kayaker’s
journal
Break on through to the other side. PHOTO: VIRGINIA MARSHALL
SKILLS BY JON TURK Crossing Crazy JON TURK’S ONE, TWO, THREE FOR GETTING FROM A TO B
Put simply, a crossing occurs anytime you cannot safely return to land virtually instanta- neously. This includes shortcutting across the mouths of bays or fiords, island hopping and paddling around cliffs or rocky capes where you may be close to shore but still vulnerable with no safe exit. There are three dangers inherent in any
crossing: general fatigue, capsizing and drift- ing off course. When Dr. Hannes Lindemann prepared
for his solo kayak crossing of the Atlantic in 1957, he trained to stay awake and alert for long periods of time. Fatigue can affect judg- ment and decision-making ability as well as paddling ability. To gauge your personal limits, start with
short crossings and gradually work your way towards covering longer distances. You’ll find strength and joy as you tickle the borders of
exhaustion, but don’t get halfway out on a 20- mile crossing and realize that it’s too much. Kayaking books teach techniques for get-
ting back in your boat after you’ve capsized. The best advice: Don’t tip over in the first place. Practice bracing and righting skills in rivers or surf—any place with complex hy- draulics. If you don’t enjoy the chaos of rough water, limit your exposure to crossings. As with training for fatigue, match your risk to your skill level and personality, leaving leeway for the situation to become more intense than you initially envisioned. In order to avoid drifting off course, careful
calculation and planning for a number of sce- narios are necessary. Catabatic winds can occur any time high,
cold peaks border warmer shorelines. Cool air may spill down the mountains, creating intense offshore winds that can push you off course.
They usually intensify in the afternoons, so plan accordingly. Tidal
currents are most intense where
there is a large tidal range and where narrow straits connect two bodies of water of differ- ent sizes and depths. For example, tides would race through a channel connecting a shallow bay and the ocean, creating shears and eddies where speeding water interacts with calmer water. To avoid the impacts of tidal currents, travel at slack tide or take potential drift into consideration. The most exciting crossings involve passages
to small islands where, if you miscalculate, you may find yourself adrift on the open sea. Deep- sea waves, winds and currents require that you study pilot charts, talk to local sailors and fish- ermen, and always err on the upwind side. It’s much easier to drift downwind at the end of a long day than to battle against wind or current in the fading light. When taking on a crossing, be sure to bring
lots of food and water, and have your naviga- tion gear and extra clothes in an easily acces- sible, waterproof deck bag.
JON TURK’S book, In the Wake of the Jomon, chron- icles his two-year crossing from Japan to Alaska.
www.adventurekayakmag.com 27
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