General
Sea Kayaking Trip Tidbits
Equipment/Gear: attached is a recommended
personal gear list. We provide all the rest, including paddling and camping
equipment. “If it is not on the list, then you shouldn’t need it”. Also, please
pay close attention to our packing hints: we must fit all of our personal
and group gear into the kayaks’ bulkheads, through their small openings (large
duffels will not fit !). We are proud to offer a fleet of what we consider
to be the best expedition sea kayaks in the industry: Boreal
Design crafts, built on the outskirts of Quebec City by two young
engineers with an extraordinary vision. We work closely with their team and
utilize a broad selection of their boats, paddles, and accessories. Anticipate,
therefore, paddling top of the line crafts, both singles and tandems, plastic,
fiberglass, and kevlar®.
Weather: The weather can change quickly
and dramatically when on the water. Because of the difference in air and water
temperatures, fog is a common occurrence. In the event of cold and rainy weather,
we want to be prepared for it. We are active on the water and this keeps surprisingly
warm even in poor weather. As with all outdoor travel located in a temperate
marine environment, being prepared is essential.
Itinerary: can (and very likely will)
be changed in a second and is dependent on many factors: tidal patterns, local
currents, surrounding motor boat traffic, weather advisories (primarily winds,
fog, and lightning storms), island availability (for overnight camping), fatigue,
injury, skill development, group dynamics,
equipment repairs. Changes are therefore acceptable and entrusted to our leaders.
We make every effort to stick to our travel routes and campsites, and leave
a copy of our intended itinerary with matching evacuation routes and emergency
telephone numbers at our home office.
Typical
day: rise
and shine with the sun, lay and rest with the stars! Indeed, we live our days
by the rhythm of the earth (although there realistically may be occasional
glitches with this plan, due to any of the factors previously mentioned as
itinerary shakers). Hearty breakfast, pack-up camp, load the boats; health
check, one more weather forecast check, itinerary summary for the day... and
off we go! We take scheduled rest stops with snacks, usually before entering
more challenging sections, and add more as needed; in short, we travel as
a tightly knit group and as fast as our slowest member. A nutritious
lunch on some scenic island or shore usually precedes the last leg of the
day’s route, with an ideal mid-afternoon arrival to our final destination.
Our goal is essentially to get as much paddling in during the morning’s stillness
and avoid the rising winds typical to this area. Early arrival also gives
us time to relax, explore, and thoroughly enjoy our unique surroundings. Dinner,
stories and games conclude the day.
Communication: once
we are on our expedition and are out on the water, we’ll intentionally be
staying out of touch with the rest of the world. We carry a two-way, 5 watts,
hand-held VHF radio for weather reports as well as to contact other crafts
and/or the Canadian Coast Guard in case of emergency.
Previous
experience: no previous experience in
kayaking or wilderness camping is needed for this trip, but, is recommended.
We would appreciate, however, each participant’s summary of previous experiences,
if any. (ref.: registration form).
Health
and physical demands: accomplished
kayakers like to say that sea kayaking is more mental than physical... well,
let’s compromise and accept that it takes both stamina and physical ability
to perform on the ocean in a safe and enjoyable way. Anticipate portaging
your loaded, 100+ lb. kayak frequently (with other participants’ assistance
of course). Indeed, for every stop that requires exiting the boats, we must
anticipate the tidal fluctuations and hoist the boats accordingly, often over
treacherous grounds. Please be thorough when filling out the enclosed health
form; attach comments if necessary. We must be aware of any condition that
may affect a participant’s experience!
Group
dynamics: Healthy group behavior is
essential to enjoying a safe and rewarding trip. We provide much individual
attention and encourage individual performance, yet all of our decisions are
driven and geared towards the well-being of the group. We expect all participants
to expand their “comfort zones” and to “seize the moment”, accepting the many
challenges that the trip will offer with uninhibited fear of criticism. We
also often use a system of revolving “crews”, devised to equally share different
levels of responsibilities (i.e. cooking, clean-up, navigation, journal keeping...).
Paddling
distances: are loosely estimated and given
in nautical miles. Understand that the coast is like a serrated knife with
constant nooks and crannies that we, in our sea kayaks, will have the privilege
of exploring on demand. One straight mile down the middle of a channel might
therefore equal a mile and a half or two to the shore hugging paddler!
Trip
difficulty: distance sea kayaking is a
function of the paddler’s health AND of numerous environmental factors, as
listed above in the “itinerary” paragraph. We have planned our intended itinerary
around favorable tides and based our daily distances at 2.5 nautical mph,
taking rest stops and occasional re-routings into consideration. On a scale
of 0 to 10 (0 being easiest, 10 being hardest), and given the tidal patterns
and the average weather conditions for the area during this time of the year,
we rate this trip between 5 and 6.
Travelers
Insurance: Take a careful look at your
health insurance policy to see how you
Additional
Questions? Please Call Marc A. Bourgoin @ (207) 549-3270 or e-mail: