Teaneck native Dov Neimand can write the book about sea kayaking. In fact he is doing just that.
Neimand recently completed an ambitious journey by sea, from Barcelona, Spain, with a layover in Naples, to Cyrpus, some 2,500 nautical miles.
Along the way, he tested his skills, his stamina, and his equipment. He is sharing his experience with daily postings on his blog, kayakdov.wordpress.com.
He mostly hugged the coast, stopping at night with visits to Spain, France, Italy Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.
His goal was to paddle to Israel, but he decided the 135-mile open-water crossing from Cyprus to Israel would be pushing his luck. "Judgment is the most important skill," he said in a phone interview from Israel.
Neimand, 30, said the challenge of packing on the 18-foot kayak got easier as the trip progressed. Equipment was placed in waterproof bags, with lighter items in the bow and stern, and the heavier items centered behind the seat.
He took a conventional paddle and a storm paddle, a personal locator beacon, a handheld radio, a netbook computer, which broke during the trip, a smartphone, and clothing for warm and colder weather.
Except for instances of hospitality ashore, his food included dried peas, lentils, fruits and nuts, and a camping stove to cook on while on land.
His most valuable accessory was "my brain," he said. He rarely used the GPS, because "a chart and compass worked really well." The handheld radio, while important for safety, was of little use on the trip, he said. A call he made for help once when caught in a storm went unanswered.
Neimand honed his skills at rolling, using body motion to right the kayak after a capsize. He flipped many times, and his ability sharpened as the trip progressed. "Nothing improves your skills as much as having to use them," he said.
Neimand has paddled the Hudson River from Albany, and out to Sandy Hook, in stages.
Last summer he regularly paddled across the Hudson from New Jersey to the Downtown Boathouse in Manhattan, and the Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club, where he gave lessons.
"There is a vibrant kayaking community in the Metropolitan area," he said.
Neimand, who let his beard and hair grow, was sometimes welcomed, sometimes shunned, as he looked for overnight lodgings.
He is working on a book, but in the meantime his blog posts make great reading.
Boat notes
The River Rangers, a program of weeklong sessions of exploration and ecology study for youngsters, 10-15, on the Swimming and Navesink rivers in the Red Bank area, has openings for the program Aug. 11-15. The program is run by the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association. Check navesinkmaritime.org.
On Sunday the NMHA and Sea Scout "Ship" 5/Navesink will host a fluke fishing fundraiser aboard the Mariner, sailing out of Atlantic Highlands.
Boarding is at 7:30 a.m. and the $37.92 ticket includes bait and poles. See navesinkmaritime.org for details.
The Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club and the Sandy Hook Bay Catamaran Club are teaming up to host the 40th annual Blue Water Regatta tomorrow and Sunday, with some 50 boats expected to take part. The regatta is part of the PHRF Mid-Atlantic championship series. For details and to register go to ahyc.net and click on Blue Water Regatta.
Please email items of interest to this column to czusman@starledger.com. Check Charles Zusman's blog at blog.nj.com/boating.