KAYAK NON - RACE

It has been some time since I have placed a post on this Blog.

However I feel compelled to comment on the last Post by one Derek Goldman pertaining to the so called "Kayak Race".

For the sake of brevity I shall keep this as brief as possible. However you will, once you have read this missive, appreciate how difficult it is to do so, given my present emotional state.

Mr Goldman and his Wife whose name I cannot even bring myself to mention, organised this and publicised this"race" - even exhorting us to attend so that we could set a new world record . So far so good. Things then rapidly took a turn for the worse.

This Mr Goldman and his unmentionable wife, on the Friday evening prior to the race, undertook to provide me and my paddling partner with a canoe to race in. he encouraged me to do so (his words) "becuase then you can show everyone else how to steer...(?)"

Needless to say, having been so encouraged by a prominent member of the canoe paddling community to participate and display my undeniable skills, I jumped at the opportunity. Mr Goldman then procured, from his group of drinking buddies (this is the kindest way in which I can describe them), a paddling partner for me. I was assured that she was a top swimmer or something and up to the task. She was not. The evening before the race she withdrew leaving me, so to speak, "up the creek without a paddle partner"") complaining that she was scared of hurting her shoulder (?).

Undeterred I arrived at the race the next day with my single canoe. I was determined to show Goldman, the other one and my erstwhile paddling partner (who was seen lolling around on the beach with a perfectly good shoulder), that I could indeed steer as well as he said.

Goldman, grinning from ear to ear and winking to the unmentionable (he does not grin much you may have noticed) then proceeds to tell me that the "Double" is available and that be brought it with "just in case". (At this point in the story I am starting to tremble). Brimming with innocent enthusiasm I managed to locate an equally naive young lady to accompany me on my journey around the lighthouse - she told me that she had heard that paddling with me is "quite and experience".

I know this is long winded so I will cut to the chase (or lack thereof). Halfway to the lighthouse in a large South - Easter swell my partner asks me rather nervously why all the other canoes are passing us? Why? - The canoe had begun to sink. 5 minutes later it was no longer going over the swell but instead, submarine like, had begun to dive through. My paddling partner (being in front) was gamely carrying on but could not see where she was going (being underwater) and I chivalrously decided that we should turn and head back. Have you ever tried to turn a double K (the make) which has its front hatch full to the brim with seawater away from the wind?

Not being able to either steer the F.. thing or surf with it, we heroically limped back while all the time being soaked by the side - swell and risking imminent capsize.

My point? This is how low Mr Goldman will stoop to make sure he wins. Sadly for him he was soundly thrashed by a whisp of a girl half his age. Serves you right Goldman...

Kayak Raft and Race

The annual kayak race was good fun and had a great turnout, see small report and results here. The "world record" attempt was also good fun but the turnout was disappointing at only 50 boats.

Kayak Day - Long Beach Simons Town - October 26th 2008

As of Saturday morning the forecast stays pretty good with a moderate south easter on the cards.

This is our annual paddling event where all types of kayakers and interested parties can come along and check out the scene in False Bay. It takes place at the beach behind Simon's Town railway station.

The weather forecast as of time of writing is for a not too terrible south easter, which is okay to run the race for most paddlers and won't cause too much havoc with the other events planned.
Should it change however and the weather be too windy on the day, we will make the call either late Saturday or early Sunday to postpone the event to next weekend. This information will appear here on the blog straight away if you have easy internet access or you can call 082 556 9945 where either a recorded message or real live person will give the latest info (No SMSs please, only calls).

The Kayak Race - 9.30am The Kayak Race Day is on! We want it to be a great morning out for racers and non racers alike. There is a 10km long course and 5km short course as usual.

Most Kayaks side by side Record Attempt - 11.30 Recently Muizenberg set a record for most surfers on a wave and we want to set a record for most kayakers rafted together in a "row". Tell everyone you know who owns any type of kayak to bring it along. If you have two kayaks then get a friend to use the spare. We want to get everyone involved and after the race we're going for the record! Actually we don't even know if there is one but let's set that bar high.

Try-a-Kayak - 12 noon We will be bringing a range of kayaks along for demonstration purposes. So if you, your friends or family have not paddled before or you want to try out a particular kayak we will have something for everyone to try.

Wednesday Bring and Braai

On Wednesday the 8th October we are having one of our occasional booze and braais after paddling. Non-paddlers of course also welcome as well, from 6pm onwards. We will be showing an excellent video of a solo paddle expedition around the Scottish islands. Bring your own meat and drink, we will be supplying the salads. Please RSVP if you will be attending.

Aircraft Carrier paddle

A bunch of kayakers and innumerable surfskiers paddled off at various times of the day to see how close we could get to the American aircraft carrier parked in Table Bay. Eddie and I got to about 500 metres before a police launch politely asked us to not come closer. The official exclusion zone was 2 nautical miles.

Saturday Paddle

With the weather report for Sunday 5th October forecast to be a raging South Easter my only choice was to paddle this morning. As I had arranged a Beginners Run I was also looking forward to introducing some of the newer paddlers to our usual summer paddling conditions. You remember the cross chop behind the harbour wall, the spray washing over the deck and, best of all, surfing back! As it happens, most of the beginners had checked the wind report, seen the forecast and decided today wasn't the kind of weather they would enjoy so I was able to enjoy the ocean with just a couple of nearly new paddlers for company. I was surprised not to see more of the ususal paddlers on the sea given Sunday's forecast but maybe everyone has gone to the boat show! Anyway we had a close up of this ship which is docked in Simon's Town.
Don't forget the Bring and Braai Video Evening this Wednesday at the shop. Please RSVP if you are coming.