Wet World Back Issues Text Format Wet World #6 May 2001====================== WET WORLD #6 - May 2001 ……………… PADDLE, PADDLE, PADDLE ====================== Welcome to the April Edition of Ocean Planet’s “Wet World” newsletter. Wet World is quarterly E-mail newsletter for: Ocean Planet Pty. Ltd. - http://www.oceanplanet.com.au & ====================== This edition we were very fortunate to have a couple of very inspirational speakers talk at our "Legends Seminar". Over one hundred people came to listen and we have been inundated for requests for MORE, MORE MORE ....... One of the speakers, Paul Caffyn is quite a hero to Wayne. Paul is an ordinary person who does very extraordinary things. Circumnavigating Australia, New Zealand, Japan, England, Alaska and West Greenland is pretty extraordinary and Wayne has been on cloud nine since meeting him. If anyone sees Wayne floating past, can you hook on to him and send him home!! So you think that because summer is over your outdoors life is done . . . . . . wrong!! Have a read and get your gear ready! IN THIS EDITION (No.6) =================== 1. Gallipoli Paddle In July! Join us and kayak in the wake, and walk in the footsteps of the original Anzacs at Gallipoli. 2. Staying Safe On The Water - Where to find your Weather Information. Look here to find all the necessary links to excellent weather forecast information? 3. Paddling Safety. Stories From The Edge! Oyster Covered Rocks - Two, Intrepid Kayakers Bare Feet - Nil 4. Inspiration Positive messages. 5. Paddling Reference Information Where to get detailed advice on how gear, accessories and techniques? 6. New Products - Winter Gear A look at the neat, the cool and the absolute must haves! 7. Kayak Insurance Update New details on where to get your nearest and dearest (kayak that is) insured. 8. Getting On Or Off The Wet World List =============================== 1. Gallipoli Paddle in July - Come with us to Turkey for the paddle of your life! =============================== (This section removed) ========================== 2. Staying Safe On The Water - Where to find your Weather Information. Getting up to date weather, wind and swell information is just a click away, if you are online. This same information is also available through your local coastal patrol, newspapers, or by phoning the Bureau of Meteorology direct. These are available for all of Australia, so for those of you who need info for other than New South Wales - go to: http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/ For the folks in NSW who don't want to get caught out in winds and weather that is beyond your ability to cope, here are some great links .............. Bureau of Meteorology - NSW Coastal Waters Forecasts: http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/forecasts.shtml - then click on 'NSW Coastal Waters Forecast'. Bureau of Meteorology - Synoptic Chart http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/national/charts/synoptic.shtml - this gives you the current "big picture" . Bureau of Meteorology - 4 day Synoptic Chart http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDG00V55.shtml - this gives you the "big picture" over the next four days. Bureau of Meteorology - Sydney Radar Loop http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR033.shtml - this will tell you where the big storms are. Swell Size and Direction http://www.fnmoc.navy.mil/products/WAM/spac_swht_000.gif - this will give you the Australian East Coast Swell details. ==================== 3. Safety - Stories from the Edge Oyster Covered Rocks - Two, Intrepid Kayakers Bare Feet - Nil ==================== There are many of us who hop into our kayaks with little thought for what we are wearing on our feet. That bare foot, free and footless feeling is wonderful after having to be stuffed into shoes all week. Unfortunately - there are some very evil little nasties out there, waiting to have a go at the soft underbelly of our tootsies. you must think, if you are paddling anywhere, "What would happen if I had to get out of my kayak here?" A friend of one of our regular paddlers had a close encounter of the barnacle kind on Wedding Cake Island off Sydney. Stepping out of the kayak the kayak washed sideways, dragging this persons feet across the oysters and barnacles - little razor blades. To have a look at just what your feet look like after this click below. Then, if you don't have booties, I suggest that you get a pair. If not oyster covered, barnacle infested rocks it could be the great Australian broken beer bottle (found everyone on this continent and definitely not an endangered species) or the not so great Kings Cross discarded hypodermic needle that has washed down the local storm water system. Editors Note: We all have our ‘Epics and Stuff Ups’ sooner or later, and hopefully go on to learn heaps from them so we can avoid that type of incident again in the future. Unfortunately though, we often do not get a chance to benefit from the experience of others who have had close calls and benefit from the wisdom they have gleaned from them. We encourage all who have close calls to share them with us. As such, “Stories From The Edge” will feature in every Ocean Planet newsletter in the future. We understand that, embarrassment wise, as no one likes to look foolish .............. so I ask that we all first have a look at how we have on occasion also stuffed up ourselves before we do too much armchair safety expert critique on those who contribute. I think people should be very strongly encouraged to report their misadventures .............. and I am sure there are heaps of them that go on all the time. This reporting of incidents is very important. In any activity or work situation, the reality is that for every injury or death there are numerous close call incidents that have occurred before the actual serious injury or fatality occurs. In many industries the risk management/occupational health people put the statistic at 500 close calls for every fatality. This is why the reporting of close call/incidents is so critical. It allows us to look closely at incidents before they become far more serious. With that, people need to be positively encouraged to report their mishaps without fear of being stigmatised over one incident. The person should not be made to feel stupid, careless and dumb or any of the other definitions some people seem to want to apply. These people are usually very external to the actual events. One mistake does not make you an unsafe paddler. Wayne Langmaid - Editor ========================== 4. Inspiration ========================== Here is a good one: “Anxiety is the interest paid on trouble before it is due"
William Inge ========================== 5. Paddling Reference Information ========================== For those of you who are looking for detailed paddling information on a wide range of subjects, don't forget that you can access an excellent range of documents on a wide range of subject in our online Library. Backed up by over 30 years of paddling adventure experience, these notes will really help you out. Everything from Stretching Suggestions to Choosing a Paddle. Check out our Tech Library Oh, and you better get a coffee as there is a lot to read! ============================ 6. New Products - Winter Gear. How to feel fuzzy, wuzzy & warm on the water! ============================ (This section removed) ======================================== 7. Kayak Insurance Update ========================================= (This section removed)
====================== WET WORLD #5 - November 2000 ……………… PADDLE, PADDLE, PADDLE====================== Welcome to the November Edition of Ocean Planet’s “Wet World” newsletter. Wet World is quarterly E-mail newsletter for: Ocean Planet Pty. Ltd. - http://www.oceanplanet.com.au & Here it is everybody, and surprise, this one is on time - sort of. For those of you who found the editorial errors last time, thank you. Ernest Hemingway I am not, although I have been know on occasion to drink like he did!! So . . . . . . Let us check out what this edition holds and don’t forget - Christmas is near, so get those gift vouchers now!! IN THIS EDITION (No.5) =================== 1. The Shed Is Open! 2. New Section - Paddling Safety. Stories From The Edge! 3. Inspiration An Inuit poem from the original builders of kayaks. 4. Health & Well Being 5. New Products A look at the neat, the cool and the absolute must haves! 6. Getting On Or Off The Wet World List. ========================== 1. The Shed Is Open! ========================== (This section removed) =================== 2. Safety - Stories from the Edge Tuggerah Lake Entrance - 1, Intrepid Kayakers - 0 ==================== Editors Note: We all have our ‘Epics and Stuff Ups’ sooner or later, and hopefully go on to learn heaps from them so we can avoid that type of incident again in the future. Unfortunately though, we often do not get a chance to benefit from the experience of others who have had close calls and benefit from the wisdom they have gleaned from them. We encourage all who have close calls to share them with us. As such, “Stories From The Edge” will feature in every Ocean Planet newsletter in the future. We understand that, embarrassment wise, as no one likes to look foolish .............. so I ask that we all first have a look at how we have on occasion also stuffed up ourselves before we do too much armchair safety expert critique on those who contribute. I think people should be very strongly encouraged to report their misadventures .............. and I am sure there are heaps of them that go on all the time. This reporting of incidents is very important. In any activity or work situation, the reality is that for every injury or death there are numerous close call incidents that have occurred before the actual serious injury or fatality occurs. In many industries the risk management/occupational health people put the statistic at 500 close calls for every fatality. This is why the reporting of close call/incidents is so critical. It allows us to look closely at incidents before they become far more serious. With that, people need to be positively encouraged to report their mishaps without fear of being stigmatised over one incident. The person should not be made to feel stupid, careless and dumb or any of the other definitions some people seem to want to apply. These people are usually very external to the actual events. One mistake does not make you an unsafe paddler. In fact, I will personally vouch for the person in the following story as being extremely safety conscious. I would be happy to paddle with him any day. This person made an error in judgment based on a lack of depth of knowledge. Yes, time in the seat. In fact, time in the seat is definitely the only way to gather this depth of knowledge that is needed to avoid many incidents, but unfortunately time in the seat sometimes means "time out of the seat". This pair of friends who were involved in their "out of boat experience" have learned a valuable lesson I guarantee it. This has now added greatly to their time in the seat. It will be a mistake they are unlikely ever to repeat, and it will help them avoid many others in the future. After thirty years of paddling around the world, I have spent many, many occasions out of the seat, wishing like hell I was back in it!! Thankfully, that occurs very rarely now. I hear far too many prophetic pronouncements of how kayaking is getting popular to the masses and soon we are going to have a fatality, just you wait and see. Maybe. If we are not proactive and ensure that the greater paddling public can learn from individual mistakes, then I can be reasonably confident that forecast may come true some day. In that case, then we had better carefully think how we all may have contributed to the serious accident or fatality by not promoting an environment of open sharing of our stuff ups. Wayne Langmaid - Editor ============================ So here is Matthew’s Story (this is not Matthew who works for OP by the way, as our Matt was quick to point out!) …………. We put our boats in off the beach at the western end of The Entrance Channel (where the ocean and Tuggerah Lake meet) for a leisurely late morning paddle up under the bridge and out around Pelican Island. The tide was going out, so it was an easier paddle back with the ebb. As we approached the "entrance" we decided to go out through it and have a bit of a play in the surf. It didn't look too bad from the channel, but we were about to discover how nasty tide against waves can be and still look OK from on the water. I began to feel uneasy when I realised how short and sharp the chop was, and my "nearly six metre" kayak isn't the easiest thing to handle in the surf. My friend was ahead of me and was handling the conditions better, but was probably beginning to think much like I was - "What the hell did we come out here for?". It all started to go wrong when a wave broke over me and tipped me over. Not being a proficient roller and having been caught by surprise, I just bailed out. Then my errors in preparation came to the fore. I had tested my built in electric pump before we departed the beach - and discovered that it did not work. "It'll be OK", I said, "We're only going to paddle on flat water!". I had also left my hand pump back at the flat we were staying in, back up the beach. All I had was a sponge. I tried bailing the cockpit out with the sponge for a while but, with waves breaking over me, it was filling faster than I could empty it. A couple of times I managed to climb aboard and re-enter, but could not keep it upright with all that water sloshing about. My companion eventually looked around and saw me in the drink, so he started heading back to try and assist. It was all going OK, we had decided to try and tow me back to the beach, he had his tow rope out and ready, then - splash. We were both swimming now! We tried to get as much water as possible out of my boat and get me back in it, as I was the more proficient at that activity, but it was all to no avail. Next we thought we'd try and swim up the beach with our boats and get out of the washing machine we were in, directly out from the entrance. I soon tired from this and decided that our best chance of getting back to shore in the near future was to get help. A paddle makes a great arm extension for attracting attention, so I hung on to the boat with one hand and held my paddle in the air with the other - trying to make sure the flat of the blade faced the beach. My friend was doing better with the swimming and had made about ten metres on me by this stage. He looked around and saw what I was up to and decided to come and join me. We lashed the boats together with his tow rope, as it was already out, and he got my flare from the back pocket of my PFD. He almost had it unwrapped when I spotted a boat heading our way. "Save the flare!" I said, "We've already made enough of a spectacle." We were wearing PFD’s (as we always do!) and had our paddles on leashes, so there was no problem with staying afloat or losing any gear - provided we hung on to our boats. The boys in red and yellow were very cooperative, dragging us aboard their rubber ducky and towing our boats back to the beach. We thanked them profusely and apologised for having to use their services. The Entrance Surf Life Saving club was less than half a kilometre from our incident, so we were lucky that they responded to our signals as quickly as they did. I had only been signalling with the paddle for ten to fifteen minutes before they arrived. One of them said he noticed us when he had a quick scan of the horizon with binoculars before having a swim. Apparently my paddle was popping in and out of view, with the waves that had developed. I don't mind admitting that I was afraid for a while out there. Not particularly that our lives were at risk, but about how long we would be out there before either help arrived or the conditions eased enough for us to rescue ourselves. The next day, I visited the Surf Club to make a donation and thank them again for their efforts. The two fellows who helped us weren't there, but someone else I spoke to said that they often pull swimmers out of that area, after trying to cross the channel near the entrance and getting dragged out to sea by the current. The two of us have been paddling for about two years, mainly on flat water. We have attended training sessions with a professional trainer and have invested in safety and recovery gear. What we haven't had is regular time in our boats and rescue practice sessions in different conditions. Some decisions you make in life are in the "absolutely stupid" category - and going out into the surf under these conditions was one of those decisions. Unfortunately, sometimes the best lessons are learned from ones’ failures! Notes / Tips - Don't get into situations that are above your level of training and experience. - Why have safety/recovery gear if you don't make sure that it works or is with you? - Think carefully about all the factors that affect water conditions before getting into them - tide, current, waves, wind etc. - Don't be too proud to try and get help - Swimming with PFD and pulling boat really tests fitness (or unfitness) ========================== 3. Inspiration - An Inuit Poem from the Original Builders of the Kayak ========================== The Inuit of the Arctic have been involved with paddling and kayaks for over 4000 years! They have also had some time to put together some fantastic insights into life in general. I reckon that kind of goes with not having to be distracted by Foxtel on those cold, dark Arctic nights! My fears And yet, there is only One great thing ========================== 4. Health and Well Being - Shoulder Stretches - Care and Prevention of Shoulder Injuries ========================== Probably one of the most frustrating and common paddling injuries are those that occur to the shoulder and even more specifically the Rotator Cuff. I can speak from experience that it can be very hard and frustrating paddling with one arm, and I gave that a try after nearly going bananas at not paddling for nearly a month. It looked like I was on the road to corrective surgery. That is when I met Tim Barrett D.R.M. BSc. (Acupuncture) Tim put me through an intensive program of Remedial Massage, Acupuncture and Corrective Stretching which had me back in the kayak seat and using both arms again to paddle. Tim has thankfully included some great shoulder stretches for this edition of Wet World If you would like a copy of these stretches, including photo references, please contact us at our office. For those of you who have a nagging shoulder problem or any other muscle related injury, I can’t recommend Tim Barrett highly enough. Call him at his Erina office at 4384-7902 and get yourself back on track. ============================ 5. New Products - A look at the neat, the cool and the absolute must haves! ============================ - Current Designs Kayaks. - in addition to the great range of Necky Kayaks from Canada, Ocean Planet is now distributing another great Canadian paddling product. We welcome the Current Designs range of Sea kayaks including: - The Pacifica, The Storm & The Squall This brings to 15 the number of different models that you can test paddle in one location, ensuring that the right kayak choice is being made. Why waste you valuable time shopping around. Come to the experts with the best range of choice first. - Ocean Kayak Sit-on-tops. - from the kayak company who pioneered SOT kayaks comes the Ocean Kayak range of kayaks. Come have a look at the Frenzy, the Scrambler, the Cabo and more. Heaps of fun, these kayaks are stable and manoeuvrable and will give you heaps of pleasure either in the surf or up the ends of those favourite creeks. - Portable Navigation Lights - get out at night and be seen. Better yet, be legal. Suction White 360º and Suction Bi-Colour · Made from gray non-corrosive, hi impact ABS plastic. Uses 2 X “D” Cell Batteries (not supplied) and incorporates a slide switch. Bi-colour bow light and a 360º all-round white light are available. The lights are approximately 205mm in length. Wet World #4 August 2000 (maximise this page for easier viewing) ====================== WET WORLD #4 - August 2000====================== Welcome to the August Edition of Ocean Planet’s "Wet World" newsletter. Wet World is quarterly E-mail newsletter for: Ocean Planet Pty. Ltd. - http://www.oceanplanet.com.au & Central Coast Kayak Tours - http://www.kayaktours.com.au Many of you will be receiving this for the first time, and for others it’s been quite a while ...... all right then, a real long while!) As you will see below, we have had heaps of great changes, and a few not so great ones. So for those of you who have been emailing us concerned that you've missed the newsletters, don't worry. You haven't. It has been reported that Wayne has been very close to going for a long holiday in a monastery in Tibet! So . . . . . . Let us check out what this edition holds. We hope it is better than the pre GST ‘Set Me Free’ adds. IN THIS EDITION (No.4) =================== 1. Clicks Are Now Bricks! 2. New faces at Ocean Planet & Central Coast Kayak Tours. 3. Lake Eyre Paddling Expedition. 4. Web Site Revamp. 5. Is That A Kayak Or A Cruise Missile On Your Car? 6. New Products - Necky Kayaks. 7. Health & Well Being. 8. Available - Tickets for the Men’s Olympic Sprint Kayaking. 9. Getting On Or Off The Wet World List. ========================== 1. Clicks Are Now Bricks! ========================== (This section removed) =============================== 2. New Faces at Ocean Planet & Central Coast Kayak Tours. =============================== Unfortunately for us, Dean has moved on. For those of you who had the good fortune to have Dean as one of your guides or talk to him on the phone or by email, this will be a bit of a disappointment. It sure has been for us. Now we don’t mean he has gone to that great big paddle zone in the sky or anything! He has gone to, guess what, to sell real estate!! Go figure, just when I figured we had designed the dream job of the century, they leave to go sell houses. The upside is that you can say hello to Matt, our new full time employee. Matt is helping us get through the backlog of things Wayne should have done instead of loafing around on waves in his kayak for the last four months. Matt comes to us with a bubbling personality, a Bachelor of Business in Tourism degree and even better for the boss, he makes a great cup of coffee (just joking). Sorry ladies - Matt is currently spoken for. ==================== 3. Lake Eyre Paddling Expedition. ==================== Last month saw the completion of an incredible journey from Lake Eyre to Mount Kosciuszko. Central Coast Kayak Tours sponsored the paddling section of an expedition by a very enthusiastic and energetic young man as part of Aussie Climb 2000. On Monday 3 July 2000, 16-year-old Matthew Clark set out on the journey of a lifetime. The splash of a kayak paddle in South Australia's Lake Eyre signalled the start of a trek from the lowest geographical point in Australia to the highest, some 2,000km to the east. The Scone teenager called on all his fitness and skills to paddle, cycle and climb from a point in Lake Eyre 17m below sea level to the 2,229m snow-covered summit of Mt Kosciuszko in New South Wales. Aussie Climb 2000 is much more than an adventure. Matthew's goal raised $20,000 for the Australian teenage cancer support group, CanTeen. In the process, he became the first person to journey from the 'bottom to the top' of Australia. On July 29, 2000 at 9:14 am Matthew reached his goal along with the leader of his support team, his father Robert. Robert has every reason to be proud of his son. Great news!! Check out some photos of Lake Eyre ==================== 4. Web Site Revamp: The Full "E" ==================== Our retail website www.oceanplanet.com.au http://www.oceanplanet.com.au is about to go fully secure and e-commercial with credit card and order form capabilities and best of all, a huge search engine to allow you to find all of the over 600 items we have for you. No more, "Hmm, where did I see that last time I was here?" You may also remember that recently Ocean Planet evolved into two separate sites. One dedicated to retail and E-mail order, the other to our tours and tuition programs. There's been even more work done updating products and dates, so it's well worth a visit to check out all the latest. Oh, and don't forget to "refresh" your pages now will you. OP relies heavily on the feedback we get from all of our valued customers and paddling friends. So please let us know your thoughts regarding the sites. Both positive and "constructive" feedback is more than welcome. http://www.oceanplanet.com.au - Retail sales and E-mail orders http://www.kayaktours.com - Tours and Tuition =============================== 5. Is That A Kayak Or A Cruise Missile On Your Car? - the New South Wales Road Traffic Authorities current rules on just how long your kayak can be! =============================== If you have ever wondered whether you are legal or not with that ultra cool, ultra long looking kayak sitting on top of your vehicle, well here it is. Given the example of a 19’ (5.8 m) kayak with our Subaru Wagon that has a 2.6-meter wheelbase (center to center). Here are the RTA rules: - 1.2m of overhang over the front 60% of the wheelbase over the back. By these rules, I can transport 5.36m on top of my car before the load would be considered unsafe. Therefore, I am breaking the law. The translation of 5.36m into imperial is 17' 7". Uh oh, I think I had better get a very good flag for the back of that kayak. ============================ 6. New Products - Necky Kayaks ============================ Another arrival from the great frosty shores of Canada has arrived onto our shelves. We are proud to announce that we now stock Necky Sea Kayaks. For a look at a very comfortable, great performing, cool looking range of kayaks, have a look at <http://www.oceanplanet.com.au/necky.htm> Come on up to our shop and climb into one of these babies for a test paddle - we bet you will be impressed. Designed in the country that the kayak originated - these boats have it together. Some people immigrate to Australia and then import the rest of their family. Not Wayne, he emigrates from Canada and then brings his kayaks. It figures. ===================== 7. Health & Well Being ===================== Many people seem to think that sea kayaking is the sole domain of a bunch of testosterone pumped hairy chested males who head of into the great unknown. The truth is women make most of our bookings for tours. Let’s face it guys; the women are the movers and shakers in our society! For an excellent article on one ladies first experience in sea kayaking on the ocean, have a look at an article about Casandra Hill in the next "Women’s Health" magazine. Cassandra came out on one of our trips from Patonga out to Lion Island and discovered the joys of the open spaces. ========================== 8. Available - Tickets for the Men’s Olympic Sprint Kayaking. ========================== Jane, one of our paddling friends, who happens to hold the somewhat "Olympic Legend" status of over 40 kayak trips (before we quit counting) has a bead on a pair of tickets for the sprint kayaking session that a work mate cannot take part in. Jane has already scooped the second pair - so tough luck there. The site to look up info for the Olympics is http://www.olympic.org/. Click on Sydney 2000 then Venues then Penrith to get a little blurb on the site for the kayak events. Details: Men’s 1000 meter Sprint Kayaking. September 27, 2000, 8:30 am to 11:00 am. The venue is at Penrith. These are "A" category seats and two tickets are available, $40.00 each, the regular cost. Contact: This section has been removed as Jane has successfully transferred the tickets to a happy recipient!
Wet World #3 March 2000Welcome to the March Edition of Ocean Planet’s “Wet World” newsletter. Ocean Planet - http://www.oceanplanet.com.au & Many of you will be receiving this for the first time, and for others it’s been quite a while. The summer season was very busy, meaning that we had difficulty finding the time to get them out. So for those of you who have Let's check out what this edition holds. =================== 1. What is Ocean Planet ? 2. This Months Tours 3. Website Revamp 4. Ocean Planet Club Paddles 5. Notes from Patagonia 6. Ocean Planet Financing 7. Tuition Programs 8. Overnight Tour Dates 9. Kayak Insurance 10. Getting On & Off the Wet World List ========================== We live and breath kayaking and the lifestyle benefits it brings to all of us. The profits keep the business going, but the passion keeps US going. Our passion is for seeing you discover the joy, excitement and adventures that kayaking holds. To this end, Ocean Planet is committed to partnering with all those involved in or wanting to become involved in kayaking in all it’s forms. We’re committed to a spirit of excellence. Excellence in safety and equipment, excellence in individual skills and above all, an excellence in quality of life. If kayaking plays any part in refreshing your soul, spirit or relationships, then we have a desire to be the catalyst that maximises this. WE ARE THE EXPERTS COMMITTED TO YOUR EXCELLENCE. =============================== (This section removed) ==================== OP relies heavily on the feedback we get from all of our valued customers and paddling friends. So please let us know your thoughts regarding the sites. Both positive and "constructive" feedback is more than welcome. http://www.oceanplanet.com.au - Retail sales and E-mail orders =============================== ============================ ===================== ========================== (this section removed) ===================== (this section removed) Wet World #2 November 1999Welcome to the November Edition of Ocean Planet’s “Wet World” newsletter. Ocean Planet - http://www.oceanplanet.com.au & ========================== On their deathbed, very few people have ever been heard muttering the words... "I wish I'd spent more time at the office". I think many of us have heard quite the opposite. Regrets of experiences missed, of time spent with loved ones. I'm determined not to be an "I Wish..." person when I eventually get to those twighlight years. I guess that's one of the common denominators in all the team members here at Ocean Planet. We're more than just a little passionate about what it is we do. We have some very highly qualified people on the team, that in reality could be earning much more money working elsewhere IF that was our driving force. But there's something about lifestyle, balance, and helping others that undergirds all that Ocean Planet is about. It's that intangible something at the end of a great tour that is the reason we work so hard. So many outdoor adventure experiences are just that, experiences. But kayaking is a little different. If you allow it in it can become a lifestyle, a release, a joy to be shared with others or a tranquil solo experience. I guess that's why our tuition and retail sales have become natural additions to the tours side of our business. They open the door for many to start finding the depths to which kayaking can be your sport, your recreation, part of your lifestyle. With this in mind, we're especially excited about next months issue that will show you how to make this a reality. In the meantime... ========================== 1. Wayne’s Special Humpback Encounter 2. Top 20 Christmas Gift Ideas: From $25 to $2,500 3. Christmas Party With a Difference (great office idea!) 4. Feature Trip - Lion Island 5. Gear Feature - Gloves & Boots 6. Happy Buddha Competition Jackpots 7. Next Issue 8. Next Months Calendar 9. About Wet World ========================== A mother humpback whale and her calf came to the surface about ten meters off the bow of the lead kayak ahead of me and dove with a blast of air - and proceed to pass right under our group and my kayak!! Looking down, six feet below my kayak I watch a calf the size of a small car and a mother the size of a train pass under me. HUGE - that isn't the word! As she passed by she rolled onto her side and I got a good view of her belly and folds as she slid by. I never saw her eye to eye, but I felt a very special feeling pass from her as the pressure wave lifted my boat slightly. The group, all "rough tough soldiers", were just struck for words. Ages passed before a breathless "Far Out" was gasped. Incredible. =========================== (This section removed) =========================== (This section removed) =============================== (This section removed) =============================== This month we’re looking at a little protection for the extremities, your hands and your feet. For a relatively modest outlay, you can send your comfort levels through the roof. Whatever your water-sport, items such as these can offer you real protection and comfort. With paddling especially, many people often suffer from tenderness in the webbing between thumb and forefinger. A quality glove can help prevent this without compromising your "feel" on the paddle. Also, sometimes the occasions arise for needing to exert a substantial load with the hands such as lugging gear or pulling ropes. In doing this, wet/soft hands can be easily damaged. And not to forget the thermal protection that a glove offers your hands when the cooler weather returns next year. When it comes to boots, many of the same protective features apply. The Mirage boots featured have a very solid sole. This is perfect for those unexpected walks across rocks or simply tromping through some of that dark muddy water that many of us really don’t care too much for. =============================== For newcomers to Wet World, This may sound a little strange. So let me explain. Somewhere on the Ocean Planet website www.oceanplanet.com.au there is a Golden Buddah. The competition is simple. Be the first to find it and let us know his correct location and you take the prize pack. We had some wild pot shots last month, none of which were correct. So the prize pool jackpots. Here’s whats on offer. Mako eyewear promo pack including a T-shirt, cap, bum-bag and sports bag. (value $100) That’s $200 worth of value simply for being the first to correctly identify Buddah’s location. Get to it! =============================== People are starting to uncover the sport of sea-kayaking and kayaking in general. Stories on lifestyle TV shows are more regular, and the national outdoor adventure magazines have started to recognise the sports potential and are increasing the article space dedicated to the sport (watch out for the upcoming summer edition of WILD magazine for an example). Understandably so. We live in a corner of the world that’s almost custom made for kayaking. Warm water, clean glorious beaches and rivers, and as far as Sydney’s concerned, very easy access to all of the above. Add to that the inherent benefits of the sport such as health spin-offs and the relatively low-costs involved and you have all the ingredients needed for the sport to boom. With this in mind, look out for next months Wet World which will feature a comprehensive article on making kayaking YOUR sport/hobby. If you know of anyone who you think would like to know more about this, then make sure you forward this months issue on to them, reminding them to mail us requesting they be added to the Wet World family. =============================== (This section removed)
Wet World #1 September 1999Welcome to the very first edition of Wet World!Wet World is a monthly E-mail newsletter bringing you all the latest news, info, product updates and general bits'n'pieces from the world of Ocean Planet (and Central Coast Kayak Tours). ========================== 1. MAKO sunglasses - Special offer for you!! 2. Trips scheduled for this month 3. Gear you've just GOT to have (or give - Christmas looms on the distant horizon…) 4. Where’s Buddah Competition - Quality Mako cap & shirt to be won! 5. Joke of the Month 6. From the "Weird But True" files... 7. Getting on or off the Wet World list ========================== (This section removed) ========================== (This section removed) ========================== (This section removed) ========================== (This section removed) ========================== An atheist was spending a quiet day kayaking when suddenly his boat was attacked by the Loch Ness monster. In one easy flip, the beast tossed him and his kayak high into the air. Then it opened its mouth to swallow both. As the man sailed head over heels, he cried out, "Oh, my God! Help me!" At once, the ferocious attack scene froze in place, and as the atheist hung in mid-air, a booming voice came down from the heavens, "I thought you didn't believe in Me!" "Come on God, give me a break!!" the man pleaded. "Funny, two minutes ago I didn't believe in the Loch Ness monster either!" ========================== If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. On average people fear spiders more than they do death. You are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than by a poisonous spider. Americans on the average eat 18 acres of pizza every day. (NOTE: That's "American's" as a group, NOT each American person!) A cockroach will live nine days without it's head, before it starves to death. The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the males head off. ("Honey, I'm home. What the....")
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