Jumbo Squid Hunting
We didn't see any jumbo squid or whales, but we had a nice paddle nonetheless. Brian, who is a regular, Ryan, who shows up about once a year, and I paddled down to Laguna and back, with the weather being cool and foggy the whole way. There was some four-foot surf where we landed, just before the main beach, but there was no carnage to report.

Today was the first launch for my 2nd Point Bennett, and gosh, I felt darn sexy! There is just something about that red with black trim.

With the greenland paddles being all the rage among the OFF group up north, I dusted off my greenlander and used it on this 12 NM paddle. I made the paddle out of a clear redwood 2x4 in 1998 or 1999, based on the instructions and dimensions provided by Chuck Holst. I used it for about a year back then, was quite happy using it, but I got tired repairing dings in the wood, so I started using euro paddles again. Today I quickly found my GP low angle forward stroke sweet spot. On the way back I did some bracing, sculling and rolling with it, finding the sweet spot for them too but needing just a little more practice to perfect these moves again with the GP. I still prefer the euro paddle, but it is amazing how good of a paddle can be carved out of a 2x4 greenland style. I'll start using the GP occasionally so I can impress the OFF guys on days I join them.

Duane Strosaker

Submitted on January 23, 2005