Photo by Doug Taylor

The Trip

During the months of June and July 2010 I hope to circumnavigate the entire archipelago of Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands) in British Columbia, Canada.

I will set off from the Village of Queen Charlotte and paddle counter-clockwise around Graham Island. After returning to the Village of Queen Charlotte via Skidegate Channel I will paddle around Moresby Island, travelling clockwise.

I am paddling solo. This will mean that I must rely on my own seamanship to ensure that the decision to paddle each day is a safe one.

The total distance is about 500 nautical miles. I have allowed up to 60 days door to door. I do not expect to be away this long but need to ensure that I have enough spare time to cope with multiple days of being "weathered in".

If you want to check the weather I am facing in Haida Gwaii, click on "Haida Gwaii marine weather forecast" in the Links section on the right.

When Doug Taylor and I paddled around Vancouver Island in 2008 we were able to make blog entries of text and photographs using laptop PCs that our wives brought to re-supply stops en route. On this trip I will only be able to do blog entries at the start and end of the trip, and once (possibly twice) during the body of the journey. However, friends wanting to see where I have reached will be able to visit this blog to check the daily SPOT message (see the box below).

Safety equipment will include two VHF radios, two SPOT satellite messengers, personal locator beacon, GPS, parachute flares, laser flare, body tether (to prevent separation from the boat in case of capsize), bear spray and bear bangers.

IMPORTANT NOTE

If the daily SPOT messages cease it does not necessarily mean I am having serious problems other than issues with SPOT. In any case, I have a comprehensive communications plan in place so if the OK messages stop PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE COAST GUARD!!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

"Injury stops play"

Thanks to Anne Reggler for her post about me having to quit.

Thanks also to those of you who have been so supportive of my attempt to circumnavigate Haida Gwaii, and for following my blog to see how I have been fairing.

I have written a detailed explanation of my decision to stop on the West Coast Paddler website. For anyone interested enough to see it the post can be found at
http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3931&p=55028#p55028

Jonathan Reggler

End of Haida Gwaii Trip

Jonathan has completed the whole of Graham Island, which is the northernmost and largest part of the Haida Gwaii islands, and got back to base last night. Unfortunately he has experienced huge seas and adverse conditions and about three days ago he sustained an injury to his hand which means that he has had to cancel the rest of the trip. He is fine and is on his way home. He is due to arrive home in the wee small hours of Sunday night. We cannot wait to see him!

William, Clare and I are immensely proud of his achievement and are sorry that he cannot continue but relieved that he has made a sensible judgement about his ability to carry on.

Please leave him comments for him to read when he gets home.

Best wishes

Anne Reggler

Friday, June 18, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.25277
Longitude:-132.09416
GPS location Date/Time:06/18/2010 18:24:09 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.25277,-132.09416&ll=53.25277,-132.09416&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.19236
Longitude:-132.54009
GPS location Date/Time:06/17/2010 16:34:55 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.19236,-132.54009&ll=53.19236,-132.54009&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.19222
Longitude:-132.5405
GPS location Date/Time:06/17/2010 15:18:41 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.19222,-132.5405&ll=53.19222,-132.5405&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.48295
Longitude:-132.77997
GPS location Date/Time:06/16/2010 13:44:35 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.48295,-132.77997&ll=53.48295,-132.77997&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.76669
Longitude:-133.08598
GPS location Date/Time:06/15/2010 18:29:33 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.76669,-133.08598&ll=53.76669,-133.08598&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.76856
Longitude:-133.08377
GPS location Date/Time:06/15/2010 16:02:19 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.76856,-133.08377&ll=53.76856,-133.08377&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.93452
Longitude:-133.12642
GPS location Date/Time:06/14/2010 15:29:01 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.93452,-133.12642&ll=53.93452,-133.12642&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.23287
Longitude:-132.97234
GPS location Date/Time:06/13/2010 15:41:11 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.23287,-132.97234&ll=54.23287,-132.97234&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.07944
Longitude:-132.25159
GPS location Date/Time:06/12/2010 07:54:28 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.07944,-132.25159&ll=54.07944,-132.25159&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.07934
Longitude:-132.25127
GPS location Date/Time:06/11/2010 09:05:28 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.07934,-132.25127&ll=54.07934,-132.25127&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Weathered In

This is Jonathan's son, William, passing on the message that he is weathered in just across from Masset at least until Saturday, probably Sunday as well. He is safe and happy, and hoping to push off again as soon as possible.

As a side note, he sent a SPOT message on the evening of Wednesday June 9th as he was unable to get cellphone reception at the time and wanted to let us all know that he was safe!

Also, this will be the last time that we will have any cellphone link with him until he arrives in Queen Charlotte City. I'm sure he'll post again when he can!

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.0787
Longitude:-132.25162
GPS location Date/Time:06/10/2010 09:32:57 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.0787,-132.25162&ll=54.0787,-132.25162&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.07879
Longitude:-132.25153
GPS location Date/Time:06/09/2010 21:58:58 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.07879,-132.25153&ll=54.07879,-132.25153&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.07868
Longitude:-132.25159
GPS location Date/Time:06/09/2010 09:40:11 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.07868,-132.25159&ll=54.07868,-132.25159&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.07913
Longitude:-132.24977
GPS location Date/Time:06/08/2010 16:01:01 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.07913,-132.24977&ll=54.07913,-132.24977&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.14002
Longitude:-131.66142
GPS location Date/Time:06/07/2010 06:57:58 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.14002,-131.66142&ll=54.14002,-131.66142&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:54.13966
Longitude:-131.65977
GPS location Date/Time:06/06/2010 15:44:39 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=54.13966,-131.65977&ll=54.13966,-131.65977&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.92038
Longitude:-131.75124
GPS location Date/Time:06/05/2010 16:45:41 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.92038,-131.75124&ll=53.92038,-131.75124&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Check-in/OK message from Little Spot SPOT Messenger

Little Spot
Latitude:53.56799
Longitude:-131.92634
GPS location Date/Time:06/04/2010 16:49:57 PDT

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=53.56799,-131.92634&ll=53.56799,-131.92634&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Message:Jonathan Reggler has reached this location.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

The paddle begins

After a very frustrating three days it finally looks as thought the weather will allow me to start paddling tomorrow. The last three days have been very windy and so I have had to sit tight in the Village of Queen Charlotte.

On the bright side I met with local kayaker Fraser Earl today and he has given me an absolute ton of information about most of the coast of Haida Gwaii; campsites that do not appear in any of the books and additional information about the gnarlier sections of the west coast of Graham. Speaking with him has really got me fired up to go and I am really excited about the near-certain start tomorrow. Obviously it will depend on the marine forecast tomorrow morning but I am confident.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Communications plan

I have been working on a comprehensive communications plan with the family and one result has been the purchase of a second SPOT unit in case the first one goes belly-up. In a saltwater environment even supposedly waterproof electronic equipment can be damaged.

I catch the ferry to Port Hardy tomorrow. Final preparations only now.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Atlas of Canada

For the geographically challenged who do not know where Haida Gwaii is (although this may have something to do with the official name change from the Queen Charlotte Islands) you can go to online Atlas of Canada via the Links section. Click on box 103. The Atlas is actually a really good resource. You can zoom in to a scale of 1:20 000

Packing trials (the trials of solo paddling)

Yesterday was spent finalizing my food and equipment and checking that it will all fit inside my boat.

This is a frustrating stage of any expedition, where one's list of ideal kit gets hammered by the realities of kayak capacity. I had hoped to take a large tarpaulin in addition to a smaller one so that during inclement weather spent on a beach I would have a decent sheltered area but there simply is not room. The space in front of the foot pegs that usually takes the bag holding my large tarp is now occupied by the same bag stuffed with dehydrated meals. I am only certain of being able to re-supply once during the expedition (half way through, at the Village of Queen Charlotte) so I am having to take enough food for up to three weeks. The food is competing for space with water; charts, navigation equipment and tide tables; electronics, with batteries because there will not be enough sun expected to use solar power; tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad; clothing; stove, fuel, a flat-packed back up wood stove and a small kitchen bag; a bare bones toiletries bag; medical supplies; a very few books for wildlife identification and rainy day reading; and supplies to repair stuff especially my dry suit, camping gear, water containers and boat.

Solo trips also require a paddler to take all necessary kit in the one boat (obviously). Paddling with a friend allows equipment that does not need to be duplicated to be carried by one or other, increasing the ability to take "luxuries" such as bulkier food, although the small volume British kayak (Nigel Dennis Kayaks Explorer HV) that my friends and I favour for its handling qualities and robustness has much less carrying capacity than North American style boats.

Some paddlers carry bags on either or both the front or rear deck but I have a real aversion to doing this. I already will have two parachute flares, SPOT, a GPS, my spare paddle and my chart on the front deck. This will increase the profile of the boat more than I like because it may significantly change the boat's behaviour in wind. I am also of the school that believes that the rear deck should be completely clear of any encumbrance so that re-entry in the case of capsize is not hampered.

So, pretty much everything is ready.

Monday, May 3, 2010

My equipment

I am busily preparing my kit. Much of it is the same as I took when I paddled around Vancouver Island with Doug Taylor. I am not sponsored by any manufacturers but fellow paddlers are often interested in what equipment other kayakers use.

I like to have back-up kit which is why some items (VHF radio, camera, GPS) are duplicated.

I have:

Sea Kayaking UK Explorer HV designed by Nigel Dennis
Werner Ikelos paddle
Werner Corryvrecken paddle (spare)
Kokatat MsFit PFD
Kokatat Expedition drysuit
Snap Dragon Ocean Tour EXP re-inforced spray skirt
Bare 6mm Neoprene Ice Boots
O'Neill 1.5mm DL Psycho gloves

Suunto Core wrist-top computer
SPOT satellite messenger
ACR ResQFix personal locator beacon
Uniden Voyager VHF radio
Standard Horizon HX270S VHF radio
Canon D10 waterproof camera
Pentax W30 waterproof camera
Garmin 76C mapping GPS
Garmin eTrex GPS