Sea kayaking people

Meet the Rangers: Captain Jim Kakuk!

By Captain Jim Kakuk and Lt. JG Nancy Soares

Editor’s note: This post is first in a series of upcoming Meet the Rangers posts. The numbers of the Rangers have fluctuated over the years as people move in and out of the team due to time passages and life changes but there are usually about 12 or so active members at any given time.

Captain Jim Kuk, Maverick's 1986 — Captain Jim Kakuk, Maverick’s 1986

Capt. Kuk: Flying home from Mexico over the Sea of Cortez from 30,000 feet, I could see Isla Angel de la Guarda, the giant guarding angel of Baja California. Remembering a time in 1995 kayaking there with Misha Dynikov and Tim Sullivan, I thought about the connection I have with the water planet and how the kayak has shaped my friendships and my life over the last 50 years.

I came to California in 1956 from a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. With my parents and 6 siblings in a station wagon, we came west over route 66. We ended up in Trinity County and I grew up next to the Trinity River in the late 1950’s during the construction of the big dam just up river from Lewiston.

Inner tubing down the river was my first river running experience and the Trinity river was my playground for the all the summers of my youth. I learned to swim in current, dive off the rocks and navigate the rapids in my trusty inner tube with siblings and friends. Yes, the young boyhood friends you find in a backwoods hillbilly town, friends like Rob Roy Nelson who taught me the important things early. Rob Roy taught me how to lie, steal and swear. The routine was to follow him around while he repeated various cuss words for no reason except to get a laugh. We looked for trouble and he would find it. When caught he always had an alibi or undeniable story. I was not very good at most of these social skills but learned some useful things and usually had a great time. I also built my first tree fort by the river and we invented imaginative schemes of what we were going to do in life.

Some of Capt. Jim's beautiful hand made kayaks — Some of Capt. Jim’s beautiful hand made kayaks

In the 60’s when we moved to a small town close to Shasta Lake, I built my first kayak while in 8th grade out of thin plywood and 1 x 2 strips of wood. It did not work very well; in fact it was unstable and totally useless so I tore it apart. My first attempts at building small boats were the start of a long life of building kayaks, some good and others not. On Shasta Lake during my pre-teens my best friend Alex Valdivia gave me my nick name, Wild Man Kukamonga, a variation of my last name and the one I still go by today, although, usually shortened to just “Kuk”.

For me the mid 70’s was the golden age of river kayaking. Shortly after the movie Deliverance in 1972 I got a river kayak and started exploring rivers. I was gonna be Bert Reynolds. My first kayaking buddy was Gene Leach, a math teacher at Shasta College. We paddled the Upper Sacramento and Trinity River in the 70’s and early 80’s. During this time and with my younger brother, Jay, we designed and built river kayaks and explored the Northern California and Oregon rivers. The skill sets learned on the river in my early years were to prepare me for the next phase of my kayaking life in the sea.

I met Eric in the fall of 1972 and we became fast friends. Eric was a combination of all my earlier friends only funnier and smarter. Selling him one of my beat up river kayaks, the Deckadense, for cheap, Eric was off to college in Santa Barbara and while in Southern California he became an ocean kayaker and kayak surfer. Some 10 years later, in the SF Bay Area we would create the Tsunami Rangers in 1985. Eric and I had the same adventuresome spirit and, as we compared ourselves to Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, we went looking for our own adventures in the vast unexplored ocean. The big difference is that now we were adults and could do what we wanted. What we found in the sea was an endless source of discovery and all the excitement of wild water and remote beaches to camp on and explore. We wanted to be daring, adventurous buccaneers exploring the sea in our kayaks.

Here’s what Eric wrote about Jim:

The Ideal Tsunami Ranger

He is a quiet man who leads by example. He is very creative, both in a mechanical way (he designs and builds boats) and artistically (he has shot a lot of our footage and taken many great action photos).

He paddles effortlessly. When going long distances, he conserves energy by keeping his elbows low and making small circular movements from his core to move forward at a decent pace. As with skiing, I’ve imitated his movements and improved my own style.

He is not a flatwater racer and neither am I. There must be thousands of kayakers who are much faster than we. But when it comes to ninja strokes, those quick small paddle maneuvers designed to keep you and your boat in a good situation, Jim is king. River kayakers already perform ninja strokes to deal with strong and constant currents; ocean kayakers need to learn more of them.

Jim is courageous but not foolhardy. When younger, he was bolder, but as his swimming stories attest, he learned the old maxim of “there are no old, bold kayakers.” By observing Jim, I have learned to slow down when I see something exciting and make sure I can actually do it before plunging forward.

Though he has many fans, acquaintances, and business associates Jim is very slow at establishing deep friendships. However, once he is your friend, it is for life. I have known Jim Kakuk for 40 years. I am honored and grateful to claim Captain Kuk as my best friend.

Taken from Confessions of a Wave Warrior by Eric Soares

Nancy: As the newest Tsunami Ranger, I’d like to add my two cents. I love Jim. Like Eric says, he’s quiet. He has the quality of a deep well. He’s one of the few people I can either be chatty or spend long silences with comfortably. He’s about the best house guest I’ve ever had. He could stay for weeks, he’s so unobtrusive. Whenever he’s around I have a warm feeling. One of my favorite memories of Jim is the 2016 retreat when Jim and I spent an afternoon on Shell Beach gathering abalone shells. Just beachcombing… not talking much, wading in the surf, gazing out to sea, being alive. I felt so peaceful. As far as kayaking, I watch what he does; I go where he goes. I know I’ll be safe. I learn a lot from tagging along behind Jim.

To read more about Captain Jim Kakuk and his amazing adventures and great swims, check out Confessions of a Wave Warrior available on this site! Have any questions for Jim? Let us know by commenting below.

In Memoriam – Commander Eric Soares, 1 August 1954 – 1 February 2012

Editor’s note: Sometimes I wonder why I keep running a memorial piece for Eric every year. He’s been gone 7 years. I guess it’s because this was his blog. When he died his last request was that it continue, so I carried it on, and it seems right to acknowledge him periodically since without him this blog would not exist nor would the Tsunami Rangers, and without their influence many things in the kayaking world would have played out differently over time. And also because I love him. We all lose people. People die. They go away. Shit happens, and we grieve. I hope that when I post these memorials it might bring a little healing to others who have lost someone they love. This piece was written by Henry Scott Holland (January 27, 1847 – March 17, 1918). Holland was Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford.

Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again.

Please feel free to comment and share memories of Eric or someone you loved and lost below! Thanks!

Tsunami Retreat 2017 Part 3 – Holy Shibooty! I Become a Tsunami Ranger

Capt. Kuk: It has been a long progression for Nancy over the last 22 years and even though she was always capable of gaining the skills to be a Ranger, she chose to keep some separation to give Eric space. Starting with her martial arts and fancy foot work playing hacky sack, Nancy has since added the necessary kayaking skills needed to be a full Ranger. Nancy is also the keeper of the Tsunami Ranger blog started by Eric, and it continues to keep the Rangers’ stories alive.

Nancy is the first new Ranger under Captain Tortuga and she bridges the generations. There have been many stories since her first retreat and becoming a Ranger is another one. After her test the party that night was like the old days. Congratulations Nancy, it has been a long and interesting time.

Nancy Soares LTJG: Over the years I taught myself to surf and went on a couple of Tsunami Retreats. I developed fair kayaking skills, but never trained very hard until 2004 when I decided to race in the upcoming Sea Gypsy Extreme Sea Kayaking Race. After eight months going out to Pillar Point once a week regardless of conditions (gak!) by the time the race rolled around I’d developed into a pretty strong paddler. But then Eric and I moved to Oregon and Eric died and I didn’t do much paddling after that.

Slippin' into darkness... cave exploration: check! — Slippin’ into darkness… cave exploration: check!

When Jim asked me to go on the Tsunami Retreat in 2016 I was incredibly grateful to be included. I love the Rangers; they are my Sea Tribe, and I missed the camaraderie. Plus these guys probably knew Eric best of anyone and it’s comforting to be around them. And I did well. I could tell that I was being eyeballed. Oh shit, I thought, they’re going to ask me to test.

Dandy Don works a pourover — Dandy Don works a pour over

Sure enough, next year Jim asked me to test. Of course I said yes, but 2017 was the worst year of my life health-wise. Early in the year I was hospitalized with two potentially fatal conditions. Yep. It took months to recover and then the smoke rolled into the valley and took me back down a few notches. When I headed off to the retreat for the test I felt diminished. Actually, whiny would be a good word!

Becklund works the zipper - am I up for this? — Becklund works the zipper

I went to see my friends Connie and Andy Taylor in Elk the day before we launched. I told Connie my tale of woe and she gave me the greatest pep talk. She told me to stand up. Then she tossed me an imaginary tennis ball and said, “Slow that down!” I went into tai chi mode, dropped my weight, and put out my hand. The imaginary tennis ball slowed down. “I know you know what I mean,” Connie said smiling. “Just slow everything down, the waves, everything. You can do it.”

All right, guys, here's what we're gonna do... — The test begins. All right, guys, here’s what we’re gonna do…

The first day when we embarked on the journey to our hidden spot I went into slow-mo. I don’t mean I was paddling slowly so much as focusing on my breath, my movements, the waves, my companions, willing everything to Just. Slow. Down. This helped, because when The Wave in the Cave happened I was calm, relaxed, and unafraid.

The rest of the time I continued in slow-mo. When everyone went paddling the next day I opted to stay on the beach and rest. I stayed on the beach the second day too. Jim gave me the job of setting up a target for our knife-throwing games and I slowly and thoughtfully put together a nice big target. It took a long time to find suitable boards and driftwood and construct the target but it was a fun project and when it was done someone said it was the best target they ever had. Mission accomplished!

The test wasn’t till day four of the retreat so I continued to conserve energy. When it came time to test I felt pretty good but I still slowed everything down. Jim wanted me to lead an expedition, so after clearing it with him I chose to make Cate my second-in-command. As I explained to the team, good leaders don’t lead alone – they gather the best people they can find to advise and assist. Since I didn’t really know the area and Cate knows it well, I intended to run my intentions by her before making final decisions. Jim wanted to check out pocket beaches for abalone shells, so I set our course and off we went. Michael had a minor incident with a reef, but as Jim said at the debriefing, it wasn’t my fault. It just added spice to the day and Deb got a great photo.

TR Michael Powers works the reef. Photo by Capt. Tortuga, captioned by Michael himself.

We landed on beaches, played with a blow hole and a pour over, messed around in some caves, and then returned to camp for lunch. I kept the group together, made sure everyone got on and off the beaches safely, and headed back when it was time. Cate was invaluable for her experience working with groups. It was probably the most boring test ever, but that’s how I wanted it. It’s not often things are that calm during a Tsunami Retreat and I was keeping Connie’s advice in mind.

After lunch it was time to perform a rescue. Jeff volunteered to be “victim”. Deb yelled, “Swimmer!” and there he was, swimming out to sea and scrambling onto a big offshore rock. I pulled my kayak down to the water, made a quick scan and launched. I paddled up to Jeff, who was doing a great imitation of a panicked paddler who’d lost his boat, and started trying to talk him off the rock. No dice. I paddled around the rock speaking calmly but he wouldn’t budge. I realized he was going to make me get drastic. We’d had a previous conversation about an incident back in the day when Eric had threatened to throw a stranded paddler off a rock and I knew Jeff was going to make me do that very thing.

I grabbed my paddle and hopped out of the boat, scrambled up onto the rock and one last time tried to talk Jeff into jumping into the water and swimming back to the beach. I even threatened him. Nope. So I punched him (lightly) in the jaw and body checked him and he fell into the water. I jumped in after him and started hauling him in to the beach. I had my arm over his chest so he started acting like I was choking him. Point taken. I grabbed onto his PFD instead and side stroked in, dragging the “unconscious” body and the paddle along.

Trigger! Rescue achieved - check! — Trigger! Rescue – check!

The coolest thing (aside from the fact I got to punch Jeff in the jaw) was that my kayak followed us in. Just like a little puppy dog, there she was, a few yards away, nose pointed toward the beach. I think it was Cate who said, “Just like Trigger!” Jeff finally “woke up” and went back to being his usual self and we swam over and corralled her. Now the Pacific Princess has a new name. Even cooler was the fact that in scrambling up the rock my dive knife had got scraped off my PFD. At first I thought I’d lost it for good, but there it was, lying right in the cockpit. Trigger had brought it home!

Hangin' with my buds... it doesn't get any better. — Fire with friends… it doesn’t get any better.

That night there was much rejoicing. Everyone said nice stuff and it felt so good. There’s nothing like being part of a team where everyone knows you, loves you, and forgives you for being a squirming hatch-blower. As Jim said, they know what I can do.

Thanks, guys, for including me and making me a Tsunami Ranger. It’s an honor and a privilege and I will be forever grateful! I love you all!

Tsunami Retreat 2017 Part Two – Meet Captain Tortuga! The Cutlass Passes…

Editor’s note: Although the torch, or rather the cutlass, has passed to TR Captain Tortuga, Captain Kuk retains the ultimate right of veto, to stay or to go. We may have to make him an Admiral, heh, heh, heh. Also, a big thank you to all the Rangers who provided photos for this retreat series – we got a lot of good ones. You can read Part One, The Wave in the Cave, about the 2017 retreat at https://tsunamirangers.com/2017/11/06/tsunami-retreat-2017-part-one-the-wave-in-a-cave/

Newly minted Capt. Tortuga celebrates in a blowhole

CAPTAIN KUK: After our Dark Dance in the cave, we gathered at our secret spot for the annual Tsunami Ranger retreat in the fall of 2017. One of the reasons for our annual retreat, in addition to having a good time, is to award rank to officers. This year in addition to a new Ranger, there was also a promotion to the top position.

TR Dandy Don, Capt. Tortuga, and Capt. Kuk on the beach at Thunder Cove

In 1984 when Eric Soares and I started the Tsunami Rangers I chose the title of captain because I liked Captain Cook, so I became Captain Kuk. In the beginning it was just a fun idea and it took me a long time to fulfill the actual responsibilities of a captain. Having been the only Captain since 1984 it was time for me to pass the trident along to a fellow Ranger.

Captain Tortuga Deb Volturno has been part of the Tsunami Rangers since the early days and is now assuming the leadership role. In the more than 23 years that she has been in the Rangers, Deb has shown a wide range of comprehensive skill sets, has good on water decision making and most importantly, is fun to be around. As a Commander in the Rangers for the last 10 years Deb has demonstrated excellent situational awareness and flexibility in difficult situations with an eclectic mob like the Rangers. Keeping unit cohesion takes more than a swashbuckling Jack Sparrow to muster the troops and lead the charge; it takes an understanding of the conditions and limitations of the team and keeping a keen eye on the horizon for unexpected events in a luridly exposed coast.

Cathedral Cave - TR John Lull and Deb in the God Zone — Cathedral Cave – TR’s John Lull and Deb in the God Zone

The Tsunami Rangers are not a democracy; decisions are made by the highest ranking officer, an important difference than how a group operates by a consensus. Having the most experienced and skilled person in charge keeps order in the squad. Also as an instructor, presenter and writer Deb has added to and helped shape the overall knowledge of sea kayaking. In addition to being a great person Deb has been instrumental in the continuing evolution of the Tsunami Rangers and will be into the future.

Capt. Kuk received a wooden name plate hand cut by TR Michael Powers and inscribed with his rank and name. — Capt. Kuk received a wooden name plate inscribed with his rank and name, hand cut by TR Michael Powers

In honor of her promotion, Deb received a very special cutlass. The cutlass is a slashing saber. It is short, thick and curved. Used at sea by sailors and pirates, the “buccaneer” cutlass has many uses at sea and on land. It is very functional for cutting, thrusting and guarding in close quarters. It is the weapon of a captain and one of the symbols for the Tsunami Rangers (along with Neptune’s trident and the double bladed paddle).

Keep calm and carry on, Captain Tortuga!

CAPTAIN TORTUGA: As the sun disappears beyond the horizon of the Great Sea the light of the flickering campfire casts dancing shadows of the sea revelers on the rock wall. The ritual that marks the beginning of Tsunami Ranger business is signaled by Captain Kuk, standing above the circle of the seated firelight-hued tribal members. He holds his Captain’s cutlass in one hand and a bottle of fine sipping tequila in the other. “Ahoy, you scurvy swine!”

This night Tsunami Ranger history is made with a promotion to the rank of Captain in the Tsunami Rangers. It is awarded for the first time since Captain Jim Kakuk assumed the rank when the Tsunami Rangers began exploring the chaotic coastal zones in kayaks as a team over 34 years ago. Tonight, it is me accepting the leadership rank of Captain in the Tsunami Rangers, along with being presented with the highly coveted Captain’s cutlass. The ceremony is fueled by words of support from my TR tribal members, and I am truly humbled. The lump in my throat highlights the upwelling of emotions as I accept this responsibility before my tribe. It is with immense honor and pride that I stand before them, as a Captain of the Tsunami Rangers!

My Captains, my Captains! Tortuga and Kuk cross cutlasses

Captain Kuk and I, Captain Tortuga, stand facing each other in our most daring and undaunted pirate posture, and raise our cutlasses to cross blades. The metal clang of the two blades meeting affirms the commitment to the next chapter of the Tsunami Rangers! Soon the flowing of fine tequila relieves the lump in my throat, and the celebrating commences!

And there was much rejoicing... — And there was much rejoicing…

The twinkling celestial sky stretches and curves overhead, while the black night sea sends audible messages of its dance with the rocky reefs. It is an especially good night for a celebration! “Yo ho ho, Mateys”, Captain says, “Pass the tequila!” I am struck by how exciting it is to have my very own cutlass, with “Captain Tortuga” inscribed on the blade! I am moved by its significance of course, and caught a little by surprise. I could never have known how awesome it is to have my own cutlass! Fortunately for the Tsunami Rangers one of our esteemed officers, Lt. JG Nancy Soares is a trained knife fighter. Through her tutelage, my dismal cutlass wielding skills can only improve – which of course is an important expectation of being a cutlass-carrying swashbuckling pirate kayaker Captain of the Tsunami Rangers!

Capt. Tortuga and the team, Don and Steve

LT. JG NANCY SOARES: Wow, a new Captain! When Jim told me about Deb’s impending promotion it felt so right. Deb is one of those unusual and gifted leaders who lead without seeming to. If I needed one word to describe our new Tsunami Ranger Captain it would be “gracious”. Deb has so much grace. She’s gracious in both word and deed and she is the most graceful kayaker! At her promotion celebration when it was my turn to say something all I could come up with was, “Oh, Deb! You’re so good… and I’m so not!!!” Yeah, I’d had a fair amount of tequila, but I was seriously overwhelmed. This time I’d like to be a little more coherent and say some words about Deb. She’s super independent and yet she’s a supreme team mate.

The best team mate(s)! TR Cate Hawthorne and Capt. Tortuga

She’s an outstanding paddler but she’s humble and always willing to coach less skilled people. She’s incredibly competent but always willing to learn something new. She’s both firm and compassionate. She is one of the most honorable people I’ve ever met. If I were to add one more word to describe Deb it would be “integrity”. You can trust her with your life. I’ve been reading Frank Herbert’s Dune series, and the Fremen (if you’ve read Dune you know who I’m talking about) have a saying: “Never be in the company of someone you wouldn’t be willing to die with”. That’s how I feel about Deb. I’m so happy for her and so honored to call her friend. Congratulations, Deb, on your promotion to Captain of the Tsunami Rangers! So well-deserved. Eric would have been proud.

Questions? Comments? Or just congratulate Captain Tortuga on her promotion and new leadership role in the Tsunami Rangers by clicking below!

In Memoriam – Eric Soares, Co-Founder of the Tsunami Rangers

This photo kind of says it all. Impressive, a little scary, even a bit ridiculous. That was Eric. This photo was taken before one of the Sea Gypsy Extreme Sea Kayak Races in front of Michael Powers’ house at Miramar Beach in Half Moon Bay. Will Nordby, one of the editors of the Tsunami Ranger videos back in the day, worked it up to its present manifestation. Eric, as usual, was directing the show.

I’m not sure what else to say. When Eric died, I wrote one of my first blog posts, The Quest for the Magical Healing Pool, about that experience and that’s all the grieving I’m going to do in public. But every year on or around the anniversary of his death, February 1, 2012, I’ve published some kind of memorial post. This year marks the 6th year since he was translated.

Eric aroused strong emotions in people. You either loved him or hated him. Rarely were people indifferent. He was a genius; he was an idiot. I can say that. I was his wife and I know. He was generous; he was stingy, especially with food. He was compassionate; he was cruel. He was a gifted athlete and kayaker but give the man a hammer and he’d put it through a wall. He could be incredibly patient but he had the most explosive temper of anyone I ever met. He was calm; he was violent. He was sacred; he was profane. He was hysterically funny and kept me in stitches much of the time. He could tell the best story! He was the most interesting person I ever knew and yet he talked so much sometimes I literally stopped listening and he’d start to babble a bunch of nonsense sounds to see how long it took before I noticed. When I didn’t notice he’d let out a loud “Beeeeyotch!” and I’d go, “Huh?” and snap back to the present. “You weren’t listening to me!” he’d accuse. I wasn’t, but I will miss him as long as I live.

Feel free to share your memories of Eric below. They’re always welcome.