Tatiana Cappucci - Tatiyak - Newsletter ENG 2014

4.Giugno2014-1

What's on
May was a month rich with reunions, thrills and many new experiences.
Returning for the sixth time to Anglesey, two weeks went by in a blur: firstly for the L3 Coach Discipline Specific Training at Plas y Brenin, followed by the circumnavigation of Anglesey with Trenk Müller and, last but not least, taking part in the international symposium.
A few days of downtime preceded three engaging weeks: the first FICK (Federazione Italiana Canoa Kayak) instructor’s course with our friend Vincenzo Stuppia and a BCU 3* course at Circeo with a keen group of competent kayakers.

The event that we have all been working towards is fast approaching too.
We’re on the verge of departing for the international Symposium “Laguna di Venezia” that from 30 May till 2 June will gather kayaking enthusiasts eager to update themselves with the latest techniques and trends with foreign coaches attending the event: Trenk Müller from Germany, Ailien Rhijnsburger - UK, Martin Ploug from Denmark and the Spaniard Manolo Pastoriza. It’s going to be an exciting meeting!

June will be just as packed with events: the BCU 3* course in Napoli on 13, 14 and 15 (two place availables), then the basic course and the rolling course at the Lago Maggiore on the beautiful location of Cerro di Laveno.

In July, prior to setting off to the Aegean Sea to circumnavigate the Island of Lesbos, we will be busy with the advanced course at the Lago Maggiore and the final BCU 3* course in Trieste.
I have also been invited to attend and lecture at the Estonia Symposium: it’s going to be quite interesting paddling the Baltic Sea with a dry suit in full summer!

Kayaking snippets
Quite often I’m asked for advice about apparel or equipment suitable for kayaking with safety. I’ve started to think that were this to be against payment,the taxes due would probably
cancel the Italian State’s deficit! Anyhow… I’ve always struggled to find an adequate
and proper tow-line: either the line isn’t always a floating one, or not of the right length, without a shock-cord or the pouch isn’t big enough. A quick and rapid release is nearly always difficult to achieve and the carabiner out-dated and rusts! On the other hand the towline from North Water, overcomes all of the above; the only downside is the price
and the additional cost of shipping and taxes from USA.

4.Giugno2014-2

4.Giugno2014-3

Call of the Inuit
Greenland paddles are ever more popular with Italian and European kayakers.
I was pleasantly surprised with the new Ajupuu paddles hand-made by Rene Valner,
an Estonian friend who has only recently commenced their manufacture and sale. The shaft is rhomboid in shape and very comfortable. The entire paddle is manufactured with two wooden strips sandwiched onto a carbon core. Another strip (the continuous dark line in the photo) strengths the paddle along its perpendicular axis. Rene has given me a storm paddle to try out at the forthcoming Laguna di Venezia symposium from 30 May to 2 June:
another reason to be there!

Over the horizon
I had never heard of him before. It was a truly spectacular and extraordinary voyage.
In 2001 Peter Bray accomplished the first (and so far the only one) crossing of the North Atlantic from west to east. He left from the port of St John’s - Newfoundland and after 72 days at sea landed at Belderrig in the south of Ireland. This was his second attempt: in the first one - June 2000 - he was shipwrecked just 2 days after departing. But Peter isn’t one to give up: in an own-design kayak, that included a small cabin at the stern, he overcame the roars of the Atlantic… He gave a presentation at the Anglesey symposium and had everyone in stitches with his anecdotes and comments. On my copy of his book he wrote this dedication: "to a future paddler of the North Atlantic" :-)

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