Surfski Knowledge Base

flypaddle
02/11/13 #13911

Hey Gang,

Does anyone out there know of any records for circumnavigating Vancouver Island via kayak?

Thx,

Joost

paul clement
02/11/13 #13913

Not that I know of but I am pretty sure next year I will be able to say, “some guy named Joost Zeegers killed it last year!” Sounds like an epic adventure.

Brandon Nelson <brandon@…>

02/11/13 #13912

Currently held by Sean Morely of Valley Kayaks, if I’m not mistaken.

http://www.expeditionkayak.com/completed-expeditions/vancouver-2008/

<18 days…

Brandon Nelson

njcooksey@ymail.com

02/11/13 #13914

I think Joe O'Blenis recaptured the record in 2010 16d 12:14. With a wooden greenland paddle by the way.

Colin Angus set it the overall with a open water rowing shell in 2011. 15d 11:47

I think Sean Morely was the one who figured out to start in Port Hardy and wait for a good weather window to go around the cape was the most efficient way. Otherwise your chance of weather delay is much longer. Joe Oblenis' first go was from Nanaimo.

-Nick Cooksey

Brandon Nelson <brandon@…>
02/11/13 #13915

Joe’s a stud. Sorry for thinking it was still Sean, Joe. Hell, all those guys are studs!!!

Brandon Nelson

Reivers Dustin

02/11/13 #13916

LB, myself and a couple other fellas did the run 70 miles around Brooks penensula many years ago. I studied up on it and carried a handheld VHF. I realized during the trip that no one would hear a hail. There's a lot of miles where there is no way to pull out of the water out there. I read about “Boomers” and got to see some up close. These are submerged rocks that the occasional extra big wave will feel. It results in a crashing surf where you thought it was calm water. The other guys were not as reserved about these things, so I was back a little ways with eyes peeled. About this time I saw the elephant seals looking us over. I didn't like being in the back anymore.

LB did the next leg of the circumnavigation with some different guys and has some great stories.

I can't imagine doing the whole thing in one go. There's a lot of bugger-bears to watch for on that big of a run.

rd

Greg Spooner <g_spooner@…>
02/11/13 #13917

My friends and I rowed around it in April of last year, though we stayed mostly just offshore on our ocean rowboat. Have lots of beta - especially on the inside passage - and charts, photos/video etc if you want it. Would LOVE to do a non-stop row or paddle in a smaller boat sometime again.

Greg

Larry <lbussinger@…>
02/11/13 #13918

OK Joe, Sean,Greg, where do we see trip reports of these awesome adventures? Larry B

Roy Massena
02/11/13 #13919

Miles Ohlrich and I circumnavigated Vancouver Island in 2007 in 34 days and he posted a write up here:

http://nevernevermiles.blogspot.com/2007/07/vancouver-island-circumnavigation-week.html

We had a great time. I have given a detailed slide show in Bellingham about our trip and would be happy to share information with those interested.

Remote sections of the west coast deserve respect. We had no problems, but after rounding the Brooks Peninsula we met a paddler who, two days later, was lost there.

Sincerely,
Roy

Greg Spooner <g_spooner@…>
02/13/13 #13926

Hey Larry - you can see our trip from April around the island in the ocean rowboat at oarnorthwest.com. (and keep up with the Africa to Miami row that's happening right now!) In the drop-down menu under Expeditions, there's a Salish Sea Expedition section with a few things, then at oarnorthwest.com/blog if you go back in time you can see/read the blogs from the trip. They're a bit buried so I have to figure out how to make them more accessible… but there you go! email me directly if you want more info: spooner@… or g_spooner@… -Greg

Greg Spooner <g_spooner@…>

02/13/13 #13928

Larry – I figured out how to use my website!
- Here's just the Vancouver Island blogs: http://oarnorthwest.com/category/CWF-Salish-Sea-Expedition/
- Expedition page: http://oarnorthwest.com/expeditions/salish-expedition-2012/
- Route map: http://oarnorthwest.com/expeditions/salish-expedition-2012/salish-map/
- Interactive data map (big thanks to Señor Grossman!!): http://oarnorthwest.com/expeditions/salish-expedition-2012/salish-sea-environment-map/

Greg

kathleen petereit
02/16/13 #13934

I believe it was Joe as well. Derek mentioned he may try it again this year. August seems to be the foggiest on the west side.

Kathleen

Erik Borgnes
02/17/13 #13935

I would hazard a guess that a monster endurance guy like Brandon or Carter could round this thing in 10 days.

I certainly couldn't. I'd be in tears by the end of the first day.

EB

Brandon Nelson <brandon@…>

02/18/13 #13938

Hmm. Thanks Erik. Let’s hope for us boys’ sake that Heather doesn’t suddenly take an interest in a jaunt around the rock.