The Magazine of Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador Spring 2007 Volume 7(2) Ebb & Flow

Freya Hoffmeister

Greg Stamer KNL Board: President’s Message President: Ty Evans Vice-President: Dave Ennis Secretary: Leslie Wells Treasurer: Sue Duffett Past-President: Neil Burgess

Directors: Sea Kayaking: Paul Benson Time to Top yer’ Boats Whitewater: Andrew Stewart Safety: Marie Wall This issue of Ebb and Flow features Freya Hoffmeister and Greg Stamer. Conservation: Barbara Young Freya has taken the kayaking world by storm and Greg is a Greenland-style At-large: Tony Roestenberg champion.

Chapter Representatives: It was a real coup getting Freya and Greg to attend the KNL Retreat. Central: Cathy Scott They’re in great demand around the world and everyone I’ve spoken to West Coast: Ray Dunphy couldn’t hold back their excitement. I’d like to thank Leslie Wells for mak- ing first contact with Freya and Greg and also thank Neil Burgess for tak- Ebb & Flow Editor: ing care of Freya and Greg during their visit. I hope the Retreat and Freya and Greg’s visit turns out to be everything they were expecting and more. Neil Burgess At this time of year we’re just finishing up our fall and winter Calendar of Letters to the Editor: Events, which turned out to be another great success. There was something Address your letters and comments for everyone and I’d like to thank members for their turnout and would like to [email protected] to particularly thank those that led the various events. Our spring and sum- We encourage members to submit mer Calendar of Events has a line-up not to be missed. Thank-you to Tony their suggestions and concerns. Roestenberg for putting together all the events. Our Central and West Coast Chapters are hard at work lining up paddles, Cover Photo: Freya Hoffmeister pond sessions and our very successful KNL safety day, so I would encour- and Greg Stamer age paddlers to show their support by taking advantage of these events.

Newsletter Submissions: I’m looking forward to paddling this summer and meeting new paddlers, always a sign that the club is a growing success. Also, knowing that when Kayak Newfoundland & Labrador and wherever we paddle, I’m among a solid group of paddlers gives me is the provincial club for recrea- and others a great level of comfort. And on the topic of paddling, I would tional kayaking, both sea and like to encourage everyone to get out and partake in a piece of the Circle whitewater. Ebb & Flow is the the Avalon Club Challenge. Let’s have fun and see if we can finish the club’s newsletter and is published challenge this year. 3 times a year. Lastly, I want to mention that Louise Green is stepping down as our club We welcome your submissions to webmaster. I’d like to thank Louise for all her efforts since the KNL web- future issues of this newsletter. We site’s inception. You only have to look at the number of hits on the site to can’t publish all submissions and see that it’s a phenomenal success (over 105,000 hits). Louise has handed off the mouse to Tony Lee. This is one of Tony’s area of expertise and the reserve the right to edit submis- board would like to thank him for taking over as webmaster. Thank-you sions for style, spelling and length. Tony!

Kayak Newfoundland & Labrador Enjoy your read. P.O. Box 2, Stn. C See you on the water, St. John’s, NL A1C 5H3 Ty Evans www.kayakers.nf.ca 2 Kayak Newfoundland & Labrador Retreat Guest: Interview with Freya Hoffmeister

Ebb & Flow asked Freya ten ques- Q. What aspect of Greenland-style Q. What was your most enjoyable tions, to learn more about how she rolling or paddling do you enjoy moment during your trip(s) to got started in Greenland-style pad- most? Greenland? dling and why she enjoys it so much. It's creative, gymnastic-like, re- Seeing my big picture on the front quires some fitness and flexibility, page of the main Greenlandic news- Q. What or who first motivated you successful to teach, and good for paper after winning the first race … to try Greenland-style rolling or the public show. and being on the back page with a paddling? Q. What was the biggest change in (Contintued on page 4) Freya Freya: I saw Cheri Perry demoing your approach to Greenland-style G-style rolling at the Georgia Sym- rolling or paddling as a result of posium in 2004, and got hooked. your first trip to the Greenland na- tional kayak championships? Well, as I was the most successful It's creative, (foreign) woman competitor ever gymnastic-like, with 8 gold medals, so I thought I've been there, done that (the com- requires some petition). I don't think I'll be back to compete. I'd rather paddle the fitness and Greenlandic coast a bit more and flexibility see some ice-bergs.

Ebb & Flow 3 Freya (Continued. from page 3) photo of my headstand later. Q. What would you say to a paddler who is thinking of going to Greenland to see the national kayak championship and learn more about traditional Inuit kayaking? Be competitive, but enjoy the cul- ture, too. They appreciate strong paddlers, but there is so many other things to learn and to see … stick to the Greenlanders and don't hide in your foreigner group! Q. You travel all over the world to sea kayak symposiums. What are Freya teaching Greenland rolling some of the things that you enjoy most about doing that? paddling trip along the Avalon. I'll probably circumnavigate one of Having enough spare time to do the big islands this year, but I can't Q. Do you have plans for a pad- that, and to see so many different tell you yet which. dling trip in 2007 that you are things, places, people … your hori- really excited about? zons get much wider, which you can pass on to other people you'll meet! Some G-style gurus: (L to R) Turner Wilson, Cherri Perry, Freya Hoffmeister & Greg Stamer Q. What is the worst or strangest thing that has happened to you or your kayak when traveling abroad? That someone backed up into my brand new Explorer which was ly- ing in the grass besides the drive- way...and almost crashed it... Q. What attracted you to coming to the Kayakers Retreat in Newfound- land? Being back in the place I explored and loved last year already, and, due to your friendly and generous invitation, to teach you folks obvi- ously something which you haven't experienced much yet! Q. What are you looking forward to doing during your trip to New- foundland? After enjoying the symposium, we'll head out to a (too short) 9-day

4 Kayak Newfoundland & Labrador Greenland Paddle Making by Neil Burgess

On May 7, a half-dozen KNL mem- progress on our paddles. Now sharing of ideas and skills will be bers got together to try their hand at we’ve all got to get busy and finish a lasting reward. making Greenland paddles. With them for the Retreat. the prospect of Greenland rolling One request: please come to the and stroke clinics at the upcoming I’d say the night was a resounding Retreat with a suitable oooohhh! Retreat, we wanted to have the right success, judging by the fact that we and aaahhh! ready for our new paddle for the job. all left with ten fingers intact, big creations. Positive reinforcement smiles beaming, and our paddles in would be much appreciated! We needed 8-foot pieces of 2 by 4 various stages of construction. Our to make the paddles. Most people came with a piece of spruce or cedar from the lim- ber yard. Being a glutton for punishment, I spent the weekend before laminating spruce, cedar and virola strips together, to see if I could make something a little out of the ordinary. Remembering the rule to measure twice and cut once, we carefully laid out our per- sonalized paddle dimensions on the slabs of wood. Then the cutting and shaping started in earnest. Honour is due to Brian Duf- fett, who came out and shared his considerable pad- dle-making wisdom. Darren McDonald kindly arranged for access to a wood shop. Thanks Darren! The pencils scratched, the tape measures snapped, the bandsaw whined, the planes and draw knives carved, and the shavings piled up on the floor. Concentration was pal- pable in the air, along with the sawdust. Seldom was heard a discouraging word, so I guess any errors com- mitted were minor. Two and a half hours later, we had all made significant

Ebb & Flow 5 Book Review by Malcolm Rowe

Sea Kayaking The book is written from the per- however, a good book for the inter- spective of paddlers in British Co- mediate (Level II or III) paddler. Rough Waters lumbia’s inside passage, sheltered by Alex Matthews by Vancouver Island. Where we The book describes paddling tech- Heliconia Press, 2006 paddle is more like the Pacific coast niques in rough water well. A defi- of Vancouver Island. nite strength of the book are the British Columbia paddler Alex many clear colour photos, which Matthews wrote this book, which In Newfoundland, currents aren’t are very helpful (albeit the strokes was edited by Ken Whiting (of important, save in a few locations. are not always of the demonstration whitewater fame). The surf zone is important for quality we’d expect from Mark launches & landings, but what is Dykeman). There are (at least) three kinds of critical for us are wind & waves at rough waters in which to sea sea and along the coast. For those interested in a more ad- kayak: current vanced book on rough water pad- That being said, this remains a use- dling (especially in surf), see John the surf zone ful book. Its strength is its focus on Lull’s Sea Kayaking Safety & Res- wind & waves at sea paddling techniques. It says little cue. (He is a Commander in the Sea Kayaking Rough Waters deals about gear or about seamanship Tsunami Rangers.) (navigation, weather, etc.) with current and the surf zone, but Alex Matthew’s Sea Kayaking not until the very end (pages 114- It is not a beginner book (it assumes Rough Waters and John Lull’s Sea 126) with wind & waves. There are you have basic boat handling Kayaking Safety & Rescue are both no photos of heavy seas. There is a skills), nor is it advanced available at The Outfitters. reason. (notwithstanding its title). It is,

6 Kayak Newfoundland & Labrador Kayak Review by Alex McGruer Makkovik By EasternIsland Kayaks

Specifications:

Length 16’ 6” Beam 22¼” marvelous though. She rolled better back from the main impact area, Cockpit Size 31” x 16” than any boat I have ever been in, and the stern has the same treat- Weight 54 lbs braced beautifully, initial stability ment. This is not like the rather se- Volume: bow 82 litres was good for this class of boat rious (and ugly) after-market skid (aimed at intermediate to advanced plates installed on a couple of my cockpit 185 litres paddlers). Secondary stability was other boats. stern 96 litres exceptional. The rear cockpit bulkhead comes up I was asked to review the new Craig went to work again. The seat at an angle behind the seat and con- Makkovik by EasternIsland Kay- is now quite comfortable with a tacts the back combing; this allows aks. This may on the surface seem good stout back band {that I have almost complete emptying of the unwise, as someone that has just loosened up and shoved out of the boat with one quick turn, should purchased a brand new kayak will way}. The thigh braces are comfort- you need rescued. There is no need likely be biased … and indeed I am! able and are a good platform to put to pump. customized foam on; if you want to Last year, Craig Greenham ap- trick her out. The hatches we had custom ordered proached several local paddlers … yes, Craig does custom work. looking for input on a new boat; She is a Greenland-inspired boat We have the round rubber ones that one of them was me. I was gener- with lines that are quite elegant. Her never leak. I hear the confidence- ous with suggestions but had no bow and stern sweep gracefully to inspiring pop or hiss as I remove doubt Craig would have to dismiss the water, the rear deck is very low each of the hatch covers. The neo- most of them as what I described and the foredeck is high enough to prene covers with a hard fiberglass allow comfort but not be an encum- was the perfect boat according to (Continued on page 10) Makkovik me. brance in wind. Her shear line is classic, there is light if any rocker, As EasternIsland displayed their allowing her to be fairly fast. The first prototype in November 2006, I shallow-V hull circles up to the She rolled better knew they had a winner. Everyone gunnels smoothly allowing a pro- at the pool had her rolling, bracing, gressive lean. than any boat I and hanging upside down in the water. The boat was tortured! Not having hard chines, she does have ever been not have the stopping points along There were some minor issues that the way that tell you where on the in, braced beauti- included the obligatory drip or two lean you are, this has to come from of water migrating around neoprene your own experience with this boat. fully … Secon- hatch covers, thigh braces that fitted The glass work is exceptional. Con- no one well and an issue with the cealed from view is a Kevlar skid dary stability was seat that others had, but never both- plate glassed into the hull from just exceptional. ered me. The hull and deck were below the bow to a couple of feet

Ebb & Flow 7

Waves Generally Wave steepening up as it begins to “feel” the bottom When Waves Break When water depth is half the length of a wave, it begins to “feel the bot- tom”. It increases in height, the wavelength decreases and, thus, the wave steepens. The velocity of the wave decreases proportionally with the wave length, so that the wave period (the time between successive crests) remains constant. When the water depth is about twice the wave height, the wave Waves at the Shore “peaks up”, steepening further. The wave continues to steepen until the water depth is about 1.3 times the height of the wave; the wave then by Malcolm Rowe breaks. Where water deepens again (as inside a sand bar), waves can reform, then break again when the water is 1.3 times their height. forward into the trough; it breaks plunge. However, on some beaches suddenly and releases energy vio- waves up to a certain size will spill, If two waves of the same height lently. A dumping wave is one that while larger waves will plunge. approach shore, the longer wave plunges right at the shore. will begin to steepen in deeper wa- Some waves do not break. Waves in ter, it will increase more in height, Waves spill over a gently sloping deep water encountering a steep it will break in deeper water and it bottom, while they plunge over a cliff reflect. Others surge. With will release more energy when it steeply sloping bottom. Thus, gen- cliffs of lesser steepness, waves breaks than will the shorter wave. erally, waves at a sandy (often shal- surge up its face, as they do through (A longer wave period indicates a low) beach will spill, while those at (Continued on page 14) Waves longer wave length.) a cobble (often steep) beach will

Before they break, waves are Plunging wave: “progressive”, that is they move crest toppling into the forward through the water, but the preceding trough water itself does not move forward. When they break, they become “waves of translation”, meaning that the water itself moves forward. Thus, the oscillatory motion of wa- ter is converted to forward motion when the wave breaks. Spilling, Plunging/Dumping & Surging Waves As it breaks, the crest of a spilling wave tumbles down its face into the trough; it breaks slowly and re- leases energy gradually. By con- trast, when a wave plunges, the crest of the wave curls and falls

Ebb & Flow 9 (Continued from pg 7) Makkovik most. Not included in this compari- comfortable limit for the Makkovik. son are boats like the NDK Ex- Add an emergency bag, all the nor- shell covering them is aesthetically plorer as it has a much higher vol- mal kit, some minor amount of more pleasing but if used in ridicu- ume, and the Romany LV as she camping gear and she would be lous conditions or constantly roll- has a much lower volume. I own a over her comfortablelimit for me. ing, they will leak (just a little). Capella, an Explorer, an Orion, and My wife weighs less than me and This is true for all hatch covers like a Sealution as well as other odds this boat is hers, but I suspect I may this and would be quite acceptable. and sods. I have paddled most boats be borrowing it … a lot. These fiberglass-protected neoprene available around here. covers should not be confused with On club paddles I will still be in the some other systems that, in com- Of all the boats I have paddled, the Explorer, at least until I loose some parison, leak like a basket. Makkovik sports the best fiberglass weight. work and has the most graceful Our boat does not sport a skeg or lines. My 180 lbs is approaching the (Continued on page 13) Makkovik rudder. The long straight keel line re- duces the need for a skeg somewhat and the rudder thing is largely a decision on taste and aesthetics. In 15-knot- plus winds the Mak- kovic, like most kayaks, weather cocks into the wind. This will bring her bow into the waves, a good safety feature for stability in weather. That said, like most kayakers we regularly travel in beam or quar- tering winds and seas. A skeg would be a fine option that I would highly recommend. I have not hopped on a scale with her but she is lighter than any of my other boats. This im- plies a trade off for strength. That will only tell over the years. At 16’6” length and 22” beam, the Makkovik compares very favoura- bly to the NDK Greenland Pro, the P & H Capella and the NDK Romany; with the Makkovik’s workman- ship being better than

10 Kayak Newfoundland & Labrador

Piper’s Hole Rodeo, April 2007 Photos by Dave Ennis

The Piper’s Posse Chris Buchanan Martin Mack Louise Green Paul Rose

12 Kayak Newfoundland & Labrador (Cont’d from pg 10) Makkovik KNL Photo of the Month Contest

Designer’s KNL has added a new feature to it’s popular website (www.kayakers.nf.ca). We will feature a Photo of the Month Contest. See the website for details on how to submit your best photos and how to vote for your favourites each Response month. The Photo of the Month for May is a submission from Jamie Lewis featuring a harp seal and Alex McGruer in Conception Bay taken in April, Thanks for the positive review 2007. Check it out! and the assessment of the Makkovik. It’s our newest model and our first incorporat- ing the popular British/ Greenland design. The Mak- kovik's design goal is to be a well-balanced performer in most sea conditions, and suitable for paddlers within the 150-190 lb weight range. The hull was de- signed so it would be manage- able for all skill levels and allow beginners to develop their skills with confidence. It has a low- profile deck for ease of use in windy conditions and comes with the option of fiberglass/ neoprene hatches or round rub- ber hatches. Designing the Makkovik just over 16 feet makes it easy to manoeuvre and light weight, with certainly enough volume to handle any weekend or overnight trip. East- ernIsland manufactures kayaks with the most up-to-date and finest construction materials available in the composite indus- try today. Quality control and attention to detail are a must, there's no compromise. Happy paddling, see you on the water.

Craig Greenham, owner/operator EasternIsland Kayaks Gander, NL [email protected] 709 676-2862

Ebb & Flow 13 Spilling wave: crest cascading down the wave

Surging wave: crest surging through the arch

Waves (Continued from page 9) onshore wind causes waves to break The Period of Waves & Breakers more quickly, thus in deeper water The period of breakers along the rock gardens or up a steep beach, and with less steepness and height. shore is the same as that of waves carrying forward until their energy By contrast, an offshore wind tends approaching the shore. Thus, if the is spent. On some beaches, smaller to “hold up waves”, so they break time between crests in open water is waves will surge, while larger ones in more shallow water and have 10 seconds, that will also be the will dump. greater steepness and height. time between the waves when they break. This is so only if seas are The Impact Zone and the Soup Judging the Size of Surf regular; groups of waves superim- Zone “Breakers, when seen from sea- posed on one another will have ir- Where waves break is called the ward, never seem as dangerous as regular periods. impact zone. The area between the they really are, because a view of impact zone and shore is called the their backs gives a very inadequate Launching & Landing in Surf soup zone. (Dumping waves have idea of their heights or steepness; The ability to launch and land in no soup zone; they break at the what appears to be a mere swash on surf is critical for paddling in inter- shore.) Waves of transmission flow the beach, when seen from offshore, mediate and advanced conditions. from the impact zone through the may actually be a very dangerous Pages 179-199 of John Lull’s Sea soup zone to shore. Where the soup surf.” (Bigelow & Edmondson, Kayak Safety & Rescue deals with zone is wide, it can be relatively p.99) these skills, as does the University calm near shore. of Sea Kayaking video ABC’s of On a Level IV course last summer, the Surf Zone (at the public li- Waves & Sea Kayaking Richard Alexander and Doug Al- brary). Best of all, take a course that derson suggested the group might teaches these skills. Wind & Breaking Waves land at a beach west of Burgeo to What are called breaking waves in camp for the night. open (deep) water are a different (It was a trick, of Richard Alexander phenomenon than waves breaking course.) Little could playing in big surf at the shore (in shoal water). In be seen, but the at Middle Cove open water, high wind causes the sound of waves crests of steep waves to fall over crashing with great into the preceding trough. These violence on the whitecaps occur for different rea- (steep) beach told sons than waves breaking at the us to look else- shore. where. We had passed a test of That being said, wind also affects judgment. waves breaking at the shore. An

14 Kayak Newfoundland & Labrador

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