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Explorers Consult with NC Kayaks

NC Kayaks asked explorers Corky Canada and Steve Weileman, both ACA Open Water Instructors, for a one day training session and opinions on their locally designed and built kayaks. It was a beautiful day when the group arrived at the put-in at Wollochet Bay with plenty of sunshine and calm winds. The morning was spent with Corky and Steve updating the crew from NC Kayaks on the latest paddling techniques. The sport of kayaking, like any sport, is constantly changing with new techniques added, old ones revised and the bar set higher. As ACA Instructors, Corky and Steve must update their certifications with yearly reviews.

The second half of the day was spent on boat design, with the team of NC eager to hear suggestions from Corky and Steve. Many of the suggestions had already occurred to the designers, but they seem happy to have their ideas validated. It was a fun and productive day on the water, and they look forward to working with NC in the future.

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2nd Annual Puget Sound Sea Kayaking Sysmposium

The 2nd Annual Puget Sound Sea Kayaking Symposium was a success with a large turn out of paddling enthusiasm from all venues of kayaking. Essex Explorers made a large contribution with four of its members (Corky Canaday, Jason Goldstein, Les Uhrich, and Steve Weileman) instructing as well as hosting clinics and presentations. Rescue/recovery, towing, and packing techniques, where just a few of the classes on the menu being offered this year.

If you didn't get an opportunity to meet or study under the Explorers, start making plans to attend next year’s symposium.

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ACA Instructor Developmental Workshop

Steve certainly seems to be keeping himself on the water this summer. He is also slated to teach an ACA Instructors Developmental Workshop hosted by ANEW Outdoors. The weekend event will be held in Ilwaco July 8th-9th with camping available at Camp Disappointment State Park. Topics covered will include surf zone, navigation, seamanship, and boat control to name a few.

There are a few spots open to the public. If you've ever thought about embracing the life style of a kayak instructor or just wanted to supercharge your paddling skills, now's your chance! Contact John Schaefer for cost and registration information.

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Free Kayaking Lesson

Starting this month Steve Weileman will be teaching Kayaking-101, a class offered free of charge by Backpackers Supply. Topics covered will include gear selection, safety tips, and a quick introduction to basic paddling strokes. Although this is an abbreviated class, it's a perfect introduction to the sport.

Click here for class details and schedule. Be sure to sign up early as the classes will be limited in size.

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Split-Rock Cove

Explorers Jason 'Kiwi' Goldstein and Steve Weileman traveled to Cape Flattery to spent a few leisure days exploring the Cape. Although both have paddled the Cape in the past, it has always been either during a day trip, training session, or while in route to a distant location. This time they camped at the Cape and had ample time to explore the many sea caves, rock gardens, and beaches.

Their first night was spent on the west side of the Cape in a small cove which they named 'Split-Rock Cove'; named for the massive rock needle separating the two beaches. Their second night they moved to the Strait side of the Cape to take advantage of the spring tide which was exposing considerable expanses of the intertidal zone. For more detail see Steve's journal and be sure to check out the website gallery.

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Boat Maintenance

Corky and Steve took advantage of the mild weather to perform a bit of boat repair before the season really kicks off. In addition to a re-coat of the keel strip, they looked for frayed or damaged deck lines, stressed toggles, and checked the overall condition of all the deck fittings. For anyone who spends a lot of time on the water, this is a critical step in preventing equipment failure.

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Explorers Tip

There is a number of different ways to pack a kayak and we've tried most of them, but here are a couple of tips which we've found useful. Most importantly, fine tune your packing strategy on a day when you don't plan on being on the water, otherwise you may find yourself having to choose what to leave behind at the put-in. So, put your boat on some saw-horses, gather all your gear and dry bags, and begin experimenting. Once you have all the gear stowed, numbered the bags as you remove them from compartments, and then inventory the contents of each bag.

Then always pack with the items in the same bag and same layout on each trip, saving you considerable time both during the packing process and when at camp; no more digging through bags looking for that one item.

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