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Cross Sound Trips & Clinics 2009
Pre-requisite: Cross Sound Prep/Navigation clinic or Essentials of Kayak Touring, or previous crossing with Kayak Adventure
Saturday, June 13, 14 nautical miles RT. Fee $70. Saturday, July 18, 16 nautical miles RT. Fee $80.
Membership in Sound Kayakers' club, the ACA, or a $5 event fee is required.

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 Cross Sound Prep class (see below). Forward Stroke Training is helpful to build a powerful, efficient stroke. Our Wind & Waves class prepares you to handle 2-3 foot seas and 15-20 knot winds. Every participant must be able to self-rescue within five minutes. Re-entry methods are taught in winter pool sessions, club practice or a private lesson. 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 June 2008, and the inexperienced will wonder what's the big deal. Our 2006 trips had moderate wind, and two to three foot seas - an exhilarating challenge!

Previous April trips required about four hours of paddling time, with an hour rest and recovery on the New York shore. Strong mid-day tidal current affected the timing. Drysuits or wetsuits with paddling jacket and pants were required, due to cold sea temperature, about forty five degrees. With any long crossing, weather can change substantially from start to finish. We had hail on our 2006 trip.

The June 2009 trip will be fourteen nautical miles, about five hours of paddling, depending on wind speed and direction. We'll launch from Greenwich. We plan to explore the beach between Peacock Point and Fox Point, including Frost Creek and the Creek Beach in Lattingtown. The plan is to find a beautiful spot for R&R before making our return trip. The July 2009 trip will launch from the Five Mile River in Rowayton and land on Hobart beach on Eaton's Neck, eight miles away, where there are bathrooms and showers. After a rest, we'll explore the marsh behind the Coast Guard station, and return. We practice "leave no trace" principles. With good visibility we'll have a clear view of the Manhattan skyline enroute.

Photo above: Rafting up as we leave New York are Nick, Michael, Rich, Michele (trip leader in red pfd in front), Dave, Joe, Rob and to right, Ed and George. Photo taken by trip co-leader, Claire, on July 9, 2005.

Photo below: Keith rafts up to Bruce, Michele, Tim and Grace in front of Target Rock, Lloyd Neck, NY, July 14, 2007.

Cross Sound/Offshore Prep & Navigation Clinics 2009
Saturday, May 9, 9 am -5 pm, or
Saturday, May 30, 9 am - 5 pm
Fee $125

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 a seaworthy kayak.

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:

• 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
  
  
  From left to right: Howard, Grace and Keith ready to cross LI Sound from Cove Island Park, April 2007.
  
  
  
  Picnic at Caumsett State Park, NY, April 14, 2007.
  
  
  Warming up at Lloyd Neck, April 8, 2006. L to R: Nick, Claire, Howard, Mike, Carl and Rich.