Loading a canoe for open water paddling

Packing and loading a canoe with expedition provisions and equipment is a personal thing. People who do it a lot develop a system so they can access items and keep things organised. My emphasis is to have access to essential items during the day, make it easy to trim and load the boat with the bags and to cut down on faff and clutter in the case of an unplanned swim. Also, I often need to switch skill sets from paddle to pole to sail and back again with ease… Take a look at the pack lanyard lengths too as they will help or hinder self and other rescues. So here’s my thoughts and I’m always keen to learn alternative ideas too. Cheers A