watersports is truly multi

Uncategorized

Got to thinking about it and came to a realisation. The world of watersport is a fair reflection of our deep-rooted connection to water-bodies. I may even go so far as to say water provides a holistic arena more so than the the sum of all other avenues available to ordinary people. Let’s forget for a moment the value-add of water to true physical fitness (though by the time we’re done the omission might make sense). Let’s look a general look at the space watersports controls instead.

The aquatic environment is diverse enough occupy the attention of the most fickle or attentive mind. Shoreside bodies offer reefs, flats, waves and the vast array of life that call such locales home. Offshore there are the activities that can take place topside, such as sailing, ocean racing – whether motorised or wind-powered, or simply as place to call home, if mobility is a factor. Lakes and rivers we do not discount. These are just as valuable watersport venues, offering anglers a more sedate option than their counterparts who care to venture into the deep blue.

Water affords athletes a training ground that bespoke facilities on land have quite a hard time matching. The horse-racing community for instance exercise their charges in order to build muscle strength at no cost to joint or tenon wear – this holds just as true for your normal bi-pedal sportsperson. In the same vein, water provide ‘load’ without a premium, pretty much as some use it for resistance.

Load control is also part of the watery skills that surfers demonstrate via their nifty maneuvers. Which leads us to contemplate the value of watersport to the hardcore individualist: Some folks just don’t like having the competitive outcome of a sport depend on several people.

Health I’ve just touched on with that resistance paragraph but it is no trivial matter for those who may be ailing and cannot walk, run or even stroll. In which case just lolling in water is as good a medicine as anything that can be got from a bottle.

But watersport doesn’t need to stop at watersport. Its a major crosstraining space. Consider the benefit of being able to dive proficiently before entering training as a Navy SEAL. Consider the level of confidence commandos and even ordinary military seamen get by being able to master something in the watersport arena before joing the military. So yeh. Watersports is the bizness.

Get snorkeling

Snorkeler

Snorkeling entails using a small tube to breathe through while your face is under the surface of the water. Add a face mask to the process and you’re down under and away. Combine both with some swim fins and Tobago’s vast range of undersea delights await.

Given snorkeling’s simplicity its easy to overlook it as a pure form of entertainment, recreation and exercise. But ask any SCUBA enthusiast what gave them the push over the edge to take up sport diving and most if not all all might mention ‘snorkeling’. That said there are some aspects to it that might be missed if one’s the type to jump in first and ask questions later.

In the end though it all comes down to two things; level of comfort in the water and the quality of the mask, fins and the snorkel. Allowing that you do swim, the choice once past that, is whether to buy or to rent gear. As we totally offer good rental snorkel gear here in Mt Irvine Bay Watersports, let’s just move right on to what you want to look for – whether buying or renting snorkel kit. Cos the considerations are the same.

The mask plays a huge part in how good your first snorkel experience turns out. You want to get one with a silicone skirt, one that fits your facial structure. Colour of skirt isn’t that critical, so just find the
shape that fits and only then decide to go with black or clear (transparent). There is a historical discussion that black silicone hides/keeps algae from forming in the skirt but that may be irrelevant
for the person who washes and secures her kit.

The snorkel tube should be approximately 16”/40cm long from mouthpiece to top (vent) and ideally feature nothing else. The simplest connection from your mouth to the vent also offers the quickest way to clear and obtain air. You’d also need a robust strap to secure the snorkel to the mask. Good snorkel keepers typically are made from the same material as the skirt of the mask.

Fins for snorkeling aren’t the same as fins for diving. While SCUBA enthusiasts can (in a pinch) employ a pair of ‘snorkel fins’ borrowed of a buddy, snorkelers may not have a good outing finning a stiff pair of
‘professional’ blades. Good snorkel fins are short, getting longer as experience and needs dictate. They also float, less so again as your subsea experience broadens.

Fins should be full foot and not fitted as tight as a shoe; reason being you’re not walking in them so the forces that come into play in the water are diff to how a shoe behaves on land. General rule of thumb
states that if your toes just peek out the front and your instep doesn’t pinch you’re good to go.

Non-swimmers can snorkel. We come now to oh-so-common scenario where you’re going snorkeling and somebody near and dear wants to go but they aren’t all that happy going in the deep. In fact they outright cannot swim. The outcome may still be positive. If you’re that person, obtain a suitable flotation device/swim aid and get some practice nearshore. You’d be surprised. Pleasantly so. Note: If you are at Mt Irvine Bay Watersport we take it as an apostolic challenge to initiate newbies to the art of snorkeling. Come. We’ll get you down.

Lately there has been a proliferation of fullface masks integrating the snorkel into the facial assembly. We do not like, do not recommend these. Cos, if it does take water the novice swimmer may never find that
happy place all snorkelers should enjoy. There are low volume masks, which may be translated as lower volume, since mask design has trended to lower profiles and minimising resistance. The truly low volume masks however do cost more and may not last as long. If you’re recreational snorkeler, just buy the ‘normal’ one on offer.

If your budget allows, do consider a wetsuit. It affords protection from cold water and the odds bits of marine life that have evolved defense strategies – like sea urchins. For those who want to take
flotation aids most anything from boogeyboards to the common pool noodle will work just fine. In another post I’ll explain why your body provides enough flotation while snorkeling.

The Artemis Legacy

Special

I spotted the movement from the surface, took a breath – not too deep and dove as always, taking care my head went down synchronously opposite to the lift of my fins above the surface….. Good style isn’t always a natural thing. I tucked the speargun under my chest, forcing both hands under my body, gently maintaining contact with the handle leaving the pointy half guiding my view.

Leveling off on the bottom, no longer 25 feet away I zeroed in on a cluster of rocks. Carefully I brought the length of the gun paddling gently so as to conserve lung oxygen. As I cruised around the highest of the rocks I caught a glimpse of the most beautiful hog snapper I had ever seen in all my years of spearfishing.

She saw me also and true to form sidled away. Not in haste, not unduly worried but moving away just the same, flaunting the curious mix of grace and power that only the truly big ones have. Almost took the shot but it really wasn’t there so I kicked just a tad more urgently trying not to transmit anxiety even so. She turned, almost a full half circle and looked at me. The gap was closing but her profile was too head-on. I’d have to pull the trigger when she turned.

She didn’t turn. Instead she dropped head down into a crevice between the rocks under her. I followed, committed now, unaware of anything else. As I peered into the gap marked by a cluster of maze coral her tail became visible in the gloom. She had stopped in the hole. I was forced to make adjustment to my body across the gap but the idea was to take the shot depending on her turn. I was into the waiting game. And I got to thinking. The way hunters think to pass the time.

Artemis early in her virginal years had taken to gifting the odd lunchtime to this young soldier. He was tall, good-looking, intelligent and sensitive to a fault to her many fancies. He was also fleet of foot, demonstrating exceptional talent many times in the races her father Zeus held every cropover. When the harvest festivals reigned.

Soldierboy though was bit of a show-off. Not that Artemis minded as his appearance more than made up for any imagined shortcoming she as Goddess of the Hunt would allow anyone to lay at his feet. Zeus of course was not at all pleased. He knew from his own misadventures that unions between gods and humans never worked out to anyone’s benefit. And Artemis seemed unaverse – poised even to deliver her virginity to this this … he struggled for words, wishing the people of Athens would hurry up and create a suitable sound for what he felt.

Soldier boy had won enough races to get a spot On the regal dias, marked for exclusivity with gaily coloured tablecloths and expensive brands of booze. Zeus and his ilk knew how to live and the boy was just finding it to his liking. Such proximity naturally afforded our boy a direct line of conversation with Zeus himself. About just how good a runner he was. Not shy and seeing opportunity to prove his greatness to the God of Gods, our boy moved on to mention his skill at dodging enemy arrows. Honed as it were when he was tasked with carrying diplomatic messages between warring parties. Note – Even in those days wars were decided well away from the scene of conflict.

And in the way these things escalate Soldierboy let loose of being so good he could – probably, even outrun a god’s arrow should ever come his way. Quickened by the challenge Zeus the crafty old (word withheld because they hadn’t created that one either) campaigner asked our boy if he wanted to run a test to prove the boast. Artemis’ charms forcing the outcome they settled on a target. To balance the stakes, the shooters
were given a handicap – distance.

There was only one rule for Soldierboy. Run a gauntlet of arrows, get to the target – a goatskin, and pull it down. The reward was anything he asked for. The gods present were only allowed to shoot one arrow and that only when our runner was far enoggh away to look like a child no taller than a goat on all fours. Artemis herself of course was not all that concerned. She knew her beau was fast and in any case all the deities present were well into their cups. And so it began.

Soldierboy reached the starting point, looked back at the gods looking like children and he took to running. He didn’t dally, nor did he trust to the barrier distance had provided. He leaped across rocks, ducked when they afforded cover, zigged where he could, zagged when he felt it provided good optics for the crowd. The taste of victory though not yet tangible was taking shape.

Our gods and guests on the dias in the meantime, given the way these things work, had positioned themselves in a line. Not an easy task as seniority and commonsense dictated the order in who would shoot first. Apollo, Athena, Hermes, Persephone, Hephaestus, Dionysus and Artemis though, stood back with the confidence that only gods can have so the rush for target practice soon dwindled to just the humans. And what a sight it was. The Chief Secretary was handed a golden bow by one of his assistants. Another assistant proffered a golden arrow edelicately
balanced on both hands. With due pomp and ceremony the Chief consulted with his team of advisors about the wind and the trajectory.

The Chief Sec’s shot when it came was without fanfare. It later years the citizens would say it was a ‘buss’ but with his arrow spent the other senior civil servants stepped foward – chief administrator first, then the lesser bosses. All shot one at a time. All missed, nary an arrow even in the vicinity of where Soldierboy was passing. Zeus looked at his children and sighed. He expected no effort from Apollo, Athena, Hermes, Persephone, Hephaestus, Dionysus and he knew Artemis would not want to hurt her lover.

Zeus sighed. Muttered aloud a thought. To the effect that not even the goddess of the hunt could hit such an elusive target. Artemis looked up, intrigued. By now Soldierboy was just a small shape, closing in on the goatskin. Zigging and zagging with the impudence of the ever victorious. The goddess’s instinct took over, reacting to the technical challenge of hitting the moving mark regardless. She flicked her golden tresses over her shoulder, guaging the wind from the way the finest hairs fell. At the same time she nocked an arrow and pulled. All the way back. Waited for the smallest of a fraction of time, time that one day the citizens of Athens would name ‘second’. And Artemis let fly.

Only had the arrow left the bow did she cry out in anguish. She saw the bow drop from the corner of her eye. Saw the spent arrow in crystal clear focus as it arced to the high right of Soldierboy’s path. Saw the arrow as it dipped toward a place well in front of Soldierboy as he leaped through a small gully. Soldierboy himself was driven with the lust of victory. He was almost to the goatskin, could smell Artemis’s body – just reward for his skill and athleticism.

It was too far off for the mere mortal eye to say it was so. But the arrow hit Soldierboy directly in his chest, sped straight into his heart and the pain when it came was felt only by Artemis, such is the lot of the goddess of the hunt. Then the hogsnapper turned and I took the shot.

Our secret is out

Uncategorized, Update

Mt. Irvine Bay is not Tobago’s beach. That honor belongs to Turtle Beach/Great Courland with Charlotteville’s Man O War Bay running a close second. But beaches are strange creatures so Kilgywn with its long waterfront and Petit Trou with its Lambeau ‘Beach’ all denigrate little ‘Mount Irvine’ to wanna be status. Not really.

The beach in the picture above is host to a regular crowd – should say a series of regulars really. From 5am these waters welcome the local retirees lookng for ‘a dip’. From mid-morning it sees the after breakfast class of visitor, the bulk of whom stay in the nearby villas or the omnipresent Mt Irvine Hotel.

This beach has the enviable record of offering the largest number of user-friendly beach day conditions in Tobago. Which means snorkelling, stand up paddling and kayaking enthusiasts are well served.

Mt Irvine Bay is relatively shallow and sheltered. I’ll explain. The water immediately off the beach is knee deep and features a gentle grade to facilitate the fastidious, the fearful, or folk who just want a place to have those big conversations that this bay’s cool conditions allow.

The reason Mt Irvine Bay is still the Tobago insider’s best bet for a good time probably has to do with us/your truly – that is we at Mt Irvine Bay Watersports actively preach and practise our aversion to
jetskis rentals. So what has ensued over the years is the people who like quiet beaches get a quiet beach and the people who want a beach with jetski rentals leave them/us alone. Sounds simple Is simple and
hopefully explains the view in the image up top.

There’s a bonus to this post. If you want livestream of the waterfront contact
us.

Getting and staying erect is …

Stand Up Paddling

Hard? Not really. Not when you learn the secret.

Stand Up Paddle boards (or S-U-P’s) just require a little contemplation prior to stepping onto them. Thing is, you don’t really just walk onto the lil beaties, not unless you’re X (name withheld to void our admiration).

And so we contemplate. S-U-Ps are a spin-off; a product from under-used windsurfers back in the day when somebody noticed the older, wider, fatter broads (still talking boards) were being happily
deployed by the other half of the weekend windsurf party. By folks who just wanted to stand and and paddle around while the hotshots gybed, carved and rotated their athletic goodselves no end. And so as the story
goes, the pastime became a sport.

Stand Up Paddling is hard to truly describe. In a sense its relaxing but it isn’t. Its the ultimate watersport where ‘chill’ meets exhilaration meets exercise. Thing is some people have a hard time
getting erect. Let’s contemplate what that entails. Earlier I said you don’t just step onto the board? Well here are the six step to SUP standing success.

Allowing you’ve found a board that displaces more than you do: In other words a floatier than you one. Place it in the water pointing away from shore. Get behind it. Slither on to it and at the same time pull
yourself toward the middle. When your head is well foward of the centerpoint, draw your knees up under you. At this point you should be kneeling on all fours with feet – toes really, just wide of centerpoint.

You will recognise the centerpoint or balance point by the niche/notch/whatever provided by the manufacturer to aid in shoreside carry of the board. And you ought not to doubt that it is the
centerpoint. Given it absolutely proves that function each time you tote the damn thing down to the waters edge.

And there you are. Crouched like an athlete. Or a very scared human, afraid to fall down and what? Get hurt? And there we’ve encountered the very first big problem; your fear of falling into the water. This though is an unfounded concern. You’ve just slithered/crawled/pulled yourself up on to the board and you can do it again. Nix that fear.

For simplicity I’ve provided the rudiments of success for the sport we call ‘stand up paddling’ in the following drawing.

Other concerns will come to mind. Let’s deal with them in no particular order.

As you begin the process of boarding, place the paddle across the SUP. Where your hands can find them from the ‘crouch’. The paddle can be used to attain extra balance if held across (athwart) the hips.

A critical step to getting erect on your SUP is transitioning from the crouch to the bent-knee (skier) position. You’d want to keep in mind that skiers, skateboarders and others of your ilk (cheers, you are in
the Community) try to achieve and keep the lowest possible center of gravity. Translated, this simply means keeping the undercarriage low.


At that point, things occur however, that seem to make falling inevitable. Let’s just deal with them before they awake. Keep your eyes locked on something in front. Could be the horizon, could be the
grinning pal with the camera sitting comfortable on the rescue boat.

Think of an imaginary line connecting your ear, hipbone and ankle – maintain that line and you simply need to begin paddling.

Style, navigation and safety while Stand Up Paddling will be your next concern.

Beat the heat

Snorkeler

These days are hot!! But then there is our Bay with its really cool water – and frankly, easy access to some of the best snorkelling this side of Tobago. There are some unique advantages to beating the heat on – yeh, our bay.

Parking is easy and safe. As luck would have it Shirvan Road is pretty wide at this point and the verge provides a nice place to leave your vehicle. You’d want to park, come to the shop and get your snorkelling gear. If you choose to use the public transport system there is a bus stop just a few metres from our roadside door.

Itinerant taxis (as in private cars) are also easy to find. And do provide a relatively handy mode of exiting the beach. Point to note if/when using the ‘P’ car service – insurance coverage for the passenger is non-existent. Just saying.

Logistics sorted and gear gotten from our large selection of quality masks, fins and snorkels, get to the water. Allowing you’re comfy using snorkelling equipment, head off to the right. It’s a mere 50 metres to some pretty good structure. There’s a thriving community of reef fish such as the french angel, grunt, wrasse and trigerfish. There are also bands of squid, herring (anchovies), small jacks and the odd barracuda (supervising).

Interestingly, snorkelling ‘our’ bay also brings you into contact with our coastal birdlife. If you’re there on a day when there’s herring in the water, keep an eye out for the anhinga. ‘Snake bird’ hunts under the surface of ‘our’ waters and make just make your day. If you’re even luckier there our resident pair of sea hawk (osprey) out for a daily meal – or more. Then again if by some quirk of nature yoo see nothing, the day is already won. You’re no longer hot.

Paddle us

Update

The bay is a great place for novice kayakers to spend a little time. Or a lot of time. Therefore….and considering boat rentals are time bound, getting you comfortable as quickly as possible is a priority – coming in just after Safety.

Cos, our kayaks are sea rated sit-on-top epoxy jobs made in France by RTM. Our stand up paddle/surf boards are BIC Durasport. Nothing in the range of products made by these manufacturers are lightweight (as in inferior quality).

In Tobago at last? Paddle the calm waters of Mt. Irvine Bay. Just show up at our shop at a time that suits – best at 10 am, cos if you come by after 5 pm odds are we may only be able to schedule for another day.

Ready to paddle? We outfit you with the gear and provide basic kayaking instructions – as well as safety instructions. During this time we will also assess your overall ability. After which the upcoming adventure will based on what you say and on the things (that) you say (you do).

Kayak and stand up paddle board tours (are muscle impelled journeys) to specific destinations along the coast. Quite popular they range from Easy to Truly Demanding. Composition of these tours can be: Your Group. Or groups we put together.

Paddle tours go WEST; to the Buccoo Reef and its scenic environs. Or EAST: up the coast to Arnos Vale bay. The choice depends on ambition, inclination and ability to snorkel or the urge to satisfy the urge to fish. (Fishing is not permitted in the Buccoo Reef Marine Park).

Technical Specs

Kayak

RTMs sea rated range of epoxy kayaks can range up to 2 miles from shelter – allowing safety gear and features are accoomodated.

Best use Tour paddling
Length 412 cm or 13″ 5’
Width 90 cm or just over 35″
Depth 35 cm
Weight 34 kg or 74lbs
Capacity 2 adults + 1 child
Maximum load 260 kg or 570lbs

Paddleboard

Great for a wide range of paddlers in both flatwater and small surf, this stable entry-level 11’ 4″ paddleboard uses durable polyethylene construction for rugged performance at a great price.

Best Use Materials
Paddle Boarding Polyethylene
Paddle Board Style Polyurethane Foam
Length 11″ 4’
Midwidth 32″
Tail 19¼”
Thickness 4½
Fin Length 10″
Fin Box Single
Volume 205 liters
Weight Capacity 210 lbs
Hull Type Planing
Weight 41 lbs

Returns

Hourly
Kayaks/SUPs are due back at your scheduled time. Know however Mt. Irvine Watersports do not consider a few minutes extra as billable. However more than fifteen minutes past the hour and you are still out there (you little paddling machine you) then consider you’re as good as charged for the second hour.
Full-day rentals
Can be kept overnight for a 24-hour period. Roof racks and straps are provided at no additional charge. If a vehicle is required for transporting the gear we’d be happy to oblige for a small fee.

Rescue

We try to keep rescues if and when in-house. For which we come get you using our motorboat. Rescues happily are few and far apart.

Rescues may be triggered by paddlers underestimating wind conditions, current and waves hardly take a toll.

Embarassment. These don’t quite qualify as rescues but do occur; major example is – paddlers taking own good time to exit their paddle craft on the home beach. Getting dumped by a mini wave in front of everybody on Mt Irvine Bay beach is a badge of honor, so stress yourself not.

Surf’s up

Update


Image taken from Carvemag

The holiday season bring us more than gifts and glitz, we also get the end of year waves. The last 6 days has been fantastic – great for looking at if you’re like me and cannot ride waves but certainly a treat for the boardheads.

Other bay activity is down for the next few days, but only after the surfers get their will we get ours. Ah well, that fair.

Business and pleasure

Update

Mt. Irvine Bay Watersports has been around since 1994. Back then the model of service tourism was seriously relaxed to a point where we made friends along with income. Many of those folks still keep in touch. Either by visiting or if Father time gets in the way, we use Internet thingy.

We’ve noticed though – and likely its a result of the times, the average customer isn’t too concerned with the befriending aspect of tourism. Before you get it in a bunch, stick a pin. I said ‘average’. If you must be different and don’t want friends. Friend you aren’t average.

Thing is, we haven’t changed our friendly ways here at Mt Irvine Bay Watersports. We like friendly, do friendly. Live for friendly in fact. Friend, If you haven’t spent time with us or tried our watersport services drop us a line. We be happy to chat.

Incidentally. One of those close friends recently enquired as to how Kay and yours truly passed the Pandemic. She replied, “With the beer”.
Its the kinda talk that pisses away our prospects.