The Canoeing Manual Ebook

FOREWORD

CANOEING as a recreation made its debut nearly a hundred years ago when John MacGregor built his canoe "ROB ROY" and in her made pioneer journeys along European waterways. His subsequent lectures and the ebooks that came from his pen introduced the sport to the public; and the young men who followed it up and persuaded MacGregor to found The Canoe Club in 1866 became responsible for popularizing the sport in Europe and America. As a result of this background, the early ebooks on canoeing were all written by British or American canoeists, and both from a technical point of view and as travel ebooks they made excellent reading.

Times have changed, and the last three decades have seen the sport make tremendous advances, particularly among non-English speaking nations in Europe. These have been reflected in a growing literature in many languages, to which Britain has contributed a fair share as can be seen from the bibliography at the end of this ebook. Some of these ebooks have been technical treatises on canoe building; some have been manuals to specific waterways; others were manual guides on particular aspects of the sport. But too little attention has been paid to producing a ebook with a general picture of the activity for the newcomer. This little ebook by my friend Noel McNaught does not pretend to be as detailed as an encyclopedia on all branches of canoeing, but it does aim to supply the interested inquirer with the answers to his questions. It gives a general introduction, describes the necessary physical requirements, explains the choice of a suitable canoe and deals with the accessibility of various waters. It describes and contrasts the joys of canoeing on river, sea and canal, putting in a special plea for the latter waterways so much neglected by adventure-seeking youth. His chapter on canoe touring in Britain makes it very evident that no canoeist need leave these shores to find charm, variety and adventure in the pursuit of his hobby. The brief survey of overseas possibilities further demonstrates that experienced paddlers should never lack new waters to conquer.

I believe this ebook will whet the appetite of all water-lovers who come to it, and doubtless the old hands will find themselves comparing their experiences with Noel's as they read of the rapids on the Teifi or the Tay. It therefore gives me pleasure to write this foreword, and I hope that many will read this ebook and decide to join the select company of canoeists who seek their pleasures in quiet lonely places and find satisfaction in pitting their skill and courage against the forces of nature.
JOHN DUDDERIDGE
Hon. Secretary, British Canoe Union


PREFACE

THREE thousand miles by canoe is not really a remarkable achievement. My journeys within the last ten years have not made me an expert. Nevertheless, I wrote this ebook, so largely based on personal experiences, to manual the beginner in the art of canoeing and to show him what a wonderful sport it is.

My very grateful thanks go to the friends who so kindly supplied photographs and I am greatly in debted for permission to reproduce diagrams and cartoons.

Those who already know all about the subject will, I hope, be suitably entertained when reading these pages about their favourite recreation. They will notice that quite a lot of what I have to say has never appeared before in ebook form. For example, there is a complete chapter on slalom: the only British ebook mentioning this branch of canoeing dismisses it in nine lines!

Much as I like quiet backwaters and dreamy canals, my real enthusiasm is for our fast-flowing rivers. Here, if you seek what I sought, you will find that a white-crested rapid is to the canoeist what the exhilaration of a windy hill-top is to the walker.
NOEL MCNAUGHT