Maine Island Kayak

real world rescue

2011-06-27T07:29:00.003-04:00

This is an excerpt from Kayak World Traveler who is currently on a solo trip from Tallahassee FL around the Gulf & Caribbean. He was rescued by the Coast Guard in May after a capsize and equipment failure in rough conditions. It's useful to see how equipment can be a hazard as well as a help. Also, this story amply illustrates the utility of the VHF radio.

You can read more about his adventures here

"Now Sunday.........shouldn't have left the island. Winds were too strong,seas too rough.Needed to go 5 miles southwest to a small swampy island that was not visible.(Possibly gone during last hurricane,not sure on that) Forecast had high winds until at least Tuesday so when it calmed a bit I went for it at about 1 PM.

Hit some crazy waves & winds. Kayak handled very well. Only real worry I had was my left arm was a bit sore & I was a bit tired overall from the intense exercise I had been getting. GPS was all over the place.Pointing in wrong direction then correcting. The one I have is so hard to see I couldn't put it in something waterproof & had it on deck. 3 miles from the island (9 from land) I hit some intense Atlantic ocean storm kind of waves. Big & goin' in all directions. Had to fully concentrated on them so looking at the GPS was difficult.

1 mile from the swamp island & I still could see no land! If it doesn't exist I got another 3 miles from here to the next one.

What happen next is hard to explain. I'm not really sure what happened. As rough & windy as it was,was nothing like what I hit next. The waves suddenly tripled in size (I'd say 10-12 ft) & the wind quadrupled. Maybe a waterspout or an isolated squall???? don't know. All I do know is it literally lifted me clean out of the water & back down upside down in about 2 seconds. I must of known it was coming because I had just put my GPS in my water-backpack moments before.

I didn't panic. I released my spray skirt,held on to the kayak & paddle and exited.Had paddle leash on so wouldn't have lost that anyway. GPS now no good as it is only water resistant.

Attached paddle float for reentry but kayak would not turn upright. (I realized later that the big bag on deck was more of a problem then I thought.It filled with water which was why I couldn't get upright.)

Bilge pump useless due to more water coming in then going out.

I had 1 option left. My VHF "emergency" radio was in my backpack right behind my head.I purposely had the antenna sticking out so I could reach it easily. This was in a waterproof bag.Luckily for me it was one of the only waterproof bags that actually kept water out!

Wave hit me so hard it I dropped it & it got about 15 feet away before I was able to swim it down. I knew I'd be screwed without it.

Made it back to the kayak.Problem now was the only was to use it was to take it out of the bag!!!

I braced the paddle between my legs,climbed up on the side of the kayak with arms wrapped thru decking rope and hesitantly opened the bag.

The second "Mayday" got a response from Coast Guard station out of New Orleans. (Told you I should have left May 1st) With no GPS I could only give my general location (but pretty darn close to exact). Seems LA,MS & AL ALL have a Cat Island!

Did most of my conversations with a fisherman who could here me clearly. I could here the Coast Guard clearly but they couldn't here me well at all so we "relayed" info.
Coast Guard was rescuing 12 people in a sinking boat so I had to wait a bit. They sent a helicopter out of New Orleans as well.Was getting a bit cold by the time the helicopter showed up. Flew directly over me but did not see me!

As I called out on the VHF that they went RIGHT over me & to turn around the coast guard boat was approaching,heard this & knew right were to go. 3 boats & the helicopter converged on me at the same time.

Had it not been for the VHF I probably would not have made it.It is suppose to get down in to the 40's tomorrow night if I would have lasted that long.

I'm sure I would have cut everything off the deck eventually as I had a handy knife in my PDF.At that point I should have been able to reenter.

Coast Guard is number 1! Everyone one I met at the Gulfport MS station were as nice,helpful and friendly as the ones who rescued me.They are going to get a whole chapter for sure & some autographed copies of my book."

Sea Trials

2011-06-12T17:10:00.002-04:00

This is a pretty cool video (if you can take the soundtrack) of an Interceptor 55 undergoing sea trials in some pretty good "conditions." I particularly like it around the two minute mark when she runs with the waves.

The Most Important Stroke In Sea Kayaking "The Forward Stroke."

2011-04-28T12:45:00.006-04:00

Here's a link to the very informative guide to the forward stroke, writen by Nigel Dennis, The Most Important Stroke In Sea Kayaking "The Forward Stroke." for Lendal Paddles.

Nigel was the first to circumnavigate Scotland, Wales & England in 1980, and is the founder of Nigel Dennis Kayaks and Sea Kayaking UK and the man behind some of MIKco's favorite boats.

Enjoy!

Japanese Sendai Tsunami 2011

2011-04-12T13:39:00.015-04:00

The recent Japanese Sendai earthquake was massive at 9.0 which means it is approximately 10 times as strong as an 8.0. Earthquakes of this magnitude are rare, the Sendai being one of the strongest recorded. This tsunami apparently had some extremely tall wave heights; I’ve read some reports of 112’, a local event due to the ocean’s bottom topography. Though I’ve not been able to determine the ‘thickness’ of the wave, I have read reports that it was moving around 600 mph which would be a period of 200 seconds. So it would have been a very thick wave, probably greater than 1 kilomater! I offer the following small collection of videos for your education; the power of the tsunami over the ground is largely due to the crest’s thickness.

Wave's Height Over Houses Seen From Ground Level

Wave Flowing Through Housing

Flowing Far Inland

Before and After Photos

Tom Bergh MIKCo Ocean School Peaks Island, ME

RWS 2010 Thank you!

2010-07-18T16:30:00.002-04:00

2010 NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium July 1st , 2010

We had a great group of paddlers join us this year - excited, interested, friendly and fun. Overall the skill level was higher, and the commitment to try new things made it more fun for the coaches. The coach/paddler ratios were solid and the smaller numbers allowed us to adjust each days’ most appropriate venues and courses in our morning meetings. We saw the advantage of Camp Fuller with all coaches and paddlers living together in a peaceful place, re-living each day over great meals on beautiful evenings while watching pictures from the day….and Saturday nite - what a lightning storm!

So the RWS photos team has pics available for you all:

See Carl Tjerandsen’s site: http://ct-pov.smugmug.com

and Ron Gautreau’s site: http://www.ronster.2010rws.photoshare.co.nz

Note that you can choose the size of the image to view.

I’d suggest you keep your eye on Lendal NA in the future as it returns to the front of the wave with new materials, fresh designs and state-of-the-art construction methods. Nigel Dennis has brought Lendal back to the UK and its tradition of powerful, expedition paddling. His crew is re-vamping the old website over the next month or so. The link will remain http://www.lendal.com. I am confident in saying that “Lendal Will Be Back” as one of the leading paddle manufacturers by this Fall.

So here’s the list of our great team that offered their time for our paddlers development in 2010.

Fishers Race Team
Rick Stoehrer, Greg Paquin, Paula Riegel, Nick Schade, Carl Tjerandsen, Ciro de la Vega

Coaches and Guides
Jen Kleck, Peter Casson, Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson, Fiona Whitehead, Phil Eccles, Peter Jones, Phil Clegg, Simon Osborne, Harry Whelan, Jeff Brent, Jim Rasmus, Jon Tobiassen, and the Fishers Race Team

Photo Team
Carl Tjerandsen, Ron Gautreau, Nick Schade

Meals
Bill Hinderer, the One and Only

RWS 2010 Presenters
Nigel Dennis on his purchase of Lendal Paddles and slides on Expeditioning
Pete Jones and Phil Clegg on East Greenland
Simon Osborne and Phil Clegg on Madagascar
Jake Stachouak and Glenn Charles on their East Coast of US expeditions.
Jake is exiting the Erie Canal and heading across the Great Lakes. http://www.portagetoportage.com.
Glenn Charles paddled off Peaks Island two days ago on his way Northeast. http://www.oneoceanproject.com

Sponsors
Maine Island Kayak Co
Nigel Dennis Kayaks
Lendal NA

Finally, please know that the coveted Annual Denzo Tape Award is currently held by Harry Whelan of London UK… but that’s a story on its own.

Irena McEntee lost off Peaks

2010-05-17T13:54:00.002-04:00

Paddlers and Friends
Monday, May 17, 2010

This morning we awoke to the sad story of lost kayakers off of Peaks. Irena McEntee was a fierce, sweet, strong young lady, and am sure her friend must have been the same. Its hard to get my head around this loss as I knew her personally, and loved to see those flashing bright eyes.

Meanwhile I began receiving phone calls while out on Jewell studying in the punch bowl tide pool - about these girls supposedly being on my trip with St Joseph’s college. As most of you know, MIKCo doesn’t rent kayaks, we take out paddlers only with our guides and instructors. In fact yesterday we moved our group out to Jewell by power boat because of the wind and the group’s abilities. So some uninformed reporter gets ahold of a story, and without calling ANY OF US to verify, published last night his form of journalism concerning these girls paddling with my college group to Jewell – which was patently untrue.

So this morning we had our St Joseph’s college paddlers call their parents, several of whom were extremely agitated because of the Portland Press Heralds form of journalism. Our students our fine, their parents are now relieved, meanwhile the McEntee’s move into their horrible loss.

We choose to participate in a risky sport, yes. But its too bad that professional journalists don’t verify facts before harming others unrelated to this tragedy. Facts are often hard enough.

Tom Bergh
Maine Island Kayak Co
Peaks Island, ME 04108
207.766.2373
www.maineislandkayak.com

What do the following coaches and paddlers all have in common?

2010-05-05T15:53:00.003-04:00

Nigel Dennis, Jen Kleck, Fiona Whitehead, Phil Eccles, Phil Clegg, Simon Osborne, Billy Stark, Peter Casson, Cheri & Turner, Harry Whelan, Greg Paquin, Rick Stoehrer, Paula Riegel, Ciro de la Vega, Carl Tjerandsen, Nick Schade, and Tom Bergh?

We are all meeting at the NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium in Pt Judith, RI on Thurs, June 10th for 3 days of on-water workshops & instruction in tidal streams, rock gardens and surfing with a bit of new BCU 4 and 5 Star. See NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium 2010 http://www.maineislandkayak.com/symposium.html

So come get a paddle wet with us. Three days of intermediate, bumpy & lumpy water coaching, catered meals together in the dining hall, tenting and cabins next to group showers, quiet walks along relaxing fields, evening gatherings around a beach fire on the warm shores of Camp Fuller in RI, awards ceremony and product drawings, paddling shows. Come learn with these pros, help build our paddling community, Share Tall Tales.

We are seeking to help put friendly, supportive, encouraging, positive into our paddling community, which is why we ask for a 3 day commitment from you all. This is not some foolish, cowboy, testosterone-poisoned event for the Big Dogs, they should go follow these coaches through Penryn Mahr on Springs. Instead the RWS is for the committed paddler, looking to get better with a solid group of first rate coaches and guides.

Until then…
Tom & June Bergh, Maine Island Kayak Co, Nigel Dennis Kayaks, and the Fishers Race Team,
tom@maineislandkayak.com 207-766-2373 office.

Paddle Smart 2010 South Portland, ME

2010-04-02T19:24:00.005-04:00

This is a great free event for anyone interested in spending time in small boats in coastal waters. It's very rare to have the opportunity to tour this base and to talk with the folks who are the ones we count on when the worst happens. Demos ,exhibits and perhaps an SAR demo including a USCG helicopter make this a must - see event for any coastal boater!

Host: USCG Sector Northern New England

When: Saturday, April 17th 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Where: Coast Guard Base, 259 High Street, South Portland, ME 04106

View: Exhibits of kayaks and canoes, safety gear, weather protective clothing, in-the-water demonstrations of self and assisted rescue techniques, flare demonstration, and a Search and Rescue demonstration by a Coast Guard helicopter if operations permit.

Learn: Trip planning strategies from Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety Specialists, the US Power Squadron, the CG Auxiliary, Maine Marine Patrol, professional kayak instructors, professional guides and other experts. Bring your kayak and receive a FREE voluntary paddle craft inspection from the CG Auxiliary outside the base perimeter.

Tour: USCG Cutters, CG Rescue Boats, CG work boats, Maine Marine Patrol vessel.

2010 Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium Report

2010-03-10T19:22:00.005-05:00

It’s the first day of the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium’s BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training. The tsunami from the massive Chilean 8.8 Richter earthquake is scheduled to arrive at the Golden Gate Bridge at 1326 today. Its amplitude has been raised from 2.5 to 3.5 feet at 1100. There’s no report on its period but one of the 4 Star Leader Training candidates has computed a wave propagation of hundreds of miles per hour based on the latitude differences from mid coast Chili to San Fran.

Our 10 paddlers were nervous about going outside the Golden Gate Bridge this morning, mostly because of reading last year’s article about the challenges those students experienced trying to return back up under the Bridge against a strong ebb tide; it took over an hour to get the whole group up 100 ft to slower waters. Now we are bouncing around under the Bridge as this year’s candidates are guiding an eyes-closed paddler through the bumpy water off Lime Point using only voice and sound.

Today the seas outside are a mild 9’ every 13 seconds, winds forecast SE 19-25 kn, water temp a comfy 58 F. Max ebb today will be at 1651 @ 5.9 kn – several hours from now. The sun has broken out which helps with the decision-making. Yesterday afternoon was punctuated with a 15 minute blow that obliterated all views with a driving hail and created the most extreme conditions organizer, Sean Morley, had seen at the small Yellow Bluff race around the corner. So our paddlers are edgy even without the demands of this course.

Gordon Brown from the Island of Skye in Scotland, and I are overseeing this year’s 4 Star Sea Leader training. We’ve asked the group of sea kayak leader trainees to decide what we should do about this Tsunami warning. As a first step the group has decided to return into the relative safety of San Francisco Bay with plenty of time before the Tsunami is scheduled to hit. It’s only a 10 minute paddle from the tidal streams of the North tower to the GGSKS headquarters at Fort Baker beach so we paddle over for lunch. We land at 1240 and spend 10+ minutes wondering what to do. The 4 Star Team, hungry, needing to pee, and under serious time pressure from the approaching Tsunami shuffles around, not sure what to do, even how to decide what to do. It’s a solid group of folks but few know each other. We notice that the neighboring USCG station has launched all 3 of their 47’ boats. The VHF radio is surprisingly quiet about any great danger. Other Symposium paddlers are sitting on the beach apparently without any worry. Our paddlers figure that the risk of a large wave is probably low, but that the exposure if a large tsunami rolled in would be very high. Some of our paddlers express concern.

None of us has any direct Tsunami experience. Gordon’s brother suffered through the 2004 Indonesian Tsunami on the island of Sri Lanka. Gordon and I would both like to be out in deep water in our kayaks. But the trainees don’t agree with this option and decide to carry all boats up onto the flat parade grounds of Fort Baker, a mere 10’ above the ebbing sea level. Do we tie the boats up? One paddler wants to climb high into the hills, another notes the heights of the old WW II fortifications. Some plot their running route if we see any big wave come up under the Golden Gate Bridge.

It’s now 1330. No huge tsunami has roared up under the bridge, we think we see some largish standing waves, but otherwise nothing happens! Nada. Later we hear that three 8 ft swells traveled well up inside against the ebb to Angel Island. Actually a lot happened, but it was personal to each of our 4 Star candidates. The best trainings have real challenges, people and conditions. Over this two day course in the wonderful swirling, coursing and breaking waves of this second GGSKS, all our paddlers are visibly maturing into more responsible paddlers. Several recite that the focus on guiding others improves their personal paddling performance. As the mind engages outside oneself, our spontaneous, creative, effective performance improves. It was rewarding for us, and invaluable to this 4 Star Team.

The whole GGSKS event offers this level of real world paddling. It’s not for beginners, but a superb training ground for the intermediate. The last two events have had outside swell ranges from five to nineteen feet, periods thirteen to eighteen seconds, tidal streams up to nearly six knots, warm rains, rich fogs and gorgeous sunny days. It’s a great group of paddlers out here, charged up and ready for the first rate set of coaches.

Courses include Rock Gardens, Combat Rescues, Riding the Tides, Advanced Boat Control, Practical Navigation, Coastal Nav and Tidal Planning, Traditional Paddling, Incident Management, Surf Zone, Forward Stroke and a smattering of ACA and BCU offerings. On Saturday night we all moved to San Fran’s Fishermans Wharf to listen to Freya Hoffmeister’s presentation of her 11 month, 8500 mile solo paddle around Australia, completed in December; she’s a force to be reckoned with. Other evening shows included Paddling California rivers and coast, a new surf video, Colorado’s Grey and Desolation Canyons by kayak, and the wonders of Newfoundland and Scotland.

You should seriously consider attending this first rate event in the future. Of all the Symposia I’ve attended, the GGSKS is one of the best in fun, beauty, conditions, coaches and community. The venue and sea state keep a paddler alive and aware. All paddlers and coaches bunk at the Marin Headlands National Park hostel, converted from a War II barracks. Coyotes cried and turkeys gobbled each evening from the redwood covered hills above the beautiful meadow-ed valley. The put-in is protected, basic and just feet from real tidal currents….and all the while we gaze out at majestic San Francisco perched on its hills. Alcatraz is a short paddle away. Pt Bonita with its booming rock gardens has plenty of action even for the Big Bad Dogs amongst us. Sign up early or you will miss out as the event hosted 100 paddlers. Next year is scheduled for Feb 18-20 with later ebb so we can spend more time outside the Golden Gate Bridge. Come paddle the beauty of San Francisco Bay next winter; it is the real deal.

Links for your interest:

San Francisco Bay Entrance chart http://sailvector.com/1823/San-Francisco-Entrance

San Fran Bay entrance Buoy 46026 http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46026

Golden Gate Bridge tidal chart http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/5545.html?y=2010&m=2&d=27

Tom Bergh founded Maine Island Kayak Co in 1986, lives on Peaks Island off Portland, ME, is a L4Sea coach, and been able to paddle many boats in many seas. He organizes the NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium.

2010-02-17T18:08:00.001-05:00

From the New York Times
By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD

Published: February 15, 2010

Early humans, possibly even prehuman ancestors, appear to have been going to sea much longer than anyone had ever suspected.

That is the startling implication of discoveries made the last two summers on the Greek island of Crete. Stone tools found there, archaeologists say, are at least 130,000 years old, which is considered strong evidence for the earliest known seafaring in the Mediterranean and cause for rethinking the maritime capabilities of prehuman cultures.

Crete has been an island for more than five million years, meaning that the toolmakers must have arrived by boat. So this seems to push the history of Mediterranean voyaging back more than 100,000 years, specialists in Stone Age archaeology say. Previous artifact discoveries had shown people reaching Cyprus, a few other Greek islands and possibly Sardinia no earlier than 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.

The oldest established early marine travel anywhere was the sea-crossing migration of anatomically modern Homo sapiens to Australia, beginning about 60,000 years ago. There is also a suggestive trickle of evidence, notably the skeletons and artifacts on the Indonesian island of Flores, of more ancient hominids making their way by water to new habitats.Even more intriguing, the archaeologists who found the tools on Crete noted that the style of the hand axes suggested that they could be up to 700,000 years old....

Toxins Found in Maine Osprey Eggs

2010-02-04T18:01:00.001-05:00

From MPBN

Banned Chemical Found in Casco Bay Osprey
02/03/2010 03:30 PM ET
The study by the BioDiversity Research Institute in Gorham found a host of chemicals, including a flame retardent banned in Maine consumer products in 2007, in nearly all osprey eggs tested in Casco Bay.

A banned flame retardent is among a host of contaminants found in osprey living in Casco Bay. That's according to a new study by the BioDiversity Research Institute in Gorham. The report documents the highest level of a stain repellant ever recorded in Maine birds, researchers say. "These results are surprising," says the report's author Wing Goodale in a statement. "The level of stain repellant was so high I immediately checked with the analysis laboratory to confirm the result." Goodale says the flame retardant deca-BDE, which was banned in Maine consumer products in 2007, was found in nearly all the osprey eggs tested. Biologists also found industrial stain and water repellants, transformer coolants and pesticides in all the eggs. The institute's raptor program director, Chris DeSorbo, says the compounds could impair the ospreys' ability to hunt and care for their young. Goodale says many of the chemicals found in the birds can interact, creating more harmful compounds. The scientists say the study highlights the need for further study of the effects of contaminants in Casco Bay. For more information on the study, click here.

2009-11-09T12:55:00.002-05:00

from The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram.

A duck hunter who rolled his kayak near Jewell Island in Casco Bay on Saturday night set off a chain of events that caused three rescue boats to run aground, including Portland's new $3.2 million fireboat.

There were no injuries, and the hunter who called for emergency help complaining of hypothermia was expected to be OK.

Less certain were the conditions of the boats.

Portland Fire Chief Fred LaMontagne said late Saturday that the 65-foot MV City of Portland IV likely would be pulled from the water for an inspection.

"We had a full-moon tide, an astronomically low tide. During the rescue effort it appears the fireboat struck something on its way back in. It gets very shallow out there, and there are a lot of ledge outcroppings. The lower end of the rudder shaft possibly struck something."

The events began unfolding around 5:30 p.m. during the outgoing tide. The 62-year-old hunter, whose name was not released, apparently flipped his kayak, scrambled to shore and called for help. His wife was with him, though it was not clear whether she was in the kayak with him or in another vessel.

The Fire Department responded with the 65-foot fireboat and launched a smaller rescue skiff when the big boat began running out of water. Rescuers purposely beached the skiff, knowing the tide would leave it high and dry, and assisted the hunter on the island.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard was in the area on a training mission with a 25-foot response boat. While motoring over to Jewell to offer assistance, the Coast Guard boat ran aground.

From its station in South Portland, the Coast Guard launched a second boat. By then, the Portland fireboat was on its way back in to the harbor.

It was during its voyage back to port that it struck a ledge, or some other object, around Whitehead Passage. The second Coast Guard boat assisted the Portland fireboat at that time.

"They were taking on a little bit of water," said Paul Painter, search-and-rescue controller for the Coast Guard. "They were able to keep up with it, but we brought them gas and a pump, just in case."

Late Saturday, the hunter, his wife and their rescuers were still on the island, awaiting an incoming tide that would allow enough water to float the beached inflatable and a small vessel dispatched by Maine Marine Patrol.

Staff Writer Bob Keyes can be contacted at 791-6457 or at:

bkeyes@pressherald.com

Swell Rating System

2009-08-27T15:40:00.001-04:00

Ocean physics nerdiness! Estimating the size of breaking waves from data buoy swell info: http://www.stormsurf.com/page2/papers/category.html

Swell Rating System (SRS)

Source: www.stormsurf.com

According to this system, Sunday's peak swell of 9.5 feet at 17 seconds should have translated into category 4, or 10-15'. Throw in the occasional 18 footer, and that sounds about right to us.

Bill

2009-08-23T13:49:00.005-04:00

The hurricane passed east of the Gulf of Maine today leaving us with water temps in the high 60s and buoy readings of 8-9' at 16 to 17 seconds. Day trips were canceled and some local paddlers went out to enjoy the sunshine under the skeptical eye of the local harbormaster.

Lumpy waves and bouncy conditions on the North and east end of Cushing were counterposed against some very large breaking waves on the south side of Cushing near the shipping channel. The tide was coming in, it's tough to imagine what it will be like when the tide is on the way out tonight.

The Rocks and Ledges course on Saturday was treated to 4 to 5' conditions with the same long dominant period.

The pictures don't do it justice, partly as I was too scared to take pictures during the bigger sets.

Peaks Island and Outer Green Race Cancelled

2009-06-17T16:13:00.001-04:00

Status of Peaks and Outer Green Races scheduled for this Sat, June 20^th.

Due to scheduling mixups along with the rain, fog and swell, we are canceling both races scheduled for this Sat. We hate to do so, but it got listed on several different dates by error.

Until we get a paddle wet,

Tom Bergh

Maine Island Kayak Co

70 Luther St

Peaks Island, ME 04108

207.766.2373

NOAA Vessel Injures Right Whale

2009-04-23T19:08:00.003-04:00

In a sad case of irony, or what one fisherman commenter described as "poetic justice," a NOAA vessel carrying researchers to study humpback whales feeding in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary hit an endangered Right Whale.

The vessel had posted lookouts and was travelling at approximately 22mph at the time of the collision. The whale's fluke was damaged by the propeller, but it appeared to be otherwise uninjured.

Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald

Operation Paddle Smart

2009-04-21T11:16:00.001-04:00

From the Coast Guard News:

PORTLAND, Maine – The public is invited to attend a one-day kayak and canoeing safety seminar at the South Portland, Maine, Coast Guard base, located at 259 High Street, April 25, 2009, from 10 a.m., till 3 p.m.

The event is in support of Operation Paddle Smart, which is a multi-agency initiative to promote recreational paddle sport safety, and will include an in-water demonstration of self and assisted rescue techniques as well as a Coast Guard search and rescue demonstration.

Other activities available during the seminar include:

* A press conference at 12 p.m., during which representatives from the Coast Guard, state and local authorities and kayaking guides and instructors will be available to discuss Operation Paddle Smart and boating safety.

* Scheduled tours of Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, Station South Portland, Aids to Navigation Team Portland, and Coast Guard cutters will be available from 10 a.m., until 3 pm.

* From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., the public can bring expired flares to either expend under Coast Guard supervision or turn in for proper destruction.

* Experts will provide presentations on trip planning strategies, required and recommended gear and other recreational boating skills.

* The Coast Guard Auxiliary will also offer free voluntary paddle craft inspections outside of the base for members of the public who bring their kayak or canoe to the event.

Additionally, kayak and canoe safety packets, including boat identification stickers, will be available.

“The sticker includes a space for the name of the owner and for other contact information,” said Lt. Bryan Hollis, the sector’s Operation Paddle Smart liaison.

“When we find an unoccupied kayak or canoe, we often can’t be immediately certain if we have an actual search and rescue case for a missing person, or if the vessel simply drifted off the beach with a changing tide,” Hollis said. “Having the owner’s contact sticker on the boat can help us render necessary aid more quickly and effectively, or it can help us and our partners resolve the issue before beginning a costly air and sea search.”

The event is a collaborative effort of the U.S Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron, state and local partners, kayak instructors and guides from Maine, and area retailers.

The New England region suffered the loss of 58 recreational boaters and paddlers in 2007. Eight kayak and 15 canoe fatalities accounted for 40 percent of the total.

Epic Men

2009-04-18T17:29:00.003-04:00

photo by Doug Jones/Staff Photographer Portland Press Herald

From Peaks Island to Boston.

Two men are actually making the Boston Marathon the end of their adventure, after a kayak trip and bicycle ride.

By GLENN JORDAN, April 18, 2009

See the full story here

Managment Plans for the Everglades National Park

2009-04-18T17:24:00.003-04:00

This was sent to us by the folks at Sea Kayak Chesapeake Bay

Everglades National Park is accepting public comment on 4 management plan alternatives. Alternative 3 and 4 would create an alternative wilderness waterway allowing much greater solitude. 3 and 4 also curtail the use of motorboats in parts of the park for solitude and to protect resources that they have been destroying. The motorboaters are commenting in great numbers, something like 5 to 1 over paddlers, asking for alternative 1 which has almost no changes from the old plan. Please get the word out to your paddling friends and clubs. Don't let the power boaters decide this. Check out the plans here, and comment here,

Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium Report, Jan 2009

2009-01-23T14:00:00.010-05:00

by Tom Bergh, MIKCo, Peaks Island, ME
Sunday, Jan 11:
High Tide 7.2 ft at 1051
Low Tide -1.6 ft at 1742
Max Flood 3.0 kn at 0942
Max Ebb 4.3 kn at 1600

Conditions at San Francisco Bar (46237) at 0700:
Water temp: 50.7F
Swells: 5.6' at 17 seconds – yes, really
Winds: Easterly 5-10 knots

Weather:
High pressure continues to dominate w clear skies and freshening breeze. Wind waves 2’. Air temperature in SF Bay to reach 65F! Yesterday’s high of 60.3F.

Its 0830 on day 3 at the new Golden Gates Sea Kayak Symposium in glorious San Francisco Bay. Sean Morley is standing on the walkway of the Presidio Yacht Club a ½ mile from the North tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, presenting the 70-80 coaches and paddlers with our morning safety briefing. The Symposium’s day paddles are heading deeper on the solid tidal flow into the bay toward the historic Alcatraz and Angel Islands (don’t you want to go?). The Rock Gardeners are headed out around Pt Bonito and north past Rodeo Beach. The BCU 5 Star Leader Assessment run by Nigel Dennis and Steve Maynard has the candidates taking their ‘students’ out toward the San Francisco Bar. Ben Lawry with others are presenting a series of Tidal Trainings based on the San Fran experience of moderate tidal currents. Many professional local coaches and guides have offered their time to help with strokes, Greenland paddling (well represented), and an array of ACA IT’s are providing their take on sea paddling. Nige Robinson and Tom Bergh, along with Jen Kleck, Tom Pogson are on the final day of the new BCU 4 Star Sea Leader Training with our 12 committed paddlers. Our developing ‘leaders’ float plan for the day is to paddle down under the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge and out towards the sea to scope out Pt Bonito. Figuring that NW facing Rodeo Beach may well be dumping, the 4 Star group leaders’ feel they’ll probably need to return up into the Bay. Only problem is that the the return back up under the Golden Gate Bridge should be soon after slack water at 1228 to miss the 4 + knot ebb that will be even faster when its compressed at the North tower.

But oh those best laid plans… it’s hard to stick to a well developed trip/route plan when the coaches set up ‘incidents’ involving dislocated shoulders, lost paddlers and rock garden rescues… Then there’s the delay of surf landing on the gorgeous, primitive and empty Black Beach across from San Fran. So our developing 4 Star Sea Leaders nix rounding Pt Bonito with the 25’ spray booming off the rocks. Instead they consensually decide to head back up against the Spring tide to The Bridge. The group is getting edgy about the slough upstream now that its already 1345. The leaders ably use the eddies to place us at the foot of the North Tower in short order. But already the current speed looks 3+kn and the group is remembering that 50-90 rule of current speeds. Time is spent studying the onrushing currents. A few paddlers enter and are quickly blown back to the eddy. Time is increasing the speed. All paddlers are clear they must line up very tight and true to the current’s flow, can’t lose their bow even for an instant, and must be able to sprint while staying within 3 feet of the limestone rocks. Upstream about 30 feet there’s a tiny eddy for a boat or two. Ten feet further and there’s a deep hole created by a pour over that pulses from 1-3’ deep. Some of the group has talked about using the tanker wakes to surf up the pour over. Lets see how they do.

Every few minutes the climb up stream steepens. Those with longer or deeper bows are often caught by the current, and while being swept downstream clean out those sprinting behind them, back down to the big bottom eddy. Things really start going pear shaped when some of the ‘leaders’ experiment with towing others for bow control. Soon we have several spaghetti contests with tow lines hooking boats together in fast current. Swimmers begin looked increasingly worried as they are swept out toward the center of the Golden Gate channel - regularly filled with container ships and tankers. Soon the knowledgeable captain of the GGSKS Safety boat stands off to help with the more tired ones. A few continue to thrash themselves against the powerful ebb flow. Finally by 1600 our 4 Star Sea ‘leaders’ got the whole group back to the Presidio beach. All 4 Star Trainee’s are tired, smarter, and appear exhilarated by their day on these magical waters. Too bad we have to meet in the upstairs pub to debrief…

Readers, you missed a great weekend. I’ve had the pleasure of many symposiums over my 20+ years of sea paddling. The organizers, Sean Morley, Jen Kleck and Matt Palmariello, delivered a valuable and fun weekend in an extraordinary venue on Spring tides with first rate land support. Paddlers and Coaches all stayed in an attractive old army house – now an International Hostel – in a secret undeveloped valley in the Marin Headlands portion of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We regularly saw coyotes and birds of prey; while on the water seals played with us in the tide races and dolphins cruised quietly in the kettles rounding up the fish. Various sailors tested their crews in the currents. Our waterfront beach at the Presidio Yacht Club next to Sausalito was nestled below the Bridge and looked across the tidal entrance to San Fran and its hills. The PYC bar located upstairs had local color matching the sunsets.

And always the red hued Golden Gate Bridge connecting the San Fran with the preserved lands of the Marin County Headlands Park, just begged to be paddled under. Everywhere are empty beaches, beautiful surf, warm weather, great people, committed paddlers, new friends…it just doesn’t get much better. This is one of the best symposium sites I’ve had a chance to savor.

Personally, I enjoyed the chance to catch up with the following maturing coach types – Jen Kleck, Sean Morley, Nigel Dennis, Nige Robinson, Steve Maynard, Ben Lawry, Jim Kennedy, Tom Pogson. Additionally there several pods of strong locals who are key assets for these events, as well as a committed set of ACA trainers to round off the GGSKS’s solid team of coaches and guides. A large number of specialty outfitters and local schools showed to support the event; in particular Sea Trek, which has pioneered so many aspects of the modern guiding industry, provided the all important safety back up in these moderate tidal waters.

The course mix emphasized practical paddle-oriented trainings: Tidal Trainings of several levels, Practical Navigation and the BCU’s new Coastal Nav I, Boat Control in Conditions, Rock Gardens in the Pacific swells, many levels of day trips out to the superb local sites. And the BCU’s new (and excellent) Four Star Sea Leader Training were great offerings (thanks for the chance to spread the word). The ACA offered Level 3 and 4 Trainings…and there were a few masochists who signed up for their first 5 Star Assessment in realistic conditions. I understand they’ll be back again.

As many of you know, my wife June and I have run Maine Island Kayak Co’s programming for two decades. We were involved in delivering the Gulf of Maine Sea Kayak Symposium in Castine, ME. We’ve attended the Sweetwater Sea Kayak Symposium and the Sea Kayak Georgia Symposium from their beginnings. We helped bring the BCU to the NE, helped bring MASKGI to northern New England, pioneered many training methods in Gulf of Maine waters, and currently offer the NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium each Fall in Pt Judith, RI. With that background - it is my strongest recommendation for those who like Symposiums to consider the 2009 Golden Gate Sea Kayaking Symposium. Check it out.

…Now I’m back in Maine;
Wind’s been blowing upwards of 28 knots
Air temp may reach a high of 6F today.
More snow to be added to the foot already on the ground.
Water temp 37.2F

I definitely am hoping to return next January … to the second Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium. Come join us.

Tom Bergh
Maine Island Kayak Co
Peaks Island, ME 04108
207 766 2373
www.maineislandkayak.com

Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium

Nautical Chart 18649 – San Francisco Entrance

Photos by Mike Bode from BCU 4 Star Leader Training:

Other photos by symposium photographer Dominick Lemarie:

Google Maps of Marin Headlands Park

BCU 4 Star Sea Leader literature

San Francisco Bay Entrance Current

Trivia by Rick Stoehrer

2009-01-09T13:53:00.002-05:00

Pick # people at random and have them around a table. Ask the question and then have them put their hands down in the middle as if playing slap jack…so you’ll end up with 5 people hands on top of one another….have the person with the bottom hand slide their hand out and then ask them to answer….if they get it right, the question is closed and they get a point. If they get it wrong, they then lose a point and the next person gets to slide their hand out and try…if your hand is on the table, you must answer.

Boat and Paddler Trivia

1.The Norkapp with the integrated rudder built in with the keel line is called this model?
2. Who was first woman to circumnavigate Great Britain?
3. Who presently holds the record for the circumnavigation of England?
4. Nigel Dennis has a daughter named….
5. Who designed the production Anas Acuta?
6. What boat is a DIRECT descendant of the Anas Acuta?
7. If we weren’t talking about boats and someone said that’s a lovely Anas Acuta, what is he or she talking about?
8. What is weathercocking?
9. How would you counter weathercocking?

Navigational Trivia

1. When do Spring Tides occur?
2. When do Neap Tides occur?
3. What is MLLW and what is its significance?.
4. What is Latitude?
5. What is Longitude?.
6. What is the difference between a True heading and a Compass Heading?
7. Define Variation and Deviation and their respective causes
8. What is a common mnemonic for converting True headings to Compass Headings and back again?
9. What is the significance of Greenwich England?
10. How far is 1 degree of Latitude?
11. How far is 1 minute of Latitude?
12. Along the Equator, how far is 1 minute of Longitude?

General Sea related Historical Trivia

1. Who was the creator of the first reliable sea worthy time piece and what is its significance?
2. What was the name of the ship that was the real life story of Moby Dick?
3. Is the story of the Bounty of Mutiny on the Bounty fame based on fact or is it fiction a la Treasure Island?
4. On Captain Cooks 3rd and last voyage, who aboard HMS Resolution chose Kealakekua Bay in Hawaii as the landing site where ultimately James Cook was killed by angry natives?
5. How many men died on Shackleton’s voyage to the Antarctic?

Answers:

Boat and Paddler Trivia

1. HM
2. Fiona Whitehead
3. Harry Whelan, Barry Shaw and Phil Clegg – 80 days and countless pints
4. Romany. His other daughter’s name is Greenlander Pro.
5. Frank Goodman
6. Pintail
7. Pintail Duck. Anas Acuta is the latin name for a pintail duck
8. Weathercocking is a boats tendency to turn into the wind.
9. Acceptable answers include skeg, altering stroke, or cocking your hip.

Navigational Trivia

1 When the Sun and Moon are in a relatively straight line to Earth, we have a Spring Tide. This is a Tide that is Higher than the norm.
2. When the Sun and Moon and Earth create a Right angle, we have a Neap Tide. This is a tide that is Lower than the norm
3. Charted depths are recoded in Mean Low, Low, Water. This is a mean # of the lower low water heights of a mixed tide observed over a specific 19 year cycle. Only the lower low water of each pair of low waters, or the only low water of a tidal day is included in the mean. It’s significance is that the depth on the chart is the mean of this average so we have a pretty good idea of what the shallowest water is we can expect in a location
4. Lattude is the distance N or S of the equator expressed in degrees from 0 to 90 N or S
5.Longitude is the distance E or W of the prime meridian expressed in degrees from 0 to 180 E or W.
6. Variation and Deviation.
7. Variation is the angular difference between the geographic meridian and the magnetic meridian at a particular location. This is caused by variances in local geography. Deviation is the effect a vessels magnetic field has on a compass. In our case it’s often something like the cook pot being stored too close to the compass.
8. Timid Virgins Make Dull Company, Add Whisky
And Can Dead Men Vote Twice, At Elections.
9. Greenwich England is the location of the observatory marking the present Prime Meridian.
10. 60 nautical miles.
11.. 1 nautical mile
12. 1 nautical mile

General Sea related Historical Trivia

1. John Harrison. The significance is that for every 15 degrees E or W of the prime meridian you travel, the local time differs from the time at the prime meridian by an hour. Consequently if you have an accurate chronometer set to Greenwich time and then compare that to a reading at noon Local, you can establish your longitude by calculating the difference. Combined with existing technologies to determine Latitude, you could then establish where you were on earth. So next time you use your GPS or google earth think about all those cool things starting with a watchmaker in a little shop.
2. The whaling ship Essex out of Nantucket sank by a sperm whale November 20, 1820
3. True. Once Bligh was released from the Bounty in an open boat he managed to make one of the epic open boat crossings in Brit Naval history – 3,618 NM from Tofua to Timor in an open 21 foot boat with only a pocket watch and a sextant.
4. William Bligh was the sailing master of HMS Resolution+
5. Nobody died!

More on the intermediate sea paddler

2008-12-19T13:20:00.003-05:00

Richard Magill had some commentary on the last post. It seems to add to the conversation. We're not doing comments, but we'll gladly post any well reasoned posts you may have if you email us

Richard Magill wrote:

These seem to be very good definitions, but would you say that all have to be completed before you could consider yourself and intermediate paddler? Or could the paddler just get 51%, or 75% and say he is intermediate?

I suspect that somehow paddlers are going to have to come up with an agreeable set of definitions (these look as good as any, although I think maybe force 4 winds is a little low), figure out which ones are an absolute necessity (I'd say good forward stroke, sweeps, and rudders; rescues in moderate conditions; and at least a descent side landing in moderate surf), then take a look at the rest and assign a pt value at each one. Once a paddler achieves all of the necassary ones, plus achieves a certain pt value on the rest, he/she can be considered an intermediate paddler.

One last thought: I absolutely love to roll my boat, and agree that it is an invaluable tool. However, I'd have to say that I know some really good paddlers out there that don't, for what ever reason, have a roll. When I lived in SC, I knew a guy who I suspect could paddle with any of the big guys
- the Nigel's, Derek, me (okay, so maybe I don't fit in that list, but hey, I guy can dream can't he) - any of them - but he had a bad hip and refused to roll. I'm not even sure he ever learned a roll. He just didn't go upside down. Of all the times I've seen him in halacious soups, surf conditions, and force 6 winds; even in stuff that was kicking my butt left and right (man, those were fun times), he never once spilled, or swam. Would he be held back from being called an advanced paddler becuase of his roll? ACA would probably say yes, but they haven't seen him paddle.

Who Is the Intermediate Sea Paddler

2008-12-09T12:04:00.001-05:00

The following is offered for discussion and reflection on defining the adequacy of our paddling skills and abilities. The Intermediate Rough Water Symposium’s Fishers Race Team has taken a few early beads on this definition. Your thoughts, ideas, critique would be appreciated. FYI you may want to review MIKCo’s 10 plus year old paper, Proposed Goals for Coaches and Guides for a discussion on leadership levels of performance. Also you may want to review the new BCU 4 Star Sea Leader award for its latest overview of beginning sea leaders which most of us act us when paddling with our friends.
----- Original Message -----
Tom Bergh

Subject: The Intermediate Paddler
“Race Team,

“Paula gave us all a good shot here (below). Please review, refine and return so we
can move this whole descriptive level thing forward. Its easy to be
hard-core, its hard to be honest and firm. Paula's got some great concepts
here.

“This is a real deal, challenging exercise. Boys... I believe The Race Team
Blonde Wonder (Paula Riegel) has thrown down the gauntlet here. You got anything to say or
you just leaving it to The Gal - who some of us might think has a clearer
image of other paddlers than some newer 5 Stars I've heard about????

TRB

----- Original Message -----
Paula Reigel
Subject: Re: Who is an intermediate, novice or ???

“Hiya Tom

“Here's some thoughts regarding skill level of an intemediate. Kind of random
as was just brain-storming....

· Comfortable edging their boat well off balance while using support strokes.
· Sweeps, draws, ruddering (bow & stern), bracing unconsciously competent
· Knows what to do when hit on the beam by a moderate breaking wave
· Land forwards, backward and sideways in moderate surf.
· Comfortably handles their sea kayak in Force 4 winds, and is able to proceed up, down and across such wind.
· Able to take advantage of following seas by using the slopes and speed
· Has performed rescues in moderate sea conditions (winds Force 4, swells 4-6 ft)
· Has multiple methods for both self and assisted rescues and knows when to use which one. Rescues are quick and effective.
· Is ready, willing and able to tow others in moderate conditions, towing techniques are in their “tool box”. Knows there isn't a "one size fits all" tow line length
· Constant rocking/bouncing of boat doesn’t make you think “I shouldn’t have had those beers last night.”
· Dependable roll in moderate conditions
· Able to kick forward stroke into high gear on demand for powering through surf or getting on a wave
· Knows what torso rotation is and incorporates it into strokes
· Kit is just right. Not too much, not too little. Knows the importance of keeping a clean deck.
· Considers boat a tool not a jewel
· When group paddling, able to look out for others if conditions start to deteriorate.
· Isn’t in a self imposed“danger zone”
· OK being upside down for 15-20 seconds while waiting for wave to release boat.
· Can paddle at a constant 3 knots and can sprint to 5 kn
· On a beach launch, knows how to read waves to determine most opportune time for punching through the surf break
· By looking at a chart and knowing tide times and marine forecast, is developing knowledge of where are danger zones and safety spots
· Comfortable doing longer crossings in fog
· Developing ability to read water to find eddies
· Has been thrown about in surf before and not afraid to get thrashed again
· Has swam through a rough surf break
· Shoulder to over-head high waves brings smile to face

Trip Level Ratings
The following definitions are the product of the NSPN, North Shore Paddlers Network, www.nspn.org.
Level 1: Paddling will be on very sheltered water with easy access to the shore.
Level 2: Paddling will be on lakes, sheltered rivers, harbors, tidal estuaries, etc.
Level 3: Paddling may involve limited exposure to open ocean with access to sheltered water or landing near at hand (less than one mile).
Level 4: Paddling may involve significant exposure to open ocean with limited access to shelter. May require paddling in open ocean for several miles to reach shelter.

Maximum Conditions
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Wind Some 10 kts 15kts 25kts
Waves/Chop Minimal 1 ft 2 ft 4 ft
Surf Minimal 1 ft 2 ft 4 ft
Current Minimal 1 kts 2kts 4 kts
Distance 2 miles 10 miles 15 miles 20+ miles

Skills
Level 1: Paddle: None. Rescue: None. Pace: None. Other: None Desirable Exp: None.

Level 2 Paddle: Forward, reverse sweep. Rescue: Wet exit. Pace: None. Desirable Experience: Basic class in kayak safety and paddle strokes.

Level 3 Paddle: Level 2 skills. Correcting and boat handling strokes, solid bracing. Rescue: Wet exit, paddle float self rescue, patrner rescue. Pace: 2-3 knots. Other: Basic trip safety, basic navigation. trip planning, environmental conditions. Desirable experience: Level 2 trips or equivalent, class in rescues and tows.

Level 4 Paddle: Level 3 skills, strong bracing skills, surf skills, tidal current skills. Rescue: Level 3 skills, rescues and tows, reliable roll or very strong bracing. Pace: 4 knots. Other: Charts, navigation, VHF, environmental conditions, trip planning and emergency procedures. Desirable experience: Level 3 trips or equivalent.

----- Original Message -----
Nick Schade
Subject: Re: Who is an intermediate, novice or ???

“People are very good at overestimating wave height. The typical error factor in my experience is 3. I.e. if the waves are 6" they say 18", and if the waves are 3' they say 9'. I think this is because people judge by the length of the wave face, instead of the vertical distance from peak to trough, but regardless the error is pretty common.

“Instead of talking about wave height in terms of feet and inches I would put it in terms of "elbow high", "shoulder height", "head high", "over head", "double overhead" and "oh my God". I think you will find a lot of people who will think they have paddled in 4' surf, but far fewer who will admit to surfing in "overhead" surf - i.e. 4 foot. Eight foot surf looks like you are being swallowed by a box car, but many people will mistake waves under 3' as being 8 footers.

In other words, asking a question like "have you ever had a wave break on top of your head" will provide more accurate information than "have you ever surfed in 4 foot waves"

Also questions like "What is the hardest upwind trip you have ever done, how far did you go and how long did it take you and how did you feel when you finished?" can reveal a lot. Someone who says "a five mile slog that took 2 hours and required two days to recover" will probably be less experienced than someone who say "one mile in 2 hours, but the run back was awesome"

Nick Schade
Guillemot Kayaks
http://www.guillemot-kayaks.com/

----- Original Message -----
Richard Stoehrer
Subject: Re: Who is an intermediate, novice or ???

“if we're the ones defining it then yup, that all sounds about right - maybe a skosh on the plus side (4-8 ft breaking seas...closer to the 4 than the 8...i think it might be ambitious to say that intermed are comfortable on long fog crossings and i think that the reading water / eddy skill are still developing.)

“i might tone down the 8 foot thing and then say that they understand the forces at work in a long fog crossing (and maybe even have sense to use a shore handrail or aim off to a LARGE target as opposed to something specific) and then depending on whether or not they have a ww background may have less of a competency in reading water/eddy's.

“On the other hand if you take the sampling of who attended last year and were to try to sort out the mean, i think it falls short of that definition.”

Maine tidal anomaly

2008-11-04T10:55:00.002-05:00

On 28 October unusual tidal fluctuations were observed in the Boothbay, Maine and Cundys Harbor areas. Massive amounts of water flushed into and then drained the bay. There appear to be two general theories as to the cause of the phenomenon. Meteorologists aren't sure but suggest that seismic forces were at work, while the Coast Guard has posited that the area experienced a seiche generated by an offshore storm.

Boston.com reports:

"BOOTHBAY HARBOR, Maine—Meteorologists are baffled by rapid tidal changes along the Maine coast, which damaged some boats and piers.

Witnesses say low tide turned and became high within a matter of minutes on Tuesday afternoon. The changes occurred six or seven times. The National Weather Service says reports from several locations indicated that water levels fell and rose from 4 feet to as much as 12 feet during the event.
In a public information statement, the weather service says the cause "remains a mystery and may never be known."
It said significant rapid rises and falls in tide levels were observed around 3 p.m. in Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Bristol. The statement said rapid surges can be caused by the underwater movement of land, most often due to an earthquake, or due to slumping of sediments along a steep canyon or shelf, but no earthquakes were reported in the area Tuesday.
A similar event occurred on Jan. 9, 1926, in Bass Harbor, the statement said."

While WCSH reports:

"BOOTHBAY HARBOR (NEWS CENTER) -- Some boats were scratched and docks damaged Tuesday afternoon when low tide became high within a matter of minutes.

The Coast Guard is calling it a storm surge. As the water was flowing out for low tide, a storm off-shore pushed it back in bringing the water level back almost near the high water mark.

Locals in the area say it happened about 6 or 7 times throughout the afternoon. They say it surged in within a matter of 5 minutes, then flowed back out just as quickly.

A similar surge was also reported in Cundy's Harbor.

Officials say they want to remind coastal residents to keep their boats securely tied to their docks when they know a storm is happening off the coast."

Those must have been some currents!

Island of Ghosts

2008-10-31T16:05:00.009-04:00

Those who claim to know about such things say that most of the islands in Casco Bay are haunted to one degree or another. Today we were out to one which certainly seemed spooky. Fittingly enough no-one lives on Little Chebeague today, but it's had a long history.

The Abenakis left shell middens here dating back thousands of years. More recently there was a large hotel and small community lasting from the mid 1800s until it was taken over by the Navy for use as an R&R facility and firefighting training. Once the Navy left in the 1940s, no one else came. Now the once proud "clamshell walk" is getting taken over by the bittersweet, the structures are uninhabitable and the only footfalls are made by the deer.

Freddy's Big Swim

2008-10-28T12:38:00.005-04:00

North Atlantic Fishermen Rescue 14-Year-Old Terrier 1 Mile at Sea.

Jean Brigstock, 73 was walking her cairn terrier, Freddy, in a thick fog along a coastal section of Amble, Northumberland when the two became separated.

It seems as if Freddy ran into trouble as he was next seen a mile out to sea swimming against the tide. Trawlermen Jimmy and Alan Thompson from Red Row, Northumberland thought they had seen an otter, but on closer inspection they realized Freddie had no business being in the North Atlantic. They plucked the dog out of the water and called for a lifeboat to come and retrieve the terrier.

Brigstock was amazed that her dog was found so far away from land. 'I knew he hated water so I thought he'd head for the dunes rather than the sea. It really didn't enter my head that he would swim.

"He rarely goes through a puddle and has an aversion to baths."

Read more at the Telegraph

Thanks to all - RWS 08

2008-09-11T11:44:00.003-04:00

Here's a video shot by Nick Schade of Guillemot kayaks of this year's event. We're already looking forward to next year.

See some more photos of the RWS here.

2008-08-08T10:57:00.004-04:00

What do the following coaches and paddlers all have in common?

Nigel Dennis, Andy Stamp, Fiona Whitehead, Dale Williams, Greg Stamer, Jen Kleck, Phil Clegg, Simon Osborne, Billy Stark, Peter Casson, Cheri & Turner, Harry Whelan, Greg Paquin, Rick Stoehrer, Paula Riegel, Ciro de la Vega, Carl Tjerandsen, Nick Schade, Marc Bourgoin and Tom Bergh?

Answer

We are all meeting at the NE Intermediate Rough Water Symposium in Pt Judith, RI on Thurs, Aug 28^th for 3 days of paddling in tidal streams, rock gardens and surfing with a bit of new BCU 4 and 5 Star. We look forward to visiting with each other and sharing fresh ideas about expeditioning, coaching and paddling.

But the RWS is really for you…for the developing, intermediate level paddler looking to improve, interested in studying, questioning and trying new things with a solid, strong, caring group of coaches and guides. The RWS is not some crazy cowboy event for the Big Dogs - they should try and follow these coaches down through Penryn Mahr on Springs on a big day. Instead, this is about advancing your personal paddling, about building our paddlesport community, about friendly, supportive, professional coaching relevant to your skill level. This is why we’ve rented Camp Fuller for a three day event – where we can all eat, sleep and paddle together for multiple days from one base located in warmer waters.

So we invite you to come get a paddle wet with us…join us for this 3 day weekend of bumpy (maybe even lumpy) training, family style meals in the dining hall overlooking the bay, tenting and sleeping cabins next to community baths with hot showers, quiet walks along relaxing fields, evening gatherings around a beach fire on the warm shores of Pt Judith’s inner harbor, our very own RWS paddlesports giveaways and awards ceremony, evening stories about trips in far off lands…

Come help build our community, Share Tall Tales.

Until we get a paddle wet…

Maine Island Kayak Co, Nigel Dennis Kayaks and the Fishers Race Team

Tom Bergh tom@maineislandkayak.com, 207-766-2373

Greg Paquin coach@kayakwaveology.com

Rick Stoehrer rickstoehrer@hotmail.com

Paula Riegel paulariegel@comcast.net

‘A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner’

LTPD

2008-07-22T15:17:00.006-04:00

The above acronym is used by the BCU to express an idea important to the future of the sport of kayaking: Long Term Paddler Development.

A quote from the BCU website: “The Long Term Paddler Development model supports paddlers from the day they first get into a boat over a span of many years, providing a logical progression of programme planning and skill development from the young paddler to the experienced performer.”

While some folks are only interested in training “adults,” I think that it is vital to paddlesports to encourage youngsters to get involved. It’s rare that you see kids in boats and that’s a shame

I’m constantly amazed by the youngsters I see at ski areas who have highly advanced skills by ages 8 or 9. Imagine how it would push the sport if kids got into paddling in the same way. Quite often when our trips pull up to a beach, kids run up to the kayaks to have a look. With parents' permission I usually let them have a little float time (with a guide holding onto the boat if they don’t have a PFD). It’s a blast to see the fun they have exploring a new world.

There’s a lot of factors that get in the way of kids in kayaks, from the lack of easily available appropriate kayaks and expensive gear to the short summer season we have in Maine, but as in all things in life, if we don’t make the effort nothing will get done.

Above is 6 year old Zeke challenging his Dad to work on some new skills. Below the kids are trying out some kayaks from very different disciplines.

Even if you don’t normally hang out with kids I bet at some point you’ll be with your kayak when kids are around. Let them hop in and check it out. You never know – you might be creating the future of kayaking.

Peaks Island and Outer Green Race results

2008-06-23T14:13:00.008-04:00

Peaks Island and Outer Green Race Day

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

Environment:.

Tides: Portland High Tide – 1353 at 8.8 feet.
Current: approximately 1 knot between Ram and Outer Green on springs
Weather: Summer breezes S 5-10 kn. Seas 2 ft every 8 sec.
Charts: NOAA Chart Portland Harbor and Vicinity 13292 (covers whole course) or Casco Bay 13290 (for larger coverage) or Waterproof Charts #101e.

Peaks Race Results

Gorgeous day on the water for the Peaks Race. Not so many racers or tourers this year but we thank the die-hard regulars who create the great camaraderie and pleasant gathering on our beach here on Peaks. Aunt Cathy again brought her famous home- made cakes to celebrate June’s birthday. Racers raised $365 dollars for the Peaks Island Land Preserve and Marine Mammal rehabilitation. Thank you for your contributions.

Bob Wright West Side Boat House EFT 43:35
Paul Sylvester Guillemot Razor Billed Auk 50:30
Jonathan & Anne Rose Nelo Waterman 51:25
Mike Marino Norkdapp LV 52:30
Rick Stoehrer Explorer 53:15
Rick Crangle Explorer 53:25
Ian Carlson Artisan Millenium 56:30
Eivind the Norseman * Explorer 57:20
Larry Walden Bill Thomas Willow 59:55
Paul Renfrew Necky Zoar 60:10
Aunt Cathy Greenlander Pro 60:20
Erik Gustafson Viking 60:22
Jaime Petrus Avocet 71:00
Alex Kay P&H Capella 71:00
Beth Romany on tour
Amy de la Vega Greenlander Pro on tour
Janice Stoehrer Explorer LV on tour

*Eivind had just returned from climbing Mt McKinley

Outer Green Race Results

Minutes after the start an enveloping thick fog began flowing in over Peaks. All racers had to run true dead reckoning while under full power. Those without times either a.) couldn’t swear to Neptune that they had in fact rounded Outer Green, or b.) wisely opted to run an ‘alternative’ course for general safety or lack of a passport. Surf ski-ers should be commended on their navigating skills and precision over nearly a 4 mile open water crossing with a beam tide flooding. Outer Green and Junk of Pork did not come into view until around 100 feet off. Remember that one (1) degree of error is 100 feet in a mile which is 400 feet over 4 miles. Junk of Pork is only 100+ ft wide. Under full power with a 5 second swell, these racers did damn well, I think. Most paddlers navigate within a 10 degree accuracy which would be a 4,000 feet over 4 miles accuracy. I also commend those racers that opted for an alternative course, and am grateful for your judgment. Destination Disease can be dangerous.

Smokin Ken Cooper Huki S1X 1:44:20
Corey Lancaster Fenn Millenium 1:49:30
Ciro de la Vega Think Evo 1:50:40
Mike Tracy Fenn Mako 1:51
Andrew Binks Huyki S1X 1:51:01
Bob Wright WSBH EFT 2:08:35
Tom Walek Think Evo
Coleen Moore Outrigger Connection Fuze
Cindy McNett Outrigger Connection Fuze
Mike Marino Norkdapp LV
Eivind the Norseman Explorer
Rick Stoehrer/Rick Crangle NDK Triton

Peaks Fest and Kayak races

2008-06-18T17:46:00.002-04:00

This weekend is the annual festival of all things Peaks Island. It’s a fun festival on a fun island. Events begin on Friday night and conclude on Sunday. There will be all the basics of an island celebration; parade, pie eating contest, dog and talent shows amongst other things. If you have the time come on out and have some fun!

The island is a great place for kayaking, and to celebrate that aspect of island life we’re hosting our annual races on Saturday. The round the island race starts at 10:05 and the challenging outer green race starts at noon. Both races have a significant open ocean aspect and along with tidal currents it’s not a venue for the beginner.

Requirements: Your boat needs to meet MIKCo’s requirements for basic seaworthiness. Waiver and Release required. $15 donation to Peaks Island Land Preserve or Marine Mammal Rescue League.

Find out more about the races here and see the full schedule of Peaks Fest events here

Mass Dolphin Stranding in S Cornwall

2008-06-11T14:57:00.004-04:00

Mark Rainsley who authored Southwest Sea Kayaking, a UK guide book and who writes an excellent blog with the same name reports:

"Something terrible has happened in South Cornwall. At least twenty-six apparently healthy dolphins have stranded and died. The dolphins appear to have panicked and swum ashore into shallow tidal creeks between Carrick Roads and the Helford River, stranding along about 16 kilometres of coast.

A tragedy of this scale is almost unprecedented in our waters. It’s too early to ascertain the cause, but much is being made of the fact that a Naval Exercise was taking place in the area at the time."

Common units of measurement and conversions for mariners

2008-05-31T14:35:00.009-04:00

1 nautical mile (nm) is best defined as 1 minute of latitude. It is also defined (though units vary w latitude) as 1.15 statute miles, or 1852 meters. A minute of latitude is the most accurate. Therefore, 60 nm = 1 degree of latitude.

1 fathom = 6 feet

1 cable =607.6 ft = .1 nm

1 meter = 3.28 ft =1.09 yards

Small Craft Advisories are Coastal Waters and Nearshore forecasts for sustained winds, frequent gusts, or ice/sea/wave conditions exceeding defined thresholds specific to geographic areas.

A Gale Warning is 34 to 47 kn

A Storm Warning is 48 kn +

A Hurricane Warning is 64 kn + winds and associated with a tropical cyclone.

Beaufort Scale http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/beaufort.html

Force 3 =7-10 kn

Force 4= 11-16 kn

Force 5=17-21 kn

Wind direction is referenced from where it comes

Current direction is referenced to where it is headed. Set is the direction you are taken when in a current. Drift is the speed of your motion while in a current.

Windward is the direction from which the wind is blowing. So that side of a ship toward the wind is the weather side. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. So the downwind side of a ship is the leeward or lee side.

Windward and Lee shores are described from the point of view of an approaching boat. So a lee shore is on the leeward downwind side of a boat, a lee shore has the wind blowing towards the shore. A windward shore, on the windward side of a boat, has the wind blowing away from the shore.

Upwind is windward of the point of reference (you). Downwind is leeward from the point of reference.

Law of the Sea is that body of international law dealing with countries navigational rights, bottom use and mineral rights, jurisdiction over coastal waters and relationships between nations

Admiralty law or maritime law is a body of private international law governing relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the oceans

1 millibar (mb) mercury = .02953 inches mercury

+_3 mb per hr change is significant

Fahrenheit = 1.8 times Celsius + 32 or F = 9/5 C + 32

Celsius = 5/9 F - 32
-40 is the same in F and C

1 knot(kt) = 1.15 mph = .51 meters/sec

Conversions For more info http://www.srh.noaa.gov/elp/wxcalc/windconvert.shtml

To convert between miles per hour (mph) and knots (kts):

Wind (kt) =0.8689762 x Wind (mph)

Wind (mph) = 1.1507794 x Wind (kts)

To convert between miles per hour (mph) and meters per second (m/s):

Wind (m/s) = 0.44704 X Wind (mph)

Wind (mph) = 2.23694 x Wind (m/s)

To convert between miles per hour (mph) and feet per second (ft/s):

Wind (ft/s) = 1.46667 x Wind (mph)

Wind (mph) = 0.681818 x Wind (ft/s)

To convert between miles per hours (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h):

Wind (km/h) = 1.609344 x Wind (mph)

Wind (mph) = 0.621371 x Wind (km/h)

To convert between knots (kts) and meters per second (m/s):

Wind (m/s) = 0.5144444 x Wind (kts)

Wind (kts) = 1.9438445 x Wind (m/s)

To convert between knots (kts) and feet per second (ft/s):

Wind (ft/s) = 1.6878099 x Wind (kts)

Wind (kts) = 0.5924838 x Wind (ft/s)

To convert between knots (kts) and kilometers per hour (km/h):

Wind (km/h) = 1.852 x Wind (kts)

Wind (kts) = 0.5399568 x Wind (km/h)

To convert between meters per second (m/s) and feet per second (ft/s):

Wind (m/s) = 0.3048 x Wind (ft/s)

Wind (ft/s) = 3.28084 x Wind (m/s)

To convert between meters per second (m/s) and kilometers per hour (km/h):

Wind (km/h) = 3.6 x Wind (m/s)

Wind (m/s) = 0.277778 x Wind (km/h)

To convert between feet per second (ft/s) and kilometers per hours (km/h):

Wind (km/h) = 1.09728 x Wind (ft/s)
Wind (ft/s) = 0.911344 X Wind (km/h)

Short jaunts

2008-05-15T08:09:00.010-04:00

Some nearby spots, looking good in calm conditions.

Nigel Dennis Kayak Demo Days

2008-04-24T14:53:00.002-04:00

Nigel Dennis Kayaks Demo Weekend

Pavilion Beach, Ipswich, MA, May 17th

Groton Long Pt, CT, May 18th

10am-4pm

Join us at Pavilion Beach in Ipswich, MA on Sat, May 17^th or Groton Long Point in CT on Sun, May 18th from 10-4 for on on-water demo of Nigel Dennis’s Kayaks and Lendal paddles (now made in Old Town, ME).

We’ll have all the models (except for the new Romany RM w fiberglass cockpit and adjustable seat and the new Romany Excel with reworked deck, hull and cockpit). Both the new boats are done but the container is on the water as we speak, so maybe will be here on time?

We are planning on having a rough water paddling session at 2PM each day for those interested in trying Nigel’s great boats in conditions with some coach and guide oversight.

For an up to date listing of NDK kayaks that are in stock here in Maine. http://www.maineislandkayak.com/boats_in_stock.html

Note if you click on the name of the boat it will give you a representation of the color combos.

For directions to either event.

Pavilion Beach, Ipswich, MA

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=groton+long+point+rd+,+groton+ct&sll=41.293285,-72.064133&sspn=0.198108,0.360489&ie=UTF8&ll=41.351428,-72.017527&spn=0.026094,0.058022&z=14

Groton Long Point, CT http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=groton+long+point+rd+,+groton+ct&sll=41.293285,-72.064133&sspn=0.198108,0.360489&ie=UTF8&ll=41.351428,-72.017527&spn=0.026094,0.058022&z=14

Casco Bay - improvements

2008-04-22T10:24:00.006-04:00

Whenever it rains in the Portland area sewerage outflows, a mixture of rain water and untreated raw sewerage, runs into Casco Bay. In 2006 alone over 1.8 billion gallons of this toxic mix went into the bay. This represents more than half of the overflow generated by the entire state.

Many kayakers launch off of East End Beach in Portland, an area that can be closed when this runoff occurs. The smell can be detected in the Old Port and can put a real damper on one’s shore dinner. Runoff is discharged into the bay from the Back Cove, Presumpscot River, Capisic Brook, Portland Harbor, and the Fore River. Effluviums and nitrogen rich pollutants may also contribute to harmful algae blooms such as those that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. Boaters or swimmers who come in contact with the pollution find themselves at risk of getting sick.

Even in the outer bay there can be a slight change in water quality due to the runoff.

For the past 17 years Portland has faced a court ordered mandate to clean up it’s act by separating rainwater runoff from raw sewerage, but has hemmed and hawed, seeking extension after extension. When city officials sought yet another extension in 2007, Friends of Casco Bay and Casco Baykeeper Joe Payne and others stepped forward to oppose the inaction.

On February 4 of this year the city council considered and approved a $61 million bond package to put the project back on track. If Portland sticks to its promise we may all be able to reap the benefits of a healthier ecosystem in one of the most beautiful parts of the Maine coast.

Another major victory was won in 2004 when legislation was passed to prohibit cruise ships from dumping waste into the bay.

Now if only we could get people to stop using pesticides on their lawns….

Friends of Casco Bay

Pure Altruism

2008-04-09T14:29:00.003-04:00

Four years ago five new Zealand life guards were on a training swim about 300 feet from shore when they were surrounded by a pod of dolphins. The lifeguards were confused by the behavior of the dolphins, who were quite close to the swimmers, and who would veer away
only to come back. The dolphins also slapped their
tails against the water surface creating a bit of
chaos.

At the time the lifeguards were worried that they’d be
run into or even attacked by the dolphins, but it
turns out that the dolphins had made a conscious
choice to protect the swimmers from a shark attack.

Balling up, tight circling and slapping tails,
scientists say, is typical dolphin behavior for
warding off sharks.

“The dolphins had to infer that these people were in
danger and consciously make a decision to act upon
that they put themselves at risk to help the people
and that's pure altruism,” says Professor Lori Marino,
a marine biologist.

read more and see a video at NZ TV3

South Stack

2008-03-31T11:56:00.008-04:00

The above illustration shows South Stack on a lumpy day. Down below Nigel is working in calmer conditions. Any takers for Welsh 5 star training this Fall?

Field Report From Old Town, ME

2008-03-21T13:09:00.006-04:00

We spent the last few days up in Old Town Maine listening and scrutinizing Johnson Outdoors' approach to Lendal Paddles. Nigel Dennis, Fiona Whitehead, Nick Dyslin and I were invited in for two days last Fall. This time Neil Baxter, formerly a designer at Lendal, came up. Nick and I met to see Johnson's progress, along with the bigger Lendal management team. As we found last Fall, Lendal’s production side of things is first rate. The paddles are appreciably more true to Alistair’s designs, are extremely solid, reliable and repeatable. Availability has already exceeded production in Scotland so finally we should all have better availability here very soon.

All classic blades remain, and the Kinetic family has a new smaller blade for higher reps or smaller frames and larger version (for the Fiona types). The Paddlok remains the brilliant, functional, multi-useful feature of the line. Nigel Dennis is about to come out with a forward paddling video and a series of workshops on this dominant stroke. .

While there Neil Baxter was able to redesign a proposed smaller Kinetic Touring blade on the CAD, and we were able to computer cut out the blade, see it and feel it all on the same day. This is truly fantastic.

When not working we all wandered into the existing wood department where canoes have been made on the same machines, with the same plugs and templates for generations. This year is Old Town’s 110^th anniversary. The factory has many repair projects awaiting the old timers who still do it all the same right way. We should be appreciative that Johnson has the resources to protect and keep this Maine wooden canoe tradition alive.

Tom Bergh

Notes

2008-03-18T11:19:00.005-04:00

Expeditions

For those interested in following some of the NDK sponsored paddlers, there are a couple of pretty serious trips happening this season.

Jeff Allen and Mark Schoon are trying to paddle around Scandinavia and are already in the field. How long do you figure the boat hauling section will be?

One of the bolder plans in 08 is to attempt the first circumnavigation of the Svalbard archipelago between 75 and 81 degrees N, by Alon Ohad and Tim Starr. These islands are way above the Arctic Circle with significant ice on their Eastern half, and some of the highest concentrations of polar bears anywhere.

The NDK website has a fairly up to date news section.

Fisheries

Salmon, timber and humans. Along our NW coast, the sad state of our most majestic of fish - the powerful, mystical Pacific salmon has come to a crux. San Francisco Chronicle reports:
Collapse: Entire Salmon Season Could Be Shut Down Along California, Oregon Coast

Website

Undersea Landscapes by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute

NSRWA Kayak Expo - March 29th

2008-03-10T10:54:00.011-04:00

The North and South Rivers Watershed Association (NSRWA) is a Southern New England non-profit group concerned with the environmental well being of the watersheds of the North and South rivers. Their annual Kayak Expo will be held in Norwell, MA on March 29.

It's billed as Southeast New England's biggest kayaking and rowing expo." It's also within striking range of most of us who paddle Gulf of Maine waters. We'll be there with a range of NDK boats and hope to see you.

Saturday, March 29th, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Norwell Middle School, 328 Main Street (Route 123), Norwell, MA
Admission - $5 adults/$3 children age 12 and under

The expo website is here, It lists information about the free lectures, activities, exhibitors on hand, and kids activities.

You can find out more information about NSRWA here.

Sweetwater and Level 1 Coaches

2008-02-28T13:49:00.003-05:00

REPORT FROM SWEETWATER KAYAKS BCU WEEK:

FORT DESOTO, ST PETERSBURG, FL

BCU Level 1 Coach:

Sweetwater’s Y08 BCU Week rolled out the new BCU Level 1 Coach award in North America. The 5 day program produced 12 newly certified US Coaches, including Joe Dupont of Maine Island Kayak Outfitters. Tom Bergh is now a Course Director for those interested in becoming Level 1 coaches.

Phil Hadley of the BCU UK enthusiastically delivered this new/retooled award. Taking the best from its Coach Processing, Level 3 and Level 5 trainings, the new BCU Level 1 Coaches left versed in the ‘hows’ of effective coaching. Sessions were run in sea, recreational and whitewater kayaks and open canoes. I believe this new multi-craft training along with the emphasis on the learning/teaching model will enhance the experience of participating paddlers. This is a well thought out system.

The new Level 1 Coach award presents a paddler centered curriculum based on multiple teaching styles in a variety of paddle craft focusing on long term paddler development. Its theme based system moves firmly away from ‘this is the way’ lessons toward the right stroke for that paddler in today’s conditions in that boat. For those coaches working with younger paddlers, the BCU’s refreshed PaddlePower curriculum http://www.canoe-england.org.uk/canoeeng/623-4-paddlepower.aspx offers a lively, encouraging and rewarding track for competitive and recreational young paddlers. Check it out. Its good stuff!

Red Tide - considerations

2008-02-10T16:38:00.001-05:00

Almost every Mainer is familiar with the phenomenon of red tide or harmful algae blooms (HAB). We also trust that our local fishmongers will only serve us safe food. But what about when you are harvesting your own?

The algae we're concerned with are dinoflagellates, some of which are responsible for bioluminescence. In Maine the phytoplankton culprit is called Alexandrium tamarense who, when the conditions are right, produce toxins. Conditions necessary for HAB are the presence of the algae in the water and nutrients like potassium and nitrogen, which are supplied from upwellings from deeper areas in the Gulf of Maine. Other sources of nutrients are from pollutants, including fish farms and aquaculture. A storm after a series of calm, sunny days and warm water is a common scenario in which a bloom takes place.

The shellfish themselves are not harmed by the algae, but they are filter-feeders and the toxins remain with the shellfish. According to NOAA, over 50 percent of unusual marine mammal mortality events are due to harmful algae blooms.

The most significant hazard is that if people eat shellfish that have processed the algae they may get paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).

The first symptom many report is a numbness or tingling around the mouth also reported is tingling of the face and neck areas, headaches, nausea, and muscle weakness. In extreme cases, the symptoms can lead to respiratory failure and death.. If any of you or your party experience symptoms like this it's time to mobilize quickly!

The last case of PSP in Maine occurred in August of 2007 when a downeast family ate mussels found on a drifting barrel. Symptoms took only minutes to manifest themselves and hospitalization was necessary. So use caution and remember how long it can take to get to a hospital from Jewell island or where ever you are paddling.

It's a good idea to keep the shellfish hotline in your phone list. 1-800-232-4733 or 207-633-9571.

There's more information on the state site - including beach closures

More info is available at these sites:

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/redtide/

http://www.whoi.edu/sbl/liteSite.do?litesiteid=3230

http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/

Sea Temperature Increase Leads to More Hurricanes?

2008-02-05T12:52:00.000-05:00

Recent research carried out at the University College London have suggested that warming sea temperatures in the North Atlantic will have a substantial impact on the number of Atlantic hurricanes. Changes of half a degree centigrade could mean 40 per cent increase in the number of hurricanes.

These finding suggest that the reason for the relatively small number of hurricanes in the 2007 season was due to slightly cooler water in the Atlantic.

However, this does not seem to be the last word on the matter. Only two weeks ago a study published by NOAA stated that global warming would result in a decrease in hurricanes due to instability in the atmosphere that would hinder the formation of storms.

While on a third front The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change feels that hurricanes will become stronger, they have no stance as to any change in frequency.

Read more:

The UN Report
.
Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre
.
Tropical Storm Risk
.

New Satellite Technique to investigate ocean currents

2008-02-01T14:44:00.000-05:00

Rather like a speed trap, Scientists at the SeaSAR 2008 workshop in Frascati, Italy demonstrated the use of satellite radar technology to measure ocean currents and wave formation.

An Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR)device mounted on ESA’s Envisat can track the movement of surface ocean currents. This device records microwave radar backscatter. By looking at the doppler shift of electromagnetic waves reflected from the ocean surface they are able to gain an insight on how winds and surface currents affect this doppler shift.

"The Doppler shift occurs due to changing relative velocities, experienced in everyday life in the way the pitch of a siren on a passing ambulance goes up as it approaches, then goes down as the vehicle recedes away."

"These measurements are very useful for advancing the understanding of surface current dynamics and mesoscale variability, as well as for determining surface drift, important for oil dispersion and pollution transport and for wave-current interaction, probably influencing the existence of extreme waves,"

Read more at the Underwater Times
.