SAVEwith a - Canoe & Kayak
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WIN A KAYAK COURSE<br />
$5.95 NZ<br />
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Cobra Fish n’ Dive<br />
valued at $995<br />
NZ <strong>Kayak</strong> Magazine Buyers Guide<br />
SPONSORED BY<br />
WHITE WATER • RIVER KAYAKING • SEA KAYAKING • MULTISPORT<br />
Discover Another World
2 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
So why choose a Q-<strong>Kayak</strong>?<br />
• Quality - not only the finish,<br />
but the high grade materials<br />
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web: www.q-kayaks.co.nz • PHONE: 06 326 8667<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 3
Issue 33<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong>ing & Fishing Lake Taupo 6<br />
Andrew Canning circumnavigates Lake Taupo in<br />
three days and still has time to catch a trout or<br />
three.<br />
Coromandel Coastline 14<br />
Ruth Hibarger tells of trip with the added<br />
dimension of the laughter of the van Lith children.<br />
Right place right time 24<br />
AUT’s Matt Barker covers some ‘what ifs’ and<br />
‘maybes’ of white water leadership.<br />
Fishing in Taranaki 8<br />
Bronnie van Lith persuades four keen fishermen<br />
to part with some hints and tips on sea fishing<br />
from kayaks.<br />
First-timer but no Part-Timer 16<br />
Grabbing life in both hands and going for it, in<br />
Kaukapakapa.<br />
What does a 180 degree spin look like? 17<br />
Maree and Jim Downey prepare to open a<br />
Wellington <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> shop.<br />
Off-Road Running Shoes 28<br />
Footwear for multisporters.<br />
Waimakariri familiarisation trips 28<br />
Product Focus - fishing gear etc. 30<br />
Rakiura in rain and Red Bands 32<br />
Bernie, Janette, Johnny and Silvia spend their<br />
holiday paddling around Stewart Island.<br />
Paddling at the end of the earth 10<br />
The Antarctica Sea <strong>Kayak</strong>ing Championships lure<br />
Steve Camp to race in rather extreme conditions.<br />
VHF Channel changes 17<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong>ing versus Legal Tomes 18<br />
Irvin Openshaw the first person to kayak the Cook<br />
Strait tells his tale to roving reporter Heather Hills<br />
Casio Coromandel Classic 20<br />
A two day multisport event is described by Team<br />
PRO4 Nutrition<br />
The unquenchable thirst 38<br />
Kelvin Oram writes about his journey on the<br />
Ganges with friend Doug.<br />
Mohaka Adventure 12<br />
We get two sides of the story when Steve Kittle<br />
becomes a ‘Shuttle bunny’ for Nhoj and friends.<br />
Winners of Rasdex paddle jacket 22<br />
Potu Falls 23<br />
Two staff members from Taupo <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
drop over a local waterfall.<br />
The birth of a kayak 41<br />
The Dusky Bay Classic arrives.<br />
Obscured by Waves - Book Review 42<br />
Paul Caffyn’s book on his South Island Odyssey.<br />
NZ <strong>Kayak</strong> Magazine’s Buyers Guide 43<br />
Directory: Things to Do 49<br />
Learn to <strong>Kayak</strong> and WIN a Skills Course 50<br />
Front cover: Steve Knowles<br />
4 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
EDITOR:<br />
Peter Townend<br />
Ph: [09] 473 0036 Fax [09] 473 0794<br />
Email: pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz<br />
SUBEDITOR:<br />
Ruth E. Henderson<br />
Ph: 021 298 8120<br />
Email: ruth@canoeandkayak.co.nz<br />
DESIGN & PRODUCTION:<br />
Breakthrough Communications<br />
PO Box 108050 Symonds St,<br />
Auckland<br />
Ph: [09] 303 3536 • Fax [09] 303 0086<br />
Email: kayak@graphics.co.nz<br />
Website: www.graphics.co.nz<br />
PUBLISHER:<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong> NZ Magazine is published six times<br />
per year by <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Ltd.<br />
7/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale, Auckland<br />
PRINTING: Brebner Print<br />
DISTRIBUTION: IMD<br />
SUBSCRIPTIONS:<br />
New Zealand – 1 year 6 Issues = $30<br />
Overseas – 1 year 6 Issues = $50<br />
Payment to:<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> and <strong>Kayak</strong> Ltd,<br />
7/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale, Auckland<br />
Ph [09] 421 0662 • Fax [09] 421 0663<br />
Overseas subscribers can make payment via<br />
credit card number on subscription form.<br />
CONTRIBUTORS: We welcome contributors’<br />
articles and photos.<br />
• Deadline for issue 35: 10 December 2005<br />
• Deadline for issue 36: 10 February 2006<br />
• Text should be submitted on disk or<br />
emailed as a Word text file.<br />
• Photos should be emailed or put on CD as<br />
a high resolution (300 dpi) jpg at full size<br />
accompanied by captions. Prints should<br />
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numbered and listed in text.<br />
• All care will be taken to safeguard and<br />
return material.<br />
• No responsibility is accepted for<br />
submitted material.<br />
• Material published in the magazine must<br />
not be reproduced without permission.<br />
• Refer to www.canoeandkayak.co.nz.<br />
NZ <strong>Kayak</strong> magazine ‘Contributors’<br />
Guidelines’ for more details.<br />
COPYRIGHT: The opinions expressed by<br />
contributors and the information stated in<br />
advertisements/articles are not necessarily<br />
agreed by the editors or publisher of New<br />
Zealand <strong>Kayak</strong> Magazine.<br />
ALL CONTRIBUTIONS TO:<br />
Ruth E. Henderson<br />
ruth@canoeandkayak.co.nz<br />
New Zealand <strong>Kayak</strong> Magazine<br />
Subscribe a friend to the <strong>Kayak</strong> NZ Magazine<br />
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On Sunday the sun was out. I was too,<br />
walking with the kids and dog, enjoying<br />
a leisurely lunch and an afternoon on the<br />
water. We had a family gathering at Dacre<br />
Cottage to mow the lawns, paddle, swim,<br />
BBQ and enjoy beach games.<br />
I dare say that on most days you and I<br />
over-tax our brains on ‘important things’,<br />
so that the opportunity to relax with<br />
neighbours, friends, and family, to chat<br />
with strangers we meet is surely just the<br />
‘bee’s knees’.<br />
Our kayaks are more than valued boats;<br />
they are tickets to shared activities or to<br />
dream in pleasant solitude. They make it<br />
possible to discover this great little<br />
country, smile and think, “It doesn’t get<br />
much better than this”.<br />
As Christmas approaches we are<br />
pressured to do even more. Over-taxing<br />
Card No:<br />
✄<br />
Cheque Visa Mastercard<br />
Signature Expiry date:<br />
Send form to <strong>Kayak</strong> NZ Magazine. PO Box 100 493, NSMC, Auckland.<br />
Or phone [09] 421 0662 Fax [09] 421 0663<br />
email: pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz<br />
is almost universal. For some of us the<br />
frantic timetable is an annual torment.<br />
We know the answer - go paddling for<br />
a few hours alone, mobile phone ‘off’,<br />
or with friends. Smile and say<br />
“Gidday” to anyone we meet. In<br />
brightening other people’s we feel<br />
refreshed.<br />
Can you make time in your ‘frantic<br />
schedule’ to say “Gidday” to store<br />
owners Jim and Maree, who have<br />
recently opened the tenth <strong>Canoe</strong> &<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong> Centre in Wellington, or to<br />
another Centre manager? You know<br />
that the next best refreshing thing to<br />
kayaking for a few hours is to talk and<br />
plan an activity or trip with a fellow<br />
enthusiast for a few minutes.<br />
Happy paddling.<br />
Peter Townend<br />
Great Stuff Safety Flag<br />
• Very easy to remove<br />
• Simply plugs into a rod holder<br />
• If lost overboard it floats<br />
• Flexible plastic base and fibreglass shaft<br />
Being seen has never been easier<br />
Available at all good <strong>Kayak</strong> stores<br />
Includes Safety Flag & Rod Holder<br />
email: greatstuff@woosh.co.nz<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 5
LAKE KAYAKING<br />
Three days kayaking and<br />
fishing around Lake Taupo<br />
by Andrew Canning<br />
I have lived in Taupo for a few years<br />
and have often entertained the idea of<br />
a kayaking trip around the whole Lake.<br />
A clear long range forecast and the “Go<br />
for it”!! thumbs up from my lovely<br />
partner Rachel, meant it was all on.<br />
Pulling out of Whakaipo Bay at 5pm my Tasman<br />
Express was very low in the water with enough<br />
food for a week aboard!<br />
The lake was like glass and it was an easy paddle<br />
to Kawa Kawa before dark. It was a late start due<br />
to a stag do the previous night. A tree ‘slightly<br />
rooted’ to the cliff and hanging perilously out over<br />
the water, reminded me how I felt. Monday<br />
morning the welcome sound of the lake lapping<br />
gently on the beach only metres from my tent<br />
woke me.<br />
My harling rod was quickly in the rod holder and<br />
I was quietly cruising along. My senses dined on<br />
a smorgasbord of natural sights and sound<br />
including tuis, bellbirds and the occasional plop<br />
of a trout. And then!! ZZZZZ—ZZZZZZZZZZ—!!!<br />
Magic to my ears. Yee Haaaa. Numero uno. A nice<br />
4lb rainbow hen, given the kiss of life and<br />
quickly released.<br />
When harling I find it helps significantly to<br />
exercise some self- control by hitting the rudder<br />
hard left or right before lunging for the rod. I can<br />
then play the trout over the bow rather than<br />
awkwardly back over my shoulder.<br />
A quick stop at Boat Harbour and then off again<br />
past the breathtaking scenery: native bush,<br />
towering cliffs and waterfalls as a backdrop to the<br />
deep green/blue of the flat lake.<br />
About 2pm I discovered a little bay surrounded<br />
by cliffs with a small stream, the Waikino flowing<br />
into a sandy bay that dropped off deeply about<br />
100m out.<br />
After a quick lunch I was in my hammock: rod out<br />
(heave and leave) and I was lost in the pages of<br />
Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code oblivious to the<br />
changing weather.<br />
Alerted by the noise of my paddle washing across<br />
the ledge I scrambled for my gear just in time to<br />
stop it getting wet. Up the lake white horses were<br />
building. Within an hour the lake had changed<br />
from flat calm to very rough. Waves slammed onto<br />
the ledge, but thankfully the wind leap-frogged it<br />
before screaming up the towering cliffs behind<br />
me. I was here for the night whether I liked it<br />
or not.<br />
Annoyed for dropping my guard I concentrated<br />
on catching dinner and landed 5 trout, using the<br />
waves to pull them over the 3m ledge. I kept one<br />
and filleted it into steaks, rolled in flour, fried in<br />
butter and served with asparagus and mash.<br />
Despite the wind I had a very sound sleep, apart<br />
from being woken twice by the noise of my reel<br />
screaming out from my ‘heave and leave’ fishing<br />
technique.<br />
At sparrows fart the lake was virtually flat again. I<br />
harled close in under the cliffs, enjoying the<br />
sunrise and a cup of left over luke -warm coffee<br />
from my thermos.<br />
I landed a nice trout, keen to put in a big day,<br />
stashed my rod and paddled past the lovely<br />
settlement of Whanganui. Over the next few hours<br />
trout broke the surface very near my bow.<br />
Temptation got the better of me and out went the<br />
weapon again, but to no avail. Rounding<br />
Tangingatahi Point the Northeasterly wind and<br />
waves rebounding off the cliff base (clapatis)<br />
made me wind in my line to concentrate<br />
on paddling.<br />
After 7 hours paddling I pulled into Te Hapua bay<br />
for lunch and a quick nap in my hammock. Setting<br />
off into a southeasterly head wind and making<br />
slow progress I decided I might as well be fishing.<br />
I tried different flies and lures over the next few<br />
hours without a catch. The weather deteriorated.<br />
Consistent white caps encouraged me to put the<br />
rod away and resort to paddling for distance.<br />
Reaching Kuratau mid afternoon, the wind was<br />
even stronger. I cut the corner and headed straight<br />
over to the Tongariro Delta, landed, quickly<br />
changed into dry clothes and attended to a king<br />
size dose of the munchies.<br />
Eating so much I was surprised to fit back into my<br />
kayak! After a total of 11 1/2 hours paddling I<br />
arrived at the Waiotaka River mouth where<br />
Rachel, bearing fish-n-chips and a bottle of red,<br />
joined me. After dinner we had a quick fly fish in<br />
the river mouth and I couldn’t help but laugh at a<br />
French fisherman who waded so far into the rip<br />
that the trout were rising behind him. But we all<br />
caught trout whilst enjoying a spectacular sunset.<br />
Next day I hugged the shoreline most of the way<br />
up the lake to Motutere Point, then paddled to<br />
Motutaiko Island. Within 20 minutes I caught 4<br />
prime trout in about 50 metres of water. I knocked<br />
a 5 1/2 pounder on the head for dinner with<br />
Rachel that night.<br />
In a light Northerly, I paddled due north from the<br />
island up to the middle of the lake. After a few<br />
hours I passed well to the west of Horomatangi<br />
Reef, - Rangatira Point looked barely closer. The<br />
Northerly picked up and Rachel rang to warn that<br />
the forecast had changed to “thunderstorms over<br />
the central North Island”. They soon became very<br />
obvious. Thunderbolts and Lightning - very<br />
very frightening!<br />
About 6 kilometres south of Rangatira Point a<br />
swiftly rotating funnel of wind sucked water off<br />
the surface of the lake. It sounded like a truck on<br />
State Highway 1 at Hatepe. It grew louder and<br />
louder and 200m away was coming straight for me.<br />
I paddled rapidly in the opposite direction but ran<br />
low on energy. Figuring that at worst it could only<br />
tip me out, I sat and watched as it passed very<br />
close by and disappeared. I drank a cup of coffee<br />
whilst buzzing on the wow factor. I later<br />
discovered that water- spouts are rarely seen on<br />
Lake Taupo.<br />
Carrying on almost to Rangatira Point before<br />
heading east, I had a quick jig on Mine Point<br />
where I touched a couple of trout but failed to<br />
hook them. A strong South-Easterly set in and with<br />
a tail wind behind me I paddled into Whakaipo.<br />
My abdominals, shoulders and arm muscles were<br />
aching after another 11 1/2 hours of paddling with<br />
only 15 minutes out of my kayak all day. Rach was<br />
waiting patiently on the beach. As I pulled in I<br />
had a huge grin from ear to ear, let out a hoot of<br />
excitement and was engulfed by a great sense of<br />
achievement. Bring on the next adventure!!<br />
yippee-I-aye!!!<br />
6 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 7
KAYAK FISHING<br />
Hints about fishing in Taranaki<br />
by Bronnie van Lith<br />
Fishing off kayaks is a growing sport in<br />
New Zealand but especially in<br />
Taranaki. The Oakura Surf casting club,<br />
recognizing this fact, set up a ‘Fishing<br />
off <strong>Kayak</strong>s’ section of their club, and<br />
within the week had another 15 people<br />
join to go fishing. So why all the fuss? I<br />
approached a group of 5 fishermen<br />
and asked why. Garry Harrison, Stefan<br />
Martul, Wayne Hutchins, Gary Mc<br />
Cracken & Bruce Howson wouldn’t tell<br />
me all their secrets, but did let the<br />
following hints slip out of the bag:<br />
So let me start with the most obvious question,<br />
why fish off kayaks?<br />
• To fish the unfished areas, where most of the<br />
fish are. Motorboats automatically head out to<br />
the horizon, Surf casters can get only a short<br />
distance off the beach, but there is a huge area<br />
from the coast line to about a couple of kms out<br />
that has never been fished. And kayaks can<br />
get there.<br />
• You can catch some really good fish in 7-15<br />
metres of water.<br />
• You are much smaller and quieter so you don’t<br />
scare the fish off first.<br />
• In Taranaki there are only a few spots where<br />
you can launch motorboats and you are often<br />
limited by the tides. We can launch our kayaks<br />
anywhere at any time.<br />
• Heaps cheaper. Fishing off shore is no longer<br />
restricted to those who could afford a<br />
motorboat or who have a Dad or a friend with<br />
one. <strong>Kayak</strong>s make it affordable for anyone.<br />
• You don’t have to worry about the cos of petrol,<br />
maintenance, trailers, and cleaning the boat<br />
down afterwards. Simply throw the kayak on<br />
top of the car and away you go.<br />
What sort of fish have you caught & what is<br />
you’re biggest?<br />
• My largest has been a 4 1 / 2<br />
kilo trevally. It took<br />
me for a bit of a tour around the ocean but it<br />
was fun.<br />
• My mate Nigel caught a 10 1 / 2<br />
kilo snapper once,<br />
but my biggest snappers have only been<br />
3 1 / 2<br />
- 4 kilos.<br />
• You can catch anything. I normally go for<br />
snapper & gurnard. If you go south you can<br />
catch blue cod, trevally. John<br />
Dory, spotty, dogfish shark, even<br />
king fish.<br />
• I spotted a marlin in the Nga<br />
Motu harbour once. I think we<br />
have the potential in Taranaki to<br />
catch game fish, especially when<br />
the blue water comes<br />
in close.<br />
• You could even catch Tuna, but<br />
it would be a bit of a pot luck,<br />
being in the right place at the<br />
right time as they move so fast it<br />
would be hard to keep up<br />
with them.<br />
• We catch Kahawai all the time,<br />
whether you are trying to or not.<br />
One day I caught a big one close<br />
to the wharf in the harbour. It<br />
then swam under the wharf. I<br />
was still fighting when I heard a<br />
voice from above... “ You do<br />
realize you are not meant to be<br />
fishing in here?” No, it wasn’t<br />
God, it was the port security.<br />
“You tell that to the fish!” I<br />
replied. I wasn’t going to let this<br />
fish go for nobody.<br />
Can you give me some hints on<br />
fishing off kayaks in Taranaki?<br />
• Using burly is essential in Taranaki, rather than<br />
drift fishing. Then the fish come to us. The<br />
anchors you sell in the shop work well.<br />
• I click my burly onto the anchor chain. Makes<br />
it nice and simple.<br />
• I have my burly on a dropper line. I find I can<br />
then make sure I am fishing in the burly trail.<br />
• I tend to use shorter rods. Makes it a bit easier.<br />
• I lost a rod going through the surf so I buy the<br />
cheaper rods. They still last a couple of years.<br />
• I like to use a good quality one. I simply make<br />
sure it is tied onto the kayak well. I use a paddle<br />
leash for this.<br />
• The Fish n’ Dive is great for that problem. I store<br />
away both my rods inside the boat before I<br />
venture back through the surf.<br />
• You need to use a boat reel or spinner.<br />
• I made my own flasher rig. Have caught every<br />
fish you could think of with it.<br />
• The artificial squiggly baits work well too.<br />
• The rod holders and Scotty holders work well.<br />
I also use a fish finder.<br />
• You need to think about storing the fish once<br />
you have caught them. I simply throw a wet<br />
towel over the fish in the tank well.<br />
• I use a wet sack.<br />
• I use the white fishing bag that fits perfectly into<br />
the back of the Fish n’ Dive. Works wonders.<br />
Can even put ice in it.<br />
• Fishing on the northern side of the rivers is a<br />
good hint. This is because typically the current<br />
is always heading north.<br />
So what made you take this sport up?<br />
• I went fishing with some mates one day in the<br />
Coromandel. We knew of a great fishing spot<br />
off this ledge, so being keen fishermen, we took<br />
ages scrambling over rocks to get there. It<br />
wasn’t a good day, we caught maybe 3 snappers<br />
between us, in the 3-4 hrs that we were there.<br />
As we were packing up fours guys came<br />
paddling around the corner with kayaks loaded<br />
with fish! I asked them where they had been.<br />
“Just around the corner” they said. A corner that<br />
we couldn’t get to by foot. That annoyed me.<br />
It also looked more fun than scrambling<br />
over rocks.<br />
8 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
• I went on a charter fishing trip at Great Barrier.<br />
They had three kayaks on board, so I decided I<br />
would use one to get to some rocks not far from<br />
the mother boat. Had a great day. Out fished<br />
those on the boat by 10 to 1. Next day everyone<br />
wanted to use the kayaks so we tied a rope to<br />
the kayaks. Someone could use it to get to the<br />
rocks then someone else would pull the kayak<br />
back to the mother boat for the next person to<br />
use it. Everyone had an awesome day fishing<br />
that day.<br />
• I simply bought a kayak to have fun in. It wasn’t<br />
long before I worked out the potential it had<br />
for fishing.<br />
• I was thinking of my family when I bought my<br />
kayak. The Fish n’ Dive has an awesome seat in<br />
the front for the kids. They love coming out and<br />
fishing with me.<br />
• I really appreciate the local demo days you<br />
guys at <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong>, Taranaki have on the<br />
lake, introducing people to different models. It<br />
was great being able to try different boats &<br />
gain the confidence to buy one.<br />
• I don’t think you need to be a hard-out<br />
fisherman when you buy a kayak. You can get<br />
the boat for family fun & then take a simple<br />
hand line out.<br />
Can you give me some safety hints for fishing<br />
off a kayak?<br />
• Taranaki is a very beautiful but wild coast. Wind<br />
can pick up very quickly, so it is important to<br />
check out the wind direction & strength before<br />
you go.<br />
• I never go out in a strong offshore wind. When<br />
it is not an offshore wind, I paddle into<br />
the wind.<br />
• Visibility is always a big thing. Wear bright<br />
colours or/& buy a brightly coloured boat. I<br />
have a bright coloured buoyancy aid, it’s great.<br />
• Those flags are also a great idea. They help<br />
boaties be more aware that we are out there<br />
and show us some consideration.<br />
• Never underestimate the value of doing a<br />
course. Do that first off. Learn some basic and<br />
effective paddle techniques so you are<br />
prepared for when the wind gets up, and learn<br />
the best ways of getting back on your boat.<br />
• It is important to make sure you can get on the<br />
boat again in case you do come off. Practise this<br />
in a safe environment & with a friend before<br />
you head out to the open sea. There are some<br />
boats on the market where this can be very<br />
difficult.<br />
• Always wear a buoyancy aid. I have a friend<br />
( Herb Spanagal ) who was out fishing by<br />
himself one day and fell asleep. Woke up in the<br />
water, looking at the bottom of his kayak. He lost<br />
a good rod & reel too.<br />
Well thank you for your time. Can I squeeze<br />
just one more story out of you before we end?<br />
• Stefan and I (Gary) were coming back from<br />
fishing when we took a short cut between the<br />
breakwater & Motunui rock. We were heading<br />
back when Stefan caught a kahawai right on the<br />
breakwater, so we stopped and looked around.<br />
To our horror and enormous swell had formed<br />
behind us. I swear it was the 7th wave! I<br />
paddled for my life, sure I was about to die.<br />
Stefan still had this kahawai on his line and like<br />
a true fisherman wasn’t going to give it up. He<br />
jumped off his kayak hanging onto his line and<br />
his boat with all his might. I’m not sure how I<br />
kept on my boat but I did. When I turned<br />
around to let out a trumpet roar... behind me<br />
was 7th wave number two!<br />
P.S. Stefan lost his fish!<br />
• No drainage hole<br />
• Strengthening under flange<br />
• Only 3 rivets for mounting,<br />
less holes in your kayak<br />
• Fits Great Stuff safety flag<br />
DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS<br />
Available at all good <strong>Kayak</strong> stores<br />
email: greatstuff@woosh.co.nz<br />
Cobra Fish & Dive ready for action<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 9
KAYAK RACING<br />
Paddling at the end<br />
of the earth<br />
by Steve Camp<br />
The intimidating roar of a bull elephant seal broke<br />
the stillness. We stopped paddling and listened.<br />
The cacophony and smell of a gentoo penguin<br />
rockery wafted over the still water. My eyes<br />
watered in the crisp, moist sea air. We resumed<br />
paddling and the fog opened. Suddenly,<br />
apparition-like, forms of rock pillars and ice cliffs<br />
filled the sky before us. Porposing alongside our<br />
kayaks inquisitive gentoo penguins squawked<br />
excitedly. I slid my hand out of my warm ‘podgie’<br />
paddling glove and dipped it into the icy cold<br />
water. I needed to reassure myself that this was<br />
for real.<br />
It had long been a dream of mine to explore the<br />
bays and coastline of Antarctica. I had tasted the<br />
paddling beauty of the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska<br />
a few years previously, now the lure of taking part<br />
in the second Antarctica Sea <strong>Kayak</strong>ing<br />
Championships had brought me to the other end<br />
of the earth. Held every two years (weather<br />
permitting) to coincide with the Antarctica<br />
Marathon, I was making this journey with 180<br />
kindred spirited adventure sportsmen<br />
representing 13 different countries. We had left<br />
Ushuaia, the southern most city in the world, four<br />
days before in a Russian icebreaker research ship<br />
and anchored off the eastern coast of the<br />
Antarctica Peninsula. The marathon successfully<br />
behind us, we focused our minds on the kayak<br />
championship, which lay ahead.<br />
For safety and survival in this unforgiving<br />
environment all competitors paddle in a dry suit<br />
on top of at least two layers of thermal gear topped<br />
off with gloves, balaclavas and booties. It’s a far<br />
cry from the warmer conditions of the Hauraki<br />
Gulf where I am more accustomed to paddling.<br />
Unlike the marathon, which we had run a few days<br />
earlier, where all runners were responsible for<br />
their own running kit, the championship<br />
organisers had to provide 20 single and double<br />
kayaks, dry suits, paddles, set a suitable course<br />
and hope for good weather. To squeeze scores of<br />
paddlers into so few kayaks they ran a series of<br />
time-consuming heats under crisp, clear, blue<br />
skies, with only the top ten going through to<br />
the finals.<br />
We gathered on the stony beach littered with<br />
blocks of ice, standing in groups waiting our turn<br />
and checking the form of the other paddlers. The<br />
course was two kilometres out and back sprint<br />
between two Zodiacs.<br />
I won my heat, securing a spot in the finals to be<br />
held three days later. Some of the finalists were<br />
keen to get the championships over and done<br />
with sooner. I’d come a long way and was happy<br />
to milk every extra moment in the cockpit of my<br />
kayak, absorbing the stunning scenery. Antarctica<br />
is simply one of the most humbling and powerful<br />
places on earth and to see it by kayak is an<br />
experience not to be missed. The following two<br />
days on the water held new wonders, from faceto-face<br />
encounters with humpback and minke<br />
whales, to serene paddles through narrow fjords<br />
dwarfed by enormous icebergs.<br />
Race day arrived, as did steadily deteriorating<br />
weather. It had been snowing on and off for the<br />
last 24 hours. With the long range forecast looking<br />
bleak, the race organisers weighed up their<br />
options to race now or come back in two years.<br />
There was a frenzy of activity, offloading the<br />
kayaks and Zodiacs into the water. The poor<br />
weather necessitated shortening the course to a<br />
measured nautical mile sprint - out around a<br />
Zodiac and back.<br />
We left the safety and warmth of our ship in a<br />
partial whiteout to paddle 100 metres to the<br />
Zodiac - our start line. The wet snow congealed<br />
on the sea’s surface like thick porridge. The race<br />
itself was hard going. The snow blurred my<br />
sunglasses. It was difficult to see. I found I could<br />
bulldoze my way through the mush, but it was<br />
indeed heavy paddling.<br />
Between gusty snow squalls I could make out the<br />
turning point. Going wide around the Zodiac I was<br />
surprised to see I was in the lead. Unable to find<br />
the path I had already cleared in the porridge, I<br />
kept going. Nearing the finish line I could hear<br />
the safety crew in the Zodiacs shouting. Shutting<br />
them out I kept my head down, paddling hard. On<br />
my left I saw what I had feared for the last two<br />
hundred metres - a dark blur breaking out of my<br />
wake and slowly getting larger. Gradually it pulled<br />
alongside me, then slowly edged past to beat me<br />
across the finish line! Like all races, it’s about<br />
strategy. Maybe I should have held back and let<br />
someone else clear the way through the porridge<br />
mush, saving my strength for the end! But no<br />
regrets, I’d had a fantastic experience just getting<br />
to the start line. That’s what life is about.<br />
It was a long way to go to get freezing cold in a<br />
kayak but it is a unique event and the effort to get<br />
there only makes it a lot more special. I will always<br />
cherish my memories of paddling in this pristine<br />
icy wilderness.<br />
10 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 11
WHITEWATER KAYAKING<br />
Mohaka Adventure....<br />
Te Hoe to Willow Flats<br />
by Steve ‘Shuttle’ Kittle and Nhoj Snikwad<br />
“Hey bro, wanna be a Shuttle bunny!”<br />
I thought for a moment and it clicked into place. I<br />
was being asked to utilise my driving skills and<br />
drive 4 gnarly white water dudes down to the Te<br />
Hoe ‘put in’ for the grade 3/4 section of the<br />
Mohaka River. They were (names changed to<br />
protect the innocent) Dick Geoffrey, Nohj<br />
Snickwad, River ‘where’s my hat’ Ron and the Dog<br />
of Madness. It would be a jolly day out with the<br />
boys. I thought, why not.<br />
Had I known it would take over 9 hours, half of<br />
which was over mountainous single lane<br />
corrugated logging tracks with sheer drops<br />
lunging down into huge ravines, I may have<br />
thought twice and stayed in bed.<br />
Ten minutes after dropping the lads off at the ‘put<br />
in’ and cheerily waving goodbye, I experienced<br />
the ultimate in free Adrenaline Sports that New<br />
Zealand has to offer. A logging truck bore down<br />
on me as my trailer slid perilously close to the<br />
edge of an extremely big drop to the rocky splat<br />
zone of the Mohaka River. Realising I had not been<br />
dashed to a billion pieces by the truck or on the<br />
rocks below, I opened my eyes, stopped swearing,<br />
changed my undies and patted my dog, who I’m<br />
sure was giving me a dirty look. I then continued<br />
to the ‘take out’ at Willow Flat to greet the boys as<br />
they paddled triumphantly home...<br />
...shuttle drivers are great people. Especially when<br />
the section of river you want to sink your paddle<br />
into would normally be a 2 day driving epic - and<br />
“See you at the take out” is your bag. The lower bit<br />
of the Mohaka from the Te Hoe road bridge to<br />
Willow flat is a quality run for the grade. Plenty of<br />
bouldery rapids and a few that you will want to<br />
scout properly before running. Take my advice and<br />
get your creek boat fitted out properly so that<br />
when you do get out for a rock scramble scout<br />
mission your legs will work and are not completely<br />
made of rubber. Anyhow, after Steve let us loose<br />
on the water we were soon having fun finding our<br />
way down this section. River Ron was a bit cagey<br />
and admitted to not being able to sleep the night<br />
before as his nerves were getting a bit on edge,<br />
nothing to do with those funny pills and Barb eh?<br />
Ron’s made more comebacks than Mohammed Ali<br />
after telling everyone he’s not doing THAT river<br />
again. The flow was very much lower than the last<br />
time I did this stretch and it makes it a bit more<br />
hazardous with some rock sieves you don’t want<br />
to go near. The holes are smaller though and<br />
there’s more boofy type drops which previously<br />
were nice green tongues. Dick Geoffrey styled the<br />
run as per normal and the ‘veterans’ walked<br />
around a couple of bits. We have probably had<br />
enough adrenaline in our systems for one lifetime.<br />
I can’t get over Mad Dogs river knowledge.<br />
Personally I have the memory of a lobotomised<br />
goldfish when it comes to what’s around the<br />
corner but M.D. was giving a running commentary<br />
on what’s going to crop up in the next wee while.<br />
Good to have someone like that on a trip if you<br />
want to economise on time. Arriving at the take out<br />
and seeing Hooba bouncing around and barking<br />
on the bank was a great sight as you know the long<br />
suffering shuttle driver is there too, even if his first<br />
sentence is worse than the most chronic Tourettes<br />
Check out the scenery down here<br />
syndrome individual. But we all know sandflies<br />
are there to remind us we are in paradise.....<br />
...two hours later, I got to Willow Flats deep in the<br />
Mohaka Forest and awaited their arrival. And I<br />
waited, then I did some more waiting before<br />
finally waiting a bit longer.<br />
All the while I was being slowly devoured by the<br />
bastards of the sky, your friend and mine, the<br />
Sandfly. I was going insane with the relentless<br />
biting, so much so that I went to the ultimate<br />
extreme and put on the Dog of Madness’s soggy<br />
long johns to cover my legs up. If you knew the<br />
‘Dog’ you would appreciate why this was extreme!<br />
12 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
I was starting to think like a mum, “Where are<br />
those boys, they should be here by now, I hope<br />
they’re alright.” I was worried sick. Then I heard<br />
the familiar manic laughing cackle of the Dog of<br />
Madness. I was relieved they were alright and<br />
looked forward to hearing all about their<br />
adventure. I was more relieved that we were going<br />
to leave the bite zone from hell and that since they<br />
were all alive I would still get paid.<br />
I must have looked tired on the drive home and<br />
in need of a break, because as I got out of the van<br />
at the summit kiosk for a stretch, Nohj clambered<br />
out of the side window, Dukes of Hazard style and<br />
jumped into the driver’s seat relieving me of my<br />
duties. Gladly I slumped in the back and was<br />
strangely satisfied with my own efforts. I was glad<br />
I had got out of bed.<br />
Nhoj Snikwad<br />
River Ron<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 13
SEA KAYAKING<br />
Coromandel Coastline<br />
by Ruth Hibarger<br />
June on the Coromandel can be sunnier<br />
than in December and the maddening<br />
crowds are sure to be less. Peter van<br />
Lith loaded his double canoe with his<br />
three young children and launched<br />
through the misty rain. Talitha (6 years,<br />
32kg) Daniel (5 years, 27kg) and Ariana<br />
(3 years, 20kg) gave him a total<br />
handicap of 79kg. Bronnie van Lith had<br />
a single kayak all to herself, lightly<br />
loaded for quick get-a-ways. All<br />
kayaking mothers dream of this.<br />
Whining children? No problem just<br />
paddle a bit farther from the noise.<br />
That really wasn’t an issue with the van<br />
Lith kids; noisy laughter was the<br />
melody we paddled to on this trip.<br />
Helen Lander, Les Dollard, Brendan<br />
Hartigan, and myself from the Taranaki<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong> Club and Rex Temm from<br />
Te Awamutu were all keen to see<br />
Cathedral Cove and the coastline north<br />
of Hahei.<br />
We launched from a sandy beach and paddled<br />
past multicoloured cliffs. In this area monetary<br />
penalties and jail sentences protect the fish and<br />
crayfish! Lunch at Cathedral Cove fuelled the crew<br />
for the paddle to the islands in Te Whanganui A<br />
Hei Marine Reserve. If you’ve ever hiked down to<br />
Cathedral Cove, you know how beautiful it is, but<br />
only a small area is accessible on foot. To really<br />
see this area, you must kayak.<br />
The islands inside the marine reserve were<br />
inviting. Rocky cliffs rise above waves which have<br />
carved surprisingly deep caves. In pitch darkness<br />
when surging swells threaten to damage rudders<br />
a headlamp comes in handy . Two giant crayfish<br />
and a stingray lurked unafraid of us, in the sunlit<br />
entrance of a cave on Mahurangi Island. How<br />
much was the fine for taking protected sea life? A<br />
waterproof camera would have been handy.<br />
Luckily Les had such a camera plus the laptop and<br />
the know-how to provide a slideshow to the rest<br />
of the Yakkers on Monday morning. Rainbows<br />
reward paddling in the rain. A memorable one<br />
glowed unobstructed across an expanse of New<br />
Zealand Coromandel coastline. Short daylight and<br />
long dark nights can put a real damper on a kayak<br />
trip but the cabin at Hahei campground prevented<br />
that. Peter not only paddled a kayak with three<br />
non-paddling kids but cooked dinner for us!<br />
Sunday’s plan to go from Simpson’s Beach north<br />
of Whitianga to Opito necessitated shuttling cars.<br />
This coastline impressed us just a much as the<br />
previous day. Both our timing and the weather<br />
were perfect. As the sun set we finished the 20-<br />
kilometre paddle and approached ‘flash houses’<br />
in the flawless bay. Dinner in Whitianga ended a<br />
wonderful day. Weary paddlers sank into their<br />
beds by 10:00.<br />
Monday offered us a supposedly quick trip to Hot<br />
Water Bay, but who could resist entering the coves<br />
and caves, one after another? The finale, just shy<br />
of the finish was the blowhole. Its sunlit, circular<br />
enclosure was big enough for us all. The waves<br />
washed us up on the beach with time to dig down<br />
and soak in the hot water. So ended three very<br />
memorable hassle free days on the Coromandel.<br />
Photos by Les Dollard.<br />
14 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 15
RIVER KAYAKING<br />
First-timer but no Part-timer<br />
by Nadia Lehmann<br />
“Grab life with both hands, hold on<br />
tight and go for it.”<br />
That was my motto as I prepared to leave Wales<br />
and head to New Zealand. After frequent visits<br />
over the past 10 years, and at least one paddle<br />
outing each time, I had decided to pursue my love<br />
for the more varied waters and go.<br />
Arriving last December, and taking a while to settle<br />
down, I decided that occasional day trips with<br />
various organisations to more or less the same<br />
places was not entirely satisfying so I went on a<br />
Skills course with the North Shore <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
shop and became a Yakity Yak Clubbie.<br />
Beginners hick ups were encountered - the usual:<br />
do not know anyone, have no boat, have no roof<br />
rack or any gear for that matter, not sure of the<br />
best paddle spots.<br />
I went to my first club night and all the above<br />
problems were resolved. As a newbie I was<br />
welcomed and encouraged and given many<br />
helpful tips.<br />
My diary was filled with future trips. I made a list<br />
of essential items needed, plus an additional list,<br />
a wish list. Other members were very welcoming<br />
and encouraging.<br />
It took a few weeks to get my first essential item -<br />
roof racks - then a week later I had booked my<br />
first YY trip: Ruth and Ian’s Housewarming and<br />
paddle trip at Kaukapakapa. Veronica, my skills<br />
course buddy, and I collected all our hired gear<br />
from the shop, and headed up to KKK.<br />
We were first to arrive. As newbies we had been<br />
hesitant about turning up to the party, but there<br />
was nothing to worry about within this friendly<br />
environment. Everyone was made to feel<br />
welcome. We pitched our tents and the party<br />
began with drinks and nibbles on the deck,<br />
watching the last of the sun disappear over the<br />
river, lazily running past the boundaries of the<br />
Veronica trials out the carpet strip, under Brenda’s<br />
watchful eye.<br />
property - our watercourse for the next day. Duck<br />
shooting had begun that weekend and our<br />
tranquillity that night and the next day would be<br />
marred (or was it spiced up?) by the sound<br />
of gunshot.<br />
More people arrived and so did the rain and cold,<br />
but nothing dampened the spirits or froze the<br />
enthusiasm. Several hours later, I dashed through<br />
the rain into my tent, glanced up and in a gap in<br />
the clouds saw the Southern Cross - a good sign.<br />
There was an early wake up call, well, it is early<br />
when you stay up late. Our group of 16 hardy<br />
paddlers weren’t turned off by a little bit of rain -<br />
or a little bit of torrential rain at times. We<br />
launched at the Springs Road Wharf’s ramp, in<br />
Parakai - on the incoming tide. It was tremendous<br />
how everyone helped each other. We two ‘new<br />
ones’ really felt part of the Yakkers group.<br />
Off we went, a mixture of boats and paddles,<br />
travelling downstream on the Kaipara River<br />
through beautiful unspoilt scenery, bordered by<br />
With only half the group making the return journey, there were plenty of boats to choose from.<br />
thousands of mangrove bushes. Two fizz boats,<br />
passed us, but otherwise the river was ours.<br />
We reached the dredgers and turned right into the<br />
Kaukapakapa River. A left, -and we would have<br />
ended up on the Kaipara Harbour. The group<br />
stayed together having a good yak and ducking<br />
whenever we heard shots. We encountered quite<br />
a few decoys on the river and occasionally<br />
camouflaged heads and bodies would pop up<br />
from the nearby mangroves. “ Do not shoot at<br />
the kayakers”.<br />
After a two-hour paddle we made it back to the<br />
‘scene of the crime’ from the previous night and<br />
tried out Ruth’s new landing ramp. This caused<br />
much amusement and more teamwork. The tide<br />
was high. What on earth were we landing and<br />
stepping on?<br />
Our arrival coincided with heavy showers. Under<br />
the shelter of the veranda we warmed ourselves<br />
up with hot drinks and barbequed sausages and<br />
patties. Thanks Ian.<br />
The weather turned for the worse. Some people,<br />
perhaps a bit tired from the night before, or<br />
deterred by the rain, decided to stay and help tidy<br />
up. So only 8 did the return journey.<br />
The relaunch was something of a challenge, as the<br />
tide was going out extending our original landing<br />
patch. The ramp was revealed! It was carpet<br />
(recycled from the North Shore shop!) and was a<br />
tad waterlogged and muddy. The river had<br />
dropped 30cm below that. A few enterprising folk<br />
decided to seal-launch from a section higher up<br />
the paddock. That looked a bit risky, with the<br />
chance of going head over heels. Luckily all was<br />
well and the group staying behind waved us off.<br />
The downstream paddle on the Kaukapakapa<br />
River was quick. Our small group yaked less. Once<br />
on the Kaipara river, and going upstream the<br />
outgoing tide and wind did not allow for any<br />
slacking in paddling and there was little shelter<br />
along the banks. Exiting at Parakai was our last<br />
challenge. The tide flow was strong and by now,<br />
the ramp was no use to us. It had to be a threeperson<br />
job at the Wharf’s pontoon. Team effort<br />
once again prevailed and turned an impossible<br />
one-person task, into a well-executed mission<br />
each time someone came out of the water.<br />
After a few helpful hints about how to secure my<br />
kayak to the roof rack - we were off. I had a quick<br />
stop at Ruth and Ian’s to say a big thank you and<br />
to collect Veronica, and then we were homeward<br />
bound - still enthusiastic, tired, happy and keen<br />
for more. See you on the water very soon.<br />
Photos by Ruth E. Henderson<br />
16 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
NEW CANOE & KAYAK SHOP<br />
What does a 180 degree<br />
spin look like? by Maree Downey<br />
For some kayak enthusiasts, a 180<br />
might well be the difference between<br />
enjoying travelling on top of a rapid as<br />
opposed to underneath it!<br />
Our family has been sitting on top of a fast flowing<br />
river for five months. It has deposited us in<br />
Wellington where my husband Jim and I are the<br />
new shop owners of <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong>.<br />
Jim comes from 5 years in the NZ Navy and 19<br />
years in the NZ Police Force. I’ve had 18 years in<br />
the Airline Industry. We were ready to jump at this<br />
timely opportunity.<br />
When a young boy Jim and his brother built a canoe<br />
out of canvas and painted it yellow. They survived<br />
the rigors of the Tauranga harbour and their fishing<br />
expeditions. In recent years he has moved into<br />
more reliable boating equipment and has become<br />
a very keen multisporter. He has taken up sea and<br />
river kayaking with great gusto and reckless<br />
disregard (from my perspective) to hair raising<br />
moments. He has also participated in 12 hour<br />
events in orienteering, running, cycling, abseiling,<br />
shooting, and kayaking.<br />
I have no claim to fame in the kayaking world...yet!<br />
My first introduction to kayaks was 6 years ago on<br />
our honeymoon in the Caribbean. We anticipated<br />
a great day kayaking and snorkelling around the<br />
mangroves of St Thomas. However, it took on quite<br />
a different twist due to our competitive nature. Our<br />
double <strong>Kayak</strong> careered from point to point making<br />
sure we weren’t out- paddled by the Aussies and<br />
Americans in the group.<br />
In recent weeks I have participated in several<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> courses - a wonderful way to<br />
develop skills and confidence and also to make<br />
new friends.<br />
Prior to the arrival of our 15 month old daughter<br />
Emma (who is just wonderful), Jim and I planned<br />
our own cycling trip through France. Our<br />
preparation was a trip from Auckland to Thames -<br />
over the ‘hills’ of the Coromandel to Tairua and from<br />
there to Tauranga. After that I didn’t think I’d be able<br />
to walk to the airplane let alone ride around France.<br />
But it was a wonderful holiday - eating and paddling<br />
our way through some fantastic countryside. We<br />
haven’t quite braved taking Emma out on the bikes<br />
or in a kayak yet but she has had her first swimming<br />
VHF CHANNEL CHANGES 1ST SEPTEMBER 2005<br />
Coastguard has established a Marine VHF Radio Service Network for its members which is a global leader.<br />
The Half Moon Bay Marina Nowcasting Service is a world first. We acknowledge with grateful thanks the<br />
assistance of our sponsors in establishing and maintaining the network channels which are monitored 24<br />
hours every day of the year.<br />
Coastguard VHF Marine Radio Coverage<br />
Ch 16 International Distress - Safety and Calling Frequency.<br />
Also Calling Channel Coastguard and other vessels. Except in an emergency situation, move to a<br />
suitable working channel after making initial contact with station being called.<br />
Ch 80 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard (Previously 86) Waitemata Harbour and<br />
Inner Hauraki Gulf.<br />
Ch 82 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard.Outer Hauraki Gulf. Effective range is from Mayor Island<br />
to North of Tutukaka. Repeater located on Moehau Ranges, Coromandel.<br />
Ch 86 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard (Previously 87) Whitianga.<br />
Ch 85 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard. Tutukaka and Whangaruru area.<br />
Ch 64 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard. Whangarei.<br />
Ch 86 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard. Bay of Islands.<br />
Ch 81 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard. Manukau Harbour and west coast located on South Head.<br />
Ch 84 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard. Kaipara Harbour and west coast located on South Head.<br />
Ch 04 Calling/Working Channel for Coastguard. Raglan/Kawhia Harbours and west coast, linked to<br />
Channel 81.<br />
Boat to Boat Channels<br />
Ch 03 Kawau, Ch 62 Waiheke, Ch 65 Coromandel, Ch 63 Manukau<br />
Continuous Weather & Marine Safety Service Nowcasting<br />
Half Moon Bay Marina Nowcasting provides Peak and Average wind strength(Knots) and direction (true<br />
bearings) from sites around the Northern Region<br />
Ch 20 Outer Hauraki Gulf.<br />
Ch 21 Inner Gulf and Waitemata/Manukau Harbours.<br />
Ch 23 Kaipara Harbour and immediate West Coast.<br />
Ch 21 Bay of Islands - north to Whangaroa and south to Whangaruru.<br />
Ch 22 Port Waikato to Raglan/Kawhia.<br />
lessons so it won’t be long before she is out and<br />
about with us.<br />
It has been our privilege to travel to and<br />
experience many countries in the world. We’ve<br />
trekked on elephant back, canoed down a river<br />
in the Chitwan National Park, and most magical of<br />
all safaried through the Masi Mara in Kenya and<br />
trekked with friends in the Anapurnas of Nepal.<br />
We love life, the outdoors and making new<br />
friends. We look forward to greeting you in the<br />
brand new Wellington <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> shop. Make<br />
sure you come and visit us sometime - we’d love<br />
to meet you.<br />
Kiwi Association of Sea<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong>ers N.Z. Inc.<br />
(KASK)<br />
KASK is a network of sea kayakers<br />
throughout New Zealand<br />
KASK publishes a 146 page<br />
sea kayaking handbook<br />
which is free to new<br />
members: the handbook<br />
contains all you need to<br />
know about sea kayaking:<br />
techniques and skills,<br />
resources, equipment, places to go etc.<br />
KASK publishes a bi-monthly newsletter<br />
containing trip reports, events, book reviews,<br />
technique/equipment reviews and a ‘bugger’<br />
file. KASK holds national sea kayaking forums.<br />
Website:<br />
www.kask.co.nz<br />
Annual subscription is $35.00.<br />
Kask<br />
PO Box 23, Runanga 7854,<br />
West Coast<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 17
KAYAK HISTORY<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong>ing Versus Legal Tomes<br />
by Heather Hills<br />
Even at 78 you never know whom you<br />
are going to wake up next to and what<br />
stories will unfold. Recently I was<br />
parked up in my campervan at Parakai<br />
Hot Springs next to Irvin Openshaw<br />
and his wife Vivienne. Discussions<br />
over a cuppa revealed some<br />
interesting pieces of history.<br />
In the 1960’s Irvin was working at Public Trust in<br />
Wellington and studying law at Victoria University.<br />
There was a battle on. Dusty tomes versus<br />
kayaking and tramping. <strong>Kayak</strong>ing won.!! He never<br />
did finish his law degree.<br />
He dreamt of paddling across the Cook Strait but<br />
Mother said “Not on your Nellie, not until you are<br />
21 son!”<br />
In 1960 you couldn’t buy an off-the-shelf boat, so<br />
the first step was to build his own craft. He and<br />
his mate Alan Pearson laid their hands on a design<br />
from ‘Tyne Boat’ in England. They each<br />
constructed single folding kayaks 26 inches wide<br />
and 14 ft long with 5/8 inch-dowel and1/2inch<br />
marine ply for the frame. The skin fitted like a sock<br />
over the frame. A 5-ply rubber bottom, with 10oz<br />
canvas on top completed the construction of<br />
the kayaks.<br />
With the Gisborne <strong>Canoe</strong> and Tramping club Irvin<br />
had many adventures including the first descent<br />
of the Waioweka River. Other trips included the<br />
Mohaka, Willow Flat, Wairoa, Rukituri, Waikareiti,<br />
Hangaroa and in 1960, the rescue on the Motu<br />
River when club members had run out of kai.<br />
Exciting trips were made on the Waikato River<br />
from the Mihi Bridge down stream, prior to the<br />
Dam being built.<br />
This was all good training and preparation to be<br />
the first to cross the Cook Strait. The Mana Cruising<br />
Club agreed to escort him once he had convinced<br />
Bob Gouldie the kayak was OK. But was Irvin fit<br />
enough? Irvin Openshaw proved that point by<br />
taking on the 32-mile Wairoa River flat race, which<br />
took 7 to 8 hours.<br />
Then on the 23rd March 1962 he achieved his<br />
dream. The kayak was launched at Makara with a<br />
N/W fresh wind. Off the coast he successfully<br />
negotiated the Terawhiti and the Karori Rips.<br />
Point to point the trip was 22 miles N to S. The<br />
crossing took five and a quarter hours, achieved<br />
with a completely dry bottom! With the 32 ft Mana<br />
Cruising Club launch escorting him, and Alan<br />
Pearson accompanying him in his kayak, Irvin<br />
touched just South of Brother’s Island and then<br />
paddled to sheltered waters at Perano Head for<br />
his pick up. The Dominion and T.V. hailed Irvin as<br />
the first person to successfully paddle across the<br />
Cook Strait in a kayak. Irvin remembers his<br />
reaction on arrival. Firstly relief at being able to<br />
get out of his kayak, away from the salt water and<br />
sea spray, and secondly anticipation of a feast of<br />
steak, sausages and eggs!<br />
Irvin continued to escape dry as dust legal studies<br />
by becoming deeply involved with Outward<br />
Bound, Anakiwa. He attended the opening of the<br />
school, then commenced as an instructor. Mana<br />
Bay Cruising Club helped set up the school. The<br />
All Black, Ron Jarden was one of the helpers and<br />
Irvine was the ‘Gofer’. For<br />
the second course, Irvin<br />
helped set up a river<br />
programme and took<br />
Outward Bound students on<br />
the Rai, Pelorous and Wairau<br />
Rivers. He continued at the<br />
Anakiwa school with Hamish<br />
Thomas as warden and<br />
Adrian Hayter who sailed<br />
single-handed around<br />
the world.<br />
In 2001 Irvin announced to<br />
his family that he wished to<br />
embark on a fitness<br />
programme so he could<br />
attempt another crossing on<br />
the 40th anniversary. Once<br />
again he was told “ Not on<br />
your Nellie” or in his words<br />
“ My idea was met with<br />
strong opposition.” These<br />
days Vivienne puts her foot<br />
down on extreme physical<br />
sports and outdoor<br />
activities. However, he does<br />
escape along with his son<br />
Troy on extreme 4WD<br />
vehicle ventures.<br />
Ruakituri River in The <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
used in the Strait crossing<br />
18 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
For Sale<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong> Shops<br />
Interested in<br />
owning your own<br />
kayak shop?<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Ltd is ready to<br />
open Licensed Operations in new<br />
centres and has the going concern<br />
Hamilton <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong>,<br />
The Corner Greenwood St<br />
& Duke St, State Highway 1<br />
bypass for sale.<br />
Phone: 09 421 0662<br />
Peter Townend<br />
Managing Director, <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Ltd<br />
and I’ll be glad to have a chat.<br />
All approaches will be dealt with in confidence.<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 19
ADVENTURE RACING WITH TEAM<br />
NUTRITION<br />
Casio Coromandel Classic<br />
by Phil White<br />
The Casio Coromandel Classic is a<br />
multisport event that covers some of the<br />
best parts of the Coromandel in two days.<br />
It has been designed to enable any skill<br />
level to compete, yet provide a<br />
challenging race for the fastest teams and<br />
individuals. The first day starts from<br />
Thames with a 22 km mountain bike ride<br />
up the Kaueranga valley, then a scenic<br />
but technical 27 km run past the<br />
Pinnacles hut to the other side of the<br />
peninsula, a paddle from Coroglen to<br />
Cooks Beach, and a road bike to Tairua.<br />
The second day continues with a kayak<br />
up the Tairua estuary to the Pauanui<br />
turnoff, followed by a road bike to<br />
Whangamata, a run up the Wentworth<br />
valley and over the Wires track to the<br />
Maratoto valley, and a fast road bike<br />
back to Thames.<br />
This year in keeping with tradition, spectacular<br />
weather and light winds marked the end of winter<br />
and made for fast racing.<br />
The event is open to teams, including relay teams<br />
of 2, 3 or 4, and traverse teams who do the whole<br />
lot together. There are also individual<br />
competitors. Each stage (apart from the runs) is<br />
fairly short, and achievable for novice racers to<br />
experts and everything in between. This also<br />
makes it easy to push to the limit. The best two or<br />
three teams were stacked with expert runners,<br />
cyclists and kayakers. The kayakers included<br />
several of the best K1 paddlers in the North Island,<br />
along with sea kayakers and multisporters of<br />
varying ability.<br />
As with all such events, preparation of body and<br />
equipment make a huge difference to the outcome<br />
and enjoyment. Little things like tyre choice and<br />
tyre pressure for the mountain bike, aerobars on<br />
the road bike, position of food and drink for easy<br />
access in bunch rides, type of running shoes, the<br />
type and rate of fluid and food intake. It is good<br />
to learn from the experiences of others (good and<br />
bad). Perhaps the most interesting lessons came<br />
from the kayaking stages. With the large range of<br />
paddling ability, a correspondingly large range in<br />
kayak types was represented. Some had different<br />
kayaks on hand so they could choose the best one<br />
for each stage.<br />
The first kayak stage meanders down the<br />
mangrove-lined channels of Whitianga harbour<br />
for two thirds of its length (i.e. dead flat), making<br />
it ideal for tippy racing kayaks. Ideally, however<br />
you need a boat that is also suited to the last part,<br />
which goes between Whitianga and Cooks Beach,<br />
past large cliffs which reflect the swells.<br />
Accordingly, tippy racing kayaks are not ideal, and<br />
most people take a more stable boat for this stage.<br />
At least one person got it wrong, and had six swims<br />
along the way. The next day he took a more stable<br />
boat. There were a couple of K1 racing boats on<br />
this stage, and no, they didn’t swim. However,<br />
they were not necessarily the fastest option. One<br />
of the K1 paddlers caught up to a Total Eclipse (an<br />
intermediate level multisport boat), and then was<br />
surprised to see it hanging on his wash, and even<br />
more surprised when they took turns leading. Once<br />
they were out to sea, the Total Eclipse pulled away<br />
for good. The traverse teams could use double<br />
kayaks, some of which are both stable and fast.<br />
At the end of the first day, the results<br />
were posted, so everybody knew<br />
where they were relative to the other<br />
individuals and teams.<br />
On the second day, the kayak stage is<br />
a deep-water mass start from the<br />
Tairua wharf. This stage is entirely<br />
within the Tairua estuary, so it is all on<br />
flat water. This year, with the tide out, there wasn’t<br />
much water so there was the option (or necessity,<br />
depending on your route choice) of portaging<br />
across sand banks. The following fleet could<br />
observe and learn from the mistakes of the<br />
leading K1 paddlers. Many people stepped up to<br />
a lighter and faster boat for this stage, and with<br />
shallow water, portages, and an opposing current,<br />
it made a real difference. One traverse team went<br />
from a reasonably fast adventure racing double<br />
to a very fast K2. However, decisions such as<br />
when to get out of the boat and run (or walk), and<br />
which side of the channel to take were in the end<br />
almost as important as boat speed.<br />
The parade of multisporters and their caravan of<br />
support vehicles eventually made its way over the<br />
hill and back to Thames. Stories were swapped<br />
on the sunny lawns outside the boating club until<br />
it was time for the prizegiving, to be inspired, and<br />
to look forward to the warmer weather and the<br />
challenge of races to come.<br />
For more information see<br />
www.coromandelclassic.co.nz<br />
Team PRO4 Nutrition are an adventure racing<br />
team heading for the Southern Traverse in<br />
November. They entered the Coromandel<br />
Classic as a relay team of 3 for some speed work<br />
and a weekend of racing with other<br />
multisporters and adventure racers. They<br />
gratefully acknowledge the support they<br />
receive from PRO4, <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong>, Scott, Polar<br />
and Vasque.<br />
Firebolt<br />
New innovative kayak with great speed and<br />
stability, for the intermediate/advanced paddler.<br />
Designers & Constructors of Multisport<br />
& Adventure Racing <strong>Kayak</strong>s<br />
Phone/Fax 06 374 6222<br />
E-mail:- mike@ruahinekayaks.co.nz<br />
Website:-www.ruahinekayaks.co.nz<br />
20 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
Getting into Multisport <strong>Kayak</strong>ing?<br />
Ask anybody who has competed in a multisport race and they will say<br />
One or two weekends training<br />
Is just NOT ENOUGH!!!<br />
We believe our comprehensive Grade 2 Training & Certification is the best you can get.<br />
To gain the skills to confidently paddle on white water, you need between<br />
3 and 8 weekends on the water with an instructor.<br />
PHONE NOW<br />
2005 Multisport Package $795<br />
* See page 28 for Waimakariri Familiarisation Trips<br />
0800 529256<br />
OR CALL IN TO YOUR LOCAL CANOE & KAYAK SHOP<br />
FOR MORE DETAILS AND COURSE DATES<br />
Official<br />
Sponsor<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 21
W I N N E R S<br />
Winner of Rasdex - Paddle Jacket<br />
Issue 31<br />
Tim Kitt, of Ashhurst, married to Chris with two kids Simone and Dylan is the winner of one of<br />
the Rasdex Adventure open neck paddle jackets in Issue 31. He works for Mainland products<br />
in Palmerston North as a transport supervisor. When holidaying at Waitarere beach (Levin)<br />
he got keen on sea kayaking.<br />
He recalls “We had an old canvas over wood sea kayak built by Frank Herbert in 1948. It used<br />
to take 4 people to carry it down the beach and 8 to bring it home. It was an amazing craft and<br />
although it had no watertight compartments it was unsinkable and we used to set out with<br />
longlines in some ‘adventurous’ conditions.<br />
Tim decided to get back into kayaking for both fishing and fitness and after testing various craft settled on the Cobra Fish n’ Dive (mainly due<br />
to stability).<br />
He reckons “The boat sits nicely on top of the Hilux with setlines, longlines, rods and dragnet strapped to the top. We plan to tour around the country<br />
with family to get at some better fishing spots. The kids are pretty keen so will be looking for a couple of boats for them. I can’t wait to try out the jacket!”<br />
Winner of Rasdex - Paddle Jacket<br />
Issue 31<br />
Kay Raffell, who recently looked longingly at a paddle jacket whilst window shopping in<br />
Taupo, and paddled down the Whanganui in a blue cape, is the second proud owner of a<br />
Rasdex Adventure open neck jacket. She tells the tale of her kayaking journey to date.<br />
“I was introduced to a kayak about 30 years ago in the north of Scotland. My partner of the<br />
time was into sea and surf kayaking. He built his own fibreglass kayak and off he went... but<br />
he did let me have a go first...on the calmest of lakes. I was terrified!<br />
Fast-forward 10 years to New Zealand (minus the sea kayaking partner) where I found the<br />
most delightful place to live by the sea - Okura. I bought a house and then a little yellow<br />
play kayak for $50. I started going intrepidly where no Kay in kayak had been before...over the wild wavelets of the sandspit...then on the big ocean<br />
voyage round the headland to Long Bay...on the calmest oily swell of days. I was so proud!<br />
Pete Townend at that time had a small kayaking operation just up the street and I decided to do a skills course. I was, terrified of water...and especially<br />
putting my head under. Pete was one of the kindest and most sensitive of teachers I have ever encountered...after several times of being tipped upside<br />
down in the Okura river I came up...crying. Eager to get it over with I said...“I’m Ok. I’m just frightened”. But Pete looked at me and gently said “I think<br />
we’ve done enough for today”. Taking me along at my pace...he got me through all the drills and wet exits etc over the next few days. Thanks Pete.<br />
Soon after that I moved up to the Bay of Islands and with my new skills and confidence decided to buy a sea kayak. I can remember the trepidation<br />
with which I drove off with it on the roof and the thrill of putting in on the Kerikeri Inlet.<br />
Over the next 10 years I kept pushing my boundaries, until I was confident on the coast and round the islands, culminating in a solo four-day camping<br />
trip round the islands. During that time I’ve done more training...got all the safety gear and acquired a sail...the next best purchase ever, after the kayak!<br />
A few months back I had the chance to join up with friends for the Whanganui River Trip for my first river experience. I’ve now moved down to the<br />
West Coast of the South Island and on the trek down, with kayak on top...stopped to kayak on Lake Tarawera and in the Marlborough Sounds...where<br />
the wind can be SCAREY.<br />
Now I’m looking forward to just cruising on some of the beautiful lakes around here, with maybe a cruise up to Abel Tasman. I plan to join up with KASK<br />
and hopefully meet some other West Coast paddlers soon. “<br />
22 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
WHITEWATER KAYAKING<br />
Potu Falls<br />
by Richard Powell<br />
Potu Falls is one of the many waterfalls around the Taupo<br />
area, which very few people know about. The drop itself is<br />
not too difficult, but as the pool at the bottom is not very<br />
deep!!!! a certain water level is required to kayak it. Two<br />
staff members from the <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> store in Taupo<br />
decided it was their day to go forth and conquer ...(insert<br />
fanfare) so..............<br />
It was midday and there could be nothing<br />
better for me to do than take a Potu virgin<br />
off the Potu Falls. We collected our soggy<br />
paddling kit, which (much to Freddy’s<br />
disgust) was scattered around the premises<br />
of the base and loaded the trusty paddle<br />
wagon (along with kayaks Disco Stu and<br />
Amy<br />
RAD Rodger). After stopping for the<br />
standard road-trip ice cream and caffeine filled ‘V’s we were on our way.<br />
We parked as close to the falls as possible (not like kayakers are lazy or<br />
anything) and began our ascent of the gravel track kindly put in just for us by<br />
the local forestry company. Half of the next 30mins took us on a trek -<br />
scrambling down steep muddy, bushy cliffs. However, it was well worth the<br />
walk. The 7m-drop looked clean and easy - right into a nice big blue pool.<br />
The walk to the top in itself was a mission! One of us had to scramble up,<br />
followed by the paddles, then the boats and finally the second person.<br />
Looking over the drop sped the heart up a bit. The lip had a big rock to the<br />
right hand side, which caused a minor sieve. The native bush was kind, it<br />
had grown just low enough so that we could get our hunched bodies<br />
underneath the lower branches but unfortunately didn’t leave us enough<br />
room to paddle. Never the less we had walked all this way and we WERE<br />
going to paddle! I skirted up first and decided the best line would be right to<br />
left trying to avoid the densest scrub and boof left over the lip. Right!<br />
Onwards, soon I found myself floating down to the entrance... backwards!<br />
Luckily I hit a rock, which spun me forwards<br />
again... I tried to go right to left but instead<br />
drifted down the centre underneath the<br />
densest bush unable to paddle at all. The<br />
lip of the waterfall was fast approaching so<br />
I set up for my well-planned left hand boof.<br />
Down the ‘v’ I went, into a buffer wave and<br />
bugger it; there I was again; sideways. As a<br />
Richard<br />
last resort I put in a final sweep stroke<br />
before plummeting uncontrollably to the<br />
pool below. Surprisingly, this didn’t help very much. It simply caused me to<br />
pencil vertically and smash the front of my boat into the bottom of the<br />
supposedly deep blue pool. I surfaced upside-down with very sore feet and<br />
a tender rib cage. I rolled up.<br />
Not to be deterred by my spectacular exploits, the Potu virgin (Amy) was still<br />
amping to go. She skirted up and paddled towards the lip from right to left.<br />
Avoiding the dense scrub, she slid down the ‘v’ (straight I might add) and put<br />
in a nice left hand boof which caused her to style the drop - without even<br />
getting her hair wet!<br />
PRESS RELEASE<br />
Fuljames, Taupo<br />
NZRCA asks kayakers to respect access closure<br />
The Tauhara North No. 2<br />
Trust has erected a<br />
locked gate at the ‘Hay<br />
Barn’<br />
on<br />
the access road to<br />
N g a w a a p u r u a<br />
(Fuljames) rapids, on the<br />
Waikato River. Access<br />
(including foot access)<br />
past this gate is not permitted.<br />
The NZRCA understands that the landowners have closed access<br />
because some people were being disrespectful of their land.<br />
The landowners are concerned that people and large groups have been<br />
camping without permission, with unsatisfactory toilet facilities, leaving<br />
rubbish and mess. The landowners are also worried about their liability<br />
for people’s safety, and have concerns about other non-kayaking related<br />
issues - hunting, house truckers, dumped cars etc.<br />
The vast majority of kayakers respect the land and don’t make a mess or<br />
disrespect the area, but we ask that all kayakers respect the closure.<br />
Anyone who trespasses may jeopardize any future availability of access.<br />
The NZRCA will be exploring solutions for access and will be<br />
communicating with the security company which is managing the access<br />
on behalf of the landowners.<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 23
OUTDOORS WITH<br />
Right place<br />
right time by Matt Barker<br />
In the huge grey area of ‘what ifs’ and<br />
‘maybes’ white water leadership is<br />
not easy.<br />
Risk management plans and hazard maps are only<br />
partly helpful in managing the day enjoyably and<br />
safely. But a hazard map is flow dependant. Higher<br />
or lower water levels will nullify some hazards<br />
and expose others. Rivers can change overnight<br />
and make your hazard map out of date before it<br />
goes to print. How far do you go with a hazard<br />
map, do you mark all deep water and slippery<br />
rocks? How about the real killers, which are off<br />
the line? Are they important to mark?<br />
While the whole aquatic environment can be<br />
hazardous it’s the probability and degree of<br />
danger posed by each hazard which will concern<br />
the leader. A big worry is that someone will<br />
develop the mindset of “I have done my RAMS<br />
form and I just have to avoid the hazards marked<br />
X Y and Z on this map and my group will be<br />
sweet”. This is a very wrong and dangerous<br />
attitude to be lulled into. Only constant<br />
observation, vigilance and appropriate<br />
management on the day will keep your group<br />
safe. Paperwork never physically got between<br />
anyone and a strainer.<br />
On site leadership starts by selecting a suitable<br />
strategy or style, adjusting it for the specific<br />
situation and then actively managing that<br />
situation with the emphasis on ‘actively’. You<br />
need to be constantly aware of the group’s ability<br />
and the hazards. Keep them as separate as is<br />
appropriate for the activity.<br />
Rather than trying to cover all the possibilities (an<br />
impossible task) the white water leader should<br />
concentrate on the most likely and the most<br />
serious issues. Delegate minor roles to more able<br />
members of the group, who with suitable support<br />
and supervision will develop the next generation<br />
of leaders.<br />
The table offers leadership styles and sets of<br />
circumstances in which they are likely to be<br />
useful. Few rapids allow any single pure<br />
leadership style to be used. More often the leader<br />
has to change leadership style part way through<br />
Matt Barker has been coaching<br />
white water kayaking for nearly 20<br />
years. He holds a Coach Level 5,<br />
the BCU’s highest award, and<br />
NZOIA Level 2 <strong>Kayak</strong>. He works as<br />
a Senior Lecturer at Auckland<br />
University of Technology. AUT<br />
offers diploma and degree level<br />
programmes in outdoor<br />
leadership and outdoor<br />
education. For enrolment<br />
enquiries contact Marilyn Squire<br />
on 09 9179999.<br />
to cover a particular hazard or likely incident.<br />
Picking the line is especially important when the<br />
technically easiest path through the rapid is not<br />
necessarily the safest. It may be necessary to<br />
suggest or insist on a technically harder line which<br />
makes a capsize or swim more likely but is less<br />
dangerous than an accident on the easier line.<br />
Paddle every river, every time, like it’s a new river.<br />
In the real world of earthquakes, landslips and<br />
floods, it really may be quite different to the river<br />
you paddled last week or last year.<br />
Lead from the back<br />
Indian file<br />
River Leadership Styles<br />
Style Pro’s Con’s Suitable situations<br />
Lead from the front.<br />
Alpine Blasting Indian file.<br />
Whole group in view.<br />
Able to unpin clients.<br />
You pick the lines and set pace. The current<br />
helps to bring swimmers and their gear to you.<br />
Clients can be unprotected at the front. You can’t pick lines.<br />
Takes time to rescue clients at the front. Watch for fish tail<br />
effect. Hard to maintain communication and line of sight<br />
with front clients. Group can get too spread out.<br />
Can’t see group unless you paddle backwards. Hard to<br />
unpin clients.<br />
Short technical rapids with obvious end points or eddies. Where<br />
pinning is major hazard.<br />
Rapids with hazards that need to be avoided. Unknown rapids<br />
Need to speed up.<br />
Leap frog<br />
Everybody gets a turn at leading.<br />
Can be fast.<br />
Lose sight of group members<br />
Lack of control of where lead client eddies out.<br />
Experienced small groups on rapids with lots of small eddies.<br />
Buddy systems<br />
Less units to look after. Clients can rescue each<br />
other, or call for help. Improves self esteem.<br />
Buddies can get in the way in rescues.<br />
Needs careful pair selections.<br />
Useful with large and mixed ability groups.<br />
Eddy hopping<br />
One At a Time<br />
Lead from middle. Mother<br />
and ducklings<br />
Safe, everybody in a safe eddy. Clients only<br />
move when you say go.<br />
You only have to deal with one client at a time.<br />
Safe.<br />
Pre-rig rescues.<br />
You can show lines,<br />
Maintain line of sight.<br />
Easier to communicate with front and rear. You<br />
can move to front or rear as necessary.<br />
You can Shepherd into eddies.<br />
Group has to be able to make the eddies.Can’t unpin clients.<br />
Can lose line of sight with all clients.<br />
Need to maintain chains of signals.<br />
Very slow.<br />
Physically separated from group.<br />
Front person can still get away from you.<br />
You don’t pick the lines.<br />
Can give clients limited exposure to leading.<br />
Useful for skilled groups in unknown technical rapids that<br />
require boat scouting.<br />
Pool drop situations.<br />
Where there is a likelihood of more than one swimmer.<br />
Crux rapids.<br />
Good for wide open rapids with large or multiple lines.<br />
When in doubt scout<br />
Safe. Good to show clients the line from the<br />
safety of the bank.<br />
Slow. Some clients may psych themselves out by looking at<br />
it too long.<br />
When you can’t see the bottom of a drop or what’s round a<br />
corner get out and have a look see.<br />
Portaging The river will be there another day. Portaging is not without its own dangers, assess these. Any stuff that you don’t want the group to go down<br />
Rafting up<br />
No one swims may be the quickest way of getting<br />
through a particular rapid.<br />
Not particularly mobile to avoid hazards<br />
Boily sections on large wide rivers.<br />
24 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 25
NORTH SHORE<br />
MANUKAU<br />
Unit 2/20 Constellation Drive<br />
(off Ascension Place),<br />
Mairangi Bay, Auckland<br />
PHONE: 09 479 1002<br />
AUCKLAND<br />
502 Sandringham Rd<br />
710 Great South Road,<br />
Manukau<br />
PHONE: 09 262 0209<br />
HAMILTON<br />
The corner Greenwood St &<br />
Duke St, State Highway 1 Bypass<br />
PHONE: 09 815 2073<br />
PHONE: 07 847 5565<br />
SILVERDALE<br />
BAY OF PLENTY<br />
DISTRIBUTION CENTRE<br />
3/5 Mac Donald Street<br />
7/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale<br />
PHONE: 09 421 0662<br />
Mount Maunganui (off Hewletts Rd)<br />
PHONE: 07 574 7415<br />
DISCOVER<br />
AN<br />
Easy finance available. Conditions and booking fee apply<br />
26 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
HAWKE’S BAY<br />
15 Niven Street<br />
Onekawa, Napier<br />
PHONE: 06 842 1305<br />
TARANAKI<br />
Unit 6, 631 Devon Road<br />
Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth<br />
PHONE: 06 769 5506<br />
WELLINGTON<br />
2 Centennial Highway<br />
Ngauranga, Wellington<br />
PHONE: 04 477 6911<br />
TAUPO<br />
38 Nukuhau Street,<br />
Taupo<br />
PHONE: 07 378 1003<br />
OTHER<br />
WORLD<br />
Now selling new territory for<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> shops. Interested?<br />
PHONE: PETER TOWNEND 0274 529255<br />
To join, see<br />
your nearest<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
shop<br />
www.canoeandkayak.co.nz<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 27
MULTISPORT<br />
Off-Road Running Shoes<br />
by Craig Taylor, podiatrist & co-owner of Shoe Science<br />
An Off - Road shoe or Road shoe has one primary function<br />
and that is to transport you in comfort from point A to point<br />
B quickly and safely. Looking cool and groovy is important,<br />
but comes second to avoiding slipping, falling and breaking<br />
your neck.<br />
Off-road terrains vary hugely, from boggy mud, to slippery boulders to deep<br />
rivers. You need to visit a shop that stocks an excellent range and has staff<br />
with expert product knowledge. A good store sorts everything out for you.<br />
No one Off-Road shoe covers all conditions.<br />
If you are an off-road nut tackling many different terrains and wanting to do<br />
so at speed you will need several pairs of shoes.<br />
Common Off- Road surfaces:<br />
The most common surface is, surprisingly, a combination of tar seal and loose<br />
trail. From the office or home, over a sealed road, to a park with groomed<br />
trails, you need a shoe that has both on-road and off-road features. A heel<br />
height of between 20 mm and 24 mm with cushion features and an outsole<br />
which grips are important. Be careful to avoid shoes that will be slippery on<br />
seal. A trail gripping outsole has a stud type pattern to penetrate soil, but<br />
can be slippery and dangerous on the road if the outsole rubber is too hard.<br />
A soft rubber outsole is required for the tar seal/ trail combo.<br />
All Off-Road shoes provide good upper support in the arch and across the<br />
toes. It is important that your foot does not slide from side to side in the<br />
shoe. Road shoes do not have these upper features.<br />
If river running, ensure that your shoes allow water to run out. No shoe is<br />
waterproof. The water will get in. The trick is getting it out quickly.<br />
If boulder running, your shoes should be lower in the heel and forefoot and<br />
have a very grippy sole. This usually<br />
means it is smooth, with a high soft<br />
rubber content.<br />
So you can see, shoes for<br />
boulder hopping are very<br />
different to the pair you<br />
would use to run from the<br />
office to the local park.<br />
So it is pretty tricky to get<br />
the perfect shoe. As I<br />
mentioned earlier; my best advice is to choose<br />
a good store and have them sort everything out for you.<br />
Mesatrail -<br />
designed for a<br />
combination<br />
of road and<br />
trail running.<br />
Hardrock - designed for<br />
heavy trail. Not suitable<br />
for any road running.<br />
Has reinforced toe box.<br />
Waimakariri<br />
Familiarisation Trips<br />
7th - 15th of January<br />
2006<br />
It is essential that all first time<br />
Coast to Coasters get some paddling<br />
time on the Waimak prior to race day.<br />
Take the jitters out of race day - make it fun-filled<br />
rather than fear-filled and join us for some great<br />
paddling to build that confidence up!<br />
For bookings call Taupo C&K on 07 378 1003<br />
28 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
Horses for Courses<br />
by Nicholas Carman<br />
Every Christmas for the last ten years, my family has rented<br />
the DOC Lodge on Motutapu Island. This year was the same,<br />
but this year I had a sea kayak.<br />
At dawn on Christmas Eve my Uncle John, who was training<br />
for the Speight’s Coast to Coast, and I launched from<br />
Cheltenham Beach, chosen to avoid the strong winds, which<br />
had plagued Auckland over December. John had hired an<br />
ultra-light Tribear multi sport kayak, and I was in my brand<br />
new Eco-Bezhig, a carthorse compared to his boat.<br />
In his thoroughbred, John soon powered ahead of me, arms pumping. He<br />
seemed to be in an awful hurry. This was not sea kayaking as I understood it.<br />
Weren’t we supposed to loaf along the coast and take in the scenery, with<br />
frequent breaks, and a lot of conversation? The only thing John said to me<br />
was “Come on we need to keep moving.”<br />
The wind was kind to us and the sun shone as we crossed the channel to<br />
Rangitoto and paddled east towards Motutapu passing the spectacular<br />
slopes of the volcano. I was all psyched up for a long trip, but it only took a<br />
couple of hours to reach my favourite Christmas destination of Administration<br />
Bay. We enjoyed a friendly swell once we reached Shipwreck Bay. Getting<br />
there in this new way was a real thrill for me. John seemed pleased too. We<br />
shook hands on landing.<br />
On Boxing Day morning the weather was the best since Christmas Eve. Our<br />
kayaks cut a trail through the still water around Motutapu. Fishing boats were<br />
out in force in the Rakino channel.<br />
Rounding Billy Goat point John raced ahead of me again. He wasn’t overly<br />
interested in my comments on the local marine life! Being new to kayaking<br />
I saw many birds I hadn’t seen before. I was particularly thrilled to see a<br />
Little Blue Penguin floating in the water.<br />
Heading towards Islington Bay John in training mode, became a dot on the<br />
horizon. His aim was to get from A to B as quickly as possible. I wasn’t<br />
interested in competing; I was just trying to keep to my own steady pace.<br />
He did let me catch up from time to time - I was carrying his water and<br />
snack bars!<br />
At Islington Bay the tide had gone out. Gardiner’s Gap was high and dry.<br />
The full implication of this immediately did not sink in. On the far side of<br />
the bridge there was a portage over a kilometre of sand. The weight<br />
difference between my boat and John’s became brutally obvious as my boat<br />
nearly yanked my arms out of their sockets, whereas John’s lighter boat was<br />
hardly any trouble at all. I felt rather stretched by the time I reached water<br />
on the other side!<br />
A mere three hours and fifty minutes all up, we were back at Administration<br />
Bay. I spent the rest of that day in bed....<br />
John and a partner did the Speight’s Coast to Coast in the two-day event.<br />
They came 14th in the veteran’s class. I cheered him on at a safe distance<br />
via email.<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 29
AMPRO<br />
GERBER GATOR<br />
FILLET KNIVES<br />
Gator Fillet knives feature surgical<br />
stainless steel blades and<br />
patented handles which set them<br />
apart from the competition.<br />
Gerber revolutionized knife grip<br />
technology when it introduced<br />
the Gator in 1991, winning Blade<br />
Magazine's Most Innovative Knife<br />
of the Year<br />
®<br />
award. The Gator<br />
Fillet series of fillet knives have<br />
handles made of a hard inner<br />
core of glass filled polypropylene,<br />
with Santoprene<br />
®<br />
rubber molded<br />
and chemically bonded around it,<br />
essentially combining the two<br />
materials into one piece. This<br />
creates a handle that is soft and tacky when<br />
gripped, even when wet. This handle is<br />
lightweight, yet extremely durable.<br />
Innovative sheath includes built-in ceramic<br />
knife sharpener.<br />
Available in three lengths: 6", 7.5" and 9" from<br />
only RRP: NZ$34.95<br />
SEALLINE BAJA DECK BAG<br />
Here's the best way to keep a few essentials dry<br />
and handy on deck while sea kayaking. Our deck<br />
bag has waterproof RF-welded seams and a lowprofile<br />
shape to protect against deck-washing<br />
waves. Convenient zip access is guarded by our<br />
patented splash-proof Zip Lips<br />
<br />
closure and rollback<br />
zipper visor. It is built with tough 20 ounce<br />
vinyl and an internal shape-holding stiffener.<br />
Outside, a mesh zip pocket holds small items that<br />
can get wet, and an elastic cord has clips for<br />
attaching a Sealline<br />
®<br />
Map Case or Electronic Case.<br />
A detachable shoulder strap is handy for carrying<br />
on shore.<br />
RRP: NZ$219.00<br />
HOLEY SOLES<br />
The best, most comfortable,<br />
lightweight & downright funky kayak,<br />
beach, tramping, hangin'-out shoes<br />
you'll find! Want something a little<br />
different at the beach this year?<br />
Available in a wide range of discreet<br />
& not-so-discreet colours, Holey Soles<br />
will not only set you apart from the<br />
crowd, they also have a range of<br />
practical uses & features. Wear your<br />
Holey Soles when you're walking your<br />
canoe into the water. Then throw<br />
them into the boat and don't worry if<br />
you miss the boat -They float!<br />
RRP: NZ$39.95<br />
ULTIMATE<br />
ODOUR PROOF<br />
BARRIER BAG<br />
A great item for the camping department is<br />
our O.P. SAK odour proof bags to use for<br />
food storage. The Alaskan polar bear<br />
literally left the food filled bags intact but<br />
raided the<br />
near by trash<br />
bin. O.P. SAK<br />
is rated a<br />
biohazard bag<br />
by the US<br />
Government.<br />
The bags were<br />
strong enough<br />
to be used by<br />
the<br />
government<br />
for Anthrax<br />
containment.<br />
RRP:<br />
22x15cm (3) NZ$21.95<br />
30x40cm (3) NZ$24.95<br />
FISH FINDER<br />
NorCross Marine Products is proud to introduce<br />
the latest in portable fish finder technology -<br />
the FF3355P. This new unit arrives with dozens<br />
of new features, including a mountable,<br />
side-scannable, and adaptable sonar sensor,<br />
4 sensitivity settings, and WeedID.<br />
The new sonar sensor lets you troll, mount, or<br />
float the sensor. It attaches to a broomstick<br />
handle to scan under weeds, lily pads, or docks<br />
to find fish. It also comes with mounting tabs for<br />
hull mounting of your portable fish finder to<br />
canoes, kayaks, and inflatable boats.<br />
The FF3355P is guaranteed to produce even<br />
bigger fish stories...<br />
RRP: NZ$260.00<br />
PADDLE LEASH<br />
• Light weight<br />
• No tangles or twists<br />
• Seconds to fit<br />
• No bounce while paddling unlike heavy<br />
coiled paddle leashes<br />
• Secures paddle to kayak while fishing or<br />
if capsized<br />
• An essential safety item for any kayaker<br />
• Suits sit in or sit on top kayaks<br />
RRP: NZ$24.00<br />
30 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
WHEELS<br />
The <strong>Canoe</strong> & K ayak Trolleys have been designed and made<br />
by kayakers for New Zealand Conditions.<br />
• Stainless steel frames.<br />
• Easy to use and assemble.<br />
• Fits any boat from canoes, to kayaks and sit-on-tops.<br />
• Very few pieces - nothing to lose.<br />
• Heavy duty trolley easy to attach with only<br />
two snap lock knucles.<br />
• Light weight trolley has a simple fold-down system.<br />
• Stand to hold trolley in place whilst loading.<br />
Pricing:<br />
Heavy Duty all stainless steel 3 piece RRP: NZ$349.00<br />
Light Weight all stainless steel 1 piece RRP: NZ$199.00<br />
RASDEX<br />
RASDEX COMBINATION<br />
DECK<br />
Keep the water off your knees but stay<br />
comfortable around your waist with this<br />
combination deck from Rasdex. The 4oz Vent-X<br />
coated fabric used for the one-size waist tube is<br />
waterproof, breathable and fully seam sealed,<br />
and the deck has adjustable elastic shoulder straps and a useful free-draining pocket. The<br />
neoprene deckpiece ensures it stays flat across the cockpit and won't collapse onto you when<br />
the odd wave hits. Available to fit any size kayak, it's the ideal solution when you want to be<br />
both comfortable AND dry all day. RRP: NZ$159.95<br />
TOPLINE<br />
PALM REC ADVENTURE<br />
BUOYANCY AID<br />
A classic recreational PFD with two zipped front mesh pockets.<br />
The front foam has been ergonomically designed to fit male &<br />
female. The front foam has been shaped for extra comfort for<br />
long touring days on rivers, lakes and sea. Adjustment can be<br />
made while wearing the PFD. With front zip.<br />
Buoyancy: > 7.6 kg.<br />
Colour: Red<br />
Sizes: XS (Youth), S/M, L/XL, XXL<br />
RRP: NZ$185.00<br />
OPTIC NERVE<br />
PERFORMANCE<br />
EYEWEAR AT<br />
AFFORDABLE PRICES<br />
Optic Nerve is the latest in sports eyewear<br />
now available through <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> and<br />
other leading sports retailers nationwide. A<br />
market leader already in the US, Optic<br />
Nerve is set to revolutionize the eyewear<br />
industry in NZ - Finally, performance sports<br />
eyewear at affordable prices. The range<br />
includes styles for everyone from the<br />
serious athlete to the casual participant<br />
(and the ones watching). Polarised goggles<br />
and interchangeable styles come with 3<br />
different lens tints and a hard case. Plus a<br />
big range of polarised and general sports<br />
eyewear are now available. All models have<br />
100% UV protection, durable polycarbonate<br />
lenses with focal point technology and<br />
guaranteed optical clarity - all for<br />
RRP: NZ$99-$139!<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 31
SEA KAYAKING<br />
Rakiura in Rain & Red Bands<br />
( Stewart Island Circumnavigation)<br />
by Silvia Turner-Johnson<br />
It was raining. Our trusty Red Band<br />
gumboots were the last to be squashed<br />
into the end hatch before we<br />
launched our heavily laden boats into<br />
the cold waters of Halfmoon Bay.<br />
Stewart Island and gumboots, they just<br />
go together.<br />
us to paddle confidently in bigger seas, and to<br />
have no weather enforced layover days.<br />
We passed beautiful bays and great beds of kelp<br />
as we headed towards our planned stop at Xmas<br />
Village Hut. There was little let up in the weather<br />
as we faced our first obstacle and an important<br />
lesson. The realisation that we would be unable<br />
to land our boats on this stony beach because of<br />
the pounding surf was not lost on our tired and<br />
weary bodies. Backtracking we found a small<br />
stretch of sheltered sandy beach and welcomed<br />
the New Year in the luxury of a hunter’s shelter.<br />
A chance to dry gear and get warm after the cold<br />
temperatures of our first day proved important to<br />
group morale.<br />
The boats sat low in the water and were sluggish<br />
to respond as we negotiated our way through<br />
the moored fishing boats. The local fishermen<br />
shook their heads in disbelief. It was cold and<br />
the rain was heavy and would continue.<br />
Even the hardy fishing folk of Stewart<br />
Island were taking the day off.<br />
This was Rakiura, Stewart Island. In Maori folklore<br />
Stewart Island was the anchor, which held the<br />
canoe ofMaui as he fished up the North Island. It<br />
is a land steeped in history. From the earliest<br />
European settlers who built ships, hunted whales<br />
and extracted tin and gold from the sparsely<br />
vegetated hillsides of Port Pegasus to the fishing<br />
and tourist operators of today, Rakiura influences<br />
all who populate and frequent her shores. The<br />
pace of life is quiet and unhurried. Only a few<br />
kilometres of the island’s 1,600 km coastline are<br />
touched by human habitation.<br />
We had arrived the day before, crossing Foveaux<br />
Strait on the 30th December 2004. Preparation<br />
had begun months before, the idea hatched and<br />
cemented between the 4 of us - Bernie, Janette,<br />
Johnny and myself.<br />
Wearing unseasonable layers of polypro, down<br />
jackets and woolly hats we unloaded our sea<br />
kayaks and 3 weeks of supplies onto the docks at<br />
Oban. After intense scrutiny of the 10-day forecast<br />
we decided to leave Oban a day earlier than<br />
planned and pass the exposed western coast<br />
before an expected window of easterlies in<br />
otherwise southwesterly winds was lost. We were<br />
keenly aware that sea kayaking attempts to<br />
circumnavigate the island are often frustrated by<br />
the extreme weather conditions.<br />
As the noses of our boats pushed out of the<br />
harbour into the large swells rolling onto the<br />
northern coastline our initiation began. The girls<br />
had commandeered the double. The boys were<br />
in the singles.<br />
This choice of boats proved successful, enabling<br />
Paddling out of Halfmoon Bay along northern coastline - Day 1 cold!<br />
32 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
Johnny paddling past Kelp beds.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 33
We pushed on over the next 3 days to Doughboy<br />
Bay, embracing the intermittent spells of blue sky<br />
and sunshine, travelling close to the shoreline,<br />
lucky to see close-ups of the varying shades of the<br />
West Coast landscape. The towering cliff faces of<br />
the Ruggedy Islands were magnificent. Jagged<br />
rock edges stood raw and stark against the<br />
turquoise blue of the sea. Our first introduction<br />
to surf landings, ‘Stewart Island style’, was at West<br />
Ruggedy Beach. The golden sands beckoned us<br />
in for a lunch stop. In the surf the heavy double<br />
proved herself every bit as capable as the singles.<br />
We made our way down the coastline and into<br />
Doughboy Bay, home to the most remote hut on<br />
the southern walking circuit. The days had been<br />
cool and the prolonged patches of rain had made<br />
it difficult to dry gear. The hut’s warmth from the<br />
fire and respite from the cold winds was a joy not<br />
to be underestimated.<br />
An easy day in preparation for the push around<br />
the Southern Cape was favoured and we camped<br />
on the opposite beach of Easy Harbour, fishing for<br />
dinner among the inner Titi (Muttonbird) Islands.<br />
A male sea lion, irritated at the impudence of our<br />
camping on his beach, visited us frequently during<br />
the evening, roaring his disapproval.<br />
We launched early on the 6th day, a nervous quiet<br />
enveloping the group, as we headed to our last<br />
stop on the West Coast at Port Nicholson. Lunch<br />
was brief due to the cold SE flow, which refused<br />
to abate, and all too soon we were paddling<br />
towards the SW Cape, battling current and<br />
headwind. Closing on the Cape it seemed less<br />
imposing than I’d imagined it to be, but any<br />
momentary relaxation was short lived as I realised<br />
the size of the waves crashing and rebounding off<br />
the headland. The mixing of the tidal currents<br />
from the great blankets of ocean, with the restless<br />
swell and wind, created a cocktail of confused and<br />
steep water. We inched forward around the Cape<br />
and attempted to take a moment’s refuge behind<br />
the small granite dome of Murphy Island lying just<br />
off the Southern Coast.<br />
South Cape lay ahead and we continued through<br />
the heaving seas. The swells became steeper, with<br />
irregular larger waves standing up and crashing<br />
over our boats. I felt the fragility of our trusted<br />
fibreglass vessels, and an awareness that we<br />
hadn’t seen another human soul since leaving<br />
Long Harry Hut four days previously. The pain and<br />
cold were blocked out as motivated by fear and<br />
determination we paddled strongly. Four hours<br />
after leaving our lunch stop we dragged our weary<br />
bodies onto the beautiful sandy beaches of<br />
Broad Bay.<br />
A rest day was our reward. We feasted on<br />
pancakes and chocolate sauce, and later on<br />
succulent crabs caught in the clear waters of the<br />
bay. Escorted from BroadBay the following<br />
morning by the resident sea lion, we rounded<br />
Broad Head into the shelter of Small Craft Retreat.<br />
The fishing again proved bountiful through South<br />
Passage and into Port Pegasus. Pulling into the<br />
beach at Islet Cove we were surprised to meet a<br />
large group of sea kayakers who welcomed us into<br />
their space for the next four days. We appreciated<br />
the use of their hut as a southerly blast swept<br />
through! A highlight of our stay at Islet Cove was<br />
a close encounter with a kiwi. The Islet Cove long<br />
drop offers its visitors a small view of the<br />
surrounding landscape and it was from this<br />
viewpoint that tuis were seen dive-bombing a<br />
harassed looking kiwi. We then had an amazing<br />
experience crawling around in the undergrowth<br />
after him as the kiwi enjoyed his late<br />
afternoon sojourn.<br />
Launching empty boats to paddle up the tidal<br />
waterways of Cook’s Inlet on our day walk into<br />
Gog and Magog made a pleasant change in<br />
Packing boats at Doughboy - always a lengthy process fitting things in.<br />
Johnny’s birthday feast - sushi0.<br />
routine. These magnificent granite peaks stand<br />
tall and all seeing over the scrubby valleys and<br />
plains, and allowed us sobering views of our<br />
journey down the West Coast. Johnny completed<br />
what may well be the first ascent of Gog in Red<br />
Bands. Other excursions were to Bald Cone,<br />
Bulling Bay and the Tin Line. We camped finally<br />
at Twilight Bay feeling a pleasant saturation, ready<br />
for what Port Pegasus had to offer.<br />
A light drizzle, combined with a strong<br />
southwesterly flow pushed us through Whale<br />
Passage and we began our run up the East Coast<br />
of the island. We were resigned to the fact that<br />
our next stop would be Big Kuri Bay with 35 kms<br />
of rugged cliff and rocky terrain to bypass. Initial<br />
boisterous cheers at the healthy tailwind became<br />
34 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
subdued as the wind and sea grew. The crew of a<br />
lone fishing boat heading for the shelter of Port<br />
Pegasus expressed their concern at our plan to<br />
continue up the coast by telling us we were<br />
‘Bloody mad’. What they didn’t understand was<br />
that we couldn’t turn around in those conditions<br />
and were committed to our initial decision. For<br />
the next five hours the following sea became<br />
unpredictable with varying two-three metre<br />
swells and a 25-35 knot tailwind forcing us to<br />
remain completely focused until we reached the<br />
sanctuary of Big Kuri Bay. The double expressed<br />
her discomfort in the conditions. She was picked<br />
up by the waves and once surfing threatened to<br />
broach side on in the trough of waves. Energy for<br />
communicating was limited to a “We’re doing<br />
great,” yelled to Janette as she braced yet again in<br />
front of me. The albatross practised their fly-by<br />
manoeuvres over our boats, and we appreciated<br />
their graceful company.<br />
The sight of Big Kuri brought tears to my eyes. I let<br />
my body surrender to the feelings of complete<br />
physical and mental exhaustion. It had been our<br />
biggest day yet. We felt like true adventurers,<br />
deserving of a DB, as we sprawled on the sun<br />
soaked beach. Big Kuri was yet another tropical<br />
paradise with white sandy beaches and clear<br />
waters. A hunter’s bivvy stood, wrapped in layers<br />
of black polythene and wool packs, testimony to<br />
the toughness of its sporadic inhabitants. We<br />
were thankful for its shelter as an escape from the<br />
hungry sand flies, and the ‘interesting’ reading<br />
material provided plenty of laughs.<br />
The following day we explored the length of Lord’s<br />
River in downpours of heavy rain and decided to<br />
make camp at yet another hunter’s bivvy at the<br />
entrance to the river. The shelter enabled us to<br />
do some much needed drying of clothes and<br />
Janette soon had the outside bath cranked up to<br />
ease our paddle weary bodies. Heading out of<br />
Lord’s River we made for our last destination of<br />
Port Adventure. Spectacular fishing at the<br />
Western Coastline - Ruggedy Mountains in distance<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 35
entrance was closely followed by a large squall<br />
which hit us head-on and stopped us in our tracks.<br />
We sheltered as best we could and waited, heads<br />
tucked down, for the blinding horizontal wind<br />
and rain to ease. Port Adventure Hut was to be our<br />
home for the next two nights and thanks to the<br />
generosity of a couple aboard their yacht, we were<br />
able to celebrate Johnny’s 33rd birthday with<br />
some superb red wine, sushi and cheesecake.<br />
The cold temperatures continued on day 20, the<br />
last day of our trip. We rounded Buller’s Point and<br />
headed into Patterson’s Inlet, slogging into a<br />
strong headwind and crawling to the sanctuary of<br />
Ulva Island, a refuge for native birds. We had<br />
lunch with the birdsong of kaka, tui and<br />
saddlebacks, and watched the antics of some of<br />
the ‘locals’ on the beach - a bunch of brawling<br />
wekas. The wind refused to ease and it was with<br />
pained bodies that we made the final leg of our<br />
journey around Acker’s Point and into Halfmoon<br />
Bay. Beaching our boats in unison, it was<br />
impossible to shake the smiles from our wind<br />
burnt, salt encrusted faces. The South Seas Hotel<br />
lay waiting with a well-earned shower followed<br />
by steak, chips and a cold beer or two.<br />
We had been a great team, drawing strength and<br />
support from each other through the highs and<br />
the lows and enjoying truckloads of laughs in<br />
between. It had been an incredible adventure,<br />
and one that wouldn’t have been as successful<br />
without the help of many of the locals. A special<br />
thanks to Liz and the friendly bar staff who<br />
helped with transporting gear and offered<br />
invaluable advice.<br />
Great fishing - Trumpeter<br />
Photos by Johnny Johnson<br />
Lunch on top og Gog<br />
The end of the journey. Day 21. Half Moon Bay.<br />
36 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
Coastbusters<br />
2006 is all GO<br />
Coastbusters planning and preparation is well under way<br />
for the event to be held in March 2006 - see website<br />
www.coastbusters.org.nz<br />
What is it?<br />
A Bi-annual Sea <strong>Kayak</strong> Symposium put on by recreational sea kayakers for<br />
sea kayakers.<br />
The highly successful last event was held at Orewa in March 2004.<br />
Where is it being held?<br />
Milford Primary School on edge of Lake Pupuke North Shore City Friday and<br />
Saturday with speakers and workshops then Sullivans Bay Mahurangi West<br />
for the Sunday mass paddle exercise.<br />
When is it?<br />
Friday evening, Saturday all day and the evening, Sunday, March the 17, 18, &<br />
19th 2006.<br />
Who can attend?<br />
Any actively involved sea kayaker from any club or group or individual<br />
How do I apply or get more information?<br />
Watch the website for details. Entry information and fee will be posted later<br />
in 2005.<br />
Put it in your diary NOW.<br />
WHATS ON?<br />
ThermaTech<br />
Head2Head<br />
- 12 March 2006<br />
For the first time in fifteen years, the ThermaTech Head2Head will not<br />
be held in the spring. The event is moving to the more competitor<br />
friendly date of March 12th. The decision was not made lightly or<br />
unilaterally. Race organisers had feedback from a wide range of past<br />
competitors and sought comment from potential newbies. There was<br />
regret that H2H can no longer be used as a benchmark for a Coast to<br />
Coast build-up. However, other competitors polled had either a<br />
neutral reaction to the timing, or an overwhelmingly positive one,<br />
citing better weather for training and the event, and less pressure over<br />
Christmas period.<br />
Entry forms are available on www.head2head.net.nz<br />
Team entry fees have been reduced, Individual entry fees held at last<br />
years levels and the usual generous “Early Bird” discounts apply up<br />
to the end of November.<br />
Big Boys Toys<br />
Why should I diary it?<br />
‘Cos you’ll miss out otherwise.<br />
Ask anyone who attended the last one. It was a highlight of the year.<br />
New Yakity Yak T-Shirts<br />
are here!!<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> have commissioned a new Yakity Yak logo design<br />
which will be featured on high quality New Zealand - made T-shirts -<br />
now on sale in your local <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> store!<br />
Be the first to pick one up by calling into your local store... the T-shirts<br />
are a bargain and a must-have for all Yakity Yakkers.<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> will be exhibiting at the Big Boys Toys exhibition, taking place<br />
at Auckland Showground between 11-13th November.<br />
We will be exhibiting on Stand 10. There'll be prizes, competitions, special<br />
show deals - and we'll be on hand to advise on any aspect of kayaking, trips<br />
or courses.<br />
More information on Big Boys Toys will be available on TV, radio and press<br />
campaigns run by the organisers.<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 37
INTERNATIONAL<br />
KAYAKING<br />
The unquenchable thirst -<br />
Life and death on the Ganges<br />
by Kelvin Oram<br />
I met Doug when we were working in a<br />
monkey sanctuary in the Bolivian<br />
jungle. One night over a couple of<br />
beers I mentioned my dream of<br />
paddling down the Ganges in an<br />
inflatable canoe. “Let me know when<br />
you do it,” he said with a smile, “and<br />
I’ll come along,”<br />
The next time I saw him was two years later with<br />
an inflatable canoe under his arm at Delhi airport.<br />
For the next four weeks we were to paddle 1,000<br />
kms down the Ganges River in North India from<br />
Haridwar in the Himalayan foothills to the sacred<br />
city of Varanasi.<br />
We sought travel advice from rafting companies<br />
in Rishikesh. “You must be crazy”; “It’s too<br />
dangerous with just two of you”; and “It’s a very<br />
long way” were words of wisdom from concerned<br />
river guides. However, we hadn’t come this far to<br />
be put off, and although Doug had a dodgy<br />
stomach, known by expatriates as Delhi Belly, we<br />
launched our little rubber boats.<br />
On our first day we paddled through the foothills<br />
and out into the giant floodplain which supports<br />
India’s most populous State - Uttar Pradesh.<br />
Doug’s condition didn’t improve. As a medical<br />
man he described the state of his bowels<br />
eloquently. “Now there is blood and mucus in it!”<br />
Because it was tough for him in the afternoon heat<br />
we stopped several times for him to rest in the<br />
shade, drink, shit and gather his intestines for the<br />
next few kilometres. He made little complaint and<br />
had a grim determination to carry on. With<br />
Haridwar well behind us we camped on our own<br />
little sandbar and watched the sun set over<br />
the river.<br />
For the next few days we paddled happily through<br />
rural India, catching glimpses of village life.<br />
We waved like royalty at people working with<br />
hand ploughs and sickles in the fields, crossing<br />
the river in buffalo drawn carts and carrying water<br />
on their heads in giant silver bowls. Bleary eyed<br />
one morning I peered from my tent at three deer<br />
hunters armed with hefty spears standing over the<br />
boats and beaming at me. As neither of Doug or I<br />
spoke Hindi they conversed in frantic spear<br />
waggling. We understood that they didn’t fancy us<br />
for dinner but wanted to know what we were doing.<br />
By noon on the fifth day, battling the wind not the<br />
sun had become our chief concern and we were<br />
exhausted. We had reached Tigri, a village<br />
inhabited by luminous pink and green folk who<br />
smiled a lot. They were celebrating ‘Holi’, a festival<br />
at which all India goes crazy. We needed a break<br />
from paddling and asked about a hotel for the<br />
night. “Sorry, no hotel, but you can stay in my<br />
house,” came a voice from the crowd. That day<br />
and night Anil and his family fed, watered and<br />
entertained us. We were covered in pink and<br />
green dyes and hugged a lot. Just what we<br />
both needed.<br />
The following day the wind had died away. Still<br />
multicoloured we paddled on with renewed<br />
energy and spent the night in a Maharaja’s ancient<br />
palace with a troup of over-confident monkeys<br />
and half a million mosquitoes. Sleeping in a<br />
palace isn’t an every day experience with or<br />
without such companions!<br />
Our second week started with an army of kids,<br />
eager to carry our gear to the far side of the huge<br />
Naraura dam.This made the portage easy. The<br />
Ganges had become a trickling stream in a bleak<br />
and frustrating maze of sand dunes and<br />
inhospitable scrub. We had to frequently drag our<br />
boats back to ever shifting deeper channels.<br />
At one point, an intimidating group of young men<br />
with sticks shouted at us in Hindi and held onto<br />
our boats (with us in them). When they let us go<br />
we paddled well into the evening in case they had<br />
designs on us that night. Two days later, after<br />
stopping for water at a small village, two guys,<br />
sitting by the river, grabbed Doug’s boat. They had<br />
guns. I approached to see what the problem was<br />
and suddenly the rifles were pointed at us with<br />
demands for “Dollars, dollars !”<br />
Fortunately my wallet was handy. I handed it to<br />
them. They emptied it, pushed us off and ran<br />
away. We paddled like men possessed for a few<br />
minutes, and then started shaking. We were lucky<br />
that they were content with a few rupees, for they<br />
could have taken everything.<br />
Ten minutes later a young man pursued us with<br />
an armful of ‘green snakes’. Still shaking we<br />
paddled hard until he caught us in some shallows.<br />
“For your journey,” he said in perfect English as<br />
he handed us a bundle of bendy green<br />
cucumbers. We munched on them and pondered<br />
the morning’s excitements with one practical<br />
outcome: we determined to keep a small amount<br />
of ‘bandit stashes’ on our persons to avoid delay<br />
in satisfying robbers.<br />
What a country!<br />
We both needed a rest after our second week on<br />
the river and intended to stop in Fateghar for a<br />
hotel break, but we took the wrong fork in the<br />
river. Instead we were paddling amongst half<br />
submerged Hindu corpses delayed in the Ganges’<br />
shallows on their way to heaven. We weaved our<br />
38 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
Doug<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 39
way through the macabre scenes of vultures and dogs picking flesh from<br />
rotting bodies while the stench of decay hung in the humid air like a fog over<br />
the living. It was foreign to our Western sensibilities to be surrounded by<br />
death. But, the locals were unfazed, bathing themselves and watering<br />
their buffaloes.<br />
By week three it was clear that we weren’t going to be able to paddle to<br />
Varanasi in time for Doug’s flight home. So, we decided to catch the train for<br />
the 250 km section between Kanpur and Allahabad.<br />
Back into paddling mode, the pre-monsoon heat was unrelenting. The sun<br />
was a fiery dragon. By midday water bottles were hotter than a cup of tea<br />
and we craved cold drinks. Drenched in sweat we pored over our road map,<br />
which didn’t show bends in the river, to find any sizable town which might<br />
supply a coke or cold water. It became a bit of an obsession. At each bridge<br />
or village we put hand to mouth and called “Pepsi?” the international<br />
river greeting.<br />
Dolphins frequently accompanied us , showing us the main channel and<br />
coming right up to us. It was reassuring to have these beautiful creatures<br />
alongside. Every time they appeared we would drift for a while and watch<br />
them play and chase fish a few feet away.<br />
We reached Allahabad having survived being robbed at gunpoint, burned<br />
alive, charged by buffaloes, assaulted by bendy vegetables, the rotting body<br />
slalom and stench of death, Delhi Belly, the sand dune desert, the wind and<br />
a less than healthy addiction to Pepsi. We were ready for a pit stop ! We<br />
found it in the Hotel Yatrik with its lovely staff, swimming pool, room service<br />
and ICE. We spent two splendid days there grinning a lot and sipping cold<br />
ones by the pool.<br />
We left the hotel for the final 300 kms to Varanasi. Paddling wasn’t easy, for<br />
in addition to the scorching heat we were both sick with the runs and a chest<br />
infection possibly caused by the hotel’s air conditioning. But we still had<br />
the dolphins and a huge ice bucket which Doug had bought to be replenished<br />
at every opportunity.<br />
On our final day, as we rounded the last bend and passed under the huge<br />
bridge just upsteam from Varanasi, a flying Indian, in a large urn accompanied<br />
by a cloud of his charred remains, hurtled past me. We took great care to<br />
dodge the stream of ash and bones at this popular departure point for<br />
cremated Hindus on their way to heaven.<br />
Emotion and thoughts filled my head as we paddled past the famous ghats.<br />
My admiration for my friend and paddling buddy Doug, who had hardly ever<br />
kayaked before and who had persevered in spite of his Delhi Belly discomfort,<br />
was complete. I felt overwhelmed by the kindness of so many Indians who<br />
had offered us food, tea, accommodation and friendship, and gratitude to<br />
the guy who invented the screw-top ice bucket. It had enabled us to sit in<br />
the middle of the Ganges with a cold Coke and think “Maybe this aint so bad<br />
after all?”<br />
Next stop the Nile. It doesn’t get that hot in the Sahara does it?<br />
Editors Note - Kelvin isn’t paddling seven rivers ‘just for fun’ but to raise<br />
awareness and money for Save the Children. Their website is<br />
www.savethechildren.com<br />
40 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
KAYAK DESIGN & BUILDING<br />
The birth of a kayak<br />
- Dusky Bay Classic<br />
THE IDEA<br />
In 1992 the concept of manufacturing a<br />
polyethylene kayak in two sections, then joined<br />
in the centre to form a long sea going double, was<br />
born.<br />
More than 10 years on Max had a new longer oven,<br />
and finally the chance to get on with his double<br />
sea kayak project.<br />
THE DESIGN AND CRAFTING HER<br />
Using the foundation of our composite 6.25mtr<br />
Dusky Bay II, Max started on a shorter<br />
polyethylene model which would cater for<br />
weekend paddling in open waters, yet handle<br />
changing weather and tidal conditions.<br />
HULL: Much of the hull work was done, but in<br />
plastic, large flat areas are a no-go area, so the<br />
beautiful lifting rails, used in the elite ‘Torres’ sea<br />
kayak, shaped the hull beautifully, giving it extra<br />
strength, speed, and stability. Running the rails<br />
all the way to the bow, enabled any wash to shed<br />
early, making for a dryer deck.<br />
DECK: Here is where the fun began! We wanted<br />
good stowage in front and rear, without<br />
compromising a good length between cockpits to<br />
prevent paddle clashing. Could we fit a centre<br />
hatch in? How to make the cockpits comfortable<br />
for thigh and foot? There are similarities to our<br />
other sea kayaks, but working out where it all sits<br />
best, and then getting everything to the right<br />
measure and level, certainly took time.<br />
GETTING HER MOULDED<br />
After months of moulding bog, fibreglass, foam<br />
and sanding, the beast was ready for the Foundry.<br />
With eight of the team to lift her onto the trailer,<br />
by Sandy Wilson<br />
she was off and away. At the Foundry, Brett was<br />
not looking forward to the project. She was one<br />
big girl. Within a few weeks we had the alloy hull<br />
home. Many hours of sanding and sore hands<br />
went into getting a smooth finish. Just when we’d<br />
had enough, the deck turned up. The area was<br />
not as big, but detail was more complex, so more<br />
sanding, and more sanding .........<br />
A heavy duty spider frame was made to lift her in<br />
and out of the oven. Max progressed with the<br />
seats, beefy rudder and all the finishing touches,<br />
while the team sanded and sanded .............<br />
THE FIRST BIRTH<br />
Finally, a long time down the track, the<br />
‘DUSKY BAY CLASSIC’ was ready to be loaded up<br />
and produce.<br />
You wait with baited breath at the first birth of a<br />
new model. Did you get the shrinkage percentage<br />
right, will the hatch rims come away, or will they<br />
buckle with pressure? Is the plastic distributed<br />
correctly, and is the thickness right in vital places?<br />
It is fantastic to see a new project come to<br />
completion. The process is long, and patience is<br />
not every one’s virtue, but the first birth ............<br />
THE BEAST HERSELF<br />
So, once the fittings were complete - this was no<br />
easy task either - the ‘Dusky Bay Classic’ was ready<br />
to be paddled. Her hull design is smooth and fast<br />
on the water. The seats/backrests are<br />
comfortable, with ample thigh and foot room. The<br />
sturdy rudder is easy to lift and drop, and the<br />
footrests manoeuvre the boat effortlessly.<br />
So, we’re more than pleased with her! We hope<br />
you enjoy her too!<br />
And it’s onwards and upwards to the next project<br />
around here (but it won’t be quite so BIG!)<br />
Dusky Bay Classic<br />
Length<br />
544 cm<br />
Width<br />
74 cm<br />
Depth<br />
39 cm<br />
Weight<br />
44 kg<br />
Volume<br />
685 Litres<br />
Cockpit<br />
71 x 44 cm<br />
Accessories Paddles, lifejackets,<br />
spray decks<br />
Retail Price $2950<br />
Max<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 41
BOOK REVIEW<br />
Obscured by Waves<br />
South Island <strong>Kayak</strong> Odyssey<br />
By Paul Caffyn<br />
Ian dropped the parcel onto the bed and asked what was I<br />
getting from <strong>Kayak</strong> Dundee Press. As I ripped it open, I could<br />
hardly contain my glee; it was the reprint of Paul Caffyn’s<br />
first book about his South Island circumnavigation.<br />
All thoughts of getting out of my sickbed and doing chores<br />
vanished... Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code was cast aside...<br />
I snuggled down, I had ‘work’ to do.<br />
Half an hour later, I could tell I was definitely going to be ‘sick’ for the rest of<br />
the day. I was captivated, enthralled, engrossed with the descriptive writing<br />
“...the dark grey clouds in rolls and folds had ominously enveloped the<br />
mountains...little did we know what was waiting for us in Acheron Passage...”<br />
and nodding in agreement with the wisdom of “Although I sometimes<br />
describe the sea as angry or friendly, it is in truth unemotional and has no<br />
feelings; if we completed the trip the sea wouldn’t care; if we failed it would<br />
merely cast our bodies onto the boulders as if to be rid of us.”<br />
It was easy to be drawn into the adventures of Paul and Max Reynolds as<br />
they paddled from Te Waewae Bay to Jackson Bay, to picture a youthful Paul,<br />
his support crew and their antics: “We paddled through a dozen cans of beer<br />
that were bobbing in the chop and powered onto the shingle beach.”<br />
Passages such as “I glanced up over my shoulder and was horrified to see<br />
the face of an eight to nine foot dumper about to break on top of me. Then<br />
Isadora’s stern flicked up as though lifted by a giant hand. The bow dug in at<br />
the base of the wave and as it broke the wave hurled the kayak stern over<br />
bow...” had me wincing, shuddering, and shivering...imagining the cold, the<br />
fear, and definitely not wanting to paddle with Mr. Caffyn.<br />
Paul’s expedition may well have finished at Jackson Bay, but he was hooked,<br />
and couldn’t settle down. “During the four weeks of the Fiordland trip, Max<br />
and I fell into a very satisfying natural rhythm of life, rising with the dawn,<br />
bedding down at dusk, an intensified awareness of the environment, the<br />
tingling, excitement of discovery, the stomach churning of fear...”<br />
Finding no one else keen on accompanying him on a long paddle he set out<br />
solo, with a ground support crew from Jackson Bay to Greymouth, to Karamea,<br />
to Nelson.........<br />
I definitely needed another ‘sickday’, because I could not interrupt the story<br />
of this journey for anything as frivolous or unnecessary as housework. It is<br />
not often I can honestly say this: I did not want to put the book down.<br />
Each chapter is sprinkled throughout with historical tit bits. Maps plot each<br />
stage of the journey making it easy to follow. When registering distances,<br />
first the reader needs to either think in land miles (Paul paddles at 4mph) or<br />
multiply by 1.6 to get kilometres (10 miles = 16 km). To put the distances<br />
covered into perceptive, Paul paddled as much before lunch as most of us<br />
hope to achieve in a weekend, and then he did it again the next day and the<br />
day after that...!!<br />
The suspense, the thrills, the excitement, the fear, the intimacy with the<br />
author and his support crew is carried through to the end of the book. The<br />
details are never boring, just delightful: Paul Dale swam out to meet Paul<br />
and to encourage him to<br />
paddle a bit further<br />
“...attached by a piece of<br />
rope around his neck; a<br />
thermos of hot sweet tea, the<br />
next plastic-coated map of<br />
the coastline...and a bag of<br />
minties.”<br />
Is the book inspirational?<br />
Yes, for more youthful<br />
wannabe adventurers or those needing to break out of their existing unhappy<br />
mould. Does the book inspire me to follow in his footsteps? Personally no.<br />
But, I knew what I had to do. I had to read more about this remarkable man’s<br />
adventures, get a cheque in the post and secure his two other books still in<br />
print before the publicity from the release of this one drew attention to their<br />
scarcity and they sold out.<br />
Obscured By Waves is available from Boatbooks, Auckland or kayak shops,<br />
or directly from Paul Caffyn, RD1, Runanga 7854, West Coast for $35 inc. P&P.<br />
(100 hardback copies, numbered and autographed will be available at<br />
$50 inc. P&P.)<br />
And if you are quick, also available from Paul are - Cresting the Restless<br />
Waves (North Island circumnavigation) $30, The Dreamtime Voyage<br />
( Australia circumnavigation) $35, limp $45 hardback.<br />
Review by Ruth E. Henderson<br />
Paul Caffyn has been paddling since childhood, his first<br />
boat a 17' Canadian canoe. The South Island trip marked<br />
the start of a remarkable kayaking career. In the summer<br />
of 1979, Paul paddled around the North Island, and in<br />
August of that year, teamed back up with Max Reynolds for<br />
a crossing of Foveaux Strait and a circumnavigation of<br />
Stewart Island. Tragically, only months later, Max drowned<br />
in a flash flood while paddling in the Aorere River, near<br />
Collingwood.<br />
In 1980, Paul with Nigel Denis completed the first<br />
circumnavigation of Great Britain by kayak, which was<br />
followed by the big one in 1982, a solo paddle around<br />
Australia. Japan followed in 1985, and in 1991, Paul<br />
completed a 4,700 mile solo, unsupported paddle around<br />
Alaska from Prince Rupert to Inuvik. Teaming up with<br />
Conrad Edwards in 1997, they have since paddled around<br />
New Caledonia, along the west coast of Greenland and from<br />
Kuala Lumpur to Phuket.<br />
42 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
ACADIA 470<br />
A great fun family<br />
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Excellent for<br />
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Easy finance available from<br />
Conditions and<br />
Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.<br />
Win<br />
For more information on any of these<br />
kayaks or equipment - fill in the form and<br />
receive an information pack and<br />
Go in the Draw to WIN....<br />
Prize drawn on 30 November 2005<br />
Name:<br />
Email:<br />
Address:<br />
Ph: home<br />
work<br />
mobile<br />
Please send me info. on:<br />
Conditions and<br />
booking<br />
booking<br />
fee<br />
fee<br />
apply<br />
apply<br />
Cobra Fish ‘N Dive<br />
valued at $995<br />
Send form to: WIN A FISH N’ DIVE;<br />
NZ <strong>Kayak</strong> Magazine, 7/28 Anvil Rd, Silverdale. Phone (09) 421 0662.<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 43
We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.<br />
TOURER<br />
This kayak has it<br />
all, even an<br />
adjustable leg<br />
length rudder<br />
system. The low<br />
profile hull of the<br />
Cobra Tourer cuts<br />
down on windage,<br />
enabling paddlers<br />
to maintain high<br />
speed and straight<br />
tracking with easy<br />
handling in all<br />
conditions. The<br />
integrated keel<br />
provides stability<br />
and efficiency.<br />
Length: 4.55 m, Weight: 22.68 kg,<br />
Width: 711 mm (x A hatch and tank straps incl.)<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1498.<br />
FISH N’ DIVE<br />
The ultimate<br />
fishing/diving<br />
kayak. A large well<br />
is located in the<br />
stern and holds up<br />
to three tanks.<br />
There is one<br />
centrally located<br />
seat and a smaller<br />
companion seat<br />
near the bow. It can<br />
also be fitted with<br />
an optional motor<br />
bracket for an<br />
electric trolling or<br />
small outboard<br />
engine.<br />
Length: 3.81 m, Weight: 25.85 kg, Width: 914 mm<br />
(hatches & accessories not included)<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1689.<br />
TORRENT<br />
FREEDOM<br />
Great for the surf<br />
and the river with<br />
awesome<br />
manoeuvrability.<br />
Excellent finish.<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $999.<br />
SQUIRT<br />
A Sit-on-Top for the<br />
family. Able to seat<br />
an adult and a small<br />
child. It is easy to<br />
paddle and is very<br />
stable. Easily carried<br />
by one adult or two<br />
kids.<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $609.<br />
SWING 470<br />
PLUS<br />
A fantastic two<br />
person cruising<br />
kayak which is stable<br />
and fast. It has plenty<br />
of storage and great<br />
features to make<br />
your adventures fun.<br />
Length: 3.12 m, Weight: 22.7 kg ,<br />
Width: 810 mm<br />
Length: 2.7m, Weight: 15 kg, Width: 780 mm<br />
COBRA<br />
STRIKE<br />
A Wave Ski which<br />
the whole family<br />
can enjoy.<br />
Fantastic in the<br />
surf, it‘s a fast and<br />
manoeuvrable<br />
sit-on-top.<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $999.<br />
THE PLAY<br />
is great for the<br />
paddler who<br />
wants a fun fast<br />
surf and flat<br />
water kayak.<br />
Kids love this<br />
Sit-on as it is not<br />
too wide for<br />
them to paddle<br />
and yet very<br />
stable.<br />
ESCAPEE<br />
Probably the<br />
closest you will<br />
come to finding<br />
one kayak that<br />
does it all. Surfing,<br />
fishing, snorkelling.<br />
Length: 2.92 m, Weight: 16 kg,<br />
Width: 685 mm<br />
Length: 3.10 m, Weight: 17.27 kg, Width: 710 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $775.<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1749.<br />
Length: 4.75 m, Weight: 34 kg, Width: 840 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1069.<br />
Length: 3.3 m, Weight: 23 kg , Width: 750 mm<br />
Easy finance available from<br />
Conditions and<br />
booking fee apply<br />
Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.<br />
44 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.<br />
THE TANDEM<br />
‘two person’ is<br />
ideal for fishing,<br />
surfing and<br />
exploring. It has<br />
great hatches for<br />
storing your<br />
adventure<br />
equipment. Now<br />
available with<br />
three person<br />
option. It is often<br />
used by one<br />
person.<br />
DELTA<br />
DOUBLE<br />
Fun for the<br />
whole family at<br />
the beach or<br />
lake.<br />
Plenty of room<br />
and great<br />
stability.<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1689.<br />
CONTOUR<br />
490<br />
This double Sea<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong> is an<br />
ideal day tourer<br />
with the easy<br />
ability to do<br />
those weekend<br />
camping<br />
expeditions. It<br />
handles well, is<br />
fun to paddle<br />
and has well<br />
appointed<br />
accessories.<br />
WANDERER<br />
EXCEL<br />
A stable fun<br />
kayak which is<br />
easy to handle.<br />
This is an<br />
enjoyable<br />
kayak for all<br />
the family.<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1999.<br />
Length: 3.81 m, Weight: 25.90 kg,<br />
Width: 915 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1729.<br />
Length: 4.2 m, Weight: 32 kg,<br />
Width: 830 mm<br />
Length: 4.87 m, Weight: 35 kg,<br />
Width: 800 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $3299.<br />
Length: 4.5 m , Weight: 34kg ,<br />
Width: 820 mm<br />
WHIZZ<br />
A great multipurpose<br />
family<br />
boat for big kids<br />
and small kids<br />
alike.<br />
Lots of fun this<br />
summer at the<br />
beach. (Hot<br />
surfer!)<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $739.<br />
SWING 400<br />
PLUS<br />
Flat water<br />
cruising, well<br />
appointed with<br />
gear storage<br />
inside. Also<br />
includes an<br />
optional extra<br />
pod that<br />
detaches, which<br />
is great for<br />
carrying your<br />
fishing gear to<br />
your favourite<br />
spot. The pod<br />
can also be used<br />
as a seat.<br />
TASMAN<br />
EXPRESS<br />
Responds to rough<br />
conditions. Its low<br />
profile and flared<br />
bow enable it to<br />
perform well in<br />
adverse conditions.<br />
It is designed to<br />
give the paddler<br />
maximum comfort,<br />
with adjustable<br />
footrests, backrest,<br />
side seat supports<br />
and optional thigh<br />
brace.<br />
Length: 2.5 m, Weight: 21 kg,<br />
Width: 770 mm<br />
Length: 4.01 m, Weight: 25 kg,<br />
Width: 780 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1225.<br />
Length: 5.3 m, Std. Weight: 29 kg,<br />
Lightweight: 27 kg, Width: 610 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $2839.<br />
Give your specialist kayak shop a call and talk to<br />
one of our friendly team to help choose the best<br />
kayak for you.<br />
Easy finance available from<br />
Conditions and<br />
booking fee apply<br />
Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 45
We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.<br />
TORRES<br />
A fast and stable<br />
sea kayak<br />
capable of<br />
handling extreme<br />
expeditions.<br />
Huge storage and<br />
lots of leg room.<br />
Prices<br />
start at<br />
$4110.<br />
SEQUEL<br />
Fast, light,<br />
touring kayak<br />
suits beginners<br />
through to<br />
advanced<br />
paddlers. The<br />
hull design<br />
allows for great<br />
handling in<br />
rough water.<br />
Well appointed<br />
and ideally<br />
suitable for<br />
multisport<br />
training.<br />
Challenge 5<br />
Slightly larger<br />
volume than the<br />
Sequel and<br />
lighter at 22kg. A<br />
fast and stable<br />
touring sea kayak<br />
well appointed<br />
and featuring a<br />
great rudder/<br />
steering system.<br />
CONTOUR<br />
450<br />
This kayak is<br />
designed for day<br />
tripping and light<br />
overnight<br />
expeditions. It’s<br />
great fun to<br />
paddle and<br />
handles easily.<br />
Length: 3.43 m, Weight: 18.18 kg,<br />
Width: 790 mm<br />
Length: 5.6 m, Weight: 23kg kevlar carbon,<br />
Width: 600 mm<br />
Length: 4.93 m , Weight: 26kg,<br />
Width: 580 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $2649.<br />
Length: 5 m , Weight: 22kg, Width: 590 mm<br />
(Freight charges may apply)<br />
Prices start at<br />
$3310.<br />
Length: 4.5 m , Weight: 26kg ,<br />
Width: 640mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $2375.<br />
ECOBEZHIG<br />
540<br />
An enjoyable sea<br />
kayak, fast and<br />
nimble with huge<br />
storage, great<br />
features and the<br />
most comfortable<br />
seat your butt will<br />
ever meet.<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $3039.<br />
TASMAN<br />
EXPRESS<br />
KEVLAR<br />
As per the plastic<br />
model, the kevlar<br />
Tasman Express<br />
responds to<br />
rough conditions<br />
but its decreased<br />
weight, and<br />
increased<br />
stiffness, gives<br />
even better<br />
performance.<br />
PENGUIN<br />
Has all the<br />
features for<br />
multi-day<br />
kayaking with<br />
ease of handling<br />
in all weather<br />
conditions.<br />
With great<br />
manoeuvrability<br />
this kayak is<br />
suitable for<br />
paddlers from<br />
beginner to<br />
advanced.<br />
Length: 5.4 m, Weight: Std 26 kg ,<br />
Width: 590 mm<br />
Length: 5.3 m, Weight: 22 kg,<br />
Width: 610 mm<br />
Prices start at<br />
$3979.<br />
Length: 4.8 m, Weight: 25 kg,<br />
Width: 610 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $2549.<br />
Easy finance available from<br />
Conditions and<br />
booking fee apply<br />
Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.<br />
46 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.<br />
CONTOUR<br />
480<br />
Is a roomy,<br />
manoeuvrable,<br />
easy to handle<br />
boat. A<br />
channelled hull<br />
provides<br />
outstanding<br />
tracking which<br />
helps keep you<br />
on course. Its<br />
upswept, flared<br />
bow makes<br />
crossing rough<br />
water a breeze.<br />
ECO NIIZH<br />
565 XLT<br />
This upgraded<br />
model is proving<br />
a hit with its new<br />
lighter weight<br />
and some<br />
excellent<br />
features. We<br />
now have a<br />
plastic double<br />
sea kayak that is<br />
great to use for<br />
all those<br />
amazing<br />
expeditions and<br />
adventures.<br />
Length: 4.8m, Weight: 27 kg,<br />
Width: 62 cm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $2499.<br />
Length: 5.64 m, Weight: 45 kg,<br />
Width: 760 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $4129.<br />
TUI EXCEL<br />
A versatile<br />
touring kayak for<br />
lake, river and<br />
sea. Stability,<br />
speed and easy<br />
tracking make for<br />
an enjoyable<br />
day’s paddling. A<br />
larger cockpit<br />
allows for easier<br />
entry and exit.<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $2049.<br />
ACADIA<br />
370<br />
Flat water<br />
cruising, well<br />
appointed, a<br />
nifty<br />
adjustable<br />
backrest, an<br />
access hatch<br />
in the back<br />
which is great<br />
for carrying<br />
your extra<br />
gear.<br />
Length: 4.4 m, Weight: Std 22kg,<br />
Width: 610 mm<br />
Length: 3.7 m, Weight: 20 kg,<br />
Width: 7675 mm<br />
SAVE with a<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Package Deal.<br />
Packages start at $1575.<br />
MULTISPORT AND RACING SEA KAYAKS<br />
KAYAKS<br />
SPECIFICATION<br />
KAYAKS<br />
SPECIFICATION<br />
Weight: 11kg<br />
Width: 450mm<br />
Length: 5.65m<br />
Price: $2995<br />
Weight:<br />
Width:<br />
Length:<br />
Price:<br />
16.5 kg<br />
500mm<br />
6.4 m<br />
$3495 kevlar<br />
& carbon<br />
$2995 fibreglass<br />
REBEL This new fast funky Ruahine <strong>Kayak</strong> is designed for paddlers of both<br />
genders up to 75kgs.<br />
At 5.65 metres long, the Rebel is half way between the length of the Swallow<br />
and the Opus or Firebolt and is faster than them all.<br />
OCEAN X This Racing Sea <strong>Kayak</strong> was designed specifically for the ‘Length<br />
of New Zealand Race’ and built around the safety criteria drawn up for that<br />
race. The Ocean X is also very suitable for kayak racing in the many<br />
harbours, estuaries and lakes of New Zealand and lends itself well to the<br />
kayak sections of many multisport races.<br />
Easy finance available from<br />
Conditions and<br />
booking fee apply<br />
Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.<br />
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 47
We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.<br />
MULTISPORT AND RACING SEA KAYAKS<br />
KAYAKS<br />
SPECIFICATION<br />
KAYAKS<br />
SPECIFICATION<br />
Weight: 12 kg<br />
Width: 455mm<br />
Length: 5.9m<br />
Price: $3045<br />
Weight: 14.5 kg<br />
Width: 540 mm<br />
Length: 4.94m<br />
Price: $2295<br />
FIREBOLT This new, very user friendly kayak with its excellent<br />
combination of speed and stability supercedes our very popular Opus. It is<br />
suitable not only for the intermediate / advanced paddler, but also for the<br />
busy, but keen ‘Weekend Warrior’.<br />
INTRIGUE This kayak is ideal for the beginner/entry level kayaker who is<br />
looking for a quick, light kayak with great stability. Very suitable for first<br />
time Coast to Coasters.<br />
Weight: 12 kg<br />
Width: 480mm<br />
Length: 5.4 m<br />
Price: $2795<br />
Weight:<br />
19.09 kg<br />
Width:<br />
585 mm<br />
Length:<br />
5.03 m<br />
Price: $1495<br />
SWALLOW The next step up from the entry level kayaks. Fast with good<br />
stability. Medium skill ability is required to enjoy racing this kayak. A very<br />
popular Coast to Coast kayak.<br />
THE ELIMINATOR is a fast stable racing<br />
and training ‘Sit -on’. It has an adjustable dry seat and a cool draining<br />
system. Ideal for the paddler wanting a good fitness work out.<br />
Weight: 16.5 kg to 19 kg<br />
depending on construction<br />
Width: 510 mm<br />
Length: 6.43 m<br />
Price: $2980 - $3330<br />
depending on construction<br />
Weight: 21 kg<br />
Width: 510 mm<br />
Length: 5.29 m<br />
Price: $1595<br />
Includes rudder foot plate<br />
and pedals as standard.<br />
MAXIMUS Fast ocean going Racing Sea <strong>Kayak</strong>. The broad bow allows<br />
this kayak to ride over waves like a surf ski without losing any speed and is<br />
easy to control while surfing. A low profile reduces buffeting by the wind in<br />
adverse conditions.<br />
SURF SKI An excellent training and competition surf ski, can be used with<br />
under-slung rudder or rear mounted rudder.<br />
Weight:<br />
26 kg Glass<br />
Kevlar/Carbon<br />
24kg Width:<br />
550mm<br />
Length:<br />
7m 7 m<br />
Price: $4995 Glass - $5495<br />
depending on $5495 construction<br />
Kevlar/Carbon<br />
Weight: 22 kg<br />
Width: 550mm<br />
Length: 5.15 m<br />
Price: $1495<br />
Includes multisport rudder<br />
and Ozo foot pedals and<br />
foam pillars fitted as<br />
standard.<br />
ADVENTURE DUET This lightweight, very fast and recently updated<br />
Adventure Racing double kayak continues to dominate adventure racing in<br />
NZ and is very suitable as a recreational double.<br />
VIPER This boat is designed as an entry level alternative to expensive<br />
composite crafts, has good stability and speed. Colours: Stone grey, Mango,<br />
White granite, Lime, Yellow.<br />
Easy finance available from<br />
Conditions and<br />
booking fee apply<br />
Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.<br />
48 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
Directory: Things To Do<br />
TAUPO Maori Carvings Waikato River Discovery<br />
Mohaka Whanganui River Trips<br />
Half day guided trip to the rock carvings,<br />
Lake Taupo... only accessible by boat.<br />
$85 per person (bookings essential).<br />
Call freephone 0800 KAYAKN for<br />
details.<br />
2 hour guided kayak trip. Experience the<br />
magnificent upper reaches of the mighty<br />
Waikato River - soak in the geothermal<br />
hotsprings - take in the stunning<br />
environment... a perfect trip for all the family...<br />
Price: $40 adult $25 children Special<br />
group and family rates. Call freephone<br />
0800 KAYAKN for details.<br />
Need some excitement? Take a kayak down<br />
this wicked Grade II river run... this is a<br />
whole day of thrills and fantastic scenery<br />
down the Mohaka River.<br />
Price: $100 per person. Call freephone<br />
0800 KAYAKN for details.<br />
Phone: Taupo 07 378 1003,<br />
Hawke’s Bay 06 842 1305<br />
Interested in a great adventure on this<br />
Magnificent River?<br />
Give us a call and we will give you a<br />
memory of a lifetime.<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Taupo<br />
Price on application.<br />
0800 529256<br />
TAUPO Accommodation<br />
Waitara River Tours<br />
Mokau River<br />
Sugar Loaf Island<br />
Accommodation available to Yakity Yak club<br />
members and their families... Ideal for sport<br />
and school groups... Situated on the banks<br />
of the Waikato River our <strong>Kayak</strong>ers Lodge<br />
accommodates up to 12 people, is fully<br />
furnished, with plenty of parking and a quiet<br />
location.<br />
$25 per person per night.<br />
Phone: 0800 529256 for details<br />
For those who are slightly more adventurous at<br />
heart, this is a scenic trip with the excitement of<br />
grade two rapids. Midway down, we paddle<br />
under the historic Betran Rd Bridge where we<br />
will stop for a snack.<br />
Allow 2 hours paddle only. Priced at $50.<br />
Phone: 06 769 5506<br />
Enjoy this beautiful scenic river which<br />
winds through some of New Zealands<br />
lushest vegetation. Camping overnight and<br />
exploring some of New Zealands<br />
pioneering history. A true Kiwi experience.<br />
Two day trips $220.00 or<br />
one day $70.00.<br />
Phone 06 769 5506<br />
From Ngamutu Beach harbour we head out<br />
to the open sea to Nga Motu/Sugar Loaf<br />
Island Marine Reserve. View the Taranaki<br />
scenic, rugged coastline as we draw closer to<br />
the Sugar Loaf Islands. Enjoy the seal colony<br />
and experience the thrill of close up views of<br />
these fascinating marine mammals.<br />
Allow 3 hours subject to weather.<br />
$50.00 per person. Phone 06 769 5506<br />
Hawkes Bay Harbour Cruise<br />
Okura River Tours<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong> Hire<br />
A guided kayak trip round the safe waters of<br />
the Inner Harbour, while learning about the<br />
history of the area. During this stunning trip<br />
around the beautiful Napier Inner Harbour<br />
of Ahuriri, we stop to share a glass of fresh<br />
orange juice, local fruits and cheese platter.<br />
All this for $40 per person.<br />
Phone 06 842 1305<br />
Exploring Karepiro Bay and the Okura<br />
Marine Reserve. Enjoy this scenic trip with<br />
abundant wildlife and a stop at Dacre<br />
Cottage, the historic 1860 settlers house,<br />
which is only accessible by boat or a long<br />
walk.<br />
Okura River <strong>Kayak</strong> Hire Company<br />
Phone: 09 473 0036<br />
Taupo - Open for the summer and by<br />
appointment. Long Bay, Auckland - by<br />
appointment only. Have some paddling<br />
fun on the beach or let us run a Tour for<br />
you and your friends and explore these<br />
beautiful areas.<br />
Phone <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
on 0508 KAYAKNZ for details<br />
New Zealand <strong>Kayak</strong>ing Instructors<br />
Award Scheme<br />
Become a kayaking Instructor and Guide.<br />
Get into gear and get qualified!<br />
It’s fun and easy to do.<br />
Don’t delay phone 0508 5292569 now<br />
Paddle to the Pub<br />
Twilight Tours<br />
Customized Tours<br />
Join the Yakity Yak Club<br />
<strong>Kayak</strong>ing to a local pub is a unique way of<br />
spending an evening, bringing your group of<br />
friends together by completing a fun activity<br />
before dinner and making a memorable<br />
experience. These trips are available to<br />
Riverhead, Browns Bay and Devonport Pubs.<br />
COST: $59.00 each • GROUP DISCOUNTS<br />
AVAILABLE!<br />
Okura River <strong>Kayak</strong> Hire Company<br />
Phone: 09 473 0036<br />
Departs from one of The East Coast Bays<br />
beautiful beaches. Enjoy the scenic trip<br />
with the sun setting over the cliff tops as<br />
you paddle along the coast line.<br />
COST: $49.00 • Group discounts available!<br />
Okura River <strong>Kayak</strong> Hire Company<br />
Phone: 09 473 0036<br />
Mobile: 025 529 255<br />
• Work Functions • Schools<br />
• Clubs • Tourist groups<br />
Whether it’s an afternoon amble, a full<br />
days frolic or a wicked weekend<br />
adventure we can take you there.<br />
If there’s somewhere you’d like to paddle<br />
we can provide you with experienced<br />
guides, local knowledge, safe up to date<br />
equipment and a lot of fun.<br />
Contact your local store<br />
on 0508 KAYAKNZ<br />
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challenging and enjoyable trips, and learn<br />
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PLUS get a regular email newsletter and<br />
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Then, join us!<br />
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ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 49
Learn To <strong>Kayak</strong><br />
SEA KAYAKS, TOURING AND SIT-ON-TOPS<br />
WHITE WATER AND MULTISPORT<br />
Stage 1<br />
Stage 2<br />
Stage 1<br />
Stage 2<br />
SKILLS COURSE<br />
A comprehensive course designed to<br />
cover the skills required to become a<br />
technically correct and safe paddler. The<br />
course progresses so you develop<br />
techniques and confidence at an<br />
enjoyable pace with great end results.<br />
This course is run over a weekend or by<br />
request in the evenings.<br />
COST $295<br />
ESKIMO ROLLING<br />
This course covers the skills required to<br />
become a technically correct Eskimo<br />
Roller. You increase your confidence,<br />
allowing you to paddle in more<br />
challenging conditions. Being able to<br />
eskimo roll will make you a more<br />
competent, safe and capable paddler.<br />
Course: 4 evening sessions<br />
COST $200<br />
INTRO TO WHITE WATER<br />
A comprehensive course designed to<br />
cover the skills required to become a<br />
technically correct paddler. Starting off<br />
in a heated pool and progressing<br />
through flat water to moving water, it<br />
allows you to develop techniques and<br />
confidence at an enjoyable pace with<br />
great end results.<br />
Course: Weekend<br />
COST $349<br />
ESKIMO ROLLING<br />
This course covers the skills required to<br />
become a technically correct Eskimo<br />
Roller. This will increase your confidence,<br />
allowing you to paddle in more<br />
challenging conditions.<br />
Course: 4 evening sessions<br />
COST $200<br />
Stage 3<br />
Stage 4<br />
Stage 3<br />
Stage 4<br />
WEATHER & NAVIGATION<br />
Understanding the weather and ability to<br />
navigate in adverse conditions is vital<br />
when venturing into the outdoors. Learn<br />
to use charts and compasses and forecast<br />
the weather using maps and the clouds.<br />
Course: 4 evening sessions<br />
COST $150<br />
OCEANS COURSE<br />
An advanced course designed to build on<br />
your skills. Covering paddling technique,<br />
kayak control, rescues, preparation,<br />
planning and decision making.<br />
Course: Weekend/overnight.<br />
COST $350<br />
RIVER SKILLS<br />
On this course we continue to build on<br />
the skills gained on Stage One and Two<br />
Courses. Developing your skills,<br />
technique and confidence on the faster<br />
moving white water of the Waikato River<br />
and progressing on to a Sunday day trip<br />
on the Mohaka River. Includes, eddie<br />
turns, ferry gliding, rolling, surfing and<br />
building new skills in River Rescue<br />
techniques and River Reading.<br />
Course: Weekend • COST $349<br />
MULTISPORT<br />
During this course we build on the skills<br />
gained on the Stage One to Three Courses.<br />
Developing your moving water skills,<br />
technique and confidence in your Multi<br />
Sport <strong>Kayak</strong>. We start on the Mohaka River<br />
on Saturday and progress to the<br />
Whanganui on Sunday for some big water<br />
paddling. River racing competency letters<br />
are awarded to those who meet the<br />
standard and criteria as outlined on the<br />
Grade Two Competency Certificate. A copy<br />
is available from <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Shops.<br />
Course: Weekend • COST $349<br />
Stage 6<br />
Stage 5<br />
Stage 6<br />
Stage 5<br />
KAYAKING SURF COURSE<br />
Surfing is heaps of fun when you know<br />
how. We will spend the evenings starting<br />
off in small surf and building up to one<br />
and a half metre waves. We will use a<br />
range of sit-on-tops and kayaks to make<br />
it fun and easy to learn. Skills to be<br />
taught include surfing protocol, paddling<br />
out, direction control, tricks and safety<br />
Course: 4 evening sessions<br />
COST $349<br />
RESCUE COURSE<br />
You need rescue skills to look after<br />
yourself and your paddling buddies in<br />
adverse conditions. This course covers<br />
towing systems, capsized kayaks,<br />
T Rescues, paddle floats, stern deck<br />
carries, re-enter and roll.<br />
Programme One Evening<br />
Cost $60<br />
Win<br />
For more information on any of these<br />
courses or tours - fill in the form and<br />
receive an information pack and<br />
Go in the Draw to WIN....<br />
Prize drawn on 30 November 2005<br />
ADVANCED WHITEWATER<br />
This course is designed to sharpen your<br />
whitewater skills and start learning simple<br />
rodeo moves. We will focus on skills such<br />
as river reading, body position and<br />
rotation, advanced paddle technique,<br />
playing in holes and negotiating higher<br />
Grade 3 rapids. We recommend you are<br />
feeling comfortable on Grade 2+ rapids.<br />
Ideally you should already be paddling the<br />
mid section of Rangitaiki or equivalent.<br />
Course: Weekend • COST $349<br />
SEA KAYAK SKILLS COURSE<br />
valued at $295<br />
Name:<br />
Email:<br />
Address:<br />
RIVER RESCUE<br />
This course is designed to cover likely<br />
scenarios on white water rivers. The<br />
course is suitable for paddlers who feel<br />
comfortable on Grade One to Two rivers.<br />
The areas covered are rope skills, muscle<br />
techniques, team control, heads up, risk<br />
management and combat swimming. Also<br />
covering skills required in the following<br />
situations: entrapments, kayak wraps,<br />
swimming kayakers and their equipment.<br />
Course: Weekend • COST P.O.A.<br />
Ph: home<br />
work<br />
mobile<br />
Please send me info. on:<br />
Send form to: WIN A KAYAK COURSE; NZ <strong>Kayak</strong> Magazine,<br />
7/28 Anvil Rd, Silverdale. Phone (09) 421 0662.<br />
50 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005
ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005 51
DISCOVER ANOTHER WORLD<br />
CITY<br />
AUCKLAND<br />
DOMINION ROAD<br />
BALMORAL ROAD<br />
SANDRINGHAM ROAD<br />
502 Sandringham Rd<br />
Telephone: 09 815 2073<br />
Arenel Ltd<br />
T/A <strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Auckland<br />
SOUTH<br />
ST LUKES RD<br />
NORTH<br />
S.H.1<br />
TONGARIRO ST<br />
NUKUHAU<br />
SPA ROAD<br />
LAKE TERRACE<br />
TAUPO<br />
38 Nukuhau Street, Taupo<br />
Telephone: 07 378 1003<br />
Rees and Partners Limited<br />
Trading as <strong>Canoe</strong> and <strong>Kayak</strong> Taupo<br />
NORTH<br />
TARANAKI<br />
WAIWHAKAIHO RIVER<br />
DEVON ROAD<br />
SMART ROAD<br />
Unit 6, 631 Devon Road<br />
Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth<br />
Telephone: 06 769 5506<br />
Peter & Bronnie van Lith<br />
Trading as <strong>Canoe</strong> and <strong>Kayak</strong> Taranaki<br />
HAWKE’S BAY<br />
TARADALE ROAD<br />
NIVEN STREET<br />
NORTH<br />
15 Niven Street<br />
Onekawa, Napier<br />
Telephone: 06 842 1305<br />
CSJ Limited<br />
Trading as <strong>Canoe</strong> and <strong>Kayak</strong> Hawke’s Bay<br />
NORTH SHORE<br />
SILVERDALE<br />
MANUKAU<br />
BAY OF PLENTY<br />
UPPER HIGHWAY (16)<br />
NORTHERN MOTORWAY<br />
NORTH<br />
CONSTELLATION DRIVE<br />
ASCENSION PL<br />
Unit 2/20 Constellation Drive,<br />
(Off Ascension Drive), Mairangi Bay,<br />
Auckland - Telephone: 09 479 1002<br />
Flood Howarth & Partners Limited<br />
Trading as <strong>Canoe</strong> and <strong>Kayak</strong> North Shore<br />
NORTH<br />
EAST COAST ROAD<br />
MAIN NORTH HIGHWAY<br />
TAVERN ROAD<br />
ANVIL RD<br />
FOUNDRY RD<br />
7/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale<br />
Please phone for opening hours<br />
Telephone: 09 421 0662<br />
<strong>Canoe</strong> & <strong>Kayak</strong> Limited<br />
Trading as <strong>Canoe</strong> and <strong>Kayak</strong> Distribution<br />
FIRST<br />
DRIVEWAY<br />
GREAT SOUTH RD<br />
TOYOYA<br />
BRONCOS<br />
WIRI STATION ROAD<br />
SOUTHERN MOTORAWAY<br />
NORTH<br />
710 Great South Road, Manukau<br />
Telephone: 09 262 0209<br />
J. K. Marine Limited<br />
Trading as <strong>Canoe</strong> and <strong>Kayak</strong> Manukau<br />
TO TAURANGA BRIDGE<br />
MACDONALD STREET<br />
MAUNGANUI ROAD<br />
LIQUORLAND<br />
HEWLETTS ROAD<br />
KFC<br />
3/5 Mac Donald Street<br />
Mount Maunganui (off Hewletts Rd)<br />
Telephone: 07 574 7415<br />
Jenanne Investment Limited<br />
Trading as <strong>Canoe</strong> and <strong>Kayak</strong> Bay of Plenty<br />
HAMILTON<br />
DUKE STREET<br />
KAHIKATEA DRIVE<br />
KILLARNEY ROAD<br />
SH1<br />
BYPASS<br />
NORTH<br />
GREENWOOD ST<br />
DUKE STREET<br />
KAHIKATEA DRIVE<br />
The Corner Greenwood St<br />
& Duke St, State Highway 1 bypass<br />
Telephone: 07 847 5565<br />
This shop is for sale<br />
WELLINGTON<br />
NORTH<br />
NGAURANGA GO RGE RD<br />
CENTENNIAL HIGHWAY<br />
STATE HIGHWAY 1<br />
MALVERN<br />
L V MARTIN<br />
2 Centennial Highway,<br />
Ngauranga, Wellington<br />
Telephone: 04 477 6911<br />
JOIN THE<br />
PHONE YOUR NEAREST<br />
CANOE & KAYAK SHOP<br />
Easy<br />
finance<br />
available.<br />
Conditions and<br />
booking fee apply<br />
www.canoeandkayak.co.nz<br />
52 ISSUE THIRTYthree • 2005