Downunder Kayaking

(KAYAK & Boutique sale - see below)

Kayaking Kiwi Style!

Mark Pinzon and Mac sporting our lovely new Ruffwear Life Jackets (well Mac is anyway!)

and featured in the Darien Rowayton Moffly Magazine.

Major benefit - it has a handle to enable you to get your dog

back into the kayak/boat without capsizing it

or scratching the heck out of you!

What's going on at Downunder...  

BOUTIQUE SALE - 50% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE

starting Monday September 1st

• Reef, Havaiana, and Rainbow sandals
• Aussie sunglasses and swimgear for kids
• Designer swimsuits for teens and women
• Cute beach coverups/tops
• Downunder Polos for men
• Downunder and Kiwi hats
  AND Jewelry; gifts; toys; aquablock fish tanks; lotion; lifejackets; tubes; boogie and skim boards...  

KAYAK SALE - Starting this weekend

with pickup October 5th

Ranging from $400 single to $475 double - visit to see stock

Ocean Kayak Single - Scrambler                Ocean Kayak Double - Malibu

 

Classes and Programs...  

 

of the season

9:30-12pm (note later time).  $35 class, rentals additional, byo kayak $10 surcharge.  As fall creeps aroundSs the corner, join Sherry for her last class of the season on the warm sands of Long Island Sound.  45 min class, following a gentle paddle to a local beach/island.

2-4:30pm.  Seems everyone knows Nina - she's taught most of our children!  Nina Miller has been with the Darien Nature Center for eons, and blesses us with her knowledge, expertise, warmth and humor on an educational and fun paddle to the Fish Islands to enjoy the wildlife.  All ages.  Program fee $10/adult, $5 senior citizens, 16years and under $5.   Rentals additional and reservations are required.

Sunday August 31st

SIT-ON-TOP KAYAK INSTRUCTION W/KIM

10-12pm – learn all there is to know about paddling a sit-on-top kayak, including how to get back on should you fall off!  No experience necessary.  $105 inc. rentals.

Monday September 1st

It's a holiday, so we open at 8am

50% sale on all store merchandise

 

FISHING BY KAYAK WITH NUNZ!

Date still to be determined - if you're interested, just give us a call.  Early morning and early evening are the best times.  Senior guide and fisherman Steve Annunziato, takes experienced fisher ’people’ out in search of striped bass.  The river in particular has been boiling with bunker and its loads of fun getting out there fishing for them, and better yet - what's chasing them.  So as not to have lines getting tangled, we limit the #’s to 4, and we use sit-in-side kayaks.  Kayaking experience isn't as important as fishing experience.  Bring your rod and lures.  $20 program fee, rentals additional, or byo kayak for $10 surcharge.

Thursday September 4th

SUNSET PADDLE

5:30-7pm Sunset paddle - shorter hours due to shorter days now.  $10 4+ people, $15 less than 4.  Rentals $28 single, $38 single.  BYO kayak, $10 surcharge.

10-1pm - customized to the client!  Both types of kayaks will be welcome in this program, including the type that have a cockpit.  Learn all the basic kayaking skills as well as sea kayak specific information.  How does the equipment differ, why to wear a spray skirt, how to capsize and exit wearing one (optional), how to re-enter your kayak after a capsize, how to assist.  No experience necessary.  $105 sit on top $125 sit in (sea kayak), includes rentals.  ROLLING CLASSES - are not something we offer at Downunder (yet) - if you're interested, let us know and we'll refer you to outfits that do.  In addition, anyone interested in Instructor certification... we have a program being offered in the Fall and the Spring.  It's a 2 weekend commitment, and open to very experienced, coastal kayaking level, kayakers.

5:30-7pm Sunset paddle - shorter hours due to shorter days now.  $20pp.  Rentals $28 single, $38 single.  BYO kayak, $10 surcharge.

SAVE THE SOUND - BEACH CLEAN-UP

1-4pm - Join Chris Cryder, Director of Habitat Restoration for the CT Fund for the Environment, as we paddle to the Fish Islands for a beach cleanup.  Chris will include an educational element to this program, that will be appropriate for children through adults.  Rent a kayak or bring your own for a $10 surcharge.  There is no program fee, as we encourage you to learn about the Sound and the impact trash has on it.  Powerboaters are welcome to join us, in fact we need at least one to bring the trash back to Downunder.

Monday September 15th

MOONLIGHT PADDLE

7-9pm – an ethereal experience as you leave at dusk and return in the dark.  Experienced guides escort you with headlamps and lightsticks on your boats.  $15 program fee rentals additional, byo kayak for $10 surcharge..  Limited space.

Saturday September 20th

HISTORY PADDLE - THE GHOSTS OF ROWAYTON!

2-4:30pm - we start off at the Pinkney house  (just as you enter Rowayton, on the right) with a lovely talk by Rowayton Historical Society President, Wendell Livingston (and lemonade and cookies!)  Then a paddle on the Five Mile River to put it in perspective. $45 single/ $65 double including rental and guided tour.  $15 from single goes to RHS and $25 from doubles.  $5 discount for seniors, students, and RHS members.  Bring your own kayak - $15 donation.

 Pinkney Park on left, and Farm Creek on right

PADDLE FARM CREEK

11-2pm - our LAST GUIDED PADDLE of the season.  Join us for a delightful tour of the Farm Creek Wildlife Reserve, and the Hart Property.  $45 single/ $65 double including rental and guided tour.  $15 from single goes to Norwalk Land Trust for the Preservation of Farm Creek and $25 from doubles.  $5 discount for seniors, students, and RHS members.  Bring your own kayak - $15 donation.  

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What we've been up to...  

A triathalon! 

Well, we didn't actually DO it, however we did help 18 participants quickly don their gear, for a race up river, under the White Bridge and back.  Volckert Van Reseema, a local - originally from the Netherlands - arranged a course that had participants running, biking, swimming and paddling to raise funds for the Medical Knowledge Institute (MKI) a cause dear to his heart.   Funds raised will be executed on the ground level by The Netherlands in Kayamandi.

'Super Kayaker'

Jaden Volz turns 6.  Jaden first started kayaking in the 'Mom and Me' program when he was 4, now he has his own kayak!  Pictured below he's quietly paddling towards a green heron at the northern most end of Five Mile River, under the bridges.  On the right is his birthday cake - a kayak! made by his Mom, Carolyn.

Camp finishes with Oysters!

Caith Bazoian and cousin Jeni were the last paddlers in the children's program, sneaking in a final few days before school starts.  A field trip on one of the on/off storm days, took us to Sargent's Cove of CT - a shellfish Aquaculture business in South Norwalk, where we learnt how oysters are seeded and ultimately planted in beds out in the Sound.  From there we went over to Norm Blooms oyster and clamming business, checked out the huge boats, and dredging equipment.  Watched as fisherman chipped away at the clusters of shells to separate them, before cleaning, packaging and refrigerating for shipment throughout the country.  Lastly, we enjoyed ice-cream and a science project, as we painted designs on clam shells with nail polish.  Left in vinegar for a period of time (long probably), the vinegar will eat away the calcified shell, leaving a raised design.  We're keen to see just how that works out!   Thanks to Nina Miller for that great idea!  The children learnt a lot about the algae oysters feed on, how useful their shells are for oyster beds, the impact storms, run off and pollution have on them, AND how quick and clever they are at filtering out all the bad stuff.  Couldn't talk them into trying one though!

Time Warner

Turned up on Saturday for a guided paddle out to the Fish Islands.  Last week we took most of the fleet by Seaport Express to the Woodway Country Club, where Thomson Reuters had a fantastic event for staff and their families - climbing wall, bouncy castle, beach games.  We brought along a water trampoline and led guided kayak outings throughout the afternoon.  It was a blast, and our third year helping them create a memorable day.  Later this month MySpace and Quark Expeditions will be coming through.  September is a great time for outings...  Keep Seaport Express in mind for outings as well - Barry Natale, owner, can accommodate 25 on this beautiful boat, and is starting to offer RIB outings that accommodate 6 passengers - a thrilling ride!  Barry's business, Sound Navigation  partners with us for kayak transportation to Sheffield Island, allowing clients to go kayaking AND to go on boat tours.  We're about to accommodate up to 50 clients this way.  More if we ally with Seaport Assn who own the Sheffield Lighthouse and offer a wonderful maritime program.  We are in the process of arranging a kayak concession on Sheffield Island, more news on that in 2009!

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"Give it a Go!"

...that's the motto at Downunder, and they do - 3 year olds through grandparents get out on the water, with experience or not, swimmers or not, even dogs go out!  Kayaking on a sit on top is easy, safe and fun - our job is to make it so and we do our job, really well.  No worries mate, we'll take care of you!      

At Downunder you'll enjoy a beautiful river with several inlets, a small waterfall, bridges, docks and pilings to meander between and around.  Explore the bays and coves of Long Island Sound.  Wildlife sanctuaries such as Farm Creek and the Fish Islands.  Comb beaches, swim, enjoy the wildlife - oyster catchers, osprey, cormorants, herons and egrets. 

Located at ‘Below Deck’ a cabana-like store full of fun summer gear - swimsuits, sandals, hats, gift. Services include: sit on top kayak rentals, instruction, guiding, children’s summer programs, parties, catered events (through the Rowayton Market - upstairs) from simple to gourmet, island rentals,

corporate events.  Visit us for
a mini vacation! 

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