Vulcanoa Sea Kayak Symposium 2009

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Vulcanoa Sea Kayak Symposium 2009

The island of Vulcano, with its secure black-sanded beach and crystal waters, was a good choice.
The symposium lasted three days, from the 2nd to the 4th of October with water activities mostly held in the morning, and presentations in the afternoon or early evening. Sottocosta instructors and guides taught entry-level and advanced courses for adults and children. International guests Helen Wilson, Justine Curgenven and Barry Shaw participated in the instruction. Despite rainstorms, the activities of the Symposium continued. For the marathon at the end of the Symposium there was a clear but windy day: a three mile competition in choppy seas, crossing a small tidal race, in the strait between the islands of Vulcano and Lipari. At the award ceremony Helen Wilson and Tatiana Cappucci entertained everyone with a paired Greenland Rolling demonstration.

At dinnertime the international guests treated the participants with slideshows about their kayak trips around the world. Guests praised the good food, the abundant wine, and the relaxed atmosphere experienced throughout the symposium.

Afterwards, almost every participant joined in a rejuvenating tour around most of the archipelago. People enjoyed enormously paddling across the islands and along their beautiful coasts, exploring grottoes, and admiring ancient and recent volcanic activity.
Participants paddled along the islands of Vulcano, Lipari, Salina and Panarea.

The Æolian archipelago has been a wonderful site to paddle. Its coastal waters and its inhabitants seem to be warm all year round and welcoming. The next Vulcanoa Symposium will be in 2010, from September 30th to October 7th.