ThePaddler 13 October 2013 Alternative Cover

ThePaddlerezine.comInternational digital magazine for recreational paddlersIssue 13 - Octob

er 2013

SUP interviewCONNORBAXTER

Freestyle interviewJAMES PringleBEBBINGTON

Darren Clarkson KingDESCENTof Mt EVEREST

KayakPaddlerRegularPaddler SaltyPaddler SUPPaddler OCPaddler

Contents

Not all contributors are professional writers and photographers, so dont be put off writing because you have no experience! ThePaddler.co.uk ezine is all about paddler to paddler dialogue: a paddlers magazine writtenby paddlers. Next issue is November 2013 with a deadline of submissions on October 25th.Technical Information: Contributions preferably as a Microsoft Word file with 1200-2000 words, emailed [email protected]. Images should be hi-resolution and emailed with the Word file or if preferred, a Dropbox folder will be created for you. ThePaddler ezine encourages contributions of any nature butreserves the right to edit to the space available. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishing parent company, 2b Graphic Design. The publishing of an advertisement in ThePaddlerezine does not necessarily mean that the parent company, 2b Graphic Design, endorse the company, item or service advertised. All material in ThePaddler ezine is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.Reproduction without prior permission from the editor is forbidden.

EditorPeter [email protected]: (01480) 465081Mob: 07411 005824www.thepaddler.co.uk

Advertising salesAnne EganTel: (01480) [email protected]

Cover: James Bebbington

Additional photo contributor credits:Wolfgang Glowacki, Starboard, Christian McLeod, Joan Vienot, JessicaDrujko, Katie Kowalski, Jackie Hennessy,.

Ubaye Gorge sectionSouthern French AlpsInspecting the Lions Den RapidPhoto: Alex Kay

ThePaddler 3

Issue 13October 2013

004 Eight of the BestThe best film from around the planet

006 Testing, testingNew kit reviewed

010 Paddle expoPerusing new gear from Germany

016 Kit reviewSweet Protection Intergalactic dry suit - Phil Carr

020 AustraliaRafting the Franklin River - Duke Peterson

030 Kayak transportThe ten commandments - Scott Edwards

038 Sea fishingFish finding - Mark Crame

048 EnglandLands End to Scilly Isles - Simon Everett

060 Paddlers PlanetChristian Wagley

062 InterviewConnor Baxter

070 IrelandThe beauty of the Emerald Isle - Annette Carsing

080 EnglandLast of the summer surf - Tez Plavenieks

086 EnglandRiver Thames restrictions by Paul Hyman

094 SUP FinsBy Tez Plavenieks

098 CambodiaAnne Pizey interview by Leslie Kolovich

106 SiberiaLooking for tigers - Simon Chapman

112 CoachingOpen canoe key areas by Dave Rossetter

120 InterviewJames Pringle Bebbington

130 CanadaOntario Lakes - Rick Wise

136 Kayak reviewPyranha Burn - George Harrap/Paul McDonnell

142 NepalDescending Everest - Darren Clarkson King

152 CanadaRiding Ottawan giants - Seth Ashworth

ThePaddler 4

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After speaking with the guys at theHennessy HQ about my up and comingcanoe trip to the Bowron Lakes in Britishcolumbia they agreed to send me one oftheir hammock systems for review. A fewdays later I received a Hennessy deluxeexplorer Asym Zip hammock, a Hex-Fly, aset of snake skins and two sets of the tree-hugger straps.

The Hennessy Hammock system is one of the musthave pieces of canoeing equipment for solo use. Thefirst thing I noticed was how compact andlightweight the sleeping system is compared to aone-man tent. The hammock weighs in at 3lbs 3ozwith a load rating of 300lbs and has a pack size of10 by 8 by 6 inches.

The Hex-Fly is larger than the standard fly. Its anextra cost but well worth it due to its larger size

allowing plenty of room for sorting kit and cookingunder when the skies open. A big pro point is if it israining you can put the fly up first for shelter whilsthanging the hammock. The only con to this is it doesmean you have to pack the fly separate which doestake a slightly longer to put up and pack down andtakes up slightly more space when packing it into kitbarrels or a dry bag etc.

The attention to detail is evident right throughout thewhole system down to the little pockets for the guy-lines. A centre line runs through the inner hammock,which helps to keep the mosquito net up and givesyou space to read and relax. It also has several kitclips on it and a mesh pocket attached for your GPSand head torch etc.

Hennessy have come up with a snake skin add on,which stays on the hammock lines and makes settingup and packing down a simple, quick and veryeffective task. Once the hammock is attached to yourchosen anchor points all you have to do is slide thesnake skin out from the middle to the ends of thehammock, and vice versa to pack down. The snakeskins not only act as a waterproof shell but also helpkeep crud and debris off the hammock itself.

ThePaddler 6

Testing,

Hennessy deluxe explorerwww.hennessyhammock.comBy Jody Dymond

expect to pay:$260.00170.00190.00

Getting into the hammock is very easy. Like mosthammock systems with an integrated mosquito net,theres a zip that runs along the one side. Onceopened you can sit in the hammock, swing your legs inand zip the hammock shut. If youre not a fan of zips,the original hammock comes with Velcro enclosures.

The asymmetric shape allows you to sleep at a slightangle, which in turn helps to keep you flatter whilst inthe hammock compared to other systems thatgenerally stay banana shaped. Theres also an elasticcord attached to either side of the hammock thatonce stretched out and pegged down help keep itstable and stop it from swinging too much, preventingthe feared sea-sickness that people believeaccompanies sleeping in a hammock.

My personal thoughts: I found putting a Thermarestor similar sleeping mat into the hammock gives yougreater insulation and helps to keep you level whilstsleeping. Hennessy do make a separate insulationsystem that Ive yet to try out but hope to soon sowatch this space for info on that. I also suggestpurchasing six good quality aluminium tent pegs forpegging down the elastics and guy-lines. If you onlyhave the standard fly you will only need four pegs.

SummaryOverall I can honestly say I love thishammock. every nights sleep was great andthe ease of setting up and packing downreally makes the difference when you have abusy scheduled trip and want to get movingAsAP.

ThePaddler 7

testingThePaddler ezine test station. If youwantyourproductreviewedanditwillbeofinterestto paddlers - email us: [email protected]

Joby Ultrafit sling strap http://joby.com/camera-strapsBy Dale Mears

Aquapac launchestwo new sizes ofpopular Wet &Dry Backpackhttp://store.aquapac.netdue to customer demandAquapac has extended its rangeof Wet & dry Backpacks withthe launch of two new sizes. the25L Wet & dry Backpack hasproved so popular that Aquapachas introduced two more sizes a smaller 15L and a larger 35L.

The Wet & Dry Backpacks are part ofthe companys Stormproof rangeand are waterproof, highly versatile andbursting with features. Ideal for a rangeof activities from commuting tocanyoning down a waterfall they arelightweight, fully adjustable, with handypockets and a genius internal pocketthat divides the pack into two sectionsfor keeping your wet and dry or cleanand dirty gear separate. Aquapac hasmade the inner pouches on all threebags removable via zippers for extraversatility a new feature.

Made from TPU-coated fabric withtaped seams, water cant seep in evenwhere they are sewn. It has a roll-topseal for quick and easy closure andexcellent sealing against the elements handy for our damp conditions.

Sternum and waist straps (theres nowaist strap on the 15L bag) keep thebackpack securely in place and theback-support pocket can be used tocarry a hydration bladder to helpquench your thirst while out for theday. Simply add in the bladder and clipthe hose to the carabiner supplied withthe pack. Twin external mesh pocketswill conveniently hold a 2L waterbottle, tripod or magazine and theremovable back support can be takenout and dried quickly if youre caught inthe rain, or can be used it to sit on.

expect to pay: 39.99; $49.99 and 42.00 from most retailers

ThePaddler 8ThePaddler 8

When it comes to camera straps I havealways stuck to my manufacturer suppliedstrap from nikon. I was always happy withthem thinking that it did its job was fairlycomfortable and was strong and reliable.

When it comes to camera straps I have always stuckto my manufacturer supplied strap from Nikon. I wasalways happy with them thinking that it did its job wasfairly comfortable and was strong and reliable. For thelast month now I broke the mould and have beenusing the Joby Ultrafit Sling Strap instead of mystandard Nikon strap. Photographing aroundwhitewater always worries me; having nearly lost mycamera a few times I wanted a strap that would giveme some added security. A month in and I can safelysay, What was I doing for the last four years. The JobyUltrafit Sling strap is a great piece of kit. I will start withthe advantages of making the switch from yourstandard strap.

The Ultrafit sling offers Jobys SpeedCinch system,which allows you to quickly grab your camera and pullit from your side with ease and it really works. It isquick and effective. Due to wearing the sling acrossyour chest it wants to naturally swing into position asyou grab it. In reverse the strap is also really easy topull up close to your body so it is not swinging low byyour side. I found pulling into my body when aroundwater very reassuring indeed and you can lock thestrap off easily in a split second. The strap is also reallynice to run with if you need to reposition whilstchasing racing paddlers or change position.

The Ultrafit sling is very comfortable which makes longshoots easier too. The strap has been really good

when waiting around for different paddlers runs oreven just to sit wearing the strap. The strap allows yourcamera to sit on your side using its natural weightmeaning that your lens will face downwards settlingand not putting any strain on your lens mount. I haveused this strap with up to a 300mm lens and it is reallywell balanced and does not feel heavy like themanufacturers straps.

Build quality is good and the strap looks stylish too. Ialso like the fact that aesthetically this strap doesntstand out like the Nikon yellow and Canon red on thestraps so attracts less attention. The strap attaches onthe bottom on your tripod mounting hole and ifworried that you often shoot on a tripod dont worryyou can buy a plate to allow you to use both withouthaving to unscrew the strap. The attachment has ascrew with a small tightening plate to secure yourcamera quickly. I have also used a coin to double checkand ensure the strap is secure and it has been solid asa rock.

In terms of usability the strap allows you better controlof your camera as the strap mounts on the tripodmounting hole allowing easy access to the top of thecamera.

I tried to find some negatives but as yet I am struggling.I think the only negative is that I cant sit my DSLR flaton a table due to the positioning of the mount, but thepositives overwhelm this so it does not bother me inthe slightest. For about 30 from most retailers this isa real bargain if you want a strap that is great foraround white water or any paddle sports check it outat http://joby.com/camera-straps/ultrafit-sling-strap-for-men/ for videos and further information.

To advertise email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1480 465081 ThePaddler 9

Displacement hull withjust enough edge

Fastest hull in its class(won Teva Freeride WorldChamps 2012)

Variable hull thicknessso it weights only 19Kg

303L volume but itfeels like about 250L

No holes drilledaround the cockpit

Front and rear buoyancyretention pillars so foamcannot slip out

Closed cell foam seat= a warm bum and noprivate puddle

Bomberplastic

New boats and Demo boats available at:CIWW, Tees & Sues Canoes.

Free airbags

2 year warranty on the hull

2 year warranty on the outfitting

Smaller version also now available (called the Veloc)Bigger version too(the Director)

C1 outfitting

now available

Zet Raptor: Still the fastest, toughest, lightest,most responsive creekboat around








Bomberplastic


Free airbags




C1 outfitting

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Bomberplastic


Free airbags




C1 outfitting

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ThePaddler 10

Palm introduced the Lofoten womensspecific paddling suit.

With all the premium features of thepopular Aleutian suit, combined with a dropseat relief zip, the Lofoten brings premiumquality all weather protection to the femaleocean paddling market.

Lightweight, waterproof, and shaped forpaddling, the Atlas is both a paddle jacket tokeep wind and spray off, and a rain jacket towear on land.

It packs down small to stow away foremergency rain showers, and featuresstretchy inner wrist gaskets to keep thewater from running up your sleeves whenloading boats. Available in two brightcolours.

Kokatat released their new Icon Dry Suit.The rear-entry suit is part of their JacksonCollection.

The suit was developed in collaborationwith whitewater paddling legend EricJackson and his son Dane Jackson, thereigning Junior World Champion.

The Explorer Suit has had a full makeover,and now features a tougher, more robusthood and much improved Velcro tabs onthe waist and sleeves.

A firm favourite with all paddlers, The 2014Explorer comes in a stylish bright red jacketwith black and grey pants.

Also on show was Peaks brand new 2014Cockpit Cover. Constructed from light buttough 3mm lined neoprene this is quitesimply a must have. Not only will the coverkeep rain, bugs and stowaways out of yourkayak when in transit, but it could reduceyour fuel consumption too, saving youmoney (and the planet!). The 2014 CockpitCovers (35 RRP) are also available rightnow!

RETAILER SHOW. EXHIBITOR LIST, VISITOR REGISTRATION

AND MORE DETAILS AT PADDLEEXPO.COM

DONT MISS IT: 2. 4. OCTOBER 2013NUREMBERG, GERMANY

GLOBAL PADDLE SPORTS TRADE SHOW

To advertise email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1480 465081 ThePaddler 11

Tel: 01753 655455 Email: [email protected] R A P I D K A Y A K S

ThePaddler 12

ThePaddler atPaddleExpoGreat time at the expo and thanks to all themanufacturers and distributors who kindly gave us their time. Thanks also tothe organisers on such a magnificent show and to the German people inNuremberg for their hospitality.

ThePaddler 13

ThePaddler 14

ThePaddler at PaddleExpoAll thats left to say is that we will see you next year.28. - 30. September 2014.

ThePaddler 15

ThePaddler 16

ThePaddler 17

SweetProtection

(indeed)

I'm very fortunate to be in the position of getting holdof new kit well before it is released. this now includesthe Intergalactic dry suit from norwegian company

sweet Protection.

By Phil Carr

ThePaddler 18

Unlike many paddlesport dry suits theIntergalactic is a

front zip entry dry suit the zip lies at the front of the

suit and runs across thechest area

Sweet have been in the whitewater game for years but theIntergalactic marks their first and long awaited moveinto the dry suit arena. The Intergalactic is built fromGore-Tex Pro material and is backed onto a fabricthat is both supple and tough. The Gore-Tex used isthe three-layer performance variety that is designedfor extreme and extended use. I have a number ofbits of kit, including a Sweet Shadrach made out of thesame material and although it feels quite soft I knowthat it will take a beating and come back for more.

Good quality latex gaskets provide water protectionat the neck and wrists. To protect the latex the neckseal also has non-adjustable neoprene gaskets and thewrists have hook and loop adjustable neopreneprotection. I am not a big fan of such adjustment onthe wrists as it can create quite a lot of bulk that Isimply do not like. However I soon forgot about thisfeature, which must mean that the design is lowprofile enough to make it un-noticeable.

the construction of the suit is superb Looking at the inside of the Intergalactic you will find avery neat and solid finish. All of the fabric/latex jointshave been glued and taped. Both the neck and wristseals feel pretty substantial. A pair of shaped fabric socksprovides foot protection. On first looking at the suitprior to trying it on the socks looked far too small and Ithought that I might have an issue trying the Intergalactic

out. However, I have found that they are great for mysize 10 feet (UK) whilst wearing a pair of hiking socks.Paddlers with feet a little large or smaller than mine willalso find that there is plenty of room in the sockswithout a huge mass of excess material that needs to bedealt with when you put your footwear on.

Front zip entry dry suitUnlike many paddle sport dry suits the Intergalactic is afront zip entry dry suit the zip lies at the front of thesuit and runs across the chest area. This means that thesuit is really easy to put on and take off without theassistance of any one else to help with the zip. Sweethave chosen to use a TiZip, which is a plastic zip ratherthan the brass zips that are often found on dry suits.

I have a couple of suits that use TiZips and have foundthem to be incredibly well designed as they have achunky feel that gives confidence, yet lay flat and areunrestrictive. But most importantly provide reallygood protection against water. The chest entry zipruns from underneath the right arm, across the chestand over the bicep area of the left arm. A hookprotects the zip and loop fastened flap to give thatlittle bit of additional protection. What is really nice isthe fact that there is a pull-tab at each end of the zipattached to the suit. This gives you something to pullagainst when opening or closing the zip.

The zip sits high enough so that it doesn't impactupon the effectiveness of the body tube for the sprayskirt. The body tube is of a good size and allows the

ThePaddler 19

In a nutshell Diagonal zipper for easy self

supported entry and exit Super elastic Yamamoto

neoprene, lycra on bothsides

Thick latex bottleneck neckgasket inside

Engineered for unsurpassedfreedom of movement inGORE-TEX Pro

Neck tube drain Articulated arms for

unrestricted movement Thick latex bottleneck wrist

gaskets inside Wrist cuff and gaskets with

moulded cuff grab made ofun-napped Velcro Yamamotoneoprene

All-new Hypalon Velcrowaist adjustment for a tightand secure fit

Waist seal tube ofunnapped Yamamotoneoprene with grippyrubber inside

Arm pocket with zipperaccess

Extra wide and secure TIZIPrelief zippers

Seat area engineered forunsurpassed freedom ofmovement in waterproofCordura laminate

Handy thigh pocket ensureseasy access even whileseated, with drain mesh

Waterproof Corduralaminate reinforcement incritical areas

length Yamamotoneoprene ankle cuffsensures a snug fit fromankle to mid calf. Doublelayer shin protection area inneoprene.

Extra wide ankle cuffs withunmapped Velcro flat-lockadjustment to give you theexact secure fit you need

Sealed GORE-TEX Prosocks

tube of the spray skirt to be fully protected. The hookand loop adjustable body tube is snug when done upto give a good seal against your deck, but opens upwide enough that the Intergalactic is super easy to getoff. The relief zip is also a TiZip but this time does notget any additional protection.

This seems to make sense as the inclusion of a sewnflap would create a greater need for stitching andtaping. From a kayakers point of view the relief zip sitsbelow the spray deck so will get protection from thedeck in all situations other than during a swim.

Sweet have included two pockets on the Intergalactic.One can be found on the left arm and the other onthe left leg. Although not fully waterproof the sealprovided by the brightly coloured orange zips do keepthe majority of water out. Whenever I use pockets ofthis type for my keys etc. I tend to use an Aloksak ziplock bag to make sure that water ever I do put in thepocket does stay dry. If I was storing an item thatdidn't have to stay dry, for example a set of ear plugs,then this would not a be a concern.

For the record I have a large Intergalactic. Im 61 and210lbs and the suit fits really well without anyexcess/flapping fabric and without any feeling ofrestriction. In the past I have worn suits that have been alittle short in the leg. This is not the case with theIntergalactic. The leg length is superb and allows me toseal the top of my boots off to help prevent grit andstones getting in and potentially damaging the fabric

Gore-Tex socks. The unmapped hook and loop closureon the ankles means that you are not restricted by howtight or slack the manufacturer thinks the closure shouldbe. The user has the choice and is not limited by thepositioning of the fastener on the fabric.

All key areas that are prone to heavy impact andpotential damage are made from a much heavierCordura black ripstop material. These areas includethe elbows, knees, thighs, ankles and seat.

On the waterThe suit feels just like wearing a dry top. I wasconcerned that I would not like the front entry zipand although I did notice its presence, particularlyover my left arm the zip does not feel restrictive at alland the suit performs really well. Range of movementis never compromised by the cut or design. It just feelsright. The Intergalactic will be available in two coloursthe Gun Metal Blue shown here and a ScorchOrange. Various other bits of Sweet kit will also beavailable in the same colours including the SweetStrutter white water helmet.

What is clear is the cut and fit of the Intergalactic issuperb, it has to be one of the best suits that I haveworn. For those paddlers looking for a top end fullyfeatured high performance dry suit and had thoughtthey had made their final choice may find themselveshaving to think again. The Intergalactic dry suit may bethe most sort after piece of white water kit over thenext year.

ThePaddler 20

Shaping the landscapeBoth naturally and politically

My classmates were exactly the sort ofinbred degenerates you would expect:an unusually short and hairy yet baldmainlander hippy Jew with a ferocious appetitefor alcohol and unhinged women, an irritatingcontortionist/undertaker who liked to cross-dress, a dead-eyed ASIO assassin turned veganenvironmentalist, a pompous pommy git whohad made a fortune selling porn for mobilephones, a self-appointed Tasmanian hard manwho would ride his unicycle through the nighthundreds of kilometres to the start of each triplistening to Bette Midlers Wind Beneath My

Wings on repeat and so on. It was 2003 and Ihad decided to do a course in adventure tourismin Hobart, Tasmania. I had no real interest inworking as a guide or working at all at the timebut I did like to go bush.

I learnt many valuable things on the course how to lather ones self in mutton bird fat asdemonstrated by one of our intrepid leaders,how to induce vomiting via dahl, and a littleabout white water rafting during a week longrafting course on the Mersey River in the snow.

In the September issue of ThePaddler, we ran a feature on how paddlerswere helping to save the Futaleufu River. Heres a shining example of a riverthat was saved from being dammed. Long live the Franklin River, Tasmania!

ThePaddler 21

Shaping the landscapeBoth naturally and politically

One of the more significant acquaintances I was tomake was a scrawny Austrian bogan from Lilydale.It was at the white water rafting course, I was sittingin a dingy shed on the banks of the Mersey Riverhaving a beer and some capers with the Austrianand arguing with some Nazi wannabe cop chickabout their right to bash hippies when we spottedthe ad: dolphin bucket boat, baffles blown, $500.I said to the Austrian, We should buy that boatand raft the Franklin River.

The Franklin River looms large on the mind of anyaspiring Tasmanian adventurer. For one thousandmillion years, since the aboriginal spirit Moiherneecut the ground and made the rivers, or for all oneknows a millennia of earthquakes and molten lava

formed the landscape, the Franklin has runfree, indifferent to and unmolested

by human kind.

For the last 50 years it has captured ourimagination, awed us, inspired us, we have goneto gaol for it, it has moved us to violence and ithas shaped our political landscape. In 1982 theTasmanian government at the time had approvedan extensive hydroelectric scheme that wouldflood the entire valley with three different dams.The bulldozers were rolling in and thecatastrophic possibility that the river could belost forever seemed inevitable.

The campaign that followed was fought withunprecedented passion on both sides, from themud in front of the bulldozers to the rainforestto the Australian High Court. No matter where

ThePaddler 22

For the last 50 years it has captured ourimagination, awed us, inspired us, wehave gone to gaol for it, it has movedus to violence and it has shaped ourpolitical landscape

you stood it became undeniably clear that thisriver was of profound importance. Theculmination of the campaign saw the fall of afederal government and the birth of a globalpolitical movement. Today, almost 30 years sincethe campaign that saved the river, it has lost noneof its allure.

But at the time we didnt care about that stuff.We wanted adventure and everybody knew it hadtruckloads of that, particularly for a crew armedwith Alberts a little knowledge and a 40s seriestroop carrier full of substandard gear and beer.

The chap from the Tas Uni rafting club made noeffort to conceal his contempt when I offeredhim $150. The materials alone are worth more

than we are asking, but it has no baffles, it willsink like a god-damn stone if it gets punctured,no one in their right mind would take this thingnear a river. I handed over $350 and the boat wasours. My brother and the Austrians Germancousin were sufficiently unsuspecting and hadagreed to join us. We were ready.

When we arrived at the river it was in flood at 2mso we retreated to Derwent Bridge for more beerand food poisoning. The next day the river was stillat 1.8m, above the level we has been advised to puton but we put on anyway. The days that followedwere some of the most amazing of my life. Theriver is stunningly beautiful and the rafting wasterrifying, it awed and humbled us. Each day welearnt more about how little we knew.

ThePaddler 23

Story by Duke Peterson

Photos: Wolfgang G

lowacki: http://w

olfgangglowacki.com

.au

For the last 50 years it has captured ourimagination, awed us, inspired us, wehave gone to gaol for it, it has movedus to violence and it has shaped ourpolitical landscape

the boat was surfed upside down in a hole andour gear came apart and went everywhere. Welost our pump and a lid came off one of thebarrels and my sleeping bag got soaked.Needless to say this made for anuncomfortable night. With a boat that couldnot be deflated and without the knowledge toavoid the high portages we spent hours highportaging the fully inflated raft overtreacherously steep high portage tracks. AtRafters Basin, once we had escaped the Ravine,the sun came out and we were able to dry ourgear and recover. Life was good.

The lower Franklin was a dream breath-taking reflections, stunning cliffs, sunnyweather, ancient rainforest and the satisfactionof knowing we had survived. When we arrivedat Sir Johns Falls, a couple of our friends, araspberry farmer and an illegal immigrant,had come across Macquarie Harbour in a 12-foot tinny to meet us. Theyd already caughtseveral massive sea run trout, which we feastedon hungrily and washed it down with fineboxed wine.

Once back in Strahan we headed straight forthe pub a wilderness in its own right. TheGerman cousin picked up a 180 kilogram pinkhaired Queenstown beauty and took her backto his ditch. The rest of us crashed on a jettywhile the farmer and the illegal immigrantwere nearly killed in large swell on MacquarieHarbour. Luckily the illegal immigrantsconsiderable experience with small dodgyboats in large seas and the farmers lifesustaining produce saw them pull through.

Now, almost ten years later, you can go up ona steep treeless hill in Queenstown and withthe right kind of eyes you can look back andsee that what we had done was arguablystupid and dangerous but it was alsoawesome, a true adventure and bloody goodfun.

We flipped in a rapid in the middleof the Great Ravine,

ThePaddler 24

ThePaddler 25

ThePaddler 26

The lower Franklin was a dream breath-taking reflections, stunning cliffs, sunny weather, ancient rainforest and

the satisfaction of knowing

we had survived

Rock

Islan

d Be

nd

Irenabyss

ThePaddler 27

The Great Ravine

ThePaddler 28Lining The Churn

Left to right: The brother, the cousin, the author and the Austrian. Below: High water Newlands Cascade

I was too rude and lazy and given my strongdislike for people in general I became a doctorinstead. The Austrian was to follow a differentpath. He continued to guide, raft and kayak allover the world, returning to the Franklin everyyear to work as a professional guide. Armed withall this experience, in 2012 he returned to theriver with his wife to set up their own company,Franklin River Rafting. This was to be quite aturn of luck for me as it led to another trip downthe river, something I had wanted to do for years.This was to be a very different trip.

This time we had a brand new state of the artexpedition rafting kit. In place of our 12 footbaffle-less bucket boat were two brand new 14foot Incept self-bailers. The river again was highbut with years of experience guiding us it wasnotably less terrifying. There were no gear losingflips and no high portages with inflated boats. Infact there were no high portages at all as over theyears ingenious tricks have been developed forsneaking the fully laden boats through the mostdangerous rapids that cannot be paddled. Thefood was also of a notably higher standard, asnot portaging the rafts means there is littlerestriction on the luxuries that can be taken.

Highlights included fresh fruit, cheese cake andrib eye steaks. Most importantly the river wasunchanged, still wild, majestic and free. No matter how you do it the Franklin River 30years on from its near destruction remains one ofthe worlds greatest adventures, a veritablephantasmagoria of inexpressible natural beauty,adventure, ancient history and exhilaration. Withan outstanding company like Franklin RiverRafting the river is now accessible even to thosenot sufficiently lacking in common sense toattempt it in our original style. This is a fact thatto be honest offends me to core, that these smugbastards can now experience such a spectacularadventure without the suffering, the fear, and thenight freezing my balls off in a wet sleeping bag.Anyway as the late Dr Thompson once said if athing like this is worth doing at all its worthdoing right, no doubt its worth doing but I leaveit to you to decide how to do it right.

For details on rafting expeditionson the Franklin River visit www.franklinriverrafting.com

ThePaddler 29

In years to follow I soon gave away

any illusions I may have had of becoming a guide.

Left to right: The brother, the cousin, the author and the Austrian. Below: High water Newlands Cascade

ThePaddler

By ScottEdwardsBy ScottEdwards

30

ThePaddler 31

The

Ten Commandmentsof kayak transport

In my years of paddling and doing it all in Penny the Kayak-Mobile, who generouslyallowed me to take the pictures that accompany this article, I have never ceased tobe amazed at the myriad of dangerous ways people transport kayaks on cars. I havealso seen my fair share of disasters with kayaks that havent even made it to thewater yet! It is in this spirit that I write avoiding even ONE travelling mishap is worththe countless discussions of what is and is not the proper way to take your kayak fora ride on your car. So, maybe they are not commandments, but, a collection oftechniques to keep you, your kayak AND the other drivers on the road safe.

1. thou shalt allow plenty of timeto boat up

Loading your kayak on your car in a rush is the firststep on the road to not getting to your put in witheverything in one piece. Most of us plan our paddlesand you need to plan when you boat up or get yourkayak ready for transport. I tend to get my kayak onPenny the night before a paddle. I put the cross straps(the ones that work with the racks) and tie themdown as I would have them while I am driving. Thebow and stern lines are attached, but left slackovernight, so not to put any downward stress on thekayak while still safe in the driveway. The downwardstress factor applies regardless if the kayak iscomposite or roto-moulded. Bottom line is leaveyourself plenty of time to properly secure your kayak.

2. thou shalt always use a cockpitcover

This is one of a few that make my blood run cold. Notusing a cockpit cover, which is properly secured, not onlylets all kinds of goodness knows what getting blown intoyour kayak, but, its turning your kayak into a long dragchute. Imagine the amount of force driving at 60 milesper hour (96.5kmh) is (hopefully) hitting your rearbulkhead, and how much your kayak wants to try beingan airplane. I have seen the lack of a cockpit covercontribute to the kayak becoming a fast movingmissile that is probably aimed at the unlucky persondriving behind you. I do not know what the actualspeed the car was travelling; youd probably have toask the State Police who responded or thelawyers who litigated the situation later.

Cockpit covers are relativelyinexpensive and many comeequipped with a karabiner toattach to your deck lines and evena strap to hold it down eventighter. Not only can this helpavoid situations like the one I justmentioned, but in this day and ageof ever increasing fuel costs, I wishI were an engineer so I couldcalculate how much fuel efficiencyis lost driving with an uncoveredcockpit as opposed to one that hasa cover on it. Logic would say ithas to be a substantial amount aswell as taking an unnecessary riskthat could cost even more.

3. thou shalt always use bow Andstern lines

This is the one I always get pushed back on. Howeverthere are sound reasons why they come standard withpractically every rack set up and if they didnt there areplenty of aftermarket models available. Bow and Sternlines are to keep your kayak from turning into anairplane wing. I cannot begin to count the number oftimes I have seen kayaks on cars bouncing up and downand Im just waiting for a gust of wind to turn it sidewaysor come flying off, or for the driver to have to stop shortand watch the kayak become a missile. There is atremendous amount of force passing over, around andunder your kayak. Your kayak is hydro dynamicallydesigned, meaning to efficiently move through the water,which uncannily is not too far removed fromaerodynamics. So, basically your kayak really wants to bea wing and give into the force of driving at highwayspeeds combined with any wind that may be blowing.

The most popular design of bow and stern lines are ofthe ratcheting variety. These work wonderfully, but canput a lot of torque on the ends of your kayak. This iswhy you need to carefully secure them so that you donot wind up bending or cracking your kayak. Whenyou are not driving, you should release the pressureand let the lines go slack. These lines are hooked intothe straps provided to go under your hardlines,putting them under the bungees is not very effective,they bounce as well. The other end is hooked to theunderside of your car. Hopefully your manufacturerhas given you places to do this. I am very lucky, mykayak-mobile has two welded D rings in the front andone in the back, making it very easy to secure thestraps. In most cars hooking something to the back isfairly easy, but the front can pose more difficult. Oneof the best bow line tie downs are straps that areeither bolted under the hood (bonnet) and have theloop come out of the sides of the hood, or moretemporary ones that uses the locking of the hood tohold loops attached to a round piece of plastic, againusing the locking of the hood to hold them in place.These are very hard to describe with words, so I amhoping they pictures clarify how they work. These arealso very inexpensive and easy to use.

There is a word of caution to be given here. Pleasealways make sure your bow and stern lines are secure,tight and not dangling in any manner. Especially in frontof your car because they have a nasty habit of gettingrun over, and then tangled up in your wheels, whichcan cause a lot of damage both to the car and kayak. Ifyour front bumper does not offer a way to secure thelines from sliding off into the wheel well, considerusing two bowlines that come together forming aninverted V to keep them pulled towards centre andnot to the outside of the vehicle. I recently heard ahorror story from a person who ran over theirbowline and it snapped their composite boat almostin half. Again, ample time and diligence is called for.

ThePaddler 32

Above: Front righttie down anchor

4. thou shalt periodically check your lineswhile travelling

Ever wonder what else you could be doing on your road trip whilewatching the fuel pump ring up untold amounts of money on yourway to wherever youre going? How about checking your kayaks andthe straps to make sure nothing has managed to wiggle loose overthe last couple of hours since your last stop. Check your knots, yourbow and stern lines to make sure they have not unacceptably shifted.Gently try and move your kayak and if it doesnt feel secure, find theweak link. Your tie down is only as good as your worst knot. THIS isthe time to find out, not half an hour up the road when you see yourprized kayak bouncing around or you hear that nagging sound comingfrom the rear that you just cant quite put your finger on. The key tosuccessfully securing your kayak to your car is a system ofredundancies. Checking en route is part of that system. When youstop for fuel, lunch or just to stretch your legs, check your lines. Its aworthwhile couple of minutes invested into making sure everythingarrives at your destination.

ThePaddler 33

Left: Rear D ring fortie down

Left: Front left tiedown anchor

Above: Front righttie down anchor

Above: Hood (bonnet) loopanchor

Above: Hood loop secured

right: make sure alllines are secure and

not dangling

5. thou shalt perform anextensive annual inspection ofall tie down related gear

Of all the things one ought to do, this one is key. Whatgood is it if you have done all of these things with gearthat is worn, frayed, rusted or in numerous otherforms of disrepair? You could tie knots like a sailor ofold, and if the strap is fraying, or the buckle rustingout, it is all for nothing. And this does not just apply tothe straps, cords and lines. This goes for your entirerack system. It is put under a great deal of strain everyyear. It is more than worth the time to make sure allmanner of screws are properly tightened. I go so far asto apply a fresh layer of Loctite, a fluid that yousqueeze into the holes where the bolts are insertedto insulate them from vibrating free over time. Impretty sure there is a similar product on the other sideof the pond. One word of note when using Loctite(or something similar), do not use the permanentbonding formulation. It will make it VERY difficult toremove a rack to another car, or a different model.The blue comes undone with just tools, while the redrequires heat and tools, and quite a bit of torque.Once a year inspection of everything that gets you toyour favourite put-ins near and far is not a lot to ask.

6. thou shalt proceed at areasonable pace

Or to put is simpler, the faster you go, the faster thingscan go wrong. If you do the math youre not going toget there all that much sooner by stomping on your gaspeddle and flying down the road. Take your time, everynow and then glance up at your kayaks and make surethey are still pointed straight ahead and not bouncing. Byeasing off the accelerator you incrementally lessen theforces in play on your kayaks. It is far better to be safethan sorry. Slow down a bit when you are under load.

7. thou shalt never leave extra tiedown gear at home

This is one of those cases where forewarned isforearmed. Despite your diligent inspection of all yourstraps, buckles, bow and stern lines, et al; sooner orlater you are going to have one malfunction on you, orblow away, or just plain wear out. How are you goingto get back? You have extras in a bag in your vehicle. Ifyou dont have spares, make the investment; it is avery inexpensive insurance policy. Also, extra strapscome in handy for a multitude of purposes both intransit and while camping, towing a trailer that comesapart at the worst possible time (personal experiencehere), you name it. You cannot ever have enoughstraps and tie downs, throw a bunch of bungee cordsand karabiners in there as well. This is your transportfirst aid kit keep it well stocked.

8. thou shalt affix a caution flag tothe stern of your kayak

Depending on where you live (see #9) this is not onlya good idea; it may very well be the law. Unless youare carrying only shorter white water kayaks, there isa very good chance that your kayak is going tooverhang the rear of your vehicle. It is prudent tohang a red caution flag from the end of your kayak tokeep other vehicles that might not notice it fromrunning into it. Not all drivers look up and from therear it is a very narrow profile to see. A caution flagcan go a long way to preventing an accident, there areeven a few available for purchase for just this purpose.

9. thou shalt check the rules ofthe road afore venturing out

If you are travelling outside of your home area, it is asound idea to find out what the rules are fortransporting your kayak safely, as I know the laws onthis side of the pond vary state to state, sometimeseven between different counties. I can only imaginethe difference in the regulations travelling betweencountries in Europe. Some require a minimum ofthree points of contact between whats on top of thevehicle and the vehicle itself. Nothing can ruin aperfect trip than getting pulled over and cited forimproper transport and the incumbent fines. Not tomention just the overall buzz-kill that comes withbeing stopped for something you could haveprevented.

Now this may seem like a lot of different things thatyou have to do to your vehicle and kayak, and somemay seem redundant. But a successful and safetransport is a system of redundancies. If one part ofthe system fails, there are a multitude of back ups tomake sure your precious kayak doesnt wind upbouncing down the road, causing untold carnage orhaving it become a wing and pull the hardware rightout of your roof and damaging your car. This is why inthe very beginning I wrote of allowing yourself plentyof time to get your kayak set up and tied downproperly on your vehicle. A good rack system for thetop of your car is not a modest purchase. There aremany lesser set ups available, but they are basically justpadding for the roof of the vehicle. If they slip, thewhole thing comes undone. A proper set of saddles,rollers or J-hooks will insure that you and your kayakget to the put-in and enjoy your day on the water.

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10. Arrive safely and enjoy your paddle!

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10. Arrive safely and enjoy your paddle!

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ThePaddler 37

SaltyPaddler

ThePaddler 38 Mark crame gives us an introduction on

Kayak, tackle, baittheweathers good, the sea stateis fine and the fish are out there.

But where? Though fish roam and move with thetides there are areas that will typicallyattract or hold greater concentrationsfor various reasons. Understandingthese, how to locate them and how toreach them or perhaps return to themwill pay dividends and in open sea thereare few visual clues to help withwatercraft. This is where rudimentarynavigation comes into the mix.By Mark Crame

FISH FINDINGTo capture the fish is not all of the fishing.

Zane Grey,Tales of Fishes

ThePaddler 39

FISH FINDINGTo capture the fish is not all of the fishing.

Zane Grey,Tales of Fishes

Think of it as a restaurant, a concentrated supplyof food for all tastes and sizes. Any structure atthe right time of year will attract fish, its just acase of finding it; a classic example is the groyneon the beach at the end of my road. During aquick Sunday morning swim with my childrenlast summer I noticed the water was particularlyclear so walked along the groyne to check whatthe bottom was like. Halfway along I noticed thecruising grey shapes ten minutes later and Iwas back with a rod and a lure and half an hourafter that fresh bass was served up for lunch.There were hundreds of people on the beach,groynes for two miles and no-one fishes thisparticular beach because its shallow, featurelessand doesnt produce fish but there they were, onthe structure.

Sometimes visible by surface disturbance, if notexposed, sandbanks are also effective fishattractors with predators actively cruising and

others taking shelter from waves or flow. Theslope on the lee side of a bank will often holdrays in summer, especially on the weaker tides.Gullies often form around banks and manyitems end up here, washed along the bottomuntil becoming trapped. Gullies, like holes andrough ground, become fertile spots forcolonisation by marine life and thus attract fishto cruise and feed from them. Anothersubmerged larder. Ground like this, however, isless easy to spot visually from the surfaceespecially in coloured water or choppy seas. Sohow could effective location be achieved?

ThePaddler 40

A brief look at visual watercraftfirst though Lets say that Im targeting bass. Bass hang around structure, favour fast and turbulentwater (or the slack just outside of these) and actively hunt anything from shrimp andcrab to fish throughout the water column. Of course they can be chanced upon inopen water but to consistently catch it is worth looking for a suitable haunt. Locally, Ihave my favourites. These consist in the main of two inshore, shallow water wrecks(both partially visible during much of the tide), a man-made artificial reef and a man-made harbour wall. The latter both consist of jumbled rocks, the former of tangleddebris; conditions conducive to the growth of flora and fauna adding to the nooks andcrannies that provide shelter to crustacea and small fish.

Any structure at the right time of year

will attract fish, its just a case of finding it

Catching Bass in rock sea defences

ThePaddler 41

Any structure at the right time of year

will attract fish, its just a case of finding it

Catching Bass in rock sea defences

In the beginning comes the famed Eyeball,Mark I. Thats okay locally but has manylimitations, least of all perception so how itbecomes beneficial to turn to artificial aidsof which there are many and its time tomake use of them. Im sat at home in the middleof the week. Its night time and Im miles fromwhere Ill fish a few days hence. Ive gone onlineand checked the weather, wind and swell forecasts,the tide times and moon phase and know that my6am launch will see me drifting from north tosouth on the last two hours of the flood tide.

Following the approximate half an hour slack thatcomes with a neap I shall then have a couple ofhours to head back north as the tide reverses ontothe ebb. Allowing for paddling out and in,dropping anchor and so on this bodes well for an11am landing back where I launched. Its autumnso I can expect a good range of species. Thewhiting shoals are in with a few cod chasing them,the bass havent left, the rays have yet to move off,the smoothound are still present and there arereports still of mackerel and the arrival of herring.

The water is still relatively clear from the summer,the onshore wind is slight, smoothing the sea andconditions will allow me plenty of options. Theplan then is to paddle out to some deeper wateravoiding any shallow sandbanks where overfallsoccur, drift south for a couple of miles withfeathers then anchor up somewhere suitable anddrop some baits down before moving to structurewith lures over slack water, returning to anchor asthe flow begins and drifting home with feathersagain once the flow becomes too strong.Complicated and varied, this will need planningso its time to get my tools.

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Shipwrecks

The water is still relatively clear from the summer, the onshore wind is slight,

smoothing the sea and conditions will allow me plenty of options.

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Paper chartsAt a scale of 1:25,000 there is plenty of detail to befound here. I have a few suitable launch spotsavailable, typically a couple of miles apart so I canchose which to leave from dependant on thefeatures I intend to hit.

The first thing Im looking for is a suitable wreckwithin range (using a pair of compasses I havemarked my charts with one, two and three mileradii from each launch point). I want one inrelatively deep water, as it is more likely to have areasonable amount of structure and colonisationsuffering less impact from the effect of waves. Ihave a few to choose from in the area; this is formy slack water lure fishing.

The second consideration is the clear water. Forbait fishing I want to negate this as much as I canso again deeper water is desired; I want to driftdown with feathers too so need to get out a bitfirst. My decision in this instance is to launch atthe slip to the north of the Harbour, troll down tothe outfall and then the harbour wall for bass andtake the rip tide that forms from the flood flowingonto the wall to push me out into open water withthe assistance of the offshore wind and a bit ofpaddling, heading towards the West CortonCardinal Marker.

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With tidal drift Im going to glide to the southbut should have the feathers ready to drop by thetime I pass over the wreck as I reach the deepchannel. A 20-minute drift (flow predicted at 2-3knots) will hopefully see mackerel and possiblyherring (perhaps even a bonus bass) before Idrop my anchor just before drawing level withthe South Corton Cardinal to the east andholiday camp to the west and to the north of thewreck at the end of the deeper channel. The baitswill go down here and it should see whiting,ray, cod, smoothound and bass all potentiallyin the frame; deep water and lower light, arapid drop off inshore of asandbank and the channel ending justdowntide with food from the north washingdown and piling up.

Come slack water the baits come off and Idrift down to the wreck, working feathers,wedges, shads and pirks over the structure inthe hope of cod and bass before returning tomy anchor for the start of the ebb with a freshsupply of foodstuff being washed in andthrough the channel. With fishing nowcoming to an end, I up-anchor and drift backtowards the north with feathers again beforerounding the harbour wall, changing back tolures and trolling back to the launch site, adistance of perhaps five miles covered withfour types of fishing for a large number ofpotential species.

Ive used the chart to find details of depth,bottom type, structure, wrecks, channels andbanks as well as navigation aids (the buoysidentified by colour or markings relating totheir position and purpose). However, its abit of a pain to work with a paper chart once I geton the water; its going to turn to mush and theink will run unless I waterproof it but even then Iwill need to use a compass to take bearings andtriangulate my position from buoyageunless

SonarI have my fish finder or echo sounder or SONAR(Sound Navigation And Ranging) unit on thekayak. This can be called into assistance in alimited way. As I cross contour lines intodifferent depths I will get an approximate idea ofwhere I am and this will be especially precisewhen I pass over smaller holes or wrecks. But itsjust not quite precise enough to get me exactlywhere I plan to beso what else do I have?

GPSGlobal Positioning System. However did peoplecatch fish in the old days? It must have been luck.I return to the paper chart and get out a rule.Using the longitude and latitude lines I work outthe precise location of the position I intend toanchor in and input this onto my handheld GPSunit. It looks somewhat sparse though so I addthe wreck, other wrecks in the vicinity and, in caseof a sea mist descending upon me, the navigationbuoys and cardinal marks and the position of theharbour mouth which could be a potentialdanger. My launch site will be added once thereby simply pressing the MARK button to record itpreciselywhat more could one want?

I will get an approximate idea of where I am and this will be

especially precise when I pass over smaller holes or wrecks

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Chart plotterThis is the ideal. Between my feet sits acombination SONAR / Track plotter / Chartplotter unit loaded with detailed electroniccharts that show the same information as mypaper ones. I have the choice of manuallyinputting the waypoints of wrecks, anchorpoints and buoyage as I did with thehandheld unit and had I got a plotter thatdidnt take detailed charts this is what Id haveto do; many come loaded with a base maponly.

In the menu settings I have preloaded thefeatures I want visible such as depthsoundings, contour lines, navaids and soon so it remains only to locate the anchorposition and wreck with the cursor, selectthem and hit the MARK button to storethem, naming them suitably. This one unitis my box of tricks; I have an illuminated,scrolling, detailed chart which can bezoomed in front of me which shows all theinformation Ill require and pinpoint myown location in relation to my marks. It willrecord a track showing the route I havetaken. It shows the depth, speed, my courseand direction and the undulations of theseabed. As long as I have power I can goanywhere I chose.

Shipwrecks

Open water search

Sandy hole

Rising sandbacks

In useIts 6am and Im at the beach ready to launch. I switchon, wait for the satellites to be acquired then hit theMARK button for a safe return to my launching spot. Ipaddle, assisted by the tide, south towards the outfalltowing lures, do a circuit and then continue to theharbour wall, doglegging to seaward once I arrive andallowing myself to be pulled along by the rip current.

Clearing the harbour I visually site the Cardinal Markand move the cursor towards it on the plotter and hit theGOTO button. I now follow the indicator, seeing thedistance drop off as I approach the waypoint. On arrivalI switch over to feathers and, moving the cursor to theanchoring waypoint, hit GOTO again and begin mydrift, estimating the time I have available from mydrifting speed and the distance to go; I deploy a drogueto slow my drift and stabilise the direction.

As I approach the waypoint the alarm sounds to informme of my arrival within a selectable distance and,cancelling this, I wind in and, judging the direction ofdrift, split screen the charts with SONAR; I look for alikely spot from real-time ground information and dropanchor. I wait for the kayak to settle and hit the MARKbutton so my precise location is stored and set a driftalarm so I am aware if my anchor pulls. I fish and then,with slack water, I release myself from the anchor andhit GOTO, heading for the wreck and split-screening toSONAR to verify its exact location as there are oftendiscrepancies and I may wish to fish a specific part of thewreck or locate the start and end points of the structurein relation to my drift so that I can keep on track.

Were the tides still moving I would predominantlyfish just downtide of the structure, in the sheltered

water where fish may be resting but on slack I candrop down and jig my lures up and down with onlythe wind to move me around. Once the ebb hasbegun I return to my buoyed anchor, clip on andbegin bait fishing again, pressing the MARK buttononce more once I have stabilised in position. I fish onuntil it is time to return and, with the launch locationwaypoint selected, I press GOTO so that I know whereI am in relation to it at all times even though I am notintending to head straight there; off-course alarm isdeselected and I drift north again, monitoring speed,time and my heading home.

Of course while moving I also have the SONAR returnson screen and should I locate anything of interest, saystructure or concentrations of fish, I can press theMARK button to store this waypoint and, withSnapshot mode selected, I can record a copy of thescreen so that I can refer back at a later date.

Hopefully everything went according to plan howeverthis isnt always the case. If, while I am on the water, fogdescends, I have to jettison my anchor or it fails, Ibecome ill or injured or some other situation arisesthen it will become necessary for me to return to shore.Dependant on the tidal flow I may not be able to getback to my launch point at this time so I will instead setcourse for the closest safe landfall. Initially travelling inthe general direction of the coastline, once close thecharts need to be checked more closely to ascertainwhere it is safe to land. A busy port, rocky area,headland, cliff face are all areas to avoid and are visibleon the charts. A chart plotter really is a useful tool.

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Reefs

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RayRock sea defences

Sandy hole Whiting

tLands End to the Scilly IslesThePaddler 48

The 26 miles of water between Lands End and the Scilly Isles is one of themost treacherous stretches of water anywhere in the world. Five tidesconverge here and the water becomes confused at the best of times, withthe different currents pulling in various directions. Add a bit of wind and youhave an eclectic mix, which creates turbulent waters like you cannot imagine.Even on relatively calm days the waves created by the uneven bottom andrushing water can be ten feet or more in height.

With the power from an internal combustion engine behind you it is a fairlyeasy crossing to make, if you pick your weather. Paddling a kayak acrossthough, that is a different matter, with only your own efforts to get you there.Now, consider the same scenario but instead of using modern, compositeexpedition kayaks you factor in using folding, skin-on-frame kayaks which areheld together with Velcro seams and a zip fastener, but that is what ourintrepid duo decided to do.

By

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tLands End to the Scilly Isles

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The Atlantic swells that crash onto the rocks here can sometimes be 80-feet high

We learned a valuable lesson, dont tryand launch a small boat at

Sennen Cove

The plan was hatched with just a year for Roband Raif to train for the ordeal and to drum up adecent amount of sponsorship for their chosencharities of the NSPCC and the RNLI. On the dayof departure the weather was perfect. There wasjust a slight breeze from the Northwest, about aforce 3, to give some movement to the waterwithout churning it into a maelstrom. The safetyescort was provided by Powercat, one of their176 catamarans powered by a pair of Yamaha40s. These boats originate from Bryher boatyardon the islands and are perfectly suited for theconditions.

The fun started when we came to launch theboats at Sennen Cove, just round the corner fromLands End and the site for the most westerlylifeboat station on the south coast. The Lifeboatramp points straight to Florida, with nothing inbetween. The Atlantic swells that crash onto therocks here can sometimes be 80-feet high. Theslipway for the fishing boats leads onto the sandybeach and a tractor is employed to push themout and haul them back up. It is a precarious lifein a precarious spot, but it is the most convenientlaunch for a paddle trip to Scilly.

At 06.00, whilst the two paddlers prepared theirkayaks for the crossing, we backed the Powercatdown and the trailer immediately sank up to itsaxles in the soft sand at the waters edge. Wemanaged to push the boat off easily enough, butthe Land Rover struggled to try and move eventhe empty trailer. With tyres spinning on thegranite slipway, it couldnt and the clutch beganto smell. In the end we had to manhandle thetrailer and then winch it up to the car park instages, using the trailers boat winch to take it upthe slope a few yards at a time. We learned avaluable lesson, dont try and launch a smallboat at Sennen Cove, but we were at last afloatand on our way by 06.40

As we left the shelter of the breakwater a regulargroundswell was crashing onto the rocks of thereef, which helps to take the sting out of Atlanticseas and protects the little fishing village. Thekayaks bobbed about in the waves while thePowercat just gently moved up and down to therhythm of the sea. These really are incredibleboats that make the journey from Scilly toPenzance or Falmouth on a regular basis inanything up to force 5 and on the odd occasionbeyond that, but not as comfortably as we weremaking progress and we were only at tick over,not even on the plane so as to keep station withthe pair in their kayaks.

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The Atlantic swells that crash onto the rocks here can sometimes be 80-feet high

of Lands Endthe full effect of the meeting of the tides betweenthe Longships Lighthouse and the last point ofland before America started to make theirpresence felt. The lighthouse stands proudlyupon its rocky outcrop, a phallic symbol warningshipping to stay well clear of the dangers thatlurk hereabouts. The kayaks were making goodprogress but the pull of the tide sucked them intowards the fang like rocks.

One minute they were about half mile off thelighthouse, then the next they were paddling forall they were worth to prevent themselves beingsucked into the white water foaming around thebase of the reef. The tide rip could be clearly seenon the surface of the water and at one point Rafwas less than 50 yards off the rocks. It was a closecall but they cleared the lighthouse and the reefby 07.00.

Once out of the effect of the Longships thingsbegan to settle down a bit. The big, sloppy swellsand peaky waves caused by a mixture of theconverging tides and reflected waves off therocks, gave way to a more regular pattern ofswells from the west. After paddling for an hourthey stopped for a short rest, rafting up to takeon liquid and energy, they had covered exactlyfour miles even through the strong pull of thetide and had past the worst.

An average of four knots was pretty good, even atthe start of the trip. With energy levels restoredand rehydrated the lads picked up their paddlesand returned to the relentless onslaught ofpaddle stroke after paddle stroke, lifting andfalling with the waves and occasionally having tobrace against a sharper than usual wave face.

As they got further offshore, so the swellsdecreased and we had a wonderful crossing. Theystopped each hour for a break to replenish theirtired bodies. At the half way stage, at around09.40 and with 12.2 miles covered, they had topump out their kayaks. The seams on these craftare not totally watertight and the odd wave overthe deck had caused water to accumulate in thehulls. They rafted up and pumped out severalgallons from each kayak. This made things verymuch more comfortable as their feet andbacksides were no longer being washed by thewater on the inside of the hull.

At the next stop we were joined by a pod ofCommon Dolphins, not the more usualBottlenose variety. They came right alongside theboat and the kayaks, rolling on their sides andlooking at us with their great big, bright eyes.They stayed with us for about 10 minutes,swimming to within touching distance of theboats and playing around us before becomingbored and moving off together to go and huntsome squid for lunch.

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As we got clear

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They were paddling for all they were worth to prevent themselves being sucked into the

white water foaming around the base of the reef

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Lands Endcornwall

England

their kayaks continued their onward plod, stillmaking a respectable 3.75 knots, a little slowernow that the distance they had already coveredbegan to sap at their glycogen reserves. By 10.40they had covered 16.4 miles making an overallaverage of 4.1 mph and the low lying Scilly Isleswere in sight on the horizon! By 14.00 they hadreached the eastern isles and could truly say theyhad made the trip to Scilly under their ownsteam. Now it was just a case of carrying on tothe beach at St, Marys through the inner soundand the hot shower and comfortable beds thatwere awaiting them. The boat had done the triphaving burned hardly any fuel whatever, thePowercat with twin Yamaha 40s had used about15 litres of fuel in total, thats all.

The entire trip was made in just less than eighthours and the boys covered a total distance of29.8 miles. In the process they found out muchabout themselves, their inner strength and raisedtheir confidence and over 4,000 for theirchosen charities. The lifeboat at Sennen Coveand St. Marys on Scilly and the NSPCC. They arealready planning their next escapade, whichinvolves icebergs. As regards the return trip, wellthat was made on the deck of the Scillonian.

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the two lads in

ThePaddler 57

Below: Eight hours and 29.8 miles later safe and sound on the Scilly Isles

With 92% of our total incomecoming from generous donationsand legacies, we depend on ourdedicated volunteers andsupporters to save lives at sea. Yoursupport means our lifeboat crewscan reunite the 22 people theyrescue each day with their families.So however you choose to getinvolved, you can feel goodknowing youre making a difference. http://rnli.org

The RNLI is the charitythat saves lives at sea

ThePaddler To advertise email: [email protected] or call +44 (0)1480 46508158

ThePaddler 59

SUPPaddler

Storms bring new life to beaches and shores. By Christian Wagley

Paddlers enjoy such an intimate view of nature that wesee things that many others never notice. One ofthose things is the change we see following naturaldisturbances like storms and floods.

We notice the plants that are washed away or buried; thewhelks, clams, and other animals strewn across the shore;and the floodplains coated in fresh mud. So its importantthat we understand what this means for the waterwaysand natural systems where we paddle.

I live along the sandy beaches of Americas Gulf ofMexico coast, where occasional hurricanes blow ashoreand rearrange the coastal landscape. TV news crewsshow-up with satellite trucks and rush on-air with reportsof beach erosion and flooding, always cast in a negativelight. Now we know that disturbances like storms actuallybring many benefits.

One of our best lessons comes from the barrier islandsof the North Carolina coast. In the 1930s, large sanddunes were built and planted with millions of sprigs ofdune plantsall of it designed to face the mighty Atlanticstorms with a solid line of man-made order.

And it worked, or so it appeared. The high waves ofstorms were blocked by the dunes, which made it easierto develop behind them, bringing more roads and housesto places formerly seen as too risky to build. Onlydecades later did scientists fully realize the impacts oftrying to stabilize the dynamic coast.

With rising sea levels, barrier islands must migrate towardland to avoid drowning, and over thousands of yearsstorms actually move islands by washing sand from theocean side across to the back side of the island. The largeman-made dunes in North Carolina blocked storms frommoving that vital sand across islands, actually increasingerosion by holding the naturally-wayward islands in place.

Biologists have also learned that when storms flattendunes they create broad sandy areas that manyshorebirds need for nesting. Recognizing the benefits ofthese storms and the healthy disorder they create, coastalmanagers no longer build sand dunes along mostundeveloped coastlines, instead letting natural processesrule the beach.

Along rocky shores, paddlers see the many invertebratesthat cling to the rocks, competing for space. Storms oftendislodge some of these, opening-up new space for otheranimals and preventing any one species from dominating.And the kelp that often grows along rocky shores breaksfree and washes ashore in storms, bringing food andnutrients to beaches.

For those who paddle rivers and streams, we see floodswhere waters rise out of the channel and spill into low-lying areas. These floods help disperse seeds, depositnutrients, and open up areas where young fish can takeshelter and grow larger amidst the tangle of trees andplants.

Where natural disturbance harms our waterways, it isgenerally because humans have significantly altered theenvironment. For example, if rains that once fell onforested slopes now strike the bare soil of a farm,sediment can wash into nearby streams where itsmothers aquatic life.

For healthy natural systems, storms help add the disorderand diversity they need. So the next time a hurricane orbig spring flood hits your favourite waterway, stay off thewater and stay safe. But after the storm, paddle with anew eye for the changes you see, as disturbance is aregular and healthy part of the natural places we love.

ThePaddler 60

By

Leslie

Kolov

ich

For more information on howyou can participate wherever

you may be on the Planet visitwww.supradioshow.com/wpftp

stay tuned for my weeklypodcast of the Paddlers

Planet with my guest hostchristian Wagley on

www.supradioshow.com,

Where we are standing Upfor the Planet!

Phot

o: Jo

an V

ieno

t

Sean Poynter2013 ISA Champion

Ryan James1st 2013 Head of the Dart

TUSHINGHAM SAILS LTD Tel: +

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ThePaddler 62

Come and meet the

connor Baxter

ThePaddler 63

Come and meet the

Paddler on the Planet#1 Junior Paddler of the Year 2011

#1 Male Paddler of the Year 2011

#1 SUP Athlete of the Year 2012

#1 Male Paddler of the Year 2012

#1 Fastest Paddler on Earth 2013

connor Baxter

ThePaddler 64

hat boards are you using?I am currently using my Starboard 126 x 25Allstar Turtle Bay for my all around racing and Iam using my 71 x 24 Inzane model for surfing.These are the boards I use for everyday fun.

Where and what was your first surf and what got you hooked?My first surf session was in Maui, Hawaii atabout two-years old and I was immediatelyhooked on surfing. Both my parents are oceanfanatics so I was in the water at a very early age.

Where was your first competition?My first competition was surfing in Maui,Hawaii.

Can you talk about your training? Greatest inspiration? Who/what kept you motivated?I train two to three times a day. My greatestinspiration would have to be seeing other kidsand people my age doing better then me. Myparents are also always a huge inspiration to meand my passion for the ocean keeps memotivated.

How does SUP give you satisfaction?SUP has allowed me to be in the ocean and travelthe world. I get to meet a lot of new people andget to experience lots of different things becauseof this sport.

Only early doors but what is the biggest accomplishment in your career to date?Crossing the Kaiwi channel at 14-years old in theM2O event was my biggest accomplishment sofar.

W

Waterman connor Baxter was born in Maui,Hawaii on September 15th 1994. At 19, he is 61 tall

and weighs 155 lbs. Since beginning to stand UpPaddle just four years ago, Connor has over 60 firstplace finishes. On the podium at virtually every race

he enters, he has earned over 100 trophy finishes.Connor's discipline and focus fuel his success, but no

less important is his attitude, Always have funand never give up. His unique paddling technique

is now named after him: the connor Baxterchoke stroke.

ThePaddler 65

connor B

axter

Can you explain the Connor Baxter Choke StrokeMy Signature Choke Stroke paddling technique is for sure one of akind. Not having participated in any of the paddling sports, I had nobackground or training on how to paddle. One day I just started usingmy technique and it stuck.

It is super useful for short sprints to buoys, for upwind, for the startsand coming into the finish line. What I do for this paddle stroke is Islide my hands down the paddle and bend over a little and then paddlemy brains out. It is very simple and really allows me to go fas

Documents

ThePaddler 13 October 2013 Alternative Cover