Blue Book of Boats

Stealing some quiet time on their official visit to Canada, Prince William and his new wife, Kate Middleton went on a canoe paddle on Blachford Lake to Honeymoon Island, a remote island in the Northwest territories to enjoy the sunset and a picnic. Feasting on a traditional aboriginal menu of Caribou steaks, and bannock bread cooked on an open campfire, the Royal couple is clearly enjoying themselves.

Will and Kate are known to love the outdoor and watersports. They’ve been photographed frolicking on a powerboat, competing in a dragon boat race at Dalvay Lake……

While visiting the Northwest Territories, Will and Kate were presented the traditional Canadian Red Hoodie.

Once again, this is great advertisement for Blachford Lake, Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories, and the red Canadian Hoodie. If it is good enough for the prince and princess, then it must be great for all Canadians.

Ellen Degeneres, Michelle Williams are some of the famous movie stars who join other famous kayakers. Abraham Lincoln and Mao Tse Tung seem unlikely kayakers, but they were trailblazers in what has become a very popular sport. Kayakers divide into the whitewater variety, sea-kayakers, surf kayakers and general recreation kayakers – with many sub-sets below. Kayaks are fitted out to purpose. There are many companies who offer kayak courses and expeditions – though some of the best whitewater kayaking, for example, is found in the more remote regions of the world.

Photo on the right shows Ellen Degeneres in an low quality inflatable kayak. Likely she was just out for a quick trial run. There are advantages of an inflatable kayak over a hardshell kayak. Inflatables are easier to store, transport and enjoy. One of the main advantages of inflatable kayaks is price. While hardshell kayaks can run into the thousands of US dollars (USD), you can find good-quality inflatable kayaks for as little as 150 USD. Although many factors, such as size and brand name, affect the price of an inflatable kayak, it’s still possible to find something that is both affordable and long-lasting. Portability is another advantage of inflatable kayaks. They can be folded to the size of a suitcase and stored almost anywhere, as long as there are no extremes of temperature and humidity in the area.

Good-quality inflatable kayaks have multiple air chambers, as opposed to a single chamber in the cheaper models. This guarantees the raft will stay afloat even when punctured. The most important sign of quality in an inflatable boat, however, is the quality of workmanship. Strong, firm seams are the sign of an inflatable kayak that can stand the abuse of both long voyages and Class IV whitewater. Good quality can also be recognized by the presence of accessories, such as fabric floors and carrying cases. While not necessary, they add to the user’s comfort and can help extend the life of the kayak.

While many celebrities go mega yachting, a few hard-bodied celebrities are taking up SUP – which stands for Stand Up Paddle Surfing. Stand up paddle surfing (SUP), or in the Hawaiian language Hoe he’e nalu, is an emerging global sport with a Hawaiian heritage. The sport is an ancient form of surfing, and reemerged as a way for surfing instructors to manage their large groups of students, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility of what was going on around them – such as incoming swell. To begin with, this started with using a one-bladed paddle, whilst standing on a normal length surfboard.

The popularity of the modern sport of SUP has its origination in the Hawaiian Islands. In the early 1960s, the Beach Boys of Waikiki would stand on their long boards, and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take pictures of the tourists learning to surf. This is where the term “Beach Boy Surfing”, another name for Stand Up Paddle Surfing, originates.

The sport benefits athletes with a strong ‘core’ workout. SUP’ing is popular at warm coastal climates and resorts, and is gaining in popularity as celebrities are sampling the sport, and cross-over athletes are training with SUP. SUPs have been spotted around the globe, anywhere where there is easy access to safe waters, as well as in the surfing lineups of the world.

The first “modern” surfer to bring Stand Up Paddle Surfing out of Hawaii and onto mainland USA was Vietnam veteran, Rick Thomas. In 2000, Rick – on a 11ft Muñoz board, and with a Leleo Kinimaka paddle – introduced California to the new sport.

Surfers have converted because of the versatility of the new sport. Stand up paddle boarding offers surfers the ability to catch more waves in a set, as well as offering a better view of incoming sets.

Famous celebrities who paddle surfs for sports include Jennifer Anishton, Michelle Williams, Kate Hudson, Rihanna, Matt Damon, Pierce Brosnan to name a few.

New custom SUP board prices range from US$600 to US$1500, and most use glass-reinforced plastic construction using epoxy resin that is compatible with the expanded polystyrene foam used in the core. The boards are generally longer than 9 feet (3 m), and up to 12 feet (4 m) or more in length, with features such as padded decks and concave hulls; they generally have one or three surfboard-style fins in the stern for tracking.

As of October 3, 2008, the US Coast Guard now classifies SUPs as vessels and as a result SUP riders are obliged to wear a personal flotation device when paddling in certain areas. Whether this will affect the continued take up of stand up paddling in the USA remains to be seen. The Canadian Coast Guard has implemented similar rules, however SUPer’s are only required to have a PFD with them, they don’t have to wear them.

Article source: Wikipedia

Cowichan Bay is a village located on the British Columbia’s Gulf Islands.  It is a favorite cruising destination for Canadian and American boaters alike.    It is also popular among landlubbers.   This year, inspite of the recession, Cowichan Bay is simply hopping with tourists.  For a map of Cowichan Bay, click here.

What impresses me most about Cowichan Bay is its whimsical art.  The whole place is filled with imagination.  Just look at the above discarded marine toilet made into a planter stand.  What would have been garbage is given a life with a purpose, and made into a work of art.

Here is another example.  An old boot made into a planter with miniature cactus plants.

Or the above welcome sign for a seafood restaurant.   Just look at the smile of this fisherman proudly showing his catch.  Don’t you just feel so welcome at this place?