Sea Kayak and Canoe Winter Seminar

This weekend both Jason and I will be presenting at the WWTA (Washington Water Trail Association) Sea Kayak & Canoe Winter Seminar. Jason will be sharing his experience as a commercial guide with A Kayak Guides Tips, Tricks & Tours, while I present my Sound 2 Sea.

The event will be held this weekend at the Community Center at Mercer View. Weekend passes are $60, day passes $35, for admission to classes. A Paddler's Market will be open to the public, free of charge. Advance registration ends Friday at 2pm, you may register at the event for both day or weekend passes.

A compete listing of course, instructors bio’s, and the schedule are all online. Certainly look forward to meeting everyone at this event.

Washington Water Trails Association (WWTA) is a non-profit membership organization whose members who love to travel and enjoy the world by small boats. The Association incorporated in 1990, after realizing that urbanization and privatization of Washington's shorelines are limiting access to and rapidly changing the pristine nature of Washington's waterways. WWTA provides a clear voice for small boater's rights and a helping hand to preserve access to Washington's waters for future generations.

Sector Arrives in Ilwaco

Today in 1991 Gerard d’Aboville arrived at Ilwaco, Washington, in the rowboat Sector at the end of the first west-to-east single handed crossing of the Pacific Ocean under Oars.


"I did not conquer the Pacific. It let me go across."
- GERARD D'ABOVILLE

Early Epic Small-Boat Adventures

Here's an interesting list I came across in the The Mariner's Book of Days:

1789 -- Captain William Bligh and 18 loyalists from the mutiny on HMS Bounty survived a seven-week, 3,600-mile voyage in an open ship’s boat in the Pacific Ocean.

1870 -- J. C. Buckley and Nicholas Primoraz made the first east-to-west crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a small sailboat, the City of Ragua, from Cork, Ireland, to Boston, Massachusetts.

1875 -- Nathaniel Bishop rowed the 12-foot sneakbox, Centennial Republic, down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the Gulf of Mexico.

1876 -- The Banks fisherman Alfred Johnson sailed the 30-foot dory Centennial across the Atlantic Ocean, the first single-handed west-to-east passage.

1877 -- Thomas Crapo and his wife, Joanna, sailed a dory across the Atlantic Ocean from New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Penzance, England.

1880-81 -- Frederick Norman and George P. Thomas made the first double crossing under sail of the Atlantic Ocean, from Gloucester, Massachusetts, to Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, and back again.

1891 -- In a west-to-east race under sail across the Atlantic Ocean against William Andrews, Josiah Lawlor managed to hold on and win in the 15-foot Sea Serpent, despite capsizing several times during stormy weather.

1892 -- William Albert Andrews set a record for the smallest boat to cross the Atlantic Ocean in the 14-1/2-foot Sapolio; the record would stand for 73 years.

1896 -- George Harbo and Frank Sameulson became the first to row across the Atlantic Ocean, in the 18-foot Fox, New York City to the Scilly Isles, England.

Andrew McAuley Missing

This weekend Theresa and I where in Cannon Beach scouting for some upcoming coast paddles on the Oregon Coast and as such where out of touch with the news. However, on returning last night, I was shocked to see that Andrew, despite having the majority of the paddle behind him and being only 43 nm from Milford Sound, was reported missing.

Apparently, a garbled radio transmission was received on Friday night which prompted a rescue response. His overturned kayak, which had no signs of damage, was quickly located, although the cockpit cover was missing. Unfortunately, no sign of Andrew has been spotted so far. It’s not readily apparent what happened and we may never know the cause, but that doesn’t lessen the tragedy and irony of what has transpired.

The scope of lost that most be felt by friends and family is hard to fathom, but our thoughts and prayers go out to Vicky and his son, Finlay. Derrick Mayoleth is in the process of setting up a fund to help his family.

Further News Reports:

The Age
ABC News Online
NewsBreak

Crossing the Tasman Sea

In an incredible feat of endurance and seamanship Andrew McAuley is reaching the end of his journey across the Tasman Sea. He has battled fatigue, 40+ knot winds and multiple capsizes. And all of this in a stock Mirage kayak with an ingenious cockpit cover for sleeping.

His wife recently posted, “Waiting! Waiting! Everyone is on the edge of their seats waiting! It's something I'm getting pretty good at by now! Last week we were expecting Andrew in on Wednesday or Thursday. Now it's looking like Saturday.”

You can read his entire trip log here.

Way to go Andrew!

Publish with permission from Andrew McAuley.