged by the intensity and relentlessness of the conditions. As well as a 2-3m easterly swell they had winds at the upper end of the forecast with ESE gusting 20-32knots all day (Lady Elliot AWS). The resulting sea worked across the swell and currents to kick up a churning surface with breaking waves and almost constant clapotis. To make matters worse, rain reduced visibility and robbed them of the moonlight they were relying on for a visual horizon before sunrise. As a group they battled with: seasickness, exhaustion, an extremely inquisitive 4 metre Mako shark, another that tried to rip the paddle from Gary's hands in the darkness, and a trawler that almost ran over them on dusk.

The final tally on their GPS was 95kms in just under 17 grueling hours. When I asked Gary about the extra 10kms he said most of it was the aggregation of short detours as they were broached off course by breaking swells and intersecting wave patterns.

These are committed sea kayakers who trained diligently to prepare for their trip through the Bunker Group. I know they have done some long days in bumpy conditions and some serious technical paddling in big surf and on turbulent river bars, so when they talk of numerous capsizes and frequent support strokes it is very clear to me that this is an extremely difficult stretch of water and it is not just the sheer distance offshore that has kept Lady Elliot out of reach of kayaks for so long.

When I spoke to the team yesterday after a good nights rest they spoke in awe of the heavy conditions and relentless white water. Eddie spoke of the wild beauty of the seascape and the images of boats perched high on steep and twisting wave faces; images not captured on film in such difficult circumstances but vivid in his words, but the overwhelming feeling they all shared was pride and relief that the group stuck together and helped one another through this epic day on the water.

They intend to head off in light conditions for a comparatively "short" 40km crossing to Lady Musgrave Island tomorrow as they work their way north through the Bunker Group.

This trip is shaping up to be a classic Aussie adventure and this begs the question; Have these guys discovered another paddling icon? Is this the Queensland answer to Bass Strait?

Summer Paddling - Sydney

2010-02-04T23:43:00.000-08:00

Commodore Steinfeld beating into a steady Sou'Easter.

Tim paddling along the golden cliffs of the Royal National Park in the twilight.

Freshly hatched Cicada drying wings in time for the early morning wake up call

Bob with clifftop audience.

Wattle Bird trying to get some shuteye despite noisy campers.

Sad discovery - a dead Sea Dragon with eggs.

Paul in new boat on open water, all smiles.

Tracy's test paddle. Sunset over the Sydney skyline.

No room for kayaks - the weekly Laser invasion begins.

Grey sea, Grey boats, Grey sky.

Tuesday paddlers heading south past Macquarie Lighthouse.

Surfing in warm water in warm rain. A pleasant contrast from the intensity of the sun.

Matt in the hat. Real kayakers wear real hats.

Cape Banks

2010-01-18T03:48:00.000-08:00

I snapped this photo last Thursday; it shows Gina paddling north and about .5nm seaward of Cape Banks. The forecast was for 15 to 20 SE . Records for the local weather station at Little Bay indicated 19 to 27 for most of the time we were on the water but at sea level 20 knots seemed about right.

Paddling from La Perouse into the breeze was pretty heavy going but the ebbing tide assisted our outward progress until it collided with the onshore wind. After we turned north, wave reflection and these opposing forces of wind and tide provided a fast bumpy ride up the coast.

Low cloud and misty rain completed a dramatic picture.

There were no real surprises; if you look at a chart of the area you will see that aspect and topography make Cape Banks a magnet for current, sea and swell.

Even around Sydney self sufficiency is pretty important, although it is still the holiday season, the cooler weather and light rain kept everyone inside and we saw no other boats beyond the Bay.

Simon and Adrain - Congratulations!

2009-11-17T20:20:00.000-08:00

When I first met Simon Maguire in March this year he told me about his plans to paddle from Byron Bay to Newcastle and I knew he was serious. Although he had very little sea experience it was obvious that he was committed and his mental and physical preparations were underway.

That is not to say that Simon and his mate Adrian were making a fuss, in fact I suspect that without a good cause to promote and support they just would have quietly gone about their preparations and launched with as little fanfare as possible.

So after a few months to hone skills and fine tune equipment they set off on a 600km open water paddle facing sea from every quarter, headwinds, landing heavy boats through surf and crunching out the miles when they really needed to.

The hardest part is often making the plan, setting the date and pushing your heavy boat off the beach. I reckon taking that first stroke on day one is a victory in itself because so much needs to be done before this can happen and it is always so much easier to find yet another reason to leave it until next year....

So congratulations Simon and Adrian! An open coastal voyage of this scale is a credit to you and one that you can always view with satisfaction,whilst raising money for a cause and taking a stand in support of victims of crime broadens the significance of your acheivment.

After a 600klm paddle you might be excused for thinking that Simon would want to give himself a break from kayaking? Not according to an SMS he sent yesterday in which he says:'''Keener than ever to paddle and increase my skill level"

For those who would like to know more about Simons and Adrains paddle or VOCAL (Victims
of Crime Assistance League) you can go to: the Manning Kayak Klan and/or the Hunter Kayak Klan websites

Skill Session/Whale Cruise

2009-11-11T18:21:00.000-08:00

Above: TJ and Whale checking one another out with North Head and Bluefish Point in the background. (photo by Matt Bezzina)

We are always trying to do a little something extra on the Tuesday night paddles.

It is one of the few groups I know of that goes out regardless of the weather and we work on skills, rescues and safety all year round. It is not uncommon to see a few upturned hulls as a wave of spontaneous rolling seizes the group. Within this group there is a rare sense of playfulness that co exists with a healthy respect for the sea. Sometimes we just paddle for the fun of paddling, other times we incorporate a group activity somewhere exposed to the prevailing wind, sea and swell.

This week for example, we decided to head out about .5 to 1 nm off Sydneys North Head in a gentle 10-15knot noreaster. As I looked around the group I realised that all twelve participants had a roll, re entry and roll and good support strokes.

At the agreed point offshore we split into pairs and one from each pair threw their paddle a boat length or so away from them, then capsized, tried to swim while still seated in their boat to retreive their paddle and then roll up. If unssuccessful they wet exited, swam leading the boat to the paddle and performed a reentry and roll.The whole time buddies waiting their turn were keeping a watchful eye and ready to lend a hand.

Some paddlers got it right the first or second time and all the rest managed a reentry and roll before they started working on personal skills in pairs.

Standard rolls, exotic rolls,hand rolls, sculling braces and a range of assisted and unassisted rescues followed when, suddenly, Matt let out one of his legendary blood curdling yells. By the time we had regained our composure we realised that this wasnt a shark sighting or any threat to our safety but instead, a very playful humpback calf having an afternoon frolic under the watchful eye of its very large Mum.

There is an unwritten law that whale watching takes precedence over skills practice and the group moved off following at a respectful distance in awe of one the finest shows of Whale acrobatics I have ever seen. It is a truly a joy to witness these huge and gentle animals launch themselves into the air with such effortless power and a sense of playfulness.

I consider sightings like this as one of the rewards of being competent and willing to extend your range. The better your skills, the more options you have to paddle at sea, and the more you paddle at sea, the more you see.

Surf Skills at Umina

2009-11-09T15:51:00.000-08:00

I have often heard fellow Sea Instructors say:" if you can handle your kayak competently in surf, even easy to moderate surf, you can paddle in pretty much anything."

Obviously it is not hard to find conditions that exceed the easy surf; just sitting in your boat and dealing with the relentlessness of long days on rough seas for example.

Nevertheless, there is more than a grain of truth in this saying and surf sessions certainly stand out as a concentrated test of your ability to stay upright and in control.

In the surf you are tested by pulses of moving water, not just moving waves but moving water which is very different.

In the surf waves dont simply roll under you, if you arent decisive with your strokes they will very quickly take control of you. Kayaking in the surf is about learning to yield to the greater power of the waves without losing control of the boat.

For this surf day Chris James came along to assist and he quickly had the group assembled to go through safety protocols and some land based excercises.

As we held our paddles and checked body, boat and blade positions a passerby looked on in bewilderment, from their perspective we were just a bizarre assembly standing next to the carpark, dressed in rubber skirts and waving paddles in the air, but for the group it was a good start to the day and I enjoyed Chris's reveiw of technique and stroke corrections before we even hit the water.

With our land based breifing complete Sally, Karen and Tim followed Chris out through tiny spilling waves and headed North looking for the ideal practice waves i.e. not dumping in shallow water or close up against the beach

As this was a surf day for paddlers training for the AC sea skills award the surf had to provide some challenges and with the challenges come the usual risks of injury. We looked for a spilling break with enough size and push to make it realistic so I surfed in to assess conditions and assist from the beach while Chris offered advice and inspiration from his boat.

The tide changed and we moved further north taking on some bigger waves and the group managed well.
The surf was breaking in a very predictable pattern and into deep enough water to avoid unplanned impacts with the sand.

There were a few swims managed with good grace and composure, some heroic rolls (Karen's first ''in action") and some very tidy skills employed to catch waves and stay upright at all angles to the break. These included an impressive display of backwards surfing by Tim (Even though he denies it, I reckon he really looked like he knew what he was doing).

Usually we try to move into bigger waves later in the day but in this case we peaked just before lunch with ideal conditions right at he edge of the comfort zone and then moved back a notch in our wave selection for the afternoon session.

The whole group commented later how relaxed they were when we moved back to the easier waves. This got me thinking that this might be a strategy worth trying again especially with groups like this one that have already done a little surf work.
The selection of images featured in this blog were shot during this later session and it seems obvious that everyone is getting a slice of the action.

Above: Chris leads the charge.

Above: Karen prepares for the broach.

Above: Karen setting up for a ride to the beach

Above: Tim with stern rudder looking very relaxed.

Above: Sally punches out with 100percent commitment

Above: Karen drops her edge and keeps her brace compact.

After a long day we headed to the Patonga Pub for a coffee, a snack and a chance to relive some of the highlights.

There was the usual laughter and a few groans. It looks so obvious if you are edging the wrong way when you can see the video in slow motion, from a warm dry chair, while sipping on a latte.

I always feel a real sense of releif and satisfaction at the end a surf training day. Matching the conditions to the group and making sure the risks are managed is intense but very rewarding work. It is challenging to run this type of training but I beleive the lessons learnt promote safer and more independent paddlers. Ultimately there is no substitute for time in the boat in this high energy environment.

Beecroft Peninsula.... A Compact Adventure

2009-10-26T00:53:00.000-07:00

I was sorting through some imges from the last few months to assemble a general blog and realised I had quite a few from the Beecroft Peninsula taken during a short break a in early spring.

The idea of a compact adventure close to home has a special appeal. It can be organised with a few like minded individuals at short notice. If you have the requisite skills then you just need a weather window and the comittment to make it happen.

If you choose the Beecroft Peninsula, the rugged scenery and sense of wilderness are just a few hours drive from Sydney.

I always enjoy sharing the Beecroft Peninsula with adventurous kayakers like Chris. This was his first paddle from Currarong into Jervis Bay.

With the sun setting and a few miles left to cover, we paddled harder, enjoying the light, the solitude and the anticipation of landfall. We were all ready for the companionship of our evening meal and a warm brew.

Chris off Point Perpendicular enjoing the same sunset as in the previous image but this time the light is reflected off the cliffs.

Images like this one taken facing over my shoulder are a reminder of how important it is to look around. There is more to see than the view beyond the bow of your kayak.

Matt considers running the gap between Drum and Drumsticks but only from a distance and only for a second. The photo shows wave action during a lull, on the larger sets the cliffs you can see in the background between the stacks were obscured by spray.

A heavy north east swell kept us out of the renowned caves, gorges and gaps.

Like Matt, I am drawn to the challenge of running the gauntlet. It is a bit about bragging rights but a lot about the raw energy and immediacy of the zone between waves and rocks. The smells, sounds and adrenaline are intoxicating and can easily blur your judgement if you are not careful, but on this day the swell length and direction left few options but to keep out of the white water.

Up close on a smoother day or out wide when the swell is working this is a superb paddle and a healthy and humbling experience.

Spot The Paddler.

2009-10-25T23:49:00.001-07:00

In moderate conditions the waves regularly obscure a clear view of paddling buddies.
Often I try to set up an interesting snapshot only to see my subject disappear.

Note how easy the bright coloured boat is to see in the shots above and below

Broughton Island Day Trip.

2009-10-14T01:39:00.000-07:00

(above) Ian approaching Esmerelda Cove with Looking Glass Rock in the background.
(below) Sharon leaving Broughton Island after picnic lunch and power nap.

The Plan was fairly striaghtforward, Paddle to Broughton Island in easing tailwind conditions, camp overnight, and pickup the afternoon sea breeze on the homeward journey the following day.

When Sunday dawned with pouring rain and a steady Easterly over 20knots we decided to take it easy and see what the day would bring. I called the local VMR and was advised not to go to Broughton because conditions were still stirred up from heavy weather the previous day.

After a short paddle from WindaWoppa we had a leisurley lunch at Shoal Bay and waited for the ebbing tide to ease a little and then headed out through deeper water around Tomaree and into the "conditions".

The group looked very happy in the waves that had been stirring up the fishermen so with weather on the mend we decided to tackle Broughton as a daytrip the following day and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon paddling in the rain and wind.

Ian off Tomaree heading out to point Stephens.

Anne pushing into a headwind off Fingal Spit

Sharon off the heads of Port Stephens

Gina looking happy to be out despite the rain.

The following day provided ideal conditions for an express trip to Broughton.

Gina arriving in Esmerelda Cove for lunch.

Ian off the jagged tail of Cabbage Tree island on the return leg.

We paddled in moderate seas on Sunday exploring the spectacular clifflines to the south of Port Stephens in a heavy overcast with squalls and rebound. The disappointment of not making the crossing was soon forgotten as we engaged with the drama of our surrounding

seascape.

On Monday, our patience was rewarded with milder conditions and we squeezed the usual two day 46klm Broughton overnighter into a day trip with short walk and picnic lunch included.

We didnt explore the sea caves or clefts, mindful of the occasional large and unpredictable set and we kept a respectful eye on the weather.

By working with the conditions and seizing our opportunties we had covered a fair number of sea miles, attained our goal of an offshore crossing and left some exploring for another weekend.

If the boat fits... wear it.

2009-09-17T20:03:00.000-07:00

Imagine walking into a specialist outdoor store looking for walking boots and finding there are only two sizes. Then imagine asking why there are only size 9 and 13 and being told that these sizes fit "most people"(read large males). Finally imagine the helpful store person explaining to your smaller companion with size 5 feet that the size 9 is is perfect for her as long as she is willing to wear enough socks.

I think kayaks and shoes have a lot in common and no amount of closed cell foam and wishful thinking will make a small paddler feel connected in a medium to large boat any more than a dozen pairs of socks will make big shoes fit smaller feet.

A few years ago there really was no choice in Australia for smaller paddlers but to follow the "wear more socks" principle. With very few imports and a small market it made economic sense to build kayaks that suited the male dominated sport: i.e. expedition ready boats that performed adequately for medium to large men when empty. Unfortunately because everyone smaller than this would fit into these larger craft, it was assumed the boats fitted them.

Trying a boat for size:

It is possible to have too much stability. It is tiring to edge, maneuver and brace an oversize boat, particularly if there is so much initial stability that it prevents you from heeling the kayak easily and precisely. A wide boat that responds well for a heavier paddler with a high centre of gravity may simply simply feel like a barge to individuals shorter and lighter in the torso.

The Hip Test: When the boat is tilted the coaming and deck should not interfere with elbows or ribs. If you want to edge and roll the kayak you need to wear it so that the coaming is approximately aligned with the top of the hips.

Longer isn't always faster: Although a longer waterline equals higher potential speed this potential is only realised if you can produce enough power to overcome the drag generated by the extra wetted area. A scaled down boat may be a little shorter but the reduced waterline beam and wetted area will often more than offset reduced waterline length.

Weight: All other factors being equal, the lower volume (LV) boat will be lighter than standard or HV equivalents. Lighter boats accelerate faster on the water and are easier to handle off the water.

Beam: A reduced beam and height amidships allows shorter legs to engage the deck without straining into a very wide ''frog position". A narrower foredeck also allows a closer catch without overreaching, making it easier to roll as well as paddle.

Bulkheads: A scaled down cockpit area and closer spacing of bulkheads reduces the floodable area in the cockpit, and makes the boat easier to manage if it is swamped and easier to empty if it is capsized.

About 10 years ago with all this in mind and a complete lack of local options my wife, Sharon,

made her own plywood kayak: a ''Baidarka" built from plans that had been scaled down to give her a boat that would provide the same proportional fit as the larger composite craft that I had always found easy to paddle. Her boat control skills improved dramatically and she handled the challenging maiden voyage from Sydney to Jervis Bay in challenging conditions with new found confidence. These days there are options in the low volume market. Her regular kayak is an Impex Force 3 and she has her eye on an Avocet LV to add to the fleet in the future.

As sea kayakers have become more aware of the connection between boat fit and performance the number of LV models has steadily grown and new LV paddlers seem to be vindicating this move by learning faster and paddling better than ever before.

A spin off from the "Low Volume Revolution" has been the number of medium sized paddlers who have found these general purpose LV tourers make excellent play-boats. But, if you usually paddle a standard kayak don't expect any offers for a test paddle from the LV crew. They will be too busy ''getting amongst it" and won't happily sit on the beach watching you have all the fun.

Above: Sharon in her Impex Force 3; and below: Wendy in her Valley Avocet LV

Keeping It Real

2009-07-07T18:28:00.000-07:00

I believe that developing sea kayaking skills requires time on the sea, if you stay in the bay it's just kayaking.

Sometimes the best learning is "experiential" with the Instructor setting the scene, managing the risks and leaving the rest for the participants to sort out by engaging with the conditions. For this to work the sea state has to be challenging enough to demand the use of occasional support and control strokes: techniques that can seem irrelevant or contrived on flat water. For most paddlers these strokes just don't make much sense until you add moving water and some fresh breeze.

From an instructor's point of view there is a fine line between challenging conditions that raise skill levels and placing people in a fearful environment where they tend to lock up and only remember being frightened. To address this and make sure individuals could easily communicate how they were feeling I explained how everyone could rank their challenge/fear factor on a scale from one to ten with 0ne equal to sitting in the bathtub and ten being; ''get a helicopter out here now!''

So with the forecast for last weekend a little too big for our scheduled Beecroft overnighter I offered members of the NSWSKC an alternative day trip looking for whales in some lively conditions along the cliffs and exposed coast just south of Sydney. The BOM forecast for Sunday was for 3 metre southerly swells, winds south west at 15-25 Knots and seas 2-3metres (Winds and sea trending down slightly during the day).

As the group assembled at the edge of the sheltered waters at Bonnie Vale it was hard to believe that there was any wind but high up on the ridge to the south of Bundeena branches were bending and every few minutes the glassy waters would suddenly pile up and spilling waves would light up the location of sand bars as the larger sets of southerly swells bent around Jibbon Point and rolled up Port Hacking heading west toward Maianbar.

Everything pointed to an active sea state off the Royal National Park cliffs and with reports of large pods of Humpback whales heading close along this stretch of coast, expectations were high for a great day on the water.

As for the whales; we saw them spout, splash and breach briefly and sometimes they were quite close but the swell and sea made it hard to see them for long enough to snap photographic evidence, fortunately the paddlers were far easier to capture with the lens.

Sharon and Karen rounding Jibbon point heading into the wind. The RNP cliffs trend SW and offer little protection from SW winds.

Karen looking relaxed, holding position in the breeze.

From my sheltered position in a trough the waves look a lot smoother but Sharon looks very windswept as she climbs to the adjoining crest.

Gina seems to be enjoying the swells. You can just see the tops of the buildings behind Cronulla Beach in the background.

Gina with Albatross escort (top left) looks south along the Royal National Park cliffs toward Wattamolla with Wollongong on the horizon.

Sharon riding down the back of an oncoming wave.

By mid afternoon we were back at Bonnie Vale and the flood tide had taken some of the power out of the bay surf but there were still a few easy rides on offer. It takes a powerful southerly swell to keep things spilling this far inshore. (Above Matt Bezzina takes a well earned break from Sea leader duties.)

Owen relaxing in the zone and enjoying the responsiveness of his sporty new boat.

Special Thanks to Sea Leaders Matt and Owen for the their essential role in making this a safe and effective Day.

Tassie Training Weekend

2009-02-24T22:27:00.000-08:00

When Greg Simson first extended a firm invitation to Mark and I to present training at this weekend I asked myself what we would have to offer such an independent and capable paddling community.

After Greg's reassurance that many members of the Tasmanian Sea Canoe Club were curious about different approaches to boat design, boat control and rolling, we put together a list of half day sessions based on generic principles such as ''torso rotation for power and injury prevention'' and ''edge control for manoeuvering and support''.

Our main aim was to invite paddlers with a wide range of skills and experience to test the techniques we have enjoyed learning ourselves. We also wanted to show how much fun you can have paddling your boat with the rudder up or rudder off.

As always we had the not-so -hidden agenda of promoting skeg boat paddling as a real and rewarding alternative...the way it is viewed in UK, Europe and North America.

I thought we were a bit cheeky considering that some Tasmanian Sea paddlers not only have a very strong claim to invention of the flip over rudder but often consider a boat without a rudder to be unseaworthy.
As it happened we were let off pretty lightly for our 'heretical views' and treated very well. In reality, this group reflected a national trend towards increasing diversity in equipment with Greenland, Wing and Flat blades all used side by side in boats that ranged from hard-core British tide-race boats and skinny ocean racers to beautiful replicas of Aleut and Inuit craft. Watching paddlers adapt the techniques we were presenting to different paddles and boats was fascinating and fun.

On the Monday morning I conducted a rolling workshop for some of the club's volunteer instructors and mentors. We looked at different skills-progressions and ways of supporting learners, and there was some interest in a number of the different warm up and pre rolling drills that I demonstrated.The club's senior paddlers had already decided to teach the sweep roll as the "club roll"and I thought this was a good choice that will allow a consistent approach so that future training can be shared with confidence. With this in mind we looked at variations to tailor for individual differences in flexibility, equipment and personal learning styles.
As with all good rolling sessions it concluded with all concerned messing around with different techniques, swapping ideas and generally having fun getting extremely wet and cold .

Fine food (including the best abalone I have ever tasted), great company and a real sense of community made this a weekend to remember.

On Tuesday morning I had to decide whether to enjoy a leisurely drive from Fortesque Bay to Devonport or paddle out to the magnificent rock formations around Cape Huay and risk missing the ferry home.

As you can see I made it out to the Cape and its many attractions and paddled through all the channels and gauntlets I could find.

The fur seal family guarding the gap between The Candlestick and The Lanterns escorted me through the slow surge and out into the sun on the other side, but they became progressively annoyed with me when I kept paddling back and forward to admire the views.

I arrived at the ferry terminal three minutes before they closed the ramp and as I caught my breath, I watched a lone paddler doing his afternoon workout around the Devonport dockside and I thought about the amazing contrasts we encounter as kayakers: whether it is training with a group of like minded individuals, a short blast around a familiar waterway, a detailed exploration of a rocky shore or a committed journey along a lonely coastline, paddling to the rhythm of the sea is good for the soul.

Thanks to Greg Simson for organising the weekend and the friendly people of the Tassie Sea Canoe Club for their open minds, companionship, hospitality, abalone and for sharing their ideas and paddling techniques with Mark and I.

Going the distance..

2008-12-21T20:16:00.000-08:00

In November my mate Gary suggested a few days paddle after the Australian Sea Kayak Symposium.

Initially I had to decline because I couldn't really justify being away from home for the extra days.

That was until I realised that an excursion to Caloundra would serve as an important "reconnaissance" for future training around Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

So, with a successful Symposium behind us and a plausible justification (excuse) for a few days touring under my belt, I launched from Cleveland Point onto the muddy waters of Moreton Bay with local Sea Kayak Instructor Gary Forrest.

From Cleveland Point we paddled to the wreck of the "Platypus" off Peel Island

and then onto North Gorge on the outside of North Stradbroke Island.

Between Cylinder Beach and North Gorge the water took on a very different character with sandbars, currents and opposing seas producing some more engaging paddling.

After the hot, still conditions inside the bay it was invigorating to be in open water.

The next morning we had an easy launch from Cylinder Beach with an occasional splash to cool us down.

Tangalooma wrecks was a great place for a little kayak snorkelling...

and some further early morning exploration before heading off to Bribie Island enroute to Caloundra for a well earned coffee and dinner rendezvous with Deb (Gary's partner).

Gary's thorough preparation ensured a good line to the southern point of Bribie Island and, after bacon and eggs for breakfast, we pushed out into a building headwind for a fairly solid slog along the apparently endless surf beach to Caloundra Bar for a respectable 62km day.

After a good night's sleep we got down to the serious business of checking out the Sunshine Coast's best paddling and instruction venues with local Valley Kayak enthusiast, Sylvio Testa (starring below on the Cottontree Bar).

This is a great section of coast with tidal river bars, gradually shelving beaches and warm clean water.

I will return to deliver some action packed training with Gary in the next few months so watch this space and the EK website for details.

Looking back it wasn't the 62km slog on the last day of our little excursion, or the endless lugging of boats at the Symposium that provided the biggest challenge, it was trying to convince the folks back home that I had been ''working".

P.S.
Thanks to Gary and Deb for their wonderful hospitality.
All photos of Gary and Sylvio by me, and all photos of me by Gary.

Spring in Sydney... An Instructor's Perspective

2008-11-19T04:42:00.000-08:00

South Head looks like an island veiwed from this perspective. The low angle of the afternoon sun creates a brilliant flash reflecting off the Hornby Lighthouse prism.

Viv heads North out of the Harbour for her first paddle along these cliffs.

Alan checks out Passenger Liner and decides he is happier in his new Explorer.

Some of the Tuesday night crew hit the afternoon fizz off North Head.

Tony about to catch a ride on one of the friendliest bars in Sydney during a wave riding session at Bundeena.

Presenting a Sea Leader course at the Neilsen Park Kiosk. It was hard to compete with the harbour view.

Shaan and Alan plugging into a headwind south of The Gap. It's not as easy as it looks!

The Water in Sydney Harbour was still 17degrees in late October, so pool rolling became a weekly drawcard.

Danny started paddling with us over the past few months. He is a fast learner who doesn't mind falling in at the deep end. He has his sights set on a kayak crossing of Lake Victoria in Africa: a pretty serious adventure!

Chris and Ian lining up for a ride back to Sydney Harbour on a fresh southerly breeze.

The truly adventurous Andrew Hughes paid Sydney a visit to deliver a fascinating account of his solo coastal expedition along the Papua New Guinea coast. Here he is pictured in my Valley Aquanaut about to do some rolling tuition. We had a great afternoon and I learnt a lot about Andrew's approach to expeditions and in return, Andrew learnt just how much water gets up your nose when you practice rolling without a mask. If you get a chance to see Andrew present his story don't miss it.

"The Catch"

2008-10-02T00:59:00.000-07:00

(Riding the waves off North Head - photo: Andrew Eddy)

All sports involving paddling, rowing or swimming emphasise the catch. On flat water this is repetitive both in blade placement and cadence. Sure, the cadence may increase or decrease for a number of reasons, but it is nevertheless a rhythmic and repetitive series of moves: catch, power, exit, setup, catch........
But for Sea Paddlers of all persuasions there is another "catch": namely that a constant well modulated forward stroke will sometimes waste vast amounts of precious wave energy. Moderate sea and wind conditions will favour the paddler who is able to change the timing and placement of strokes to harness this power.
The most dramatic example of open water wave-riding can be seen in ocean races when ski paddlers pick up long exhilarating runs (e.g The Molokai), but I need to look no further than some of my regular ocean paddles along the Sydney coast to see the importance of developing these skills.

The speed difference between various members of my Tuesday Night Group is nowhere near as obvious on flat water as it is in moderate sea conditions and, even more striking, is that some of the quickest flat water paddlers aren't the quickest rough water paddlers.

So what makes a good wave runner?

There are the obvious things like stroke. The same qualities that make a good flat water paddler are essential in a sea kayaker. Then there is confidence, familiarity, and balance. But these alone don't explain why two otherwise well matched paddlers will sometimes travel at such dramatically different speeds on the sea.

The special ingredient is developing a feel for just where and when to place the blade and position your kayak to capture maximum power from the wave. Below are some tips for developing this feel and extracting more performance from your sea kayak.

( I offer the following as a brief summary of some important considerations. There are many fine points and subtleties that can only really be explained at sea with the right conditions for practice and an experienced mentor or instructor on hand to offer guidance, safety and encouragement.)

Reading the waves

1) Following Sea:
This is a steep locally generated wave pattern from astern that is travelling faster than you can cruise but is still slow enough to catch.

2) Swells:

You can also use local sea waves to generate enough speed to catch the bigger, faster moving swells. If the swell and sea are running the same direction then this is about speed and timing. When the sea and swell are running in different directions this requires catching a series of rides down wave and then having the knack 0f "tacking" onto the running direction of the swell.

3) Sea Against Swell:

Then there is riding sea waves against the swell direction. This happens around Sydney quite a lot particularly in Summer when the afternoon NE sea breeze often provides a fast ride directly into the SE swell.

4) Against The Wind:
Even more surprising is just how much speed you can gain by varying your cadence to accelerate "downhill" on the backs of oncoming wind waves (sea).

5) Rebound:

By far the most unappreciated source of helpful energy can be found in rebounding seas along steep shores and cliff lines. With good timing and a trained eye for finding the underlying wave patterns hidden in the apparent chaos a fast 'slalom' ride is often available. Your cadence may need to be syncopated to pick up this funky ride!.

Skills

1) Acceleration:

The unfortunate fact is that sea kayakers are the "plodders" of the paddling world. We generally paddle wide, heavy boats long distances at fairly low speeds and many of us don't even attempt to chase the exciting free rides that are there for the taking. The more you chase waves the faster you will get and the more waves you will catch. Try to do a few sprints every time you paddle and teach your body to perform a technically sound stroke at a higher rate with a light and lively grip on the paddle. If the budget will stretch to a workout boat (e.g a ski or racing kayak) then a regular session in this may help.

2) Edges:
The sea will often consistently broach you in the same direction and, if it is steep, it may frustrate even the most committed rudder user. (After all, the rudder will often be in the air!) To maximise rides you need to be able to use your edges to counteract the broach. You need to be able to take off on a wave with the boat on one edge.

3) Avoid Braking Strokes:
Constant trailing braces or leaning on a stern rudder may make you feel more secure but they are akin to putting on the brakes. The more you keep braking the more you will broach and lose directional control and position for the next wave.

In years of working as a sea instructor I have seen many more unintended capsizes due to loss of directional control and uncontrolled broaching than I have seen due to general instability. In following seas make your course changes on wave crests, with a little sweep and edge blended into your forward stroke. Be more aggressive, make small course corrections often, and cutback on strokes which drag your paddle and slow you down.

4) Weight Transference:
Some boats are "trim sensitive" and will run faster down wave with your weight forward. The usual trade-off is looser tracking, so its worth experimenting with when to shift your weight back to engage the stern and hold your line, or when to lean forward to accelerate.

5) The Forward Stroke is Your Best Support:

Next time a racing ski paddler leaves you in their wake remember that they are relying on their forward stroke to steady their boat. Rather than trailing a blade they keep looking for stable water to catch with their blade. Regardless of the challenges to balance that happen between strokes a solid catch is not only for power it is also the first line of defence.

If in doubt keep paddling!.

6) Finally: Remain Aware of The Possibilities.
Many new paddlers dread following seas and the slippery stability the sea imparts on their boats. But following seas are not just a fact of life, they are also one of the great pleasures of sea kayaking. There is nothing quite like the buzz of sliding down the face of a steep wave with the hull humming and plumes of spray flying off the bow.That is the best reason I can think of to develop skills and a feel for the waves.

Holiday Snaps From FNQ

2008-09-27T22:24:00.000-07:00

In a warm shady courtyard with a gourmet lunch before us, we looked back on the last 14 days spent on the beautiful islands of the Northumberland, Smith, Whitsunday and Gloucester Groups in North Queensland and amused ourselves by dreaming up captions to accompany some of our holiday snaps. Here are my recollections of some of the more helpful hints.

Just because its a holiday doesn't mean it's always going to be "plain sailing".

(Peter sailing, wind against tide. Photo: Rob)

Develop good downwind skills and catch the tradewind express.

(Sharon off Armit Island. Photo: Rob)

Cover forseeable navigation issues before you launch.

(Boatport breakfast meeting. Photo: Sharon)

Other members of the group will often see things from a very different point of view.

(Approaching Saddleback Island. Photo: Rod)

... but, running repairs are the only reason you should "crawl into your shell".

(Armit Island workshop. Photo: Rod)

When they are "human watching", whales sometimes refuse to keep their distance.

(Rob and whale tail off Goldsmith Island. Photo: Peter)

There are locals on even the most remote islands and, even if they are a little "nosey", they deserve respect. ( Cockermouth Island locals - Pied Oyster Catchers. Photo: Sharon)

Beware of "destination syndrome" and allow time for exploring special places along the way.

( Above-Sharon explores Pleistocene reef on Cockermouth Island. Photo: Rob

Below - Sunset off Steens Beach. Photo: Sharon)

Sometimes it is more interesting to take the long way. ( Rob and Peter enjoying a detailed circumnavigation of Gloucester Island. Photo: Sharon)

The fishing is always best when you would rather be eating or sleeping.

(Fishing at sunset. Photo: Sharon)

(Rafting up for lunch- Edgecumbe Bay. Photo, Rob.)

Instructors School

2008-08-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Sea is a great teacher, very unforgiving of any complacency or poor judgement but exhilirating when you rise to the challenge. The following five photos show top local paddlers putting their skills to the test.

I have called this selection of pics " instructors school " because these skilled paddlers are "learning by doing".
They view the sea as their teacher and this attitude helps them build the confidence and competence to share their passion for kayaking with others.

Keith Oakford: rock garden Nth Head

Chris James: Heavy weather off South Head

Mark Sundin: Big Day at Botany Bay

Gary Forrest: Cruising the bar at Mooloolaba

(photo Deb Browning)

Karen Dallas: classic beach break at Arrawarra Headland (for photographer details contact Karen Dallas at the Skee Kayak Centre)

Offcuts

2008-08-02T01:28:00.000-07:00

As my mate Matt says: "the best camera is the one in your hands". S0 I always take my humble compact along and even when it is bumpy and I have to brace with one hand and shoot with the other, I still try to take a few pictures.
This "dolphin cutlet" was taken when I wanted to identify the dark shape under my boat on a blustery morning, shame about the other bits!

Recently cuttlefish like this one, have been floating around off the Sydney coast providing fine dining for all manner of sea creatures and sea going birds.
Once the flesh is picked off the chalky core accounts for many false sightings of "sharks" with white bony dorsal fins.

A Black Browed Albatross with cuttlefish brunch on a lazy winter Sunday.
These powerful seabirds don't have the same tourist appeal as whales but from the low vantage point of a kayak you can watch them glide low and fast.
On windy days when the waves are steep their flight matches the contours of the sea, their wing tips lifting a fine spray off the surface.

Skyscapes.

2008-07-09T20:29:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday night we rounded south head in "light airs" to behold a distant waterspout and a rainbow.
Futher to seaward, spectacular cloud banks added steely tones to the rays of the low, winter sun.

The whole group sat surprisingly still in the afternoon lull, quietly watching as the vortex of moist air dissipated off North Head.

With cliffs to our west and more rainbows on the horizon we paddled with an unusual quietness.

It seemed we were all a little in awe of the skyscape as colours and forms dissolved into the night.

Wayne Langmaid

2008-06-25T15:46:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday afternoon I packed my paddle and headed for the Central Coast to pay my respects and offer support to the family of Wayne Langmaid. We were gathered to acknowledge the passing of a multi-talented and passionate man who had earned the friendship and respect of so many people.

His loving family gave eulogies with a courage and intensity that were reminiscent of Wayne's finest qualities. His inspiration was so obvious in their words.

Wayne was a pioneering figure in the SeaKayaking community. He was a forceful and strident advocate for safety, and the standards that he set for himself and his business became benchmarks for the paddling community. He beleived that fledgling adventurers deserved a challenging but fear free learning environment. He insisted that safe and supportive guidance was a right rather than an option and reminded all aspiring instructors of their moral and legal obligations to these principles.

He shared these values with all concerned and was generous with his time and expertise. When I headed a review of safety and training proceedures as president of the New South Wales Sea Kayak Club, Wayne gave generously of his time and expertise. His positive influence over this organisation and many other kayaking groups, including my own training organisation, will live on.

Two Tuesdays at North Head.

2008-06-05T01:25:00.000-07:00

Two photos, one week apart, same time, same place, same group....

... but a very different scene.

Small Waves = Big Fun

2008-06-02T20:06:00.001-07:00

The surf report said: "small dribbling surf in the morning with a few peaky 1-2 footers later in the day". So with the low afternoon sun throwing a pink tinge on the breaking crests, Peter, Chris and I headed for Greenhills to catch a few rides in our sea kayaks.
We soon discovered the odd decent set and anyway, it doesnt take much to keep sea kayakers amused. It must have been big enough because we all needed a roll or three.

Punching out we still had some work to do....

with just enough wave action to keep us honest....

But most of the session was clean and cruisy with not a boardrider in sight.

With waves like this, you can practice strokes without the same pressure or urgency that you get with bigger, fatter waves.

Just on sunset with the tide running out, things got quite busy. The local surfers knew the best waves would happen after the turn of the tide and weren't going to let the low light deter them.

So we moved to the North of the beach to avoid the evening "peak hour".

Still enjoying the conditions, we surfed 'by ear' for a while and then reluctantly picked up one last shadowy wave as the last light drained out of the evening sky.

Lake Macquarie Paddlers.

2008-06-01T22:02:00.000-07:00

Waking up to a clear cool morning on the banks of Lake Macquarie - it was the perfect way to prepare for a weekend of solid training with the Lake Macquarie Paddlers.....

Across a wide age range and from many walks of life, this group were one of the friendliest and most enthusiastic that I have met.

Injury prevention and efficiency were hot topics. Who wants to give up paddling due to strain injuries?.... and who doesn't want to go little quicker?

(Photo Chris B)

Regardless of how well Sharon paddled, the playground equipment wouldn't budge......!

(photo Chris B)

With the aims of the morning session explained we hit the water to refine the forward stroke. After a series of exercises and challenges, we finished the morning with a "peer review".

I believe there is lot to learn about your own stroke by developing a constructively critical eye for other peoples technique.

Having your mates analyse your paddling is sometimes a real test of diplomacy and with some paddlers, I feel more like a referee than a coach during this activity.

Fortunately, with this group, humour prevailed and by lunchtime, many could not only feel the difference in their own paddling but could see the difference in their buddies.

(photo Chris B)

We proceeded from boat control skills to wet exits (planned and unplanned).

Along the way we found out what happens when you tilt your boat and what happens when you tilt it too far.
Initial apprehension about capsize was soon forgotten and people started to relax with the idea of edging their boats and bracing.
I made my usual pronouncement :" If you don't fall in you aren't trying hard enough!" and the group rose to the challenge. John even declared himself the "unbalanced boater"after stalling during some very committed turns and braces!

It was a warm weekend so it was easy to promote kayaking as an immersion sport.

With practice and a little more training I think The Lake Macquarie Paddlers will be adding some coastal trips to their calendar.
There is an adventurous spirit in this group and the skills and knowledge they are acquiring will soon see them crossing the Swansea Bar and extending their range to the open sea. When they paddle out of their beautiful sheltered Lake onto the ocean swells for the first time, their preparation and teamwork will make a real difference.

Special thanks to:

Alan and Ingrid for organising the weekend and valuable advice on how to tailor the training.

Owen and Anne for hosting a hearty barbecue on Saturday night.

John for his enthusiasm and positive write up of the weekends events.

Chris for his excellent photographs and the artistic images of a kayaker.

And; Alan, Anne, Chris, Don, Frank, Ingrid, John, Malcolm, Neil, Owen, Peter, Ray and Wayne for giving the weekend their full commitment and enthusiasm.

Sea Skills. Port Stephens

2008-05-21T02:04:00.000-07:00

As last week progressed and the forecasts for strong offshore winds became more strident it also became obvious to all concerned that Broughton Island was not going to be a suitable destination for Sea Skills Assessments.

Karen Dallas from the Skee Kayak Centre had been tracking forecast trends and liasing with the Port Stephens VMR to produce a viable floatplan that kept us near shore and with accessible bail out points if the winds strengthened ahead of the forecast.

After logging on with the Coastal Patrol, Karen went through the safety briefing and finished with a reminder about surf signals and ettiquette.

I first met Karen and her Coffs Harbour sea kayak group a couple of years ago and was immediately impressed with their positive attitude to surf, which is just as well, because up around "Coffs" you run out of options if you don't develop the skills to handle beach landings.

Above: Shane and Mick demonstrate good form catching small waves. This session lasted about an hour during which time the whole crew put on a good display while we worked towards the bigger end of the beach. There was a number of rolls but no swimmers. Well done guys!

Regular practice even in small surf really sharpens up bracing and edge control and it was refreshing to see a group with none of the "surf phobia" I often see with Sydney paddlers. Those quiet North Coast beaches seem to provide a great training ground and with Karen as a leader and mentor these kayakers are learning fast.

We reluctantly left the surf looking for new assessment challenges. Here Terry leads the way as we follow the Tomaree headland out of the breeze.

(above) We decide to try out a few rescues out of the wind. Then we added a little more exposure and a sense of urgency courtesy of an "unexpected" capsize close to the rocks.(below)

Deck carries, swimmer rescues and all sorts of variations were demonstrated in all sorts of conditions throughtout the weekend.

(below) A series of huge sea caves provided some shelter and a chance to practice turning and manouvering in a dramatic setting.

Below: The sea skilled team - Terry, Karen (Sea Leader), Peter, Shane and Mick.

Special thanks to Karen for excellent organisational skills on and off the water. You can see her below taking a rare break to explore a short cut while I keep an eye on things. Even Leaders need a break sometimes!

NSWSKC at the Royal National Park.

2008-05-14T19:53:00.000-07:00

The lure of a paddle along the cliffs to Little Marley was only part of the reason we assembled at Bonnie Vale last Sunday.
For Adrian it was a chance to practice his instructing skills and pick up a few tricks of the trade.
For some of the group it was a last minute practice before upcoming sea skills assessments.
For Cathy, a first paddle on the sea.
And for everyone a chance to apply their skills to the open waters of the "Royal Coast".

We kicked off the day with a paddling workshop. Sharon showed us how to do it and Adrian added a detailed commentary before we headed off ,eager to put theory into practice.
We offered corrections on posture, hand position and general fwd technique before leaving the shelter of Port Hacking.
Once we turned the corner at Jibbon Point it became abvious that everyone would get to test the efficiency of their stroke punching into the steady 8-12knot headwind.
I also realised some towing practice would be necessary if we were to get to Little Marley for lunch.

Above you can see the adventurous Cathie on her first paddle on the sea. She chose a good day with just enough wave action to "keep it real"

We land at 1.00pm due to the headwinds and a leisurely start. An easy landing and smiles all round with the promise of lunch in the sun.

(above) After lunch, Adrian and Sharon paddling past the disinctive peaked dune that rises out of the Lagoon behind Big Marley.

On the way home Jan decided the rebound off the cliffs would provide a great opportunity for her to try a re-enter and roll. ( I may have given a little bit of encouragement)

Ian is holding station nearby just in case she needs help.

Success! Jan rolls and Ian rafts up while she attaches the spray deck and has a break.

With the sun about to dissappear behind the cliffs we decide everyone is wet enough and tired enough to head back to the calmer, busier waters of the bay.

Thanks to all who paddled for working as a team to make this a safe and friendly day and to Sharon and Adrian for Sharing their skills and knowledge.

Tuesday 15th April

2008-04-21T02:50:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday delivered some real Autumn weather with the occasional larger wave off Sydney recorded in the 4 metre range and a solid SE breeze to keep every one busy.

Matt decided to give the fishing a miss as soon as we saw the open water. Once we rounded South Head he knew he would be 'busy' enough without the line .

As you can see in the photo below Terry did a fair bit of 'rudderless' paddling.

Meanwhile Keith took a 'short cut' in his new Aquanaut and got a surprisingly steep refracted wave before we even got 'outside'.

South of 'The Gap' the sea and swell evened out into a longer, cleaner pattern and I was able to snap some more pics while sitting in the troughs out of the wind.

Back in the shelter of South Head there was a chance to catch a couple more shots of Keith in his new boat before we hit the flat water.

Thanks to the Tuesday night crew for paddling as a cohesive team and thanks to fellow instructor Keith Oakford for adding some extra strength to the group.

Surf Last Sunday

2008-04-20T07:05:00.001-07:00

I looked out over Umina Beach in the failing light, satisfied that another surf day was safely completed. It had been a great group with everyone giving it their best shot. Early morning jitters gave way to some good surf skills interspersed with a fair bit of 'swimming'.
First up, teamwork and good humour saw us off the beach and moving North parallel with shore.

We checked out the larger breaks from seaward: where were the rips, surfers and swimmers? and could we locate the shore dump from a distance rather than learning the "hard way"?
We selected a potential landing during a lull. With everyone at at a safe distance offshore, I went for closer look and disappeared into a larger set for some minutes. My boat was almost airborne as I punched out. Most of the time this part of the beach was O.K for kayaks but every four or five minutes this zone was transformed into a nasty place to paddle. It was a great example of just how long the 'lulls' can be and how much bigger the sets can be - in this case at least twice the height of the regular break.
With a heavy shore dump and an offshore bar picking up the bigger ones we gladly headed back to the smaller spilling waves in the corner.

Our first challenge was to practice landing on the back of the wave i.e. non-surfing. Then we progressed to punching out, bracing and ruddering. The main aim of this was to develop a feel for edge control and familiarity with moving water.

Our day ended with coffee and a video review of the action. I believe learning to kayak is about knowing, feeling and seeing, so the video is always a good way to finish the day. It reinforces lessons learnt and with surfing always creates some grimaces and some laughter.

Learning to deal with breaking waves sharpens boat handling skills, adds meaning to techniques which are less effective on flatwater, and is fun.

Jacqui heading out for "one last wave"

Belated Rock n Roll Report

2008-04-16T01:36:00.000-07:00

When my camera picture card 'died' at the RnR dinner I thought I would never see these photos.

Thanks to Ernie and Natasha at 'datadetect' I have salvaged some rock n roll images for a belated posting.

I have attended the last 10 'rock n roll' weekends and from my point of view, 2008 was one of the best.

The fair weather and low swells allowed most paddlers the opportunity to circumnavigate the rugged volcanic shoreline of the Tollgate Islands and/or Three Island Point. (Below Stuart and Sally paddle one of the chanells that cut their way through the point.)

Back at the camp the small creek provided the main training venue as Nigel Dennis patiently applied his vast experience to help kayakers find the correct paddle to suit their stature, strength, boat and technique. (photo below;Kate in the Rapier20 participating in Nigel's paddle selection workshop. Lendal 4pce paddles allow a vast number of blade, shaft, length and feather options to suit.)

Social activities included a fully catered evening meal. Two brilliant guest speakers (Nigel Dennis and John Kirk-Anderson) and the beer and pizza welcome party at the Expedition Kayaks Tent.

As a professional instructor there were a number of opportunities to compare notes with skilled local paddlers and learn from our overseas and interstate guests.

Best of all it was a chance to catch up with many like minded people who I only get to see at "the Rock'n' Roll"

Many thanks to the Stephan and Rob R and all the other volunteers for making the weekend happen.

Since My Last Posting.....

2008-03-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

Below are some recent pics taken around Sydney during training sessions over the last fortnight.

Cronulla Beach had a gentle spilling wave ideal for learning to surf.

Tony caught this wave a little early and discovered what happens after the bow disappears.

He handled the resulting vertical manouver nicely landing in a compact braced position complete with grin.

Just wish I had managed the camera as well.

A smaller wave and more speed - this time Tony avoids the 'endo'.

But only just.

Tim tries a roll off Jibbon beach.
Note that although the boat is almost upright Tim's head is just leaving the water.

A successful roll with out resorting to brute strength

Behind this mysterious mask is a big grin because Terry has just passed his Australian Canoeing 'Sea Skills' award.

Congratulations TJ!

Fellow instructor Mark Sundin on a recent NSWSKC trip to Little Bay and return with some rescue training and a picnic lunch.

Mark always looks so happy in his boat.

Seated in a kayak, with the sea breeze in your face, it is hard to imagine there is a major capital city just around the corner.

Kate enjoys the scene as she waits for the group to catch up.

Ian turns his back on the big end of town.
Nice boat.

Cruising in on the back of a wave for a well earned lunch, cuppa and debrief.

Another hard day at "the office".

A late afternoon shower to wash the salt away
Cags and lights are going on earlier each week.

The days when the orthodox approach to sea kayaking required long paddles with slender flat blades are behind us.

Chris uses a relatively short 'wing' paddle whether he is paddling his racing K1 on flatwater or a sea kayak in open water.
Note: torso rotation and posture.

After a surprise capsize, Alan sets up for a reenter and roll.

As the Bureau says:"waves may be up to twice the height of averages given here."

(And this happens even on the 'flat' days.)

waiting for the next adventure?.

The Royal Training Paddle

2008-03-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning: boats are packed, charts consulted, forecasts reviewed and decisions made.

The possibility of a hard slog into a building headwind is accepted as a manageable risk. If conditions get too strong too early our "plan b"will involve a downwind run into Wattamolla.

Our first break is just after rounding Jibbon Head. From here we can see the bombora seething occasionally. Today we can safely run the gap between the cliffs and reef, and head south down the cliffs to Marley.

We check out the surf at Big Marley before a soft landing at Little Marley for lunch.

On the way home we practice rescues, rolling, and controlling our boats in the building breeze.

The group have never paddled the seacliffs of "The Royal" before and they are suitably impressed with the backdrop for today's training.

Surf and Sunsets

2008-03-13T17:48:00.000-07:00

After recent heavy swells and cloudy conditions this week has been a welcome change of pace with blue skies and small, playful waves.

I have included a couple of images from this week's local adventures:

Matt Bezzina paddling a Valley Aquanaut through kinder waves than the monsters that "chundered" him a couple of weeks ago.

He was still a bit shaky yesterday so I think he will start reading Marine Charts and swell forecasts before deciding to take any "shortcuts" in the future. I am glad he "got back on the (sea) horse".

Early evening checking for shipping traffic before crossing Sydney Heads.

Alan is pointing towards the city skyline.

This is about as good as it gets...........

Rolling Part 1

2008-03-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

It is easy to do but sometimes tricky to learn. How many other times in your life have you been required to solve a three dimensional puzzle while sitting upside down, underwater on one breath? Until you can do it, rolling has a Houdini like quality. In reality it is just another stroke, but without it, the whole busines of paddling rough water is riskier and less fun.

Last week I taught The "C to C" and "layback" as well as my usual "Sweep and Brace" Technique.
The age range and physical attributes of people wanting to roll has increased so it makes sense to 'customise techniques to suit the paddler.
Chris and Rob are doing the "C toC ", Matt, Terry and Donne are doing the "Sweep", John is doing the extended paddle or "pawlata" roll and Daniel and Tim are doing the "layback".
The cold weather and rain didnt stop a single lesson and they are all rolling!

Last Week

2008-03-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 26
As we rounded North Head the extent of the storm became more obvious. Somewhere towards Cronulla bolts of lightning were cutting through the overcast with growing intensity.
The storms we had all expected to move North over Western Sydney were now moving in long line towards the North East. The city skyline faded into the deluge and, to seaward, the high bruised clouds matched pace, engulfing Bondi and the Ben Buckler cliffs.........It was all coming our way.
The options - try to outrun it across Sydney Heads or head back into Manly, away from our launch point to see what would happen next.
The Manly option took us further away from home but also a safe distance from the storm we couldnt beat.
Standing on the beach at Little Manly we looked back in the general direction of the cloud obscured city and watched the show.
In the aftermath we paddled home in darkness with the dual legacy of this serious weather; a lightning- fractured sky to make us humble and a building headwind to make us hungry.

The Tuesday Night Report

2008-02-19T19:19:00.000-08:00

My Tuesday night crew looked unconvinced as I carefully lifted My shiny new Valley "Rapier" racing sea kayak from the roof of the car. At 6 metres long and 43.5cm wide it looks fast and 'tippy' even just sitting on the sand.

The Tuesday night paddle is a bit of a tradition and the diehards make a point of going out regardless of the weather 'just to get a taste of the conditions'.
Last night conditions were light with a 1.5 metre swell.
We like to cover a few miles and catch a wave or two at our favourite point break when there is no action along the cliffs and I think everyone was wondering how I was going to manage in such a long skinny boat even on a good night.

The Rapier is very efficient, it is so smooth through the water that you dont realise how fast you are going until you look around you. Fast paddlers in fast sea kayaks kept dropping behind and they were working hard while I just cruised along.
The big test occured when we left Sydney Harbour and headed North into the confused, rebounding waves between North Head and Bluefish point. Even in light conditions there is always some wave action here and I was thrilled with the seaworthiness of my new 43.5cm wide speedster. I could easily surf down the back of the southbound waves as we headed North.
I could also sit in the bumpiest section off Bluefish point and, with a light steadying brace, hold station while the rest of the group caught up.

With a high tide and a gentle swell "The Bower" was too slow for board riders so we had it to ourselves. Everyone in the group picked up some good rides and some of us had a little "rolling practice" ( I discovered the Rapier rolls well but doesnt like the steeper takeoffs).

At sunset we headed back to Sydney Harbour catching the swells with a big moon low on the horizon behind us and the city skyline slowly emerging from behind the South Head cliffs at our foredecks. I had to agree with Rod who announced to all present on landing: "it's all good"

2008-02-17T18:50:00.000-08:00

I long ago discovered that you paddle the sea conditions and not the sea forecast. Yesterday the bureau's promise of 10-15knot SSE winds always looked a little on the low side and as my group huddled in a picnic shelter planning their first ever open sea paddle they weighed the corners of our marine charts so they didnt blow away.

We launched from Frenchmans Bay with Long Bay as our objective.

By the time we reached our first checkpoint beyond Bare Island It was obvious that we were paddling into a building breeze and 'lively' conditions. The Bureau of Meterology observed wind speed for 9.00 am was: "SE14-18Knots" (recorded at Little Bay AWS).

Cape Banks is a classic 'hotspot' for wave action: the outgoing tidal current worked against the onshore wind to produce a fairly short steep sea and as we rounded the point a little rebounding swell added to the challenge.

We decided to move wider at this point to give ourselves more seaway and allow for the possibility of 'spontaneous rescue practice'.

The conditions were ideal and as the wind lifted ("ESE 16-22knots" at LB AWS) approaching Little Bay, the group's confidence also lifted to meet the challenge.
Tim earned two hearty cheers one for each roll after being hit by couple of bigger waves off Little Bay, Rob demonstrated a few very nice low braces in the rebound off Magic point and David and Rochelle drove their double hard over the steeper waves making it land with a resounding thud.

It was smiles all round when we landed for lunch at Malabar to a warm welcome from a group of experienced paddlers from the NSWSKC.

After lunch the morning breeze faded to a whisper and some fine mist settled on the entrance of Little Bay. We practised rescues, rolls and caught some of the remaining wind waves home.

Safety is always number one, but staged and careful exposure to some light to moderate wave action is essential.
Three of the four paddlers on this activity had been paddling for less than three months and all felt that the skills they had been learning on flatwater made more sense when they got to use them on the sea. Everyone felt had achieved something worthwhile and had a lot of fun doing it.

The only way you will learn to SeaKayak is to find a safe way out to the Sea.
If you stay on the bay it's just kayaking........

The Flying Fish Test

2008-02-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

I am blessed to have one the worlds most beautiful workplaces. I instruct sea kayakers in Sydney Harbour. My students learn to roll, brace, carve turns and paddle in sheltered bays bounded by parkland and native bush and all of this set against the backdrop of Sydney's skyline.

Then we take these skills to the open water of coastal Sydney. Leaving the Harbour and the bold sandstone cliff lines of North and South Head, we find ourselves in a far wilder and less controlled environment.

Exotic visitors and charming locals accompany us on our lessons. Humpback whales come and go on their seasonal migration, casting a watchful eye over our deepwater rescues. At times Dolphins ride our bow waves and Penguins fish along the rocks making a little barking noise that helps us spot them as they "fly" under our boats.

One of my favourites are the less obvious but abundant flying fish which seem to be startled and take to the air as we surf across their path riding the afternoon Sea breeze .

These less celebrated 'locals' play a special part in my training programs. For the last few years they have been a regular feature of my open water paddling around Sydney, but not for everyone.

Paddlers new to the open sea environment are often so focused on the waves that they paddle in their own 'zone'. Engaging with the waves is all consuming and leaves little space in their line of sight for the transient skimming flight of these elegant creatures.

I have given up trying to point them out. On a moderate day the flying fish are more easily stirred into flight but seldom seen by the new paddler who is totally engrossed in staying upright and on course.

Having the composure and balance to scan the broader horizon is the first step towards
spotting the flying fish as they glide back to the surface.

I always smile when I hear the exclamations that usually accompany successful completion of "the flying fish test."