Broughton Island Day Trip.

(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.

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

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

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..

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

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"

(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.