An on-the-water wedding party

Saturday the 4th October we went to a wedding at Columbia Island Marina. This one was made even more special as the bride and groom got married in their kayaks. Eight of us, including the pastor, accompanied them on the water. It was a charming idea, wonderful really. Congratulations and many fond wishes for the happy couple!

The bride's boat being prepared

Her bow

The bride mounts her flower-bedecked boat

The bride and groom wore contrasting Hawaiian shirts

This little damselfly came to rest on my boat. It was cold, apparently. When I moved it to a warm black deck fitting, it began waving its wings to dry. Off it flew.

A Sunday in Annapolis

We both slept fitfully that Saturday night. I personally think it was the couple of drinks that kept me awake. I get insomnia very easily and booze does not help. Also, hotels are really well lit. I understand why, but at night there are so many light sources that it makes the insomnia-prone more so.

All taken into account, it was a lovely little get-away with romantic highlights. And some paddling, that is- kayaking.

The next morning we packed up after, again, eating the delightful breakfast included with our room package. We arrived at Truxton Park, from which we have never launched, around 10:30. Lo-and-behold who do we see coming up from the water's edge but Tom B and Madeline. Howdy strangers! We had not actually run into Tom in at least a year or two. Every now and then we hear tell he has been spotted, but not by us until just then.

Madeline asks "why are you launching so late?" and we both cough, um, "lingered over breakfast," cough, nudge...Truly we also had to pack to leave the hotel, choosing to drive home on Sunday, missing the horrible traffic that Labor Day Monday always brings.

This day the sun sparkled off every surface. It seemed like a magical place, at least some of the time. Mainly in between the uncomfortable interludes of passing next to much larger vessels. I get nervous, antsy, when surrounded by much larger craft under motor power. This is partly because it seems we paddlers are some times "slow moving targets" for the motor boat crowd. But rather than give a reader a bad impression of Annapolis, I have to say the boat operators there have many, many smaller craft to avoid and it is really a wonder a paddle boarder or kayaker is not run under almost any busy day there. All the vessels, large and small, seemed to be operated by mostly kind happy people.

"hey you!"

real estate envy tour on Spa Creek

we passed many many large expensive vessels

the Naval Academy from the water

inside "ego alley"

                                        break on the dock at ACK

heading back to Truxton on Spa Creek from ACK

 Leaving town we ate lunch at Sammy's Italian Restaurant by default. I was too sun-stricken to walk far. But it turned out to be fine as the ravioli special was so fresh and wonderful, and James liked the antipasto salad. Weird, we were at the shore, and we ate pasta and salad.

A Saturday in Annapolis

Funniest thing I heard all weekend:

James and I paddled back to Beverly-Triton Beach. He went back out to play but I got my paddle float out, unrolled it, put a little air in it to make a pillow, and laid down in the beach. I still had all my gear on. I just wanted to chill for a few minutes in the sun. I was dosing when I heard some of the young men walking towards me talking.
One says "looks like a kayaker washed up on the beach."
Another says "yeah, I hear they're good eatin'!"
The first says "Really, how'd you know if it was dead?"
and the first says "well, it's not movin'!"
At which point I sit straight up to look at them. I'm amused and smiling. They, all three, look embarrassed.
I could not help but chuckle...

Just a little slice of this very nice local beach

With the Labor Day weekend almost upon us, and our plans to go down to Brian's beach house canceled due to his flood of relatives, I hastily made reservations at the Sheraton near Annapolis. The plan was to paddle from Beverly-Triton Saturday, doing the Thomas Point Lighthouse and generally finding some rough water. Then Sunday we would do the harbor and "ego alley" in downtown Annapolis, maybe stopping by Annapolis Canoe and Kayak (ACK).

Friday night we cruised up to the Sheraton and found we had a very nice room on the top level, the club level actually. We ate a late "supper" at the Green Turtle (don't bother). We crashed early. The club breakfast and coffee hit the spot in the morning and off we went to the beach.

Packing safety gear

We launched around 0945, paddled across the mouth of the South River, took a break on the shore of Thomas Point Park, and then paddled out to the light. By the time we turned back to our launch spot the tide was beginning to change. Between the tide coming in and the wind coming from the south-east I began to struggle somewhat to control my boat. "She" is not always cooperative when I have less than a full tank.

Shore break at Thomas Point Park

Thomas Point Park in the background

Video James shot during trip


James first played in the waves with his Whisky and then we floated around for a bit before packing up. Around this time I overheard the "dead kayaker" conversation mentioned above.

Playing

James floating

A rare sighting of me sans glasses while outdoors. Bravo James!

We returned to the hotel wet, tired, and happy. We showered and then proceeded to the hotel bar for happy hour. We had some ahi tuna done sushi-style for an appetizer, which was nice. A couple of hours later after collecting steak house recommendations we chose to stay close to the hotel due to the long boats on the Outback. The place we ended up at was utterly forgettable, but the cocktail they brought me was strong. I don't even remember the name of the place. Neither of us finished the meal. We turned in before 11.

Our Point Whisky 16 collects a few admirers

We have both fallen for the Whisky. "She" has a wee fan club. My husband wonders if we should become dealers. We have a bit of history with the brand.

This was not the start of my husband's love affair with Point 65N Sweden boats. No, that started a few years ago with a chance encounter in an REI during the winter attic sale. There, with the other used and returned boats, sat a Point 65N XO 16. The boat's lines attracted him right away. It is different from any other boat we've seen in our club. It had a pair of holes in it. Fork lifts and fiber glass (composite) boats really don't get along.

We had the chance to buy this completely unknown boat for a thousand bucks. The price seemed reasonable, and James said the repairs would be easy. Our confidence in the purchase was bolstered by James's "mad" glassing skills, experience gained during his semi-pro surfing days.

This boat has woven itself into the fabric of my husband's mystique; his long dark blond hair, his Thor's hammer around his neck, and this Swedish boat. My Viking husband. I say "Viking" in case there is some misconception of my husband being a "long-haired hippy." No, he is a long haired rock climber and surfer, neither laid-back nor a pot-smoking-peace-nik.

We often receive offers to buy the XO 16. We always say "no," but we can't blame other paddlers for wanting the boat. James makes it look good, and it is well sized for a tall lanky guy. It is too large for me. When I sit in it the cockpit rises up around my rib cage. It is like the XL sweat shirt I stole from my dad as a kid. Huge.

Pea Island Bird Reserve, Outer Banks, NC, 2013

Coltons Point, MD, 2013

Coltons Point, MD, 2013

Kathleen, James, and I on our first outing on the Potomac with the Whisky. credit K Ecott 2014

I really love the bright blue lines. They pop with color and character.

The new compass.

James put together a boat stand (prev. post), purchased some boat cleaner, ordered bright blue line and bungee from a climbing supply place, and went to town on his new boat. Years of grime disappeared and the boat looks amazing! He also installed the compass we purchased with the boat at Annapolis Canoe and Kayak.

He said "drilling the holes for the compass was the scariest thing I've done lately." Who puts holes in their boat on purpose, eh?

It still needs an application of 303 on those hatch covers but otherwise, "she's" ready to go. 

Even though Brian asked us not to, we continue to call this the "Brian Stevens maneuver." The challenge: push oneself out of the cockpit and on to the back deck and then balance there, paddling around. The maneuver is especially helpful when landing. Performed before one gets to the beach there is no need to struggle to rise. Instead, one simply stands when one's feet touch the sand under the boat.

Crossing Belmont Bay

Two Gulfstreams meet. Just wish I had been a tad closer.

Me in my Current Designs Solstice GTS. I've been using the rudder some with my injured shoulder. Just means I don't have to correct much with strokes.

James and Becky. Becky is in our Gulfstream. Upon landing back at Leesylvania she promptly made us an offer we couldn't refuse.

We had to say goodbye to a boat in order to have room in the quiver for the Whisky. We sold our Kevlar Current Designs Gulfstream to Becky, our good friend. We know the boat will have a good home with Becky, she's a known boat coddler. I had bought that boat for the husband at Christmas last year but for one reason or another the boat just wasn't comfortable for long days of paddling. As it didn't work for me either,  it was wise to re-home it. We hope "she'll" be better suited to her new owner!

In the meantime another paddler offered to buy the Whisky. He offered a thousand bucks over what we had paid to get "her." We said "no" but gave it some thought, even after the fact. Boat flipping, hmm...

Some comparisons of the Whisky:

It, hands down, catches waves and surfs better than the Gulfstream we sold. It is more nimble and has a bit more initial stability. It accelerates more quickly. It weighs more as it is fiber glass composite rather than Kevlar. The 6 or so pound difference might make it a bit harder to car-top than the Gulfstream.

In comparison to my NDK boat, it feels a bit less substantial  in chop than the Romany Surf. It skittered a bit in confused water. This is likely an effect of that shallow foot print Nigel spoke of during his video about the boat. While not really a negative, it is something both James and I noted separately.

We found the finish on the Whisky to be top-notch. It is silky-smooth inside the cockpit and hatches, well-finished. The finish speaks of attention to detail in the factory, even in this several years old boat. There are no rough edges or hanging fiber glass burrs to catch one's skin or clothes on. Very nice.

All in all, probably a 7.5 out of 10. We'd buy it all over again. 

Getting the Whisky 16 by Nigel Foster

(Look at the very bottom of this post for Nigel's superb video about the Whisky. After I posted this video to my fb feed one of my friends described him as the "boat whisperer." About right, he does speak softly so it is important to listen for "whispers.")

After taking a couple of classes with Nigel Foster, which he taught from a Whisky 16, I went on the prowl to find his boat. I had spoken with him at the East Coast Paddle and Outdoor Festival about the boat. I was keen for its lines and the way it held a lovely edge. All the while knowing that it would perform for Nigel at the top of its ability. After all, I am certain the "boat whisperer" could make even my tricky vixen Solstice turn on a dime.

After making a couple of phone calls I knew there was a potential to get a demo model from somewhere down south, Clearwater maybe, or that I could order one in a range of colors and choice of layups. If I chose to order it there would be no pre-buy demo allowed. I would have to buy it whether I was pleased with the boat after paddling it or not.

I talked it over with the husband and decided to ask Annapolis Canoe and Kayak to have the demo boat delivered there and James and I would drive up one day and test paddle it. It arrived mid-week right before Memorial Day weekend but none-the-less we risked an ugly drive in order to see and possibly attain this boat.

I brought my NDK Romany Surf along so that we could paddle out together and really take a test spin. Honestly, I had originally wanted the boat for myself but upon making a good deal with SKC for the Surf I could not justify another nimble boat for myself; but the husband, now him, I could buy it for.

Besides being grimy the boat was in good shape, just needing some new deck lines and a really good scrubbing. Out on the water we took turns playing in it, turning and spinning on edge. It is quick and nimble. Well pleased by this sexy boat we decided to buy and run.

Nestled atop my Outback, next to a boat designed by the "other" famous Nigel, it looked quite at home.