Nigel Dennis Does The “OP”
Published December 3, 2007 | 
You’ve GotTo Get It
Mm Mm
You’ve Got To Get It Don’t Forget
It Doesn’t Come Around Again
You’ve Got To Get It Mm Mm
You’ve Got To Get It And You’ve Got To Get It Good
- mccartney
Over the weekend I received my copy of Ocean Paddler. I try to take a moment now and again to share a bit about the issues with you since many of the folks here are in places where they can’t just grab a copy off the rack yet. Issue 5 has great content as always including articles by Hadas Feldman, Simon Willis & Simon Osborne among others. Simon Osborne’s article on rough water skills is worth the cover price in itself. OP also has a great interview with one of seakayaking’s legendary characters, Nigel Dennis. The wide ranging interview covers his major trips, good background on the design of the Romany, and one little tidbit that took me by surprise. Nigel as some of you know is a member of the Holyhead RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution). In summing up a recent review of sea kayak rescues in the UK*, he states that in the last 16 months 85 kayakers have been involved in rescues. Now here is the stunning bit. . . He also states “The actual number of seakayakers involved in rescues under the supervision of qualified Coaches and Leaders amounts to 75” You sort of have to let that sink in for a moment. Ocean Paddler will be publishing the findings of the review in a future issue, something I’m looking forward to reading. I certainly think there will be a lot to talk about.
If you can’t find a copy of Ocean Paddler where you are at, just visit their website for subscription information. Right now they are offering a Christmas gift subscription that includes a nice black polo shirt as well. 5 issues so far, and I think most will agree that each one has been fantastic.
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* I’m told this number is actually just for North Wales which makes it even more noteworthy.
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14 Responses to Nigel Dennis Does The “OP”
If you are looking to purchase a copy of OP here in North America, both Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre in Vancouver, BC and Alder Creek in Portland carry the magazine, either one of us would be happy to send you a copy!
cheers
michael
I tried to sign up for a OP subscription using a bit of cash I have on a Paypal account, but they insisted that I give my credit card info to Paypal to pay with the money I have there, and I’m not going to do that. Way too stupid. I can trust Paypay with a bit of cash, but they won’t get my credit card info just so I can pay with money already sitting in my account.
Go back and read the article. The numbers quoted above are not for the UK – they are just for North Wales, a tiny fraction of the UK’s shores, comprising a couple of hundred miles of coast.
Yes, amazing.
Mark
BTW posting comments here is ridiculous – I’m led to believe I’m quite intelligent, but it has taken me several attempts and even this time, I’m not sure I can read the words I have to copy below. What possible purpose does making it hard serve?
wow, just north wales? I guess I did not quite read it that way. My mistake. The little bit on the bottom is there to keep spam out otherwise you tend to get tonnes of “buy viagra” posts. I hate that myself, but I’ve tried leaving verifications off and then i spend a bunch of time deleteing each morning. Most people seem to figure it out ok though.
I’d love to subscribe to OP, but as yet haven’t been ready to shell out the requested sum. A pity they chose to print in such an expensive format. I really feel more people would be interested either in an online version, or something less costly to ship overseas.
Why on earth should Ocean Paddler lower their production values or give their product away online? They are trying to earn a living, get rich and all that.
I thought all you Americans were against Communism …
Mark R
PS second attempt to post …
Well, even if it’s not expressed in the most friendly of ways, I agree with Mark on this one. One of the things that makes OP a stand out is the quality of the publication. I think it’s that quality that draws in many of the writers and photographers as well. The glossy paper and artistic layout really compliment the content. Of course it is going to cost more. One thing too is that as far as I know their goal was to get a good footing in the UK first, then if the magazine proved to be profitable, they could add US distributors which of course would make it more economical here in the states (or Canada). The price is about 5 pounds which would’nt be so bad if the dollar was not where it is at the moment. Certainly $11 or there abouts is a bit steep, but having 5 issues to go on I’m sure it’s worth that to some readers here as well. It seems like there are a good number of people subscribing from North America as well.
I’m not sure if you remember, there was an issue some time ago with Paddle Press which was going to produce a print version but could not get enough funding and they are now an “online only” publication. It’s hard to tell how they are doing really, since the cost of putting together an online site is nothing like print. But I sort of wonder if they are making a living at it. Maybe I should ask them.
Hi Mark, hope you’re having a good day! : )
I agree as well, it’s refreshing to see this kind of attention to design and detail. But I’m a bit biased. Now I just wish I could actually see it! I do hope to have a subscription one day. But I worry I might have missed all the good articles already! ; ) Maybe I’ll just have to come to Derrick’s house and read his copies. I’ll bring the coffee. But wait, that’d cost more than the subscription… D’oh!
LOL! Well, your more than welcome Thomas. . if you can get over the snow drifts!! I’m sure there will be some good things in future issues. . .
‘even if it?s not expressed in the most friendly of ways’
Go on then, indulge me – what’s so unfriendly in my post?
like I said, I agree with your point. adding in “I thought you American’s were against communism”. does not benefit the conversation. Maybe i’m just over sensitive, but I’d just prefer we were not taking unnecessary jabs. Heck if you listened to the rhetoric going round the airwaves these days I think at least half of Americans think the other half ARE into communism.
Oh, I think I get it now – inane cross-cultural misunderstanding.
Senator McCarthy.
2 countries divided by a common language.
hey if we really wanted to start a controversy we could start discussing why Aled had to change his company name from In-Uit to Tiderace.
not that every other manufacturer in north america isn’t using native american names for kayaks (Montauk, Currictuck, Asseteague, Telkwa etc etc) , or that certain canadian manufacturers use inuit terminology to name boats(Inukshuk, Alvik) or symbols on their boats and no one is complaining about THAT….
lol
whats a good debate without some controversy? political correctness is getting out of control these days!