Thanks for watching! It was an awesome experience. The drysuit is a Kokatat. The zip across the chest is easy to put on. Some people think they are less comfortable, but I have no complaints as long as I folded the zipper down under my life jacket. I've got another video coming that shows all the gear I brought. I've always believed that essential gear makes trips safer, where too much does the opposite. I try to bring gear that serves double duty and is compact. I've had plenty of experience packing light--especially from thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. The left shoulder of my life jacket has a strobe light attached. It's just another form of signaling in case of emergency.GREAT VIDEOS!!! What an adventure!
Thanks for sharing them. I'm looking forward to your next videos.
Looks like a great voyage. I'm talking to my buddy Ralph about doing your trip with me on my Hobie next summer. (He's currently recovering from a bad mountain bike crash.)
What brand of drysuit do you have? I have one that's really hard to put on, and that shoulder zip looks easier.
I'm amazed at the amount of gear you can carry, in just a few bags. I'm a climber and backpacker too, so I've got good gear, but seems like my pack gets very full without much in it.
The SPOT is a very good idea. I may need one to placate my wife. Is that a GPS at your left shoulder?
Thanks for watching! It was an awesome experience. The drysuit is a Kokatat. The zip across the chest is easy to put on. Some people think they are less comfortable, but I have no complaints as long as I folded the zipper down under my life jacket. I've got another video coming that shows all the gear I brought. I've always believed that essential gear makes trips safer, where too much does the opposite. I try to bring gear that serves double duty and is compact. I've had plenty of experience packing light--especially from thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. The left shoulder of my life jacket has a strobe light attached. It's just another form of signaling in case of emergency.
I see you were taking notes.What I have learned from your videos:
- take Dramamine before heading off-shore
- that I can get an affordable sat device to let my wife know she can’t cash in my life insurance in just yet
- a Sunfish might be too wide to use a kayak paddle efficiently. I will have to give that some thought.
- that if I am going out very far I am going to tie a Clorox bottle on my mast head. I don’t care how stupid it looks. I MIGHT be able to right the boat in waves like that if I capsized, but if it turtled on me there is no way I would get it upright again!
- If I try a long trip in a Sunfish I am going to test it with my Minifish rig first. It would be slower, but it might be less demanding on long passages. Unless the wind dies, of course!
- that I need to try using the Air Hawk cushion from my Kawasaki. It doesn’t look like the foam you put on your boat is cutting it.
- that I need to come up with systems that will allow me to stay hydrated when I can’t let go of the main sheet for very long. I am thinking Camelbak. It might not get all that hot in Minnesota, but it sure can where I go sailing. Not being able to take in lots of fluids on a regular basis for a couple of hours could become a serious problem.
- that the Great Lakes evidently have currents between islands. Sailing in tidal waters and rivers one gets used to that, but I had not considered that possibility on a Great Lake.
- and, most importantly, I am never, ever going to sail to Isle Royale, even on a large sailboat. I haven’t seen waves like that, even out in the ocean. It’s not the size, really, but the spacing.In my experience ocean waves are usually farther apart. I am really surprised that you never pitch poled. I know that you said the waves were far enough apart to prevent that, but with the weight of your gear up there, it must have been dicey!
Sorry the above is so long, but I used to teach, and I always appreciated it when one of my students showed that he was actually paying attention!
I see you were taking notes.
--100% agree on Dramamine. That was not expected or anticipated.
--the Spot Gen 3's (most like the one I wore) gives you one way communication and cost about $150
--I had no issue using the kayak paddle with the Sunfish. I didn't think it was too wide. I wouldn't want to paddle it all day, but it wasn't a problem. If you were concerned about it, you could also buy a kayak paddle extension. They are commonly used when paddling a canoe with a kayak paddle.
--If you have trouble with righting your Sunfish, the bottle would be a great idea. You can but a "mast float" or "mast pillow float" for sailboats anyway, so it wouldn't be too strange.
--My first recommendation for the sail is...don't do long crossings or go out in crazy winds.... That being said, and because that's a hypocritical statement, I would suggest having lots of time for big trips so you can make decisions to sail on the better wind days. I spend much of my time trying to figure out how to rig the Sunfish sail to be smaller, but couldn't come up with anything reliable that wouldn't damage it. The Minifish sail sounds like a great idea if you know it's going to be high winds. The challenge with going smaller from the start for doing a crossing, is now you've increased your time on the water which gives more of a chance for weather to change, darkness to set in, you to get cold, hungry, uncomfortable.
--The foam made a HUGE difference. I'm working on another video to review it. It's not like sitting on the couch, but it's noticeably more comfortable. It's also attached, so there's no need to keep track of something else, or worry about a separate cushion sliding.
--I did stay hydrated and always treated more water when needed (even if the waves). It wouldn't have been an issue with 2 liters. The Camelback idea sounds like a good one.
--There weren't currents between the islands. You might be seeing the wave action pushing through.
--The waves on Superior (and other great lakes) are renowned to be steep and close because they are formed solely by wind as apposed to tides. I did pitch pole a couple times running down wind. I was passing 3 foot waves with 35mph winds. I would dive in, the stern would raise up with the following wave, then the wind would spin the entire boat 90 degrees. Unfortunately, I didn't get that on video, but I was fairly preoccupied.
--No worries on the length. I appreciate learning from others as well, so I enjoy the insights. I do a bit of teaching myself so I get it.
Hey. Thanks so much for your kind comments! I also have a decent amoutn of outdoor experience (thru hiking AT, biking cross country, canoeing the entire Yukon River, leading climbing, mountain biking, backpacking....) I also did 3.5 years of Adventure Education in college along with my Psychology degree, so I try to draw from all of that to think things through and remain safe.Good job on the Isle Royale videos, AIR, they brought back excellent memories of similar voyages off Baja. I like how well-prepared-and-equipped you were for this voyage, and I say that as a lifelong outdoorsman, sailor, technical rock climber & mountaineer. Keep up the good work, I'm looking forward to the other Isle Royale videos, though I'll probably just subscribe to your threads so I can view them directly, aye?
That segment where you entered the inlet and were trying to navigate various channels between smaller islands, that was interesting because Nature threw a curveball your way... when sailing to Los Coronados off the northern end of Baja, I encountered similar problems. The steep slopes of the islands create large "wind shadows" and areas of confluence where winds meet from different directions, making navigation tricky.
Meh, patience is a virtue, and even the worst day of sailing is better than the best day in an office or a factory, LOL. I actually learned about some high-tech gadgetry from your videos, the SPOT device was pretty cool, like sending 'macros' via Qualcomm back in my 'trucking daze'---as an old rogue dinosaur, I'm behind the times with all the newfangled technology. One day I'll be dead and none of that will matter, I can't keep up with it anyway.
ALRIGHT, HAND, GOOD JOB ON THE VIDEOS, THEY WERE VERY ENJOYABLE WITH A COLD BEER AT HAND... CHEERS!!!
Thank you! We were hoping to go again with all the dogs last weekend, but it was forecast to pour the entire time, so we are going in a couple weeks instead. Cats and water might be a bit more stressful for all... There are 3 Isle Royale films out and the others should be posted Thursday and Monday. Thanks for watching.Damn, AIR, I just watched your "Canoeing with 6 dogs" video on YouTube, and that was a great video! So cool to see the dogs kicking back and occasionally roaming around in nature once you found a bivouac site... and the French circus music (or whatever that was) added just the right touch when the dogs started running and playing in the area. You and your wife are clearly good people, taking those critters along for the boat ride... somehow, I can't see my three cats peacefully making such a voyage. Anyway, keep up the good work with the videos... hopefully the other Isle Royale films will soon be ready to view.
I'm hoping to get a second GoPro. I've been filming everything with one, which means I have to stop in waves on a tiny boat and move the camera for different views. I also need to make or buy a better boom mount.A spare boom-mounted Go-Pro would make for interesting viewing.
I've pop-riveted a standard CD under my 6-inch inspection port cover. It makes a handy lightweight, yet powerful mirror that is always "at hand".
There's a huge storage space below the forward deck. While small items (keys,cellphone) can disappear aft within the hull, check out the following thread to add storage space for a sea anchor, Sailfish sail, flares, dye, kayak paddle-extenders, manual bailers (for when not underway), dry/warm clothes, or extra food...:
Ultimate Inspection Port...
Installed in the forward bulkhead of the cockpit, the most useful of [round] inspection ports appeared in this forum's pages—and never had thought to put one there—so that plain-appearing bulkhead has been staring at me for a couple of years. :oops: I've had two of the below rectangular...sailingforums.com
I also did 3.5 years of Adventure Education in college...
I've considered sailing my Sunfish down the Mexican side of Baja. Any suggestions? Cautions? Must sees? etc.
Damn, they actually have "Adventure Education" in college nowadays? Now I know I'm getting old... back in the day, we learned by heading into the wilderness with what gear we thought might come in handy, LOL.
It sounds like you have quite a story that likely makes you very appreciative of what you have and value the times you are able to get out on the water. Sailing...or any other outdoor adventure, is such a great way to unwind, escape, and re-center so I'm always excited when people get out there. Thanks for sharing.Ah, those outdoor leadership schools ring a bell, but my friends & I were social outcasts, skateboarders from broken homes (back when skateboarding was still a crime), so we never gravitated toward such schools or organizations. I learned to rappel in the Infantry, then started taking friends out to cliffs for that purpose, and we wound up meeting some cool climbers who "showed us the ropes" (pun intended). I guess you can say we were generally self-taught, but those climbers we met were mentors of a sort... and I spent the next 25 or 30 years having some pretty cool adventures.
Sailing was a bit different... after my dad split and left us in the lurch, we were totally strapped, but we still had our dependent I.D. cards from the Navy, and we were lucky to stumble across the best deal ever offered by Recreation Services (now MWR or whatever). For $60, me beloved mum purchased an annual family membership at the San Diego Naval Sailing Club (SDNSC), and this opened the doors to free courses of instruction, plus free sailing aboard the small craft fleet: Lasers, Lido 14s, Capri 14s & Rebel 16s. Our family was huge too, so the club really took a beating on that $60 deal.
Anyway, it's good to know that young adults are being taught about the wilderness, my friends & I just came from a separate reality where cash was scarce, and much of what we learned was picked up in the field as we went along, aye? That's just the way it was... I can still remember pedaling my paperbike down the Strand to SDNSC every weekend and throughout each summer, to take advantage of the "free boat rentals" which came with our membership once we were qualified skippers. Now I think they charge, even for the smaller craft, but in those days we were fortunate to enjoy such a great deal on sailing.
Edit: Our sailing club membership dated back to the early-and-mid-1970s, while the climbing began a decade or so later...
I hadn't thought about it earlier, because he usually refers to the "Sea of Cortez" , but he sails down there (Baja) most years and is familiar with how it might be for a small boat. The surf would certainly be a consideration though since I can't just drop an anchor and sleep on board. Thanks for the insights. All good info. Great reminder for hiding money and not carrying a weapon...bear spray perhaps??Damn, they actually have "Adventure Education" in college nowadays? Now I know I'm getting old... back in the day, we learned by heading into the wilderness with what gear we thought might come in handy, LOL.
Guess I can't fault modern explorers & adventurers for using what resources are available... with crew & climbing partners back in the day, our inspiration came from books and magazine photos, go figure.
Now everything is so intertwined with modern technology, it takes some of the thrill away... I suppose it's safer, but I miss the old days when uncertainty was always a factor. Kinda made it more exciting, and the "epics" were all the more traumatic, LOL.
Anyway, I always wanted to sail my Laser the length of Baja, especially after reading about some hand who sailed his Hobie Cat the length of the peninsula, camping on beaches and whatnot as he went. A good reach and occasional run, sailing down the coast of Baja...
But you know the old Catch-22: when I had the time, I didn't have the money, and when I had the money, I didn't have the time. That has essentially been the story of my life, otherwise I probably would've accomplished far more than I have, LOL.
Reminds me of my friend, former professional surfer Mikey J., who had 29 photos in the surf mags, including a centerfold spread in SURFER MAGAZINE with Mikey in a HUGE Hawaiian barrel... he & I always got along well, because we both respected one another's achievements in this crazy world.
I ever hit the Big-Time, I'll go find Mikey and drag him along on my Baja Adventure, making sure to visit Todos Santos so Mikey can ride those monster waves... that place can be dangerous, believe me, with tons of water crashing down in the impact zone.
Not the place to be aboard your Sunfish or Laser, unless you're totally clued in to the situation. As for the rest of Baja, exercise caution and consult what guides exist, I'm sure there are plenty out there nowadays. Way back when, the deeper ya went into Mexico, the safer it was, not counting larger cities...
You'll need some sort of newfangled permit or "hall pass" to sail in Mexican waters, or so I heard several years ago, and you'll want to stash money and papers in a safe place... take the usual precautions against thievery & piracy (including gubmint piracy, LOL), and you'll probably be okay.
Tempting as it is to carry a 'pistola' into Mexico, know that it is a serious offense which will land you in prison pronto if the gat is discovered... same goes for ammo. The border towns have the most riff-raff, those and the larger cities down south; the rural & semi-rural folk are friendly & appreciate tourist cash.
More on this later, but you have a good idea in sailing your Sunfish the length of the Baja peninsula... it is a good reach and occasional run which will see you bending on the knots, as opposed to thrashing to windward in heavy seas, LOL.
You also have the know-how when it comes to modern technology, which will make your voyage even safer... you'll have to get creative with the hammock scene, since there aren't that many trees on the coast, LOL, but I have faith in ya, I'm sure you'll figure it out.
GOTTA RUN, I PROMISED A FRIEND THAT I'D CALL RIGHT BACK... I'LL CHECK OUT THOSE ADDITIONAL ISLE ROYALE VIDEOS SOON, AYE?
Edit: Oh, hell, I just reread your quote and it sounds like ya wanna sail the Sea of Cortez? Naaaah, dude, go BIG and sail the Pacific side of Baja, that fresh breeze will keep your Sunfish hauling @$$, LOL. If anything, do the Sea of Cortez later, you'll gain more "nautical adventure cred" by sailing down the west coast of the peninsula, same way the dude in the Hobie Cat did. But he didn't have the modern camera gear, bro, so you can make a statement on the web!!!
I generally don't wear gloves unless it's really cold. I didn't wear them for that whole trip. It was freshwater, so I'm sure that makes a huge difference. I also use the cleat for the mainsheet most of the time to take pressure off my hands. If the rocks are sharper, I'd certainly wear some rocks--especially when going ashore. I didn't do fires most nights. That's partly because they weren't allowed in several of the sites, and sometimes I was getting in late and had a big day, so I just preferred to lay in the hammock, read, and sleep. I certainly agree that a fire improves the ambience and adds cheer.So, AIR, I watched Part 4 of the Isle Royale voyage, nice knockdown at the end, LOL. Maybe I didn't notice in previous video parts, but you aren't wearing gloves in this latest part? Personal preference? With saltwater sailing, and tending the mainsheet by hand most of the time, I practically needed gloves to protect my hands... that salt helps to rub skin raw when tending a sheet. Plus those reefs on the islands can get nasty, and gloves came in handy if I had to steady myself while clambering ashore. Same goes for footgear, I always had Sperrys or Sperry WaveRunners back in the day, or thick-soled surf booties to keep my feet from getting torn up on those reefs. You'll want good gloves & footgear if you tackle Baja, I guarantee it... don't wanna be sidelined by an injury in the middle of your voyage.
Otherwise, great job on the latest video, I'm really enjoying these videos since I'll probably never get the chance to sail round Isle Royale... beautiful wilderness venue, that's for sure, just the sort of place where I'd dig camping. Oh, yeah, that was a great bivouac site, the one where your tent AND the hammock were in the dry, LOL. Excellent selection. Were you building campfires all along? I know I saw one fire in a previous video, I'm the kind of outdoorsman who likes a good fire in the evening, just to warm up and make the bivouac site more pleasant. Keeps bugs in check too, though that may not have been a factor this late in the year? A nice fire would've been perfect in that bivouac site... even a smaller campfire, just to make the whole scene more cheerful. Again, great job on the videos, I'm looking forward to the final part!!!
I'm also wondering how the night skies were during your voyage? A million stars overhead, or just cloud cover? Can't be that much light pollution up there around Isle Royale... hopefully you had some primo night skies to enjoy. That's one thing about Baja, you get far enough away from the towns and you'll see a million stars, even on the coast if a night breeze sweeps the cloud cover away. I'll never forget that Perseid Meteor Shower I witnessed from the summit of Isla Norte, ironically all the astronomers in San Diego County missed it because the mainland was socked in with cloud cover. There was even a blurb to that effect in the local rag (San Diego Union-Tribune), but I wound up with a grandstand seat... or at least a couple of Mexican blankets, LOL. Greatest solo night of my life, that particular voyage, never seen such a spectacular meteor shower...
ALRIGHT, HAND, I'M OFF TO CHILLAX, JUST WANTED TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. FUNNY LINE ABOUT CLAIMING THE VOYAGE, FOLKS SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT LANDING A LASER ON ALL FOUR OF LOS CORONADOS: "CRAZY BASTARD!!!"
Meh, they just didn't know what they were missing... didn't have a friggin' clue, actually, but that's not my problem.
No offense taken. I thoroughly appreciate any genuine feedback, thoughts, suggestions, so thank you. I did tighten the sail from my last time out, but I'll look into an outhaul or tightening further. I am working on some camp hack videos and can certainly start adding some camping info/advice into my videos. I'm also working on the links as well. I sometimes forget to record everything and and sometimes still shy with the camera around others. I don't want to impose without asking, but then I think asking or having a camera might effect how genuine the interaction is. I really value connections and don't want to muck it up. That being said, I could try initial intros then asking if they want to be included. Perhaps I'll post on here if I do the Baha trip. Let me know if you head this direction. I'm also considering heading south at some point this winter to do a trip. I'll have to see how work turns out. I'll keep you posted.Adventures in Reach. here is some feedback for you....My intent is to be helpful and not critical so no offense intended and hopefully none is taken. I really enjoyed your videos and your effort to make them. So let me start by saying Thank you.
While watching video two you left me hanging on the trail to the cave. Fortunately I didnt have to wait too long for video three.
your boat needs an outhaul to give your sail a flatter shape. then you will have better control of the boat in the big stuff.
you did awesome showing us hauling the boat safely on shore. i was looking for your camp site, meal prep, and clean up. From your comments on this list I feel your a bit of an expert in this...As a racer, I can sail a sunfish fast but I dont know squat about camping for more than one night with minimal setup. I know I could watch some camping vids but you have combined my current sailing interest with my future camping interest. Even links to purchase gear you like would be cool.
bring on the "how you did it" stuff. the spot section was really cool. more of that?
the social interaction with meeting other sailors is also a cool aspect of this kind of adventure. if they will agree, including vids of this would be really cool. I would have loved to see their response when you told them you were doing a 150 mike trip in a sunfish
If you do a baha trip count me in. I'm even interested in making a trip your direction to join you on the next trip.
Thanks again.
Rick
Las Cruces,NM
The support vehicle...or boat sounds like a solid idea. Bringing antibiotics is a solid reminder as well. That's funny about bordellos...too scary...I'd stay away. Thanks for those videos too.Todos Santos video links:
There were other videos, including a video of monster surf down in Puerto Escondido, but that's much farther south on mainland Mexico... just know that there are dicey areas off Baja, but one can navigate around 'em and still enjoy the scenery. As for nightly Sunfish bivouacs, you can pull some research, I know others have written articles or guides about "gunkholing" down the coast. Of course, much of the Baja coastline is rocky and inhospitable, so you might have long stretches or legs to sail between good bivouac sites. You'd probably wanna figure all that out beforehand, for safety's sake...
Just tossin' this your way, since you sound like the kinda guy who might actually make it happen. I thought of sailing a Laser down the peninsula, but I reckon I would've sold the boat (or donated her) once I reached Cabo, then simply made my way back by land or air. Maybe times have changed and you can rent a vehicle in Cabo, then drop it off in Tijuana or wherever. Again, I only mention this because it would be a grand adventure, and your videos would be awesome! You also might enlist help on shore, in the form of a driver to meet you at designated bivouac sites... then you could cart the boat back no worries.
"VIVA MEXICO!!!"---LOL, just don't forget your first aid kit, antibiotics, and plenty of bottled water (in the chase vehicle, perhaps). The rest of your gear... well, you know what to bring. I'm hoping that you seriously consider such a voyage, as it would certainly be a grand voyage and heller nautical adventure!!! Shee-it, just sailing to Los Coronados was a grand adventure back in the day, might as well be on another planet once you cross the international marine border. One more bit of advice, from a former OTR truck driver to a married man: stay away from those bordellos, your antibiotics won't do you any good there, LOL.
CHEERS!!!
Edit: Some of those surfing scenes where multiple guys are dropping in remind me of rush hour traffic on the 405... except the surfers are moving faster than the vehicles on the freeway, LOL.
I lead a couple trips (canoeing in the Boundary Waters) recently, but I also use what I learned from Outdoor Education for teaching more than the outdoor skills.Hah! What, you never heard of NOLS or OWLS? Great organizations, been around a looonnng time.
"Adventure Education" is an education degree. It's an experiential method of teaching. I'm not degreed, but I did a fair amount of teaching using these methods through the YMCA and as an industrial instructor.
The support vehicle...or boat sounds like a solid idea. Bringing antibiotics is a solid reminder as well. That's funny about bordellos...too scary...I'd stay away. Thanks for those videos too.
That took a little longer than expected, but the 5th video is now posted on YouTube.Well, I was banned from a couple of sites that had killer photos of my bivouac site in the forest, and I guess the pics got lost after I was banned, PFFFFFT.
Couldn't find the story either, though I know it used to be there... but one site is totally kaput anyway, guess it went under after so many years.
I really wanted to link those bivouac site shots, I was living like a king in the forest, along with two cats... that was a real adventure, I enjoyed my time there.
Anyway, you'll have to use your imagination when it comes to visualizing the forest of 300' tall Sitka Spruce trees, but here's the bear spray story...
I was camping in the forest, down at the end of a (dirt) spur road which ran along the wooded bluffs overlooking Willapa Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Nobody else around, and potential bear country, so I had a can of "Counter Assault" bear spray at hand in my campsite, along with a few firearms strategically concealed in tent, vehicle, etc. During the last month of my 6-week adventure, I ordered four cords of wood for my campfire... I was going through a cord per week, having wonderful blazing campfires morning and night. After each wood delivery, I would build an oval "fort" with the stacked firewood encircling my fire ring. Had a couple of camp chairs within the fort, near the fire on the weather side, and I routinely kept that can of bear spray in one of the armrest cup holders of those chairs. On the night this incident occurred, I had a good blaze going and I was pounding craft beers, so I was somewhat ripped before making dinner...
Well, I had just thrown some more wood on the fire when I heard some weird noise in the darkened forest, and I stumbled a bit after tripping over uneven ground as I lurched toward the bear spray... my hand encountered the trigger (safety off) and a jet of bear spray shot out and struck me on my right pants leg. I grabbed some nearby paper towels in an effort to sop up some of the wetness, then I hurled those towels into the fire. Ten seconds later, I made the grievous error of using that same hand to wipe my face... Sweet Tap-Dancing Baby Jesus!!! Next thing I know, MY FACE IS ON F#%NG FIRE, I'm talking MOLTEN LAVA from a National Geographic Special, aye? All I could do was ride it out, my face turned skyward and my voice raised in a long Charlie Brown yell: "AAAAAAUUUUGHHH!!!" It was crazy, standing there drunk in this tall forest of Sitka Spruce with my face feeling like it was just gonna explode...
Whatever critter might have been in the surrounding woods was surely frightened away by this loud disturbance, which is probably a good thing since I was practically blind anyway, tears streaming down my cheeks as I put up with the SLOW CHEMICAL BURN... in retrospect, it was pretty funny, but I can assure you that I was NOT laughing as my face turned into MOLTEN LAVA!!! I'll tell ya what, that bear spray actually WORKS, and I personally recommend the "Counter Assault" brand, having field tested it to my satisfaction up in Bruceport, WA, LOL. Lemme tell ya, once the painful chemical burn wore off, I carefully put the safety back on the can before grabbing another beer. On a culinary note, that bear spray might work wonders in spicing up tacos & burritos, PRONTO!!! Whatever they're using in that "Counter Assault" spray, it works like gangbusters!!! Not a bad weapon for self-defense, just gotta be careful with it...
WELL, GUESS I'LL GO CHECK YOUR AIR LINK TO SEE IF THAT VIDEO IS UP... CHEERS, MY FELLOW EXPLORER & NAUTICAL ADVENTURER!!!
... or your internet connection. It plays fine for me.Hmm... maybe it's my laptop, but the video keeps cutting out about 9 seconds into it.