FPTA Newsletter

Fall 2021

Greetings from the Presidents Corner

Joe Webb, Pensacola

CT News :

During November and after two years without in person meetings due to hurricanes and pandemic FPTA is planning its first CT Reunion since 2019 at Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve near Yankeetown, Fl. So we are grateful for the use of the 413 acres of undeveloped wetland on the Nature Coast. FPTA will use the occasion to hear from CT paddlers, special guest lectures, honor volunteers, and hold an FPTA board of directors meeting. Further details about the upcoming event can be found in this issue of the FPTA newsletter.

Since my last “Greetings from the Presidents Corner” the CT has added one more finisher to the distinguished list of CT paddlers.

FPTA Vice President and Air Force Air veteran Dorsey DeMaster completed the 1515 mile Florida Circumnavigational Trail paddling her final leg of 19.5 miles August 5th.

You can read about Dorsey’s triumphant finale to her CT adventure in this issue of the FPTA newsletter.

Finally, a little FPTA Housekeeping :

The FPTA's leadership have been assigned new email accounts/addresses. Any email originating from one of our 19 leadership volunteers will include their first and last name, followed by @floridapaddlingtrails.com. The new email accounts eliminate use of our personal email accounts and provides us a professional look when we are coordinating with paddle clubs, outfitters, and government agencies. Often when technology changes occur, our accounts don't recognize the new email address and send it to our JUNK EMAIL folders. Please be on the look out for emails from FPTA (i.e., jane.doe@floridapaddlingtrails.com).

Last, but definitely not least:

Long time FPTA Newsletter Editor, Jill Lingard, has passed her red marker to a new crew of dedicated scribes. This is the first issue under new management, please be kind.

FPTA would like to thank Jill for her many years at the helm. Her dedication to all things paddling, and to the natural wonders of Florida is awe inspiring and she has set a high bar for those following in her footsteps. Thank You Jill.

Until next time,

Joe

FPTA's Business & Paddling Club Members

Thank you for supporting Florida's paddling trails!

27-80 Paddlers
Apalachee Canoe & Kayak Club
Bradley Douglas PA 
City of Pensacola Parks & Recreation
Florida Sea Kayaking Association
Great Calusa Blueway
Marsh Paddlers
Paddle Florida
Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club
River Girl Works
Southwest Florida Paddling Club
Paddle the Pointe
The Villages Canoe & Kayak Club
Waste Water Design
West Florida Canoe & Kayak Club
Windmill Village Kayak Club Gorilla Shark Boards
Simply Laid Back Adventurers, Campers & Kayakers

American Canoe Association ACA-Florida
Steven Henkind, Kayak Instructor
City of Edgewater
Florida Bay Outfitters
Frog Creek RV Resort & Campground
Gulf Coast Kayak
Kayak Amelia
Lee County Visitors & Convention Bureau
Ocklawaha Canoe Outpost & Resort
REI
Jim McClellen
Sweetwater Kayaks
Wandering Adventures Kayak Company WaterTribe

Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers

Dorsey DeMaster Completes the CT.

by John Shinner

She did it!! FPTA’s own Vice President and Region C Co-Director, Dorsey DeMaster, is now officially number 34 to complete The Florida Circumnavigational Paddling Trail (CT). If you like an exciting tale told well check out Dorsey’s blog  here.

Click the link to the Citrus Chronicle Online to read the full story, by Margo Wilson, about Dorsey’s final leg of her CT adventure. https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/23-months-later-dorsey-demaster-puts-down-the-paddle-for-now/article_522d0548-f870-11eb-a0d0-13e16b1ahtml819e.

Website Highlight

Our Circumnavigational Trail (CT) Page Has a New Look!

by Steve Cournoyer

The FPTA website CT page has a fresh new look and significantly more content! There is a wealth of CT information on this redesigned page.

There is a new Trip Planning section with a new interactive map of the entire trail that will help potential CT planners. It includes campsites, accommodations and boat ramps/paddle launches along the way, including waypoints and other pertinent information.

Also new, is a downloadable KMZ file with all the CT info in one file, including each paddle trail.

There is also a link to all the downloadable individual maps. New additions in the Trip Planning section include Safety Tips, which includes a downloadable link to the new FPTA Float Plan form’ and FAQ’s, which includes a new downloadable FPTA CT Log form for keeping track of your CT paddles.

Near the bottom you’ll find a list of books with links to “Books About the CT”.

Last but not least we are initiating a new method of tracking CT paddlers with a new FPTA CT Registry. There is a link to the Registration form on the CT page.

All you’ll need is the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Guide (Text Only) and add water! Enjoy the Trail!!!!

Paddle Board Adventure in the Keys

by John Shinner and Whitney Sanford

Think Paddle Boards are just useful for a good work out or a little yoga? Think again because FPTA member Whitney Sanford and her husband, Kevin, just spent a part of their summer vacation exploring the Lower Keys, Whitney on her SUP and Kevin in his Kayak. Their story is best told in Whitney’s own words and photos, so click here to access her blog and enjoy, if only vicariously, an amazing paddling adventure.

We are looking forward to sharing more SUP adventures regularly in The FPTA Newsletter.

Coaches Corner: Kayak Rescues

by Steve Henkind

I take rescues VERY seriously.  My position in the Coast Guard has provided me exposure to disturbing information about fatal kayaking incidents.  I personally saved two kayakers who likely would have died had I not been there to rescue them. A number of years ago, I watched a paddler drown in front of me (I was not close enough to perform a rescue).

Some paddlers “take a rescue class” and then think that they are forever after safe. Rescues are highly perishable skills and, unless you practice, within a few months you will not be able to perform a safe and effective rescue within a reasonable timeframe.  Rescues need to be performed efficiently, with the goal of getting the job done in under 90 seconds. Generally, the swimmer needs to get back into their boat quickly before the situation degenerates further.  The video above shows a well-executed rescue.  The time from establishing contact with the swimmer’s boat to getting the swimmer back in their seat is 19 seconds. 

There are three types of rescues that paddlers should learn:

Wet exits – especially if you wear a spray skirt

Self rescues – getting back into the boat by yourself

Assisted rescues – helping others to get back in their boats.

After learning the basics, these rescues need to be practiced in the most challenging circumstances which the paddler is likely to encounter - even 10 knot winds and 1-foot waves can turn a flat water T-rescue into a fiasco.  Ongoing practice is necessary in order to maintain proficiency.

 It is impossible to self-teach yourself effective rescue techniques.  Professional training is highly recommended.  If you have not learned – and continued to practice – rescues, then the safest thing is to always paddle within swimming distance of shore.

I should note that, although I take rescues very seriously, they can also be a lot of fun.  In fact, for many of the people whom I have trained and train with, practicing and performing rescues is at the top of the list of favorite activities. For real!!!

Click here to watch the author and Jill Lingard have some fun performing the 19 second T Rescue.

AUTHOR:  Steven Henkind, M.D. has served in various capacities in the U.S. Coast Guard for nearly 20 years, including leadership of the underway component of the national kayak safety program. He is also the highest ranked ACA Kayak Instructor/Instructor Trainer in Florida.

Letter From a Legacy Fund Partner

by John Shinner

Providing awesome paddling experiences for young people who may not otherwise have the opportunity, is fundamental to the FPTA mission. In the following letter, Jody and Ray Hetchka describe how FPTA scholarship funds helped to provide some very enthusiastic youngsters paddling memories of a lifetime.

“Thank you so much for continuing the kids kayak scholarship funds. This year we spread things out and were able to put 3 kids thru our week long summer camp. We also took a group of kids in the foster care system from Nassau and Duval counties on a half day kayak tour. It’s so awesome to be able to get these kids out in a kayak. Most of them don’t even get to go to the beach. Sorry we didn’t get many photos this year, my photographer was so busy interacting with the kids he forgot to take pictures. “

Thanks again for this great program,

Jody

Kayak Amelia Ray & Jody Hetchka 13030 Heckscher DR. Jacksonville FL 32226904-251-0016 www.KayakAmelia.com

Paddling The Crooked River

by Lynette Brown

Julie Flint, AJ Rivera , and I enjoyed a wonderful paddling session from Carrabelle up The Crooked River to Ochlockonee State Park. This route is part of Segment 5 of the Florida Circumnavigational Paddling Trail.

Although we had some rain, over all it was a very pleasant and relaxing paddle, giving us a chance to experience Carrabelle, an Old Florida community, overnighting in remote forest campsites , and enjoying one of Florida’s most beautiful State Parks.

Our Itinerary was as follows.

FRIDAY, August 6, Carrabelle to Warrens Bluff campsite. 5 miles

SATURDAY 8-7 Warrens Bluff to Monkey Creek Crooked River Campsite. 15.5 miles

SUNDAY 8-8 Monkey Creek Crooked River to Rock Landing Campsite. 8.5 miles

MONDAY 8-9 Rock landing to Ochlockonee State Park 9 miles

This was a lazy slow paddle that we planned for on purpose, to be able to enjoy floating leisurely and observing wildlife.

Many times on the CT one has to put the pedal to the metal and push on in a rush. It was real nice to just slow it down.

The Crooked River portion of the trip was ever so beautiful. With narrow curves and tall grassy beds, beautiful palms , oaks and a true feeling of traveling through old Florida.

We encountered an alligator at our first campsite and were awakened by coyotes calling .

Once The Crooked River became the Ochlockonee River it widened , and we then had to share the waterway with power boats, jet skis, etc. .

The campsites were beautiful all along the route, and when we landed at the State Park I actually saw some of the famous white squirrels.

Altogether it was a great trip, and sharing it with Julie and AJ made it that much more fun.

Business Spotlight Sweetwater Kayaks

by Monica McManus Woll

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