SISKA's December 2021 Newsletter. Upcoming events, reports and articles

December 2021 SISKA Newsletter

Introduction

Dear Tony,

Thanks to those members who contributed photos and materials. After enjoying a SISKA event or paddle, please consider sending a short (100-150 words) summary article; for more information, contact one of us. If you would like to start a regular column, please let us know!

Alan Campbell (SISKA president) and Tony Playfair (editor)

PS: You can find SISKA on Facebook at this link.

PPS: Siska has it's own Youtube Channel HERE

PPPS: You can find the SISKA newsletter archive here: http://goo.gl/VUkafR

Upcoming SISKA Events

For more details, go to the SISKA website

Community Events of Interest

These events are not formally supported by SISKA, but considered to be of interest to a significant number of our members.

Any member may request an event to be included in this section by sending a note to chairperson@siska.ca.

Enjoy your Christmas holiday season!

The next SISKA Monthly Meeting will be Wed Jan 26, when we’re really hoping we can hold it in-person. Look for more information on this in early January.

We are thinking of holding a gear exchange/swap/buy-sell at our upcoming January 26th meeting. So if you end up getting to many paddling presents for Christmas or did not get what you wanted, you might do better at our first meeting of 2022 especially if your garage looks like this -

Vaccination Confirmation for All In-Person SISKA Events Required Jan 1/22

by Alan Campbell

Almost 85% of eligible people in BC (age 5+) have now been vaccinated once, and about 82% have been fully vaccinated. The majority of new cases in BC are among those who have either not yet been vaccinated at all or have had just one dose so far.

Although certain regions of BC remain under tighter pandemic restrictions, some restrictions were eased recently in the Island Health Authority, but only for those who are fully vaccinated.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions

To better protect all those attending any SISKA event, confirmation of vaccination status will be required as of January 1, 2022 for members participating in indoor or outdoor SISKA events including courses, paddles, or other group gatherings.

Thanks to the almost 60% of our members who have confirmed their vaccination status so far. Once this has been done, members only need to identify themselves to organizers to participate in club events.

If you have not done so as yet, (1) upload your BC Vaccine Card to the SISKA website Click Here, or (2) email an image of it to standardsandsafety@siska.ca or (3) go to an in-person club event location to have your card scanned manually.

You can have your card scanned at these in-person club event locations (whether participating or not):

Saturday, December 4^th, 9-10 am – Brentwood Bay Ferry Wharf Launch site (Relaxed Paddle)
Sunday December 5^th, 9-10 am – Telegraph Cove Launch site (Energizer Paddle)
Saturday, December 11^th, 9 am - 3 pm - Gyro Park, Cadboro Bay (Xmas Paddle/Luncheon/Party)

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe while participating in SISKA activities!

NOTE: In addition to confirming your vaccination status, you should only attend SISKA events if you can answer NO to each of these questions: In the past 14 days, have you:
1. experienced any symptoms related to COVID-19?
2. travelled outside Canada, and did not qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption?
3. had contact with anyone travelling outside Canada who did not qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemption, or who has tested positive for COVID-19, or experienced symptoms related to COVID-19?
Review requirements to qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller
We strongly encourage all SISKA members to become fully vaccinated as soon as possible to protect yourselves, fellow paddlers, friends, families, and communities.

Zoom events lined up for December

by Lisa Lasagna

The Off Water Clinic Committee has got more Zoom events lined up for December.

Join us Tomorrow Thursday, December 2 for Alan Campbell's presentation of What to Wear Kayaking. Lots of good information and fun to watch.

Edgar Hulatt is presenting two clinics on VHF radios. Thursday, December 16, is VHF Radio for Kayakers. This presentation is limited to 12 registrants, but Edgar will repeat later in the year if there is demand. (Regrettably this clinic had to be rescheduled from December 7th to the 16th).

On Tuesday, December 14, you can join us for a presentation and discussion on Buying a VHF Radio.

Please see the calendar on the SISKA website for more information.

Lisa Lasagna, OWCC

BE A SISKA SEA STAR, ENTER OUR GIFTING TREE DRAW

by Beth Haysom

Send a donation and enter our draw for a chance to win a beautiful driftwood tree decorated with glass sea stars or some delicious Xmas home baking.

Many thanks to everyone who has already donated. There’s still time (up to Dec 11th) to participate in our annual SISKA fundraiser. And now in addition to the beautiful tree, you could also win a tin of yummy Xmas baking.

How to enter? Choose one or more from the list below to donate. Tax receipts are issued for donations of $20 or more.

Then send Beth Haysom a message bethhaysom@shaw.ca or text (778-350-8272) and she will enter your name in our draw.

SANTA’S ANONYMOUS –.
Click on this link https://www.cfaxsantas.com/collections to either buy a gift or send a cash donation for one of the children on their list. You can either drop off gifts at the suggested Santa’s Anonymous drop off points or bring them to the SISKA Gyro Park Xmas party and we’ll deliver them for you. BTW if you need guidance choosing gifts email Beth Haysom for suggestions from the Santa’s Anonymous Wish List.

POWER TO BE –
Says that “being in nature fuels the body, guides the heart and mends the soul.” Right now they need a new kayak, adaptive pontoons and backrests. We can help. So go to their website and click on their donation link. https://powertobe.ca/donate/

OUR PLACE –
Click https://www.ourplacesociety.com/how-you-can-help/donate/ to donate to their Christmas stocking campaign.
Or bring some of the much-needed items such as toiletries, socks, hats, scarves, gloves etc to SISKA’S December 11th Xmas Party at Gyro Park. We’ll have boxes for cash donations too. For each donation we’ll enter your name in the Christmas tree draw.

**************************

The draw for SISKA SEA STAR XMAS TREE and the tins of home baking will take place at the Dec 11 SISKA Xmas party at Gyro Park. Please note you don’t have to be at the party to win. We’ll deliver your prize wherever!

SISKA’S KAYAK SKILLS PARTNERS FOR 2022

by Alan Campbell

Each year SISKA encourages kayaking businesses that offer paddling skills courses in our area to become or remain our partners by offering a discount from their regular prices to our club members.

Although the past couple of years have been very difficult due to the continuing pandemic, we are pleased to have even more businesses partnering with us in 2022!

Partner discounts offered in 2022 are now listed on our website. From the homepage click on the General Interest tab and select SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners, or follow this link:
https://siska.ca/prod/docs_private/siska_docs/siskas_kayak_skills_course_partners.pdf

We recommend you consider patronizing our partner companies listed below:

BC Kayak Centre www.bckayakcentre.com
Blue Dog Kayaking www.bluedogkayaking.com
Cloud 9 Adventures www.cloud9adventures.ca
Dancing with the Sea www.dancingwiththesea.com
Go Kayak www.gokayak.ca
Ocean River www.oceanriver.com
Saturna Kayaking www.kayakingskills.com
www.skils.ca

SISKA Christmas Paddle & Lunch Party! Sat Dec 11 @ Gyro Park

by Alan Campbell

Paddle and return for lunch or come for lunch and enjoy the fun and games!
BYO chair and rain gear - we'll have canopies up and lots to warm your heart!

Morning - Festive Christmas Light Paddle
Follow this link to the paddle description for details and to register to join the paddle:
https://siska.ca/prod/calendar/view-siska-s-calendar/1069
Prizes awarded for best-dressed kayak and paddler!

12:00 - 1:15 Christmas Box Luncheon Social at Gyro Park

1:15 - 2:30 Bring on the Fun and Games!
     Pin the tail on Rudolph the Reindeer!
     Navigate obstacles while carrying an ornament - on a spoon!
     Tell kayak tales or be an appreciative audience for those who do!
     Prizes for feats and yarns, and random (out)door prizes too!

2:30 We Wish You a Merry Christmas!
Music-Meister Ian Haysom will keep us in the holiday mood throughout with his curated musical playlist, and guitarist/vocalist Bob McKechnie will lead us in a Christmas singalong. Then we'll send each other off with a rousing rendition of this popular Christmas song!

Spring Training 2022

by Alan Campbell

SISKA Members,
You’ve heard it before but it is worth repeating!...
We all agree that sea kayaking is a fantastic sport, and Vancouver Island is definitely the best place in the world to paddle! But…in order to enjoy this amazing experience along our ocean shores, each one of us must be well prepared every season to get out there (and back again!) safely.

So, in addition to our great lineup of pool sessions, on-water and off-water kayaking courses already underway or in the works for next year, we have organized, for members only, a terrific series of inexpensive on-water paddling workshops offered by our paddling skills partners - your chance to do some serious “Spring Training” for the warm weather paddling season just ahead! Most workshops launch from the beach at Gyro Park, Cadboro Bay, in Victoria, but other locations are also used as noted.

Beginning in mid-March.....Click HERE to read the full article (Lots of information!)

SISKA Xmas Zoom Party - Wed Dec 8 @ 7pm

by Alan Campbell

Ho Ho Ho.....! Get Ready for Some Festive Online Fun, SISKA's Christmas Zoom Party is soon!
So, now is the time for you to start getting into the Holiday Spirit and we have some suggestions about how you can prepare!

1. Send up to 3 of your favourite photos from the 2021 paddling season to Tony Playfair @ tonyplay@padlr.net by Sun Dec 5
There will be a pre-Zoom slide show of all photo contest entries, and prizes for the winners!

2. Want to tell us a 2-3 minute story about a paddling adventure in 2021?
There will be a prize for the best one!

3. Dress in your Christmas finery for the Zoom!
There will be a prize for the best festive headwear/adornment.

4. Imagine the trivia in Debbie Leach's "Heads or Tails" this year!
Prizes for each of the 3 sets of her mindbending visual puzzles!
Check out her teaser promo below...

5. Stay online to win a draw prize after the Willi Fast virtual singalong!

Please join us for what promises to be a memorable evening!!

DREAM, PLAN, PADDLE – SISKA’s TRIP PLANNING WORKSHOP INSPIRES!

by Alan Campbell

About 50 SISKA members had fun Sat Nov 27 at Pearkes Recreation Centre, browsing around the various trip displays set up, talking about kayaking trips and dreaming about which one to plan next!
We had a great group of SISKA “trip consultants”, experienced trippers who came armed with charts and more, and were happy to share their knowledge and stories with those attending.
A number of those presenting their trips and trip ideas created digital documents with more details, so these have been uploaded to a Google Drive file share at the following link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17bMqa7MTseNMBzEebdPtT7t-qnBz1FCj
(You do need to sign into Google to access this, but since most of us either use Gmail or otherwise have a Google account, that shouldn’t be a problem.)
And, since we’re all so modern these days, if you have a QR reader on your phone/device (an app you can download for free) you can point it at the QR code below and go to the file share that way 😊
Happy paddle dreaming!

Cape Scott

Southern Gulf Islands

What’s in a Name?

by Vic Turkington

Goudge + Fernie Islands

(image courtesy of DaveO)

This is the route of a light paddle recently planned by Rod Stiebel from Amherst to Tsehum Harbour (unfortunately cancelled due to wind) and the intriguing areas of Goudge and Fernie Islands. The location is a favourite with kayakers due to the many islands and maze of rock islets, together with the challenging currents in St.John passage (between Goudge and Coal Islands). The white navigation marker (Fl) off the north end of Goudge Is. serves as a useful fix for kayakers returning from Portland Is.
Goudge Island first appeared on a chart in 1904, based on a 1902 survey by Cdr.Simpson of the HMS Egeria.
The island was farmed by Tom Kamaree, a Hawaiian Islander (Kanaka), who received a Crown grant for Goudge and Fernie Islands, in the 1800s. Goudge and Fernie Islands were later owned by Nelson Whittier (1904-91), a wealthy Californian oil tycoon, whose family founded Beverly Hills in 1906.
Whittier constructed a boat yard on Goudge Is. and built a Victorian steam yacht. He was also fascinated by aviation and built radio-controlled target drones for the US army during WW11. He sold the island in 1979.

Fernie Island was named after Peter Fernie (1830-1915), who was a pioneer from England. He owned and farmed a part of the present day Butchart Gardens and helped to develop the coal deposits in the Elk Lake valley; Fernie died in Victoria. Fernie Is. and Goudge Is. were then farmed by Tom Kamaree. A rock islet near Fernie Is. houses a funky wooden cottage and dock and also a modern cottage, which has been recently built.
The green top marker (FlG) on the SE corner of Fernie Is. serves as guide when paddling north past Curteis Pt.
This area remains a favourite with kayakers; full of islands, interesting rocky islets full of sea life and mischievous currents..

Current Clinics for Beginner/Early Intermediate Kayakers

by Jennie Sutton

These clinics will take place launching at Cadboro Bay and practicing at Cadboro Point (aka.10 Mile Point). There will be four clinics in January and February, weather dependant. Watch for posting on the calendar in early December to register. Numbers will be limited for each clinic. Clinics will be taught by our SISKA instructors with Paddle Canada certification.

Tips from the Trips

by Debbie Leach

HANDY HAND SANITIZER for lunchtime and meal prep when you are ‘out there’ away from soap and water. Refillable and smart to have even post-Pandemic. You can reattach one to your backpack, too

Camp Cookery

by Lynn Baier

Sous Vide Omelette

True confession is that this is my ziplock omelette recipe with a more exotic name :-)

Take two eggs and crack them into a freezer quality ziplock bag. Add in anything you would normally add to your omelette. Make sure the pieces are small. The one in the picture has real bacon bits, dehydrated peppers, dried mushroom slices, and shredded cheese. Mush it all around and let it sit long enough for the dehydrated vegetables to moisten a bit. Squeeze as much of the air out of the bag as you can as you seal it up. Cook it up in the water you’re boiling up for coffee. It will probably take five minutes or so on boil to cook through. Make sure the bag doesn’t touch the sides of the pot. Pinching it together with a clothes pin will make it sit well in the water. When it’s done, it’s nice to serve in a wrap. It will slip right out of the bag. Best part…..no dishes to take down to the beach to wash up. While I don’t advocate cooking in plastic bags on a regular basis, this is a real treat for a layover day breakfast.

Suquash - A bit of BC History

by Gary Jacek

Just north of Port McNeil on the way to Port Hardy is Suquash.

Well worth exploring and accessible by road, or by kayak if you are paddling past.

Make your fiberglass/kevlar boat look like NEW!

by Mike Teachman

How to whiten your gel coat

If your white gel coat has turned a yellow colour you can use a product called Barkeeper's Friend to restore the white colour. Barkeeper's Friend is a readily available product sold at retailers such as Canadian Tire. I use either the spray or gel version. Don't buy the powder version as it may scratch your hull. The spray version costs $4.99. https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/bar-keepers-friend-trigger-spray-foam-0533193p.html

How to apply:

1. recommended temperature greater than 10 degC

2. wear some latex or rubber gloves

3. apply Barkeeper's Friend to the yellowed area and rub it into the gel coat with a sponge.

4. wait a few minutes

5. thoroughly rinse with water

6. enjoy your restored gel coat

How does it work? The active ingredient is oxalic acid, which is effective at cleaning hulls -- it's found in many professional hull cleaning products.

Before/After photo attached:

Editor Note: Another product called FSR (Fiberglass Stain Remover) also works very well.

Safety Tips

by Lynn Baier

Nautical Rules of the Road

As kayakers we have a tendency to not familiarize ourselves with the ‘rules of the road’ when we’re out on the water, but it really is essential to know what to do when encountering heavy marine traffic.

https://www.paddleeducation.com/touring/getting-started/nautical-rules-of-the-road/

Kayaking Klips

by Debbie Leach

Canoe rescuing kayak and kayak rescuing canoe thanks to Mike Teachman and friend.

Changes in store for 2022 Club Paddles

by Gary Jacek

Your SISKA trip leaders recently held a forum to discuss the past 18 months of SISKA paddles and to bring forward any member concerns relayed to them.

As a result, for 2022 we’ll be making a few changes to our club paddles and how we manage them.

In the past we have had members who sign onto a paddle far in advance, and only at the last minute discover they cannot attend. We all forget things from time to time.
Unfortunately, our trip leaders learn of these cancellations too late for another member to take the available spot.

Our trip leaders want to give every member the opportunity to paddle. So we will be making two changes.

Members will be able to request a spot on a club paddle, a maximum of 1 month prior to the trip date.

In addition, if you are on the manifest for a trip, you will receive a reminder 1 week prior to the trip. If you cannot attend, simply notify your paddle leader so they have time to find an available paddler from their waitlist.

When trip leaders are available, we will offer at least 2 Relaxed and 2 Energizer paddles per month. This is roughly twice as many paddling opportunities as in 2021.

To better familiarize our many new members with paddling opportunities around southern Vancouver Island, we will be offering “New Members” paddles at both the Relaxed and Energizer levels.

While our long standing members will be welcomed on these “New Members” paddles, trip leaders will give preference to members who joined SISKA during the past year, as they assemble their manifest.

As always, our trip leaders will follow SISKA guidelines with regard to the group skills needed to ensure a safe day on the water.

For our seasoned veterans, attending a “New Members” paddle is an excellent way to mentor our new members.

Our paddling area offers many opportunities, some benign and others that are very challenging. We encourage our members, new and old, to seek out training opportunities and to practice their rescue skills and boat handling in the conditions they may encounter.
This will allow you to confidently take advantage of everything our area has to offer.

BC Marine Trails November Newsletter

(click below)

To Buy or Sell

If you have any buy/sell items that you would like to post in the Newsletter, please send a short description and your contact info to newsletter@siska.ca.

SISKA’s Kayak Skills Course Partners

There are some fine discounts available from our kayak skills course partners for SISKA members who sign up for their skills training programs; have a look at https://siska.ca/prod/docs_public/SISKAsKayakSkillsCoursePartners.pdf

Our partners are: