Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Posted by Greg on
April 24, 2023
Note, this post was penned by Everglades Challenge 2023 participant Andrew Findlay (tribe name “Horace Wimp”).
This lively story was shared at every checkpoint along the course with much relish and amazement to all who heard it. With Andrew’s permission I’m sharing it here so others enjoy.
The 10:00am late start made for a leisurely wake up and morning of preparation. The winds had died significantly from the afternoon prior and Tampa Bay was looking quite reasonable for small craft, with a moderate southwesterly breeze. Like most others leaving the beach we initially headed SSE, across the shipping channel, and continued on towards the southern side of Tampa Bay. I then tacked a couple of times heading almost due west and lining up with the channel between the northern end of Anna Maria and Passage Key. As I approached it was clear there were still significant swells from the SW, most probably in part due to the strong winds 24 hours earlier. I steered clear of the shallows, which were clearly visible from the many breakers, and kept heading west until I was about 1.2 miles out from Anna Maria, and beyond the breakers. I tacked a couple of times, trying to head southeasterly, while staying in the deeper water beyond the breakers. All was going well, making about 6 knots, and my X-cat rolling a little with the southwesterly waves. I was feeling relaxed to be out of Tampa Bay and heading down the coast, all was good.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Greg on
February 27, 2014
Watertribe members converge on Tampa, Florida for the start of the 2014 Everglades Challenge
On March first (Saturday) at 7AM, a record 142 entrants across six different boat classes will rush off the beach at Fort Desoto, in Tampa, to begin the next Watertribe adventure! I will be participating in the 300 mile Everglades challenge (Tampa to Key Largo) this year but there is also a 60 mile Ultra Marathon and a 1200 mile Ultimate Challenge running concurrently.
I won my class last year and hope to do well again. This year I will be in class 1 (expedition kayak and canoes), and being a minimalist I will be one of the few people in that class without a sail. Currently winds are predicted to be light, so I hope to pass some of the sailboats that were flying by last year in strong winds! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Greg on
April 22, 2012
Q: Hi Greg,
I use both Greenland style kayak (hard chine,low deck, low volume) and Brit style kayak (round chine, generous freeboard). What I get frustrated about Greenland style boat is that it is really hard to keep it tracking straight in a [rear quartering] sea. I have no problem with my Brit boat even without using skeg (yet), but with my Greenland style boat, I have to really work on corrective strokes and it slows me down. Is it just the nature of this kind of kayak? Or is there any technique that I can use to make it easier? I don’t see any article about Greenland style technique regarding to that subject (boat handling in wind) except extended strokes. It is hard for me to think they (the Greenlanders) did not have that kind of technique to pass on when they had to use the kayak which is very very sensitive to what the water does to it. So far I am learning to adapt Brits technique to use with Greenland style gears just because I can’t find anything from “Greenland side”. Thanks! Setsuko
A: Hello Setsuko,
Many classic British sea kayaks have a strong West Greenland influence. While I like the control afforded by hard chines, the overall shape of the kayak is much more important than just hard-chined or round-bilged, when it comes to tracking, weathercocking and broaching.
Greenland kayaks, even from the same general area, can behave very differently, so it’s impossible to generalize. I have paddled kayaks in West Greenland, built in the same town, that weathercocked viciously and others that tracked strongly. I find that the kayaks that exhibit the most weathercocking often have very low volume and very “pinched” ends (when viewed from above), combined with strong rocker. While this often gives superb maneuverability (and a certain aesthetic appeal), it can make the kayak quick to weathercock/broach. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Greg on
January 21, 2012
In case that “Google” or “Ask Jeeves” isn’t sufficient to answer your kayak question, next time try “Ask Greg”! 😉
You can find my new Ask Greg page among the options at the top of the screen. Please keep it in mind the next time you have a question or want to browse.
I look forward to helping you with any kayaking questions you might have.
Posted by Greg on
January 11, 2012
I’m happy to report that my fragile male ego wasn’t bruised too badly, first time in a K1 🙂 At least I didn’t unintentionally swim but my bracing and sculling skills were heavily tested. My girlfriend, Pauline Besson, did very well, and managed to stay upright, but did have a capsize or two. Most other friends who tried it went about fifteen feet, the boat flopped to its side, and into the drink they went.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”
For the first few minutes Pauline stabilized the K1 while I simply got accustomed to the feel. My first thought was, “You’ve got to be kidding me”! I was (over) confident that it would be a piece of cake, however the initial stability, or rather the lack of it, was much different to anything I have been in before, and that includes some very narrow V-hulled boats.
I knew the key was to relax, but my hip-flexors went into overdrive trying to balance. Nervous waves radiated quickly away from the kayak. “Stop IT!”, I barked to myself and the quivering boat. After a few minutes I finally relaxed and could balance by using the buoyancy of the paddle and by gently sculling. I used a Greenland paddle for this due to its familiarity, buoyancy and ease of sculling and bracing.
I repeated the same exercise with a wing paddle. Finally, Pauline gave the kayak a gentle shove from shore. The initial feeling is that you are balancing on a knife-edge because you don’t know when, or if, the secondary stability will kick in. Also, unlike a sea kayak, surf or whitewater kayak, the K1 has no thigh braces, featuring a large open cockpit instead (to allow unencumbered, full leg drive). I struggled to find something to press against. You simply sit atop a fairly flat seat with no back support, with your feet resting on a comfortably angled footrest and optionally under a pull-bar. The initial sensation is like stacking a phone book on the back deck of your touring kayak, and sitting on that as you paddle away (not an exaggeration). Even a surf ski, a true sit-on-top, offers much more contact with the boat, due to the depth of the bucket-seat and leg contact with the “hump” under your knees.
A good solid catch and stroke provides strong support, and is a major key in stability. Unfortunately, while you are first learning how to stabilize the K1, your stroke will be defensive and weak. That’s why it would be best to start in a stable K1 trainer, if available, and work up to less stable boats, so that you don’t add defensive compensations to your stroke. For my first strokes I had to finish each one in a low brace for stability.
I was determined to get wet, one way or another, so I attempted a roll close to shore. Yes, some people can roll a K1. I held myself inside the cockpit with an arm wrapped around the hull as I tried to find some way to lock my knees inside the boat. Eventually I simply fell out. Although not designed for rolling, some K1’s permit limited purchase with your legs near the coaming. I’m sure that with some straps it would not be difficult to roll and at least might save a swim while training.
Pauline is all smiles as she gives the K1 a try.
I find it worthwhile to keep a training log. Following are some excerpts from my first few sessions with the K1 that might be useful to kayakers considering learning a K1, and provoke some memories for those who are proficient.
Session 1
Winter Park chain of lakes. Calm.Took awhile to relax. Waves shooting out from cockpit and boat shaking like a newbie balancing on a taut-line. Much less stability than I imagined.
Took a few minutes trying to figure out how to best get into kayak from beach. Understern rudder and layup precludes starting on beach. Dock would work but was busy. At this point I just straddled the cockpit and plunked my butt down. The kayak is deep –learning to get in fast, such as required for marathons will take some practice.
Great feeling of insecurity – feels like you may go over any second. Paddle and brace, paddle and brace.
Tiller steering felt very, very weird. First had to figure which way bar needed to go, but with the footstrap in place there is very little room laterally to move feet!
Roll did not work. Cowboy scramble did not work. There must be something better than swimming the boat to shore.
Session 2
Started at Winter Park chain, too exposed and windy with small breaking waves on shore, move to Lake Destiny. Windy, small chop but some protected water.
Takes a few moments to get over initial stability.
Kayaked in protected canal.
Wow, what a leaf catcher – and even the smallest leaf throws up a torrent of water! A bit tenuous when stop and reverse to shed bow leaves.
A bit shaky when turning at the end of the canal, but OK. On lake, getting more comfortable.
Able to link more strokes. Legs/abs/core very tired, very quickly — tried different seat/footrest positions.
Shoulders starting to feel the effect of all the bracing.
Went to downwind side of lake, amazingly fast downwind, and was lucky to turnaround there without capsizing. Plan was to go around lake at windy side, but waves and wind gusts too much.
Session 3
Lake Destiny, smooth.
Getting acquainted still.
Landed on sand beach and tried to find a “fast way” to enter kayak. Didn’t go too well. Kayak is deep, and once it falls to one side you can’t recover. Incredible that marathon paddlers jump in like getting on a skimboard. Left that for another day.
Paddling farther and faster but still feels pretty precarious. Would not want to try this yet in the backcountry near gators!
Tired quickly – like learning to kayak all over again.
Session 4
Lake Destiny, calm.
Still takes a few minutes to get over initial stability.
Still getting tired very quickly as core struggles to keep balance.
Practiced leaning hard from one side of kayak to the other, testing the secondary while sculling/bracing with wing. This helped greatly. First time that actually started to paddle and feel a rhythm. Linking many more strokes and bracing less.
Tiller steering getting better, but feet are awfully cramped. I’d love a full footplate to push all the way down to my heel.
Session 5
Lake Destiny, calm.
Still takes a few minutes to get accustomed to stability, but now able to link stokes without bracing. Torso rotation is still slightly impacted due to a “defensive” stroke, but working on taking a full stroke, balancing on the “air stroke” and taking another. Expect to have full-power, full rotation stroke soon.
Paddling is still a workout — hip flexors and stabilizers are still working overtime to balance — so muscles never get a rest — but getting better.
What is needed at this time is simply more”butt time” in the cockpit!
Posted by Greg on
January 6, 2012
… Only tippy paddlers.
At least that’s what I used to tell students …. before I tried a K1 sprint kayak.
So why a K1? I’m working with computers again — great for cash flow and rebuilding bank accounts, but not so great for long trips and expeditions. However the silver lining is that there is plenty of time to train and complete in the local races, grow stronger, and learn some new skills. Also, my interest was piqued by what I have heard about these slender hulls. Surf the web and you will discover comments such as “the K1 is the formula 1 of the kayaking world”, “separates the men from the boys” , and “if you can paddle a K1 you can paddle anything!”. While it’s best to treat what you read on the internet with healthy skepticism, that sounds like a challenge if I ever heard one!
I always find it rewarding to branch out into other aspects of the diverse world of kayak-sport. Being a “beginner” again in a new discipline is humbling, keeps you grounded and you experience the thrill of rapidly learning and improving. That’s great fun if you have been doing something for years or if you feel your skills have plateaued.
I’m comfortable in 19″ width Greenland skin-on-frame kayaks, a tippy waveski, and train on a balance board. How much more difficult could it be?
As it turns out — more than I imagined!
Unlike Europe, the K1 scene is not very developed in the states. I have paddled for over 20 years, with many groups and in many disciplines and have only seen a handful of K1’s in that time here. Sprint kayaking is regulated by the International Canoe Federation (ICF). An ICF K1 must be 5.2m (17.06 feet) long and weigh 12kg (26.4 pounds). The kayaks are usually built much lighter than this and have precise weight added to meet the requirements. In 2003 the ICF Congress abolished the minimum beam requirement and designs quickly changed. The kayak shown here is an “old rules” kayak with “wings” (diamond shape) to satisfy the obsolete beam requirement.
K1 hulls vary in stability, they are given a stability rating from 1 – 10. At the lowest level are the Olympic sprint kayaks (part your hair the wrong way and you have a problem). The higher stability ranges overlap with sea kayaks.
I was looking for an Epic Legacy or Nelo Vintage, but the waiting period was long. Fortunately, my good friend Russell Farrow at Sweetwater kayaks had an old K1 that was left behind in Florida after spring training by a European team. South Florida, especially the Pines resort in Melbourne, hosts a number of Olympic hopefuls each year, looking to escape the Winter cold (snowbirds in the local lingo), to train.
The boat is a Bootsbau Berlin K1, year of manufacture unknown. Its condition was a little rough, but after some gelcoat patching and elbow grease it cleaned up pretty good and the hull is sound. I didn’t want to complicate an already challenging process with a leaking kayak!
Coming from a sea kayak background where I prefer a skeg, rather than a rudder, another different aspect to learn is the steering. Unlike “gas-pedal” rudder controls on a surfski, or some sea kayaks, a K1 (usually) employs tiller steering. Paddling barefoot, the idea is to cradle the tiller bar between your feet. You gently nudge the bar right to go right and vice-versa. Although this setup does let you push hard on the footboard without activating the rudder, it takes some getting used to as there is precious little room and your feet are (optionally) secured by a pull-bar or strap.
Tiller steering takes some getting used to. I prefer to push with my heels so will be modifying the footbrace to a full footboard system. I’ll post some pics when done.
So had did the maiden paddle go? Did it involve some unintentional “swimming practice” or did I keep the bottom side down?
Please check back soon to find out!
I’ll be including some technique tips in the future as well, including some coaching techniques popularized by the great Imre Kemecsey.
Posted by Greg on
January 4, 2012
One of my nagging New Year’s resolutions was to post more often. I’m usually on to the next project/trip without wanting to write about the previous one…
I’m in the process of updating this blog to a new version of WordPress.
During this time the site may be down or incomplete. Please check back soon.
Best,
Greg Stamer
Posted by Greg on
January 31, 2010
I have created a new gallery album of images from Iceland. I am currently working to post the complete contents of my “Lost in Iceland” article , an account of my 2007 circumnavigation, that appeared in Sea Kayaker magazine. Please check back soon!
The “Horn” on a rare day without fog. Iceland 2007.
Posted by Greg on
December 15, 2009
Russell Farrow of Sweetwater Kayaks, St Petersburg, Florida
Friday after work I traveled to the West coast of Florida and caught up with my good friends Russell Farrow and his wife, Claudia, of Sweetwater Kayaks in St Petersburg, Florida. We swapped tales of our recent travels and brainstormed about future expeditions over a few beers and dinner. The following morning I hung out with Russell at the shop. Yes, Sweetwater is OPEN for business, having had their grand (re)opening in October. I’m happy to report that business was brisk while I was there. The new shop is close to the original location but is on the water, making instruction and kayak demos very convenient. The new shop, although much smaller than Russell’s previous building, has a great island atmosphere. It reminds me a bit of being in Key West.
More good news is that the Sweetwater symposium, that was canceled last year, is ON AGAIN for 2010! Please mark the event on your calendar and support Sweetwater to keep it growing and thriving!
Posted by Greg on
October 27, 2009
Greg surfing John Petersen’s Baidarka in San Simeon California during the TAKS symosium. Photo by John Petersen. Click on image to view full-size.
I’m not sure if I love kayaking because it is a form of travel or that I love traveling because I always mix it with kayaking. Both kayaking and traveling are a form of freedom. But (Mae West’s views notwithstanding), you CAN have too much of a good thing. To me travel is best when complemented by adequate time to enjoy home, friends and family.
I’m off today for Israel (Optimist Sea Kayaking Symposium), my gear barely dry after rinsing off the Pacific salt from California. And California was on the heels of adventures in Japan, Delaware, Michigan and Newfoundland. After Israel I will visit Sweden and then will finally have time to work off the jetlag, relax and relfect.
I’m certainly not complaining. I love virtually everything about travel. My worn, dog-eared passport is down to the last two pages for stamps. I inherited my Grandfather’s wanderlust. My Grandfather was born in Hamburg, Germany and found his calling as a missionary who traveled the world. As a boy I sat on his lap spellbound as we leafed through his meticulous photo albums and he spun tale after tale. My imagination was fired by pictures of him in exotic places, such as on camel back by the Sphinx, with headhunters in the jungles of Borneo, in Europe and more, always with my father and uncle alongside (who were just lads at the time).
In Israel I’m looking forward to visiting the same sites in Jerusalem that my Grandfather and father spoke of, and photographed. Once home I’ll shake off the last bit of jetlag and share some adventures and images with you, of the past two months.
OK, gotta run to the airport!