Not long ago, the LaFleur family of Waterford would pile into a canoe and set out around the region’s waterways.
That hasn’t happened for some time.
“We hardly get the canoe out anymore,” Dave LaFleur said.
These days, it’s all about kayaks.
“Kayaking has become a family thing,” he added.
The LaFleurs—Dave, his wife, Rose, and daughter, Danielle—were all at the Save the River-Save the Hills Niantic River Appreciation Day Kayak Regatta, now in its fifth year.
While the Niantic River plays host to boaters, fishermen, and wildlife lovers, kayakers will tell you the best way to appreciate the river, or any body of water, is in a kayak.
“You can get real close to things,” said Mike Hills, an avid kayaker. “You can see birds and plants that you can’t really see from a boat.”
Hills and the LaFleurs were among the 134 people who participated in the kayak regatta and the parade, a testament to the growing popularity of the sport.
“You definitely see more paddlers out there,” Rose LaFleur said. “It is great exercise and is great for reducing stress.”
Norm Cavallaro, the co-owner of North Cove Outfitters in Old Saybrook, said the store began to notice an uptick in kayak sales “in the early to mid-1990s.”
“The economy then was booming,” he said, “and people were looking for new things to do.”
Hills said the sport is social, as there are several local “paddler’s clubs” kayakers can join.
Plus, the boats are not that expensive, as the low end for starter kayaks starts around $600, though the top of the line can cost as much as $2,000.
Cavallaro noted that unlike sports such as golf or skiing, after the initial investment, it is, for the most part, free.
Kayaks, which usually range between 11 and 14 feet, can come equipped with storage space for safety equipment, and some, such as Hills’ 13½-foot craft, come with rudders to help steer the boats on windy days.
Though, kayakers say that one of the great appeals of the sport is that the rower is low to the water and there is not as much wind resistance as in a canoe.
Kayaks also come in several varieties, most of which were on display on the Niantic River, that call on different skills.
Most of the kayaks were traditional, meaning the paddler crawls inside the boat and covers the opening with a skirt, to prevent water from entering.
These, however, are more susceptible to flipping over in rough waters, or when the rower loses his sense of balance.
“You have to keep your weight evenly distributed while in the kayak,” Hills said.
A lack of balance, or an errant wave, can cause the kayak to capsize rather easily.
Otherwise, one would have to perform the “Eskimo Roll,” where the rower flips the kayak over with the oar, while inverted and holding his breath.
The other common variety is the “sit-upon” kayak, where the hole in the middle of the boat is replaced by a seat; these are generally considered safer vessels.
Cavallaro said that newcomers to the sport should ask retailers questions about what is the right kayak for them.
Dave LaFleur said the region has plenty of locations for kayakers of all levels. In addition to the Niantic River, paddlers are a common sight off Bluff Point in Groton, Barn Island in Stonington, Napatree Point in Westerly, and in the Thames River.
“We’ve got some amazing spots here in Connecticut,” Cavallaro said. “The Connecticut River empties out into a major body of water and there is not any industry.
“You name a spot, and there will be people out paddling,” he added.
While kayak racing is popular in Europe, the competitive aspect of the sport has not really translated in the United States, according to Dave LaFleur.
But winning races, like in the case of Rose LaFleur who won the women’s long kayak event, is not really the point.
For most local kayakers, recreation takes precedence over results.
“If I have free time,” Cavallaro said, “it’s what I like to do.”
Rose LaFleur casts her enjoyment of kayaking in nearly spiritual terms. “You really feel one with the water,” she said.
Fast Facts
• The oldest intact kayaks are close to 4,000 years old and are on display in the Bavarian State Museum for Ethnology in Munich.
• The Royal Marines employed kayaks in an assault on occupied Bordeaux in 1942.
• At last month’s Olympics in Beijing, Germany was the top medal winner in canoe and kayaking flatwater competition, taking home seven medals that include two golds.
Niantic River Appreciation Day Regatta Results
Long kayak winners: women - Rose LaFleur; men - Jay Sullivan.
Short kayak race winners: women – Judy Nelson; men – Paul Vincenti.
Kids race winner: Casey O’Dea.