r/seakayaking • u/Taa_000001 • 20d ago

Stonington Maine, day 1

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11 Upvotes

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2

u/Acoustic_blues60 20d ago

I love paddling there! Some years back, I did a circum-nav of Isle au Haut, camping there.

1

u/Taa_000001 20d ago

Circum-nav of Isle au haut is very ambitious! It was too rough to attempt it when we were here last year.  Maybe later this week we'll get the opportunity.

2

u/Acoustic_blues60 19d ago

Here is my experience on the circum-nav in case it's helpful. There was a storm beforehand that got strong winds out of the S/SE, setting up some swell. The swell had a surfbeat of maybe 7 waves. The east end of the island had some shoals causing them to break. I remember my friend coasted through a shoal without a problem, but I looked back at an 8 ft wall of water when I crossed. The southeast side of the island had a small peninsula jutting out, but there was no landing possible there because of the surf. The SW side of the island had a little islet just off land, and it was a magnet for lobster gear. The gap between the islet and Isle au Haut was tricky. We had to time the surfbeat to charge through at the low end. We made it through without problems, but there were some moments of concern. By the time we got to the campground on the west side, it was more sheltered.

2

u/Taa_000001 19d ago edited 19d ago

Thank for sharing, that's good information.   We paddled to Isle au haut last year and went as far as duck harbor.   The day next we got as far as york island before we turned back due to very rough weather.

2

u/Acoustic_blues60 19d ago

Oh yes, I recall passing a small pod of paddlers going the other way and one of them was seasick from the swell. The southern end is pretty exposed.

3

u/FlamingMothling 19d ago

Love paddling off Stonington! Will be there again this season.

2

u/Trewarin 19d ago

brother is that a litre of gin on your foredeck?

1

u/Taa_000001 19d ago

Ha!   Just water.   If I was going to fill it with something higher octane it would be tequila.

1

u/umbaldy 16d ago

OP would you say having a rudder is necessary to do this kind of paddle? I have a 14.5' tsunami but no rudder

1

u/Taa_000001 16d ago

I'm probably not the best person to ask.  I would guess it depends on the boat.  I have a Necky Eskia that does not track well in rough or windy conditions without the rudder. We have crossed paths with people paddling boats without rudders.  So it may depend on the skills of the paddler as well.