Introduction
Dear <<First Name>>,
This is a very full issue with all of our regular items as well as some important volunteer and other notices. May has been a busy month for us with many paddles and clinics. Thanks to all of the members who have helped us get organized for all these activities!
As a result of our raffle last month, we have been able to donate $210 to each of the four local RCMSAR units (Oak Bay, Victoria, Sooke and Sidney). thanks to all of you who participated.
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!
Michael Jackson (SISKA president) and Ben van Drimmelen (editor)
PS: You can find SISKA on Facebook at this link.
PPS: SISKA has a Meetup site for "impromptu" and other paddles organized by club members. For more details, go to https://www.meetup.com/SISKA-Meetup/. To join this, you have to be a club member.
PPPS: You can find the SISKA newsletter archive here: http://goo.gl/VUkafR |
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Upcoming SISKA Events
June 2, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, 10 Year Anniversary Picnic
June 3, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Willows Beach to Intertidal paddle- Oak Bay foreshore Paddle (RELAXED)
June 10, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Fleming Beach to Fisgard Lighthouse Paddle (RELAXED)
June 23, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Oak Bay Marina - Parking Lot to Discovery/Chatham Islands Paddle (ENERGIZER)
July 6 - 8, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, SISKA camping trip to Discovery Island (ENERGIZER)
July 8, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Cooper Cove to Sooke Basin/Anderson Cove Paddle (RELAXED)
July 22, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Amherst to Russell Island Paddle (ENERGIZER)
July 28, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm. Brentwood Bay Ferry Wharf to Butchart Gardens Fireworks Paddle (RELAXED)
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Community Events of Interest
If you are aware of an event that should be included in the next Newsletter, please email Alan Campbell at alanglencampbell@shaw.ca.
Jul 7, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, MEC Paddlefest
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Trip leader for July campout needed
Unfortunately, both Tony Copping and Mike Miles are unable to lead the campout planned for July 6th to 8th due to medical and work conflicts. If any member is willing to coordinate and lead the campout, please contact Mike Jackson.
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SISKA "Welcome" person needed
Lynn Baier has been welcoming new members to the club for many years now and has recently taken on the role of safety coordinator. As a result, her plate is very full and it would be a great help if someone would be willing to take on this role. If you are interested please contact Lynn Baier. This role basically involves responding to the info@siska.ca email address and sending some welcome information to new members.
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Volunteer opportunities - MEC, Splash and BC games
There are three upcoming opportunities for our club members to get involved with helping out in the community: MEC Paddlefest, Victoria Symphony Splash and the BC Games
MEC Paddlefest
The MEC Paddlefest will take place on Saturday July 7th, and SISKA will have a booth/table at the event. For more information about the event, please visit http://events.mec.ca/node/203116. If you are able to volunteer a few hours on the day to help staff our booth, that would be much appreciated. Please contact Gail Miller (gailmiller@shaw.ca).
Victoria Symphony Splash
The Victoria Symphony is putting on its annual Symphony Splash event this summer on August 5th.The 29th annual Victoria Symphony Splash returns to the picturesque Inner Harbour this August! This free outdoor event attracts over 40,000 people and features a full day of fun activities concluding with a fantastic performance by the Victoria Symphony from a floating barge on the water - complete with fireworks display! They couldn’t make it happen without a dedicated team of 400 volunteers and they invite you to be a part of it! Volunteer positions include Audience Relations, helping in our Family Zone, Merchandise Sales, Donations Team, Behind-the-Scenes Production and more!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Sunday August 5th | Inner Harbour Victoria
Benefits of Volunteering at Victoria Symphony Splash
• Be part of one of the largest outdoor orchestral concerts in North America and one of Vancouver Island’s signature summer events!
• Give back to your community and be part of a fantastic team!
• Support the Victoria Symphony, Vancouver Island’s largest arts organization
• Meet new and interesting people while you hear wonderful music in a spectacular setting
• Get a volunteer t-shirt and an invitation to the Volunteer after-party
• Receive a ticket voucher for a concert in the Victoria Symphony’s 2018/2019 season
Special Early Bird Prizes
• Sign up for shifts before June 16th and be entered to win 2 additional vouchers to the 2018/2019 Victoria Symphony Season!
If you’d like to join them, please fill out their volunteer application form at: http://victoriasymphony.ca/splash/. For more information, please contact the 2018 Victoria Symphony Splash Volunteer Coordinator: Taryn Craig 250.412.1983 | splash_volunteers@victoriasymphony.ca
BC Games
The BC Games are happening in the Cowichan Valley this summer (July 19-22) and the organizers are looking for volunteers. Volunteers are the driving force and heart and soul of the BC Games. Each volunteer is committed to ensure that the community comes together in a celebration of pride and that participants have an unforgettable experience. From meal preparation, to transportation, to hospitality, and sport competitions, the enthusiasm and expertise of volunteers is what makes it all happen.
For more information: Main BC Games Website - https://www.bcgames.org/Volunteer.aspx - Volunteer Sign up here - https://www.bcgames.net/cwch2018s/VolunteerModule/register.aspx
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Safety notice - The Wet Exit
- Lynn Baier
So, we’ve all done a wet exit, right? Now think about when the last time you did one.
It’s easy to put it off; who really wants to hurl them selves into the cold ocean? However, a successful self rescue or assisted rescue is an invaluable skill that really should be practiced to be of any value. Make yourself a promise to buddy up with a couple of paddlers and practice your wet exits and rescues.
Let’s be safe out there!
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Jennie is retiring as Paddle Coordinator
After 10 years of exemplary service, Jennie Sutton is retiring as our Club Paddle Coordinator and will transition out of the role soon. This is one of the key roles in SISKA, since club paddles, during which participants can solidify their skills and gain experience, are one of the main ways our club meets its aim of promoting safe sea kayaking.
The Paddle Coordinator is responsible for scheduling club paddles throughout the year on days and in locations where the tides and currents are favourable. Each year, with Alan Stevens’ assistance, Jennie has created a schedule of club paddles and then ensured that each one is assigned to a SISKA paddle leader to carry out. Jennie has also worked with Dave Ostapovich to develop a user-friendly website-based system of planning, recording, communicating and monitoring the paddles.
Over the years Jennie has recruited and trained many members to become paddle leaders and supports them individually and with group sessions as required. Some paddles follow popular themes such as intertidal life, bird-watching and wildflower spotting, and leaders are encouraged to plan additional paddles themselves. The result of all this is that SISKA’s club paddles are very well-used and appreciated by many members! Collectively, we paddle literally hundreds of nautical miles each year on scores of well-planned day trips led by our own trained paddle leaders.
We are very grateful to Jennie for overseeing this important work for all of us for so long, and for helping to develop such an effective system of paddle planning – wonderful accomplishments! The good news is that Gary Jacek has volunteered to take over as Paddle Coordinator and will be assuming this responsibility soon. Gary is a very experienced paddler, leader and camper so we are delighted that he will be taking on this key club role!
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What’s in a Name?
- Vic Turkington
Ker & Coal Islands
Ker Island:
As kayakers head north from Amherst Beach in Sidney, we often cross the
1 nm stretch to our first regroup stop between Little Shell and Ker Island.
David Russel Ker (1862-1923) joined Henry Brackman (Brackman Island is off Portland Island), to form the Brackman-Ker Milling Co. The original mill was located in Tsehum Harbour but later moved to Victoria Harbour, where it produced flour and a variety of animal feeds. David Ker became a prominent citizen of Victoria and head of the Board of Trade. The island is private and was formerly named Shell Island (The collective name "Little Group" often appears on charts).
The island is a welcome first stop en route to Coal Island and beyond.
Coal Island:
One of our relaxed SISKA paddles circumnavigates Coal Island, An early map of South Vancouver Island (1855) identified coal on the east side, hence the name; faint seams of coal can be seen near Kamai Point.
The west side of Coal Island borders John Passage, which is active with boat traffic travelling north-south. A private luxury residence is found in Lewis Bay with good harbour facilities; however, landing is prohibited. At the northern tip of Coal Island lies Fir Cone Point - a good spot to regroup and monitor BC Ferries travelling to/from Swartz Bay. (Victoria Traffic Control can always be reached on VHF channel 11 to update potential marine activity, before crossing Colburne Passage to Pym or Knapp Islands.) Fir Cone Point houses a white navigation marker with a flashing green light (Fl G).
This whole area makes a wonderful kayaking location.
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Ker and Coal Islands
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Tips from the trips
- Debbie Leach
No Need for Battery Confusion!
Keep fresh batteries for your GPS in small zippertop bags and leave the used ones loose in the case.
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BC Marine Trails - possible project?
As this is SISKA’s 10th year in operation, your Executive has been looking at ways for the club to celebrate our anniversary.
One suggestion that has been brought forward is for the club to undertake a project that would “give back” not only to the Victoria paddling public but something that would benefit the community as a whole. In the past a number of paddling clubs along BC’s coast have undertaken responsibility for looking after specific geographic locations including; put-in spots, day use or rest places and overnight or camping places. SISKA’s local paddling area stretches from roughly Sooke to Maple Bay but the majority of the types of spots mentioned above are already well maintained by municipal, provincial or federal governments.
What we are asking is for members to give some thought and serious consideration for ideas for a club project that SISKA members could really get behind and involved with. We need your suggestions and ideas, so please take a little time and think about this. We welcome your proposals and recommendations. Please contact our BC Marine trails rep, Fred Pishalski if you have any ideas. |
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May 12th Birding Paddle
- Jennie Sutton
Ten kayaks and 11 kayakers had a spectacular day on the water! The group launched at Oak Bay Marina under sunny, blue skies and paddled to the gap between Discovery and Chatham Islands via the Chain Islands. Along the way Daniel Donnecke, our birding expert extraordinaire, pointed out various sea birds and explained their plumages (winter versus summer, male versus female, mating…) and their migratory patterns.
Early lunch was near a mud flat area where we could observe shorebirds and they did not disappoint. Daniel had his powerful scope set up for those who wanted to watch the birds up close and personal! We then paddled at a leisurely pace across glassy seas around Chatham Island back through the gap again, returning to the launch site via the Chain Islands. This was followed by a very pleasant and lingering coffee at Fantasico Café, Oak Bay Marina. The total distance was 7.4 n. miles.
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...we could observe shorebirds and they did not disappoint.
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Camp Cookery
- Lynn Baier
Coconut Peanut Pasta Sauce
Here’s a super simple, yet delicious pasta sauce that can be thrown together in a few minutes. Serve it with any type of pasta, but rice noodles rehydrate in a few minutes, using a minimal amount of fuel.
Mix together a can of coconut milk, a brick of coconut cream or a rehydrated envelope of dried coconut milk with about 250 g of crunchy peanut butter. Mix in Tom Yum paste to taste.
Heat this all up and toss with pasta. This should serve two hungry kayakers. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to throw in some fresh or rehydrated vegetables or mushrooms for a bit more flavour and nutrition. Enjoy!
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Successful Paddle Canada Level 1 Course
As luck would have it, the weather was fantastic as three keen SISKA members spent the weekend of May 5th and 6th improving their on water skills and successfully completing their Level 1 Paddle Canada certification! Instructors were Jennie Sutton and Edgar Hulatt.
First photo is at Willows Beach. The group paddled here from Cadboro Bay on Day Two, practicing various strokes along the way while developing an increased awareness and enjoyment of their surroundings. After having lunch and listening to the weather forecast on the VHF radio, the group paddled back to Cadboro Bay for more wet exits and self re-entry practice and final debriefing.
Smiles all around as they all received their official Paddle Canada certificates!
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Kayakable Birding
- Ben van Drimmelen
The Rhinoceros Auklet is a stubby seabird. Note the longish bill with the rhino bump (only there in summer) and the elegant moustache. These stay a bit offshore, usually fishing singly but sometimes bunching up along tidelines where two currents meet. |
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| Rhinoceros Auklet |
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Like the Auklet, the Pigeon Guillemot feeds on small fish captured underwater. That gaudy black and white plumage is unique and obvious - but only in summer; Guillemots turn a dull grey and white in winter. They nest on ledges, including under ferry docks, and make high piping whistles around their nest sites. |
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| Pigeon Guillemot |
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... the Moon Sucks, the Sun Sucks
- Ben van Drimmelen
A short, intense lesson in gravity and distance started the May 6 Intertidal Paddle. When the sun and moon pull earth’s oceans in the same direction, big tides. When they pull in opposite directions, small tides. But that is only the start of the complexities of tides and currents around the word. All this was sketched and diagramed into the sand of Willows Beach.
Then, it was into the kayaks to see what we could see in the sea. The sun was shining, virtually no breeze, the water was completely clear – absolutely perfect conditions. Scott France, Mike Jackson and Dave Giuliani introduced us to barnacles, both Little Browns and Haystacks, and to the red, green and brown seaweeds (although calling the beautiful iridescent seaweed a weed seems just plain wrong. More fitting the Latin name, Mazaella splendens.) And the invertebrates – calcareous tube worms, dogwinkles, red sponge nudibranchs, bent-nose clams, shield limpets, hairy helmet crabs, sunflower stars, red sea cucumbers – though we never did find the ominously-named dire welk. More than anyone can absorb in a few hours, but certainly enough to pique the interest.
The trip ended with a bright white display of plumose anemones – under the Oak Bay marina’s fuel dock, of all places! Outdoor learning on a calm, sunny day – perfect.
And for those that missed it, there is another opportunity this month - a relaxed Intertidal Paddle on Sunday, June 3rd from Willows Beach along the Oak Bay foreshore.
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The SISKA May Clinics
SISKA organized three informative and exciting clinics with world class instructors for our members, held on May 20, 23 and 24. Thanks to Lynn Beak and Michael Egilson for organizing these clinics with instructors who were coming to Victoria for PPS.
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May 20 - Current clinic with John Kirk Anderson
On Sunday morning, May 20th, twelve SISKA members and three SISKA instructors met in the warm sunshine at Banfield Park in Vic West for a currents clinic led by John Kirk-Anderson. John is visiting from Christchurch, New Zealand. We were fortunate to have this BCU 5 Star paddler, BCU Level 4 Coach and NZOIA Instructor Assessor present the currents class at Tillicum Narrows.
Instruction began on land where John demonstrated correct posture, balance and hip flexion to ensure effective edge control. Some of the drills were easier said than done. With this preamble completed, we carried our kayaks to the wharf and launched, for a leisurely paddle up the calm waters to the Tillicum bridge. Once at our destination, John demonstrated the necessary skills with relaxed ease in the turbulent water. The class began by crossing calmer currents and then progressed upstream in steps, to more challenging conditions.
As the turbulence and current increased, more than a few of us had the chance to practice one or more unscheduled wet exits. We all enjoyed the challenge, and were pleased when we completed a drill, still upright. Key points: relax, paddle hard, bum to the current and as the current catches your bow, turn your head and look where you want to go. If you go over and want to successfully roll back up, do so on the downstream side.
Our currents practice done for this day, we returned to Banfield Park with smiles on our faces as we soaked up the warm sunshine. Back on land we debriefed, just as the instructors arrived for their afternoon session. We all felt lucky to get to spend the morning with John Kirk-Anderson. Thanks also to Mike Myles, Mike Egilson and Jennie Sutton for their on-water support.
by Jane Jacek
May 23 - On-Water Emergencies and Re-Entry Realities with Blair Doyle
Blair Doyle's paddling workshop combined on-water kayaking incidents with medical problems in a challenge/scenario format. All participants were given a specific different victim scenario to play out when their number was called as the group paddled from Gyro Park to the Chatham Islands and back. Dislocated joints, airway obstructions, sea water aspiration, breathing and consciousness problems were just a few of the emergencies that befell our paddle out to Ten Mile Point, across Baynes Channel and back over the course of the day.
Dorothea Hoffman and Mike Jackson assisted Blair with this full day clinic which was full of surprises from start to finish. The group was called upon to respond to incidents quickly and efficiently with appropriate retrieval, stabilization if possible, re-entry, towing and calling for emergency response as required. Effective incident response communication emerged as a key learning for us all. Encouraged to stay in their assigned victim roles until the scenario was declared complete, those paddlers with hidden theatrical talents distinguished themselves with very realistic incapacity or lifelessness - most often in the water and out of their kayaks!
Blair’s confident mastery of the knowledge and skills involved were evident in the debriefing of each incident, so the clinic provided a powerful and enjoyable way of realistically practicing first aid and rescue skills in a marine environment. All participants had an opportunity to be involved in different ways in the scenarios, and everyone ended up in the water at least once during the day! Happily, it was a lovely sunny day with mostly light winds and currents.
At the end of the session, “Oscars” voted for “best performance by an incapacitated kayaker”, were unanimously awarded to Sandy Senyk (1st place) and John Minkley (Runner Up) – their impressions of “almost dead in the water” were so good as to be somewhat unnerving! Enjoy your prizes, guys, and we hope you’re feeling better!
by Alan Campbell
May 24 - Paddling and Stroke Improvement with Jarrod McQuillan
The clinic title sounded medical, but the Paddling and Stroke Improvement Clinic with Jarrod Gunn McQuillan was anything but.
Fourteen paddlers refined their skills on a windy but very sunny day. Jarrod set a nice relaxed pace (yes, pun intended), spending the morning on instruction and practice drills on a series of elements of the forward stroke. Our efficiency improved as the likelihood of strains and injuries receded.
The afternoon covered edging plus paddle placement for ruddering – bow rudder and moving or hanging draw (to slightly divert your path while maintaining forward speed).
The finale was a couple of hilarious kayak games where, with much hooting and shouting, we (sort of) put our refined skills into practice. Imagine teams of a blind Chief, a usually-screaming Shaman and two aggressive/defensive Warriors! No, belay that – the resultant chaos really cannot be imagined.
by Ben van Drimmelen
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Pictures from The Blair Doyle clinic
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Jarrod explaining the intricacies of the Forward Stroke
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Meredith accepting our thank-you gifts from Jennie
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May 19th - Trial island Paddle and visit
16 paddlers launched from Oak Bay Marina for a visit to the Trial Island (TI) Lightstation in sunny weather and light winds. Meredith Dickman, the TI Lightkeeper, welcomed us warmly, showed us some rare, endangered plants, and toured small groups to the top of the Light Tower, sharing lots of fascinating and some sobering stories along the way. We learned that all of Trial Island is to be treated as an Ecological Reserve (ER), even those sections occupied by the Lighthouse and the CFAX radio towers, and that any visitors must be accompanied by an ER Warden to venture above the high tide line. Paddlers and other boaters can land if they stay completely below the high tide, and the Lightstation is always there to assist anyone in an emergency.
To thank her we brought some home-baked muffins and the day’s newspapers, treats a busy Lightkeeper’s schedule precludes. It is hoped that we can make this paddle an annual event, perhaps when the wildflower bloom is at its peak!
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Top left: Pointing out wildflowers and settling down Meredith's excited dog
Top right: Roger's camera is at the ready with that amazing view
Bottom: Victoria's Owl-Clover is found almost nowhere else in the world!.
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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.
Used kayak for sale: Original Ocean River Current Designs yellow single Pisces - a real classic boat. Boat comes equipped with hatch covers, spray skirt, water pump, paddle plus Brooks wetsuits, PFD, 3 SeaLine and 1 O/R dry bags, chart case, paddling mitts, mesh item bag , two wheel dolly. Thule roof rack with boat saddles also available. For Sale by Bruce, friend of the Cat Fish Group, please get in touch with Fred Pishalski via gailmiller@shaw.ca or (250) 598-7333 for contact details.
Asking $1100 for boat and equipment and $100 for the rack
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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 http://siska.ca/docs_public/SISKAsKayakSkillsCoursePartners.pdf.
Our partners are:
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