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One Man, 160 Hours, One
Beautiful Kayak
Ibrahim Abdulah
Having googled 'strip-built kayaks' I fell in love
with the sleek lines of Nick Schade's 17 foot Guillimot.
Armed with a set of plans and a copy of Nick's how-to
book 'The Strip-Built Kayak' and the most basic of woodworking
skills a challenging task became quite managable. Some
160 hours over the course of 2009 saw my dream boat
gradually take shape.
I sourced a couple of planks of Western Red Cedar from
Carba-Tec in Balcatta and enough knot-free Alaskan Cedar
from Bunnings to get started. A few pieces of American
White Ash, Walnut and Durian rounded out the timber
requirements.
3/4 X 1/4 inch (american plans!!) bead and cove routed
strips are laid over a frame. The hull and deck are
then separated, fibre-glassed inside and out, and rejoined
along the sheer line like two halves of an egg shell.
The only alteration I made was to add a small fixed
skeg that totally cured any tendency to weather-cock.
Multiple coats of spar-varnish completed the job so
that after some 130 outings on the Swan, Canning and
Blackwood rivers as well as off Two Peoples Bay, Flinders
Bay and various metropolitan beaches she still looks
as bright as the day she was launched.
I would seriously encourage anyone who has ever thought
of making a wooden kayak but perhaps been slightly overwhelmed
at the prospect, not to hesitate. Even fibre-glassing,
which was a new experience, presented no problems. It
would be great to see some sister-craft on the water.
Best wishes, Ibrahim
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White-Faced Heron
Probably a Courting Couple - Near Sandy
Beach, Bassendean
Description
The White-faced Heron is light blue-grey heron with
a white face. Young birds have less white on the face.
Adults have yellow legs and juveniles have greenish
yellow legs.
Size
65cm
Habitat
anywhere where there is water - tidal mudflats, grasslands,
parks and gardens
Food
fish, insects and amphibians. In cities and suburban
areas it and sometimes eats fish from goldfish ponds.
Breeding
the nest is an untidy structure of sticks built in a
tree. Lays 3-4 eggs.
Range
throughout the mainland and Tasmania
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2012 Wildwater race series
The Upper Swan T-Tree's race was held on the 8th July
on the original course starting at Bolland's elbow and
finishing at Amiens. A great field of 29 paddlers pitted
themselves against each other and a challenging stretch
of river. Josh Kippin showed his allround paddling skill
by being the fasted paddler on the day even though was
not familiar with the course.
Josh Kippin the winner of the Upper
Swan T-Tree Race was 2.47 minutes faster than Darryl
Long in second place. Josh and Darryl are teamed up
to paddle the Avon Descent
Darryl Long was first in the 35+ WWK1 class, Stephanie
Myles won the ladies, Phil Langley the mens short plastic
open with Mark Lawson the Mens 45+ mens platic winner.
4th place Spencer King concentrating
intensely
Ron McKenzie practising before the race.
He was the fastest in the strong field of six sundries.
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WHITE WATER TECHNIQUES
1. SELF RESCUE
No matter how experienced you are, there is always the
possibility that you may capsize your kayak and have
to swim to safety.
Try to remember the following rules:
o Hold onto your paddle and the upstream end of your
boat. Guide your boat down the main stream and prevent
it from becoming broadside to an obstruction.
o Stay upstream of your canoe or kayak; being trapped
between an obstruction and a heavy water filled boat
can be fatal. If it is a kayak leave your boat upside
down; the trapped air inside will assist with buoyancy.
Ski paddler's can climb back on if safe to do so.
o Prevent your legs and feet from becoming trapped or
injured, by lying on your back with your feet downstream,
horizontal and near the surface of the water (in the
safe swimming position).
o Prepare to fend yourself off rocks or trees by pushing
against them with your feet.
o Angle the upstream end of the boat towards the bank
when the passage is clear. If you have to swim your
boat ashore, use one hand to grasp both the boat's grab
loop and paddle, and use the other hand to swim.
o Leave your boat if it improves your safety, if the
water is dangerously cold, or menacing rapids follow.
o If you have lost your boat and you have to swim ashore,
always swim with the intention of saving yourself and
be alert to possible dangers further downstream. In
some situations, it may be necessary to swim aggressively
to escape from a long rapid and avoid dangerous holes,
chutes or trees.
o Finally, do not try to stand in moving water as foot
and leg entrapment is possible. Wait until you have
reached slack water or water which is approximately
knee deep.
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A Paddler Is Broadside
To A Tree Or Rock
If you find yourself in this situation, try the following:
o Throw your bodyweight immediately towards the obstacle
and lean downstream, keeping the hull of the boat raised
so that the water deflects beneath it. (To keep the
upstream edge raised, push up on the upstream side with
your knees and hips.)
o Keep the kayak free from the obstacle by pushing yourself
away from it.
Continue leaning downstream, keeping the boat's upstream
edge raised, and either pull or push (depending on which
way you want to go) so that the boat creeps around the
object and is freed.
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A Capsized Paddler Is
Swept Towards A Fallen Log Or Tree
Fallen trees should be avoided at all
costs, as the current may force you under the tree and
cause you to become entangled in the branches. If you
are in the water and it is impossible to avoid the tree,
face forward, swim aggressively towards it and throw
as much of your body and legs on top of it as you can.
This will prevent the current from forcing you under
the tree.
Remember Think Ahead: When you see a log or
tree blocking your path act early, stop or slow and
assess the situation well upstream of it and work out
a plan of action. Be prepared to get out of the water
and portage around it. Also be aware of other paddlers
following they might not be able to stop or control
their craft and push you towards the log.
IN MOVING WATER, DO NOT HOLD ONTO OR GRAB OVERHANGING
BRANCHES AS IT MAY RESULT IN A CAPSIZE.
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LEANING AND EDGING
o Leaning is a skill that is constantly
used in white water manoeuvres such as the Ferry Glide,
the Break-in and the Break-out. The ability to lean
at the appropriate time minimises the risk of a capsize.
o The basic rule is that whenever you are crossing a
current, you must lean the boat downstream. Leaning
the boat downstream causes the upstream edge of the
boat to rise, allowing water to deflect off the hull
and pass beneath it. If the water is allowed to push
the boat's upstream edge down, this can cause the boat
to flip and capsize.
o If your boat comes broad-side to an obstacle, it is
essential to lean downstream towards it, ensuring the
upstream edge of the boat is raised. This will help
prevent a capsize, and the possibility of the boat wrapping
around the obstacle.
Edging is another important manoeuvre, which, combined
with leaning, ensures maximum boat control. To edge
your kayak, maintain your body in an upright position
and use your knees and thighs to lift the boat's side
out of the water.
Ski paddlers don't have the same control as kayak
paddlers as they don't have the same knee support or
knee lift so ski paddlers won't lean their boats as
much.
Edging is more commonly used in advanced manoeuvres,
and it is often hard to detect the subtle differences
between leaning and edging in easier manoeuvres. Being
proficient at leaning and edging is necessary in a kayak,
and it is extremely important that the paddler develops
a natural feel for the river current and is able to
apply the relevant skills at the right time. Incorrect
lean is the most common cause of a capsize when learning
white water techniques.
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FORWARD FERRY GLIDE
A Ferry Glide is the most efficient way
of crossing a current without losing ground. The boat
is paddled in the opposite direction to the current
flow, at an angle that enables the oncoming moving water
to push on the boat and assist it to glide across the
current. The success of this manoeuvre is dependent
on the balance between the correct boat angle, the assistance
of paddle strokes and the tilting of the boat. If perfect
boat positioning is achieved, minimal paddle strokes
will be required. The slower the water, the greater
the boat angle. The faster the water, the greater need
for a reduced boat angle.
Ideally, to gain proficiency you should first attempt
the Ferry Glide mid stream of an easy flowing current
which does not have an unstable eddy line.
Crossing the current by performing a
ferry glide
Ferry gliding is easily learnt in two stages:
1. Crossing the current
o Move into an easy current and keep your bow pointing
almost directly upstream.
o Angle your bow slightly in the direction of the bank
you intend to head towards
.
o Paddle forward on both sides of the boat and lean
downstream. If the boat is positioned at the correct
angle, the water will push against the bow of your boat
and assist you to glide sideways across the river flow
in the direction you wish to travel.
o If your boat starts to swing broadside to the current,
the angle is too great. To correct this, execute Forward
Sweep Strokes on the downstream side to bring it back
to the correct angle.
o If you change boat direction midstream, ensure you
adjust your body to a downstream lean.
2. Crossing the eddy line
As you progress into swifter currents, the eddy line
(which is the point at which moving water meets the
slack water) must be crossed. Paddlers continually cross
this line when performing white water manoeuvres (eg
crossing the current, the Break-in and the Break-out
of an eddy). Care must be taken when crossing this line,
as the stability and control of the boat can be considerably
reduced by the water turbulence, fluctuations and different
water speed.
When you attempt to cross an eddy line that is unstable:
o Allow yourself room to accelerate by dropping back
into the eddy.
o Accelerate across the eddy. Aim the boat towards the
eddy line, ready to enter the current at an angle of
about 10 - 45 degrees - the angle will depend upon the
speed of the water.
o Directly before the bow enters the current, drive
the kayak across the eddy line using Forward Paddle
Strokes. At the same time, lean downstream to lift the
boat's upstream edge. To prevent the boat from nose
diving, especially in fast water, raise the bow by leaning
back slightly.
If you do everything right in the Avon Descent there
will be no need to do a Ferry Glide because you are
racing downriver. However it is a very important skill
to learn and should be practised.
Big Tidal Rapids in the King Sound -
Kimberley
If you want whitewater all year round, go paddle in
croc country.
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2012 Act-Belong-Commit
Avon Descent Family Fun Days
Looking for a great way to catch all the
action of the 40th Act-Belong-Commit Avon Descent white
water race from Northam to Bayswater, while keeping
the whole family entertained?
Experience the excitement of the world's greatest white
water event at five, free Act-Belong-Commit Avon Descent
Family Fun Days held at picturesque riverside locations
in Northam, Toodyay, Guildford, Belmont and Bayswater.
Held over the weekend of the race, the family fun days
are a great way to follow the thrills and spills, along
with plenty of free entertainment, live race commentary,
and activities for all ages.
Kick-off the celebrations with fireworks and a street
parade at the Northam's Avon River Festival on Friday,
3 August at Bernard Park in Northam. Combine race action
with delicious cuisine at the Toodyay International
Food Festival on Saturday, 4 August at Duidgee Park
and Stirling Park in Toodyay. Choose from three great
events full of entertainment, activities and live race
commentary on Sunday, 5 August, at Fishmarket Reserve
in Guildford, Garvey Park in Ascot, and Riverside Gardens
in Bayswater.
Like a reminder about the 2012 Act-Belong-Commit Avon
Descent Family Fun Days closer to the date so you don't
miss any of the action? Simply SMS 'Avon' to 0410 909
090, and you'll receive a friendly text message to remind
you the week prior to the events. Standard SMS charges
apply. Reply 'stop' to unsubscribe at any time. Privacy
is assured.
The 2012 Act-Belong-Commit Avon Descent Family Fun Days
are proudly presented by the local governments of Bayswater,
Belmont, Northam, Swan and Toodyay, and are supported
by Lotterywest.
http://www.avondescent.com.au/?page_id=183.
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