Three cheers for NRS!

Just before the holidays, Laura and I received some exciting news. NRS is contributing to our expedition to Taiwan!

In our home waters of northern California, 4/3 full sleeve wetsuits and drysuits are standard immersion attire even in the summer. One of the many appealing aspects of sea kayaking in Taiwan is the sub-tropical to tropical climate. Springtime in Taiwan is warm and humid, with air and water temperatures in the upper 70's to low 80's. When planning our trip, Laura and I quickly realized that our customary paddling attire for northern California just would not do! Our new paddling kit will include NRS brand HydroSkin 0.5, H2Core Silkweight, and Beda Board Shorts. H2Core Silkweight for UV protection on all those sunny spring days and HydroSkin for a bit warmth on cooler days.

Laura and I would like to express our gratitude to NRS. For more information on their product line, please visit: www.nrs.com. Stay tuned for a comprehensive gear review when we return!

Announcing Point 65 Sweden - Fearless Formosa Kayak Sponsor

We are thrilled to announce our kayak sponsor, Point 65 Sweden!

During our stay in Taiwan, Laura and I will paddle the new Whisky 16 3L designed by Nigel Foster. The Whisky 16 3L is a polyethylene version of the composite Whisky 16. Nigel designed the Whisky 16 for control and maneuverability in rough water, surf, and current - exactly the conditions we plan to paddle!

The polyethylene layup is equipped with large oval aft and bow hatches specious enough to accommodate expedition paddling. Similar to the composite layup, the Whisky 16 3L contains a large round day hatch behind the cockpit and a smaller round hatch in front of the cockpit for efficiently accessing gear on the water. The padded cockpit comes with an ergonomically designed seat and the Point 65 AIR-Backrest™ which I am personally stoked for!

I had the opportunity to take the new Whisky 16 3L out for a spin this summer and found it very stable and highly responsive - a real pleasure to paddle. The cockpit has plenty of room for my 5' frame and the is seat super comfy. I look forward to spending (a lot) more time in the Whisky 16 3L and paddling it in rougher conditions.

Laura and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Richard Öhman at Point 65 Sweden, Jahfong Chen at the Formosa Kayak School, and Nigel Foster for making this sponsorship possible.

For more information on Point 65 Sweden and the new Whisky 16 3L visit: www.point65.com.  And stay tuned for a comprehensive review when we return!

Nigel Foster surfing the composite Whisky 16. Photo: Point 65 Sweden.