I have already put extensive comments on my flickr gallery.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boatmik/sets/72157622510542194/
So let’s introduce the participants and the boats! They gathered in the afternoon.
People as far away as Texas, California and Australia (me). Not a huge number, this cruise works well with up to around 12 to 15 boats. A huge thanks to Jim Thayer who thought up the event.
Before we look at the boats and meet the people the scale of the area has to be seen to be believed.
This is Chuck and Sandra of Duckworks.
This is Jim Thayer on the right.
This is Martin Adam’s PVC tubing Catamaran. It is version 5. It has 2 inch thick foam bulkheads on 18 inch centres inside the tubes to prevent the walls from buckling. This is version 5.2 :-) and the boat is evolving into something concrete and interesting. Note the tie down straps used to attach the hulls to crossbeams etc.
The Duckwork’s Kayaks designed by Jim Michelak. Chuck, Sandra and Joe drove 1100 miles. The boats worked really well for us. A lot of capacity because of the transom. Might need a bit more skeg so they don’t weathercock quite as much, but they were very useful boats in the range of conditions.
This is a boat that was self designed by Randy Swedlund and crewed by his dog Jake (an OZ cattle dog cross … so I am not the only Australian here.
Kellen Hatch brought his XCR designed by Chris Ostlind. His family was not coming on the whole trip but they were there for the weekend
This is the designer, Chris Ostlind. It was a pleasure to meet him and his wife Lorrie.
There were a couple of the Hobie Mirage drive tris also owned by Cindy and John Denison, two canoe loads of experienced Texas canoists. Mike and Michelle Miller brought their SeaPearl 20 foot double ender. It is one of the early ones
Steve and Tanner Thayer brought an original racing dinghy probably from the mid ’60s – a Penguin. Note the slides that allow the shrouds to be moved forward on a run. This was a rather astounding boat. The bottom shape was not dissimilar from the GIS.
Some racing people will know the significance of the sailmaker – Ratsey of Cowes. Before OZ sailors started to trust local sailmakers anyone who wanted to compete truly seriously would get Ratsey Sails from the UK. Cultural cringe on our part.
These are the Gale’s boats. The early MacGregor 25 was the main support boat for the trip. The other boat is a sliding seat whitehall sailboat rowed and paddled by his wife Heather. The Whitehall is moulded by the Thayers in glass.
The international space station went over.
This is me hitting the water on my kayak. That is the biggest pack of Corn Chips in the universe.
Upstream the Buddha looks over the water placidly
We lost Joe. He headed off after a bunch of other canoists thinking they were us. He found us later. Sandra was about to head off to look for him.
Our first night landing.
The Texans cooked Enchiladas for the group that night. It was really hot with little shade.
We all slept quite well after talking until about 9pm. When we woke up the wind was very still.
More to follow!