By Vladimir Brezina
I know this is a new, original design, but isn’t the kayak supposed to stay on top of the water?
(But they do get points for well- synchronized paddles.)
(2015 Cardboard Kayak Race. Full story here.)
A contribution to this week’s Photo Challenge, Oops!
... kayaked the waters around New York for more than 15 years in his red Feathercraft folding kayak. He was originally from (the former) Czechoslovakia and lived in the U.K. and California before settling down in New York. He was a neuroscientist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He died in 2016.
... is a kayaker and technology researcher at Nemertes Research. She's an erstwhile engineer, particle physicist, and science fiction writer. She was born in California and has lived in Italy, Norway, Hawaii, and a few other places. She currently resides in New York City.
 | CurlsnSkirls on The First Leg! |
 | Johna Till Johnson on The First Leg! |
| Johna Till Johnson on The First Leg! |
 | Marilyn Albright on The First Leg! |
| CurlsnSkirls on The First Leg! |
| Johna Till Johnson on Looks Like They Made It! |
 | Pit on Looks Like They Made It! |
| Johna Till Johnson on More Scenes From the Nort… |
| CurlsnSkirls on Halfway There! |
 | Larry Jensen on More Scenes From the Nort… |
| Johna Till Johnson on R2AK: Scenes From the Northern… |
 | Frank Winters on R2AK: Scenes From the Northern… |
| Johna Till Johnson on Halfway There! |
| CurlsnSkirls on Halfway There! |
| Johna Till Johnson on And They’re Off! |
Wind Against Current 
I still send people to the link for this race. I’d love to do something like this around our town. so funny!!
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Thanks for spreading the word! Go for it! All you need is some cardboard, tape, water, and some people willing to go down with all flags flying! :-)
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and cardboard pirate hats! We have several state lakes around my town, I think this would be a hoot to do during our yearly summer celebration.
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The pirate hats are essential! :-)
(Don’t forget to have a few safety boats around in case someone gets into real trouble. Unlikely, assuming they can swim, but it could happen.)
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yes good point. The safety boats probably shouldn’t be made of cardboard, correct?
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Probably not, unless you really trust your engineering.
Like any event, it takes quite a bit of organization to run smoothly.
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yes, I was just thinking through all of that. It sure would be fun for my community though. I’d need lots of help because while I have enthusiasm, I lack organizational skills!
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I hope you get to do it. Take lots of pictures! :-)
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So good!!! And still smiling!!! :)
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Can’t not smile! :-)
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Whatever happens, don’t stop paddling! Love it, Vlad.
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Got to make it back to the dock!
Thanks, Tish!!
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Pingback: WPC: Oops (Oh No) | Chris Breebaart Photography / What's (in) the picture?
Haha how in the world did that happen? So curious to know what happened next? I would be scared experiencing it, but every one in the photo seems to be having fun even under the water ;)
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How did it happen? Well, the kayak obviously wasn’t all that waterproof :-) Most of the inadequate designs capsized right next to the dock (plenty of examples in the full post), but this one, unusually, just sank lower, and lower… I think they eventually gave up and swam the last few yards to the dock.
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Haha wow! I would have had a heart attack especially since I can barely doggie paddle. Thanks for sharing that is very cool of you.
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Well, that is why everyone was wearing a PFD (= Personal Flotation Device, aka life jacket) and there were safety boats. And the water was warm.
And everyone was indeed having fun :-)
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Aaah all’s well that ends well!
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Seriously? Was this a set-up shot? Whatever it was, it’s a great photograph. You guys do such great work with the water. I’m envious. :)
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Not set up at all. But I was not myself on the water, for once—I was on a pier to one side and slightly above the stretch of water where all this was taking place. And I just photographed what I saw… :-)
Thanks so much, Cris!
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LOL. They are sinking so calmly.
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They are resigned to their fate :-)
But actually they were paddling furiously, trying to reach the dock. Didn’t quite make it…
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At least they are all smiling!
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Got to! :-)
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What a perfect shot for this week’s challenge… The epitome of “oops!”
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I think the word on the two paddlers’ lips was probably a word different from “Oops”, a word that cannot be published in this family-friendly blog…
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Judging by their smiles I’d say the word couldn’t have been all that bad ;-)
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:-)
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Thank you for the laugh. Reminds me of my husband’s first kayaking experience. he was submerged before he began and stayed that way .
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Well, yes, that is quite a common experience. I hope the water was warm!
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No at the end of winter it was quite cold.
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That’s not good. Being submerged in cold water is no fun, and can kill you.
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I doubt we’ll do it again. :)
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:-)
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All very fun-sounding and fun to participate and watch. But I have a question. :-) So… umm… I thought the water was polluted or something… My greatest fear would be to get wet in those waters. Anywho… fun to read about it. Enjoyed previous post, too.
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Polluted? Yes and no. It’s much better than it was, say, 20 years ago. There is always some floating trash—probably unavoidable in a big city—here and there. There are chemicals, especially in certain dead-end waterways where there is not much current. And when it rains a lot, bacteria from sewage get in the water. Other than that… ;-)
Still, thousands of people swim in the water every year, apparently with no ill-effects…
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Incredible. Well… I think I’ll cheer for you from the dry land. :-)
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As I did, in this instance—I don’t mind the pollution, but the camera might…
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My kayak coach has always said, don’t stop paddling until you can’t breath (and even then!)
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Especially then! Very good advice :-)
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