Help bring kayaks to Greenland villages

"On Dec.1st we launch the Kayaks to Schools project, where we deliver kayaks to as many village schools as possible in remote areas of Greenland.

Our first aim is to support schools in Appilatoq (Cape Farewell) and Isertoq (East Coast), total about 50 children.

The hunting villages in Greenland are the poorest areas of the country. Poverty leads to cultural erosion and kayaking as a living part of our culture is coming to an end. This project brings traditional equipment and training to some of the worst off villages, in the hope that cultural appreciation fosters self esteem in the young. Help us give a little back to the people of the kayak!

Each school receives 4 youth sized and one adult size Learning Curve Kayak (pictured above), together with necessary gear and teacher training, to BCU standards. We of course supply all equipment at raw cost."

Misery Loves Company

Remember this boat?

It was first featured here in July, on the night we didn't want to go home (ahhh, summer!).

Well, it's still right there where the owner dumped it. Just looks a lot more miserable, now.


But look - awww - now it's got more company.


A very spoiled Spoiler.


Clearly this dumper wasn't as concerned about being identified as the dumper of the white one.


They didn't go to the trouble that the white boat's owner did to anonymize theirs. Maybe they just figured this is the boat dumping place. That's sure what it's starting to look like.


Or maybe being from the Patchogue Shores Marina, they just figured Brooklyn's as good a place as any to dump their hunk o' junk. Hey, it's Brooklyn, who's gonna notice one more piece of garbage?


Well, if it please the blogosphere, let the record show -

Yo. I noticed.

ps - lots more pictures from my absolutely spectacular excuse for not going to the pool session are posted at Frogma. Wonderful paddle, even if I DID have to stay right-side up (details on that in the comments over there). Come see!

Dutch Reindeer

Hans the Dutch master from the other side of the Atlantic




Brave girls... Ja Laten we proberen! Je kijkt cute.

Sorry I missed the pool!

Pool did call.

Bay just called louder.


Looks like I missed a fun session...but with a forecast like today's? Couldn't resist.

Rolling Session

We had a nice pool session and a lunch. This was a test of a home made Tuiliq design and it was a good learning experience. Traditional Tuiliq cuffs don't work all that well and works well enough. I have experienced what is called Fisherman's death when your high bib fills with water. On the hand, Tuiliq filled air and acted as PFD. When your arms get filled with water and raise your arms. It is a time to combine these two to create a dry suit.

Rolling with it was an easy routine since it gave much needed room and flexibility plays well. There were lots of Greenland paddles; some with finger groove, some laminated and some carved. We missed Bonnie. Stop partying, B.

We made a number of videos. The best is Steve's re-entry. Nicely done.

Here is the gallery of pictures and the gallery of videos we captured.



Steve's Re-Entry. This shows what happens in the water. This is the best video of the lot. Keep that hand with paddle in the right place.



Steve's extra slow roll. not butter roll.







This video demonstrates how Steve uses his legs first and sets a stage for rolling. Then his body floats a bit away and he keeps his arms straight. He uses his torso to scull slowly to find a sweet spot. Then he uses a number of sweet spots; scull, body floatation and legs and just rolls onto the boat. Nicely done.

Fast time across the English channel

Little less than 2 hours and 50 minutes from Dover to Dunkirk(?).

The narrow point of the channel is about 34 miles. A long kayak race but the condition was great except some cripping effects on forward strokes in the middle of the movie.

Corrections: 2 hours and 59 minutes. He is looking for a double partner to try the same 2008. He is a K1 kayaker who used Fenn Marko 6 for the first time!

It is 34 kilometers not 34 miles.

Happy New Year!

Sunset, Paerdegat Basin, Canarsie, Brooklyn - 12/31/2007


Sun clears the clouds after a raw & blustery start to New Year's Day. Jamaica Bay, near Canarsie Pol, Brooklyn, NY, 1/1/2008