kayaking the pacific islands. - Canoe & Kayak

Mayor Island (Tuhua) Trip report
19th - 20th June 2008
By Robbie Banks (Hard Yakker) - Steve Knowles (Big Boss) - Warren Blundell (Wazza de Sea Dawg)
Three kayakers packing in the dark, made a final check
of essential equipment. Steve Knowles, responsible
for navigation and the weather , completed the G.P.S coordinates.
Robbie brought up the now casting report, Steve
& Warren confirmed the forecast suitable for departure.
On the dot at 7 a.m. we slipped out of Pilot Bay. My 83yr old mum & my daughter,
Jessie, tucked up warm in the car, watched three white lights disappear past
the Maori Chief & glide out of sight around the Mount.
We offered a traditional good luck koha to Kuia Rock – and in a Southeast
breeze of 10-15 knots, with a 1-2 metre swell, stopped at ‘A’ Buoy to assess
conditions. Big Steve sent a trip report to the Tauranga Coastguard, we took
photos and then, pointing our bows to the South East tip of Mayor Island 352
degrees magnetic north, the 38 kms adventure began.
With each paddle stroke the hum of Tauranga’s busy port weakened until only
the sounds of the ocean remained. Steve had said,“When we are far enough out
and the sounds of the city disappear, we will experience a Zen moment”.
Bow down on the swell, my kayak rode waves like a dream. Each paddle
stroke sliced through the water. I felt the power of the ocean. Then the waves
subsided and I looked back. The Mount has become hazy while ahead Mayor
Island was still a distant shadow. The isolation inspired awe, I was humbled
and excited.
Was this the Zen moment Steve talked about
A pod of dolphins, heading to East Cape, crossed our bows. They didn’t stop
to say hi, and neither did the container ship heading for Tauranga. We didn’t
even get a toot! 5.5 hours from Pilot Bay we dragged our kayaks up the beach
at South East Bay.
Sore bums soon forgotten we stretched our legs walking to the Crater Lake.
Then, with the Tuhua Trust’s, permission which Robbie had obtained, we
occupied one of their cabins for the night. In bad weather, hunkering down on
the beach while the surf thumped all night long would have been grim.
Next day, in unchanged weather we checked with the Coastguard and set off
on a roller coaster ride towards the Coromandel Peninsula. We had Gannets,
Fairy Petrels and Flying Fish for company. A broach/capsize & rescue in 2 metre
swells would not have been fun for anyone so, when Robbie felt a bump from
something below water, we stayed closer together.
After nearly 6 hours we reached the Whangamata wharf, to complete the final
36kms. The Whanga Sport & Gamefishing Club provided the beer.
See http://picasaweb.google.com/ksitmk for extra pix.
This is not a trip I would do alone, the team work is vital and reassuring, It is
important to know and trust the others.
Steve was the chief navigator & weather expert whom I trust and respect
implicitly.
Warren’s tactical approach and attention to detail, finely tuned from years of
advanced caving, are impressive.
The experience of regular paddling and extending myself for a year has
been empowering. A 9 day solo on the Coromandel taught me the speed I
can comfortably maintain in a loaded kayak over long distances. My muscle
memory maintains that optimum speed. The swell picks me up & I go with it.
Then commonsense kicks in & I wait to re- group.
Note:- The Dumb Numb Bums Award was given at the following B.O.P Canoe
& Kayak midyear dinner.
Robbie awarded the guys undies with smiling cushions sewed onto the butt,
& the Dumb award went to Big Steve & Warren for trusting Robbie & following
her up the big steep hill, across the ridge to the Devils staircase, on a mere 3
hour hike. It was good for stretching butt muscles.
Steve said, “I grade this trip off the charts!” Warren said, “The roar of a
prehistoric creature would not be out of place”.
And Robbie says, “When the guys dropped me off at home I joked, ‘Leave the
Stopped at A Buoy to assess conditions.
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