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June 2009 Blog Posts (16)

Volvo Final Leg

Racing down the Bay of Finland bound for St Petersberg . I ran agriund while sleeping and it will cost me some positions getting off and around the point. Less than 140 miles to the finish and it is slow going into the wind with numerous tacks required. A narrow channel with little wind and lots of places to run aground. This is the most demanding leg yet and I am glad it is short. This will finish my second virtual circumnavigation of the world since November 08.

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 26, 2009 at 9:06pm — 2 Comments

Get you full blown blog at PaddleBlogs.com

For those of you who want a 'real' blog, complete with a nice and simple blog address, and much more control over the blog features and design, I just launched a completely new website: PaddleBlogs.com.

Enjoy,
Jeroen

Added by playak on June 25, 2009 at 2:26pm — No Comments

Another day in Paraknife

The weather was great the rain stopped and the sun actually broke through. I managed to weed wack most of the nieghbourhood today and fixed Cynthias bicycle . Another day. another flat tire.

I have been busy making posters and getting things in place for the Paddlers Sociable. Been a small group means lots of stuff for everyone to do. Tonight I will post the announcements on various local web sites and contact folks that can help with flyerrs etc.

Hard to get everything done and still… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 25, 2009 at 4:31am — No Comments

Volvo ocean leg ten and finally the end

We leave stockholm bound for St.Petersberg, Thursday morning sometime which means about 04:00hours for me local time. This is a short leg a straight dash east to the end of the bay. Should be interesting as some of my fellow sailors I have now raced with twice around the world and until we cross wakes again viturally I will miss their company. I have contacted some through regular e-mail and some through facebook and it would be nice to see these sailing friendships last past the last gust of… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 24, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Paddlers for Parts Sociable Affair 2009

I was the founding member of Paddlers for Parts and we have been active since 2001. We are a group of concerned paddlers, hikers and cyclist that promote Organ and Tissue Donation and the paddling sports as a means to an active and healthy lifestyle.

Each year for the past 5 years we have hosted a 3 day pininic at the Yellowknife River bridge. We supply as many canoes, kayaks, rafts and things that float as we can and we invite Yellowknife to come out and play. Each year we have a… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 24, 2009 at 3:34am — 1 Comment

Mexico

We're caravanning from McAllen, Texas to Mexico's longest running kayak race next month. Join us. Go to http://tinyurl.com/lf4xb7 for details.

Added by Nancy Millar on June 23, 2009 at 3:52pm — No Comments

The Ice is receding

I flewin from Edmonton and you could still see that the main lake is a solid chunk of ice. The Noertharm is starting toopen up and I saw a boat coming in from maybe trout rock area. Boats are easy to spot from the plane. The kids next door to be were swimming today but they are crazy at the best of times.

Yellowknife was +26C early this afternoon and it was great. Today was Summer Solstice and National Aboriginal day so Yellowknife was a happening place. I spent the afternoon at the… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 22, 2009 at 9:21am — 3 Comments

Kayak Halong Bay tours: The World’s Nature Heritage of Vietnam

Ha Long Bay (also “Halong Bay”) is in northern Vietnam, 170 km east of Hanoi. The bay is famous for its scenic rock formations

If you thought the hideout in the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun” was spectacular, imagine a place where there are 3,000 such limestone islands clustered together in the East Sea of Halong Bay. Paddle through caves into secret lagoons, drift down channels surrounded by cliffs and forest and sail out into the open sea. Relax on the deck of our… Continue

Added by ACTIVETRAVEL on June 22, 2009 at 6:51am — No Comments

Kayaktours on Pulau Banyak / Sumatra - an Ecotourism project in Indonesia

" Pulau Banyak got hit by the tsunami, an earthquake, there's Shariah ( islamic law ) and Malaria....

- quite a challenge for marketing ! " said John Gray, a successful outdooroperator from Thailand.

" ...probably the best seakayaking trip in my life ! " said Geoff Foote, experienced seakayaker from Australia.

" folks at home will get tears in their eyes when they see the scenery ! " said Olaf Obsommer, organizer of kayakexpeditions and film producer.…

Continue

Added by HALIM on June 21, 2009 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Official Volvo Ocean race is over, Congratulations to Power of 7 the virtual winner ,well done

Leg nine was the Final leg that officially ended the race. Leg ten is a victory lap and for fun but you can still win it. This race completed my second virtual circumnavigation of the globe and it was a lot of fun. I came 22,242 out of over 200,000 virtual sailors. At the end of leg one I was closer to 30,000th and so over the legs my skill increase enough that at present I am listed as 14,995th overall throughout the race.

There are other races starting and they are fun however after… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 17, 2009 at 12:44pm — No Comments

Another great paddling day on Yellowknife bay

I managed to paddle for about 90 minutes today and it was great. Not enough wind to make much use of the sail but I popped it up anyhow and you could feel the tug. A about 10 kph more wind and we would have had a nice smooth ride. I am glad that summer is finally arriving as I was beginning to wonder if she was planning on putting in an appearance.

I managed to squeeze in a short bike ride and knock off 24,000 steps on my Trans Canada Virtual walk as well. I had to attend a Celebration of… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 16, 2009 at 11:30am — No Comments

Go HUCK yourself!- Waterfall tour- Two new blog entries!

check out my blog for TWO new blog entries including: Go Huck yourself- waterfall tour

and Birthday paddling- week long venture.

Check it out at www.charliesimmongboating.blogspot.com

and always check - www.vimeo.com/charliesimmons

-charlie

Team Wave Sport, Shred Ready helmets, Ophion Paddles, Skirtworks, Bomber Gear…

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Added by charlie simmons on June 10, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Paddling Yellowknife bay

Just finished a small tour of YK bay and the water was glass smooth and the sun was warm. Very nice way to burn off dinner. The iced is far enough out in the bay now that we should be free of ice pack problems and even the breeze is warming up. It can be very warm out but the wind blowing off the ice can cool things down in a hurry.

I am taking a chance but will declare Yellowknifes summer as offically here and open. None to soon to say the least the days start getting shorter in less than… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 10, 2009 at 6:58am — No Comments

Leg 8 is nearing the end

I am directly west of the north tip of Holland and have roughly 381 miles to sail.With the present winds I am making 15.1 kts per hour and if this keeps up, I am 24 hours roughly from the finish. However the folks in front of me will be there first. I am hoping to finish in the top 8,000, but may get lucky, I will be happy with a top 10,000 finish however as that would really boost my overall ranking for the entire 8 legs. Looks like we will be sailing into the wind to reach port and that has a… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 9, 2009 at 10:41pm — No Comments

Volvo Ocean Leg 8

Sailing towards the east end of the English Channel at the moment in very light winds. Once out of the channel we are sailing into the wind and have our work cut out for us. I am presently in place 8,725 out of 200,000 virtual racers and losing ground. The boats behind me are in stronger winds as the systems move from west to east and there isn't anything I can do about that for now. Once out of the channel the tacking battles will begin Cheers. Greg

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 8, 2009 at 8:02pm — No Comments

Yellowknife river paddle

Yes Patrick shuttled Sploosh and I to the river today for our first real paddle since last fall. Weather was perfect suuny and warm a little breeze and up went the sail. Very busy place power boats everywhere and who can blame then it has been a long winter and the river is open water. It was nice to get out and just stretch the paddling muscles and soak in a few rays.

Patrick gave his new inflatable and kicker a try and is pleased with both. He clocked me at six kpm going into the wind… Continue

Added by Greg Loftus ( Cominco) on June 1, 2009 at 10:55am — No Comments