Running Before the Wind: Mothership Kayaking

April-May 1998

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Lee Dixon

The origin of each Mothership company is unique unto themselves. The origin of our company, Windrunner Ocean Adventures, was six years ago when Stephen (my partner) sailed from Sidney, BC to Alaska in his 29-foot sloop with a white water kayak aboard.

He was struck by the complementary balance between his two vessels. The sailboat gave him the ability to take advantage of the winds and make long crossings. It provided comfort and convenience, while allowing him to explore the coast from the intimacy of a kayak. This combination strongly appealed to him and he began toying with the idea of a Mothership tour operation. While in the Queen Charlottes, the remote beauty and dangerous crossings solidified the idea.

Compact kayaks are easy to load and launch from a mothership

The major advantages of a Mothership are safety, flexibility and comfort. The ship can shadow kayakers across potentially dangerous crossings or carry them if either risk or desire makes a crossing unfeasible. The flexibility is multifold. In many areas, like the Gulf Islands where camping is limited or non-existent due to private property, the Mothership acts as a floating base camp with the added benefit of eliminating the need to tear down and set up camp each day.

A Mothership also increases the range of one's explorations, both by the distance you can cover and being able to travel against stronger currents in passes.

And (smugly), I would add that the same weather that proves inclement for kayakers on the beach and strands them in cold, damp tents can be a sailor's dream.

In August 97 while returning from Johnstone Strait we had winds gusting up to fifty knots with a haotic following sea. The swells were six feet and breaking. With just the staysail up (a sail at the pointy end) we were flying along at 6 knots, enjoying the most exhilarating sailing I have ever experienced. You can bet that no kayaking was done that day.

The end of the day brought a snug cabin, the glow of kerosene lamps, a crackling fire, wine, good food and company that transformed the sleeting rain into ambience. In a tent that same rain is another wet coast experience.

For many tour operators, running a Mothership company is a lifestyle choice. Profitability is not a motivating factor for many guides. It's the satisfaction of living a lifestyle that one loves and being able to share it. The cost difference between a guided trip in kayaks with beach camping versus a Mothership tour reflects that ideology. Generally, Mothership tours are a very good value for the money.

The Mothership concept attracts both the neophyte and the experienced outdoors person. For those who are uncertain of their camping abilities it provides an introduction into the world of kayak exploration. For the enthusiast it offers a respite from the inconveniences of camping.

Both Stephen Hindrichs and Lee Dixon have other professions: Stephen's a pilot and Lee spent years in nursing until their mothership came along. She's since added motherhood to her careers.