Author: Dimitri Vandepoele

Advanced Manoeuvres

On September 20, 2016

There is more to sea kayaking than just forward paddling. You will enjoy paddling even more when you are fully in control of your boat. You will be able to get closer in and around things when having certain abilities. It’s a lot more fun too. This time we have put some of the most important manoeuvring techniques in one video. It is not a training video, therefor it is to short and it lacks some explanation of the details. But we will let you see what is possible with a sea kayak and a good paddle in your hands. As you can see in our others videos, those techniques are working well in the rougher stuff or in the surf zone. It sure will take some time to master those manoeuvring techniques but it will be worth the while. The video contains footage of some draw strokes, turning a sea kayak, both low and high brace, bow and stern rudder. We filmed from different angles to show you how it’s done. We’ve put a lot of effort and time in this video and we sincerely hope that it may be of use to other paddlers. Paddle safe and take care of each other!

The Oostdyck Radar Tower

By Dimitri Vandepoele

On August 31, 2016

In Trip Reports

Two years have passed since my last visit to the Oostdyck Radar Tower. Today, conditions were good and so we set of from the Oostduinkerke beach. It is a very good navigation exercise because, although the tower is 36 metres high, you mostly cannot see it until half way. The tower is located not less than 22 kilometres offshore. It’s operational since 2003 and its purpose is to provide guidance for the bigger ocean ships. The international shipping lane is nearby and also the Westhinder anchorage (where ships have to wait for the pilot to come on board). On some days, with extreme good visibility, you can spot the tower from the coast when standing on an elevated position. We have been nine hours on the water to reach the radar tower and get back to shore. Again, it was worth the effort, reaching it and not being able to see the coast! Three hundred and sixty degrees of pure, open water, absolute peace and quiet…… The tower itself is unmanned.

My teammate Harry and I are using a P&H Cetus MV.

Cap Gris Nez – France

By Dimitri Vandepoele

On July 26, 2016

In Trip Reports

It has been a while since we have been on the water together. So today, we planned a little daytrip to Northern France, more specific Cap Gris Nez. It is located along the Dover Strait (Pas de Calais) on the French side of course and is known for its strong tidal current and fast changing weather. We planned on paddling near the rocks and cliffs around high water. While it was very sunny the first part of the trip, weather began to change very fast (within 30 minutes) and a sea fog set out all over the area. When in the neighbourhood with a kayak on the roof of your car, make sure to stop by and enjoy the scenery (and meet the grey seals that live there)!

The Cetus

By Dimitri Vandepoele

On July 12, 2016

In Reviews

When I was looking to replace my trusty P&H Scorpio Lv with a Cetus I spend hours looking on the internet to find footage where I could see the boat in action. I know what you’re thinking, why not testing it rather that looking at videos? Well, I already did and I was sure that the Cetus was going to be my next boat. The kayak customizer page on the P&H site is awesome, I think I made my boat virtually one hundred times. But it’s even better to see the boat on the water, with a paddler in it. To see it’s colours, to see the different options, to see its behaviour,… Even when waiting on the delivery I searched “Cetus videos”. The only downside was that there are not many to be found where you can see the boat from different angles. So I remained a bit unsatisfied for the time being…

With the delivery I felt like a kid with his new toy (and I still am by that matter). It was my first composite boat, new, shiny, glossy! I already paddled several hundred kilometres with it, in a wide variety of conditions. Just like its polyethylene brother, the Scorpio, it never lets me down. On the water it has to perform, it goes fast while being stable, very stable. Even when paddling in rough seas it still feels like I am paddling from my couch. When putting it on edge it steers and turns very well. Anyway, don’t take my word for it. I am perhaps a tiny bit subjective. When looking to buy a quality sea kayak, make sure to test this piece of craftsmanship and see for yourself!

Enjoy our short video, a big thanks to Sylvie, who filmed from different angles to get the best result.

Paddle safe and take care of each other on the water!

Dimitri Vandepoele

NORTHSEAKAYAK