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Cross Sound Trips & Clinics 2012
Pre-requisite: Cross Sound Prep/Navigation class or ACA Essentials of Kayak Touring, or previous crossing with Kayak Adventure - see below.
Saturday, July 28, 7:45 am to 3:30 pm. Contact us if you are interested. Prep class dates are below.
Membership in Sound Kayakers' club, and the American Canoe Association, or a $5 event fee is required, plus $60 fee for first time cross-Sound paddlers.

Crossing LI Sound is a team activity. We paddle in pods of 4-6 kayakers, staying within visual and auditory communication at all times. We recommend our Forward Stroke Training to build a powerful, efficient stroke. Regular paddling "in conditons" prepares you to handle 2-3 foot seas and 15-20 knot winds, an exhilarating challenge we've experienced on a third of our trips. Every participant must be able to self-rescue within five minutes. In addition to strong paddling skills, all participants must be properly outfitted, have a kayak with solid secondary stability to handle rough seas, and be able to maintain a speed of 3 knots. It's possible we'll get a calm day, as we did in July 2009, or a "pond", as we did in June 2008, and the inexperienced will wonder: "What's the big deal?" With any long crossing, weather can change substantially from start to finish. We had hail on our 2006 trip. Note that paddling more than one mile from shore is considered a level three skill.

Recent trips have required four-five hours of paddling time, with an hour rest and recovery on the New York shore. Strong mid-day tidal currents affect our timing, which is planned carefully. With different length kayaks, and a range of paddling abilities, kayakers have the potential to become separated rapidly. We go with a minimum of four kayakers and expect all to stay with the group.

Photo above: Rafting up on July 9, 2005 as we leave Lloyd Neck are Nick, Michael, Rich, Michele, Dave, Joe, Rob, Ed and George. With seas 2', and wind W 10-15, we made 15 nautical miles in 5 hours, 23 minutes, a 2.8 kt pace.

Photo below: Return with the wind - round-trip from Greenwich, CT to Lattingtown, NY, 14.3 nm at 3.3 kt pace - July 18, 2009.


Cross Sound/Offshore Prep & Navigation Clinics 2012
Sunday, May 13, 9 am - 5 pm, or Saturday, May 19, 8 am - 4 pm, or Sunday, July 22, 9 am - 5 pm
Fee $150

To do a round-trip open water crossing of 10-20 miles in a day, you should be paddling 1-3 times weekly, for 2-4 hours at a time, covering 6-10 miles.

In the Cross-Sound clinic you'll learn on-water navigation skills using compass, chart and navigation aids. We'll evaluate stroke technique, stamina, speed and tracking in a 1.5 nautical mile course. While paddling, we'll learn skills such as staying together as a group, drafting, rafting up, towing and sharing water with powered traffic. You'll demonstrate a panic-free deep water exit maintaining contact with your boat, and do a timed self-rescue. We'll teach assisted bow and t-rescues and towing procedures. Upon return to KA's home office (bathrooms, changing, BYO lunch) you'll complete a navigation worksheet for our planned trip, using tidal current charts for LI Sound, and tidal information available online. We'll discuss the importance of careful trip outfitting, and provide our packing list and preparation outline. At the end of the session we'll complete a Coast Guard risk assessment worksheet, and help you answer the question: "Am I prepared to cross Long Island Sound?"

In the Offshore Prep clinic, our focus is on properly preparing solo paddlers who venture up to a mile offshore, especially in colder waters (spring & fall here, Maine, Alaska, Greenland and other cold-water destination paddling.) In this clinic we will cover:
1) trip planning and navigation, including reading charts, plotting a course, tidal currents
2 ) proper outfitting, preparation and procedures to reduce the risk of adverse events (on water skills such as launching, landing & bracing),
3 ) having a wide variety of practiced self-rescue options to draw upon if needed (on water practice included),
4 ) knowing how to use emergency communication and locating devices should rescue become necessary.

When you sign up for either class, let us know what make and model kayak you have, how long you've been paddling, and what formal boating instruction you've had. Trip participation is at the discretion of our instructor.

Quotes from participants on our Cross-Sound trips:

• Thanks for the pictures - It was a great trip, well organized with a very enjoyable group. - Rob, CT, July 2009
  
• Three foot waves, hail and cold made this trip, for me, the most exciting yet. At no time did I stop enjoying myself or feel apprehensive, knowing that should I overturn, the danger was lessened by the re-entry training we have all had under Michele’s expert guidance and that competent rescue was at hand. - Nick C., CT, April 2006
  
• I have a new respect for what the boats are capable of. My personal "comfort zone" was in a whole different zip code. This trip has broken through to a new level. With my previous experience my call would have been to turn around at the half way point. Now I'm not so sure. I enjoyed the group and once we got through the tough stuff, there was a common experience bond that is different than the typical coastal tour. Thanks for being out on the edge, with the skills to bring every one home safely. - Carl L., CT, April 2006
  
• I feel I owe you an enormous debt of gratitude for teaching me so much and for enabling me to take part in what was one fantastic adventure. Never did I think I'd be crossing Long Island Sound. I never could have done it without your most capable guidance in teaching me the techniques and safe kayaking rules I've learned over the past year. There were several times during the crossing when I wished I could freeze time. I simply can't put into words how much I enjoyed it. - Joe G., CT, July 2005
  
• Thanks so much for organizing this trip. The day was perfect, the company was great and you were the perfect hostess. I had a wonderful time. - Jim G., CT, July 2004
  
  
  Above: A mid-Sound stretch on our calmest trip, Stamford to Lloyd Point, June 2008 with 92 degree air.
  
  Below: Warming up at Lloyd Neck, April 8, 2006. L to R: Nick, Claire, Howard, Mike, Carl and Rich. We had wind N 10-23 kts, seas 1-3' and hail.