CC2DB (Martlet home coming)

Today (Tue 31-Mar 2009)

Arr CC at 1050 (by ferry)

Socialize till 1330

Launch at 1340

Check Points:

1. 0.0Km: Cheung Chau Tung Wan (launch) 1340
   
2. 2.0Km--> CC NE tip 
   
3. 3.6K--> Hei Ling Chau Shelter Southern most tip (break)
   
4. 6.7K--> Man Kok Tsui  (break)
   
5. 9.7K--> DB Marina (break)
   
6. 12 Km> Tai Pak Wan  1540

*Didn't have a watch so couldn't mark the time in detail.  

**Forgot to stretch before I launch, in the excitement of paddling familiar territories.  My right shoulder and forearm began to ache before I even left the swimming area and bothered me through the whole trip.

*** Rich's paddle is a lefty paddle =_=;;;

**** Felt very dehydrated the whole time.  Kept stopping to drink.  I need to buy a camel pack.

***** Turns out I'm not nearly as scared about paddling the channels as I thought I would be.  Was still very nervous about sunset but I handled the channels just fine.  Visibility was excellent.  Got very close to many of the high speed ferries but was not nervous at all.  In fact I really enjoyed the "surfs" offered by the ferries-generated waves.  Was very alert the whole time despite lack of sleep (don't think I zoned out at all) so that's excellent.
 

I think, making mistakes is an important way to learn to be a competent seafarer.  But it serves no purposes when you keep making the same mistakes over and over again. 

Yesterday, I was paddling solo near shore and forgot to bring a paddle leash, a PFD, AND a paddle float.  It made me nervous, and I thought I would be better prepared next time.  But alas, today, again, I paddled without a paddle float, while crossing channels.  Not to mention, using a lefty-paddle for the first time.  That's just ... stupid.  I was lucky the water's so flat today.

Brought (and used):

Sun Screen

Water (2L, but only drank 1L)

Clipboard with pencil

Cup for bailing

Paddle leash

Cell Phone for safety calls

Compass

Map in a clear plastic jar O_O;;

Also Brought (but did not use):

Change of clothes 

Towel

Shampoo

Sun glasses

Snacks, granola bars, chocolate

windbreaker 

extra jacket

towline

Apart from the sore arm/shoulder thing, the trip was really nice.  Went with the wind/current the whole time so it was effortless.  Was favoring my right arm/shoulder though so I didn't manage to pick up the speed (except during the surfs).  

Lesson learnt:

1) Always stretch before launching.  If you forget, it's better to return to shore, stretch, and launch again, than to suffer the entire trip.

2) Need to bring wrist watch AND paddle float.  =__=