• We apologize for the somewhat convoluted sign-up process. Due to ever-more sophisticated attacks by chatbots, we had to increase our filtering in order to weed out AI while letting humans through. It's a nuisance, but a necessary one in order to keep the level of discourse on the forums authentic and useful. From the actual humans using WCP, thanks for your understanding!

Expedition failure

Peter-CKM

Paddler
Joined
Dec 1, 2011
Messages
686
Location
San Francisco, CA
Guy wants to paddle from Monterey, CA to Hawaii, following in Ed Gillet's accomplishment from the80s (see https://www.canoekayak.com/touring-kayaks/gillet/), but he doesn't get far? I've paddled Monterey area a decent amount and can't understand how you could get caught near shore. There aren't many currents, and weather reports will tell you if the winds are too strong. Shaking my head in wonder. of course, shaking my head in wonder as to why anyone would want to kayak to Hawaii...

http://www.ksbw.com/article/kayaker-nearly-drowns-off-pebble-beach/20117432

Not sure if it is the same person as this (also failed) attempt from 2014:
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-coast-guard-rescue-kayak-hawaii-20140611-story.html
 
When I read a posting detailing a “failed” attempt at something- anything, I am always reminded of Teddy Roosevelt’s take on critics:

Teddy Roosevelt on critics:
"It is not the critic who counts. ... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly ... who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
 
Weird, the community of people with experience paddling offshore on the Pacific Ocean is not that big. You would think you would hear something if anyone planned an expedition like that.
 
I found the following interesting:
“It’s never been in the water yet, so I’m not sure how it’s going to handle,” Hand told C&K the day before to his original planned departure date of April 23. “That’s going to be something to figure out.”

Despite the new kayak, Hand was still confident. “I’m better prepared this time than I’ve ever been,” he said. “So there shouldn’t be any reason not to get it done this year.”
 
Ok,
Ed was prepared with all the supplies he needed?
But, how was he going to get to the supplies in the forward compartments!
Ed's reasoning: I am better prepared then the 3 failed attempts so " shouldn't be and reason not to "getter done"!
How much water is needed for 100 days supply?
To many questions!
Roy
 
Ok,
Ed was prepared with all the supplies he needed?
But, how was he going to get to the supplies in the forward compartments!
Ed's reasoning: I am better prepared then the 3 failed attempts so " shouldn't be and reason not to "getter done"!
How much water is needed for 100 days supply?
To many questions!

Keep in mind, Ed is the guy who successfully completed the trip to Hawaii in a pretty-much standard double kayak. He had almost enough food, had a desalinator (or 2) to make fresh water, and had a way to get at the supplies he needed from all areas of his boat. So it seems your questions have already been answered, with positive results.

RW Hand is the guy who has made 3 unsuccessful attempts, including this last one that sent him to the hospital.
 
For folks who don't know about Ed Gillet's amazing kayak journey to Hawaii (He'd already paddled the W coast of S. America, and said of the Hawaii trip: "It was the most difficult trip I could conceive of surviving." ):

Thanks for posting that link, John. I hadn't read that in a while.

I was at TASK listening to Ed tell the story of that trip shortly after his return. It was very emotional. He was crying as he related parts of that trip and overall it was so beyond my ken. In retrospect he had done his work and was prepared. Because of all that work, preparation and good fortune he survived and succeeded.

I never got the sense that this gentleman did either of the primary things that he could control.
 
With all the statues (Rocky, etc.) that go up, they should make one for Ed Gillet. He's an example of "things done right." All these present day circumnavigations hardly raise my eyebrow - they have Sat. Phone, they have GPS, they have support crew setting up camp, etc. Ed had none of that.

And recall that if you miss Hawaii, there's pretty much no Plan B. Okay - a bit of a mark against "things done right" because of no bail out option. Falls more into those immortal words uttered by the esteemed philosopher, Christy Brinkley, in National Lampoon's Vacation, "Well, are you gonna go for it." But that doesn't remove the requirement for preparation.

At 4:27
 
All these present day circumnavigations hardly raise my eyebrow - they have Sat. Phone, they have GPS, they have support crew setting up camp, etc. Ed had none of that.
Yeah, today, world class paddlers have a number of systems at their command which make their achievements much safer to undertake. Some, like state of the art weather information specific to their location, also make it easier to chew up the miles. Gillette had to hang it all out, and showed great skill and terrific judgment in reaching his goal.

But, circumnavigators like Freya Hoffmeister definitely require superior athleticism, and yet have great risk to reach their goals. The world has changed, but they still deserve recognition.
 
Back
Top