Why a ribbon for K2-kayaks?
Jim Danielsson who established Havspaddlarnas Blå Band, starting at Svinesund and running around the entire coast of Sweden to Haparnada, has during the past years got the
question "why isn't a K2 allowed within HBB".This question has been asked from several, but as the administration would be to heavy for HBB to manage it has been denied. This is why
a solution with an outside organisation has been looked for. More information about K2B and it's organisation is given here on our pages.
The Kayak section with in The Swedish Association for Outdoor Life in Ljungskile has taken this under their wings. A section of the organisation with lots of activities for paddlers.
Rules for obtaining K2Bandet
Our rules mainly follow the rules for conquering HBB. Jim Danielsson has the kindness to allow us to use those. Irrespective of craft the tour has the same purpose:
TO PADDLE ALONG THE ENTIRE COAST UNDER OWN CAPACITY AND AT OWE RESPONSIBILITY.
There is however one detail we don't have in common with HBB. K2Bandet is possible to paddle in either direction. See our rules. There will also be found how to make an announcement.
Day of meeting with the Jury
The actual date for the year is noted at page jury.
All crews (logs and maps/charts) will be scrutinised the same day at Ljungskile Folkhögskola with other surrounding activities in Ljungskile. The day after is final day for the season of "try-out-paddle" and we kindly ask you to reserve this day as well. There are good accommodations at Ljungskile Folkhögskola of the people and for visitors it is possible to arrive the day before the meeting. Ljungskile is found about 7 miles north of Gothenburg along the coast inside the island Orust. A good thing might be to book your accommodation at the same time as making your announcement.
The first ten crews approved paddlers will be given the book "100.000 KILOMETER I HAVSKAJAK" written and kindly donated by Jim Danielsson.
Gift "2
Will be given "Kusten är klar !" to the following crews (11 to 20) Written and donated by Bengt Larsson.
Lottery
That year the total approved crews reaches or exceed 10 a lottery will be held. The price is a K2 kayak. The lottery is among the paddlers that up to that year have approved. The number of crews can thus be more than 10.
It is Ingvar Ankervik, Vituddens Kanotvarv who generously donates this extraordinary lottery prize.
VKV Anita K2
Welcome with your application
The announcement and approved paddling is your lottery ticket.
Coast paddling
To paddle along the entire coast of Sweden many have looked up on as the ultimate adventure - a long tour of the long ones. Jim Danielsson might have had some of this in thought when he nourished his plans. 1990 had Jim made his plans of how he liked this long trip should be done, founded rules under which he liked to find himself conquer the Swedish coast and established The Seapaddler´s Blue Ribbon (HBB). The year after he became the first under (own premises) to conquer the adventure. More of this to be found in his latest book "100.000 KILOMETER I HAVSKAJAK".
1992 nothing happened, but the year after we paddlers had started to notice the conquest and whish ourselves conquer The Seapaddler´s Blue Ribbon that in fact is Blue/Yellow. Jim and HBB got their followers with other ribbons along the coasts as the Blue/White in Finland and the Red/White - Havkajakroerne - in Denmark. The thoughts Jim had showed to be good - others had the same wish - to conquer the coasts regardless of nation. To be acknowledging in this connection is that Jim has conquered the Norwegian coast and part of the Danish, but also the Finish coast in totality apart from lakes even in Russia.
Then, maybe earlier, the threatening clouds came. Paddlers of K2-kayaks wondered why they not were allowed to conquer HBB in their kayaks. Yes! Why were they not allowed? The solo paddler Jim (even if he paddles with his ray of sunshine Gun) wisely realized that a mix with K2 would be hard to manage with the growth HBB had got thru the years. As well HBB as K2B are non-profit organizations where personal interest and energy is the power.
HBB is what it ought to be while K2B is a sister lead by hand even if we have e few ideas of our own depending on our fortune to be able to listen to points of view round HBB. The summary is clear - given rules counts.
In a kayak for two the conditions are after all different and all wishes were diplomatically denied. In a K2 one is never alone in decisions or actions. Experiences and trouble are shared. Held up by hard wind, super weather or seals and other things worth the sight. As a team, one probably will go faster than in a single kayak. A rainy evening it will be two putting up the tent. While one prepare the food the other might go...(?) Division of labour! Like under paddles. Can it be better?
The question for a Swedish ribbon adapted for K2-kayaks was finally put to the Kayak section of The Swedish Association for Outdoor Life in Ljungskile. We have got support beyond all from Jim and others that are involved in HBB. This we think will secure us in managing this longed-for K2 Ribbon in a right way, which is our whish.
In many ways we co-operate with HBB. If you like to find out more about HBB and how it is to paddle the entire coast of Sweden you will have to visit their homepage. There are many stories written by their approved paddlers, but when it comes to K2 it is us taking over.
Ljungskile October 2008
