02.01.07 kulturnatib

Sea trials

Last Sunday, with some friends, I was out at sea in the vicinity of Hadsan, Mactan. Not that far out but far enough to achieve what we set out to do.

We were with the group from the Jump-Off Point, Inc. They are a fledging but growing enterprise that offers outdoors experiences for local and foreign tourists, corporate team builders and individuals who wish to learn outdoors skills or upgrade them.

They set shop next to the Turtle's Nest Book Cafe two years ago. For many years now it has been and is the regular haunt of artists and outdoor types, in many cases both the same person. They were a natural fit, soon becoming good friends with the regulars there, myself included.

More than that they became active supporters and collaborators with the art and other activities regularly held in the cafe. Reciprocally, they welcomed many to their activities as well.

Though I had heard about those activities, saw and read some of the documentation, I had never joined in any until last Sunday.

Among the activities that they have been promoting is kayaking. This is precisely the activity I had many times wanted to join but had not been successful at doing so.

A recent experience over the Christmas holidays at having to rescue a friend and her little girl, both of whom had no experience whatsoever with kayaks but nonetheless went ahead – with my not-so-considered encouragement -- in conditions that turned out to be stronger currents and heavier winds, convinced me of the need to upgrade my kayaking skills. We had to effect the rescue in another kayak, although a pumpboat dispatched by the resort completed it.

They had some kayaks made by a local kayak maker. They were going to use these for an expanded program timed, hopefully, for the summer. This will include regular kayak clinics, friendly competitions which would lead to a training program for more serious ones, monthly moonlight kayak cruises to nearby islands and islets and other kayaking activities that would continue the already successful pioneering efforts of Danny Ebrada and Chris Courtney, the latter widely regarded as having popularized kayaking in Cebu.

Seven in all, -- five tandems and two singles-- these kayaks were to be tested for seaworthiness, buoyancy, handling and comfort. Also, deployment issues had to be studied and timed; loading the kayaks into the transport vehicles, hauling them, unloading them, etc.

After the morning of preliminary tests with two tandems, myself in one pair, and after lunch, the rest of the kayaks and the paddlers were ready to launch.
Stretching exercises, a short reminder on paddling techniques and other kayaking basics preceded our entry into the water.

Soon the colorful cruise was on its way. Amid the crazy clatter and high-speed runs of sea scooters and the hysterical screams of their passengers we were silently slicing the water, paced by the synchronized movement of the paddles. Or, we would just be sitting in the water, resting our arms and enjoying the gentle swaying of this splendid sea craft.

At the turn around point, we gathered in an area hemmed in by three big reef rocks. We took a long rest and had an impromptu lesson in reentry techniques used when one falls overboard and has to get back into the kayak.

Back at shore, we gathered around the kayaks and discussed the ride and pointed out improvements to the kayaks. I imagined being in an industrial design class with a focus or testing group. For all practical purposes, that was what this group was even if no grades or certificates were forthcoming.

More satisfying though was how the back and forth between experience and technical practicalities enriched us individually for having gone through it. Also, it would hopefully improve both the final outcome of the kayaks and, consequently, the ride.
Even the personal flotation devices or life vests – a must for kayaking -- were not spared scrutiny. Here many suggestions were also made and taken.

In all, we had fun. We learned quite a bit. We look forward to doing more of this in kayaks that we could say, without fear of sounding foolish or presumptuous, we helped make, or, -- why not? -- perfect.