Hi everyone,

The sailing beach opens Saturday, May 13!  So excited for another paddling season!

I know the weather outside now is miserable, but in the next few days/weeks it will warm up.    …BUT early in the season, it is time for my yearly reminder about cold weather paddling!  This time of year you need to dress for the water!

I have links to the Wilmette Buoy (which is not being updated regularly yet, but will be in the season), NOAA, Weather Underground, and Lake Michigan water temperatures on the R hand side of the website.  Water temps are currently in the high 40’s.  That is cold!

You can go back to read my old posts, but a few reminders about paddling in cold water:

1. A good rule of thumb– if the air temperature plus the water temperature is less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, you should wear a wet suit.
2. The 50-50 rules: One of the 50-50 rules states that without protective clothing and a PFD, you only have a 50-50 chance of being able to swim 50 yards in 50-degree water. It depends a lot on the swimmer’s body composition, physical condition and age, but it certainly helps explain why people often drown very close to shore in cold water.
3. WATER TEMPERATURE: 60°F and up HYPOTHERMIA RISK: low; APPROPRIATE CLOTHING: clothing for the weather
   WATER TEMPERATURE: 55-59°F HYPOTHERMIA RISK: moderate; APPROPRIATE CLOTHING: wetsuit or drysuit
   WATER TEMPERATURE: 45-54°F HYPOTHERMIA RISK: high; APPROPRIATE CLOTHING: drysuit recommended
   WATER TEMPERATURE: below 45°F HYPOTHERMIA RISK: extreme; APPROPRIATE CLOTHING: drysuit strongly recommended

Once the season gets started, we will have group paddles, practices sessions (T-rescues, wet exits, rolling practice), and this year we hope to have a BBQ!  If interest, we can do some regular paddles (Tuesday AM paddles or Thursday evening paddles).

Remember to bring boats down to the beach by July 1, or you will lose your spot.  Several spots opened up this year due to people not bringing their boats down in time!

Traci Lynn Martin is still on her circumnavigation journey around the Great Lakes.  She will be coming through Wilmette sometime in the next several weeks.  She is in contact with one of our members, and will be staying at his house while passing through the area.  Depending on when she comes, what time it is, how long she can stay, how tired she is, etc we may try to get a group together, so watch your email!  Here is a link to a site with a map of where she is and her Twitter account.

A reminder that anyone who keeps their boat on the beach at Gillson or has a launch pass, can sign up for our listserv.  Please email me at wilmettekayakclub@gmail.com to be added to the list!  You can also subscribe to this website to get updates when new posts come out.

Looking forward to a great paddling season!!!  See you on the water!