Editorial: Paddling Plus

October-November 2006

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alan Wilson

When we came up with the name for this feature, we meant it along the lines of, ‘everything you can do with a kayak’ (but nothing rude).

Beyond the great sea kayaking / whitewater divide, there are innumerable variations: kayak fishing, kayak sailing, kayak surfing, kayak kiting... even kayak polo, or to be more precise, ‘canoe polo’.

And that’s what you’ll see in this issue—some (but by no means all) of the many ways people use kayaks, and some of the many types of boats available: poly or fiberglass touring kayaks, rec boats, sit-on-tops, wooden, folding, inflatable, and specially designed fishing and sailing kayaks.

As for kayak fishing, our home waters of the Pacific Northwest are a bit of a backwater when compared to the explosion of this activity elsewhere in North America. Elsewhere, kayak fishing has outstripped kayak touring and opened up paddling to an entirely different demographic.

I must confess this issue was a bit of a challenge for a non-fisherman like myself. On the one hand, I just don’t like to fish. On the other hand, I like a salmon dinner once in awhile. What I really want is to see fish populations flourish so we can all continue to enjoy the beauty, mystery and nutritiousness of this incredible animal.

The fact that avid fishermen love fish means that many are strong conservationists. And since fishing can have a serious impact on at-risk marine life, conservation clearly must come first, as we discuss in this issue.

Fishing from a paddlecraft is as old as time, but hoisting a sail on your paddle boat is surely almost as ancient, and many paddlers enjoy playing with the breeze. It certainly works for me because I’m a sailboater from way back. When I get a fine tailwind behind my kayak, I always yearn for a sail (I’ve used a laminated marine chart in a pinch, just to get my sailing fix.

In this issue, I tell about a recent opportunity I had to sail one of the latest Triaks at Cowichan Bay Kayaks on Vancouver Island, to meet its inventor from Victoria and the company president from San Diego.

We also offer you stories on canoe sailing, kayak kiting, kayak surfing and yes, even canoe polo. We hope you have as much fun with this issue as we did putting it together.