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SAFE PADDLING is an individual responsibility. We 

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Published by 

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Printed on Ancient Rainforest-Free Paper 

Volume 14 Number 6 

INSIDE 

5 When Things Go Wrong 

GLEN STEDHAM 

8 Never Turn Your Back 

AL KEITH 

10 Going Solo 

ROB ZACHARIAS 

13 Upside Wrong 

BRYAN NICHOLS—COLUMN 

15 Training—The BCU Way 

TED DANFORTH 

18 Bulldog-and-Tandem Tow 

ADAM BOLONSKY—COLUMN 

WaveLength is a member of the Trade Association of Paddlesports www.gopaddle.org 360-352-0764 

22 Getting There is Half the Battle 

NEIL SCHULMAN 

24 Group Rescues 

JONATHAN WEINGAST 

26 Decision Making 

ROBERT BROWN 

29 Keeping It Together 

DAN LEWIS—COLUMN 

31 The Human Factor 

JONATHAN WEINGAST 

32 Cold Water Survival 

KRISTIN CHARLETON 

COVER PHOTO by Eric Pittman 

Rochelle Relyea saves Alex Matthew’s bacon! 

35 Mercia to the Rescue 

DENNIS MCFADDEN 

36 Safety Scenario 

ANDREE HURLEY 

38 Next Steps 

MARIKA WILSON—COLUMN 

39 Choosing a Safe Tour Operator 

SEA KAYAK GUIDES ALLIANCE OF BC 

40 The Perception of Safety 

ALAN WILSON—COLUMN 

43 Paddlers Receive PFDs 

CARRIE MOFFATT 

45 Food Safety Scenarios 

DEBBIE LEACH—COLUMN 

46 Hints of Abundance 

ALEXANDRA MORTON—COLUMN 

49 Gear Locker (Helmets, VHF) 

ALEX MATTHEWS—COLUMN 

52 Great Gear 

54 Books 

DIANA MUMFORD—COLUMN 

55 News 

59 Calendar 

Alan Wilson 

The ‘Down-side’ of Paddling 

This issue is something of a departure for us. We usually emphasize the up-side 

of paddling and leave the down-side to magazines with a penchant for tragedy. 

Our focus is usually on the adventures to be had, the amazing creatures of the ocean, 

and the transformative effect of being out on the water. 

Due to the high level of safety consciousness which veteran paddlers bring to 

instruction, and the impressive professionalism of the paddling industry, tragedies 

are few and far between. But there are risks in going out on the water and as the 

popularity of paddling grows, so does the potential for problems, especially among 

those with no prior boating experience. 

So departure number one in this issue is a focus on capsize and recovery—we spend 

a lot of time in the water! Departure number two is related to gender—this issue has 

a strong element of the male experience. We lead off with a number of stories of men 

undertaking solo paddling expeditions and experiencing some close calls. 

This gender imbalance wasn’t intended. When we put out the call for material about 

‘what can go wrong’, it was mostly men who answered. Is this the product of a devilmay-care 

male attitude of pushing the boundaries? Are women just smarter? 

We also have several articles showing men working with others in training scenarios, 

practicing how to coordinate their efforts for safe paddling. Men, it would seem, can 

actually work together in an organized way—believe it or not, ladies! 

Paddling is really a genderless activity, as can be seen by the many superb women 

paddlers with great skills and a yen for adventure. Take Hayley Shephard who wrote 

of her Antarctic paddling experiences in our last issue. She, like Rob Zacharias in this 

one, paddled solo around Vancouver Island, and Hayley has since circumnavigated 

the Queen Charlotte Islands—the isolated, misty isles of Haida Gwaii! 

I don’t know too many people of either gender who would contemplate, much less 

attempt, such a challenge, requiring much preparation and great skills. Hopefully this 

issue offers suggestions on the skills end. We strongly recommend you attend one of 

the various paddlefests and symposia this year to take advantage of the instructional 

opportunities they offer. We can all learn to be better—and safer—paddlers. 


When Things Go Wrong 

Glen Stedham 

They say an 

adventure 

starts when 

something 

goes wrong. 

My adventure 

started when 

I capsized on 

the 5th day of 

a 120-kilometer 

paddling trip 

around the 

northern tip 

of Vancouver 

Island. 

The group’s boats at Cape Scott prior to Glen separating from the others. 

© Glen Stedham photo 

That was to have been my last day. My 

companions had opted to extend the trip 

by visiting some offshore islands, so I 

was going to finish the last 33 kilometers 

alone. 

I left camp at 6 a.m. and at first was 

pleased to have the wind and waves 

coming from behind. But the waves grew 

in size all morning. In my eagerness to end 

the trip I pressed on. I could handle the 

waves but had not counted on the wash 

from passing boats. The first erratic wave 

overpowered me, lifting my stern up and 

sideways. I broached on the next wave, 

failed to brace, and ended upside down 

with my legs trapped in the kayak, groping 

to release myself from the sprayskirt that 

imprisoned me. This skirt had started to 

come apart days before and had become 

tricky to release. 

I held my breath, riding up and down 

in my watery, upside-down world. To 

this point I had a feeling of detachment. 

It felt rather dream-like. Then my logical 

mind clicked in and the words “This is 

serious” came to me. Finally, spurred to 

action, I grabbed the fabric of the skirt and 

yanked—putting a big rip in the skirt but 

freeing myself, letting me swim out of the 

kayak and breathe. 

The seas were too high for self-rescue. 

I held onto the kayak and kicked my way 

to shore, arriving in a cleft between two 

cliffs. After putting on some dry clothes 

and eating, I began to assess my situation. 

It was not good. I could see that the wind 

and waves were now even higher. I was 

watching fish boats heading into the 

waves, their bows diving into the troughs, 

slamming into oncoming waves, with spray 

erupting into the air and blowing back 

over their wheelhouses. Clearly I was not 

going anywhere. With a damaged skirt, the 

paddling portion of this trip was over unless 

the seas became almost flat—something 

that had not happened since the start of 

the trip. 

And then there was the incoming tide to ➝ 

Apr/May 05 


5

Glen about to set off on a solo paddle. 

consider. This was a last minute trip for me and I had not brought 

tide tables. Looking at the rocks behind me, it was evident that my 

small, rocky sanctuary was often flooded at high tide. Never had I 

watched a tide change with more interest than that evening. I studied 

it as it advanced towards me, little by little, hoping for a small space 

between the cliff-face and a log to partially pitch my tent. When 

the tide finally turned it was a mere hand-width from the spot I had 

claimed for my tent. Twelve hours later, in the morning, I knew there 

would be another high tide. How high would that tide be? 

The next morning the weather was no better—perhaps worse. 

Paddling to safety was not an option that day either—maybe not 

for many days. Staying put was also not a good option. I had lost 

most of my water in the capsize, as well as my rain gear. It rains 

frequently on this part of the BC Coast and becoming wet would 

mean hypothermia: a life-threatening situation. 

Confident of my bush skills, I opted to hike out. I tied the kayak 

behind some rocks, as high as possible, and left at 8 a.m. to hike 

to Port Hardy. My map was a 1:250,000 topo and showed only a 

single contour line. How difficult could it be? By heading directly 

overland and away from the coast I figured I could make Port Hardy 

in two hours, possibly three. What I did not understand and what 

a more detailed topo would have shown me was that this was the 

most difficult terrain I had ever experienced: perhaps one of the 

most difficult terrains on earth. On my southeast compass bearing 

I had to cross a series of seemingly endless north-south, steep 

drainages. The vegetation was so thick that at times I could walk 

to within a body-length of a cliff without seeing it. Then there were 

the descents, lowering myself by holding onto roots and branches 

before struggling back up on the other side. In places where I could 

see ahead of me, there was the disheartening sight of yet another 

ridge to cross. 

Five hours later at 1 p.m., I managed to get a GPS reading and 

was shocked to see how little distance I had covered. Not only 

was I nowhere near Port Hardy, I was making little progress. It was 

rare for me to place my feet on the ground twice in succession. 

Usually I would be standing above the ground on roots or branches 

shrouded in foliage and unable to see far in any direction. What I 

began to fear was hurting myself. I was falling frequently. Sometimes 

when I fell, the vegetation would so encase my feet that I risked 

twisting or spraining an ankle. Unless I could walk out of what was 

becoming my forest prison, I would never be found. Even from the 

air I would not be seen. 

Although not ‘lost’ in the strict sense, I began to feel a rising panic. 

I made regular notations in my journal—mostly to focus my mind. 

The urge to keep pushing through the bush was strong but I knew I 

had to stop from time to time to quiet my emotions and think more 

clearly. I would stop and stare at the watch, watching the hands 

and counting off five minutes. The weather was unseasonably hot 

and I was sweating profusely. Whenever I came to water I would 

try to stop long enough to take fifty gulps. Sometime during the day, 

green and red blotches floated across my field of vision. Was this a 

symptom of dehydration or heat stroke? The scummy, standing water 

I was drinking may very well have made me sick, but I reasoned that 

I would be out of the forest before developing symptoms. 

Late in the day I began to realize there was a good possibility that 

I would not make it to Port Hardy in one day and I abandoned my 

southeasterly bearing. Tidewater and the chance of rescue lay due 

east. In the early evening I encountered an easterly sloping drainage 

which I knew would inevitably lead to the shore. I could not see 

the water but I knew that if I descended long enough I would hit it. 

The foliage, if anything, got even thicker and the terrain impossible. 

I was pulling aside branches and pushing through, my feet unseen 

below me probing for a log or branch, anything solid to stand on. 


What I did not understand and what a more detailed 

topo would have shown me was that this was the most 

difficult terrain I had ever experienced: perhaps one of 

the most difficult terrains on earth. The vegetation was 

so thick that at times I would walk to within a bodylength 

of a cliff without seeing it. 

© Glen Stedham is a canoe and kayak guide and instructor with over 

35 years paddling experience. He has done numerous paddling trips 

from the Arctic to Mexico and is the author of ‘The Vancouver Paddler: 

Canoeing and Kayaking in Southwestern British Columbia’ and ‘Bush 

Basics’, a hiking and survival text. He also has an extensive hiking and 

backpacking background and was for many years a Search and Rescue 

volunteer. For the past 12 years Glen has been a member 

of the Dogwood Canoe and Kayak Club. 

Even when I fell I would not hit the ground—just more vegetation. 

I was pushing my body beyond anything I had ever done before. 

How far I had pushed myself I would not realize till much later. It 

was pointless to rest. Resting, I might never pull myself up again. 

So thick was the vegetation that not once on my descent did I see 

the inlet before me. Only my map and my compass told me it was 

there. Down and down I went, not knowing how far the water lay 

below me. At times I could dimly hear boat traffic. When I finally 

broke free of the bush I could see the ocean just beyond through 

a sliver of trees. And just at that moment, like saviors, I could see 

two men in an open boat. Then they veered off, out of my line of 

vision behind trees. I made a move for my flares but knew there 

was not time to get them. Seconds later they veered back in front 

of me and cut their engine. “Help, Help,” I screamed and waved 

my hands. 

Twenty minutes later I was in Port Hardy on clear, level ground 

but found that I was having difficulty walking. I was staggering, 

filthy, and a bit confused. I approached a camper and asked for a 

ride to the nearest hotel. The man was initially frightened by my 

appearance and refused. He thought I was on drugs. It was not 

until he saw me walking away with such difficulty that he realized 

I needed help. He assisted me through the registration procedure 

at the hotel, staying with me till I got to a room. I began to realize 

just how banged-up I was. My hands and legs were cut. Pieces of 

wood were jammed under my fingernails making my hands clumsy 

and difficult to use. I gave up trying to fill in the hotel registration 

card and dictated the information to the hotel clerk. 

But cuts and bruises heal quickly. They had to. I was looking 

forward to a short three day backpacking trip in Manning Park 

four days later. That is another, far happier story. A story but not 

an adventure. 

Apr/May 05 


7

Never Turn Your Back 

Al Keith 

It was the fifth of July, the tenth day of my 

solo kayak trip on the central coast of BC, 

and the sun had been out only twice. Gray 

sea, gray sky, but no rain. And it was rain 

I needed. It had been four days since my 

capsize and the loss of my water supply. 

My energy level had gradually reduced to 

that of a sleepwalker. Paddling was slow 

and laborious. 

For days I had been collecting the dew 

on my tent and on the plastic bags which 

I spread out each evening. Then it was 

up early as I greedily lapped at the dew 

that covered everything. But it was never 

enough. It was sustaining life, but barely. 

The water in the few creeks I checked out 

was undrinkable. How had I gotten myself 

into this mess? 

The day I had capsized had been gray, 

© Al Keith photo 

like most of the days of my trip. But the 

Hakai region was spectacular and I was 

enjoying myself despite the heavy chop and 

lack of sun. I was paddling solo because my 

usual paddling buddy had broken his ankle 

before the trip and couldn’t come along. 

I’d been paddling all morning and finally 

decided to land on a small islet for a break. 

As I approached my landing, I could feel 

the swells building up to respectable surf, 

and I knew I had to concentrate. I headed 

for a tiny tongue of land to take advantage 

of the lee protection it would afford me. 

Everything seemed to be going fine until I 

felt a shift in the heavy, waterproof bag on 

the back deck of my kayak. 

I turned sideways to tighten the strap that 

held the bag to the boat, turning my back 

on one of nature’s awesome forces. And 

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that was when it happened. In a moment of 

inattention to the sea, a large wave flipped 

my kayak as if it were a piece of driftwood. 

Before I knew it, I found myself out of my 

boat in the roiling ocean, unsure which 

way was up. 

The next wave pushed me even further 

down until I scraped my hands on a boulder 

and knew that I was on the sea bottom. I 

wasn’t wearing my life jacket because it 

was tucked ’safely’ under the straps on my 

kayak, but at least I was wearing my wetsuit, 

and so the cold waters were no immediate 

threat. But I needed air, and needed it badly. 

At that moment, a quote from an emergency 

handbook popped into my mind: ”You 

can survive—just try to keep on living one 

minute longer!” 

Just then my feet managed to take hold on 

a larger rock at the sea bottom. I mustered 

all my strength and pushed upwards as hard 

as I could, lashing out with my arms. As my 

head broke the surface, I gulped air into my 

lungs gratefully. 

Then I looked around for my kayak and 

paddle. My little boat was being tossed 

about nearby, its cockpit full of water. 

Thanks to the two watertight hatches, it had 

maintained some of its buoyancy. 

I managed to retrieve my paddle and 

grab my kayak. After securing the paddle 

under deck lines, I struggled to push the 

boat toward a surf-washed boulder. With 

my failing strength I angled the bow of the 

kayak onto the slippery rock, and hung on 

to the side until I had caught my breath. 

After pumping out some of the water, I 

swung my body across the half-empty 

cockpit, slid in and continued to pump. 

Finally, near total exhaustion, I maneuvred 

the boat off the boulder and paddled to 

shore, where I dragged my boat free of the 

surf and collapsed beside it. 

After I had caught my breath, I stumbled 

to my feet to assess my situation. Surveying 

my boat, I could see that the sea had 

taken my campstove, my fuel canister and 

some of my food. But more disastrous, my 

moment of negligence had cost me my 

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water. The large water-bladder had torn 

loose and was nowhere to be found. 

Without a stove, there was no hot coffee 

the next morning, no soup at lunch. And 

without water I went thirsty for days, living 

off the little dew I could collect on my boat 

and tent. Each day I looked at the gray sky 

and hoped for rain. 

On the fourth day after my capsize, the 

sky darkened, thunderheads moved in, and 

late in the day the first drops fell. It was no 

heavy downpour, just a gentle, steady flow 

of precious drops. I raced for shore and set 

out all all my remaining containers. I have 

never tasted anything so heavenly as that 

first full cup of water. Sheer nectar! 

IMPORTANT LESSONS I LEARNED 

• Don’t head into unknown waters alone. 

• Take ample drinking water to cover emergencies. 

• Secure loose items, like water containers, to your kayak. 

• Wear your life jacket, don’t just keep it tucked on your deck. 

• Let others know where you will be paddling, and for how long. 

• Don’t paddle into regions unknown to you without a good wetsuit. 

• Always observe and respect the sea. Don’t ignore nature’s awesome potential. 

• When kayaking among the many islands of BC’s coast, play safe and bring along a 

GPS. It’ll get you home safely. 

© Al Keith is a freelance writer and paddler 

who lives in Comox, BC. 

5 th Annual 

Port Angeles 

Kayak Symposium 

April 15-17, 2005 

Clinics for Whitewater 

and Sea Kayakers, 

Demos, Gear Swap 

Hotel Discounts 

and much more! 

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Call 888.452.1443 

Organized by 

Olympic Raft & Kayak 

Apr/May 05 


9

Going Solo 

As I sit down to write this, I 

wonder—what has a 50- 

year-old guy who kayaked 

solo around Vancouver Island 

to say about safety? After all, 

the act is hardly a safe one— 

kayaking 1500 km (almost 

1000 miles) around the largest 

island on North America’s west 

coast! Most people would call it 

dangerous, even insane. 

Some would say you should never kayak 

alone and that the first safety rule is to 

always have a buddy to take care of you if 

something should go awry. Nevertheless, 

I managed to survive, and arrived home 

safely after 51 days of every type of weather 

imaginable: calm, sunny days; roaring gales 

and huge seas; pouring rain; impenetrable 

fog; hail; lightning, etc. There were certainly 

times when it was dangerous, but I never 

wished for someone to share that danger. 

I didn’t want to be responsible for anyone 

else. And there is something magical about 

being out there by yourself, which just can’t 

be duplicated. I’m glad I went alone, and 

Rob Zacharias 

I’m sure others will follow in my wake. So, 

if we are going to do this, how do we do it 

safely? What kept me safe out there? 

I wore a wetsuit and, of course, a PFD. 

The wetsuit probably made a difference 

as there were several times when I was 

wet from spray and breaking waves. The 

life jacket was never tested. I had all the 

recommended emergency gear: flares, a 

smoke bomb, signalling mirror and whistle, 

throw bag, paddle float and sponsons. 

None of this was ever needed. I had 

communication gear: a VHF and a satellite 

phone. The radio was great for listening to 

the weather and I used the phone every 

San Josef Bay, on the morning of the day Rob describes in this article. 

© Rob Zacharias photos 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


three days to call my wife. She and I had 

identical maps of Vancouver Island and 

she would mark my location and projected 

course whenever I called so people would 

know where to look in case of disaster, but 

there never was any disaster. It was nice for 

me to have an occasional bit of contact with 

the rest of the world, and hearing from me 

on a regular basis allowed her to sleep at 

night, but I never had to call for help. 

I had extra dry clothes, more food than I 

needed to get me to somewhere I could resupply, 

and a back-up compass. All of these 

things were just that—back-ups in case I 

made a mistake and found that I was unable 

to deal with the consequences. Safety was a 

state of mind. It lay in the decisions I made 

and in my own personal awareness. I had 

to decide how to prepare myself physically 

and mentally each day. I had to realistically 

assess the conditions I might run into and 

prepare for the worst. Once out there, I 

had to look at weather and sea conditions. 

I needed to consider the distance I was 

trying to cover that day, and where I might 

be able to land along the way if I got tired 

or if the situation changed. 

Most importantly, I needed to accurately 

gauge what I was capable of on any given 

day. Was I well rested? Was I feeling 

stronger or weaker than yesterday? Was I 

mentally ready to take on whatever might 

The shelter Rob found to escape the rough conditions beyond the reef. 

come, or was today a day I needed to stay 

on the beach, to rest and restore myself? 

This last was very difficult. To go or not 

to go, was a question I frequently asked 

myself. I almost always got it right and the 

time or two that I didn’t, I had the stamina 

and determination to deal with it. 

On one such occasion, I wanted to get 

around Lippy Point and into Grant Bay but 

the wind just got too strong. Here is my 

journal entry for July 23, Day 30, written in 

an unnamed cove north of Lippy Point: ➝ 

Apr/May 05 


11

Rob, alive and healthy after 49 days. 

“Getting pretty scary out there. On the 

water at 5:30—sun not even up yet. Some 

wind even then. Then usual forecast: 

Gale warning, northwest winds rising to 

40 knots. Paddled non-stop until 9 a.m. 

Finally found a place to land at Topknot 

Point. Started feeling pretty good after 

some rest and food, so decided to try 

for Lippy. Topknot not too bad but totally 

exposed to the big Northwesterlies I was 

expecting in a couple of hours. Fifteen 

minutes after launching, the wind was 

roaring and I was starting to think I had 

made a bad mistake. Stamina fine, but 

wind and waves almost too much for 

me. I was working at the limit of my 

ability. Whalebone was in his element. 

[Whalebone is the name of my kayak as 

well as a wilder part of myself.] Swells 

running 10 and 12 feet, steep and 

rough and coming on an angle from the 

stern. They would pick me up like high 

speed elevators, while wind waves up 

to 6 feet, angling across from the other 

side, smacked me in the side of the 

head. Wind howling. Me swearing and 

howling back as whitecaps busted over 

the rear deck and white water foamed 

around my waist, covering the boat. 

No place to go but forward. Impossible 

to turn around and nothing shoreward 

but rocks, reefs and exploding waves. 

Struggled on for 2 hours searching for a 

place to hide. Almost went over several 

times, but managed to brace hard and 

hang on. Down in the troughs I couldn’t 

see land, so every time I was on top of 

a swell I would scan the shore, looking 

for a beach. I had to stay far enough 

out to avoid the smashing breakers and 

jagged rocks, but close enough to see 

the shore features through the blowing 

spray. Finally I spotted a bit of sand and 

some logs not too far ahead, but behind 

a lot of nasty looking rock. I started 

working my way in, trying to find a way 

through. Had to go past the bit of beach 

that I could see and then turn almost 180 

degrees dodging the rocks and breaking 

surf before finding and entering a little 

channel, which led to a protected beach. 

Landed at 11:45. After a lot of shouting 

and a little victory dance, I spent the 

next half hour just sitting on a log and 

enjoying being alive.” 

Obviously not a safe day, but even in 

the middle of it, I knew I had the stamina 

to carry on. I was confident that even if the 

worst should happen and I was separated 

from my boat, that all the neoprene and 

flotation I was wearing would help me to 

wash up on shore somewhere. I had basic 

survival gear and my VHF secured to my 

body. 

The initial half hour on shore was not 

only a celebration but a transition to life 

on the beach. I had to move logs and rocks 

to create a tent space. I couldn’t afford a 

twisted knee or a broken finger. My mind 

had to be on the beach, in the moment, 

not still out on the water battling the 

waves. Later, I could sit and assess where 

I had messed up and what to do about it. I 

learned the hard way that I could not count 

on nature to be consistent, to give me until 

at least noon before the wind got bad. 

Tomorrow (same forecast) I would have to 

allow a bigger safety margin and not be on 

the open coast after ten at the latest. 

So to be safe by yourself? Be prepared for 

anything, and know your own capabilities. 

Happy paddling. 

© Rob Zacharias’ trip was in part a celebration 

of his 50th birthday. He’s been married for 23 

years and is father of two teenage girls. He’s 

a bus driver in Victoria, previously a social 

worker and an electrician. He’s been 

kayaking for about 15 years, 

practices yoga and rides 

his bike to work. 

Natural West Coast Adventures 

• Kayak Instruction • Tours • Rentals 

1308 Everall St., White Rock, BC V4B 3S6 

604-535-7985 (White Rock) 

250-391-0331 (Victoria) 

www.kayak.bc.ca nwcakayak@telus.net 

Natural West Coast Adventure Gear 

SEA KAYAK EQUIPMENT 

Gear for 

‘Peace of mind’ 

on the water 

www.bckayaks.com 

nwca@kayak.bc.ca 

250-391-0331 


Know Your Neighbors 

Upside Wrong 

Or how I learned to stop worrying and tip over once in awhile 

One of the biggest mistakes I made when I started sea kayaking 

was to stay upright. I was cautious, paddled stable boats, and 

didn’t venture into conditions that might send me toppling upside 

down into that chilly water. I was good at being upright. Very good. 

So good, I never tipped. After a short while, I never even came 

close, my reflexes and the primary stability of my kayak keeping 

me snugly, safely, upright. 

Oddly enough, one of the potential hazards of sea kayaking is 

that it’s so easy to start. Once you’ve got past the awkwardness of 

getting your butt onto the seat the first few times, you realize how 

easy, peaceful and serene sea kayaking can be. You venture out in 

your miniature yacht, and nothing bad happens. Hey! What’s all 

the fuss about? Anyone can do this. 

Unfortunately, the ‘sea’ part of sea kayaking isn’t always peaceful 

or serene, and calm days in warm bays can lull you into a false sense 

of security. I’ve been on the ocean enough to know that things can 

change quickly and dramatically so I was never too lulled. But the 

conditions I felt safe in rarely tested my paddling skills, and let’s 

face it—a tight spray skirt, the fear of upsidedownedness and that 

cold, green Pacific Northwest water all conspire to make tipping 

something to enthusiastically avoid. But if you avoid it all the time, 

how do you improve your kayaking skills and safety level? 

VENTURE FORTH INTO THE MAW OF THE STORM? 

Um—no. There are much more forgiving ways to get better. Wind 

and waves will certainly test your skill at remaining upright, but 

they might also test your ability to remain alive. That’s why, one way 

or another, you need to kick your upright habit. You can’t control 

the motion of the ocean, and the more you paddle, the better the 

chances you’ll find your bracing skills unexpectedly tested. Straight 

up and down is all well and good most of the time, but you learn 

a lot more a lot faster once you start to tip over. 

TILT, TOPPLE, OVERTURN 

Do these words fill you with dread? Guiding in Belize clued me 

in to just how terrified many paddlers are of tipping. I met plenty of 

people who paddled regularly and had done impressive trips, but 

they were less than pleased when I required them to overturn and 

do a wet exit. When had they done it last? For some, never—for 

others, perhaps once or twice at the very beginning of their paddling 

days. After that, like me, they got very good at staying upright, and 

the thought of going over and upside down in a strange kayak and 

Bryan Nichols 

snug sprayskirt made them sweat with fear. 

Or maybe it was just the heat in Belize. But regardless, these 

Northern paddlers often had to be coaxed into tipping over. After 

a wet exit or two and a week of hopping in and out of the boats to 

snorkel, most largely overcame their need to be all vertical, all the 

time. They were on their way to improving their bracing and rescue 

skills, becoming better, safer paddlers. 

Now warm, clear, tropical water is nice, but it’s not necessary. 

However, there is a reason us Northern paddlers usually avoid 

tipping, and that reason is hypothermia. Many paddlers would have 

difficulty getting back into their kayaks in conditions that tip them, 

and the cold water can kill. Practicing tipping in chilly temperate 

waters requires preparation and good judgment. If you’re not keen 

on personal responsibility, you’ll want to do your practicing with 

a kayak instructor or guide. 

However you choose to do it, you should tip once in awhile. 

We have swimming pools, summer bays and good gear to take 

the bite out of the cold—you really don’t have an excuse to stay 

vertical. For many people, lessons with a skilled friend or kayaking 

instructor are the best way to learn. After those, or on your own, 

here are ten tips to help you get off the vertical track. Try them at 

the end of your paddle, when you can warm up quickly after being 

wet. Try them in shallow bays, on warm days, or in spots where 

friends are watching or helping out. Try them in your new wetsuit 

or drysuit—but most of all, try them. 

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Apr/May 05 


13

LEAN 

Let’s start with the basics—just lean. How far do you dare? 

The more terrified of tipping you are, the less you’ll be able 

to lean. Push it—you might be surprised how far you can go, 

and you’ll learn a lot about your boat’s primary, and then 

secondary stability. If you’re leaning far enough, you’ll also 

relearn that wet exit. 

DOCK LEAN 

But you don’t have to get wet to lean. Pull up to a dock or 

something similarly stable. Grab it. Now lean over. Way, way 

over. More. Does your sprayskirt leak? Now just lightly touch 

the dock. Lean towards it—find out where you and your boat 

hit that point of no return, that point where if the dock weren’t 

there, you’d proceed to upside down. Do this often! 

Ten Tips (literally) For Safer Kayaking 

BOW TO YOUR PARTNER 

One of the best ways to exercise your hips and test your 

sprayskirt on the water is to form a T with your paddling partner, 

hold onto his or her bow, and tip yourself over. Right over. 

Kiss the water. With a bit of practice, you can actually go right 

upside down, still holding the bow, and pull yourself back up. 

If you’d like to learn to roll, don’t just haul yourself up—use a 

light touch and a hip flick. 

SELF-RESCUE 

If you leaned too far and ended up in the drink, use the 

opportunity to practice getting back into your boat without the 

help of the shore, the dock or your paddling partners. There are 

many ways to self-rescue, and the more (and more often) you 

do it, the easier it will be. 

ASSISTED RESCUE 

But don’t neglect your paddling partners, especially if you 

paddle with the same folks regularly. Tip over and then 

have them help you get back in. There are many ways to do 

an assisted rescue, and you’ll quickly find one or two you 

prefer—you should all become good at them. 

LOW BRACE 

Now that you know how far you can lean until you tip (and 

what to do afterwards), it’s time to bring your paddle into play. 

Have someone show you a low brace. Then lean and do it. 

© Photo courtesy of Ecomarine: www.ecomarine.com 

Lean way over and brace. With some practice you should 

be able to easily recover from a lean that would dump you 

without the paddle. 

HIGH BRACE 

Next, learn the high brace (keep those elbows in!). With some 

practice, you’ll be able to lean so far you can dip the side of 

your head, and then miraculously recover. Ah, who needs 

miracles—good technique and a hip flick will do it. Practicing 

braces will make you much harder to tip in rough conditions— 

and impress onlookers in calm ones. 

LEARN TO ROLL 

Though the ability to roll may be overrated as a rescue technique 

in sea kayaking, mastering it is still a great way to become a 

safer, more confident paddler. When you can roll, tipping is 

no longer terrifying. In cold water, it’s probably the best way 

to practice advanced bracing—if you miss a brace, instead of 

dealing with a wet exit, rescue and pump out, you just roll up 

and try again. If you’re fond of adrenaline, rolling makes tackling 

surf or serious currents feasible and fun. 

GO SOUTH 

Okay—this isn’t always possible. But despite all my tipsy advice, 

many people will get all geared up, get into their kayaks, lean 

a little, feel how cold the ocean is—and keep on paddling 

upright. So save up your shekels and go somewhere warm, 

where practicing this stuff really is a lot less intimidating. Just 

be sure you can rent, borrow or bring a suitable kayak—many 

tropical places only have sit-on-tops without bracing straps. 

TACKLE SOME SURF 

Somewhere in between surf big enough to rock your world and 

surf big enough to send you to the next, there’s a whole lot of 

fun. It takes serious preparation and the right conditions to safely 

venture into surf, but the rewards are plenty including addictive 

doses of adrenaline and that indescribable high of riding waves. 

Surf, with all its variations, also makes for a veritable mixmaster 

of skills tests—it’s hard to imagine an environment where you’ll 

learn bracing techniques faster. 

Brian Henry demonstrates a high brace turn. 

© Courtesy of Ocean River Sports: www.oceanriver.com 

© Bryan Nichols, 2005. No reproduction without permission of the author. 


Training—the BCU Way 

Ted Danforth 

As I launched into my second day of paddling off the coast of 

Maine, I realized that I had fallen in love with the sport of sea 

kayaking. I had always had a yearning for the sea, the thrill of being 

on open water, the wind and the waves. And sea kayaking provided 

that physical challenge that had always been a part of my life. By 

the time our group made it back to the landing on the final day of 

our three-day excursion, I was well into the planning for my next 

extended camping and sea kayaking expedition—kayaking the 

entire coast of Maine! 

When my partner, an avid paddler with a far more sensible 

perspective, got wind of my grand plans, she turned to me with a 

‘look’ that forced me to step back. “You want to do what?! On your 

own? With your experience?” 

I re-evaluated, and decided I probably needed a bit more training 

on the water. My research yielded an event on Tybee Island, 

Georgia, called the Skills Symposium and British Canoe Union 

(BCU) Training, organized and sponsored by Sea Kayak Georgia. 

The Symposium appeared to involve a structured program for 

training and fun—all on the water. The curriculum was focused 

around the BCU training agenda, a mixture of training courses 

and assessments. To the amateur it sounded a little confusing, but 

hey, five days of instruction and paddling in warm water—what 

could be better? 

I got in touch with Marsha Henson, program coordinator, who 

spent a good deal of time with me on the phone explaining the 

courses and helping me pick out those that would be applicable 

to my limited experience. I hung up the phone with a full agenda 

for five days and a bellyfull of excitement. 

For those unfamiliar with BCU, it’s an international organization 

well known for its training curriculum. The BCU training and 

corresponding assessments are widely recognized measures of skill 

levels in a variety of water conditions. 

Before I knew it, I was on the road for my 12-hour trip to 

the Savannah, Georgia area. When I finally found my way to 

Tybee Island and the Sea Kayak Georgia shop the day before the 

Symposium began, I was greeted by the staff there and registered 

for the upcoming training. Although there were a few folks milling 

around, the number of boats and activity level seemed rather low 

compared to what I had expected. By the next morning, it was a 

different story—kayaks, paddles, sprayskirts, gear bags stuffed to 

the max, cars with up to several kayaks on top, as far as the eye 

could see. 

The shop was crazy with activity. With over 85 participants and 20 

or so instructors, over 50 classes in the schedule and the challenges 

of wind and weather, it was a bit bewildering. Marsha did a superb 

and sometimes thankless job as did Dale Williams, the owner of ➝ 

© Photo: Marsha Henson, Sea Kayak Georgia 

Apr/May 05 


15

BCU Rating 

1-Star: 

2-Star: 

3-Star: 

4-Star: 

5-Star: 

Objective 

Basic introductory skills and safety. 

Basic fl at-water skills, developing and understanding of cause & effect in strokes. 

Transition to intermediate skill level. Effi cient forward paddling, reverse fi gure 8, draw and recovery strokes. 

Focus on moving and open water profi ciency. Some navigation, ability to roll. 

Ability to lead others in open seas and potentially diffi cult open water crossings. 

Sea Kayak Georgia, who was actively 

involved in the preparation, logistics and 

teaching a few of the higher level courses 

such as sea kayak surfing. 

On the first day of the BCU training, I 

had opted for the 2-Star Training, intended 

to teach the basic skills necessary to get 

out on the water in safe, supervised 

conditions. These skills included getting 

into and out of the kayak, paddle strokes 

and basic rescue. The group of students 

was small (as would be the case in all of 

the courses) and the instructors patient. 

That first day, Axel Schoevers and Danny 

Mongo took us through the paces. Forward and backward strokes, 

edging, bracing and ruddering were all on the agenda. The programs 

were well organized and consistent. Like a few other amateurs 

in the group, each time I got the boat on the edge, a little shot of 

adrenaline seem to quickly get me back to flat and level. By the end 

of the day, I was feeling pretty comfortable in the kayak and Axel 

announced that we had all completed the 2-Star Training and would 

easily pass the assessment. Wow, this was going to be easy. 

After the day of 2-Star Training, Marsha suggested a day of 

paddling without worrying about BCU achievements. “Maybe a 

© Photo: Marsha Henson, Sea Kayak Georgia 

day with Nigel Foster?” Once again, my 

naiveté was evident when I asked “Who 

is Nigel Foster?” as I was dragging my 

kayak to the beach to start the “Fun with 

Foster” course. It didn’t take long to find 

out. Nigel had us doing everything from 

paddling sideways to trying to stand up 

in our kayaks, to ‘windmill’ strokes. After 

seeing Nigel’s presentation on kayaking 

in Labrador and Newfoundland that 

evening, I realized just who this fellow 

was and what he had accomplished. 

What a privilege it was to be his 

student! 

Prior to the start of our 3-Star Training the following day, we got 

a special treat. Cheri Perry, a Greenland-style rolling expert gave us 

a little rolling demonstration. For those of us who had yet to master 

a good kayak roll, envy was the name of the game. First with a 

Greenland paddle, then a throwing stick and finally with nothing 

but a seemingly imperceptible hip movement, up she came. Over 

and over again. 

After the impressive rolling demonstration, the fun began: 3- 

Star Training. At this level, students learn skills like forward and 

reverse strokes, bracing, rescues and the initial stages of rolling. 

Once again, my inexperience was blatantly evident. Although I 

could perform the strokes and get the kayak to do the things it 

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Cheri Perry demonstrating her Greenland rolling ability. 

was supposed to do, I sure wasn’t graceful. Even with top notch 

instructors, like Gordon Brown from Scotland, I could see this was 

going to be a challenge. 

Without a doubt, the biggest challenge for me was to get 

comfortable with the boat on its edge without going over. My 

movements were far from fluid. When it came to recovery from a 

capsize, I couldn’t stay in the kayak. After six hours of pretty intense 

training, I was ready for the showers. 

Day four found me dragging my stiff body and overwhelmed 

mind down to the water for a second day of 3-Star Training—a 

glutton for punishment. This time, Tom Bergh and Mel Rice took 

the rapidly progressing (all but yours truly) gaggle of students out 

for another day to prepare for the assessment. More of the same, 

but with a different twist. Winds and currents were more aggressive 

and the maneuvers were even more of a challenge. At this point, my 

anxiety was beginning to build. The proficiency that I had expected 

to appear was still dormant. 

But as the day went on, I felt just a tinge of confidence beginning 

to build. I had now spent three days in the same kayak (a Valley 

Argonaut—a beautiful boat). I had to admit that, try as I might to find 

some fault with the equipment, it wasn’t possible. The fault was all 

mine. I promised myself that if I passed the 3-Star assessment, my 

now empty roof rack would make the long trip back to Philadelphia 

with a kayak on top. 

Finally, after four days on the water, I was signed up for the 3-Star 

Assessment. “Not to worry,” said Scottish BCU Coach Jas Hepburn. 

“Just Paddle and enjoy the water!” Jas and Axel did the honors. To 

add to the fun, reverse figure eights were performed to a variety of 

Scottish folk songs and stories from the Isle of Skye. 

In the end, I was one of the few who did not make the grade 

for the 3-Star assessment. “Just too little experience and comfort 

in the boat. But very, very close,” the instructors explained. Was I 

disappointed? No doubt. It sure would have been nice to succeed 

this early in my kayaking career. However, I had a real blast and 

know that I could not have received training from any better 

instructors. 

To me, the key to the symposium was great people, the best 

instructors in the world, and a warm welcome for all, no matter 

what the level of experience. I would do it again in a second! 

I now know that I need to aim at the 5-Star rating to avoid my 

partner’s quizzical look when I mention kayaking the Maine coast, 

but at least I’ve made a start! 

© Ted Danforth runs a small environmental consulting company based in 

the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. Ted and his partner are often 

seen paddling locally along the Schuylkill River and have recently 

returned from a New Zealand trip. They are excited to share 

their interest with others. tsdanforth@earthlink.net. 

© Ted Danforth photo 

Apr/May 05 


17

East Coast Views 

Bulldog-and-Tandem Tow 

G 

‘ o’ probably wasn’t the best choice. 

About twenty of us were huddled 

in the lee of a dense stand of trees which 

thicken the inner shoreline of Lanes Cove, 

a commercial fishermen’s refuge where 

heavy granite seawalls protect the heart 

of the cove from the violent pulse of the 

ocean. The season was fall, that dicey 

time of year here on the east coast when 

the air is often colder than the ocean. The 

seas were, to borrow from local parlance, 

’energized’. The wind was blowing about 

fifteen, scooping up waves that broke 

heavily against the shore. The waves were 

steep-peaked, twisting and chaotic, like 

cake frosting. 

Six of us, regarded as the best, though 

not necessarily the brightest, of our local 

paddling network, were there to teach what 

we knew about roughwater paddling. The 

plan was to slog offshore seventy-five yards 

with the weather on our bows, then turn 

and take the weather on beam to make our 

way down the coast. 

“We a go?” Scott asked the group. 

“Let’s do it.” 

We headed down to the boats. I had 

reservations about what we were doing. 

The air temperature was worrisome, the 

winds onshore, the sea state days old and 

fully developed. More troubling was the 

number of paddlers about whose skills I 

knew nothing. But rather than create doubt 

within the group (or worse, be viewed as 

self-doubting), I remained mute. Who wants 

to be the first to say, “Hey, are we sure we’ve 

planned this thing well?” 

We exited the cove in a handful of 

distinct groups, each group allowing a few 

minutes separation before making its way 

into the open bay. In my group were Rick #1 

(lead), Rick #2 (flank), me (sweep), Bethany, 

Jonathan and Dee. Almost immediately 

after turning beam-to outside the cove 

to run down the coast, Bethany began to 

founder. Her kayak rolled heavily from 

gunwale to gunwale, her bow sliding 

leeward. Her facial expression revealed the 

feelings of a paddler wracked by fear and 

doubt. Her brow was creased and she made 

her way along awkwardly. Meanwhile the 

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Get the heck away from a windward shore! 

hydraulics of the swell and wind were 

nudging her shoreward, towards the waves 

rising in the shallows. 

I backed down towards her to clip on 

a short towline to her stern. My idea was 

to back us both out, stern to the wind and 

waves, while one of the Ricks clipped a 

second, longer towline to her bow. Then 

with me supporting Bethany’s boat, Rick 

and I would pivot her, move her further 

offshore, get her stabilized and back into 

the cove. 

It went badly at first, then it got worse. 

Bethany and I were almost immediately 

scudded shoreward faster than we could 

back-paddle. And as we sloughed in 

towards shore, two large waves rose. The 

first broke. I unbuckled my tow belt and 

heaved it overboard. I didn’t want the rope 

to wrap around my neck if I capsized. Me 

first, then the victim, is the first rule of 

rescue. 

Released, Bethany’s boat immediately 

accelerated shoreward. She capsized in 

the shallows, wet-exited near a boulder 

and got pounded when the second wave 

broke. When she came up, she stood 

either between her boat and the boulder 

or between my boat and hers: I don’t 

remember because by now everything 

was confusing—the breaking waves, the 

looming boulders, Bethany out of her boat, 

me knowing I’d have to roll. Stupidly, I was 

not wearing a helmet. 

A third wave came in, jacked and broke. I 

capsized and rolled. When I came up, I saw 

that my boat was now compressed against 

Bethany’s upturned hull. No Bethany. 

Another wave. I rolled. I came up from 

that roll and found that my boat was now 

© Illustration by Jon Rose 


wedged on top of Bethany’s bow. I looked 

around, panicky. Where was she? 

Someone put out a call on VHF 72. The 

call crackled across the communications 

bridge we’d formed with our radios. I 

couldn’t tell who was calling. The Coast 

Guard? The police? 

I looked around. Bethany was now 

scrambling up the face of the boulder. Rick 

and I landed and helped her haul her boat 

higher up on shore. She had suffered a blow 

to the head and numerous bruises to her 

knees, but she was okay. She also scratched 

up her brand-new drysuit. 

After a short conference, she set out for 

her car on foot. When she returned, we 

loaded her boat onto the roof, and she 

drove off. 

There were many errors my group and I 

made that day off Lanes Cove—paddling 

too close to shore in an onshore blow, 

my own unwillingness (and perhaps that 

of others, too) to voice any doubts about 

what we were doing, and above all, how 

we handled the rescue. Rather than me 

starting with a stern tow, Rick and I and, 

more importantly, a third rescuer, should 

have helped Bethany with a group rescue 

now known locally as the ‘Bulldog-andtandem 

tow’. 

Developed by North Shore Paddlers 

Network members Liz Neumeier, Dee and 

Bob Hall, Steve Feldman, and others, the 

Bulldog-and-tandem tow is perhaps the best 

rescue to deploy while paddling windward 

coasts—but only if your group is paddling 

at least 50 yards off shore. 

If members of your group have 

undeveloped or untested roughwater 

skills, paddling further offshore reduces the ➝ 

In the Bulldog-and-tandem tow, one paddler stabilizes the distressed paddler 

while a second turns the pair into the wind. The third rescuer is the bulldog. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© Illustration by Pete Smith 

Salt Spring Island’s Adventure, Gear & Clothing Co. 

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Apr/May 05 


19

likelihood that the rougher, more turbulent 

waters that characterize a windward 

coastline will capsize someone. Further 

offshore keeps your group out of waters 

roiled by the chaos and the hydraulics 

of waves breaking close to shore. While 

paddling further offshore may seem 

counter-intuitive at first (after all, further 

offshore will take your group further away 

from the dry land everybody associates 

with safety), it does create a much wider 

safety zone in which to complete a rescue. 

It gives rescuers more time to get a 

capsized paddler back into the boat before 

all are driven shoreward, to comfort and 

reassure one another, and piece together 

the crucial paddling superego, the selfassurance 

needed to continue paddling. 

So whenever ‘go’ means paddling a 

windward coast, make sure it also means: 

Go offshore and Go into Bulldog-andtandem 

tow mode should somebody 

require help. The Bulldog-and-tandem 

tow, like no other rescue, addresses the 

most challenging element of an onshore 

winds-and-waves rescue: how to get two 

towed boats—the unstable paddler and 

the stabilizer—to turn bow-to the wind 

and weather, and to get the heck further 

offshore, before everyone ends up in the 

surf. 

A 

B 

Diagrams show how the recovering paddler 

is stabilized by the secondary rescuer while 

the the primary rescuer establishes the tow 

(A). It is crucial that the towline is clipped to 

the unstable paddler’s boat. Clipping onto the 

rescuer’s boat could create problems should 

the rescue go sour. Once the tow has been set 

up, the fourth paddler, known as the ‘bulldog’, 

pushes the towed kayaks to windward so 

that they can be towed offshore (B). Without 

the bulldog, the tow will not be able to pivot 

the two boats in the strong waves and wind. 

The bulldog also verbally runs the rescue, as 

the only one who has a clear overview of the 

situation (C). 

C 

© Illustrations by Pete Smith 

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Assisted Rescue Sequence 

Photos from various events are compiled here to illustrate the rescue. 

TOP: the capsized paddler has already wet-exited from the 

capsized boat and is now working with the rescuer to push/ 

pull the righted kayak up over the rescuer’s deck to drain it. 

BELOW: the rescuer inverts the kayak so that most of the water 

drains out, then turns it upright and slides it off into the water. 

© Photo courtesy of Ecomarine Coastal Kayaking School. www.ecomarine.com 

© Alan Wilson photos 

LEFT: the rescuer aligns the drained kayak beside his/her boat 

and holds it tightly while the paddler in the water climbs onto 

the back deck of the empty boat, facing sternwards. Tucking 

his/her legs into the cockpit, the paddler swivels around and 

slides back in, finishes emptying any residual water with the 

pump, secures the sprayskirt, and is good to go! Note: in 

rough or cold weather, immediate re-entry would be better, 

without first draining the kayak, so as to minimize the risk of 

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Apr/May 05 


21

Getting There Is Half the Battle 

O 

“ kay,” asks Karl, “what part of rescues 

took us the longest?” 

It’s the end of the day we’ve called 

Splashfest 2005 and four of us have spent 

hours teaching rescues to about 20 paddlers 

in calm conditions. One person chimes 

in almost immediately, “The hardest part 

seemed to be getting into position.” 

She’s right. A lot of assisted rescues 

hinge more on boat control skills than 

on the routine of draining the swamped 

boat and getting the swimmer back in the 

cockpit. Capsizes tend to happen in rough 

conditions that can make getting to the 

swimmer difficult if you’re not confident 

in maneuvering your boat. 

This means that to be proficient at 

rescues, you have to be able to control your 

boat well enough to get to someone quickly 

without becoming a victim yourself. Here 

are some fun games that will improve your 

boat control. 

FUN WITH TENNIS BALLS 

Take two tennis balls and throw them 

in the water, about three boat lengths 

apart. Paddle in a figure-8 around the two 

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balls, experimenting with different strokes 

and boat tilts. Try sweep strokes, bow 

rudders, drawstrokes, reverse sweeps— 

every combination you can think of. What 

maintains the most speed? Gives you the 

tightest turn? Feels the most stable? 

ADD SOME WIND 

Go out in some wind. You want enough 

wind to make turning your boat upwind 

and downwind a bit difficult, but still fun. 

Repeat the same figure-8s. This time, add 

leaning your body fore and aft to free up 

the opposite end of the boat and turn the 

boat upwind or downwind. Which moves 

work best in wind? 

Neil Schulman 

Practice boat handling in calm and rough conditions to be sure you can get 

there when the time comes. Here a paddler offers the bow of his boat to assist 

in righting an overturned kayak. 

since 1970 

ONE-SIDED STROKES 

Now throw the tennis ball ahead of you 

and to one side. Paddle to the tennis ball 

and turn around it as tight as you can using 

only paddle strokes on one side of your boat 

(the side you’ll want to turn towards). 

CAPTURE THE BOW 

Get a bunch of your friends on the water. 

Form a line of boats, each paddler in the 

push-tow position on the boat behind them 

in line, alternating sides. You’ll end up with 

a long line of kayaks, each leaning on the 

boat behind them. The object is to get to 

the front of the line as quickly as possible. 

The person in the back starts it off—and 

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each person starts when the person behind 

them draws even with their cockpit. You’ll 

end up with a perpetual race to the front 

that builds two key rescue skills: aggressive 

maneuvering, and a fully committed lean 

onto another boat. 

BACK IT UP 

I was recently on a downwind run in the 

Columbia Gorge, with a 35-knot tailwind 

against current. I was having fun surfing big 

waves when I heard the telltale splash of a 

capsize behind me. Rather than mess with 

turning 180 degrees into a strong wind, I 

just paddled backwards, and was there in 

a few seconds. 

Being able to control your boat in reverse 

is a fun skill to practice. On every paddle 

trip I take, I spend a bit of it paddling 

backwards to work on my boat control. 

It’s a blast to play the tennis ball game and 

Capture-The-Bow, backwards. 

swimmer is back in his boat with the spray 

skirt on, ready to paddle again. Can you do 

it faster? What works? What doesn’t? 

EVERY DAY IS PLAY DAY 

I laugh inwardly when I hear paddlers 

boast, “I haven’t swum in three years.” Then 

there’s my friend Steve—a great paddler— 

who’ll wait until nobody’s looking and then 

jump out of his boat. It’s his way of getting 

everyone to look out for each other, and 

hone rescue skills in real-life situations. 

Work rescue practices into your day trips, 

until you’re saying something like “I haven’t 

swum in three days!” 

A general in the American Civil War said, 

“Battles are won enroute.” The same can 

probably be said of kayak rescues. So get 

out there and play! 

© Neil Schulman lives, plays, and swims 

in Portland, Oregon. 

MIX IT UP 

Spend some time experimenting with 

the standard T-rescue routine. Are there 

times when you’d put someone back in 

their boat without draining it first? Tow 

them a short distance first to get away from 

some rocks? Or have the swimmer re-enter 

underwater and grab your bow for a quick 

Eskimo rescue? 

PRACTICE LIKE YOU PLAY 

Dress for it, and go out into some 

conditions—wind, current, etc. Pick a spot 

where you can drift for awhile without 

running into rocks or boat traffic, and start 

practicing. See how far you drift before the 

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23

Group Rescues 

Jonathan Weingast 

There were five of us in the eddy in our 

sea kayaks, maintaining our position 

and taking stock of the current rushing 

past. Bill peeled out into the current and 

promptly capsized. Mark peeled out to 

rescue Bill, but the swirling waters made 

getting to him a challenge. Jim was close 

behind to assist, but unfortunately he 

capsized upon entering the tidal stream. I 

followed, hoping to get to whoever I could. 

Ed was behind me, watching everything 

unfold. Those of us still upright held tightly 

to the swimmers’ kayaks while they reentered, 

and we paddled quickly out of 

the current. 

What did we do next? Go to shore? Call 

for help? Fire up a stove for hot tea? None 

of the above. Within a few minutes we 

were back in the eddy, ready for more. The 

story is true (although the names have been 

changed), but what I have not told you is 

that this was part of a class. Along with 

four other small groups, we were there to 

practice rescues in moving water. 

Under the supervision of experienced 

instructors, each group took turns in the 

current trying out different variations on 

a theme. We each rotated the roles of 

swimmer, primary rescuer, and secondary 

rescuer. In order to aid our rescues, we 

tested techniques that were new to some 

of us: turning the kayak upright as the 

swimmer, utilizing perimeter lines as 

the rescuer, and not fully draining the 

kayak before paddling to safer water. We 

practiced boat handling skills as well 

as group management. Sometimes we 

added challenges, like a swimmer letting 

go of his boat. Other times challenges 

found us, like when one of the rescuers 

capsized unintentionally. Whatever the 

circumstances, we worked together to get 

paddlers in boats and out of the current. 

What if we were not dressed for 

immersion? What if we could not get a 

kayaker and kayak back together? What if 

we could not get out of the current? Had 

we been unprepared, this exercise could 

easily have gotten out of hand, but we were 

armed with the knowledge that it was going 

to be a wet and wild day. Except for one 

person in a wetsuit, we all wore drysuits. 

We all had helmets, and wore them. We 

had adequate flotation in our kayaks. We 

had numerous towlines, pumps, flares, cell 

phones, a VHF radio or two, first aid kits, 

extra clothes, and PFDs, of course. But the 

most important safety tool we had that day 

was competent, confident supervision. 

Our instructors were all very good 

teachers, and they navigated both moving 

water and group management with 

confidence and grace. This is important 

because it is one thing to be comfortable in 

wind, waves and current, but another thing 

to be able to care for someone else in the 

same conditions. If you are an instructor, 

you owe this to your students, yourself, and 

your insurance provider. If you are a student 

(and who isn’t), make sure of your safety net 

when you are pushing your limits. 

Our final exam of the day was a scenario 

with the whole group. We students came 

upon a group of kayakers in trouble. One 

was swimming near his boat. One was 

perched on a pinnacle of rock surrounded 

by water, her kayak on shore nearby. On the 

beach someone was screaming frantically. 

There were three kayaks on shore, but 

only two paddlers in sight. In other words, 

sheer chaos. 

We had no leader, no plan, and no idea 

how many people were in the unfortunate 

group, but we sprang into action anyway. 

In no time we were scattered with no 

communication and no idea of what was 

to happen next. Some went to assist with 

the obvious rescue, while others helped 

the paddler off the rock and calmed the 

24 SnapDragonA-M05.indd 1 

www.WaveLengthMagazine.com 2/2/05 5:37:01 Apr/May PM05

Photo left shows how to deal with a large, incapacitated paddler. There are three singles involved: an anchor, a lifter and a swimmer. 

The anchor stabilizes the lifter’s boat. Before the lifter lifts, the anchor must secure the swimmer’s kayak to the lifter’s boat. The anchor 

must be prepared to hold tight while the lifter gets the swimmer into the kayak and deals with any pumping and care of the person. 

Remember the rule of ‘Always three at sea’ whenever you make long crossings or extended trips. 

Thanks to Chris Ladner, Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Center: www.ecomarine.com. 

hysterical person on shore. We found the missing paddler and 

reunited him with a kayak. (He was floating around the next point, 

waiting to be discovered.) Soon we were all back together, having 

solved all our problems. 

In retrospect we could have done things better, like designate 

a leader or devise a plan. However, we did manage to do some 

things well: we stayed calm, we helped people who needed help, 

we did not create any more victims, and we all made it back safely. 

For me this highlighted the importance of both hard skills (boat 

management) and soft skills (people management) when kayaking 

with a group. Further, it illustrated the reality that, with so many 

people kayaking these days, the people you may be called upon 

to assist may not be in your group. 

My advice to any paddler, regardless of skill level, is to keep 

learning. Take a class. Teach a class. Push yourself safely. Be ready 

for anything. It could mean the difference between an adventurous 

tale and an unhappy saga. 

© Jonathan Weingast is an ACA certified instructor and kayak builder 

living in Seattle, WA. He runs Seventh Wave Kayak School, and can be 

reached at skinkayak@hotmail.com, www.seventhwavekayakschool.com. 

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Apr/May 05 


25

Decision Making 

Robert Brown 

My wife and I arrived at Pitt Lake with 

the intention of heading up the west 

fork of Widgeon Creek to camp overnight. 

Upon arriving at the lake, however, it was 

immediately clear that a decision would 

have to be made. The wind was blowing 

(according to my wind meter) at a steady 40 

km/hr. The wind was from the north while 

the tide was running from the opposite 

direction (Pitt lake is influenced by tides 

pushing up the Fraser River). The result was 

a shear condition in mid-channel that was 

rather menacing. My decision was prompt 

and final—this was not a paddling day. 

Of course, if we had been caught out in 

these conditions, then we would have had 

little choice but to deal with things as best 

we could. But in this instance, we were 

dry, safe and under no pressure other than 

a wish to go camping. So, the decision was 

quite easy—go home. 

Another couple arrived just as we were 

preparing to depart. They had a canoe 

strapped to the roof of their vehicle and 

a man got out and looked around. He 

spoke to me about the conditions and 

I shared with him the wind speed and 

Robert’s wife Myrna prepares their canoe for launching. The decking helps give 

the boat more seaworthiness. 

tidal conditions. He asked what we were 

planning to do and I told him that I had 

already made the decision that this was 

not a day for paddling and we were about 

to depart. He was clearly nervous, as he 

should have been. 

Then he said a phrase that I have heard 

many times before in my life. He said, “We 

have a friend meeting us here. He is the 

experienced one and we’ll let him make 

the decision.” 

I asked him what it was like having 

someone else make his decisions for him. 

He clearly didn’t appreciate my comment 

nor did he have an answer for it. My 

intention was not to hurt his feelings but 

rather to have him reflect on what he had 

just said to me. 

Just as we were about to leave, the 

couple’s friend showed up. This guy did 

not even look at the lake. He climbed out 

of his truck and, after waving to his friends, 

began pulling his canoe off the roof. At this 

point we left. 

I am 65 years of age and my life has not 

been entirely risk free. I spent 25 years as 

a sky diver, 30 years as a commercial deep 

sea diver and several years as a hang glider 

pilot. I’m either one of the luckiest guys in 

the world or someone who has developed 

some reasonable risk management skills. 

I’d like to think it’s the latter. 

My wife and I have been paddling for 

roughly four years, which I admit is not a 

long time, but it has been an active and 

very exposed four years and we have many 

hours on the old paddle to show for it. 

And what’s more, we have made a point 

of learning as much as we can cram into 

our little heads. 

I will admit up front, that I am not a 

‘group’ person. Never have been. I believe 

that while the individual IQ of any one 

member of a group may be above average, 

the collective IQ of most groups is at best in 

the high double figures. The classic group, 

can be, and often is, a breeding ground for 

fatal mistakes. This is why people are often 

left scratching their heads when they hear 

a newscast describing a group accident 

where the risk factors seemed so obvious 

and yet were entirely overlooked by several 

individuals who then paid for this mistake 

with serious injury or death. 


Let’s take a typical group of recreational 

paddlers (i.e. not an outing of an organized 

club with established procedures). Within 

this group there will be some with 

considerable experience, and some with 

very little experience, and in the middle 

there will be those who are not yet sure 

how to classify their current skill level. 

Dawn breaks and people get up to view 

the weather and water conditions. Now 

we have three types of people making the 

observations: the ‘pros’, the not-yet-pros 

and lastly, the lemmings. 

Given time, groups usually end up being 

led by those with the highest skill level but 

not necessarily the best group judgement. 

Very few individuals, ‘pros’ included, 

have the ability to climb into someone 

else’s mind and look at a situation from 

that person’s emotional viewpoint. Most 

recreational ‘pros’ will assess the day’s 

weather on the basis of their own skill level 

and the go / no go decision will be made 

from that standpoint. This is particularly 

true on trips where time and distance are 

of paramount consideration. In dead calm 

conditions, the probability of a mishap is 

low, but when the wind and waves are up, 

it’s a whole different ball game. 

Now we have three distinct groups, 

each with a completely different personal 

interpretation of the weather conditions, 

climbing into their boats and heading off. 

Emotions can range from the supremely 

confident all the way down to the lemmings 

whose faces may more closely resemble a 

dying cow in a snow storm than those of 

people having fun in the great outdoors. 

More recreational trip decisions (unlike 

those on well organized club trips or ➝ 

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Apr/May 05 


27

The Browns paddle year round, when conditions allow. 

commercial tours) are tuned to the skill level of the better paddlers 

than to those who are the poorest; to the fastest paddlers rather than 

to the slowest; to those who are physically the strongest, not to 

those who are the weakest. It is this built-in performance differential 

within a group that can lead to problems. 

I remember years ago when I was teaching deep sea diving for 

Los Angeles County and the Buddy System was always stressed: 

‘never go into the water and dive without a buddy’. This notion 

always bothered me and I used to tell new divers that it would 

be best if their buddy was at least as good or better at underwater 

skills as they were. One time we were on a dive at San Clemente 

Island. Two divers not in my group went missing. The water was 

quite deep and the current strong. Eventually we located them on 

the bottom and brought them to the surface. Yes indeed, they had 

stayed right together, buddies to the last. Of course they were now 

dead. Closer inspection showed that the fact that the two divers 

were clinging to one another was not as friendly as one might 

think. It turned out that one of the divers ran out of air and when 

his buddy did not offer his air quick enough, the second diver took 

out his diving knife and drove it through the skull of his buddy so 

as to have the air for himself. 

What’s the point of this grisly little tale? Well, I have seen a 

number of individuals who are effusive about the safety virtues 

of group paddling. In fairness it’s not a bad notion, it just needs a 

little qualification. 

Remember, if my boat is in the process of being swamped because 

of heavy seas, is not your boat in exactly the same situation? What 

are you going to do for me when your own situation is so precarious 

that looking left or right can be the difference between capsizing 

or not? 

Am I going to risk foundering and losing my life and that of my 

partner to save you and your partner? I hope we never have to put 

it to the test. It’s only human nature to protect your own life and 

that of your loved ones over that of another in distress. 

This whole idea of rescue is a tricky concept. I would argue 

that in the final analysis, the best rescue is self-rescue and the best 

form of self-rescue is to not let yourself get lured into a hazardous 

situation demanding a rescue in the first place. I would be much 

happier if people teaching paddling would emphasize from the start 

the importance of learning to make your own decisions and the 

dangers of letting others make those decisions for you. 

© Robert Brown was born and educated in California but now lives 

in North Vancouver, BC. Formerly a mechanical engineer, he’s been a 

private investigator for the past 22 years. His hobbies include paddling, 

bicycle time trial racing, sky diving, hang gliding, and deep sea diving. 

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From the Rainforest 

Keeping It Together 

© Bonny Glambeck Photo 

Dan Lewis 

If you look at what happens when things go wrong for kayakers, 

a common thread that runs through many incidents is that group 

members become separated. I can think of a number of scenarios 

right here in Clayoquot Sound where this has happened. 

Many moons ago, three whitewater paddlers attempted to paddle 

from Tofino to Hot Springs Cove. A friend of mine was camping on 

Vargas Island and watched them leave shore, heading north. They 

paddled in good whitewater formation, single file. 

The westerly began picking up and soon was howling. Realizing 

that they were not going to make it around the outside of Flores 

Island against such strong headwinds, the first two paddlers pulled 

in behind an island to discuss the matter. 

The third paddler had fallen behind and could not see his friends 

up ahead. Desperately trying to catch up, he paddled right by the 

island and failed to notice his companions bobbing there in the 

overhead waves. Nor did they see him, even though they were 

watching for him. My friend on shore noticed two of the three 

paddlers returning to the beach about an hour after they had left. 

They figured their buddy had been unable to paddle into the winds 

and must have turned back. Were they ever surprised to learn he 

had not! What to do then? How do you find a needle in a haystack, 

when that needle is bobbing up and down in waves that hamper 

visibility? 

They talked to a homesteader living on the beach and used his 

VHF radio to call the Coast Guard. The incident resulted in an allnight 

search. Finally, a kayak was spotted in Hot Springs Cove and 

the missing paddler was located, soaking in the springs. Evidently 

he was irate at being accosted by the search and rescue personnel, 

unaware of the time, energy and tax dollars that had been devoted 

to the search as a result of his friends’ justifiable anxiety. 

That whole scenario could have been avoided by simply paddling 

in a line abreast, rather than single file. It’s difficult to look over 

your shoulder in big waves, it’s much easier to simply glance to 

both sides. Maintaining voice contact is a good guideline in terms 

of how close together to paddle. In this case, it would have been ➝ 

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Apr/May 05 


29

easy to make decisions such as, “Let’s get 

out of this wind for a minute,” and, “Let’s 

head back to the beach.” 

Another incident occurred more recently. 

Two brothers were paddling south from 

Hesquiat Harbour to Tofino on a westerly 

tail wind. The two became separated. The 

trailing paddler, trying stoically to catch up, 

failed to notice the entrance to Hot Springs 

Cove where his brother had sought shelter, 

and paddled right on by. 

He decided to make landfall before dark, 

and came in on a pocket beach on the outer 

coast of Flores Island. Ironically, I was also 

returning from Hesquiat that day, having 

hitched a ride on a water taxi (cheater!). As 

we passed that very cove at sunset, I was 

explaining to another passenger how I have 

dubbed it “No Landing Beach” because the 

tiny sand beach looks so appealing on the 

chart, and also from the water, until you are 

right on top of the big rock hidden in the 

surf in the middle of the beach. 

Sure enough, this fellow had learned 

about “No Landing Beach” the hard way. 

He had injured his shoulder on the way 

in and was stuck there. He was rescued 

the next day when a local float plane pilot 

noticed his huge message written in the 

sand: HELP. 

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Just last summer I was cruising the 

outside of Vargas Island when the Coast 

Guard inflatable pulled up. Seemed a 

kayaker had returned to Tofino without his 

partner and a search was initiated. Several 

hours later, the other paddler made it in 

under his own steam, no harm done. 

But imagine the incredible anguish 

and distress generated in each of these 

situations, not to mention the waste of tax 

dollars and human endeavor on the part 

of the searchers. It seems these scenarios 

could have been prevented if the paddlers 

had been able to stay together. 

For groups of recreational paddlers, 

it’s important to discuss issues such as 

leadership and group formation well before 

arriving at the put-in, preferably over beer 

and nachos, while planning your trip. 

If you’re paddling with two people, side 

by side works great. You can see and hear 

each other at all times. Three people can 

paddle line abreast. Four is stretching it so 

you could switch to two pairs following 

each other. With five or more people it’s 

easier to select a leader, and stay with that 

person. With larger groups, it’s a good idea 

to appoint a strong, experienced paddler to 

paddle sweep, that is, to stay at the back of 

the group with the slower paddlers. 

Set a pace that everyone can easily 

maintain. If someone is slowing everyone 

down, consider getting them into a double, 

or at least keep them up front, since you 

will be paddling their speed anyway. It’s 

much easier psychologically to paddle 

up front than to trail behind. Remember, 

sea kayaking is not a race. Try to find 

compatible partners; but once you’re on a 

trip with someone, stick with them. 

As the examples above show, it can 

be next to impossible to find someone 

in wind and waves if they have been left 

behind. I often hear paddlers say, “We’ll 

stay together if conditions get rough, but it’s 

so calm today, there’s no need.” I believe 

that if you can’t paddle in a tight formation 

in flatwater, you will not be able to do it 

in choppy conditions, even if you are able 

to locate each other. Get out and practise 

formation paddling in calm conditions. 

Make a game of it. It may pay off one day. 

© Dan Lewis and Bonny 

Glambeck operate Rainforest 

Kayak Adventures in 

Clayoquot Sound. 

1-877-422-WILD 

mail@rainforestkayak.com 

www.rainforestkayak.com. 

Mark Hobson photo 


The Human Factor 

Jonathan Weingast 

So many potentially dangerous aspects of 

kayaking are knowable and predictable: 

tides, currents, effect of currents around 

islands, swells, water temperature and 

weather (well, somewhat predictable 

anyway). Yet there is nothing inherently 

hazardous about a tiderip, or pounding 

surf or strong winds. The peril does not 

exist until we get there. The most important 

ingredient to safe kayaking, and perhaps the 

least predictable, is you. And me. And the 

other people with whom we paddle. 

If you are aware of how your paddling 

partners will act and react in any given 

situation, consider yourself fortunate. Many 

of us kayak with clubs, on commercial trips 

or as guides. We do not know in advance 

how people will perform. Although many 

clubs have prerequisites and guidelines 

for who can participate in their trips, you 

may want to screen your partners and 

match them to the conditions you expect 

(and those you do not). You may end up 

taking care of them, or they may need to 

assist you. 

But what do you do if you’re already 

on the water? As a guide, I watch people’s 

‘bubble’ of awareness. This is the area of 

which the paddler is aware. On a calm, 

sunny day, most people have large bubbles, 

encompassing water and sky, shoreline and 

wildlife, kayaks and other boats, ahead and 

behind. As winds and waves rise, however, 

or conditions otherwise change for the 

worse, these bubbles can shrink to the 

size of their kayaks, sometimes excluding 

everything and everyone else. 

One of the observable clues of a 

small bubble is lack of conversation and 

communication with other paddlers. Look 

for paddlers stoically moving along but 

never turning their heads. If you are not 

the wave in front of their bow, you are not 

in their bubble and therefore extraneous. 

Another sign is a stiff body, which is exactly 

what you don’t want in rough water (be 

ready to assist with a rescue). You may also 

see the ‘deer in the headlights’ look if they 

are far outside their comfort zone. 

When I see the signs, I try to move 

everyone toward calmer water or to shore. 

Small-bubble paddling is no fun. On 

the way, I make an attempt to get inside 

their bubble. A little company can go a 

long way in a tough situation. Keep in 

mind the difference between actual risk 

and perceived risk, but deal with both 

appropriately. 

© WaveLength Photo 

Consider your partner’s ‘bubble of awareness’ as the waters get rough. 

You may also notice yourself in a 

shrinking bubble. This is the time to change 

plans or ask for help. If your group has a 

leader, let him or her know how you feel. 

If you are the leader, you need to keep 

your bubble large enough to surround the 

entire group. 

Before you paddle, do your homework. 

Check the weather, surf, swell, tides and 

currents, but don’t forget the most important 

variable: the human factor. 

© Jonathan Weingast is an ACA instructor: 

www.seventhwavekayakschool.com, 

skinkayak@hotmail.com. 

SUNSHINE KAYAKING 

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Apr/May 05 


31

Cold Water Survival 

Kristin Charleton 

At age thirteen I bought my first kayak 

with paper-route money, a $300 

Frontiersmen—a slow, maroon slug with a 

cockpit big enough for the wide, womanly 

hips I had yet to grow. It was stable, all right, 

stable enough that I cockily bet my friend 

that I could stand up inside it. Sure it was 

winter and dark, and yes, there may have 

been a bit of stupidness that surrounds a 

class clown as we floated just offshore from 

a cool kids’ highschool beach bonfire. But a 

bet is a bet, even if it was an empty bet with 

no gain at the end except smugness. With 

a burst of pure confidence, I stood up and 

abruptly fell into the black abyss, the cold 

shock causing a deep breath full of salty 

water. Lucky for me, within a few strokes I 

was standing waist-high in the chilly water, 

able to pull my kayak and myself to safety. 

For the first time in my life I was the coolest 

kid at the bonfire. 

Now, years after that first experience with 

cold water immersion, I’m working for the 

University of Fairbanks wildlife department, 

researching the effects of disturbance on 

Black Oystercatchers, a shorebird that nests 

in the high tide zone. The park encompasses 

over 600,000 acres and is full to the brim 

with inter-tidal glaciers calving ice the size 

of apartment buildings, with glacial streams 

and water that resembles a slushee. 

As part of my job training, I received a 

course on cold-water survival. This is more 

important in Alaska for obvious reasons, 

but after taking the course, I realize that 

© Kristin Charleton photos 

A minor paddling mishap in these frigid waters can be life-threatening. 

the knowledge I gained is relevant to all 

paddlers, especially those who foolishly 

paddle with nothing but a worn out lifejacket 

stuffed behind their seat. 

Although the impact of cold water varies 

to some extent on your age, clothing and 

body fat, immersion can quickly numb 

extremities to the point of uselessness. 

Sudden immersion can cause involuntary 

gasping, water inhalation and severe pain. 

Mix in a bit of panic and your problem is 

amplified. Cold hands can no longer zip up 

the life jacket you hadn’t fully secured, or 

hold on to your overturned boat. 

If you can’t quickly re-enter your kayak 

after a capsize, the first question is: “Should 

I swim for shore?” The answer is no. Unless 

you are positive you can make it and there 

is no chance of rescue, DO NOT SWIM. 

It’s known that even good swimmers are 

unable to swim for more than a few minutes 

ODYSSEY KAYAKING 

in very cold water. A young man from 

Ontario recently died as he tried to swim 

50 yards in calm water at a temperature of 

10°C (50°F). His dinghy had overturned and 

he was trying to make it to shore. He lasted 

only five minutes. 

Congratulations, you have now made 

your first decision—you’re staying with 

your boat. Now you’re in the water, far 

from shore, awaiting rescue. It’s time for 

cold water survival. Factor number one in 

cold water survival is the will to live. You 

need to dig deep and pull out that fighter 

instinct—whether it’s the will to eat another 

New York style cheesecake with fresh 

strawberries or to hug your sweet thang—let 

it inspire you to live. As Napoleon Hill said: 

“When your desires are strong enough, you 

will appear to possess superhuman powers 

to achieve.” 

© Photo Chris Jacksa 

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Statistics show that hypothermia is most 

likely responsible, directly or indirectly, for 

more boating deaths than all other factors 

combined. Although death by drowning may 

be the coroner’s verdict, the actual cause of 

drowning is usually unconsciousness due 

to hypothermia. Hypothermia is defined 

as lowered deep-body temperature. When 

the deep-body temperature falls to 89.6°F, 

unconsciousness may ensue. So factor 

number two of cold water survival is 

heat—keep your heat. 

Cold water robs your body of heat 

about 25 times faster than air of the same 

temperature, so obviously you want your 

body surrounded by air, not water. If you 

are unable to get back into your kayak or 

at least lie on top of it, your last option is 

the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP). 

Hold your arms tight against sides of 

your chest to protect your armpits. Bend 

your knees and pull up your legs so your 

thighs protect your groin. If you are with 

other people, link arms and form a tight 

huddle. Treading water or swimming will 

only increase the loss of body heat as 

blood is pumped to the extremities and 

quickly cooled. Compared to staying still, 

swimming increases heat loss (35-50%) as 

well as exhaustion. 

The third factor in cold-water survival 

is flotation. Keep afloat and keep with 

your boat. It is easier to spot an overturned 

boat than it is to spot a single person in 

the water. 

Along with the course on cold-water 

survival, the National Park Service provided 

a boatload of goodies to protect me 

from dire straits. I now paddle a brightly 

ornamented, floating garage sale. I have 

pumps, paddle floats, extra paddles, and a 

tow-rope bag full of special kayak hauling 

cord. Inside my boat there are dry bags 

of extra food, clothing, marine radios, 

emergency locator devices (EPIRB), space 

blankets, fire-fly rescue lights, hot-grip 

body warmers, first-aid kits and waterproof ➝ 

Source: www.hypothermia.org. 

Apr/May 05 


33

Guard. Even if my kayak falls apart, I have 

the back-up knowledge that will increase 

the amount of time I’ll survive in cold 

water just by moving my body into Heat 

Escape Lessening Posture (HELP). I’m finally 

prepared because I have to be. 

Striation Island, Alaska. A beautiful place to paddle, if you’re prepared! 

matches which flare up like sparklers on the 

first of July—all in the name of survival. This 

may seem like overkill but there are several 

measures you can take even if you are 

unable to purchase expensive equipment. 

(see Remember, right) 

When you’re out in the wilderness, you 

can’t depend upon the eyes of coffeedrinkers 

in waterfront homes watching 

unprepared paddlers float by, or expect to 

be picked up by some yachtsman in his 

fifty foot luxury cruiser equipped with a 

hot-tub to bring your body temperature up 

to a healthy 98.6°F. 

So if my kayak begins to take on water 

as I paddle around in these frigid Alaskan 

waters, I have several survival choices 

available. I can paddle for shore just under a 

kilometer away and hope that my kayak will 

remain buoyant. I can use my hand pump 

to temporarily empty my kayak of water. If 

the situation worsens, I can use my marine 

radio to contact the Coast Guard or trigger 

my EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating 

Radio Beacon), which will send a signal 

that is instantly detected by geostationary 

satellites and is monitored by the Coast 

REMEMBER 

• Check the weather. The marine forecast 

for Canada’s Pacific coast can be found 

on the web at www.weatheroffice. 

ec.gc.ca/marine/region_03_e.html. 

Tidal charts are also available at this 

website. 

• File a float plan with a responsible 

friend, inform them of your route, 

destination, estimated time of return, 

and a number to call if something goes 

wrong. 

• Check to make sure floatation bags 

are inflated and/or hatches are safely 

secured. 

• Bring a bailer, waterproof bag full of 

extra clothes, food, flashlight, matches, 

rope, a first aid-kit and if possible, a 

cell phone. 

• If you can afford it, a marine radio is 

around $450. Take a course to get your 

operator’s license. 

• Use common sense: if in doubt, 

chicken out. 

© Kristin Charleton is a wildlife biologist who 

has studied seabirds from the sub-antarctic 

islands in New Zealand to the remote Kenai 

Fjords of Alaska. At present, she is living on 

Lasqueti Island, BC researching seabird 

bycatch in gillnet fisheries. 

WELCOME TO 

HISTORIC 

aU’mista Cultural Centre aChurches aWhale Watching 

aAlert Bay Ecological Park aAccommodations aFishing Charters 

aWorld’s Tallest Totem Pole aCamp Grounds aMarina/Boat Launch 

a’Namgis Burial Grounds aRestaurants aMarine Fuel 

EASILY VIEWED FROM THE ROADSIDE aHiking & Biking Trails aUnique Shops 

aAlert Bay InfoCentre - Art Gallery aBig House 

aT’sasal ~ a Dancers (July & August) 

Come visit us and share our rich culture and history... all within easy 

walking distance. 

For all your cultural tour planning, call the U’mista at 250-974-5403. 

For more information please contact the Alert Bay InfoCentre 

Bag Service 2800 Alert Bay, BC V0N 1A0 

Phone: 250-974-5024 • Fax: 250-974-5026 • Email: info@alertbay.ca 


Mercia to the Rescue 

It is a delightful summer evening, a fresh 

breeze ruffles the water and you and 

two friends decide to cross English Bay in 

kayaks. Your PFD is on the deck in front of 

you, ready for quick access. The crossing is 

beautiful. As you return, the sun sets, the 

breeze picks up, and the following chop 

creates brief bursts of speed as the waves 

boost you forward. Suddenly, you make a 

paddling mistake, your boat tilts sharply 

to the left, rolls over and dumps you into 

the water. 

Your boat only has floatation in the stern, 

so the bow quickly fills with water and 

nosedives into the sea, leaving the kayak 

barely floating and vertical—a Cleopatra’s 

needle—with a half-ton of water in it. Your 

paddle, drifting with the breeze, is well out 

of reach. Your friends try to work out how to 

deal with the boat, and you begin to realize 

how difficult it is to tread water and put on 

a PFD at the same time. You also realize 

just how cold the water can be, even in 

summer. You begin to panic—how could 

you have got into such a mess? How will 

you get out of it? 

Dennis 

McFadden 

Just as things are feeling hopeless, a 

concerned voice calls to you: “Do you 

need help?” A small group of well-equipped 

paddlers appears out of the dusk. Within 

minutes, expert hands pull you across 

the decks of two rafted boats. Not long 

after, your friends, you and your boat are 

delivered safely to the beach. But it seems 

that your hot shower will have to wait… a 

woman rescuer holds your attention, her 

softspoken manner not concealing her 

air of authority, as she clearly and calmly 

points out the things that might have been 

done to avert or at least to have minimized 

tonight’s near catastrophe. You have had 

the good fortune to be rescued by one of 

BC’s leading paddlers, Mercia Sixta. The 

lesson you have learned tonight will stay 

with you forever. And, if you have any 

sense, you will return to her again to learn 

the skills and the judgement you need to 

avoid similar mishaps, which can (and 

have) proved fatal. 

© Dennis McFadden is a longtime volunteer 

with the Coast Kayak Symposium. He 

is currently vice president of the Pacific 

International Kayak Association. 

© Laurie MacBride Photo 

Ed. Note: One of WaveLength’s longtime 

associates, Mercia Sixta has been 

nominated for the Vancouver YWCA’s 

Women of Distinction Award, a very 

fitting distinction for someone who has 

played a huge role in paddling instruction 

for many years. Here she is showing me a 

new type of ‘rescue’! 

Mercia’s 20th Annual Coast Kayak Symposium 

will be held on Thetis Island, BC, May 20-23. 

www.pikakayak.com/symposium.htm 

deehello@yahoo.ca 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apr/May Necky_Ad_7.25x4.75.indd 05 www.WaveLengthMagazine.com 

1 

2/2/05 3:42:05 PM35

Safety Scenario 

Kayaking is all the rage these days so 

you find a used kayak through an ad 

in the newspaper. Excited to start paddling, 

you notice it’s a beautiful evening with flat, 

calm water. You throw the kayak onto your 

vehicle and head for the beach. 

The paddling is great and the lighthouse 

in the distance is appealing, so you decide 

to paddle around the point to check out 

the sunset. 

Once it begins to get darker, you decide 

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to return to the car, only it’s hard to get back 

around the point. You hadn’t figured on the 

current which is practically invisible to the 

untrained eye. 

You are paddling hard to round the 

point but not making any headway, when 

somehow you flip over. 

The current carries you to a tide rip in 

the channel, and you realize that without 

appropriate clothes and your personal 

floatation device (PFD), you might not 

A R E Y O U R E A D Y F O R A L I T T L E A D V E N T U R E ! 

www.glacierbaycruiseline.com 

Andree Hurley 

survive for long. After all, the water is about 

45°F. You wave your paddle frantically for 

help and hug an inflated float bag that has 

exited your kayak. 

Luckily for you, someone calls for a 

rescue and soon you are in an ambulance, 

heading for the hospital, with only mild 

hypothermia. 

The next evening you are warm and dry 

and look out over the water. You see that the 

entire channel is covered by a thick cover 

of fog. The ships are moving slowly and 

blaring their deep fog horns. What if you 

had been out tonight instead of last night? 

This story is truer than one might think, 

so how do we get the word out to new 

paddlers that paddling is fun but also takes 

caution and expertise? 

HERE ARE A FEW GUIDELINES 

• Take a lesson. 

• Wear your PFD. Don’t leave it in the 

car, in the boat or on the deck. Think of 

it like you think of a seatbelt—always 

use it! 

• Pay attention to local conditions—think 

of the what-ifs. 

• Learn to use and have handy a paddle 

float self-rescue device, bilge pump, 

sponge. 

• Dress for the water—wear wool, 

synthetics, neoprene, nylon or gortex 

shells, or a drysuit. If you get too hot, 

just splash yourself! 

• If you are the expert, teach your friends 

all the elements of safety. Think of 

passing on information like the game 

of telephone—something will be lost 

along the path of communication, so 

make sure you pass on the main points 

of safety. 

• Finally, file a float plan, or at least tell 

someone where you are going, and 

leave a note on your car. 

See www.uscg.mil/d14/units/msohono/ 

seakayak.htm for another kayaking 

scenario posted by the Coast Guard. 

Paddle safely and help spread the word! 

© Andree Hurley Andree is a certified 

instructor/trainer with the American Canoe 

Association (www.acanet.org) for coastal and 

whitewater kayaking. She is also an EMT and 

the owner of Kayak Instruction Excellence in 

Port Townsend, WA: www.onwatersports.com. 


Visit WaveLength’s 

Safety First Directory 

at www.WaveLengthMagazine.com 

This new, hotlinked Directory lists 

paddling and safety instruction, 

guide courses, and safety gear. 

© Laurie MacBride Photo 

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Apr/May 05 


37

The Occasional Columnist 

Next Steps 

Kayaking is great fun (and freedom), but it also brings with it 

responsibility. If you’re taking novice friends out on the water, 

it’s your duty to take care of them. And going solo requires an 

even higher degree of proficiency and attentiveness than going 

with a group. 

Although I’ve taken a kayaking course, as well as a basic first aid 

course, I’m unsure of my ability to take charge in an emergency 

situation. So now that I find myself increasingly in the position of 

being the more experienced paddler when I take friends out, I’ve 

decided to start shopping around for a good, comprehensive course, 

with an emphasis on safety. 

What I’ve discovered is that there are a lot of courses available, 

and that internet research can be overwhelming! Unless you 

really know the industry, it’s tough to make a decision. A good 

place I found to start my search is the WaveLength website (see 

‘Directories’). The courses run the gamut in terms of length and skill 

level, so I’ve narrowed it down from there, based on my personal 

limitations: I don’t want to spend a lot of money, I don’t want to take 

more than four days off work, and I don’t want to travel too far from 

home to take a course. I also want it to be at my level of experience, 

so it isn’t beyond me, yet isn’t covering things I already know. 

For someone relatively new to kayaking, or for busy people like 

me who can’t get out on the water all that often, a short course may 

make sense. It’s less of an investment in both time and money, and 

if you’re only going on day trips and the odd overnight excursion 

fairly close to home, that’s probably all you need. What’s most 

Marika Wilson 

important is to improve your skills and especially your judgment. 

Remember, the first component of safety is prevention. 

I already have my CRCA Level 1 certificate and I’ve taken a course 

on Adventure Tourism in my Tourism & Recreation Management 

degree, which covered some of the theoretical components of risk 

management. So the best next step for me will be something that 

offers more hands-on experience, refreshes my paddling skills and 

provides new and more difficult scenarios to work through. At the 

end of the day, I want to feel comfortable going out on longer trips 

and taking my non-kayaker friends with me. 

There are a lot of places that offer a combination of touring 

and instruction, but I don’t have the time or money to travel to 

some remote location. All I want is a bare bones course in my 

own back yard. And hopefully one that will be recognizable by 

future employers in the industry, should I choose to pursue that 

path later on. 

So for me, location is number one. It might be fun to take a 

course in say, Costa Rica, but that would violate my cost-saving 

and time-saving criteria. So I’ve narrowed my list to companies on 

Vancouver Island. 

To qualify for actual guiding work, I’d have to take a Day Guide’s 

course, and I’ll consider that. But there are all sorts of recreational 

courses available which would upgrade my skills and might be 

more at my experience level. 

A few of the offerings have already caught my eye, including 

some from the larger paddling shops and those companies which 

specialize in instruction. But since everyone has different needs, I 

suggest you visit the WaveLength site for more. 

Happy paddling. 

© Marika Wilson is an 

occasional columnist, 

and Alan’s daughter. 

Editor’s Note: This just in. It looks 

like Marika will have to postpone her 

course because she’s just been hired 

by the Fairmont Hotel chain at Lake 

Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta. 

Congratulations and good luck, Marika! 


Choosing a Safe Tour Operator 

Did you know that the sea kayak industry 

in BC is guided by performance and 

safety standards? Before signing up for 

your next kayak trip, here are a few 

questions you should ask: 

Do you carry Liability Insurance? 

All companies operating in BC on Crown 

Land, Provincial or National Parks are 

required to carry liability insurance as a 

condition of their permits. Some operators 

may not carry insurance where it is not 

mandatory. 

Are your vehicles properly insured? 

If you are riding in their vehicles, ask if they 

have the proper permits and insurance to 

cover their passengers. A permitted vehicle 

has passed a vehicle safety inspection. Your 

driver should have a class 4 driver’s licence. 

Some companies drive down bumpy back 

roads to get to the kayak launch site, they 

carry trailer loads of kayaks, a full truck load 

of clients plus all their personal gear and all 

the camping equipment. Be responsible for 

yourself in making the decision to accept 

the ride or not. 

Are your guides certified? 

Some guides lead tours for fun, but they 

do not have the education and experience 

required to assess risk and avoid mishaps. 

The Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC trains 

and certifies guides. Our standards allow 

only Lead Guides to lead multi-day trips. 

How many people in the group? 

10 clients is the maximum group size 

for safety on the water. Some parks 

have campsite maximums lower than 

this, so depending on where you are 

going, the group size could be smaller. 

How many guides with the group? 

2 guides for a group of 10 is required. 

This is a 1 to 5 guide-to-client ratio. More 

than 5 clients is difficult for any guide to 

manage even in perfect conditions. This 

factor does not change if the clients are in 

double kayaks. 

Pricing, and level of service offered? 

Some companies offer all the equipment, 

all the food and excellent guides, while 

others offer only the guides. Make sure that 

you get a list of what equipment is being 

offered and ask about the condition of 

that equipment. Ask for a list of what you 

should bring with you. What kind of food 

is being served or are you bringing and 

preparing the food? Prices vary, depending 

on the level of service and the quality of 

the equipment. 

Expected sea conditions in the area? 

Operators must know the local conditions 

and hazards. They should be able to explain 

the potential wind speed and wave heights, 

expected currents and distance of crossings. 

Make sure you understand what you are 

getting into. Depending on your ability 

and experience, you need to decide if you 

will be comfortable with the expected 

conditions. 

Length of time operating in the area? 

Knowledge of the area is not just about 

the Native Culture or flora and fauna, it’s 

also about the resources available. Good 

operators have established themselves well 

in local communities, they have a support 

system in place and know who to call in 

case of emergency. They also know all the 

secret little places you can camp (or not), 

where to get fresh water, where to wait out a 

storm; they understand the weather patterns 

and sea conditions in the area. 

Sea Kayak Guides 

Alliance of BC 

For more info, see www.skgabc.com. 

Access to Campsites 

Certain beaches in BC have been leased 

by the government to kayak operators 

for their commercial use. But this does 

not give companies the right to deny 

recreational paddlers access to an 

entire beach. In the rare instance that a 

commercial group is unwilling to allow 

other paddlers to camp on ‘their’ beach, 

paddlers should explain that they have 

a right to camp there, and should ask to 

see the permit, taking note of the name of 

the company, the file number, the name 

of the officer who issued the permit and 

the guide’s name. After the trip, contact 

the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Air 

Protection for enforcement. Hopefully 

such action will never be necessary. 

Apr/May 05 


39

Mothership Meandering 

The Perception of ‘Safety’ 

want to tell you of an experience which 

I is unremarkable except for the point it 

illustrates: that ‘safety’ is partly a matter of 

perception. 

We had just spent a few days anchored 

in Pender Harbour on BC’s Sunshine 

Coast and it was time to be heading home. 

Pender Harbour is an amazing formation 

of sheltered bays which provide excellent 

anchorage for a great many boats, and 

we’d really enjoyed paddling its convoluted 

shoreline. But all good things must come 

to an end and it was time to head back 

across Georgia Strait to the Gulf Islands 

where we live. 

However, we hadn’t counted on the 

wind coming up so quickly that morning. 

The weather forecast had been for light to 

moderate southeasterlies. We thought an 

early start would do, but clearly not. 

As we rounded into Malaspina Strait, 

open to the fetch of Georgia Strait beyond, 

our bow started to rise and fall on the 

whitecapping swells rolling our way. 

Heading south along the windward side of 

Francis Peninsula which encloses Pender 

Harbour, we began taking a lot of spray on 

the wheelhouse windows. 

We either had to turn back, which I never 

like doing, or put up with a pounding, 

and maybe worse. Scanning the chart, we 

realized our best option would be to pull 

into Bargain Bay on the south side of Francis 

Peninsula. Although open to this weather, 

the Bay looked to be narrow and elbowed, 

Not for navigation 

Strait of Georgia 

so that the inner portion would be quite 

protected. 

I noticed that the chart showed two 

ominous crosses in the entry, marking 

rocks. In this weather, riding the swells, 

we’d have to steer carefully. In rough water, 

Pender 

Harbour 

N 

Francis Peninsula 

Bargain 

Bay 

Whitestone 

Island 

Alan Wilson 

with tons of boat rising, falling and rolling, 

the wind moaning in the rigging, and a 

rocky lee shore with bursting waves, it’s 

an awesome and scary prospect to enter 

an unfamiliar bay. 

A decent anchorage is a pretty specialized 

piece of geography, requiring enclosing 

landforms to provide wind and wave 

protection, waters shallow enough to set 

an anchor, a decent bottom to hold it, and 

a broad enough area to swing on the radius 

of your anchor line. 

Pender Harbour is a marvel in all these 

ways and Bargain Bay is really just part of it, 

though separated from the Harbour proper, 


joined by a narrow channel crossed 

by a road bridge. 

Rolling and slewing in the swells 

as we turned to port and began to 

take the full force of the southeast 

swell on our beam, we cut in behind 

Whitestone Island, which gave us some 

brief protection, then swung downwind 

with the building swell astern, into the 

mouth of the bay. 

Downwind steering in a following sea 

can be challenging, as all boats have a 

tendency to slew around on the face of 

the waves, and can broach (be rolled 

broadside) if not corrected. Fortunately 

our sweet little double-ender handles such 

conditions beautifully, the seas lifting our 

stern, pushing, but not overpowering the 

steering. 

Rapidly multiplying risk factors added 

to our sense of trepidation as we surged 

towards the rocks in the narrows—definitely 

an adrenaline rush. But then, magically, we 

were through. Laurie called out that her 

landmarks had passed astern and we were 

clear of the rocks. The breeze still blew, but 

the water was flattening out around us. 

We putted quietly up towards the end of 

the bay and set our anchor. With a sigh of 

relief we shut down the engine and took 

deep breaths, admiring the shelter we had 

found. The turbulence of moments before 

was gone. 

At that point, I noticed Laurie’s gaze fall 

longingly on the book she’d started the night 

before, so I offered to leave her to it and go 

off paddling on my own to explore our new 

surroundings. 

As I dropped my kayak into the water, 

grabbed my gear and slipped into the 

Catching the breeze again in my face, I paused to feather 

my paddle, check my sprayskirt, and take a deep breath. 

Then I leaned slightly forward, choked up on the paddle, 

dug the blades deeply into the water, and steered 

determinedly out towards the cresting waves. 

cockpit she called out to me: Be careful. 

Of course, I replied, swivelling the round 

bottomed hull with a backstroke, my rudder 

cranked to the side. I had some fun on my 

mind. 

It was actually a gorgeous morning, and 

despite the disappointment of not being 

able to cross the strait today, the conditions 

were ideal for some thrilling paddling. 

I slipped past the rocky entry to the bay 

and smiled, thinking how carefree I felt in 

my little boat compared to all the stress 

only minutes before. Sure it was breezy, but 

kayaks are seaworthy and when the waves 

started breaking over my bow, it wasn’t fear 

that I felt. As I neared the little rocky islets 

just beyond the bay, my chest was filled 

with a pure, bounding joy as the bow of 

my boat rose and fell in miniature of the 

big boat earlier. 

I stroked into the calmer shallows 

between the rocky islets and marvelled at 

how friendly such areas are to kayakers, 

yet how dangerous to boaters. I could 

even pull ashore, if needed, on any tiny 

stretch of sand. The number of pullouts for 

paddlers on the coast could be a hundred, 

perhaps a thousand to every one decent 

boat anchorage. But pulling out wasn’t 

my plan just then. I nosed out beyond the 

islets. Catching the breeze again in my face, 

I paused to feather my paddle, check my 

sprayskirt, and take a deep breath. Then I 

leaned slightly forward, choked up on the 

paddle, dug the blades deeply into 

the water, and steered determinedly 

out towards the cresting waves. 

Paddling almost beam on the 

advancing waves, staying as loose as 

I could, bracing on wave faces, my 

little hull rose and fell as the swells passed 

under me. Reaching what I judged to be the 

mid-point, where the waves reached their 

max, I turned downwind, toward the mouth 

of the bay and began to surf in, foaming 

forwards, falling back down the backs of 

the waves, rising again, foaming ahead, 

bracing so as not to broach, falling back 

again, being hefted up, time and again. A 

whoop escaped my lips. 

And I thought about the relativity of 

‘safety’. Surfing in on the swells, I felt 

entirely safe. But if I capsized, there would 

be no one to rescue my sorry ass. A selfrescue 

in this sea would be difficult at best. 

Hmmmm. 

While previously, steering the big boat 

through these rocky shallows, our anxiety 

had been running high, we’d really been 

quite safe. Now, in my kayak, though the 

rocks and reefs didn’t bother me, a capsize 

might be the end. 

Somewhat chastened at the thought, I 

headed back into calmer waters and back 

to the boat, where I enticed Laurie to join 

me on a gentler explore, under the bridge 

and back into the complexities of Pender 

Harbour’s shallows. 

© Alan Wilson 

Apr/May 05 


41

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Paddlers Receive PFDs 

One day, John Gardner, the General 

Manager and part owner of Aqua- 

Lung Canada Ltd., was flipping through 

the paper and noticed a picture of a group 

of women dragon boaters who didn’t 

appear to be wearing PFDs during their 

races. He contacted Joan Fox, President 

of Island Breaststrokers to question why 

this was happening. Fox explained that the 

women are all breast cancer survivors and 

find standard PFDs uncomfortable to wear 

due to recent cancer treatments. This news 

prompted Gardner to do something about 

the situation, resulting in a remarkable 

partnership between companies and a new 

sponsor for the Island Breaststrokers. 

Gardner consulted Fox to determine 

which PFD would be safe and comfortable 

for the women to wear. Aqua-Lung’s supplier 

and designer Stohlquist, in partnership with 

Ocean River Sports, agreed to donate 50 

‘BetSea’ PFDs, enough to supply two teams 

of dragon boaters consisting of 22 paddlers, 

a coach and a steersman. 

On February 9, 18 members of the Island 

Breaststrokers were on hand at Ocean River 

Sports in downtown Victoria to receive the 

donated PFDs. “It’s next to impossible to 

put on a lifejacket while in the water,” said 

Brian Henry, owner of Ocean River. We’ve 

Carrie Moffatt 

Ocean River Sports’ Brian Henry, left, and Aqua-Lung Canada’s Steve Sharples, 

right, flank the proud women of the Island Breaststrokers paddling club. 

demonstrated this time and again to our 

students in our kayak lessons.” ➝ 

Apr/May 05 


43

Steve Sharples of Aqua-Lung demonstrated 

how the Stohlquist PFDs are different. “For 

those of you unfamiliar with breast cancer, 

the lymph nodes have to be taken out of 

the armpit, wreaking havoc under the arm 

and causing scarring,” said Sharples, whose 

own wife battled breast cancer and is now 

an avid outrigger canoeist. “These PFDs 

will not ride up under the arm and have 

had cups inserted into them, specifically 

designed for women.” 

This courageous group of women share 

not only the trauma of surviving breast 

cancer, but also the love of dragon boating. 

At the Ocean River event, all of them spoke 

with passion and excitement about their 

chosen sport. The group ranges in age 

from 35 to 88, and practises twice a week. 

They participate in at least five dragon boat 

festivals throughout the summer, including 

one that is specifically for cancer survivors. 

Last year, 90 boats entered the Victoria 

Dragon Boat Festival of which 13 were 

breast cancer survivor boats. 

Eve Pemberton, the senior member on 

the team at age 88, recently broke her foot 

from a fall off a stepladder. “But that won’t 

prevent me from getting into a dragon boat. 

I just love it—the ocean, the waves, and 

even through the dark and the rain. It makes 

us feel alive,” said Pemberton. 

Many women talked about the therapeutic 

effect of dragon boating. They like joining 

up with women who have gone through the 

same thing. “Some women paddle while 

receiving treatment, with no hair,” said 

Marjorie Woodroffe, founding member of 

Island Breaststrokers in 1997. 

Dr. Don McKenzie, sports medicine 

physician and exercise physiologist at the 

University of BC started the first dragon 

boat team in Vancouver for survivors of 

breast cancer. He says that dragon boating 

is therapeutic and that upper body exercise 

may prove helpful in the treatment and 

prevention of lymphedema. 

Due to the initiative of these local 

companies, the Island Breaststrokers can 

continue to engage in dragon boating in 

safety and comfort. 

Paddle hard! 

© Carrie Moffatt is Office Administrator with 

the PacificSport National Cycling Centre 

in Victoria, BC. 

For further information, see: 

www.aqualungcan.com 

www.stohlquist.com 

www.oceanriver.com 

www.islandbreaststrokers.com 

Sea Kayak Association of BC 

Trips, training, monthly meetings, 

newsletters, paddling contacts 

www.skabc.org 

membership@skabc.org 

604-290-9653 

Box 751, Stn. A, 

Vancouver, BC V6C 2N6 


Paddle Meals 

Food Safety Scenarios 

Just cut the mold off the cheddar. Just 

touch raw shellfish to your lips to see if 

they tingle. Is this good advice or harmful 

folklore? Suffering from food poisoning 

on a remote beach is no fun—that’s 

why kayak guides take food handling 

courses. Here are four rules for food safety. 

Keep hot food hot and cold food cold. 

Here in the Arctic, as I carve shards of 

frozen flesh off an Arctic char or caribou 

haunch, I smirk at the ‘cold food cold’ rule. 

Out paddling, what’s your cold source? 

Freezing the food, frozen gel packs, ice? The 

‘Danger Zone’ between 4-60°C or 40-140°F 

is where bacteria multiply rapidly (especially 

in meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy), 

reaching dangerous levels within 2 hours. 

Keep everything clean. 

Hand sanitizer gels make sense when 

soap and water aren’t handy. To sanitize 

food contact sources (cutting boards and 

knives) after you wash them, bring a spray 

bottle filled with a solution of 1 teaspoon of 

6% bleach to one litre of water. Wash fruits 

and vegetables. Even if you peel them, the 

knife could spread surface dirt and bacteria. 

If in doubt, throw it out. 

It is OK to cut mold off hard cheeses, 

hard fruits and vegetables (apples, potatoes, 

onions). Be sure to cut at least 1” past the 

fuzzy, green stuff since the mold roots run 

deep. Rinse the cheese and add a splash 

of vinegar to its new storage container; 

then sanitize the knife. But mold on grain 

products is not safe—throw out moldy 

bread or muffins. Toss out moldy soft fruit 

like grapes, berries, melons and peaches. 

Discard moldy soft cheese, yogurt, meat, 

peanuts, peanut butter or leftovers. 

Be sure shellfish is safe. 

Paralytic Shellfish Poison can be present 

in large amounts even if the water looks 

clear. Poisonous shellfish doesn’t taste any 

different and it may take an hour or two for 

the muscles of your chest and abdomen 

to become paralyzed. How far is the 

nearest mechanical respirator and oxygen? 

Check with the marine biotoxin/shellfish 

hotline or website before sampling clams, 

mussels, oysters, geoducks or scallops. 

Debbie Leach 

S’MORE SHOOTERS 

for 4 around the campfire, thanks to the 

Surreal Gourmet for the inspiration! 

3 ½ cups milk 

½ cup heavy or whipping cream 

1½ cups milk chocolate cut into shards in 

a large measuring cup or bowl 

¼ cup graham wafer crumbs in a bowl 

4-8 jumbo marshmallows 

almond liqueur 

Mix the milk and cream in a saucepan. 

Dip the rims of 4 mugs into the milky 

mixture ¼” deep. Plunge the rims into the 

crumb mixture. Keep the other campers 

busy toasting the marshmallows. Heat the 

milk mixture until it starts to steam. Pour 

enough milk/cream over the chocolate to 

swirl around and melt it while stirring the 

mixture. Add the chocolate sludge back 

into the cooking pot. Heat through and 

pour into mugs with the ‘mallows. Add 

a splash of liqueur. Grown-up s’mores! 

(Have the milk and cream been in a 

cooler or barely thawed from frozen, 

or did you use powdered or UHT milk 

and canned cream? Heating the milk 

and adding alcohol are both good!) 

© Debbie Leach is our food columnist. 

Apr/May 05 


45

From the Archipelago 

Hints of Abundance 

This has been the most beautiful, 

sunniest, calmest winter since I moved 

to Echo Bay in 1984. Each day dawns cold 

and clear. While the inlets have suffered 

freezing winds and spray, Echo Bay is 

nestled between Kingcome and Knight 

Inlets and so is the calm between the 

outflows. This, no doubt, is why there is 

such a large First Nation midden in Echo 

Bay—it was a good place to winter. The 

goldeneyes and common mergansers 

winter here. 

While the Broughton is under assault, 

over-burdened, the heart of this ecosystem 

still beats strong and shows every sign that, 

given half a chance, it could revive to full 

and spectacular capacity. As I ride along 

the waterways, I read the signs. 

Throughout Fife Sound and Cramer Pass, 

murres dot the dark water in their white and 

gray plumage. Murres are not dedicated 

residents of the Broughton. Their large 

flocks are more often seen out in the more 

open waters of Blackfish Sound and Queen 

Charlotte Strait where their raspy cries and 

deep calls of ‘murgg murgg murgg’ keep 

their society together. But this winter there 

Identifying a breath of a sea mammal 

at night can be tricky, but the little 

porpoise is a puff, the dolphin is a 

staccato puff precisely clipped at 

beginning and end. The sea lion is 

a wet noisy breath, the orca is loud 

enough to echo and the humpback 

is much longer and drawn out than 

the orca, with the bigger whales 

having the more baritone breaths. 

were flocks of five to ten of these expert 

fishermen visible daily. This hints at an 

abundance of small schooling fish below. 

Sprinkled amongst the murres, tiny 

murrelets bob lightly, their beaks tipped 

upward. Known locally by some as ‘kiss me 

arse’, these birds were used by fishermen 

to find Chinook salmon. Chinook and 

murrelets eat the same size fish and so these 

birds marked the best fishing spots. Even 

though the Chinooks are all but gone, more 

than 50 murrelets have wintered in Cramer 

Pass, and I know there must be many small 

fish around to attract and sustain such a 

gathering. 

Alexandra Morton 

The harbor porpoise have also been 

abundant in Cramer Pass. Harbor porpoise 

generally occur in groups of two to three, 

but I have counted ten in the group in 

Cramer Pass. There were so many, they 

attracted the next rung in the food chain. 

Two orca, mother and son, cruised through 

and ate a porpoise in February. The other 

porpoise never left. They scattered quietly 

during the kill, but did not go far. The orca 

did not exploit this little population, but 

were content to take one and leave. The 

local eagle pair partook in the feast until all 

that was left was a slick and the scent. 

The eagles that own my place have 

become bird specialists over the past 

several years. Now I witness aerial battles 

every week all winter. The prey are various 

species of ducks and often small sea gulls. 

The ducks’ strategy is to dive at the last 

second of the eagle’s dive but the gulls 

must try to out-maneuver the eagles. Both 

eagles will team up to try and land the 

fatal strike, but the gulls usually team up 

as well. While I suspect the eagles are a 

mated pair, I don’t know what relationship 

the gulls have. In an aerial skirmish with an 


eagle, the gull under attack is kept below 

the eagle, the second gull however, rises 

above the eagle and harasses it, trying to 

distract it enough to let the first gull gain 

altitude. These eagles are bold and think 

nothing of striking a gull and falling with 

it into the ocean, then swimming to shore 

with it struggling in their talons. 

I suspect the reason for the increase 

in eagle predation on other birds is due 

to the decline in over-wintering Chinook 

salmon. Just as the Inuit have many words 

for snow, the fishermen of BC have many 

names for their prized Chinook salmon. 

Often they are called spring salmon and 

a spring salmon caught in wintertime is a 

winter spring. These winter springs have all 

but vanished and hence eagles are trying 

to adapt. 

The sea lions from Duff Island leave 

their winter sleeping grounds in ones and 

twos and are cruising the shorelines of the 

Broughton. A few minutes drifting along 

almost any shoreline is enough to see one. 

Their loud, wet breaths draw attention to 

their sleek brown heads as they lie at the 

surface restocking oxygen to their blood. 

Then they dive and are usually out of 

earshot around another bend before their 

next breath. These large fish-eaters signal 

an abundance of small fish. 

Identifying a breath of a sea mammal at 

night can be tricky, but the little porpoise is 

a puff, while the dolphin is a staccato puff 

precisely clipped at beginning and end. The 

sea lion is a wet noisy breath, the orca is 

loud enough to echo and the humpback is 

much longer and drawn out than the orca, 

with the bigger whales having the more 

baritone breaths. 

A clue to what fish are here can be seen 

at dusk. Where the light is right, a sheen 

of tiny bubbles rise from tiny herring 

airbladders as these fish come to the 

surface to feed under cloak of darkness. At 

night their sounds begin at the edge of my 

perception, then crescendo into a roar of 

delicate swishing noise as schools pass my 

hydrophones. Every night dolphins feed on 

them with intense buzzing of echolocation. 

The dolphins often vanish into open water 

during the day and I would not even know 

they are here without the hydrophone. But 

dolphins mean fish and so I know there are 

lots of small fish about. 

Identifying fish is one of my greatest ➝ 

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Apr/May 05 


47

challenges. They can be dimpling the surface 

all around the boat sounding like rain and yet 

just out of sight. Like most things, it takes time 

and patience, and so I float, bent motionless 

over the gunwhales. You can often smell fish, if 

there is something there such as birds feeding on 

them. Capelin smell like fresh cut cucumbers. If 

there are scales in the water, chances are they’re 

from herring. Anchovies flash their gill-plates, 

pilchard graze the surface. In mid-winter, you 

know it‘s not salmon fry. A clue to the feast 

outside my windows came from neighbor Billy 

Proctor trying to jig up some fish for fish and 

chips. “I snagged a herring and a capelin on 

one hook,” he came by to tell me. That spoke of 

quite a high density of fish, and the assemblage 

of birds and porpoise became clearer. Yet, with 

all abundance, salmon are still declining in the 

Broughton Archipelago. 

On the human side, signs of spring are here. 

Every morning, boats cluster at the dock at 

the head of Echo Bay. The school is still open, 

giving children tremendous opportunity as the 

teacher/child ratio is nearly unparalleled in BC. 

One family has moved back to restart the Buffer Zone Wilderness 

Resort, and Echo Bay Resort is now catering to kayakers, as is 

Cracroft Ocean Adventures in nearby Potts Lagoon. And many of 

the fishing lodges have kayaks appearing on their docks. Kayakers 

are the greatest source of income for the water taxis. This is not 

surprising as the Broughton is kind to kayakers with her cradling 

shorelines and inviting beaches. 

Alex has won the 2005 Haig-Brown 

Conservation Award. See page 57. 

I often confuse kayakers at first for orca. When 

you raise your paddles, the wet glint is not unlike 

a whale’s fin. It’s the rhythm that gives you away. 

While an orca is up… pause… sink, you are 

a twinkle… twinkle… twinkle as each blade 

leaves the water. 

Until the Broughton recovers from salmon 

farming and the ensuing bleak local economy, 

you are one of the Broughton’s best hopes. 

You are an infusion of energy not unlike the 

returning salmon. You demand little of your host 

waters, like the miraculous pink salmon. You 

cannot pack kilos of fish away, you do not have 

insatiable shareholders. And you have a voice. 

If you love wilderness on this coast, speak now. 

The coming provincial election is a moment 

of opportunity. If you want to paddle among 

the whales, eagles and bears, the sea lice issue 

must come to resolution. The solution is simple. 

We cannot place huge industrial farms in wild 

salmon nurseries, because nature never intended 

salmon to be stationary, so close to the rivers. 

They wreak havoc, giving the local pathogens 

unprecedented opportunity to explode, not 

unlike cancer. Fortunately, salmon farms are only anchored and can 

be moved. And that’s the first thing that needs to happen—move 

the farms out of the sensitive juvenile wild salmon habitat, into 

the kind of habitat they require, and then meet their bio-security 

needs with closed containment. Speak up now and soon we will 

be reading the signs of salmon returning. The wild DNA still exists, 

but not for long if these steps aren’t taken. 

See you out here. 

© Alexandra Morton, R.P.Bio., is a marine 

mammal researcher and author. 

www.raincoastresearch.org. 

Alex’s recent book 

is great a collection 

of her writings and 

photographs. If you 

buy online at http:// 

georgiastrait.org/books. 

php#whales a portion 

of each sale will be 

donated to the Georgia 

Strait Alliance. 

POPEYE’S 

Marine & Kayak Center 

814 13th Street, Everett WA 

On the Waterfront at Everett Marina 

425-339-9479 www.popeyesmarine.com 

kingsmarine1929@hotmail.com 


Gear Locker 

Shred Ready Helmets 

In an issue of Wavelength dedicated to safety, an obvious piece of 

gear to examine is the helmet. More and more sea kayakers are 

venturing into locations where a helmet is a good idea. Spirited play 

along rocky coastlines, in sea caves or the surf zone, should probably 

include the use of protective headgear. I often bring a helmet on 

trips on the exposed coast. When not in use, a helmet stores easily 

on the stern deck of a kayak, and represents great insurance against 

serious injury for a very modest financial investment. 

Best known for their whitewater helmets, Shred Ready is an 

Alabama-based company that produces seven different helmet 

designs. Five of their models are manufactured from composite 

material, and two from plastic. 

THE SHAGGY 

This is a composite helmet made from a blend of fiberglass and 

aramid fibers impregnated with marine vinylester resin. Certified to 

CE 1385 international standard for headgear for whitewater sports, 

the Shaggy feels very solid, and would no doubt do an excellent 

job of protecting the wearer from impact. It’s a pleasing shape 

with a small, integrated bill that can either be worn to the front, or 

reversed, with the bill towards the back. I preferred the bill forward, 

as it provides a small degree of glare reduction from the sun. 

To provide effective protection, a helmet must stay locked in 

place while still remaining comfortable to the wearer. So fit is one 

of the most important issues when considering head protection. 

A multi-Impact VN foam, laminated to closed-cell ‘comfort’ foam 

lines the interior of the Shaggy. Interchangeable closed-cell fitting 

pads are supplied with each helmet, and velcro to the liner, to 

help customize the fit. Shred Ready also has a very slick H.O.G 

(hand of God) retention system. This consists of an adjustable pad 

that fits behind the nape of the neck that can then be dialed-in for 

an amazingly secure fit. The pad is anchored to the helmet with 

monofilament line, via two small, ratcheting, blue knobs. Rotating 

the knobs produces a distinct click, as the line is drawn in and the 

pad tightens around the wearer’s head. Another small switch releases 

the tension on the system. The result is a truly secure fit that can be 

customized in moments, right out of the box. 

Removable ear-flaps that fasten to the helmet with dome snaps 

are also supplied and provide added protection and warmth. All 

rivets are stainless steel and the four-point retention webbing straps 

are equipped with good quality adjusters and buckle. 

I really liked this lid because it was so easy to get a good, 

comfortable 

 

fit, even when adding a cold-water layer under the 

Text by Alex Matthews 

Photos by Rochelle Relyea 

helmet. I basically stuffed the Shaggy on 

my head, dialed in the H.O.G. system, and 

then forgot about it. To say that a brand new, 

unfamiliar piece of gear almost instantly 

became forgotten, is to state that it exhibited 

no negative traits at all, but simply faded 

into a quiet role of competence, allowing 

me to get on with enjoying a day on the water. High praise indeed! 

My only concern is how the multiple tiny mechanical parts in the 

H.O.G. system will stand up to prolonged exposure to saltwater. 

I’ve been sure to rinse my Shaggy with fresh water after use, and so 

far I’ve experienced no problems. In my mind, this small amount of 

maintenance is well worth the remarkably quick sizing adjustment 

capabilities and super secure fit. 

Sizes: S, M, L. 

Colors: Red, Matte Blue, Gunmetal, Army Green 

Suggested retail price: $115.95 US 

SUPER SCRAPPY 

The Super Scrappy is basically the Shaggy, but with an injection 

molded ABS shell instead of composite construction. The Super 

Scrappy doesn’t feel quite as beefy or rigid as the Shaggy, but all 

the cool features are present, and at a lower price. And while the 

ABS shell isn’t as shiny, it still conforms to CE 1385 standards and 

the helmet comes with all the goodies like removable ear-flaps, 

fitting pads and the innovative H.O.G. lock retention system that 

delivers lightning quick sizing adjustments. 

➝ 

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Apr/May 05 


49

Sizes: S, M, L 

Colors: Matte 

Orange, Carbon 

Black, Matte 

Black, Pearl Blue 

Suggested retail 

price: $85.95 US 

Shred Ready, Inc. 

5380 Notasulga Rd., 

Tallassee, AL 36078 

334-257-1212 (ph/fax) 

www.shredready.com 

customerservice@shredready.com 

Icom VHF 

useful piece of gear that usually 

A falls into the safety department, is 

a handheld VHF (Very High Frequency) 

marine band transceiver. VHF units can not 

only make it far easier to contact another 

party for assistance, but more importantly, 

they can also help paddlers make informed 

decisions that may keep them out of trouble 

in the first place. For many kayakers, the 

primary function of a VHF radio is simply 

to provide access to the marine forecast, 

which is an invaluable tool when trip 

planning. For them, the transmit function is 

Your own private mothership! 

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Alex Matthews 

seldom used and is largely held in reserve 

in case of emergency. 

For other paddlers, like guides and 

instructors, a radio will routinely be used 

to send as well as receive. Keeping an open 

channel between a lead paddler and the 

sweep paddler at the rear of a group, allows 

leaders to stay in touch, communicate easily 

and make shared decisions on the fly. 

To operate a VHF marine transceiver, 

the government requires that you have a 

license. For more information, contact your 

nearest Transport Canada office, or FCC 

office in the U.S. 

After destroying several VHF radios, I 

have come to the conclusion that any radio 

destined for use in a kayak should definitely 

be waterproof. Buying a less expensive, 

non-waterproof VHF has proven to be a 

false economy in my experience. 

The Icom IC-M2A is specified waterproof 

to endure a 1 meter depth for 30 minutes (this 

is equivalent to JIS waterproof specification 

grade 7). It has a 5W output generated by 

the supplied BP-224 Ni-Cad battery pack, 

which will provide approximately 8 hours 

of typical operating time. 

Operation of the unit is quite intuitive. 

Thankfully, instead of push buttons for 

on/off and volume functions, it has a goodsized 

rotary knob at the top of the unit. The 

transmit or PTT switch is located on the left 

side of the radio. The front panel has a large 

(35x24mm), brightly lit LCD display below 

a front-firing speaker. Channel selection 

is very easy, and a meter in the bottom 

right hand corner of the screen indicates 

battery life. Eight buttons on the front panel 

provide access to all other functions. Like 

most electronic gadgets these days, this 

radio has more features than I will likely 

ever use, but the ones that I do want, like 

squelch and dual scan, are quick and easy 

to operate. 

When monitoring weather channels, 

the IC-M2A seemed to have a persistent 

high-pitched whine that was a little trying, 

but the unit pulled in signals with no 

problem. Another minor hitch was that 

when the radio was placed into the supplied 

battery charger, it clipped into the base 

very securely, but failed to make a good 

electrical contact for charging. Placing a 

little wedge of folded paper between the 

back of the radio and the charger, angled 

the radio enough so that contact was made, 

but this small glitch was a little annoying. 

A really nice touch is the inclusion of an 

AA size battery tray that allows the radio 

to operate on standard alkaline batteries 

should the primary Ni-Cad run out of 

juice. 


Overall, the Icom appears to be very solidly manufactured, with 

good fit and finish, and excellent resistance to the harsh marine 

environment. Bear in mind that any piece of electronic gear is 

subject to failure when exposed to seawater, but given care, like 

rinsing the IC-M2A in fresh water after use and carefully monitoring 

the condition of seals, the Icom should give many years of good 

service. 

Dimensions: 61(W) × 135(H) × 41(D) mm 

Weight: 360g 

Retail price is approximately $280 Cdn (check with your local 

dealer) 

ICOM CANADA 

Glenwood Centre 

150–6165 Highway 17 

Delta, BC V4K 5B8 

Phone: 604-952-4266 Fax: 604-952-0090 

www.icomcanada.com 

ICOM INTERNATIONAL 

www.icom.co.jp/world/index.html 

© Alex Matthews is our gear reviewer. 

matthewsalex@hotmail.com 

Middletonsʼ Specialty Boats 

SALES • RENTALS • INSTRUCTION 

Ph: 604-240-0503 

VISIT OUR EXPANDED SHOWROOM 

1851 WELCH STREET, NORTH VANCOUVER, BC 

KAYAKS, CANOES, GEAR 

Dagger, Formula/Impex, Necky, Perception, Pacific Kayaks 

New ‘Lashlock’ system holds and locks your boat 

david@middletonsboats.com 

www.middletonsboats.com 

Explore the Western Edge 

of Vancouver Island! 

Kayak Nuchatlitz & Kyuquot 

Rentals Tours Transport 

Water Taxi to Nootka Trail 

250-761-4137 

www.zeballoskayaks.com 

Mason’s Lodge 

A Haven for Paddlers 

Rooms & Restaurant 

250-761 4044 

www.masonslodge.zeballos.bc.ca 

Apr/May 05 


51

GREAT GEAR 

LASSO SECURITY CABLES 

Lasso Security Cables are 

simply the strongest and easiest 

anti-theft device available for 

your kayak. The cables are made 

from vinyl-coated, galvanized 

steel, aircraft cable with an 

integrated tamper-proof, keyed 

or combination lock. No other 

security system provides greater 

protection. Call 707-444-8814 or 

visit www.LassoSecurityCables. 

com for a dealer near you. 

SEA-LIGHT AND SCOTTY FLUSH DECK MOUNT 

This is a USCG approved light with a visibility of up to two miles. 

Waterproof and corrosion resistant, the removable light is portable 

and can easily be attached to a your life jacket. Fasten it to your 

kayak with the new round, flush deck mount, with a watertight, 

sealed base and a splash cover. The mount also allows you to do a 

little fishing by attaching Scotty’s post mount rod holders. See www. 

Scotty.com for this and many more items of great gear. 

To have your products 

considered for Great Gear, contact 

info@WaveLengthMagazine.com 

or call 1-800-799-5602 

SAFETY-OFF-STRAP (S.O.S.) 

In addition to the traditional 

grab loop, the S.O.S. (Safety- 

Off-Strap) incorporates 

a one inch wide, flat 

nylon webbing that is 

stitched to the sides of 

the deck and extends 

across the top of the 

sprayskirt. Pulling up 

on the Safety Strap 

releases it from the 

sides of the coaming. A buckle for adjusting the tightness of the 

webbing keeps the strap taut along the top of the sprayskirt. S.O.S. 

is available on any Snap Dragon Neoprene Sprayskirt and on the 

Nylon Glacier model. www.snapdragondesign.com, 425-957-3575, 

info@snapdragondesign.com. 

www.automarine.ca 

info@automarine.ca 

Average time of assembly 


FOR SALE 

Two Feathercraft Big Kahuna folding kayaks, like new, one red with hatches, 

one blue. $2400 Cdn each. One 17 ft. cedar strip Endeavor kayak, new, 

$3200. One Seaward Chilco, Kevlar, mint condition, $3200. Call Dennis 

or Jane: 250-743-3505. 

2004 Klepper Aerius Quattro XT. Beautiful mint green skin and blonde 

mountain ash frame. This is Klepper’s highest end model and is like new. 

Comes complete with full ‘up and downwind’ sail package, leeboards, 

upgraded gel seats, expedition skirt, 2 Klepper paddles, 2 pumps and 3 

travel bags. Email dssage@mac.com for price and pics. 

Necky Alsek, 14’ 6”. Rear hatch, rudder, spray skirt and paddles: $850. Also 

Garmin VHF and other gear. Call Jim 250-592-7471, Victoria, BC. 

SOLO RESCUE ASSIST 

The Solo Rescue Assist consists of a rugged, telescoping 

counterbalance device, approximately the size of a tennis racket, 

and a collapsible ladder-platform device (shown extended). 

Yellow collars provide flotation. The counterbalance is a rapid-fill 

collapsible bucket which automatically extends the telescoping 

arm about five feet by gravity. Re-entry with the counterbalance 

can be accomplished in under half a minute, with an additional 

few seconds if the ladder is deployed. Stability created by the SRA 

is suitable for up to almost 300 lbs. For more information, contact 

Phil Dang, dangp003@hawaii.rr.com. 

15.1 acres of treed waterfront near Echo Bay (school, fuel, post office) in the 

Broughton Archipelago, BC, with dock, deep water moorage, two homes, 

two cabins, workshop, fruit trees, chicken coop, good sun exposure and 

lovely view. wildorca@island.net. 

Couple want to share return water taxi service to Nuchatlitz area (westcoast 

Vancouver Island) sometime between mid-June and early August. Flexible. 

Bruce 250-656-5595 (Victoria). 

Homalco 

Wildlife 

Tours 

32 foot vessel 

Chinook Spirit now 

offering kayak transport, 

whale & grizzly bear 

viewing 

Bute Inlet 

British Columbia 

info@bearsofbute.com 

1-866-234-BEAR (2327) 

www.bearsofbute.com 

TRAIL GOURMET SEASONING 

Now you can enjoy great taste while cooking outdoors thanks 

to spice capsules from Sedona Trading Company. Offering the 

convenience and flavor of all-natural spice blends ranging from 

mild to hot, the encapsulated seasonings are like mini spice bottles 

for outdoor chefs looking to intensify the taste of open-air cooking. 

Salt- and preservative-free ingredients are held within a tasteless, 

dissolvable gelatin capsule. Simply drop the capsules into a heated 

sauce, soup, or stew and stir to distribute evenly. Available in six 

flavors, each capsule contains a quarter teaspoon of spice. Check 

out www.sednonatrading.com or call toll-free 866/SEDONA5. 

Suggested retail: $2.25 to $5 US. 

EMKodar Outdoors presents 

Schu-kat 

Schuka 

Simply the most versatile inflatable out there 

www.emkodar.com 

Apr/May 05 


53

BOOKS/VIDEOS 

Sea Kayaking: The 

Ultimate Guide 

by Ken Whiting and 

Alex Matthews 

The Heliconia Press, 

2005, DVD, 120 min. 

$39.95 Cdn, $29.95 US 

www.helipress.com 

World Champion paddler Ken Whiting 

and WaveLength columnist Alex Matthews 

combined their knowledge and experience 

to write and star in this great, new, 

instructional DVD which just received top 

honors at the WaterwalkerFilm Festival as 

the Best Safety Video. 

The video is divided into four parts: One 

is for novices who need the basics regarding 

equipment and how to get started as a sea 

kayaker; Two demonstrates essential strokes 

and paddling techniques; Three is about 

safety and rescue; and Four goes on to 

more advanced skills such as preparation 

for multi-day touring, and how to handle 

surf, current and weather. The production 

team (including award-winner, Chris 

Emerick behind the camera), has developed 

a high quality DVD that is full of valuable 

information and is a joy to watch, with 

action from destination hotspots around 

Vancouver Island, the Olympic Peninsula, 

and Canada’s renowned Algonquin Park. 

Beginners will return to this DVD again 

and again as their skills improve, and there 

is much for paddlers who want to extend 

themselves to the next level of sea kayaking 

experience, inspired by the sheer beauty of 

the settings in this fine production. 

Top Knots 

by Colin Jarman 

Thomas Allen, 2005 

ISBN 0-919028-45-4 

128 pp, color photos, 

index 

$21.95 Cdn 

www.thomas-allen.com 

Top Knots: Over 70 Dependable Knots, 

How To Tie and How To Use Them is the 

complete title of this handy reference book. 

Hardcover, spiral bound and complete with 

a short length of rope to practice on, this 

volume would be a fun addition to your 

gear on a touring trip. How better to while 

away the evening hours, as you sit quietly 

observing the natural world, than to practice 

a new and useful skill that will surely erase 

any vestiges of your work world. The series 

of photographed illustrations for how to 

tie each knot are so clear that you hardly 

need to read the explanatory text. The book 

is nicely laid out, beginning with some 

useful information about different fibers and 

constructions of ropes, appropriate uses of 

each type, and suggestions for care and 

maintenance. The knots are then grouped 

according to their purpose (e.g. hold-fast 

knots, easy-release knots, shortening 

knots, lashings, etc.) and coded with icons 

to suggest whether they would be useful 

for climbing, camping, sailing, fishing or 

general use. This is a great activity book for 

families—kids seem to love knots and it will 

give you something to learn together. 

One River, Two 

Cultures: A History of 

the Bella Coola Valley 

by Paula Wild 

Harbour Publishing, 2004 

ISBN 1-55017-354-5 

288 pp, b/w photos, 

index, $24.95 Cdn/US 

www.harbourpublishing.com 

Remote and wild, refusing to be tamed, 

the Bella Coola Valley has long been 

home to First Nations and more recently, 

immigrants to this land. In One River, Two 

Cultures, the author answers her own 

question: ”Who would choose to live here, 

so far removed and isolated from the rest 

of the world?” Through archival research 

and interviews with residents, Paula Wild 

learned many stories of endurance and 

personal tragedy, but also, how the towering 

mountains and the magnificent river drew 

people to the valley. She begins with the 

Nuxalkmc Nation, and then documents 

the arrival of fur traders, explorers, 

gold seekers and Norwegian settlers. 

To have your Books or Videos 

considered for review, contact 

DianaMumford@WaveLengthMagazine.com 

or call 1-800-799-5602 


NEWS 

PADDLEFESTS AND SYMPOSIA 

Paddlers have a lot to look forward to 

this year (See Calendar p.59). Here on 

the west coast, things kick off in April 

with the 5th Annual Port Angeles Kayak 

Symposium in Port Angeles, WA, April 

15-17. Then we have the 7th Annual 

Vancouver Island Paddlefest at Transfer 

Beach, Ladysmith, BC on May 14-15, 

featuring a vendor/trade show, workshops, 

demos and lots of activities. This is closely 

followed by the 20th Annual Coast Kayak 

Symposium on Thetis Island, BC on May 

20-23, organized by Mercia Sixta, and a 

brand new event, the 1st Annual Puget 

Sound Sea Kayak Symposium in Tacoma, 

WA, May 21-23. On June 3-5, the South 

Sound Traditional Inuit Kayak Symposium 

takes place at Twanoh State Park in Belfair, 

WA for those who love skin kayaks, and on 

July 10, the BC Marine Trail Ocean Kayak 

Marathon will be held at Jericho Beach, 

Vancouver, BC. 

For all those who enjoy the annual 

West Coast Sea Kayak Symposium in Port 

Townsend, WA each September—the 

biggest event in the region—please take 

note that it’s a week earlier this year: 

Sept. 9-11. Also be advised to book 

accommodation ASAP as the event will 

be taking place the same weekend as 

the annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat 

Festival, so the town will be booked solid! 

WAVELENGTH FEATURED 

R h o d e I s l a n d C a n o e / K a y a k 

Association’s January newsletter honored 

WavelengthMagazine.com as “website of 

the month”, saying: “It’s a happy concept: 

a magazine about paddling that offers not 

just a few selected articles on its Web site, 

but the entire magazine, downloadable in 

PDF format—completely free. Every issue 

from 2001 and after can be downloaded, 

and articles are archived all the way back 

to 1994. If you really want to get away 

from your computer, or you just like to 

turn the pages yourself, subscriptions to a 

print version are available. The site is nicely 

organized, with archived articles arranged 

by topic (skills, destinations, gear, book 

reviews, and so forth) and by keyword 

search, too.” 

ALEXANDRA MORTON HONORED 

Conservationist, author, biologist 

and WaveLength columnist, Alexandra 

Morton has received the 2005 Haig- 

Brown Conservation Award from the 

Vancouver-based Totem Fly Fishers. Alex, 

who lives in the Broughton Archipelago, 

won the award for her groundbreaking 

and courageous research on sea lice 

epidemics on juvenile wild salmon. Her 

work, which showed high lice infestation 

rates on juvenile salmon collected near 

salmon farms, was recently published 

in the prestigious Canadian Journal of 

Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. She is also 

the subject of numerous documentaries. 

Past winners include Canada’s former 

environment minister David Anderson 

and other notable conservationists. In 

bestowing the award, the group cited not 

only Alex’s scientific record, but also her 

bravery in enduring numerous personal 

and professional attacks resulting from her ➝ 

Apr/May 05 


55

NEWS continued 

decision to alert the public to the dangers 

of open net-cage salmon farming. Her 

courage and her relentless pursuit of the 

truth have prompted one journalist to dub 

her the “Erin Brockovich of the North”. The 

Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council 

in Alert Bay says, “Alexandra’s dedication 

and courage in facing adversity in the 

name of conservation is admirable and 

deeply appreciated by the First Nations of 

the Broughton Archipelago. [We] have for 

many years voiced concerns of pending 

ecological adversity in the Broughton 

Archipelago, and through Alexandra’s 

research, she has opened the eyes of the 

world to the issue of sea lice infestations.” 

Congratulations Alex! 

FOLBOT IS RAFFLE PRIZE 

First prize in the annual Georgia Strait 

Alliance spring and summer raffle will be a 

fully equipped Greenlander II Folbot double 

folding sea kayak donated by the little folding 

kayak company (www.foldingkayaks. 

ca). All details will be available at www. 

GeorgiaStrait.org by May 1st. Ticket sales 

begin at the Vancouver Island Paddlefest, 

May 14-15 in Ladysmith, BC and over the 

summer are available by phone (250-753- 

3459) or email (gsa@GeorgiaStrait.org). 

TEAM KOKATAT 

Through research and discovery, Kokatatsponsored 

explorers are helping to educate 

and increase international awareness of 

conservation and preservation issues. By 

outfitting these beneficial expeditions, 

Kokatat helps global explorers achieve their 

goals. For more, visit www.kokatat.com. 

• 2220 Expedition: In June, Louisa 

Rolandsdotter Bichard and John Paul 

Bichard launch a 60-day kayak expedition 

that will navigate the entire coastline 

of Sweden: 2220 kilometers. See www. 

hydropia.org/2220. 

• Bering Strait Odyssey: in March 

and April, two polar adventurers, Dixie 

Dransercoer and Troy Henkels, are 

attempting a double-back traverse of the 

Bering Strait, never before accomplished. 

See www.beringodyssey.com. 

• Borealis Paddling Expedition: a 90-day 

canoeing expedition through Northern 

Canada during the summer by Meg Casey, 

Nina Emery, Beth Halley, Karen Stanley 

and Emily Stirr. See www.borealispaddlin 

gexpedition.com. 

• Hudson Bay Expedition: in May, Scott 

Miller and Todd Foster will embark upon 

a 2250-mile historical canoe expedition 

from Saint Cloud to Hudson Bay. See www. 

hudsonbayexpedition.com. 

• One World Expedition: also this May, 

polar explorers Lonnie Dupre and Eric 

Larsen will embark on the first summer 

crossing of the Arctic, in a four-month 

journey across the North Pole. See www. 

oneworldexpedition.com. 

• The Danish Northwest Passage 

Expedition: Ravn Hamberg and Peter Unold 

are trying to prove that the Northwest Passage 

can be kayaked in a single season. 

SEA KAYAK EXPLORATIONS 

4-8 day trips 

for fit, selfsufficient 

adventurers. 

We paddle mostly 

single kayaks but 

we bring some 

doubles, and we 

share responsibility 

for meals. 

LOW COST, SELF-CATERED, 17 YEARS IN BUSINESS 

From $455–$1265 Cdn 

See itineraries at www.gck.ca 

info@gck.ca 

A D V E N T U R E 

Trips to... 

• Gulf Islands 

• Broken Group 

• Queen Charlottes 

• Broughton Archipelago 

• Nootka Island—Nuchatlitz 

• ...and Baja, Mexico! 

www.gck.ca 

O U T F I T T E R S 

910 Clarendon Rd., Gabriola Island, BC CANADA V0R 1X1 

PH: 250-247-8277 FAX: 250-247-9788 

CHERI PERRY JOINS IMPEX TEAM 

2 0 0 4 G r e e n l a n d i c N a t i o n a l 

Championships competitor, Cheri Perry, 

has accepted an invitation to join the Impex 

Kayaks Team. She will be representing the 

new Outer Island, designed by Jay Babina. 

“The Outer Island is the first composite 

kayak I have paddled that I can perform 

a majority of the competition rolls in,” 

explained Perry. “The low volume and an 

unobstructed lay-back make rolling this 

kayak simple.” Be on the lookout for Cheri 

around the country as she puts on clinics 

and seminars. www.impexkayak.com, 

828-225-5201. 

KAYAKING FOR AIDS 

Werner Stoltz has decided to dedicate the 

next two years of his life to help save lives 

and join the fight against HIV/AIDS. He 

intends to paddle thousands of kilometers 

by sea kayak and take on some of the 

most treacherous waters this world has to 

throw at him, to raise money for children 

orphaned and infected by HIV/AIDS. 

Stoltz starts off on the 16th of July from 

Dublin, attempting to circumnavigate 

Ireland in 35 days. Then he will paddle 

the coastline of the United Kingdom and 

southern Africa. kayak4aids@yahoo.co.uk, 

www.kayak4aids.com. 

LADNER ACCESS 

Kaymaran Adventure Tours now operates 

a paddling facility on the town dock in 

Ladner Harbour, BC. The facility, on the 

Elliott Street Wharf, also provides for public, 

non-commercial access at no charge for 


paddlers during daylight hours. This facility provides convenient 

access with parking and other amenities close by. Ladner Harbour 

and the adjacent Ladner Marsh and estuary/delta of the Fraser River 

offer great year round paddling and are among the best winter and 

early spring paddling venues near Vancouver. Birding and wildlife 

viewing opportunities are abundant. For further information: 

info@kaymarantours.com, 604-946-5070, www.kaymarantours. 

com. 

ROWING FOR A CAUSE 

Last year, Dale McKinnon rowed a 20-foot dory from Ketchikan, 

Alaska south to Bellingham, logging 778 miles to raise money 

for at-risk youth. Pledges benefitted the Bellingham non-profit 

organization, Northwest Youth Services, in their work with abused 

and homeless kids. This year McKinnon’s goal is to raise $10,000. 

She will leave Ketchikan this spring, rowing north to Skagway (about 

300 statute miles) to complete the Inside Passage. To follow Dale’s 

progress or make a donation go to www.fairhaven.com and click 

on her name. Thanks to Kelli Watcherson. 

TOURISM INSURANCE 

Tourism in BC received a major boost with the launch of a 

new insurance and risk management program designed by the 

Council of Tourism Associations of BC (representing the interests of 

18,000 tourism operators in BC: www.cotabc.com). The program 

encourages high safety standards and risk management practices 

among operators, and works closely with insurers to see that 

these efforts translate into meaningful savings on their insurance 

premiums. The program is initially setting its sights on providing 

liability insurance for select businesses that offer nature-based 

tourism experiences. Many of these operators have reported paying 

double, triple or more than they used to pay for similar liability 

coverage. For information or to register for the new insurance and 

risk management program, see www.Adventureinsurance.ca or 

contact Shaw, Sabey & Associates at 1-800-684-1911. 

HISTORIC WIN IN SUPREME COURT 

Justice Powers, a BC Supreme Court Judge, has ruled that the 

provincial BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF) 

erred in failing to properly consult with the Xwemalhkwu (Homalco) 

First Nation regarding the approval of its plan to introduce Atlantic 

salmon smolts into pens at the mouth of Bute Inlet. Homalco Chief 

Darren Blaney said, “We’re very pleased with this victory. This 

injunction remains in place until proper consultation is completed. 

In other words, the operation is frozen.” Marine Harvest maintained 

that they did not have a legal duty to consult, but in his ruling, Justice 

Powers ordered the company to consult not only about the farming 

of Atlantic salmon but also about the locating of their fish farm. 

The court also used very strong language to describe the obligation 

of the provincial minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Eric 

Blueschke of the Georgia Strait Alliance, who worked closely with 

the Homalco on the case, said: “Justice Powers has confirmed what 

the Georgia Strait Alliance has been saying for over a decade—the 

salmon farm industry in this province is operating in the face of 

significant scientific knowledge gaps and inadequate regulation.” 

Justice Powers found that, “All of the scientists and panels involved 

in studying the issues confirm that there are serious gaps in 

knowledge and that research is needed to fill those gaps.” 

STUDENTS OPPOSE FARMED FISH 

Students at the University of BC are taking action to remove 

farmed salmon from their campus after learning that junior 

residences are being served the controversial seafood while their 

staff and visitors are dining on wild salmon. The UBC Students 

for Clayoquot Sound have asked UBC Food Services to remove 

farmed salmon from their menu. President of the group, Dave Khan, 

said: “Serving farmed salmon contradicts the campus message 

of sustainability and excellence. Farmed salmon has numerous 

environmental risks associated with its production as well as human 

health risks related to its reported higher toxicity levels.” Clayoquot 

Sound, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is home to 26 salmon farm 

tenures, one of the highest densities in British Columbia. Email: 

Clayoquot_ubc@club.ams.ubc.ca. 

➝ 

15 Years Protecting 

Georgia Strait 

Since our inception, 

WaveLength has supported 

the Georgia Strait Alliance 

in every way we can. 

Now, GSA’s work is more 

urgent than ever, yet 

funding sources are few. 

Join me please in making a 

charitable donation today. 

—Alan Wilson, WaveLength Magazine 

Sea Kayak Mothership Ursa Major 

Explore in Comfort and Safety: 

Custom trips in Southeast Alaska 

and Pacifi c Northwest 

www.myursamajor.com 206-310-2309 

© Alan Wilson photo 

Georgia Strait Alliance 

Protecting marine life and habitat for 15 years. 

Your tax deductible donation today will make a difference in 

Caring for our Coastal Waters 

Call 250-753-3459 

www.GeorgiaStrait.org 

Apr/May 05 


57

NEWS continued 

TOXICS IN FARMED FISH 

A new study in Environmental Health 

Perspectives has found flame retardants 

in many foods. Flame retardants, called 

PBDEs, or polybrominated diphenyl ethers, 

are a class of industrial chemicals that are 

sprayed on textiles, plastics and electronics 

to prevent or slow down flammability. But 

these chemicals are now contaminating 

our bodies, showing up in breast milk and 

blood samples. The highest levels found in 

BROKEN GROUP 

ISLANDS AND 

BARKLEY SOUND 

Up to 8 scheduled trips 

per week from Port Alberni. 

KAYAK RENTALS 

$35 per day Singles 

$50 per day Doubles 

ACCOMMODATIONS 

SECHART WHALING 

STATION LODGE 

foods were in farmed salmon and trout. The 

source of the contaminants seems likely to 

be industrial sewage that becomes fertilizer 

for crops and animal feed. 

BC CUTTING UP THE SAFETY NET 

West Coast Environmental Law 

Association has issued a report prior to the 

upcoming May 17th election in BC, warning 

that years of deregulation and cuts to the 

civil service are a threat to the environment 

and public health. Their study, Cutting Up 

the Safety Net, shows that in the last four 

years the BC government has systematically 

rewritten all major environmental protection 

laws, axed long-standing policies, and 

cut governmental positions crucial to 

environmental protection. Between the 

2001 budget and 2004 budget, 1,854 

positions were eliminated at the Ministries of 

Forests, Sustainable Resource Management 

and Water, Land and Air Protection, 

including staff which monitors and enforces 

environmental laws. 

The report finds that the government’s 

pro-business orientation has meant a green 

light for businesses that are a threat to the 

environment. Parks have been downsized 

to allow mining. The provincial energy 

policy says ’yes’ to coal fired electricity, a 

move that makes it harder to implement 

the Kyoto treaty on greenhouse gases. 

The government removed the moratorium 

on fish farm expansion despite evidence 

that farmed fish are a threat to wild 

salmon. It has also limited its ability to 

take environmental protection action in 

the future, putting restrictions on when it 

can protect community watersheds from 

logging, or develop plans to protect drinking 

water from industrial activity. For more 

info contact West Coast Environmental 

Law, 604-601-2512. Cutting up the 

Safety Net is available online at www. 

wcel.org/wcelpub/2005/14181.pdf. For 

more, see www.bcfacts.org and www. 

conservationvoters.ca. 

KYOTO IN BC 

The BC government under Premier 

Gordon Campbell opposed the ratification 

of the Kyoto Protocol and formed a 

lobby bloc with Alberta to undermine 

and oppose Kyoto at every turn of the 

negotiations in 2002. They have relaxed 

regulations to allow for dirty, coal-fired 

power generation, promoted gas-fired 

power production, and are pushing the 

federal government to lift the moratorium 

on oil and gas drilling off BC’s coast. 

The Petroleum News reports that BC’s 

energy minister, Richard Neufeld has 

instructed his offshore team to “eat, breathe 

and sleep oil and gas, day after day.” The BC 

government is encouraging seismic testing 

in the hopes it will spur offshore oil and gas 

developments, despite the proven effects of 

seismic activity on wildlife, notably whales. 

AGENDA FOR RIVERS 

The US Citizens’ Agenda for Rivers 

identifies three priority threats to rivers: 1) 

the erosion of clean water protection; 2) the 

lack of water to sustain healthy rivers; and 3) 

the paving over and pollution of watersheds 

by sprawl. The Agenda identifies practical 

policy solutions that can be implemented 

today at the local, state and federal level. 

See www.healthyrivers.org. ❏ 

Rooms & Meals from $70 / person / day 

based on 2 night minimum 

RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE 

Water Taxi Service 

from Toquart Bay 

For pickup ph: 250-720-7358 

Used Kayaks For Sale 

Phone: 250-723-8313 

Fax: 250-723-8314 

M.V. Lady Rose & M.V. Frances Barkley 

located at Argyle Pier, 

5425 Argyle St., Port Alberni, BC 

CANADA V9Y 1T6 

TOLL FREE RESERVATIONS 

(April-Sept.) 1-800-663-7192 

www.ladyrosemarine.com 


CALENDAR 

Apr 1-3, Outdoor Adventure Show, Calgary, 

AB. www.outdooradventureshow.ca 

Apr 6, National Paddling Film Festival Road 

Show, Kalispell, MT. silvermoonkayak.com, 

silvermoon@centurytel.net, 406-752-3794 

Apr 15-17, 5th Annual Port Angeles 

Kayak Symposium, Port Angeles, WA. 

info@raftandkayak.com, 888-452-1443, 

www.raftandkayak.com/ks5.html 

Apr 15-17, 14th Annual East Coast Canoe & 

Kayak Festival, Charleston, SC. 843-795-4386, 

www.ccprc.com/kayak.html 

Apr 15-17, Louisiana’s Bayou Teche Bear 

Festival, Franklin, LA. 800-256-2931, 

www.bayoutechebearfest.org 

Apr 23, Waterwalker Film Festival, 

Yellowknife, NWT. www.tundrasails.ca 

and www.paddlersforparts.ca. 

Apr 23-24, Sixth Annual Semiahmoo Bay 

International Regatta, White Rock BC. 

spedd@trolls.ca, 604-329-6759 

April 24, Pacific Adventure Racing Expo, 

Vancouver, BC. waters.edge@telus.net, 

www.watersedgesportperformance.com, 

604-657-7505 

Apr 24, Run of the Charles Canoe & 

Kayak Race, Boston MA. rotc@crwa.org, 

508-698-6810, www.charlesriver.org 

Apr 30, 2nd Annual Paddle for the Border, 

Chesapeake, VA. www.dismalswamp. com, 

252-771-8333 or 757-382-6411 

May 1, PaddleFEST 2005, Mauch Chunk 

Lake Park, Jim Thorpe, PA. 10am-4pm. 

610-533-9311 (cell) 

May 7, 7th Annual Mayday-on-the-Bay Kayak 

Race, Island Park NY. empirekyks@aol.com, 

516-889-8300, www.empirekayaks.com 

May 13, Mini Folding Kayak Flotilla, Gordon 

Bay Provincial Park, BC. info@foldingkayaks. 

ca, www.foldingkayaks.ca/news.htm 

May 13-15, 2nd Annual Reno River Festival, 

Truckee River Whitewater Park, Reno, NV. 

www.RenoRiverFestival.com 

May 14, White Squall Open House, Nobel, 

ON. info@whitesquall.com, 705-342-5324, 

www.whitesquall.com 

May 14-15, 7th Vancouver Island Paddlefest, 

Ladysmith, BC. www.paddlefest.bc.ca 

May 15, Georgian Bay Sea Kayak Symposium, 

Nobel, ON. info@whitesquall.com 

705-342-5324, www.whitesquall.com 

May 20-23, 20th Annual Coast Kayak 

Symposium, Thetis Island, BC. 

www.pikakayak.com/symposium.htm, 


May 21-22, First Annual Puget Sound 

Sea Kayak Symposium, Tacoma, WA. 

julied@tacomaparks.com, 253-594-7847 

www.metroparkstacoma.org 

May 28, Ecomarine Demo Day, Vancouver 

BC. 888-425-2925, www.ecomarine.com 

Jun 3-5, South Sound Traditional 

Inuit Kayak Symposium, Belfair, 

WA. kayakbuilder@harbornet.com, 

253-761-8105, www.qajaqpnw.org 

Jun 4, Round Bowen Kayak Race, Bowen 

Island, BC. 38km race. 800-60-KAYAK, 

www.roundbowenrace.com 

Jun 11-12, 16th Annual Atlantic Canada 

Sea Kayaker’s Meeting, Tangier, NS. 

877-404-2774, www.coastaladventures.com 

Jun 16-19, Inland Sea Kayak 2005 

Symposium, Washburn, WI, 715-682-8188, 

www.inlandsea.org 

Jun 19-Jul 2, 3rd Great Ohio River Paddler, 

gorp@ohioriverfdn.org, 513-460-3365, 

www.ohioriverfdn.org/gorp.html 

Jun 25, 5th Annual Kayak Fishing Tournament 

& BBQ, San Luis Pass, TX. www.packtx.org 

Jun 25-26, 2nd Annual Canoe & Kayak Sail-In, 

Porteau Cove Park, BC. jhartk@shaw.ca, 

604-855-7734 

Jun 29-Jul 3, 2005 Yukon River Quest, 

Whitehorse YK. www.yukonriverquest.com 

Jul 8-10, Door County Sea Kayak Symposium, 

Door County WI, 800-472-3353, 

www.rutabaga.com/everyonepaddles 

Jul 10, BC Marine Trail Ocean Kayak 

Marathon, Vancouver BC. 888-425-2925, 

www.ecomarine.com 

Jul 14-17, Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium, 

Grand Marais,MI, lmerx@nkfm.org, 

734-439-0049, www.GLSKS.org 

FROM AN UNSOLICITED NOTE 

“WaveLength keeps me going. 

Being a responsible adult is not 

always fun nor does it give me 

all the play time I want. But 

when I get my WaveLength, I 

can get away in my mind, while 

reading articles and looking at 

the pictures. It keeps my dream 

of a future trip real in my mind. 

I have learned much from it, too. 

My two year renewal is in the 

mail.” 

—NL, Loganville, Georgia 

Jul 15-16, 15th Annual Potomac Whitewater 

Festival, C&O Canal National Park, MD. 

301-807-1515, rmterry32@hotmail.com 

Jul 16-24, Gorge Games, Hood River, OR 

www.gorgegames.com 

Jul 29, 4th Annual Jay Challenge race, Magog, 

QB to Newport, VT. www.jaychallenge.com 

Aug 6-7, Mississippi River Challenge, 651-222- 

2193 #19, www.mississippiriverchallenge.org 

Aug 27-28, 9th Annual San Juan Challenge 

Kayak Race, Anacortes, WA. 360-299-2300 

sanjuanchallenge@yahoo.com, 

www.adventuresports.com/kayak/san juan 

Sep 9-11, 2005 West Coast Sea Kayak 

Symposium, Port Townsend, WA. 

www.wcsks.org, 800-755-5228 

Sep 17-25, Bamfield Kayak Festival, 

Bamfield, BC. Races Sep. 24-25. 

www.bamfieldkayakfestival.com 

Sep 24-25, Canada West Paddle Surf Fest, 

Tofino, BC. www.surfkayak.org/kayakfestival. 

html ❏ 

1 year sub: 1 entry 

2 year sub: 2 entries 

DEADLINE: 

May 15, 2005 

Full-featured paddling suit. The waterproof/breathable 

TROPOS Super Nova has wrist gaskets, socks and a 

neoprene neck closure for comfortable, safe paddling 

in all but the coldest conditions. A relief zipper or drop 

seat are also standard. www.kokatat.com 

Value: Men’s US$429 S-XXL / Women’s US$485 S-XLS. 

Subscribe, Renew or 

give a Gift and you will be 

entered in a draw for a great 

Kokatat 

Super Nova 

Paddling Suit! 

Subscriptions: $15/yr or $25/2 yrs in North America 

To start your sub today call 1-800-799-5602 

Clip or photocopy this form (or subscribe on-line at WaveLengthMagazine.com) and 

mail with a check to: WaveLength Magazine, 2735 North Road, Gabriola Island, 

BC Canada V0R 1X7. All subscription information is privacy protected. 

NAME___________________________________________________________ 

ADDRESS________________________________CITY___________________ 

PROV/STATE__________________ POSTAL/ZIP CODE __________________ 

$15—1 YR (6 ISSUES) $25—2 YRS (12 ISSUES) *CANADIANS ADD GST 

US$ FOR USA — CDN$ FOR CANADA (PLUS GST) 

GIFT SUBSCRIPTION: “From ____________________________________________________” 

Print your name here if you wish us to send a GIFT CARD to your friend or relative. 

AM05 

Apr/May 05 


59

Ph: 250-539-5553 

RENTALS, TOURS, LESSONS 

robertbruce@telus.net 

121 Boot Cove Rd. 

Saturna Island, BC V0N 2Y0 

SOUTHEAST EXPOSURE 

Ketchikan, Alaska 

6 Day Guided Trips 

Misty Fjords National Monument 

907-225-8829 

www.southeastexposure.com 

VARGAS ISLAND INN 

Affordable Wilderness Resort accommodation in 

Clayoquot Sound on Vargas Island beachfront. 

• 5k N.W. Tofino • Ideal for kayakers • Inn & 

cabins • All self-catering • Passenger & kayak 

transport from Tofino available • Lots to do! 

CALL 250-725-3309 

AWESOME KAYAKING—FREE CAMPING 

We Simply Offer a Better Experience!! 

Excellent equipment, superior service 

since 1991. Sechelt, BC 

(at Tillicum Bay Marina). 

SEA KAYAK & CANOE RENTALS, SALES, LESSONS, TOURS 

info@pedalspaddles.com www.pedalspaddles.com 

BOOK AHEAD: 1-866-885-6440 or (604)885-6440 

BED & BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH 

Gabriola’s south coast paradise. 

Beachfront. Wildlife. Hot tub. 

Gabriola Island, BC 

• KAYAK RENTALS • 

Ph/Fax: 250/247-9824 

www.island.net/~casablan 

CATALA CHARTERS 

800-515-5511 

Kayak Transportation— 

Central Coast, Cape Scott, Queen 

Charlotte Strait, Johnstone Strait 

Bed & Breakfast 

www.catalacharters.net 

SALTSPRING KAYAK & CYCLE 

• Tours • Rentals • Sales 

Located on the wharf at Fulford Harbour 

next to the ferry terminal. Walk off the 

ferry and step into a kayak or rental bike! 

Toll Free: 866-341-0007 

“Gateway to the Southern Marine Parks” 

sskayak@saltspring.com 

www.saltspringkayaking.com 

KAYAK & DIVING 

New Log Cabin Accommodation 

Next to Drumbeg Park 

Gabriola Island, BC 

www.HighTestDive.com 

RUSTIC SHORELINE CABIN on Penobscot 

Bay near Rockland, Maine. Available for 

summer rental. Cookstove and woodstove, but 

no plumbing. Surrounded by acres of woods 

wtih access to beach. $300/week or $50/night. 

Call Jim or Stephanie 706-576-5248 before 

5/27 or 207-594-0624 after 5/27. 

If you’re planning a paddling trip near 

Northern Vancouver Island or the 

Central Coast, RENT from us. 

ODYSSEY KAYAKING LTD. 

Toll free 1-888-792-3366 

250-902-0565 

odyssey@island.net 

www.odysseykayaking.com 

Salt Spring Island’s 

Adventure Gear & Clothing Co 

• Spectacular Scenery, Birds, Wildlife! 

• Kayaking • Hiking • Snorkeling... 

1-888-529-2567 or 250-537-2553 

www.islandescapades.com escapades@saltspring.com 

Your home base 

for Exceptional 

GULF ISLANDS 

Mayne Island, BC Paddling! 

Kayak Rentals, Lessons and Guided Tours. 

Accommodation/Kayaking packages available. 

www.bluevistaresort.com 

1-877-535-2424 

MAYNE ISLAND KAYAK & CANOE RENTALS INC. 

KAYAKING AT ITS BEST! 

Rentals/Guided Tours/Lessons/Sales/Bicycles 

Complimentary Ferry pick-up. Open year round. 

A variety of accommodations available. 

C-54 Miners Bay, Mayne Island, BC 

Canada V0N 2J0 

Tel/Fax: 250 539-5599 

maynekayak@gulfislands.com 

www.maynekayak.com 

PADDLERS WANTED 

Ocean River Sports, Vancouver Island’s 

leading paddlesports centre, is looking 

for keen paddlers to work in our retail 

store in Victoria. Opportunities exist for 

the summer & beyond. Send resumé to: 

JamesRogers@oceanriver.com 

For more info call 800-909-4233 

The web’s best source for alternative 

menstrual products 

Eco-friendly essentials for women on the go! 

Whitewater Kayak! Tours 

Chilliwack River Rafting. No experience 

necessary. Inflatable kayaks on class 

2 to 3. Easy skills transfer from Ocean 

kayaking. Daily departures. 

Call 1-800-410-7238 

www.dowco.com/chilliwackrafting 

Free catalogue 1.888.590.2299 

or shop online at www.lunapads.com 


Aboriginal Orca Adventures 

with Village Island Tours 

All-Inclusive Multi-Day Trips / Kayak Rentals 

• Experience aboriginal culture 

• Sleep in a native big house 

• Enjoy seafood feasts & hot showers 

• Paddle with orcas 

• Whale encounters guaranteed 

www.villageisland.com 

1-877-282-8294 

GABRIOLA COTTAGE 

Private, 2 bdrms, sleeps 6, kitchen, 

yard, sandy beach access, ideal for 

young children, no pets/smoking. 

Starting $500 weekly: 

250-247-9883 boysen@shaw.ca 

www.gabriolacottage.netfirms.com 

Visit the The Willows Inn on Lummi 

Island for some of the best, most 

accessible paddling in the San Juan 

Islands. Push off from our no bank 

beach and be at Clark Island in 45 

minutes, Sucia in an hour and a half. 

www.willows-inn.com 

ANDALE KAYAKING 

Salt Spring Island’s north end Kayaking 

Connection. Sales, rentals, lessons, tours, 

kids’ boats. Wallace Island Marine Park 

Tours. A variety of drop-off and pick-up 

sites. We make kayaking fun and safe! 

250-537-0700 (Apr–Oct) 

allanmather@hotmail.com 

www.saltspring.gulfislands.com/allanmather 

North Coast Adventure 

5 day tours into the Kitlope, the 

largest, unlogged temperate 

rainforest. 5 day tours to 

the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. 

Incredible archeology and First Nations 

culture. Top quality equipment, small groups, 

catch your own dinner. www.blackfish.ca 

or call Paul and Gina at 1-877-638-1887. 

“Downtown By The Fishing Pier” 

4 Star Accommodations 

Hostess: Patty Johnson 

571 Island Highway 

Phone (250) 286-8385 

Campbell River, BC V9W 2B9 Toll Free 1-877-604-4938 

www.oceanfrontbb.com 

patty@oceanfrontbb.com 

Apr/May 05 www.WaveLengthMagazine.com 

NORTH ISLAND KAYAK 

Port Hardy & Telegraph Cove 

Rentals & 1–6 Day Guided Trips 

Toll Free 1-877-949-7707 

www.KayakBC.ca 

nikayak@island.net 

YOGA SEA KAYAK JOURNEY 

3rd–10th September 2005 

Join us in the exquisite nature 

of Tai-li Lodge, Cortes Island, BC 

www.yoga-nature.com 

info@yoga-nature.com 

KELOWNA KAYAK & OUTDOOR 

Recreational, Touring, Racing, Sit-on-tops 

Year round kayak lessons 

Wide selection of accessories 

2079 Enterprise Way, Kelowna BC 

www.kelownakayak.com 

kelownakayak@telus.net 

250-860-3361 

EASTERN OUTDOORS 

Atlantic Canada’s Adventure Outfitters since 1979. 

Kayak tours on the Bay of Fundy. 

Paddle with the whales from 

St. Andrews and Dipper Harbour, NB. 

Also Ramea, Newfoundland tours. 

www.easternoutdoors.com 

Toll free: 1-800-56-KAYAK 

NEW ZEALAND 

Seakayak & Cycle Tours & Rentals 

Natural High, Adrenalin Dealers 

WWW.SeakayakNewZealand.com 

WWW.CycleNewZealand.com 

adventure@natural-high.co.nz 

64-3-5466936 

64-3-5466954 fax 

Sea Kayak Guides 

Alliance of BC 

Spring Guides Exchange 

April 29/30–May 1 

Salt Spring Island 

Jack Rosen of Island Escapades 

will be hosting the exchange. 

Details are posted on the 

SKGABC website 

www.skgabc.com 

To register contact 

kerry@skgabc.com 

The Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC 

is a non-profit society which upholds 

high standards for professional sea kayak 

guides and operators in BC. Through 

on-going professional development and 

certification, the Alliance strives to ensure 

safe practices on an industry-wide basis. 

SKGABC EXECUTIVE 

PRESIDENT 

Blake Johnson: blake@skgabc.com 

VICE PRESIDENTS 

Kerry Orchard: kerry@skgabc.com 

Piper Harris: piper@skgabc.com 

SECRETARY/TREASURER 

Tracy Eeftink: tracy@skgabc.com 

COORDINATING DIRECTOR 

Sue Handel: sue@skgabc.com 

MEMBERS AT LARGE 

Andrew Jones: andrew@skgabc.com 

Nancy Hamilton: nancy@skgabc.com 

Tina Walker: tina@skgabc.com 

SKGABC Membership 

To become a member of the Alliance, mail 

this form and a cheque to the address below. 

___ Company Membership—$100/year 

___ Individual Membership—$35/year 

___ Associate Membership—$25/year 

Name__________________________ 

Address________________________ 

______________________________ 

Phone_________________________ 

Email__________________________ 

Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC 

P.O. Box 1005, Station A, 

Nanaimo BC, V9R 5Z2 

info@skgabc.com 

61

June/July 2005 

NATURAL 

ADVENTURES 

Deadline April 20. Available June 1st 

Our June/July Natural Adventures issue 

celebrates wilderness and wildlife. It 

includes beautiful images of nature’s 

amazing diversity, stories of wilderness 

experience, encounters with our planet’s 

other inhabitants and opportunities for 

readers to pursue these experiences. 

We also expand our online Directory 

of Wildlife Watching. 

Then join us in the last half of 2005 

for three more great issues: 

August/September 

EAST COAST SPECIAL ISSUE 

Deadline: June 20 

October/November 

WINTER GETAWAYS 

Deadline: August 20 

December/January 

WOODEN KAYAKS 

Deadline: October 20 

Kayak instructional videos are all the rage. 

20th Annual Coast Kayak Symposium 

May 20-23 

Thetis Island, BC 

$575 Cdn 


www.pikakayak.com/symposium.htm 

N o w y o u c a n f a c e w i n d , 

c h o p , c u r r e n t . . . 

a n d y o u r p e r f e c t i o n i s t 

f a t h e r - i n - l a w . 

w w w . p y g m y b o a t s . c o m 

PYGMY 

t o p 

r u g g e d 

r a t e d 

v e r s a t i l e 

u l t r a - l i g h t 

the osprey 

P r o d u c e d b y t h e c o u n t r y ’ s l e a d i n g w o o d e n b o a t k i t m a n u f a c t u r e r . 

D e s i g n e d b y v e t e r a n w i l d e r n e s s p a d d l e r J o h n L o c k w o o d , b u i l t b y y o u . 

P y g m y B o a t s I n c . , P . O . B o x 1 5 2 9 , D e p t . 4 , P o r t T o w n s e n d , W A 9 8 3 6 8 • 3 6 0 . 3 8 5 . 6 1 4 3 


Apr/May 05 


63

The Original Mothership 

Tours Departing Weekly 

Toll Free: 1-888-833-8887 

www.mothershipadventures.com

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