1st Montly CKF Paddle
Since the clocks all had to be set ahead prior to this paddle, it was difficult for most of us to get up this morning for an 8:30 meeting time. I stumbled onto Kiddie Beach at about 08:00 this morning to find that our venerable web master Ray was already there and had his Current Designs Gulfstream waiting on the beach. Although I personally like the color of my Gulfstream better, I was jealous of the fact that he had the designer, Derek Hutchinson, autograph his several years ago when he took Derek's class. Why couldn't I have thought of that two weeks ago when I attended the same class?

At 8:30 we started getting waivers signed and introducing ourselves to several new paddlers. We had Gary and Sherri (sp?) who had only been out on the ocean once, and Kevin drove up from LA. We did our usual short safety talk and I decided that although the water looked relatively calm, that we would head east to Hueneme Buoy and check the sea lions out. This would give us a following sea when we started and we would be paddling into the swells on the return. Since most newer paddlers, have problems with following seas, I thought it would be best to get them out of the way before fatigue set in.

Just as we started to launch, Tim pulled up--He had forgotten to set his clock ahead. Patrick said he would stay and wait for Tim and since they are both fast and experienced paddlers, I didn't have a problem. Then I realized that I had forgotten to change to my paddling glasses and also had not tie my glasses on. Back to the beach for me. Then Chris pulled up. I called Peter on the radio and asked him to keep paddling with the group slowly and we would catch up when Chris was on the water.

Finally all were on the water and Chris, Patrick, Tim, and I paddled quickly to catch up to the group which was just outside the breakwater waiting on us. We also picked up 2 paddlers who don't belong to CKF and were going to paddle to the same place as us. We suggested they join us and also join CKF.

We had an uneventful paddle to the Hueneme Buoy and sat around watching all of the juvenile sea lions. Peter put on his mask and delighted them by rolling and staying inverted for quite a while. Finally we received a call on the radio from John, who had just gotten to the beach and launched. He started to paddle towards us and two of our newer paddlers decided they wanted to paddle back. Since there were no wind waves and very gentle 3-4 foot swells, we didn't think this would be a problem. We could see them and John was paddling towards them, so we reluctantly said good by. They made it back without any incidents.

We then paddled over to the Hueneme Pier and just as John joined us, we all started to paddle back to Channel Islands Harbor. Because of the newer paddlers with us, the pace was a very easy 2 /12 knots. Nobody broke a sweat maintaining this easy pace. Carol had informed me when we launched that she and her husband George would be the sweep paddlers. Carol has the mistaken impression that she paddles slowly. Well Carol was actually the lead paddler for most of the trip and I don't think she strained at all.

We then met Marie, who had also started late. I met Marie last weekend on the beach and found she has been a member of CKF for quite a while. She was paddling a Scupper Pro that she has had for quite a while. She certainly had that SOT moving out. For those who haven't paddled a SOT or SOT paddlers who haven't paddled a closed deck boat---it takes a lot more effort to paddle a SOT at the same speed as a closed deck boat.

When we arrived back at Channel Islands, Patrick and George opted to go over to the pond for some practice and the rest of us headed in. Daddy O's Tri-Tip was calling. We all loaded our boats (except Carol who was waiting for George to load hers) and went for one of our normal after paddling lunches.

All in all, it was a great day. The water was smooth as glass, we met some new paddlers (both experienced and not so experienced) got a chance to talk with some of the newer paddlers about recommended safety gear to carry, etc.

Although we didn't all start together, we eventually wound up with a group of 15 paddlers on the water. Not bad for the first event.

Now all we need to do is think of how we are going to follow this up next month.

Click on picture to expand to full size
Kevin, Patrick, Sherri, Gary, Peter, Ray, Steve, and Carol (George is taking the picture) at CIH New Paddlers Gary and Sherri Our audience at the Hueneme Buoy Peter O'Sullivan Peter O'Sullivan completing a Pawlata Roll with the audience of sea lions looking on
Peter has completed the first 1/2 of a roll and is playing with the sea lions The Buoy George Miller Carol Miller The breakwater seen from the ocean side upon our return

    Steve Holtzman

PS-By the way, there were no capsizes, no kelp awards, no near misses---just a fun day paddling.

Submitted on April 7, 2002