Posts Tagged ‘Naish Torch’
Sunday, January 27th, 2013
From the Captain:
Yep, life at sea on Zenith continues to teach me to roll with the punches while remembering that in between, if you slot in those epic sessions, things have a way of working themselves out. …..No stress & plenty-plenty irie….here’s the Antigua story so far…
Mother nature has been somewhat fickle of late, providing mixed winds from 0 – 29kts and sending huge Northerly swells down from the East coast of the States. T1 enjoyed Barbuda and my secret spot, but T2 was denied (due to swell) so we concentrated on Green Island and making their Zenith Ocean Film. https://vimeo.com/57332439 A night kite playing with the camera, a ‘Rowley’ off the coach roof, my first un-hooked… not looking like MC Hammer in rehab(!)…and generally sublime times were had making the most of the massive Nonsuch Bay reef….
Juliet Lemon joined for T1 & T2. She is a professional photographer and offered her services to Zenith to shoot kiting and our lifestyles. I will be showcasing her amazing work with us soon but in the meantime her website is: http://julietlemon.com/
Provisioning again proved surreal due to the BIG north swell which meant the local fishermen couldn’t go out either, resulting in a lack of fresh fish at ALL the markets…check out the photo below!!….
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When trying to buy fish on the ENTIRE island the response was the same:”The sea RUFF”
Finally 4 hours pre guests arrival Georgie found some fillets …maybe the only in the northern Caribb.
The ‘Hurricane’ Georgie prevailed  |
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T2 over and time for the crew to get some personal kite sessions in. A new system blew through offering 20-29kts. BOOM. Georgie went out on a Park 8…and in her inimitable style she went BIG. A second boost from a gust sent her higher than she had ever been before and then it happened…KITELOOP SLAM.
| Hurricane hit the water from quite a height breaking a lower rib. Some local kiters went to her aid immediately (Good Job Matt). Her shortness of breath in open water although a hazard did nt get the ‘Hurricane’ down and like the trooper she is held on until safe on board Meercat. Me…I was having a great un-hooked session (no MC Hammer in sight) and only noticed when the rescue seemed to take a bit too long.
On arrival back at the boat I assessed her condition….she was in considerable pain….but still smiling and putting on the bravest of faces. George is a seasoned sea-woman and knows when offhsore there is no use in making a song & dance…just tough it out. Good girl.
Instantly we took our injured cargo to hospital to make sure that no internal organs were damaged and to confirm that she ONLY had a broken rib!! Thank NUBERU (wind God of the tempest)….George was ok. Just another 8 weeks to tough it out…..
Georgie will return to the UK to convalesce …..
As a captain I cannot take risks with crew, guests or vessel. Goergie will be sorely missed and its gutting to see her Zenith season cut short. We had so many laughs, sometimes I was in tears with her stories…..I am sad to see her go. Georgie, you are welcome on board anytime….
Post recovery of course, but please don’t go sooo BIG next time.
So season start and Zenith is crew-less…… |
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Antigua is a hotbed for the yachting industry attracting ocean going adventurers from all corners of the globe. So I set about interviewing for the continued season…….
Zenith requires such a specialised set of skills and the selection process in mid 2012 for Georgie was long and arduous. Overall I look for an attitude comprising of a love for sea and adventure combined with a skill base to provide the level of service that says “this is ZENITH”.
As I said things have a way of working out. The trick is to kite and not think so much…… Meet the new crew – 2 !!!
Enter Andrea:
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 - Super Yacht Chef
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Andrea and I met in St Lucia, pre season.
She is a master at her trade having over 10 years at the top flight of catering for the super yachts and uber rich. She is a seasoned adventurer with proven time served skills. Her passion is the ocean and cooking and when she heard the news of the vacancy on Zenith I have to be honest was surprised at her motives for joining. Poaching this (Chef) calibre of professional is a feather in the cap of Zenith indeed. This is what she had to say:
” My present boat, a 40M sloop, has given me a great life and I ve travelled all over the world in my career on the biggest private yachts in the industry. I am grateful for all the moments and gifts life has sent me. Seeing the passion for kitsurfing and Zenith model reminded me of the things that the past few years didn’t offer….and I’ve missed it. I would love to be part of your team, meet your guests and laugh while sharing the direct/close hands on experience of the expedition…..and your destinations..Wow they are soo different. Can’t wait to see the Grenadines up close, not just through a port hole,.”
The Captain’s reply: “SOLD”…instantly. ( I was like MC Hammer but NOT on a kite. I think I am in a whole heap of other trouble here  |
Kinley was introduced to me by Georgie. He has a genuine zest for life and he is joining Meercat as part of his ‘journey’. Our expedition will be richer for his company, and I am sure Zenith will enrich his travels and get him a few steps closer to Panama & the Pacific. Welcome…(nickname TBA)
| Enter Kinley:
I have itchy feet. Always have. Rather than using a synthetic creme, I’ve found traveling keeps the itch at bay. My goal is to circumnavigate our little rock via sailing and short deliveries. I have a knack for adapting quickly to foreign cultures and strive to mesh an open mind to their backdrops.
I only just started on my goal. I graduated the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Outdoor Education and two months later, November 2012, sailed from Boston to Antigua. I’ve hiked most of the peaks here, sailed and swam my way around the island and now it’s time to continue on.
I’m very fortunate to be joining Zenith Ocean Voyages and it fell (as it usually does) into my lap at the right time. I may stay aboard as far as Curacao and from there, if not before, I hope to find another delivery through the canal and into the vast Pacific world. I plan to travel to Thailand, Cambodia, Indo, and perhaps stay put in New Zealand for a bit. But who knows? I’ll go anywhere really as long as my feet are happy.
I write my own music, (sing, guitar, harmonica), I play all sorts of sports. I have left-handed pride. Passion for surfing, fluent in both French and English, I rock climb, scuba dive, hike. I’ve been a canoe instructor and hitchhiked across the U.S. If I was stuck on an island, I would want bread, cheese, wine, and chocolate. |
 - Kinley
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Tags: Antigua, Antigua kiteboarding, Antigua kitesurfing, Barbuda, Barbuda kiteboarding, Blast Kiteboarding, catamaran, catamaran kiteboarding, catamaran kitesurfing, Green Island, Grenadines kitesurfing, Guadeloupe, kiteboarding, kiteboarding Antigua, kiteboarding Caribbean, kiteboarding instruction, kiteboarding lessons, kitesurfing, kitesurfing Antigua, kitesurfing Grenadines, Marc Rowley, Naish kiteboarding, Naish Torch, Zenith Ocean Films, Zenith Ocean Voyages
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Wednesday, September 5th, 2012
| 2013 is all about what more can Zenith do…..perfection is unattainable but never the less its an admirable goal.
A few beers and contemplation gave birth to the new kit. SUPs
At the popular request of guests and looking at the ever changing face of kitesurfing it was a bit obvious really, but I had one slight problem…..
Yes we are loaded with Naish gear, twin tips and surf boards, and yes we have special bespoke racks for storage on the boat to make ergonomic sense of life on board Meercat. The dilemma was how to store the new SUPs.
At 10 ft long the dilemma took a few more beers because its not only about logical solutions but aesthetic ones too. I am somewhat keen to preserve the fine lines of my lady…(who is nt!)….and at the same time make the toys user friendly in a limited space.
The wizard ‘Nick’ at Naish showed me these..the Mana Air. Rigid inflatable SUPs. They will fit in the on board kite-store in their bags for sailing and we whip em out on demand. Perfect! |
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John H (AKA: Johnny) lovingly stroking his boards on the Davit rack, knows what it means to all of us that our gear is at home even when away from home.
One of my pet hates is gear on the trampoline at the front of the boat. This is a place to chill, contemplate ones navel, drink a cold one and soak up the fine locations we go to. The mana Air wont be getting in the way of these things, and ..anything else that goes on there! |
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For all the tech-heads look left
For all the shakers and movers………Look right
Kite technology is ever developing and we all know mother nature is a fickle lady…I am stoked to add these toys as light wind solutions for reef exploration. |
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So thats one side of the lens covered….here’s the other…
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Although I love the JVC already on board I have bowed to the legend that is the Canon 5D Mk II. I’ve become a bit of a nut with Zenith Ocean Films and soon I will be needing a bigger boat to carry the kit. Should have taken up knitting!
Anyway…
Naish shot a movie on board a while back and Nate, their camera man, produced some awesome footage with this bad boy. For sure my first love is the JVC but with 2 full HD cams and the ability to swap lenses I hope to be biting Nate’s heels and up my game.
The new zoom will be particularly handy for the up-mast-shots and down winders with the boat in motion. Just gotta figure out how to use it now…I am a typical bloke and despise instruction manuals. |
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So thats what the Captain has been up to of late, prepping for 2012/13. Well there is more but stuff; pumps, watermaker cells, bottom scrapes( dont even think about it) and engine overhauls…oh toilet pumps too but lets not go there.
Georgie will be posting soon about her pre Zenith season….and from her facebook pictures, she is fearless
Laterz, Ged.
Tags: Antigua, Antigua kiteboarding, Antigua kitesurfing, Barbuda, Barbuda kiteboarding, boat launch, caribbean kitesurf, catamaran, catamaran kiteboarding, catamaran kitesurfing, Grenadines kitesurfing, Kite St Lucia, kite surfari, kiteboarding cruises, kiteboarding lessons, kiteboarding safaris, kitesurf expedition, Kitesurf Guadeloupe, Kitesurf Martinique, kitesurfing cruises, kitesurfing safaris, kitesurfing school, luxury catamaran, Naish kiteboarding, Naish Torch, SUP, Zenith Ocean Films, Zenith Ocean Voyages 0
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Thursday, August 11th, 2011
So Zenith has rocked up in the ABCs for our final leg of the 2011 season. Why here? This is the only consistently windy place in the Caribbean at this time of year, and free of hurricanes – so safe for Meercat and the crew.
With some downtime before the next guests arrive, Zenith has hooked up with the Naish crowd in Bonaire. The local kiters here are like a big family and yet very welcoming. It’s a joy to see and to experience. Spots like ‘Atlantis’ and Klein Bon’ are the major haunts. Super flat water, offshore winds and ice coolers packed with Polar beer is the order of the day. There seems to be an unusually high proportion of female kiters here, and they don’t hold back on the water.
| Up-coming star Judith Roetman works out in the gym, kites before AND after work. After just a few days of testing the Torch, she fell in love. We ve been back now for 12 days…she still has it !!!!!! Hmmmm this is going to be a tough one… Watch out for her in the near future |
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Jeroen is the local Naish rep. He started kiting 8 years ago, and like the old skool loves the big air. He is the center of kiting here in Bon’ If you ever land on these shores be sure to hook up with him. His bar tricks are hilarious: get your game head on if you are game enough! |
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After a few jars in the Little Havana Bar Jeroen and I decided to make a trip to the Los Aves islands, whip up a few local kiters to demo our 2011 Naish gear, and make a movie. I was in full filming mode, and the Aves provided perfect conditions for the demo. I should remember to get some kiting in myself at some point….
It never fails to touch me that when Zenith sails to new places, we discover great kiting communities, meet the kiters and it just clicks.
Our sport, passion whatever it is, binds us together. It’s weeks like this that make me proud to be a part of what we all do.
Oh by the way – keep an eye out for the vid, Judith is something else!!
Tags: Antigua, Antigua kiteboarding, Antigua kitesurfing, Barbuda, Barbuda kiteboarding, catamaran, catamaran kiteboarding, catamaran kitesurfing, Grenadines kitesurfing, kiteboarding cruises, kiteboarding lessons, kiteboarding safaris, kitesurfing cruises, kitesurfing safaris, kitesurfing school, Naish kiteboarding, Naish Torch, Zenith Ocean Films, Zenith Ocean Voyages
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Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
We couldn’t say it at the time ’cause we’d been sworn to secrecy but yes, that’s what Florian, Dom and Nate were doing onboard back in late February/early March. Creating Episode Four of Naish Kiteboarding TV, which was released a couple of days ago. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re weird, but anyway here it is:
Naish Kiteboarding TV Episode Four: Boat Trip to Antigua
It’s also embedded in our gallery of course.
There’s a few shots missing, which we think should be included in a special end-of-the-year outtakes/extras/crashes/bleeps/blunders episode. For example, whatever happened to Florian’s bikini session? The epic timelapse at Green Island? Ged the captain getting nervous and fluffing his lines during his intervie? Dom catching a huge fish? etc. etc. Note to Nate (try saying that quickly) – it must have been hard to condense 8 intense fun-filled days to less than 10 minutes… Good job man.
As for the color of the water, no it wasn’t photoshopped – come onboard and check for yourself.
Tags: Antigua, Antigua kiteboarding, Antigua kitesurfing, Barbuda, Barbuda kiteboarding, Boat trip to Antigua, catamaran, catamaran kiteboarding, catamaran kitesurfing, Dominique Granger, Florian Daubos, Naish kiteboarding, Naish Kiteboarding TV, Naish Momentum, Naish Park, Naish Torch, Nate Appel
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
- Dominique the brownie monster
- Hans’ comment after this session: “Not one of my worst days.”
What an excellent 8 days… first Barbuda, then Antigua, with our guests Cecilia and Hans from Norway, as well as two great riders, Dominique Granger and Florian Daubos, and Nate Appel the videographer – who also kites and likes to jump over dinghies. Marc Rowley was there as well of course, and he kept on riding despite injuring his foot – what a man!
Dominique managed to snorkel out of the escape hatch and Florian kited in a bikini, to the dismay of everyone present.
The wind blew hard every day and very conveniently stopped blowing today as we came into port.
We didn’t do a whole lot apart from kite, sleep, eat, drink a few beers and laugh our heads off. It was great.
More pics to be posted tomorrow… thanks to Marc for some of these!
Tags: Antigua, Antigua Yacht Club, Blast Kiteboarding, catamaran, catamaran kiteboarding, catamaran kitesurfing, Cineaptic, Dominique Granger, flat water, Florian Daubos, Green Island, kiteboarding Antigua, kiteboarding Barbuda, kiteboarding expeditions, kiteboarding instruction, kitesurfing Antigua, kitesurfing Barbuda, kitesurfing expeditions, Marc Rowley, Naish Torch, Nate Appel, Zenith Ocean Films, Zenith Ocean Voyages
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Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
We had planned to paste some pictures to give you an idea of the wonders of Antigua and Barbuda but have been too busy editing the T3 video, which is now done. We will post it on the Zenith Ocean Films page (where all our other videos live) soon.
Anyway, here’s the youtube link, enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ryb38PA66vM
Tags: Antigua kiteboarding, Antigua kitesurfing, Barbuda kiteboarding, Barbuda kitesurfing, flat water kiting, Naish kiteboarding, Naish Torch, Naishkites, Zenith Ocean Films, Zenith Ocean Voyages
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Monday, January 31st, 2011
Our Naish gear (click here to see a full list of what we have) is free for our guests to use. This is done on a rotational basis, so that everyone gets a chance. However, as a special privilege for our first booked cabin on each trip, those guests will have precedence over the Naish gear and will therefore be able to choose to bring little or no gear of their own.
So book early but don’t forget your harnesses…
some of the Naish gear, resting in Guadeloupe
Tags: early booking, kiteboarding gear, kiteboards, kites, kitesurfing gear, Naish, Naish boards, Naish Global, Naish kites, Naish Momentum, Naish Park, Naish Torch
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