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Talking About Adventure In Small Boats

1. 

   IronBob
   Member

   Everyday I train. Every day I post Derby Points. Every day I check the rooster, hardly ever any new signups in Class 1 or 2. Everyday I check the Discussion board and; no, none, zero, zippo, nada going on here. Most years, there are lively discussions on gear, training, wind, wind apps, tide, tide apps, navigation, nav apps, routes, camping, stealth camping, small craft advisories, something or other. This year, not so much. 

   I'm not particularly adept at discussions of a technical matter. But, I can talk motivation. Enthusiasm, enthusiasm, where is it? I'll tell you this, pass it on to whoever you wish, TheJuice and I are motivated, we have more enthusiasm than ever.

   Once a week, TheJuice and I give it our ALL to a day on the water; training, trying harder, applying ourselves, learning new stuff, talking routes, tides, memorizing tide tables, talking scenarios, options, plan A's, plan B's, what ifs. 

   We've been on that course 11 times and we want to do it a 12th! 

   Life is good in so, so many ways.

   From the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling: 

   If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

         To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

   
   And so hold on when there is nothing in you

       Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!

   Posted 8 months ago #
2. 

   GreyHairs
   Member

   As a newbie o check the site frequently as a resource and experienced based facts... has been pretty quiet indeed!

   Posted 8 months ago #
3. 

   MicroTom
   Key Master

   Hey Bob,

   Thanks for saying something. I am one of those who has not been vocal lately. Its not just WaterTribe. I haven't been doing as much posting online.  I did go out to the roster yesterday and was happy to see you and TheJuice signed up. Also Bacon, SandyBottom, Chief, JollyRoger and Kozman in Class 3.  As far as training goes I have not done anything WaterTribe specific. Just being my usual self. Fishing, paddling, sailing, etc. I am getting a bit interested in the weather. Depending upon the weather I may swap out parts of my setup to meet the conditions. I just never know until about 2 days beforehand. 

   Posted 8 months ago #
4. 

   Guitarman
   Member

   I'm in the middle of doing a few mods to the boat but getting quite excited.  Gonna miss those who are unable to make it this year for various reasons.  Really gonna miss Albatross who's locked down in the UK.   I know he will be watching all of us from home so let's raise some noise for him and those who can't make it!

   Posted 8 months ago #
5. 

   WaterScout
   Member

   Over the last 3 years I have seen the enthusiasm go down. I'm sure the various states of lockdown/ restrictions have something to do with it. but it has to start somewhere. Just watching Bob and knowing what he is doing has motivated me to train harder. Bob will tell you that enthusiasm is infectious. 

   
   Veterans, relight your candle, even if you're not participating in the event anymore. If you feel you have nothing more to learn, then maybe it's time to step to the other side of the table and teach/ guide/ mentor. There are new people that want to be you, or like you, they want to have overcome their own Challenges. You are the Kindred Spirit they need. 

   
   

   I've been following the race since the beginning. I knew I would be here someday. Before I made my 1st start, I scoured over the discussion boards, youtube, facebook, and any website that had the tiniest nugget of information. You would be surprised how much intelligence you can gain from someone just posting a casual goPro video of their event; hardware type, routes, food, how they set up their boat, camping spots, etc... I'm running a Hobie TI and they have a lot of moving parts and issues to contend with, My sea kayak would be so much easier but not as comfortable and I couldn't drag my son along. Doing this event with my son has allowed me to connect with him in a new adventure. 

   
   

   
    

   
   

   
   Stories from the old timers are so valuable and are necessary if you want new blood to enter into these events. I think we need more people of every skill level posting videos or discussion of what boat/ hardware you are using and why you chose that. I learn something new every time I go out, or I reinforcement current knowledge. You don't want to give away the farm and make it so easy for someone that has no business being on the water. 

   
   

   
    

   
   

   
   For the last few months, every waking moment of every day, my mind is laser focused on what I can do for this year's EC race. (I'm surprised my wife hasn't called for an intervention) I'm hoping my 3rd start becomes my 1st finish. I have made so many training runs over all of the North end and a little of the Ten Thousand Islands, several times. I am thinking and rethinking every possible scenario and how to keep myself moving forward through equipment issues. I have been caught so many times, comparing the weights of things in the store aisles. I needed the Derby to be my motivation to move farther, train harder, push myself to do more. It may only be worth a few silly points, but those points translated to losing the COVID 20lbs I gained. 

   
   

   
    

   
   

   
   

   
    

   
   

   
   

   
   I would propose a suggestion that the veterans reach out to some of the first timers, and newer folks and see if you can be of assistance to them. I guarantee it would mean alot to them. IronBob and Mr.C. have been my behind- the-scenes mentors. Personal words of encouragement really do go a long way. You would be surprised how powerful a mentor can be. 

   
   

   
    

   
   

   
   "Water Scout"

   
   

   
   Brett Thomas

   
   

   
    

   
   

   
   

   Posted 8 months ago #
6. 

   Bermudaboy
   Member

   IB;  alot of the same sentiments....and since off FB, been really lonely at the WTF... always hopeing to start my morning coffee reading about what others are scheming and divin deep into their  routes,  stories,  photos and videos, etc... 

   "Maybe (I'll) finally found it, way down (t)here  in the (Choko) mud. Maybe from down (t)here  I  (will) start up again. . Be something I can be proud of without having to fake it, be a fake (watertriber)..."

   YEEHAW! 

    

   Posted 8 months ago #
7. 

   ChesapeakeTJAM
   Member

   This will be my 3rd year on the SUP. Arguably the most brutal vessel to use for this challenge. Last year I was vocal, highly motivated and overly confident. I was humbled, coming up just 20 miles short. I turned that disappointment into resolve and have spent less time talking and more time grinding. I work out everyday. I check the Derby and try to quietly pick off who is ahead of me (Chief, you're next). I don’t have any less motivation, on the contrary, I’m more focused and more motivated this year. Just directed inward.

   See you on the beach!

   SUPs rule, Kayaks drool.

   
   ChesapeakeTJAM

   Posted 8 months ago #
8. 

   Kozman
   Member

   I have been building a boat.  Unfortunately not fast enough to get a lot of time in it, but luckily it is a fairly simple boat to operate.  However, I am daily feeding my knowledge of everything EC that I can.  Building in that, tucking in this, adding a little extra here, what about that, modify this, need a spare of that.  This week has been electrical system.  The only compononent part to make/build is to shape and glass the spare daggerboard.  Crap weather here this weekend, which suits my plans perfectly to completely ring this boat out and try to tear the crap out of it.  

   Posted 7 months ago #

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