See the New Solo 14 video

Newsletter April 2010 By Harold Aune VP

Let My People Go Rowing

I'd heard about Yvon Chouinard's book "Let my people go surfing - the education of a reluctant businessman" a few times over the past couple of years. Yvon is the founder and owner of 'Patagonia' the well known outdoor clothing manufacturer. I finally read it and even though his company is a hundred times larger than Whitehall I was impressed to see that his philosophy is very much aligned with that of Marie Hutchinson and myself. We don't compromise on quality and strive to produce a product that will outlast it's owner and, with care, their children's children. As an offshore sailor, and boat designer familiar with the rigors of the open ocean I know what it takes to design, build and manufacture. To incorporate these qualities into a boat, any boat. To build a boat that with care, will perform for a hundred years or longer. That's what we do.

It was with great understanding that I read of the challenges faced by Yvon Chouinard and the people who comprise the Patagonia brand. Like Patagonia we thought that our Whitehall Spirit© classic rowing craft would be 'the next big thing' because of the health, fitness and stress relieving benefits that are experienced by the owners and how good they are for the planet in general. World wide though we know that there is a constant distraction affecting almost everyone due to the media's relentless bombardment of "news". We as a species are evolved to be connected to nature both physically and mentally. When we are not we go 'wobbley', unable to connect intuitively to what needs to be done in our lives in order to be happy.

Many things can restore a state of relaxed contentment to individuals and the world; merely a regular connection with nature does the trick, nicely.

Here at Whitehall none of us walk on water but we definitely love to row and sail silently across its surface and infuse the natural energies that are present. We operate a business that is contributing to a happier healthier world in all respects. We are operating as lean as can be. And we are looking forward to hearing from you, soon, as here in the northern hemisphere the prime season for getting connected is almost here.

From Venice to Finland

Besides the company truckloads heading down to the US destinations from Florida to Rhode Island and Texas to Alaska with many drops to locations in between we've seen lots of crated boats leaving for unusual destinations this year.

It's been fun handling these orders from abroad and we're looking forward to hearing from the new owners once they've been for their inaugural row and/or sail. We've shipped the first Solo 14 (of many to come we hope) to Jamaica and sent another to Manila, Philippines. Paulo Brugnera of Venice, Italy, patiently awaits his boat right now as it travels across by ocean transport, as are other customers in Norway, Finland, and even Guatemala!

Spring and summer deliveries filling up fast

We're pleased to be receiving many calls from people all over the world who look forward to having their boats this year and want to know how soon they need to place their orders. We encourage them (and you if you don't already own one) to do it now! If you're in North America, the company truckloads are filling up fast and there are very few spots left. Getting the boat delivered this way will save you hundreds of dollars in crating costs and extra fees charged by common carriers.

If you're in Europe, Australia, NZ allow at least 6 weeks transit time now, due to backlogs in the shipping industry that have occurred in the past few weeks.

Also in general there is a minimum two to three weeks lead-time required to build the boat or more depending on the model chosen. So, if you've been visualizing yourself rowing and sailing the boat this summer, order now to make sure it arrives to fit your time schedule.

Nimble's Cove by Andrea Guyon

My home on Christie Point in Portage Inlet is surrounded on three sides by water. It's a water paradise that's always changing as the tide ebbs and flows twice daily flushing the inlet like a watery breath. My boat 'Nimble' is always ready at the waters edge ready to transport me and my family out on its moat like surface poised where we can peer into its watery depths at the marvelous creatures that are always there.

All around this shallow estuary is a type of seaweed called Eelgrass. It looks just like what you would think an underwater grass would look like, long dark green grass like blades that grow in beds that are found just below the extreme low tide level. In fact at low tide the eelgrass, which is often three to six feet long, lays with half it's length floating flat on the surface. A couple of weeks ago high winds whipped up the water at low tide tearing loose vast amounts of eelgrass which covered the beaches and floated in the small bays. Most of this was older eelgrass that was left from last year and this year's new growth is coming on strong.

A few days ago I spoke to Anna Simeon, Communications Co-coordinator with the Sierra Club of BC. We subsequently met at Nimble's Cove (in front of my home) and together we went out in 'Nimble' to take a look at the Eelgrass beds. Eelgrass is prime habitat for a community of small sea creatures ranging from microscopic little organisms to snails to big red Rock Crabs. Schools of herring use Eelgrass on which to attach their eggs when they spawn. It's a prime indicator of environmental health and more.

Anna is involved in a program called 'Blue Carbon' resulting from the recent discovery that sea grasses play a critical role in global ocean and climate cycles due to their ability to absorb vast amounts of carbon - up to ninety times the rate of uptake by the equivalent area of forest.

See more on this at: http://www.sierraclub.bc.ca/global-warming/BC-Solutions-That-Work/blue-carbon

The view, looking into the waters of Portage Inlet using the 'underwater window' that Colin Rolls quickly built for me in Whitehall's shop was still not too clear as the inlet water was still murky with runoff and stirred up sediment. In a couple of days the water cleared and the underwater world around my home became visible once again with its gorgeous eelgrass beds and abundant wildlife. And now, after spending time with Anna I have an even deeper appreciation for this aquatic wonder world right at my door and gliding silently along in Nimble feels even more special. I love every moment!

Rowing Club Boat Demo at Elk Lake

Last weekend we were invited by the Victoria City Rowing Club to participate in a rowing boat demo opportunity at our local Elk Lake facility. It was a small but fun gathering of rowers, mostly 'Masters' who are middle aged or over. Andrea Guyon, Colin Rolls and myself took along a couple of Solo 14™ and a Tango 17™. Our friends Colin and Julie Angus attended and they brought along the great boats they used to travel from Scotland to Syria. Drew Harrison co-owner of Wintech Racing, manufacturer of recreational and racing shells was there and Noel, (I didn't get his last name) with a cleverly adapted sliding seat aluminum 'Grumman' canoe built, I think he said, back in the 1940's.

It was great to talk to Colin and Julie again. They are developing a line of kit boats based on their self-designed rowing boats that they rowed across Europe with last year. I love the way these boats can carry a mountain bike stowed inside that can be used in turn to tow the boat with a special trailer arrangement. I finally got a chance to row one and so did Colin Rolls. Both boats handled and rowed very well indeed. Check them out at www.angusadventures.com along with their many books and DVDs.

Rowing has so many benefits in so many ways that were amply demonstrated by these agile fit master rowers that I was impressed all over again. Especially when Olympic rower --- --- did a headstand on the shell she was rowing! And all who tried out the Tango 17™ and the Solo 14™ expressed to us what great open water boats they were and wished our new Open Water Rowing Club the best of luck.
Click here to se a slide show of the event and below are a few shots.
Click here to visit the Whitehall Spirit© Rowing Club™ of Victoria website



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