(note to my readers: This post begins an occasional tribute to individuals who have made major contributions to sea kayaking)
Derek C. Hutchinson
Derek Hutchinson could be called the father of modern sea kayaking for his paddling prowess, long distance journeys, kayak designs, his entertaining talks and advanced bracing classes worldwide. To me, he earns the title by penning the first book on how to sea kayak. Called SEA CANOEING, it was published in 1976 and has been reprinted many times. I bought the third edition, published in 1984, when it first came out, and it transformed me from a wannabe to a full-fledged sea kayaker (read more about what I and many top kayakers learned from this book and Derek by linking to: http://tsunamirangers.com/2010/12/28/four-ways-to-learn-sea-kayaking/). From this book I learned how to outfit my kayak, how to navigate, how to surf, self-rescue, and roll my kayak.
In 2011, Derek Hutchinson enters the North Sea--once again!
Derek led a grueling North Sea expedition in 1976 from Felixstowe to Ostend. This was a long open-sea crossing, which many kayaking mariners would agree is more difficult than a coastal expedition, because there are no landmarks to guide you along and you feel so vulnerable when out of sight of land (at least I do). He also paddled in the cold Aleutian Islands—without immersion clothing!
Derek Hutchinson's famous hat trick
And that brings me to an important aspect about Derek. He is very knowledgeable and opinionated—downright cantankerous in fact! If you ask him, he will tell you all about boat design, Alaskan paddles versus Greenland paddles, soft cover versus hardback books, and his development of self-rescues (for example, the “all-in” rescue). And if you prod him a bit, he will describe and then show you his patented hat trick! To see and hear him discuss various kayaking topics, click on http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1885031127921188402# and enjoy Derek pontificating in 2007 at the kayak symposium in Port Townsend, Washington. Note that not everyone present at Derek’s interview agrees with him on everything!
I don’t go along with him on some things either—for instance, his insistence that an advanced kayaker is unlikely to capsize and can at any rate roll easily on the first try in rough conditions and therefore should dress like a “sensibly turned-out hill walker” when kayaking, instead of in “a stinking, sweating, steaming and prickling” wetsuit “like an out-of-work frogman.” I think he is dead wrong about that—as even experts can mess up big time on occasion and end up swimming (I’ve blown my roll and swam dozens, perhaps hundreds of times—of course, this could be because I’m a lousy roller).
One of Derek's many sea kayaking books
But even though I don’t always see eye to eye with Derek, I respect him for all he has contributed to sea kayaking. He has designed over a dozen sea kayaks, he has written several seminal sea kayaking books, he has made long distance trips and surfed and did seal launches and landings and paddled in ice and wind. He has developed innovative ways to rescue. And he was the first modern kayaker to accomplish these feats, now standards of modern sea kayaking. We have all benefited greatly from his contributions.
I owe Derek so much for what I know about sea kayaking, and for inspiring me to go for it and pursue my kayaking dreams. Decades ago I tried his seal launch—and it worked, even 25 feet up! And then I tried his seal landing—and it worked, even in big crashing surf on hard rocks. So when Michael Powers and I wrote our book, EXTREME SEA KAYAKING, we asked Derek if he would write the foreword, and he graciously obliged. We consider him our Sea Daddy, because even though we never took an on-water class from him, we absorbed every word he wrote.
Derek's latest DVD with University of Sea Kayaking--tall tales from an ancient mariner
Further, Derek is a great orator. He is the most entertaining kayaking speaker I have ever heard. He doesn’t need a multimedia show to keep his audience riveted. His sharp mind and dry British humor, combined with his myriad experiences and unique perspectives gained over a long lifetime of paddling, make for a spellbinding talk. If you ever get a chance to see and hear Derek give a presentation, and you have box seats for the symphony at the same time, give away your symphony tickets and walk right up to the front row and enjoy the Derek show.
Derek's first DVD with University of Sea Kayaking, and what he'll be teaching in San Francisco Bay next month
Though Mr. Hutchinson is getting up there in age, he still goes out and paddles, still designs and produces. And he is still teaching people how to go “beyond the cockpit” in style. For those lucky enough to be in the San Francisco area next month, Derek and Wayne Horodowich will be teaching a master on-water class on bracing and edging a kayak on October 8th and again on the 9th in Emeryville. Sponsored by Bay Area Sea Kayakers (BASK), it will be a memorable seminar. Contact Mark Silowitz at marksilOO@msn.com for more information.
Please share what you have learned from Derek C. Hutchinson, a living legend. I didn’t have space to talk about all his books, his innovations, his years as a senior BCU coach, his sea stories, and his artwork and illustrations. So please, tell us your Derek story or share what you learned from him by commenting below this post.
{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }
Eric, thanks for this essay on Derek. I also was introduced to sea kayaking by Derek’s book and, quite literally, by the man himself. My friend Rick, my wife-to-be, June, and I were browsing in the newly-opened Sea Trek shop, way back in the mid ’80s, thinking about taking up sea kayaking. We’d done a minor amount of whitewater kayaking and then found out we could paddle on the bay and sea, right here in our ‘back yard.’ We were looking at these shiny new kayaks and suddenly out of nowhere, this Brit started spouting poetry (I think it was Keats, or Wordsworth, or Shakespeare, who knows?). It turned out to be Derek Hutchinson and after talking to him, and buying his signed book, we immediately signed up for a class with him.
The class went well, we learned all the basic strokes and rescues, and found out what it was like to immerse ourselves, upside down in a kayak, in San Francisco Bay on a freezing day in January! By the way, Derek was dressed like a sensibly turned-out hill walker and stayed snug and warm in his kayak while we flailed about in the cold water. He also pointed out that we completed a rescue in near-record time, almost, but not quite, as fast as the group of mentally retarded he had in a recent course (well, you have to know Derek to understand). In spite of all that we were hooked and bought three sea kayaks (one each) the following day. I went home and devoured Derek’s book “Sea Canoeing,” and to this day I think it’s one of the best books ever written on sea kayaking.
Thus started my many years of kayaking adventures on the sea, and I’ll be forever grateful to Derek Hutchinson for introducing me to this wonderful activity. I should also point out that back then, there were few instructors and few resources available for learning how to kayak. After that first class we had just enough information to get into trouble and also to get out and learn our lessons from the sea. Thanks Derek!
A nice write up of another living legend. Thanks Eric!
On a side note: “even experts can mess up big time on occasion and end up swimming” Really? I have *never* blown a roll or gone for an unintentional swim. Just ask Michael, Anders, Gregg, Rick, Neil, Kenny, Marcus…… (Yeah, I just wanted to give them all rescue practice.)
I’m trying to hold back Eric – but man, you know how to pick your essay topics! So many hysterical memories of Derek. So many formative teaching moments and important things were learned by so many. He filled a huge void in a Golden Age of sea kayaking on San Francisco Bay. Before we met him, we were in awe over his book. The stuff he wrote about seemed impossibly challenging, and wonderfully exotic. Seal launches? Surf landings? All-in rescues? OMG! The man that introduced me to kayaking – Bob Licht – went to England for a boat show in the early 1980′s, met Derek, and invited him to come to California to help teach sea kayaking to a groovy , eager audience in marvelous Marin. For Derek, California was a wedding in heaven. He loved the naked ladies in the hot tub, the Mediterranean weather, the adoring young paddling students that flocked to his lectures. But, he hated the food – claimed he was allergic to vegetables. Derek’s refuge: the infamous grease-bomb known as Fred’s Place in Sausalito. The proprietor, Fred, had died of colon cancer, so you know how healthy the grub was…Only a Brit could stomach it on a daily basis.
I was about 21 years young when I took my first class from Derek. He taught us fun and interesting ways of thinking about stroke technique and rough water paddling that I recall vividly, and long-ago I adapted some of his stuff for my own teaching. He also exhibited a teaching style that made grown men cry, children flee, and beautiful women blush. In some ways, he was our “anti-role model” as an instructor! He never seemed to understand why Americans didn’t appreciate being berated by their instructor.
Anyone contemplating taking the upcoming Masters Clinic mentioned in Eric’s blog, beware! You will laugh, and be laughed at. John Lull and I were sent to the clinic about 10 years ago by our employer to check out what Derek was up to. We already knew most of the content, but had forgotten how brutally funny the old maestro could be. He tormented one student for trying to use a Greenland paddle in the class. “Someday, you’ll learn better”. He humiliated me for wearing paddling gloves; “Take them off, now!” Another student was singled out for having a paddlefloat tucked carelessly under his deck lines on the front deck. “What is that on your deck, a dead rat?” It was abusive behavior, but it still made us snicker…And the man could make his kayak dance, no question about it!
The best bit of advice we got that day was Derek’s response to a barrage of questions about all manner of minutia from the class. He just summed it up for me by saying, “First you must learn the rules. Then you can break them.” I knew what he meant, it made sense, and it’s a good way to view one’s pursuit of a kayaking education. And I’ll NEVER forget something he said that day that was very inspirational. “Sea kayakers are the last true free spirits”.
Thanks for the super fun essay!
-Kenny
My signed copy of Derek’s ‘The Complete Book of Sea Kayaking, Vol. 4′ is one of my most treasured books. I met him in 1998 at the International Canoe Exhibition. He was truly charming and inspiring. Though he did pay more attention to my (ex) wife than to me!
I and three other friends subsequently attempted a North Sea crossing and were forced to turn back due to the conditions after less that 50 miles so my respect for ‘the old man’ is founded on an understanding that he can not only ‘talk the talk’, but he can and truly has ‘walked the walk’.
Great blog post once again. Thanks Eric!
All the best
Sean
Eric asked me to comment on this essay since I am (or was) facilitating Derek’s “Master Conversion” clinic for BASK. It will be in Emeryville on October 8 and 9 – (2 one day clinics), co-taught by Wayne Horodowitz. Due to a schedule conflict I had to hand over the job to Mark Silowitz (marksil00@msn.com). Anyone interested should contact him. The clinic is a BASK event but open to non-BASKers as well for a slightly higher fee. BASK members can see the article in Bay Currents, (page 7) for lots more information. Note the facilitator name has not been corrected http://www.bask.org/members/bcurrent/jun2011.pdf
I am feeling envious about how much interaction the other commenters have had with Derek. I haven’t been around kayaking that long but being in the presence of the man has been a memorable privilege.
I’ve heard a lot of stories about Derek terrorizing students but I believe (and I know others share this opinion) that he has mellowed in recent years. Greenland paddles are now at least okay for the clinic – and I don’t think he’s as directly critical as he used to be – or at least not as often. Derek had a bout with cancer in 2010 which kept him from doing clinics. He’s back this year and we’ll have to see if that has mellowed him more or …
Thanks Eric for this article. I got a wonderful feeling of his presence and his importance from it. You’ve done kayaking a service.
He may have changed his tune recently, but at least in the past, I think Derek’s comment on using a Greenland or any non-feathered paddle would be something like this:
“Learn to use a proper paddle first, then do whatever you want.”
I tend to agree with him on that point. Now I’ll duck out of the way!
My first sea kayak rolling lesson was my then girlfriend (now wife) sitting on the bank of a clear running river giving me instructions from the original book
I wouldn’t have had any general knowledge of seakayaking living in a remote area with out that book
Still got it too !
I am really enjoying the comments about Derek. As I was prepping to write this post, Wayne Horodowich sent me some good Derekisms–things that he has said that are funny or acerbic or both. I so love the “stinking sweating frogman” quotation that I just had to use it.
Anyone have any good Derek sayings they want to share?
Boy, Eric, you sure know how to bait and set the hook. Like others who have commented on this post, I eagerly devoured Sea Canoeing when I first got my hands on a copy back in 1984. It became, with one very notable exception, my trusted sea kayaking companion and guide during my early years in the sport.
There’s no question that Derrick is a highly skilled paddler; nor is there any question about the courage, tenacity, and judgment that it took to safely make that dangerous, pioneering North Sea crossing back in the day. He’s certainly made enough contributions to our sport for two lifetimes. Most unfortunately, however, he has never been an advocate, friend, or supporter of cold water safety.
The full quotation was “In order to be prepared for a likely capsize, is [ the kayaker ] to paddle stinking, sweating, steaming and prickling in rubber equipment like an out of work frogman? Or is he to dress like a sensibly turned out hill-walker, depending more on his skill and experience to keep dry, and meet the freezing rescue when the time comes – if ever.”
For those readers unfamiliar with Derrick’s terminology, “hill-walker” is a common British term for a hiker or backpacker, “frogman” is a World War II era term for a military Scuba diver, and “rubber equipment” means wetsuit. His advice is straightforward and clear: When paddling on lethally cold water, dress the same way you would for a walk in the woods, and rely on your skill, rather than protective gear, to save yourself in the event of a capsize.
Derrick has never been shy about candidly and forcefully expressing his opinions, and when he really takes a dislike to something like dressing for the water temperature, you can rest assured that he will spare no effort in letting thousands upon thousands of people know about it, both personally and in print. I can’t think of another quote that has done more to undermine cold water safety.
Over the span of several decades, Derrick has managed, through a combination of skill and good fortune, to dodge the bullet while paddling around on lethally cold water dressed like ”a sensibly turned out hill-walker”. Sadly, the same cannot be said of a legion of unfortunate paddlers who misguidedly followed his extraordinarily bad advice on the subject.
It is certainly one of the great tragedies of sea kayaking that both Derrick Hutchinson and John Dowd, two of the best known and influential founding fathers of the sport, expressed such great disdain for the idea that paddlers should dress for the water temperature rather than the air temperature when paddling on cold water. What’s worse is that they stubbornly continued to do so in the face of a large and growing number of fatalities and a mountain of scientific evidence that thoroughly discredited their position on the issue.
Moulton you make a very good point here. And no way will I defend Derek on the cold water immersion issue. While I do agree with his point that you should work to be sufficiently skilled that a capsize out at sea (as opposed to, say, the surf zone) is highly unlikely, it’s foolish not to dress for the possibility. However, I don’t think we can hold him or John Dowd responsible for those who dress like ‘hill walkers’ on the water and then get into trouble. That is a decision each paddler makes for himself or herself.
As I said earlier, I devoured Derek’s book early on, but after one swim during that first course in the Bay, in a wetsuit (note that he did have us in wetsuits for the class), I knew I wouldn’t be out on the sea in hill-walking attire. So I discounted that piece of ‘advice’ from Derek. And I’ve always stressed the importance of dressing for the water, as have 99% of sea kayaking instructors and instruction programs. So the message is out there, clear and bright. Anyone who chooses to ignore it, is doing just that; ignoring it.
Sure, it would have been better if Derek had been more willing to point out the dangers of cold water immersion, but it’s so well-documented elsewhere, that it’s common knowledge these days. Not to mention simple common sense.
John, I have a lot of respect for your knowledge and experience, but I have to disagree with you on this one. I certainly wish that the dangers of cold water immersion were so well documented that it was common knowledge these days but from where I sit, that’s simply not the case. What’s more, some very influential organizations go to great lengths to justify the position that their clients or students don’t need to dress for the water temperature.
When I wrote my Cold Shock article for Sea Kayaker in 1991, Eric’s no-nonsense letter to the editor supporting my safety argument was the only positive response that appeared in the next issue. All the others disagreed with what I was saying and sought to minimize the danger. While we’ve made a lot of progress in the intervening years, I don’t think you’ll find any advocate of cold water safety who thinks the job is done. If that was the case, Eric would have had no incentive last February to write his post about Kayaking and Cold Water Immersion.
While I agree that it’s an individual paddler’s decision whether or not to dress for the water temperature, that decision isn’t made in a vacuum. Derrick and John went further than just failing to point out the danger; they actively spoke out against dressing for the water temperature. They did so at a time when sea kayaking was in its infancy and they continued to do so, despite the evidence, year after year. Had the reverse been true, had they been strong advocates in favor of dressing for the water temperature, I don’t think the pernicious and widely-circulated “challenging conditions” argument would have had a leg to stand on.
I don’t agree that dressing for the water temperature is a matter of common sense. In fact, it’s always been my contention that the exact opposite is true. If cold water was a predator, it would be accurate to say that it had perfect camouflage, because unless you know the score, it looks perfectly innocuous.
Moulton, you’re probably right, sadly, at least in some places. I think maybe there is greater awareness of cold water danger here in Northern California, because due to upwelling the ocean water is always cold, year around. So I’m probably giving way too much credit to the ‘common sense’ of an individual. Watching the politial scene and populist attitude these days, where science and factual data is considered ‘elitist,’ or ‘theoretical’ (most people don’t understand what a scientific theory is), I should know better!
I sure as H have always emphasized the need to dress for the water temperature. Here’s a direct quote from my book: “In cold water (less than about 70 degrees F), a wetsuit, drysuit, or equivalent, is needed.” Period–I said needed, not desireable or optional. I did expand on that quite a bit, but there’s no room for misunderstanding that statement.
Also, a custom-fitted modern wetsuit can be very comfortable. I know that because I have one.
Thank you Eric, for highlighting a man that I am proud to call a friend and mentor from my days on the east coast. Yes, he wasn’t the kindest tongued teacher, but he brought the reality of the dangers of the sea to you before the lessons were learned in a less desirable way. Although many have experienced the “rougher” side of Derek during his classes, I’ve sat with him in the off times for long discussions on many topics. He is a man of principal and conviction and he’ll keep me laughing for years to come with memories of classes past.
I am also fortunate to have Derek teaching for me here in Seattle on Oct 1st & 2nd. I will cherish every minute I get to spend with him.
Bob Burnett
Bob,
Can you provide a link for Derek’s class in Seattle on October 1st and 2nd? That way, interested readers can get more information on the class.
Thanks!
From my perspective, dressing for the water is a mater of calculated risk. One should know the potential risk, and make a decision based on that. Drysuits, made of breathable fabric like Goretex, are much more common among sea kayakers now than when Derek was dissing the using of wetsuits based on their discomfort. I bet he would not object to the comfort of a cozy drysuit, which is very safe in cold-water immersion situations when used with the proper technical undergarments. Eric Soares has often promoted the superiority of a wetsuit for the obvious advantages the material gives in certain situations (like swimming and rock garden paddling).
If you guys only knew how lightly we dress for the cold Pacific Ocean on our surfskis, you would fear for our safety. But, I rely on thin “fuzzy rubber” layers to paddle at a highly aerobic pace without overheating; this fabric is suitable for quick immersion only – if I fall in the water, I need to get back on the boat and start paddling quickly to stay warm. Too many layers limits the mobility required for a competitive surfski paddler. We dash offshore several miles, but are back on shore within one or two hours typically after an intense workout. In the event of catastrophic equipment failure while offshore, hypothermia is a risk given the minimal protection. I know the risk, and chose to take it – along with the great reward and freedom.
I just remembered a quotation Derek liked to use; not sure he is the original author. “Thou shall only kayak on days ending in y.”
John, you Tsunami Rangers have always been strong advocates of cold water safety, and there’s no doubt in my mind that, leading by example, you’ve had and continue to have a tremendous influence on how paddlers view the issue. I think credit for that position goes well beyond the fact that you have perennially cold water off the coast of Northern California. There’s plenty of cold water off the coast of New England and the state of Washington, but that hasn’t always resulted in a positive response to the issue. When I wrote the ’91 article, I cited Eric’s swim in storm conditions on San Francisco bay as s shining example of a paddler who respected the power of cold water and took more than enough precautions to keep himself safe in the event of a capsize. If I was asked to sum up what I believe to be the Tsunami Ranger philosophy it would be Safety First, and Always Look After Your Mates. It seems to me that having fun has always taken second place.
Thanks Moulton, for saying we have always advocated cold water safety, as John Lull’s book exemplifies. And though it would have been groovy if Derek and John Dowd had later changed their tune and advocated dressing for immersion, I’m with Kenny in that it is a choice, always a choice.
Even though paddlers die like flies in cold water year after year, only an ignoramus or total dumbship would be foolish enough to not know that cold water is cold–and that they should (duh!) dress to be in it or not go out. Little kids are careful around cold water. Surely adults can be also. My belief is that if an adult novice or expert kayaker purposefully chooses not to wear a wetsuit or drysuit in cold water, then they are doing their part to help the planet with the overpopulation problem.
Meanwhile, I, like you, who strongly emphasize dressing for immersion, will continue to spread the gospel to those who have eyes to see. I also tell everyone I know to listen to “gurus” like me and you and Derek and John Dowd with a skeptical squint and a critical mind. I tell all my students not to take my word on things, but instead to test the veracity of my statements for themselves. If we would all just “question authority” now and again, we’d do a lot better.
Eric wrote: “I also tell everyone I know to listen to “gurus” like me and you and Derek and John Dowd with a skeptical squint and a critical mind. I tell all my students not to take my word on things, but instead to test the veracity of my statements for themselves. If we would all just “question authority” now and again, we’d do a lot better.”
Man, there it is in plain English. That’s what I meant to say,but I got off on a tangent! Thanks Eric.
Hey, just got back from a walk to the beach with June. It’s absolute paradise here today. Best weather of the year so far.
I’m glad it’s “absolute paradise” in Half Moon Bay today. I miss living next to you and June and enjoying the gorgeous fall weather (of course I can live without the 60 days of fog in a row which characterizes summer). I may come down and visit soon, as I want to go out with you and take pictures of seal launches and landings for a future post. Remembering what Derek wrote about them all those years ago has inspired me anew.
BTW, I’ll be posting a new essay on paddling pourovers in a few minutes. Guess who is featured in the first photograph?
Eric, Although we part company on Hillwalker vs Frogman, there’s no doubt in my mind that Derek Hutchinson is the Grandest of the Grand Old Men of sea kayaking. In a world of vanilla, we’ve been truly fortunate to have a colorful, larger-than-life character passing on the gift of his vast knowledge and experience to fellow paddlers. As I said in my first comment, he’s made enough contributions to sea kayaking for two lifetimes.
With respect to natural selection and cold water paddling, I don’t have any more sympathy for those folks who knowingly and consciously choose to skip the thermal protection than I do for those who skip wearing PFD’s because it cramps their macho style. Like everything else in life, however, it’s not always that black and white. As I pointed out in my recent article, Anatomy of A Bad Decision, even a smart, experienced paddler can be seduced into making a bad, virtually unconscious, emotion-based decision; in that case, to leave his wetsuit at home and go paddling on the icy Mississippi River on a beautiful December day. Randy Morgart fell into the same emotional-decision trap that Michael Powers did with respect to paddling solo that memorable time on the Oregon coast. You had the opportunity to arrest him before he left the beach, but demurred.
None of us are perfect; we all make mistakes, and it’s surprisingly easy to slip up and fall into a bad decision that can leave others wondering: “What in the world was he or she thinking?” The only reason I’m sitting here writing this today is because every time I really screwed up in the great outdoors, I was lucky.
It would be a lot more reassuring to the living if all the paddlers who died as a result of an unprotected immersion could be written off as nimrods who should have, and in fact did, know better; Darwin Award morons who made stupid, irresponsible choices despite having the unequivocal evidence right in front of their noses.
Much to our chagrin, however, that’s simply not the case. A lot of the time, they’re good, thoughtful, decent, intelligent people who just never got the word. Unlike Kenny, they took a totally uncaculated risk and didn’t even know they were taking it. They never heard of you, me, Derek, John Dowd, Matt Brose, John Lull, Kenny Howell, Steve Sinclair, Andy Taylor, Wayne Hodorowitz, Roger Schumann, the Tsunami Rangers, Sea Kayaker magazine, cold water safety etc. etc. They were members of the tribe who, for one reason or another, were simply out of the loop. They went paddling because they were drawn to it for some of the same reasons that all of us were years ago: beauty, solitude, excitement, and just plain old fun.
Cold water has perfect camouflage and most people really, truly don’t see the danger until it’s pointed out and explained to them. For those of us who’ve been looking at it as a potential deathtrap for decades, that lack of awareness can sometimes be hard to fathom, but it’s true nonetheless. At some point in all our lives, we didn’t know the score either. I know I sure didn’t. Those poor girls who died in Casco Bay summer before last; the loving father who died in Nova Scotia a few weeks later; the well-respected ornithologist who died with his young son in Great Britain a few weeks after that; the new husband who died on his honeymoon in New England this past summer; it’s a long, sad, and tragic list that goes on and on and on. If you think about it, I believe you’ll agree that those people are the reason we keep preaching the gospel of cold water safety. If it was just reckless idiots dying, I doubt that any of us would bother to waste our breath.
Eloquent response, Moulton. And you are right, many of the folks who mess up and fail to wear the wetsuit or drysuit, especially when they had it right there in front of them, suffer from an awareness issue and are not just reckless idiots. And that’s why it’s important to get the word out to them about the effects of cold water immersion–and the solutions. Just a day or so ago a kayaker aged 27 died off Bainbridge Island in Washington. If he had known how cold the water was, if someone had warned him, perhaps he would have prepared better.
I always let people (novices and experts) know about danger and what to do ONE TIME. Hopefully, just before they do it. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t.
A case in point: I was on a beach in Hawaii and a father left his 2-year-old daughter on the edge of the surf while he fetched a cup of coffee. He left her there for 5 minutes while he went upstairs. I unofficially watched the little girl to make sure she was safe, since there was no one on the beach to do it. When he returned, I firmly told him “Never take your eyes off a toddler near the water.” He was incensed that I offered advice. I pray that the ignorant dumbship will reconsider my words in the future. It could save the life of an innocent person.
As for the Michael Powers incident, where he took off on a solo journey through dense fog and big surf, that was a different situation. Michael, though 70 at the time, was a competent kayaker and in top shape. But he has a perception issue regarding fog. In my opinion, a good kayaker should have been able to do the five-mile paddle in the fog no problem, without techno instruments such as a GPS (see my essay on gadgets: http://tsunamirangers.com/2010/11/10/gizmos-and-gadgets-for-sea-kayakers/). But all of us Tsunami Rangers present described the dangers to him and urged him not to go alone that day and offered suitable alternatives. He CHOSE to go anyway. And though he is one of my best friends, I let him go, though I knew the risk to be great. Competent adults sometimes make choices that I think are wrong. I will always warn them. And then, if they do it and die, they die. In the case of Michael, had he died, I would have felt bad because I lost a person I cared about. But I would also feel that in the grand scheme, it is part of nature’s way that we all go sometime. BTW, Michael did get lost but eventually made it–without any assistance.
Just found out that Derek is giving a public talk and will be telling his North Sea adventure story this Thursday in San Francisco! Hopefully this will not be the last time, but there won’t be many more chances to hear the Old Master in person. I’m going, come hell or high water. Here are the details, please spread the word!
An Evening with Derek Hutchinson
Tales of the North Sea Crossing
Thursday, October 13
Sports Basement, Presidio
5-6pm Meet & Greet
6-7:30pm Presentation followed by a Q&A session
Call 415-474-7662 ext. 12 for more information
Thanks for spreading the news, Kenny. Who knows if Derek will be willing to cross The Pond again from his home in South Shields? I recommend that everyone who can go to his talk do so–you won’t be disappointed.
I was extremely fortunate to have Derek and Maureen and Wayne stay at my house on their way down to San Francisco. I can attest that Derek is a wonderful guest who, even after a long drive from Seattle, will swap sea stories until he is ready for bed. Also, he looks quite hale and healthy, which gives hope to all of us folks who’ve suffered through major medical issues.
Just came back from Derek’s talk on his North Sea crossing, which took place nearly 40 years ago! The man is a master story teller. My 15 year old son was on the edge of his seat. Derek had us eating out of his hand for about 90 minutes. No slide show, no power point, no multi-media tricks with flashing lights. Just a great man telling a wonderful story. This is how it’s been done since time immemorial. He painted pictures in our mind of a fantastic tale. We laughed, we cried, we were on the floor howling with delight. Really glad I went. Derek looks great – despite a survival adventure with cancer. He gave it 100% tonight. The man has a gift. Very special.
Sounds like a great time Kenny. Yeah, Derek always cracks me up. I would have been there if one, I knew about it (my own fault that I didn’t) and two, if I wasn’t in Oregon at the time! Just got home.
Glad to hear Derek is still as good a story-teller as ever.
P.S. I see Kenny advertised the event just above! I don’t take my computer with me on vacation, though…
John, sorry you didn’t know about it. It was a full house – Derek packed the room. I’ve been thinking a lot today about his gift for story-telling; he has obviously polished the tale in many re-tellings over the years and it’s a first-rate, hair-raising adventure story. The 100 mile crossing from England to mainland Europe in the North Sea (from west to east) has never been repeated in solo kayaks according to Derek (it took him 2 attempts, they were rescued on the first attempt only 10 miles from France!). The story reaffirmed my long-held desire to never to spend a night paddling at sea in a kayak. As Sean noted in a previous comment with this post, it’s really a tribute to Derek’s skill, determination, and courage that they completed this challenge back in 1975.
I’m glad Derek’s talk was great and to a packed house. I’m sure the bracing class he taught with Wayne was also a success.
Yes, after the North Crossing story (and Ed Gillet’s paddle to Hawaii, Franz Romer, Hans Lindemann, etc…), I also vowed never to spend a night in a kayak. Of course, I do like paddling at night–but not after paddling all day!
Yeah Eric, paddling at night is fun under certain conditions. Like a full moon, a beautiful sea among sea stacks, an easy beach launch, and when you can finish it off with a hot buttered rum sitting around the campfire! Then retire to a snug, dry sleeping bag under the stars or in a warm tent if the fog rolls in.
That’s my idea of night paddling.
Mine too. In fact, we’ve done that on more than one occasion, right John?
I believe we have. In fact, my memory of those events is what sparked my comment. For those who haven’t done any night paddling in ocean rock gardens, there is nothing quite like ‘riding the surge’ under a full moon. A very surreal experience!
I’m coming late to this discussion, but I fully share Moulton Avery’s less-than-adoring critique of the influence of Derek Hutchinson (and John Dowd) on modern sea kayaking. Regarding the risks of cold water immersion for the growing flotilla of enthusiasts that both Hutchinson and Dowd hoped to draw into sea kayaking, both Hutchinson and Dowd, and their many West Coast and British Isles allies should have known better. As even a few moments’ reflection reveals to anyone familiar with open water, sea kayaking is marine boating using the most primitive and limited equipment. Any paddler in a typical single must remain physically awake, alert, and able in cold, turbulent water, or, if not rescued, he or she dies. This is not necessarily the case with almost any other type of seagoing vessel, no matter how small. Hence, if it is one’s goal to induce large numbers of ordinary folk out onto open water in sea kayaks, it is essential to both instill this basic truth about the activity, and to prepare for the probability that many sea kayakers will eventually end up overturned and immersed in cold water.
Many East Coast and Great Lakes sea kayakers realized these truths about our activity early on, despite the prevailing “wisdom” handed down by the likes of Hutchinson, Dowd, TASK & Company. While we appreciated much of the knowledge and effort of these author/entrepreneurs, we turned to people like John Ramwell, and, especially, Chuck Sutherland for guidance on proper cold water attire, and reveled when Chris Cunningham published Moulton Avery’s bombshell Cold Shock article in Sea Kayaker these many years ago, finally breaking the TASK “challenging conditions” requirement for donning wetsuits or drysuits. Eric Soares deserves equal credit for penning the only defense of Moulton’s article in Sea Kayaker’s Letters section, amongst an ocean of TASK-induced nonsense in reply. The remarks of both Hutchinson and Dowd as quoted in the Spring 2008 issue of Adventure Kayak indicate that both of these gentlemen mimic the French Ancien Regime–they learn nothing, and they forget nothing.
Carl,
Thank you for your comments! It’s been many a moon since you and I have conversed. You express yourself well and clearly, just as you did with AnorAk years ago. I invite you to comment on any posts I’ve made. And don’t feel like you have to agree with me; I want to hear divergent (and convergent of course) opinions, as that leads to doors opening, gears whirring, and we are all better paddlers and people as a result.
Something I should have added to my remarks about Derek has been on my mind lately, so I’m going to add it to the list. His extraordinary book, Sea Canoeing, with the exception of the frogman, was my bible as a beginning sea kayaker. What he wrote, and the advice he gave, saved my ass on many occasions, but even more to the point, it influenced the entire way that I came to view sea kayaking. It not only taught me the skills I would need as an open-water paddler, it also enabled me to clearly see that sea kayaking was an entirely different undertaking from the river canoeing with which I was familiar. He set the bar high, and as a consequence, I worked harder, gained more, and became a better paddler because of it.
I have known Derek as a family friend and metal work teacher since I was 8 years old (47 now). A truly charming, charismatic man who ruled the metal work room at school with an iron rod (literally). I have paddled many of his kayaks over the years and I am recently the proud owner of an Iona, made for him by P&H Kayaks. It has all of the traits of a narrow beam Hutchinson design, but with all of his modifications to make it more stable. Unfortunately due to ill health he no longer paddles, I still enjoy his books and long chats when I see him. A truly incredicble character, whom I have learnt a great deal of lifes lessons and kayaking skills from.
Sadly Derek passed away yesterday aged 79 after a long illness, bravely and tirelessly fought. We will all miss him.
Another legend of the paddle passes on. Just one year ago, Derek was on a roll (pun intended) here in San Francisco. He gave us one more riveting account of the North Sea crossing to an adoring audience, and was properly regaled at the 30th annual Sea Trek Regtta in Sausalito by his first host in North American, Bob Licht (thanks to whom I became a paddler, and was introduced to Derek in the dawn of Bay Area sea kayaking). Bob is planning a little memorial for Derek at this year’s Regatta, set for Oct. 20. RIP DEREK!
I’m very sorry to hear that. As I said earlier in this thread, Derek gave me my first sea kayaking lesson. And he always cracked me up. I knew he was having health problems but it’s sad to see him go. We’ll all miss him.
Moulton let me know yesterday that Derek had passed. I am so sorry. I only met him once, when he came to visit (was it only last year?) with his lady Maureen and Wayne H. You could see he was rough but he could be really sweet too. A lot like Eric. Reading this blog post and all the comments,wow… I’m going to read Sea Canoeing. It sounds too good to miss.
Really sad. He fought a good fight. Eric and Derek, both gone, and in the same year. Hard to comprehend that much loss. Both were colorful, unique, larger than life mates who did so much to share their love of the ocean with paddlers all over the world.
Well I would like to give my little homily regarding my friend Derek.I met him many times as I live oposite one of his favourite canoeing sites the Farne Islands of the north east uk coast. He was allways interested in what you had to say and gave freely his advice ( I think he called me the lone canoeist as did most of my canoeing round the Farnes on my own) but he never put me down over that, Derek was a true gentleman even when I said about one of his earlier designs was a bit barge like. He truely was a mine of info regarding all thing about the sea. He and a close neigbour Tom Caskey were the kayakers I tried to emulate and yes I do go along with his idea of canoe clothing, you stick to your boat through thick and thin. Well my homily over I will repeat again what a grest guy he was God Bless Derek
So Derek has passed away at age 79.? Therefore, out of respect, I will temper my comments. But I do very much take exception to the headlines that he was the father of modern sea kayaking.
I was at Bede College Durham 1975 to 1979. Peter Davies was on my course, and Sam Cook was my teaching practice tutor. Both had been members of the pivotal and influential Norkapp Expedition. Inspired by them in 1978 we organised a kayak circumnavigation of Ireland ( using Dereks Baidarka Explorer which we really did not like at all ) The next year, and to test my theories on expedition leadership I led an expedition to the world famous Moskenstraumen (Maelstrom ) in the Lofoten Islands, Arctic Norway. That second exped was in the Vyneck sea kayak designed by Nigel Foster which we really liked…Those expeds got me to several outdoor ed job interviews, the first job being 20 miles from Nigels center at Burwash Place, and I did do quite a few trips with him and we became firm friends.
Unfortunately then as now recession was clobbereing our carers in Outdoor Ed. Burwash closed and Nigel went on to an very influential job at Plas Menia . The Welsh Sports Council Centre on the Menai Straits.And he was and probably still is the leading expert on tide races.
Because I was diversified in my interests with RYA MLC Skiiing qualifications too, I eventually ended up 7 years at a big international school…. Very hard to have a professional career in O E , so I was lucky . Seems it hardly exists now and people are making a living out of writing books , designing boats and selling stuff… Good luck to them…
But my memory of Derrek was of a massive ego and very domineering personality. He put people off in the Coaching Scheme , and I once had an apology from Chris Hare, the Regional Coaching Officer of the BCU in the north east England Dereks home panel
There were actually many more of us already doing it and Nigel Foster had already gone round Iceland! So please get Derek in proportion in the great history of the modern sport of Sea Kayaking
Oh and I went on to SAIL the Atlantic and the Pacific and all the way to Malaysia. Only stopped because of the pirates in the Arabian Sea which has halted everybodies sailing circumnavigation.
Sea Kayaking is a big sport . With many influences! Look up Gino Watkins
Hi All, I have just been researching Derek’s life after picking up one of the yellow Kayak’s from the Ostend 1976 crossing. What a guy!! I believe one of the other 2 Kayaks is in the Cornish Maritime Museum, I have tried to contact them but no reply as yet. I am just wondering what to do with this one? Is there a society who I may contact? regards Paul.
Mark, As DCH is no longer with us I will take the liberty to answer on his behalf (He would take great delight in this) I have know Derek pretty much all of my life and I might vouch for his overbearing nature, however, please be aware that this thread is about Derek, and his ‘positive influence’ and not merely a blog to air your sad life’s story and the negative influence Derek might have upon your poor soul. Derek was undoubtedly an inspiration to many; I have witnessed this first hand, in the UK and overseas…by the way – how many books have you written? In my opinion your contribution is merely a ‘self indulgent’ whinge and by the way – why did you never air your views when DCH was alive and kicking; what has Sailing and other AT activities got to do with Sea Kayaking, or are we talking about the spirit of adventure that is in us all ?????? Sea kayaking is now undoubtedly a big sport – during DCHs’ time this was a fledgling activity….Of note: I have raced the Isle of Man TT and Circumnavigated the Roof of Britain – all of which have nothing to do with Sea kayaking – but do embrace the spirit of adventure and endurance….
Paul,
You can contact me at stuhandy@hotmail.com for guidance.
I was waiting for someone to respond to Mark’s comment. Obviously Derek was a unique guy and had strong opinions that not everyone agrees with. Eric, writing this post, said as much. I’ve looked over Eric’s copy of “Sea Canoeing” and you wouldn’t believe the margin notes. Let’s just say they’re not all complimentary. But how we feel about people personally in no way reduces their contributions. In fact, how we feel about people is largely irrelevant. Respect, on the other hand, is something we owe to people who have made valuable contributions. Actually, we should respect everyone regardless of the quality of their contributions. It’s just the right thing to do. Thanks, Stu, for your comment.
I find Stu Handy’s reply to Mark Harrison’s post did not address the substance of Mark’s thesis, which is that DCH is not the father, certainly not the exclusive father, of modern sea kayaking. I will grant that Mark’s post has the tang of spleen, but his case, to my mind, seems to be that modern sea kayaking has had many fathers (some mothers, too)–Mark mentions Nigel Foster, among others, and we all could, each of us, list quite a few more. John Ramwell, whom I referenced in my own previous post, comes to mind–Sea Touring also came out in 1976, the same year that Eric quoted for Sea Canoeing, and I thought Sea Touring the more thoughtful book, overall. A case can be made, and I and Moulton Avery have made it, that DCH and John Dowd, among others, proved not to be infallible guides to a proper evolution of sea kayaking, either in their notions of cold-water safety or of ginning-up sea kayaking into an activity like cross-country skiing or hill walking (Derek’s own analogy) appropriate for large sectors of the general public. My aim here is to strive for some objectivity in our view of DCH; I trust he would not want to be remembered as a plaster saint.
Thanks, Carl for your thoughtful comment. Your point is well taken. The true father of sea kayaking is probably some nameless person who first put together something resembling a modern kayak and went to sea millenia ago. It depends on how we define our terms. It was actually suggested to us in a private email by one of the commenters on this thread that Mark’s post be deleted because it was uncomplimentary. However, the only form of censorship I favor is self-censorship. As Eric said a few comments above, he wanted divergent opinions because that’s how in his own words you get “doors opening, gears whirring, and we become better paddlers and people”. Hopefully, Mark Harrison’s post is spurring just such a process.
Nancy, let me throw another name into the mix as one of the many, many people who contributed to the birth of modern sea kayaking, especially focusing on the use of hardshell singles: L. Francis Herreshoff, the prolific and cantankerous designer of beautiful, practical, memorable sailboats but also the designer and ceaseless advocate of the “double-paddle canoe”. Readers of his classic The Compleat Cruiser (1956) and other of his writings are familiar with Herreshoff’s enthusiasm for these little wooden hardshells (he designed quite a few–some for touring, others for racing) as the ultimate craft for an individual open-water boater when comparing pleasure received for treasure expended. The plumb-stem and -stern boats of Epic and those designed by John Winters are close offspring of Hereshoff’s boats.
Who knew? Thanks again, Carl, for your contributions to this website (always thoughtful and well-written) and for telling us about Herreshoff, of whom I’ve never heard and I bet I could say the same for many others. As you say, sea kayaking has many fathers and mothers. As Eric used to say, “It takes a pillage”… No one is an island, entire unto themselves. Everyone has help, and when it comes to sea kayaking I think we can safely say that it evolved, and continues to evolve, because of the great ideas and enthusiasm of many.
Many fathers. OK. But let’s all sing a song of praise to Mom: The Native American paddlers who invented & gave birth to cool stuff like canoes and kayaks. What a magnificent heritage – and the whole world its lucky heirs.
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