The day before the symposium began, Sea Kayak Georgia hosted “Demo Day”— an opportunity for folks to try various Nigel Dennis kayaks under the watchful eye of…Nigel Dennis himself! (Can you say, starstruck?)

In case you didn’t know, Nigel Dennis (above) and Paul Caffyn completed the first-ever circumnavigation of Great Britain in 1980, having designed better kayaks for the occasion; and later undertook expeditions in Antarctica, Easter Island, and a televised romp around Cape Horn.
So, next time you rummage around in your offset dayhatch for a cookie or hop into your keyhole cockpit without bloodying your shins, thank Mr. Dennis—the inventor of both.

More scenes around Tybee. Click for full-size slideshow: