Archive for Paddling Destinations
NACK visits the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation
Posted by: | CommentsLast weekend NACK members had the opportunity to visit the facilities of the Riverhead Foundation where they attended a lecture on Sea Turtles and Marine Mammal Strandings. After the lecture we got a private of tour their rehabilitation center and laboratory area. Every year the Foundation helps rescue seals, dolphins and sea turtles that are injured or in the case of sea turtles, stranded in our waters by the rapid onset of cold weather. They also conduct research, often attaching GPS tracking devices on released animals to monitor their activities.
Kayakers are often a position to find animals in distress and the Riverhead Foundation maintains a 24 hour emergency response team for all of Long Island and NYC. So if you find an animal in distress please contact the Riverhead Foundation at 631 369 9840. They also point out that sea turtles, which are commonly found at this time of year, may be in such a state of cold shock stunning that they may appear dead. Their heart rate and respiration slow down severely but they can often be saved if you contact the foundation.
On this Thursday November 17, 2011 the Foundation, in cooperation with the Town of Hempstead Department of Conservation and Waterways, will present a free seminar on marine mammals and sea turtles. The seminar will also show residents what to do if a seal, dolphin, whale or sea turtle is stranded on the beach. It will begin at 6PM at the Administration Building on Lido Boulevard in Point Lookout.
Reservations are required by calling the foundation 631 369 9840 or emailing volunteers@riverheadfoundation.org
The Riverhead Foundation is located on the Peconic River in Riverhead adjacent to Atlantis Marine World.
NACK Paddlers Kayak Around Manhattan Island
Posted by: | CommentsEight NACK Members and a couple of friends met up with the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club on Saturday 7/16/2011 for their Kayak Around Manhattan event. The Manhattan Island kayak circumnavigation began at Pier 40 (Houston Street) and launched from the Downtown Boathouse floating dock.
Circumnavigating Manhattan in a kayak is a tricky 30 mile trip that requires careful planning and timing to make the most of the strong currents and avoid getting caught paddling against the flow.
As we got underway the Manhattan skyline was stunning in the early morning sun. In short order the Statue of Liberty was visible on our right as we approached the Staten Island Ferry terminal. There’s plenty of big commercial boat traffic and pleasure craft in the area so it’s essential that the group stay well organized. Carefully coordinating the crossing of the Battery on VHF radios we made it to the Brooklyn side of the East River and the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge.
Perhaps the most critical part of the trip is passing thru the Hell Gate confluence of the East River, Harlem River and Long Island Sound. With the full moon the day before, currents in the vicinity were running up to six knots. Paddling up the East side of Roosevelt Island we were traveling at 10 MPH on the GPS and we sought shelter in Hallet’s Cove to await the slack at Hell Gate.
After about an hour layover we made a quick dash past Mill Rock and across Hell Gate to the Harlem river. There’s only a brief window of opportunity to get it done before the East River begins to flow south and the Harlem River flows north as water rushes in from Long Island Sound.
Our trip up the Harlem River took us past the old landmark Macombs Dam Bridge and Yankee Stadium.
The second scheduled stop was the Peter Jay Sharpe boathouse in Swindlers Cove on the Harlem River. It’s an absolutely beautiful location; hard to imagine that you’re in the heart of the city.
After a quick lunch we again headed north with the current on the Harlem River, past Columbia Rock to where the river meets the Hudson. This is another “interesting” location where the north flow of the Harlem River meets the south flow of the Hudson. However passing by the swing bridge at Spyten Dyvil was uneventful in spite of the somewhat confused water.
Heading down the Hudson, passing under the George Washington Bridge, we again took advantage of the strong current in mid river. The GPS read over 6 MPH most of the way while we paddled at a fairly leisurely pace. Approaching Grant’s Tomb however, the wind that had turned to the south and building began to work against the tidal flow of the Hudson. In a classic wind-against-tide situation swells quickly grew to 2 to 3 feet and were closely spaced.
By mid afternoon the NOAA Weather Station at Robbins Reef, directly to our south, was reporting wind SSW at 15 to 17 knots. Since it was blowing directly up river, there was almost 17 miles of open water for that wind to try to push water back up the Hudson. The river, flowing at about 3 knots, of course refused to be held back and treated us to a pretty good roller coaster ride. The group hung together and then took a brief rest at Pier 96 while a big cruise ship departed. Then, rested and refreshed, we continued three more miles back to Pier 40 where, at 5 PM, a tired group of paddlers congratulated one another on their accomplishment.
The kayak circumnavigation of Manhattan Island is certainly a trip that one will long remember. Many thanks to the YPRC, Steve Blumling, Jerry Blackstone and all the fellow paddlers for a safe and enjoyable day.
Trip Total 30.2 Miles Average speed 4.5 MPH. Paddlers: John Weickert, Debbie Horne, Colin Mullen, Dara Fee, Ron Herrman, Renee Levine, Steve Mcdonald, Buddy Ficarelli, Wayne Seroka, and Carl Thor
Lots more photos Click Here with special thanks to David Gottleib, Dara Fee, and John Weickert for their photos.
NACK On-the-Water Meeting Thursday 6/16/2011
Posted by: | CommentsGeneral Meeting: Captain Kayak 23 River Rd Sayville NY 6/16/2011
6:00 On-the-water meeting. All are wecome. Kayaks available for nominal rental fee if you need one but please call ahead to reserve. We will paddle the calm waters of the Browns River north of the shop in Sayville. Meet by 6PM for a 6:30 Launch.The trip will last about an hour and we will meet back at the launch site for complimentary refreshments. Email John bluek@weickert.com if you intend to be there.
7:30-8:00 (Approximate) complimentary refreshments. (Pizza and Soda)
Captain Kayak Map
Town of Hempstead Kayak Water Trail
Posted by: | CommentsA couple of NACK paddlers recently had the opportunity for a trial preview of the soon to be announced Kayak Watertrail established by the Town of Hempstead. For those not familiar with the concept of a “watertrail”, it’s basically the waterway equivalent of a hiking trail. A course, or courses, is established along with trail markers to guide the paddlers on their way. There are maps, signs, designated launch points and information on sights to see along the way. Even the all important rest room locations are marked.
Hempstead town’s south shore waterfront includes three large bay areas appropriately named West, Middle and East Bay. This first installment of the Watertrail is entirely within West Bay but we found plenty of wildlife and marsh to explore. Among the abundant wildlife we observed were about a dozen Osprey, magnificent birds of prey with a wingspan of almost six feet. We covered about nine miles on our trip but there are several shorter loops for those who don’t feel like paddling that far on a single trip.
This Google Earth image is the approximate path we followed. It is NOT the same as the final watertrail. We did a little exploring and took at least one shortcut that is only passable at high tide. Don’t try to replicate this path, stick to the soon to be marked watertrail.
The town has been working on this for a long time and has done a great job with the planning of the course. The maps we were provided included details like the locations bay houses, and even the locations of the many Osprey nesting sites the town established in West Bay.
The Town Watertrail is part of a greater program to include all three bays and will one day provide a continuous watertrail along the entire south shore of Long Island. Our thanks go to Town Supervisor Kate Murray and Town Conservation and Waterways Commissioner Ron Masters for committing their time, personnel and funding to this important project.
Seafood Shack Paddle Trip Scheduled for August 27
Posted by: | Comments”It’s here– the long awaited paddling trip of the summer to the Seafood Shack at Tobay Beach. This is an ACA Level 2 trip covering about 5 miles. We are planning on meeting at Field 10 Jones Beach at 4:30. There is no entrance fee at this hour. We will drop off our boats and then drive our cars to the Seafood Shack. One or two people will drive everyone back to the launch. One person will stay at the launch to keep an eye on the kayaks while we are driving our cars to Tobay.
When we are done kayaking someone will drive the people whose cars are still at field 10 to get their cars and then return to the Seafood Shack for dinner.
Please let Ann know (call or email) by Tuesday the 24th if you can make it. Even if you can’t make the paddle you can still meet us for dinner.
NACK Paddlers on ACA Pacific Northwest Expedition to the San Juan Islands
Posted by: | Comments
Earlier this summer three NACK members, Ann, Dara and Colin traveled to the west coast to participate in the first American Canoe Association Pacific Northwest Expedition to the San Juan Islands area of Washington State.
The San Juans are a vast collection of islands right on the U.S. Canadian border. During their week long expedition they covered more than 50 miles and enjoyed good weather, great paddling conditions and breathtaking scenery.
Kayak Navigation and Long Island Paddling Books added to NACK Library
Posted by: | CommentsThree new books have been added to the North Atlantic Canoe & Kayak Library. All books are available to members at regular meetings.
Exploring East End Waters by Mike Bottini has been described as the most comprehensive guide to kayaking and canoeing on the East End of Long Island. From the Peconic River to Block Island Sound Mike covers the extraordinary variety of East End paddling areas with a veteran’s eye for details and a professional sense of the natural history of the area. Exploring East End Waters covers over 30 paddling trips, with detailed hand-drawn maps and “spotlight topics” for each trip, as well as photos and much more!
Simple Kayak Navigation by Ray Killen. Easy-to-learn navigational methods will help you determine your position, ensure your safety, and keep you on track. Emphasizing the importance of pre-trip planning, Killen shows you how to plot your course and how to make adjustments to it when unexpected situations arise. You’ll also get advice on navigating in fog and wind, compensating for currents, avoiding collisions, and taking bearings.
Day Paddling Long Island Sound by Eben Oldmixon. This guide offers kayakers and canoeists hundreds of miles of relaxing, scenic excursions in Long Island sound. Each launch site is described in detail: its address and location (as latitude and longitude) are given, plus driving directions, where to park, whether fees are charged, where to launch at the site and whether special precautions should be observed, and suggested routes to try once on the water. Each trip has been tailored to avoid dangerous areas through which large vessels, powerboats and strong tides pass, to ensure maximum safety and paddling enjoyment. 100 black & white photographs, 10 maps.
Greenland Kayak Techniques On-Water Exhibition, Sunday, May 30 at pier 66
Posted by: | CommentsFor those of you in town for the long weekend, this mini-preview of the Hudson River Greenland Festival looks like an interesting diversion.
QajaqUSA and NYRiverSports invite you to an on-water demonstration of traditional Greenlandic paddling skills:
On Sunday May 30th, at 2:00 PM, members of QajaqUSA, the American Chapter of Qaannat Kattuffiat (The Greenland Kayaking Association), will demonstrate in-water Greenlandic traditional qajaq (kayak) skills such as qajaq rolling at Pier 66 in Hudson River Park at West 26th Street.
Come by and watch the show from the pier or with a beer and a burger from the deck of Pier 66 Maritime’s café next door. You can also get information on the many non-motorized boating programs available to the public at http://www.pier66nyc.org
This event is being presented in association with Saturday’s International Polar Festival at the American Museum of Natural History, where QajaqUSA members will display replicas of qajaqs from the various coasts of Greenland.
For directions to pier 66, visit http://www.pier66nyc.org
For more information on the Polar Festival, visit http://www.amnh.org/programs/programs.php?date=2010-05-29&event_id=1615
>For more information on Qajaq USA, visit http://www.qajaqusa.org