Technical information

The main components for this coming adventure are the following:

1- The kayak

Here is the description given by Paddling Perfection on their website:

"PolarBear

For the serious expeditions

Designed for the Antarctic Expedition of 2001, the PolarBear is the kayak of choice for serious explorers. Stable yet fast, and with three storage compartments, this craft handles professionally in the most challenging conditions. These kayaks can be made to order, fitted to meet individual requirements including greater reinforcing, additional cockpit insulation, or extra external wear strips. The PolarBear is produced with real sea-expedition adventure in mind."

Kayaks are usually made out of fiberglass. This is strong, but not so tough – when it breaks, it breaks potentially into separate pieces in the worst case.   It is repairable though, as proved with the resurrection of the Sea Bear.   The polar bear is made out of Kevlar, with is both strong and tough.   The hull has been made ultra-tough with several layers of Kevlar, and also the deck is in Kevlar.   If a Kevlar boat does break, it should still remain in one piece , and can then be repaired in similar fashion as a fiberglass boat.   An important extra on this Polar Bear  is the electric bilge pump.   This is used to empty the boat in the event of a capsize (typically in the surf zone).   Normally a kayaker carries a manual pump to do this,  but it is not possible to be emptying the boat and paddling out of trouble at the same time.   Electric pump lets you do this.

The Polar Bear is actually the same width as the Sea Bear... 

2 - The Man (No.2 here but certainly not the least)

Robert is turning 44 on Oct. 29. And even though our children seem to think it is very old, Robert is certainly in the fittest condition he has ever been! I have actually never known Robert to be unfit but depending on the sports practiced, some of his muscles would be more developped than others... When I met him, his shoulders were probably the most developped as he had to carry his rebreather around to dive in the murky British waters. Then as he started mountain biking, he got "the legs". We would go to those big races that Robert would take part in in France (Transvésubienne and Mégavalanche) and we would smile at one another as we checked all the guys calves to see what the competition looked like...

For the last four years or so Robert has been following a fitness program on a book called "Fit and Super fit" by Laurie Plumridge that he bought when he was in his 20s. The book presents a series of exercices (push ups, press ups, burpees...) to be repeated and starts at level 1 and finishes at level 15. About 4 years ago, Robert decided to use this book to exercice. He started at level 1. At the time of the previous kayak trip, Robert was at level 13, he has now been on level 15 for about 6 months and is definitely super fit! He does this 3 times a week, outside when he is home, even under the pouring rain, or in his hotel room or gym. In China, this training is now known as "the Hewetson training"...

On top of this, seeing how fit I had become doing kettle bells (LOL), he decided to add this onto his training programme. So 6 times a week, he swings a 24kg kettle 100 times and does 10 Turkish get-ups with 16kg (I can hardly do 2 with a 5kg!!!!).

And obviously Robert paddles several times a week...

Comments

[Mom]

I agree Sylvie - Robert has certainly never looked fitter! Thinking of all of you amidst all the preparations and checking to see how this fantastic blog of your is working - fabulous!