Transcript
Page 1: Blazing Paddles - lipaddlers.org

Blazing PaddlesBlazing PaddlesNNNNeeeewwwwssss lllleeeetttt tttteeeerrrr ooooffff LLLLoooonnnngggg IIII ssss llllaaaannnndddd PPPPaaaaddddddddlllleeeerrrrssss

Summer 2009

DisclaimerThe views expressed in this newsletter are strictly those of their respective authors. Informationoffered on any topic should not be assumed to be authoritative or complete. On all paddling issues,it is important to base one’s practices on multiple sources of information.

Moonlight paddle, 2009Photo by Ray Clarkson

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Message from the President: Safety FirstBy Steve Berner

There have been twenty club trips and numerous short notice paddles already this year.Attendance for each trip has been averagingabout fifteen boats. That means that our members have been on the water more than300 times in the first two months of the paddling season. Many are paddling for the firsttime, and some still don’t even own a boat yet.And that’s great! But what’s even better - noone has been seriously hurt in all that activity onthe water. Not many of us stop to think that it isa wonderful thing when fifteen kayakers go outon a paddle and fifteen kayakers return safely.After all, that is what’s expected. But water is not our natural element and tragedy can strikequickly. That point was made clear on July 4thwhen a sixty-five year old man died after capsizing during a sailing regatta in the GreatSouth Bay.

Our Mission Statement begins, “Long IslandPaddlers exists to share a common love forkayaking, canoeing and the outdoors. Weexchange information on safety, education, paddling experiences and other paddling-related subjects.” We strive to not only promotethe joys of paddling but also the need to prepare for the dangers inherent in this sport.Over 100 people die each year while kayaking or canoeing – most by drowning.

One way we hope to improve our members’ safety is to schedule several Skills’ Days a year.These sessions provide an informal opportunityfor paddlers to learn and practice safety skillswith other members of the club. The two mostimportant skills – getting out of your boat (wetexit) and getting back in (self and assisted rescue/recovery) – need to be practiced and mastered by anyone who wants to paddle. Thisyear, we have had three indoor pool sessionsalready. And there are two more outdoor Skills’Days scheduled: one on July 19th at Stony BrookHarbor and another on August 9th at SunkenMeadow State Park. Please sign up for one orboth if you have not mastered the wet exit andrecovery skills.

Another way the club, strives to improve ourmembers’ safety is to require certain equipment

on different trips. The most important piece ofequipment, the personal floatation device (PFD),is required to be worn on all paddles. There aresome who do not like this rule. Some say theCoast Guard only requires a PFD be on boardthe vessel, or that they know how to swim, orthat the water is not deep enough to be dangerous. While all this may be true, a PFDstrapped to the back of the kayak is useless tothe paddler who goes over and is unable toswim or stand because of cold water shock, amedical condition, or a blow to the head whichrenders the paddler unconscious. It is believedthe man who died on the 4th had a heartattack. Because he was wearing a PFD, rescuerswere able to pull him from the water andattempt to revive him. Without it, he wouldhave most likely sunk to the bottom of the bay.Although, he died anyway, his PFD gave his rescuers a chance. We require a dry suit or awetsuit for cold water paddling, usually whenthe water temperature drops below sixtydegrees. We require a whistle and a visual signaling device so that you can alert others ifyou are in trouble. Multiple lights are requiredon night paddles so that not only power boatscan see us but so that we see each other. Thesepieces of equipment, which most often gounused, provide a safety net in case of an emergency.

Each year, we offer several programs at ourGeneral Membership Meetings to enhanceboater safety. In April, we had an EMT talkabout first aid and CPR. In August, we will haveMary McCourt, DC (Doctor of Chiropractics) talkabout exercises / stretches for the paddler as apreventive to injury. In October, Ed Luke will beoffering his time to educate us about theweather and the prominent role it plays in ourexperiences as paddlers. This interactive discussion will examine some of the importantunderpinnings of weather and how it impacts us as coastal mariners. His goal is to sharpen ourintuition about the weather and its effects tohelp us to anticipate and avoid hazardous situations. After being caught on the water inseveral bad storms, I am eagerly awaiting this

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Birch Creek & Little Flanders BayPaddle lead by Steve Berner on June 13, 2009

Photo by Chiara Nuzzo

one. And, finally, we are going to have anotherprogram on cold water paddling in Novemberbecause the months of November through Aprilare the most dangerous times of the year topaddle. Try to come to our monthly meetings.

For the first time, Frank Chillemi taught a TripLeaders’ Fundamentals’ Workshop in February.He taught past, present, and future trip leadershow to make our paddling trips safer and moreenjoyable for all our members. He has commit-ted to do the same workshop every year for us.

Finally, I am sure everyone has noticed all thegreat changes on our website. I hope everyonehas taken the time to look at the four new orrevised pages under TRIPS heading. The first isthe revised Paddling Trip Levels. It details theconditions, skills, and endurance necessary foreach trip level using a number and a letter. Theeasiest trip is rated 1A while the most difficult

trip is rated 5D. It is of the utmost importancethat every member be familiar with the require-ments for each trip level prior to signing up fora trip. Please remember, a Level 1 trip can turninto a Level 2 or 3 trip if there are unexpectedstrong winds. Know your limitations. There is aGuidelines for Trip Participants’ page whichexplains all you need to know before joining aclub paddling trip. This is a must read by anyonegoing on a club trip. There is a new KayakingBasics’ page which explains everything from theparts of a kayak to how to paddle. An informa-tional article on Cold Water Paddling has alsobeen added. But none of this information canhelp you if you don’t take the time to read it.

I am looking forward to another great, safe,paddling season.

Steve Berner

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Build a Kayak ShedBy Paul Caparatta

Everything I’ve read about kayak care says thatkayaks should not suffer long term storage indirect sunlight. The sun, which can transformhumans into leathery prunes and ruin patio furniture, can also dry out and fade kayaks. Plastickayaks are also porous and in time, your kayakwill acquire an increasingly drab appearancebecause of airborne soot. Garaging the kayaks wasout of the question as I have a one-car garage andthere’s no room for two kayaks.

There are two additional reasons to store kayaksout of the elements: bird droppings and rodents.The birds in my neighborhood (thanks to a neigh-bor’s multiple bird feeders) tend to plop often andfrequently and getting the purple stains off thekayak is no easy task. Long Island is also home tosquirrels, raccoons, and muskrats. At least one club

member had the foam kneepads within the cock-pit destroyed by a four-legged critter apparentlyseeking nesting material.

I’ve had my fill of tarps. I’ve been through threeof them. The wind blows them off, they tend tobecome moldy and porous over time and theystiffen up and crack in the cold. Since I’m blessedwith both the Bob Vila and Norm Abrams genes, Idecided to build a kayak shed. The rollers you seein the photos came from three strollers, all withidentical tandem wheels, and which I rescued fromthe garbage. Did I mention that I also have theSanford and Son gene? Rollers are a nice touchbut not absolutely necessary. But then, I also havethe Rube Goldberg gene. I think that’s considereda grand slam in the gene pool.

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Building a shed requires a basic knowledge offraming, a reasonable assortment of hand tools, alevel, and a saber saw. An electric miter saw makesshort work of framing but is not likely to beowned by the average homeowner. You may need to check your local building codes as sometowns may require a building permit, even if thestructure is arguably temporary. You may alsohave to respect setback requirements from yourproperty lines. Often sheds don’t require permits if under 100 square feet and do not have electricor plumbing.

I won’t bore you with a stick-and-nail how-to article. Instead, I’m offering this short article andthe accompanying photos as food-for-thought. Ofcourse you may call on me for advice if you don’tknow how and where to start. I’ll be glad to assistwith planning. Needless to say, the shed must be

rainproof in order to avoid wood rot and must bestructurally sound enough to withstand gale forcewinds. I also built the shed on patio blocks inorder to avoid having wood in direct contact withthe ground. I started with pressure treated 2X4s,then regular lumber above that. For siding, youmay either use Texture 111 or Smart Siding. Bothproducts are available at Home Depot with theSmart Siding being less expensive. Rather thanusing traditional roofing materials, I also usedSmart Siding on the roof and sealed it with sili-cone caulk where it joins the walls.

I’m sorry I didn’t build the shed earlier instead of wasting time with a succession of outdoor racksand tarps. As the old saying goes, if you don’thave time to do it right, be sure to leave sometime to do it over.

Completed in 2004

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The Frank Answers ColumnHello Frank,

I had a very nasty experience recently on a commercially guided paddle. We were across a bayfrom safety with the weather changing rapidly and a huge thunderstorm building in the distancebehind us. None of the three Guides seemed to notice the gathering storm, or perhaps, they choseto ignore it. I was getting pretty scared. A few of us paying customers voiced our concern, but noaction was taken. It was not until a more observant Guide arrived and “persuaded” the people incharge to take action that we turned around and sought shelter. My question is; what should Ihave done had this other Guide not shown up?

Regards, L.T.

Dear L.T.

Strong thunderstorms are one of Mother Nature’s most lethal creations. They demand our utmostrespect ‘cause their power can be savagely terrifying. Have I got your attention yet? Good, becausethunderstorms contain Lightning, and, like us paddlers, Lightning really likes water! Exiting yourkayak on the business end of a Lightning Bolt is to be avoided at all costs. Anyone who calls themselves a guide and does not show these storms their complete respect is probably better offleading kayak trips in a swimming pool; and an indoor pool at that! Any guide worth your hardearned money knows one thing above all else: Nature’s laws enforce themselves.

Without having seen the conditions first-hand, I’ll presume that your observations were such thatyou knew the group was in “clear and present danger.” What you should have done then was tospeak up, with authority! Stop the trip! Get the “guides” attention and don’t let go until your concerns were fully addressed. Most likely, many of the other paying customers would have backedyou up. They probably were just as concerned as you, but might not have wanted to be the first tocomplain or appear scared.

In the future, please be more careful in your choice of guides. All guides… and club trip leadersnow that I think about it… develop reputations, good or bad. By and large, all guides deserve thereputations they have developed, good or bad. Too cautious an approach can at times be boring,but “Cowboy’s” are to be avoided at all costs. Thanks for your very important question.

Best Wishes, Frank Chillemi

Dear Frank,

There seams to be a lot of “debate”, for lack of a better word, whether or not a sprayskirt is reallynecessary for a typical sea kayak. I simply don’t know whom to believe, and I know there are othermembers of this club who feel the same way. Any help you can give us here would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance, L.G.

Dear L.G.

Sprayskirts are one of those hot-button topics that newer kayakers love to argue about. Some ofthese squabbles have become the stuff of legend within our membership.

There is a simple solution here. If we only look at all the good things sprayskirts do for us, we caneasily make an overwhelming case for their use.

The typical sea kayak has an enclosed cockpit with an opening for the paddler to get in and out ofthe boat. A sprayskirt is a flexible tube/deck assembly that attaches between your torso and thecockpit’s coaming, or rim. This provides a watertight seal between you and your boat. The obviousbenefit here is that rain, splash, paddle drip and the occasional wave tend to stay where they

continued on next page

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The Frank Answers Column (continued)

belong; out of your kayak. If you’ve ever tried to paddle your boat with a few inches of watersloshing around inside, you’ll really appreciate your sprayskirt keeping that water out.

The real payoff, however, are the important things sprayskirts do for us when things get dicey. Let’ssay your partner dumps, and you’re there to help drain their boat and get them back into it. Whileleaning over to stabilize your partner’s kayak for their re-entry, the lower edge of your kayak’scoaming will most likely be under water. Without a sprayskirt, your boat will quickly become flooded. Trouble!

Now let’s look at what happens when YOU dump over. A sprayskirt would have kept water out ofyour boat as it was turning upside-down. With practice, you can now pop your sprayskirt, push theboat away like you’re taking off a tight pair of pants, and come up alongside a nearly empty kayakready to be flipped back and re-entered. Coming to the surface startled, scared and then having todeal with a flooded cockpit is not a pleasant thought.

Need another reason? Sure! A sprayskirt provides a convenient working space for your chart andother navigation tools. One more? No problem. A sprayskirt covering your lap comes in reallyhandy when you get seasick. With nothing shielding the inside of your kayak, your natural tendency will be to lean over beyond your boat as you lose breakfast. In a weakened, disorientedand unbalanced state, most likely you’re about to be sick, upside down, underwater, and notbreathing! Leaning slightly forward and putting your head down is a much safer way to completethis inevitable process. A sprayskirt provides the protection for your legs, and there’s plenty ofwater around to clean up with afterwards.

Does a sprayskirt take practice to put on and pop off? Yes, it does! Is there a backup technique toopen your sprayskirt should you have buried the grab loop when you put the thing on? Yes thereis… and yes, you should learn and practice that too. Is all this extra effort worth your time andtrouble? This one’s a no-brainer folks, it surely is.

Oh, one more thing. Just like Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), sprayskirts are of little value if youonly carry it and not actually wear the thing. We know of folks who have started out in calm waterwith their skirt stowed, figuring that if bad conditions developed they would put their skirt on.Conditions can, and have, deteriorated so fast as to make this idea pretty much useless.

Best Wishes, Frank Chillemi

Here’s MikeMatty doingsome basic bracing prac-tice. Note howthe bottom ofhis coaming isinches underthe water.

Without hissprayskirt…he’s flooded in seconds!

Frank ChillemiPhoto

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The Frank Answers Column (continued)

Dear Frank,

As a new member I have two questions. Perhaps you can help me? I’m a bit confused as to exactly what should be my responsibilities as well as my reasonable expectations when attending a Skills Day.

Fondly, T.L.

Dear T.L.

Skills Days, as presented by Long Island Paddlers, are intended to give our members an opportunityto work on developing and improving our kayak or canoeing skills. Whether conducted in the sheltered environment of a pool, or in the relatively benign waters of a selected outdoor location,these are excellent opportunities to gain more of the skills that are so important in our sport. TheseSkills Days are very simple in concept. The club organizes the event, then depends on our moreexperienced paddlers to volunteer their time and effort to share our skills with other members.

While these Skills Days are always a very enjoyable time, the operative word in the first paragraphis “work.” You should approach one of these events by being willing to do just that. Arrive ontime. Have all the equipment you will need handy and in good repair. Have a pretty good idea ofwhat skills you wish to work on, while being open to learning new things as well. Be respectful ofany time limitations you might experience, especially in the limited confines of a pool environment.Speaking just for myself, I appreciate it when a paddler seeking my assistance talks with me inadvance of the actual Skills Day. There is often some preparatory work you can do (reading, watching a training video, etc.) that makes our actual time in the water much more productive.

Presuming you come to these events prepared, you should reasonably expect that the event starton time, be well run, not be overcrowded, and be well paced. In a pool environment, you shouldexpect that all the necessary facilities are up and running. In an outdoor, natural setting you shouldbe able to expect that the selected area has been pre-screened for its suitability. Once the eventbegins, you should expect that the attention paid to you will be personal. These events should beenjoyable, but this is no time for inattention, especially by the more experienced kayakers. If you are, say, attempting your first Wet-Exit, you are about to be upside-down in a kayak for the first time… to say nothing about the fact that you won’t be breathing! You have a reasonableright to expect that the person working with you will be paying full attention to you and youalone. Fortunately, in this organization, we pride ourselves on working just that way. Please comeand join us.

Best Wishes, Frank Chillemi

If you have any questions for Frank, please contact him at [email protected]

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NYC/Swim1st Annual Around Liberty Island Swim Race

Mike Matty and Frank Chillemi were selected as escort-kayakers for the NYC/Swim 1st Annual AroundLiberty Island Swim Race, held this past June. The attached photo was made prior to the race start.

Sharing Frank’s double is Peter Riley of the Downtown (Manhattan) Boat House.

Fruit and Pecan Granola Bars by Kristin Costa

Preheat oven to 325º. Line an 8 x 11 inch pan with foil. Coat with cooking spray. Whisk egg, eggwhite, sugar, oil, cinnamon, salt and vanilla in a large bowl. Stir in oats, cranberries (or raisins),pecans and flour. Spread in prepared pan.

Bake until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool. Cut into bars with lightly oiled knife.

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1 cup light brown sugar

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

11/2 cups toasted oats*

2/3 cups chopped dried

cranberries or golden raisins1/4 cup chopped pecans

1 tablespoon all purpose flour

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Long Island Paddlers is sponsored by:

Around Manhattan Swim MarathonDateline, June 6, 2009. Open water swimmer Kathy Jaeger of New York Citytakes a feeding break under the GeorgeWashington Bridge during today's AroundManhattan Swim Marathon. With her aretwo of her escort kayakers, Mike Matty andFrank Chillemi of the Long Island PaddlersGroup. While Jaeger is a veteran of threeprevious Manhattan Swim Marathon eventsas a relay team member, this was her firstattempt as a solo swimmer. She broke theelusive nine-hour barrier with a time of8hrs, 53min, 7sec. The Manhattan IslandSwim Marathon, one counter-clockwise laparound "the big rock in NY harbor" is thelongest and most prestigious open-waterswim race in the world.

Photo by James Merritt

Riverhead Bay Motors1521 Old Country Rd

Riverhead, 11901Sales: (631)727-4000

riverheadbaymotors.com

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Earth DayPhoto by Chiara Nuzzo

Apr 19, 2009 - Liz Marcellus and her pet dog

Warren Light CraftThurs., July 16, 7:00pm Program: Guest speakerwill be Ted Warren ofWarren Light Craft whowill be talking about theLittle Wing kayak design and construction. Theywill also give an overview of the company andtheir experiences starting a small kayak manufac-turing company. They will also have a demo dayon Friday, July 17th, 2009 at Little Flanders Bay inFlanders beginning at 10:00am. You can visit theirweb site at www.warrenlightcraft.com.

Directions to Demo Day: Take Exit 71 on the LIEand go east/south (turn right at the stop sign) onRte. 24/Edwards Avenue for about 5 miles. Soonafter passing the County Jail, you will enterRiverhead Traffic Circle. Go around the circle andexit onto Peconic Avenue. The Peconic Paddler ison your left. We will meet anyone interested thereand leave for the put-in at 9:30 AM. Then proceedeast about 3 miles on Rte. 24, past Rte. 105, toBirch Creek Road. It is not paved and has manypotholes. For additional information and to signup for the demo day, go to the Trips' page.

Birds of a Feather Exercise Together

August 20, 2009,7:00pm

Program: Two guest speakers:

Speaker #1) Marge Tuthil will be giving an informative power point presentation on birds wesee when paddling.Speaker #2) Mary McCourt, DC (Doctor ofChiropractics) will be talking about exercises /stretchers for the paddler as a preventive to injury.Dr Mary is an avid kayaker and tri athlete whoknows sports medicine.

Protecting & Restoring The Long Island SoundWhen: September 17, 2009, 7:00pm Program: Larissa J. Graham, the Long Island SoundStudy Outreach Coordinator, will be giving a pres-entation on the importance of the Long IslandSound. She will cover the problems it's facing, howthe Long Island Sound Study is protecting andrestoring it, and ways we can help!

Meeting ScheduleBy Michael Chachkes

If there is something you would like us to look into for a monthly meeting please E-mail me: [email protected]

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BBBB llll aaaa zzzz iiii nnnn gggg PPPP aaaa dddd dddd llll eeee ssssP.O. Box 115West Sayville, NY 11796

First Class Mail

Tentative 2009 monthly meeting datesAlways check website

3rd Thursday of every month 7-9:30 PM

July 16 • August 20

September 17 • October 15

November 19

LOCATION:Suffolk County Community College

Brentwood (Grant Campus)Captree Commons - Room C114

Cafeteria BuildingFrom the east or west take the Long Island

Expressway to Exit 53. Follow signs to Wicks Road.

Go south on Wicks Road to campus entrance on right-hand side.

Long Island Paddler’s Publication DatesApril 15 • July 15 • October 15 • January 15

Deadlines for submission are one month priorto publication date. All copies submittedmust be typewritten. Members are encour-aged to submit articles, letters to the editorNewsworthy Notes, trip reports or future tripinformation, etc. to editors. Editors reservethe right to editorial privileges. Unless other-wise stated, the views and opinions expressedare those of the authors and do not repre-sent official position statements of LongIsland Paddlers Club.

Submit all newsletter articles, letters and advertising to the editor

[email protected]

To learn and see more of what Long Island Paddlers is all about, visit our website www.lipaddlers.org

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