Coordinator’s Column – Managing Fear I first started sea kayaking on the west coast in the San Francisco Bay area. I took my first class, did my first wet exit, and bought my first boat… a Current Designs Andromeda, not exactly a beginner’s boat. I was all in to the sport. I joined Bay Area Sea Kayakers (BASK) and started …
Coordinator’s Column – Remembering Bill Smith
I heard the news that Bill Smith, a friend and former CPA Coordinator, passed away. I first met Bill on a CPA paddle when I was still relatively new to Maryland. He immediately became friends with my husband since they both had history in the Navy. It turned out that we had also shared membership in an outdoors group in …
Coordinator’s Column – Hot Summer Days
It’s been a hot summer so far and it is only July. Kayaking can be a great way to beat the heat, but we also need to be aware of the dangers. One issue that I have seen when paddling in hot weather is heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is a condition that occurs when your body overheats due to prolonged …
Coordinator’s Column: Thoughts on Storms on a Rainy Day
Coordinators Column It’s late spring and getting close to summer, and the paddling season has already started. There are a few things we need to remember. First, the air is warming but the water temperatures are still low. Especially since we have had several days of rain, most of which seems to have happened on the weekends. This will hold …