I spend way to much time on computers, and anything to do with water refreshes my spirit, letting me touch the real world while blowing everything else out of my brain. Thanks to the Water Tribe for such an opportunity to explore more of life, and to share a bit of mine.
I take the tribe’s mission as two-fold. First is to explore one’s self in expeditionary challenges: to feel and push against physical and mental limits. I’ve not yet participated in any tribe events and so I’ve not earned any right to talk about myself under real trial. Even in training, I’d be too embarrassed right now to say much about my sessions. But the tribe’s second mission includes exploration of small craft themselves: designing for the many constraints of expedition “filters.” The first challenge is merely to prepare for an event, and so my current challenge is in getting to the starting line.
Paddling my Think Evo is a great and glorious exercise, and now that I have a dry suit (a requirement for a sit-on-top craft in tribe events), I’m getting back in shape this winter. But much of my preparation since early this summer has been transforming a production surfki into an expedition surkski. While not the typical and ideal craft for this group’s expeditions, building an expedition surfski has been a fascinating experiment, and most of my next posts will be about this particular kind of small craft and in fitting all of the required equipment it must hold. Being on the water provides my real thrill, but merely thinking about such an expeditionary craft has been a blast.
As a “newbie” to paddling, I have enormous appreciation for the lessons shared in The Water Tribe blogs, forums, and articles. The challenge is not to win, but to finish, and finishing or not, then to share. Many elements of my design have incorporated my pouring over the wisdom of other tribers – with particular focus on safety and survival. Mad Dog might be crazy, but he’s not stupid! Safety will be one of my topics throughout.
All comments are appreciated. If I get any terminology wrong, let me know. I hope to keep learning from others and share in return. Just be kind; this is still very experimental, and much more will shake out through test and actual challenge.
But this is all soooo cool! Enjoy!
Happy man in dry suit (required for sit-on-tops), with comfy, bright head warmer.
Long distance toy carrier, with room to share.
How did your surfski work out in the EC? FEKS sail, outriggers, etc?
Thanks for asking, Dennis.
I wish I had been in the EC this year! This year was epic! Anyone who even attempted the start has my great respect — and a bit of jealousy. They will share memories and camaraderie that will last for years.
But I did test out the FEKS this winter and it’s great! Set back on the deck, it points well. The surf ski moved well under the 1M sail! Wind was about 15 knots, but I was only shaking out the rigging, not yet measuring boat speed, so I can’t report. I modified the shrouds to a lower-stretch line and added a raised cam cleat for the mainsheet. This part of the craft is now done, I’m very happy with it, and will post more pictures as everyone comes off of the EC “high” and starts planning for the NCC. I WILL be at the NCC starting line!
Outriggers are very near complete. I will finish work on them this weekend and make on-the-water height adjustments in a week or so. Aside from an accouterment or two, this will complete the entire craft. Again, more pictures to come. And a GoPro video of the FEKS in action!
Then I will do little else but work on the “engine” from now to September. The craft itself looks long, thin, and fast! But all the “engine” hopes to do is start and then finish the NCC. As a newbie, I’m starting to think of when I need to make a practice run this summer, to build some experience and confidence.
EC next year? Only if I qualify myself at the NCC this year. Hope to see you there!