Issue 49 by Canoe & Kayak

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I S S U E

• Saltwater Fly Fishing • Speight’s Coast to Coast 2009 • White Water Paddling in Africa and Nepal

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ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Fishing Bait Versus Plastic

By Tom Hunsdale

Warren heading out

On a stunning Friday spring afternoon my workmate Warren and I set out to fish off the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. We drove to Army Bay, the last place along the peninsula with access to the water, and soon had the yaks off the roof. I intended to practise for the first time with my new QK Torres. Warren had his trusty Scrambler. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, the water was like oil and the temperature must have been 18 degrees. I had heard that the fish were at the 35 metre mark, and seeing a few boats further out we paddled in their direction to ‘borrow’ their electronic sounders! We went 2 kms towards Kawau Island. Warren fished with bait while I had my soft plastic rig, a little Abu Garcia set with 4kg braid. The fish bit straight away. Lots of little tap tap taps signalled the end of my first soft bait.....I wound up and yep, tail gone, tiny teeth marks everywhere. It looked like Fishing hard

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being one of those days, but "a bad day fishing is better than your best day at work!" Warren spied some birds working a further couple of kms towards Kawau. My Torres is a wee bit quicker than Warren's Scrambler so I took off. I found more of a simmer than a boil but worth dropping a line. Sure enough I hooked up almost instantly, the tell tale nodding indicating a snapper. It wasn’t a huge fish but the sit-in is less stable than the sit-on-top so playing it was interesting! Catching it felt like juggling on a unicycle. I got the fish up without capsizing and checked for legal size. Borderline! So back he went. The minimum size for snapper, which I think is too small, is 27 cms. Years ago on Great Barrier Island, I was told by a good fishermen, “If you have to measure, it must be too small, throw it back!” I have a measure marked at 30cm on my Prowler 13 and that's as small as I want to take. I didn't have anything on the Torres to measure with and

The kayaks loaded and ready to go

caught another 3 before I questioned what I was throwing back! Frequent ﬁshing near Great Barrier can spoil one’s judgement. I remember one day throwing 3 or 4 back that I presumed were too small, then making a quick check on

A perfect day!

the next of similar size. It was at least 35cm! The next one I pulled up was at least 30cm, so it too was a keeper. But while I was taking it off the hook and putting it in the hatch behind me it twitched like Michael Cullen announcing a tax cut and it got away from me...........:( The next one was getting the big icky ﬁrst!) The work ups became more frequent and intense. I had a ball. One decent kahawai twice leapt out of the water and

End of the day

pulled me round before, under the yak. He threatened to broach me! By now adrenaline had kicked in and I wasn't worried about falling out! That fish escaped, but I quickly hooked up a second which didn’t fight quite so hard. I pulled him on board, bled and gutted him, left a nice berley trail for sharks, and dropped him in the day hatch. Sweet, the Torres had her first fish! I got another couple of throwback snapper then two keepers, made two unsuccessful casts into the workup and paddled over to Warren. He had one kahawai in the bin and had thrown a couple of small snapper back. The soft plastic had won over bait! Not conclusive mind you, we will have to wait until we are both fishing the same bit of water before the jury can decide.

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Fishing Taranaki Kayak Classic 4th & 5th APRIL 2009 BUTLERS REEF BAR AND CAFÉ Oakura Beach Taranaki Yes it’s not long to the 3rd kayak classic, the leading kayak fishing competition in NZ. The organisers, with some great sponsors, provide an event catering for anglers of all abilities. The prizes are again awesome. The main entry prize draw is a new MISSION CATCH 390. The early bird draw prize is a MISSION FLOW and there is an AIR NZ TRAVEL prize for the mystery weight snapper. Are you thinking of coming to the Naki for the comp? Then check out our website www.kayakfishingclassic.co.nz Oakura Top 10 Holiday Park has a range of cabins and tent sites. They fill up fast so you’d be well advised to book early. Don’t worry if you have never fished the NAKI before, the locals will always help and are happy to take visitors fishing. There is always a safe place to launch. What can you expect to catch? Everything from Snapper to Tuna and even Hapuka and Kingfish. Our club president Tony Hurring caught a nice Hapuka on 28th Dec, and Martin Rook caught the first Tuna of the season from his Maurauder on Dec 27th. THE ORGANISERS, CANOE AND KAYAK, MISSION KAYAKS, CLASSIC HITS 90FM, OAKURA TRAVEL, FISHING COAST TO COAST invite you to experience our stunning coast and great fishing at the 2009 Kayak Classic. Cheers GARRY HARRISON.

New Zealand’s Premier Kayak Fishing Contest

4th & 5th April 2009 Oakura, Taranaki • Major Spot Prizes • Team Trophy Prize • Biggest Fish Prizes • $1000’s in Prize Pool www.kayakfishingclassic.co.nz Email: info@kayakfishingclassic.co.nz Ph: 06 753 2547

ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Purchase your ticket before 1st March 2009 and be in the draw for the Early Bird Spot Prize

Getting up & close

Bruce shows what can be done

Tony shows off his Hapuka

Garry Harrison & his catch

Not too much clutter.

ISSUE FORTYnine â&#x20AC;˘ 2009

Fishing Long Line Fishing from a Kayak

Kitted up & ready to go

by Jason Milne Whilst I have been fishing from kayaks for several years now it is only recently that I have had a chance to try a form of kayak fishing that has been in practice, long before dedicated fishing kayaks hit the market. The benefits of kayaks, as a fishing platform, have been recognized by long line fisherman for many years here in NZ. As I was soon to discover this style of fishing can not only be an extremely successful and efficient way to catch fish but is also a very sociable and family friendly option. In the past two months of using a Kayakers Long line I have averaged 3 - 4 take home fish each trip (usually Snapper) which is far greater success than I can claim when using rods! Don’t get me wrong I still enjoy the fishing with a rod. Spending long hours on the water trying many different methods with varied success, but using the long line I can be home with fresh fish within a 2 hour round trip and when you, as do I, have 2 children under 4years in the house that counts for a lot! “Happy wife happy life” How it works There are many long line kits available on the market and I am using one from Paul’s Fishing Kites, this is a kayak specific long line kit which consists of a float, weighted sinker, small sand anchor, a spool of mono fishing line est. 20metres and a 12 hook trace set (traditional 25 hooks sets are a little less kayak friendly but can be used). The relative compactness of this kit means it can be stowed in most kayak hatches and tank wells with ease. As with any form of hunting and gathering from a kayak it pays to be organized before getting out on the water. If I am using my Catch 390, sit-on-top fishing kayak, I will pre bait the hook trace set and stow it in the rear tank well under the insulated cover. When heading out in a sea kayak, to avoid unnecessary smell in my hatches, I prefer to have the pre cut baits in a zip lock bag and bait up when ready to deploy the long line. Deploying the long line is quite simple but again it pays to be organized and have your deck area free of clutter while deploying. The first step is to attach a weight to the start of the mono line then drop it over the side and allow the line to run off the spool stopping only to attach one of the pre baited traces. There are stoppers attached to the mono line spaced roughly 1 metre apart, each trace is clipped on every 2nd space. This

allows enough distance between the hooks to avoid tangles both when deploying and when fish hook up. Once all traces are attached the small sand anchor is then clipped on and allowed to run freely to the bottom. With both the weight at the start of the line and this anchor placed after the last baited hook all 12 hooks will now sit on or near the bottom floating naturally with the current, the perfect position for bottom feeding fish such as snapper. The remainder of the line is then let off the spool and attached to the float; the empty spool can then be stowed away on the kayak. At this point you can do many things, go for a paddle, head back to the beach and join the family or go and fish another spot with a rod. I can speak from both experience and the expert advice I was given from the guys at Paul’s Fishing Kites and tell you it is worth checking your line after no more then 20-25 minutes as you will likely have either had a hook up or your baits will be gone. 99% of the time that time is long enough. Setting & bait Choosing the right spot to set your long lines is important both for catching fish and for eliminating gear losses. A sandy bottom located near a reef or weed bed is best, although I have dropped the long line in areas I would normally have passed over due to the relatively barren and lifeless looking bottom structure I see on my fish finder. Only to find I have caught some of my best snapper from these spots! Setting in foul ground will only lead to one thing, snags!! It becomes both very difficult and dangerous to try and free these lines from a kayak when a snag occurs so I say “the best form of defense is don’t be there!” I have had most success in water no deeper than 10 metres which means, at my local beach, I don’t have to paddle for more than 10 – 15 minutes before setting.

The long line can be easily be stowed in most kayak hatches and tank wells

ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Milan ďŹ shing from the

Get the Kids involved I get great reward from providing my family with fresh ďŹ sh. I get even more reward from sharing this experience with my oldest son Milan (three and a half). Anyone who has taken their kids ďŹ shing will know that kids can lose interest very quickly so the

Contour 490

experience needs to be both interactive and short. Taking him out on the kayak to set the long line is both quick and fun for both of us and Milan looks forward to doing it again as much as I do (Mum gets a well earned break also) my only problem is going to be where to put his younger brother when he is old enough to join us. Will have to trade the Contour 490 in for an Eco Niizh XLT and use the center hatch as his cockpit, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t doubt that a tired Mum will be in full support of that! Milan shows off The fresher the bait the better! Fresh baits are less likely to be sucked off the hook and result in a higher chance of a hook up. At present I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say any bait has worked better than any others as long as it is fresh. I have used fresh kahawai, mullet, bonito, squid and even stingray, all with similar success. When a ďŹ sh grabs the bait and tries to run, it will only get as far as the next stopper before the tension goes on and the circle hook sets itself in the ďŹ shâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mouth. Using circle hooks and the unique system that the PFK has integrated into the hook 99% of the time this will result in a lip hook, meaning I can release ďŹ sh without

his catch

causing undue damage and stress. Safety Always carry at least 2 sharp knives with you (one as a back up in case you lose one). By sharp I mean sharp enough to cut the heavy mono line used in the long line without effort. The two situations I encountered where a sharp knife was most beneďŹ cial were when my line became snagged to a point where I could not release it, this was the ďŹ rst and last time I set over foul ground! The second situation occured when I hooked something undesirable

like a stingray, which is not uncommon and can make a real mess of things.

Pre baited and all organized

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ISSUE FORTYnine â&#x20AC;˘ 2009

Fishing Salt Water Fly Fishing – Kayak Style By Mick Forrest You don’t have to paddle far to be into great fishing. Find about 5ft of water and give Salt Water Fly Fishing a try from your kayak. Easily done close to shore in safe waters and action packed it’s a great way to get kids into kayak fishing! For about 14 years my favourite spot for this is Fergusson Park in Tauranga Harbour. My best catch was 10 kahawai in one afternoon! They were all pan size but I returned 9 to live another day. I’ve also caught kingfish and trevally with my fly rod. The Gear First, for a good cast you need a stable kayak. I paddle various kayaks but when Fly Fishing I use the Cobra Fish N Dive. It’s so stable that I can even stand up and cast! I use a basic 9 weight trout fly rod with a sinking line and smaller saltwater flies. I’ve had a lot of success with the Blue Pillie, plus some custom made by my fishing mate in Whakatane. My buoyancy aid, small landing net, hat and polarized sunnies are the only other things I need. Easy. The Technique Cast a short to medium length line out into the shallows. Let it sink and retrieve it back quickly through the current. If you are new to casting, practise on the beach first or on your back lawn. Consistently casting a long leader in a straight line will increase your catch rates significantly. Salt Water Fly fishing is as easy as that, just start pulling them in! Look After your Gear It’s important that your day’s kayak fishing doesn’t end with cooking your catch. Use these tips to make sure you gear lasts and is ready for your next fishing adventure:

My buoyancy aid, small landing net, hat and polarized sunnies are the only other things I need!

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Rod Care – Rinse in fresh water, dry with a soft cloth and spray with inoxs. Reel Care – Immediately after fishing, rinse your reel under a low pressure fresh water tap. Remove the spool, take off excess water and leave it to dry before reassembling. Spray with inoxs. Fly Lines and Backing – Before salt and dirt from your day’s fishing start to dry, rinse in fresh water. Never use detergent. It changes the surface tension of the fly line and reduces its ability to float. If you need to use soap, choose a natural hand soap or baby shampoo. Happy fishing – Mick F Spot Fishing, Tauranga ph 07 576 0357

The Catch 390 works well too.

Sea Kayaking Trans Taupo Race -

28th March 2008

A very sociable way to race Photo courtesy of www.Photochick.co.nz

The second Trans Taupo race, ideal for Sea Kayaks, Pre - start 2008. Photo courtesy of www.sportzhub.co.nz

Waka ama and Ocean racers, is on! 100 competitors last year included lots of Yakity Yak members who reported “what a great race/paddle” You can race or cruise, and either way you’ll enjoy the opportunity to paddle our crystal clear waters for the 44 km length of world famous Lake Taupo.

Enjoy the crystal clear waters Photo courtesy of www.Photochick.co.nz

We hug the coast from Tokannu, paddle via safety check points at Mission Bay Reserve, Hatepe Point and Wharewaka Point, to Taupo. With fellow club members from around the country it’s a very sociable and easy going ‘race’ for those who like it that way, or you can become a new record holder. The choice is yours. There’s plenty of accommodation at Taupo, overnight boat storage at Tokannu and a bus service from Taupo to Tokannu in the morning. Contact your Canoe & Kayak Centre to ﬁnd out more.

Mist clears in Tokaanu Bay

A fun event for all

Photo courtesy of www.Photochick.co.nz

Photo courtesy of www.sportzhub.co.nz

2nd annual surf ski sea kayak waka ama ocean rower

The pinnacle of open fresh water paddling.

Sea Kayaks, Surf Ski’s, Waka ama and Ocean Rower.

A 44km paddle race across the pure crystal mountain fed waters of New Zealand’s (and Australasia’s) largest freshwater lake.

From Tokannu to Taupo. Solo and Team Categories. Saturday 28th March 2009.

Over 100 paddlers took part in the inaugural event. See www.transtaupo.co.nz for more information, results, video footage and photos.

ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Sea Kayaking

Family Kayaking

By Diana Austin

Anita, Rochelle & Luke in triple at Urupukapuka

Preparation for the Austin family’s latest self sufﬁcient venture to Urupukapuka Island in a triple Chesapeake and single, started way back… Believing that having kids requires only a modiﬁcation of usual activities, rather than stopping anything, we hired a double kayak from Canoe & Kayak to test the waters when Anita was nine months old. She admired the view for a short while and fell asleep and we, her parents, thought this was great. When number 2 came along we purchased a double sit on top, which became known as the Tug, stable yet slow. Over the next couple of years we conquered many local rivers. The Waiwera, Puhoi, Mahurangi and Matakana Rivers and Auckland estuaries provided picturesque, sheltered waters. A small girl between the legs works well with only an occasional bang on the head. When the banging becomes regular she does, however, protest and we revised our paddling arrangements. A single sit on top, often towed, for each girl over seven was the solution. They are great fun for ‘lighter’ adults also. We ventured overseas in 2003 and took the girls on a 4 day paddle

Kayaking on Lake Mapourika with Franz Joseph back drop

around Moso Island in Vanuatu. Despite the photo Rochelle (4 years) didn’t paddle but sat on the front of my kayak talking incessantly all the way. Luke, however, continued to dream of our family paddle with Canoe and Kayak back in 2000 when a club member lent us a Sea Bear Packhorse. It gave us a much easier paddle than the Tug. Looking for a new ‘project’ he searched for a kayak plan to build his own. His wife, that’s me, got the selling spiel about it being cheaper to build than buy, will easily ﬁt in our garage and won’t take that long. In 2004 a Chesapeake triple kitset arrived from America. It could just ﬁt in the garage on a diagonal, took 2 years to build and the lower cost is still up for debate! During its construction we paddled locally and during most holidays. This included a gorgeous evening paddle on Lake Mapourika with the Franz Joseph glacier in the background. In 2007 we took the girls on a kayaking tour with FriendlyThese Islands Kayak Company are the best size foraround eating.Vava’u islands in Tonga. We recommend it. In 2006 the mighty battleship (6.5 metres, 40 kgs) hit the waters of the Manukau. In November

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2008 Luke and I repeated our kayak skills course with Anita and Rochelle. Both girls found that with the right technique they could rescue their parents. I just hope they want to! The ‘ship’ received a trailer for Christmas and we were ready for our self-sufﬁcient trip to Urupukapuka Island. Eight days of brilliant weather gave us a perfect holiday. Luke now has a great crew who have progressed from little

Luke building the ship with a little assistant dippers. As for me I still have issues with power and control so I’ll stick with my single for now. PS You may ask do the girls enjoy the paddling? We arrived back from the Bay of Islands, packed away our kayaking gear and the next day they saw an evening club paddle to Rangitoto and asked to go. They put on a pretty good display of paddling coordination that evening.

Lake Taupo in borrowed Sea Bear Packhorse

Diana and Luke

Bliss!

Anita

Rochelle

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ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Sea Kayaking

Bruce’s Lake Challenge

by Bev Robitaille surface at every attempt. Luckily, the only time he fell out of the boat was during training when he was close to the beach at Mission Baynot far from the place that on one occasion he spotted a two metre shark. (This stuff really isn’t for the faint-hearted.) So he wasn’t a kayaking expert, but surely there must have been some complex preparation for his physical ﬁtness? No, Bruce made up his training routine himself, working as hard as he could when his strength returned. At ﬁrst he could hardly get to the letter-box, then he managed short walks, gym sessions or paddles, and eventually built up to hour-long paddles - despite raising a few blisters.

Bruce on calm waters. Photo by Warwick Rule

When a bloke’s recovering from a particularly nasty bout of cancer, the last thing you’d expect him to do is to set off on a vigorous

what it feels like every day.” So in the middle of dealing with all that, how did he come up with the concept of a kayaking trip?

kayaking session across ﬁve North Island lakes. While recuperating, Bruce Rule, 48 and father of two, decided to paddle ﬁve lakes in seven days to raise money for CanTeen. He chose this charity because he has a nineteen year old daughter Nina and sixteen year old

“I found myself thinking of places I’d rather be.” He’d enjoyed the serenity and loneliness of paddling solo on a calm lake the previous

son Kelly and he hoped they’d never have to experience cancer treatment. So what makes a man who’s undergone intense radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment, drag himself several months later into a strenuous fund-raising venture that would daunt the rest of us? Wasn’t he feeling rotten? “Only people who have had cancer and the treatment can know what it is like, feeling absolutely weak, sick and drained. Imagine your worst ever hangover, double it and that’s

summer, and the tranquil image inspired him to get through the treatment. When I asked him if he was an experienced kayaker, he grinned, “Not really, no. I’d only had that one go at it before.” Planning, training and fund-raising for the adventure started around September, and helped to rehabilitate both his body and his spirit. His training had plenty of dramatic moments - even learning to handle the kayak was tricky. Despite several lessons from Dave at Barracuda who supplied the craft, Bruce only mastered rolling out of the boat, not rolling it right around. Two weeks before the challenge began he was still spluttering to the

The family support crew. Photo by Milan Bacica

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At times Bruce wondered whether his body would be able to handle paddling the four smaller lakes, Rotoiti, Tarawera, Rotoma and Rotorua both ways and Lake Taupo one way, a combined total of almost one hundred and forty two kilometres. The mental stress was huge too. ‘But then you couldn’t call it a challenge if it was easy, could you?’ his brother Warwick pointed out. What about his nutrition plan? Again there was no expert guidance – he simply chose wholesome food. He says that after the cancer treatment, he no longer enjoys alcohol, chocolate or steak, so healthy eating is actually quite easy. The route chosen for the event was ﬂexible to allow for weather changes. He and his support team based themselves on the shores of Lake Rotorua to minimise travelling, which turned out to be a good idea as work commitments meant that he did the challenge in ﬁve days instead of seven. (Have I mentioned how determined this guy is?)

Bruce with his mother, Christine. Photo by Bev Robitaille

Bright and early on March 31st Bruce set off across Lake Rotoiti in calm weather, with his brother and father following in the chase boat, and ticked off the ﬁrst 36 kilometres of the Challenge. In the evening the support team viewed the video footage that Warwick had shot so the shore team could share in the action out on the water. The next day they tackled Lake Tarawera in the wind and rain, followed by Lake Rotoma the day after. Since that was the smallest lake, Bruce was able to get a well-earned massage in the afternoon, donated by one of the sponsors. Then he and his support team travelled to the southern end of a sinisterlooking Lake Taupo, all thinking to themselves that it was a long way by vehicle and a very long way to paddle. At 6.30am next morning, Bruce in the kayak and Warwick in the support boat set off in the dark and thick fog to tackle the dreaded lake. After a while the wind rose and the fog dispersed but the lake got choppier. Bruce was concerned at such a strong wind so early in the day because the harbour master had told him that he needed to get off the lake smartly if there were white caps. The intention originally was to stay close to shore in case of problems, but after two hours the wind dropped and Lake Taupo became mirror smooth. Bruce decided to go straight up the middle and from the shore the only sign of him for most of the way was occasional ﬂicker of sunlight on a paddle. After six and a quarter hours and 43 kilometres he wearily stepped ashore at the northern end. It speaks volumes that Warwick wrote the day’s web entry when they got back, explaining that “Bruce has completed Lake Taupo and his

Bruce Rule, Photo by Warwick Rule

arms are too heavy to type so he asked me to ﬁll in for him.” Bruce had even done an interview with the local paper on the Lake front, bravely getting back into the kayak so they could get a photo. Day Five - and the last lake, Rotorua, which took our now-experienced paddler just three hours for the two-way trip. As Bruce approached the shore for the last time, his mother Christine asked those on the shore, including some visiting high school students, to join the crowd cheering Bruce home, giving

a ﬁtting tribute to his mighty effort. With his NZ Lake Challenge, Bruce raised over $15,000.00 for CanTeen. If you’d like to help, photos and DVDs of the trip are available for sale from the website at www.nzlakechallenge.co.nz where online donations to CanTeen can still be made. A bloke called Robbie Robinson once wrote, “Just because someone tells you that you have cancer, it doesn’t mean your days of greatness are over.” That ﬁts Bruce to a T. Good on ya, mate.

ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Sea Kayaking NZKI is taken to the Solomons

It came as a bit of a surprise, the notion of conducting an NZKI One Star Assessment on a remote island in the Solomon Islands, with a bunch of local kayakers. So many questions raced through my mind. Had the kayakers even paddled a conventional kayak before? How hot was it going to be? Were there any sharks or other perils of the deep? Could they speak or read English or could I learn enough pigeon

Naelyn climbing onboard

to get me through? I had organised a Yakity Yak Club overseas trip with our Wellington Yakity Yakers through Solomon Island Cannibal Coast Kayak

Jimmy doing a John Wayne entry

Adventures. The six of us arrived in the New Georgia province on 7 August 2008 to paddle around the famous Marovo Lagoon – the world’s largest salt water lagoon – for seven days. After this trip I had planned to stay on for another five days to relax, fish, experience the local culture and do what I love most, kayak. The four local guides that I was to assess all lived around Ramata Island within the Marovo Lagoon, and worked for Cannibal Coast Kayak Adventures. The four guides were Naelyn, Jimmy, Casey, and Waipongo. During the previous week’s trip around the lagoon, I had been observing and helping them out with their technique in preparation for the NZKI One Star Assessment. Early on I was aware of a number of things. Firstly the Solomon people have a true affinity with the water; they have incredible balance (probably from dug-out canoe experience), great strength and no fear. These factors made training a breeze and what would often

Casey demonstrating the forward power stroke

Award Scheme The NZKI Award Scheme was formed in response to a growing need in the Kayaking Industry to have more people with Kayaking qualifications, to encourage more kayakers towards expanding their skills and knowledge and to continue to increase the safety of our sport. The NZKI Award Scheme is structured around the assessment of skills and knowledge that are required for the type of activity to be undertaken by the Instructor or Guide. A star is awarded for each level achieved, starting off with the NZKI One Star for personal paddling skills and knowledge and moving up to the NZKI Five Star for an Assessor. For more information phone 0508 5292569

www.nzki.co.nz ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Sea Kayaking

The award ceremony on the beach take a day to complete took only 3-4 hours. All requirements of the NZKI One Star were practised over and over again during the next few days with evening sessions discussing the theory side of the assessment. The kayaks that we used were the Mirage 530’s, 580’s and Q Kayaks Tasman Express – all great kayaks in excellent condition. Many games and challenges were dreamt up to spice up the training. Because of the heat (38ºC), training was conducted early morning or late afternoon and always attracted good crowds on the shore, with lots of hoots and whistles heard. The kids especially liked my rolling displays (only way I could cool down), and my headstands in the cockpit.

of brilliant blue damselle ﬁsh. All the usual paddle strokes, forward, reverse, stop, sidedraw, sweep, stern rudder, low brace and the three main rescues including paddle ﬂoat were successfully conducted by each of the four guides. All of the other requirements, including the theory paper, were also satisfactorily completed. With a small crowd watching, we had our very own award ceremony on the

beach where I was truly chuffed to be able to present Naelyn, Pongo, Jimmy and Cassey with their well-earned One Star Certiﬁcate. NZKI One Star shows determination to qualify and improve your skills as a kayaker. When I go back to these lovely islands we can maybe talk about doing their Two Star and a Rolling Course. Well done troops!

The assessment was held in perfect conditions, not a breath of wind, clear skies, 36ºC air temperature and 29ºC water temperature in crystal clear water full

Naelyn practising with paddle ﬂoat

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Paradise!

Andy and the four guides, Naelyn, Jimmy, Casey,and Waipongo.

Solomon Island regulations stipulate PFDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s must be carried and worn at times of hightened risk. Due to high temperatures, they are not worn in sheltered waters. - ed

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TAUPO: 07 378 1003 MANUKAU: 09 262 0209

Sea Kayaking Touring the Southern Lakes

Ross & Chris sorting out the boats at Lake Gunn

On 19 December three very lucky paddlers, Dennis Hynes, Chris Baker and Ross Brunton packed the Ute with camping gear, paddling gear and Kayaks and drove south from Palmerston North’ Why were we lucky? All three of us had Xmas/New Year 16 day leave passes from our families to go kayaking. We intended to paddle some Southern lakes, do anything else that the weather and ferry crossings would permit and check the logistics for longer trips in the future. We would paddle as often as possible, but brieﬂy so we wouldn’t wear ourselves out. Our ﬁrst stop was Lake Brunner at 6.30 a.m. where we hoped to beat a front moving across the South. But no such luck. With whitecaps all across the lake only rain got the kayaks wet. We drove on to Lake Ellery, at Jackson Bay on the West Coast. North Islanders reading this please close your eyes! Paul Caffyn told us about this gem’s fantastic location, isolated in bush clad mountains, so long as we didn’t tell “all those other North Islanders”. We hadn’t, yet a hoard of jet boaters beat us to the ramp and roared off up the river to Lake Ellery. Twenty minutes later they were back, having “done Lake Ellery”. Boats back on trailers and they were gone. Peace reigned. Not a detergent bottle in sight. What chance is there of stopping Didymo spreading? Access to Lake Ellery is via a short, easy paddle up the river. There’s only one shallow rapid which is easily walked if you can’t make it against the current. We had a wet exit and camped for the night where there isn’t even a walking track. Nature turned on magical

slow entertainment of shadows creeping up the mountainsides, the sunset’s colours continually changing while the lake became a mirror. Spellbinding! Pity about the sandflies. The next morning we paddled out and drove to Te Anau where we would base ourselves for our time in the deep South. The following day marine and mountain forecasts looked good for a super early start on Milford Sound and out to the sea. We launched into still water which perfectly reflected Mitre Peak and snow capped peaks, so it was hard to put cameras away and make progress. Close encounters with seals and a pod of dolphins delayed us further. 13 km later, in no swell, and with only a slight ripple on the surface, we were in open sea. Less than 2 hours later we were struggling with a 25+ knot wind channelling down the Sound whipping up following seas. 1.5 metre short period, steep chop broke everywhere, bouncing off sheer bluffs. 40 knot winds rushed vertically down cliff faces hit us from all angles. Waterfalls, blown sideways, became spray. In crazy conditions every stroke had to be a brace, often from both sides at once. It was hard enough for Ross and Dennis with all their years of paddling, but a nightmare for Chris, new to paddling last year. After two wet exits and two text book assisted rescues we rafted up and let wind and waves carry us back to the car park. This weather occurred when there was a large high over the South Island, isobars were well spread and the marine forecast was 1015 knot variable winds. It taught us the importance of asking local boaties or ‘officers’ such as the harbour master about local conditions. Apparently our Milford Sound experience was not uncommon during

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Sea Kayaking the afternoon.. It wasn’t life threatening for kayakers and the 4 tour boats stacked up behind us, but their passengers had a bit of excitement. It might be a different story on more remote Sounds further south. A most enjoyable and relaxing morning paddle was on Lake Gunn. Near the top of the road to Milford Sound and only 3.5km long, it nestles between towering mountain peaks. We had mirror conditions again and our cameras worked overtime. On unbelievably clear water we seemed to be ﬂying. Half way round the south shore there’s a stream and the remains of an old jetty. Thinking that we could hear a large waterfall we followed the stream and found it tumbling impressively through a large gash in the hillside. Nearby were bits of some long ago abandoned tourist venture. Intriguing. On Christmas Day we rang our families then drove to Lake Monowai. Paddling to the far end we stopped at Rodgers Inlet Hut and

Lake Ellery outlet

had lunch with a lone American tramper who was staying there. Sharing the Xmas cake Chris’ wife had provided made the day a bit special for all of us. We paddled on and became the only residents, apart from sand ﬂies and unseen deer, at the far end DOC hut. The sandﬂies were even worse than Lake

Ellery and grass along the lake shore was so heavily grazed and trampled, it looked as though a mob of cattle had been fenced in for winter feeding. Paddling back we stopped for the night at Rodgers Inlet DOC’s huts and learnt why there was no charge for the accommodation. It was not one of our better nights. In the morning we hiked up the ridge behind the hut to see what was over the bushline. Four hours later we appreciated why we prefer kayaking to hiking, but the moss covered bush was magical and the views made it worthwhile. We expected Gollum to pop out at any time. We had intended to spend a few nights on Lake Hauroko. However a poor weather forecast and our time table to catch the ferry, provided no ﬂoat for laydays, so we headed north to stay ahead of the front. At Lake Wanaka, because the wind was again up, we tramped to the Rob Roy Glacier in the Mount Aspiring National Park. There and back

Milford Waterfall

Ross & Chris on Lake Gunn

Ross & Chris on Lake Monowai

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it takes from three to four hours to see this hanging glacier calving ice. It must be one of the greatest short walks in New Zealand. We had a good sleep to be up early and launching on Lake Wanaka from Glendhu. The lake was flat calm, the weather was clear and Mt Aspiring was reflected in the water. Again, cameras were in action. We paddled to Mou Tapu Island and on to Mau Waho Island unaware that there is a DOC/Community Board camp ground and an extensive forest regeneration project on the island. On this brief visit we looked at the island’s history, circumnavigated, made a note to come again for an overnight trip and. headed back to Glendhu. Back at base for a cup of tea with a camping ground resident and we were off to Lake Paringa on the West Coast north of Haast to experience more sandflies and another mirror lake which reflected even denser bush clad mountains.

In wind and rain we drove up the coast to Lake Rotoroa, pausing to catch up with Paul Caffyn at Punakaiki. New Year’s Day, sheltering from the rain under a tarpaulin, was quiet. We fought off even more sandﬂies and went to bed early. Then, ﬁrst thing, still in pouring rain, we were paddling to Sabine Hut where we found Richard Cowan and several trampers. We tramped with them to a picturesque gorge, hiked up an even steeper ridgeline and greatly enjoyed the surroundings. The next morning we returned to Rotoroa, drove to Picton and grabbed a vacancy on a ferry leaving in 15 minutes, 24 hours earlier than our booking. Not having showered for a few days we thoughtfully avoided crowded places! We were home in Palmerston North the next day.

Dennis on Lake Monowai

Our sorties amid fantastic scenery had ranged from 13 to 34 km and the people we met had shared great stories. Thanks to our wives and families for letting us disappear, Dennis’ sister-in-law, Janet, for the use of her house on the way down and back, and to Paul Caffyn for the paddling ideas, it was a marvellous holiday. Ignore the sandﬂies

Lake Ellery campsite

Seven tips for surviving the sandflies. by Dennis Hynes Managing sandflies is a must for anyone hoping to enjoy the outdoors, especially in the South Island’s Nelson lakes, the Westcoast and Fiordland. Don’t get out of the air conditioned car - not much chance then of enjoying the outdoors so. When kayaking, keep paddling (the little suckers are ready for you as soon as you stop). Just ignore them. (We tried that for all of 30 seconds)- see photo Give up on shorts and tank tops. Cover every mm of exposed skin with clothes thick enough to stop them biting through – leave paddle gloves on. Hats with neck & ear flaps work well when combined with a decent insect repellent sprayed onto the flaps. Gauze headnets are good for stopping the sandflies, but remember to lift the front up when imbibing medicinal potions post dinner. Spread plenty of decent insect repellent on any exposed skin. Insect repellents are not all born equal. The only ones that really work are those with Dietthyltoluamide. Unfortunately they tend to have the most health warnings (shades of thalidamide). Spray the insides of tents, huts with insect spray just before you go to bed. Keep zips done up & check for defects in the gauze. They will find any opening. At times sand flies banging against the tent sides sounds like persistent rain. Instead of cursing them, give thanks that they have kept humans from commercialising some of our most pristine settings. Without the sandflies, the Nelson lakes would no doubt be built out with holiday homes, much like the Rotorua Lakes. Instead the tourists climb out of their buses, start waving their arms around like madmen, take a few photos and move on. Heaven!

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Sea Kayaking View south from Indian Head.

Portaging Around Auckland

By Andrew Blanchard

Andrew Blanchard and his mate, Ian have been exploring some of Aucklands urban waterways & portages. This is an account of two of their trips. - ed. Map 1. Glendowie to Otahuhu Detour to get food & drink

Portage across sand bar swimming pools shop was open. Luckily Ian had some money! At 5.45 the tide was ebbing fast and a head wind had got up for our paddle to Wai O Taiki Bay. We intended a short cut, carrying the skis for 80 m over a little sand ridge. But we were looking at a dry bay with another 200 m to reach water for the last 1 km paddle to our pick up. The13km trip, which I had thought would take 2hrs, took 4 hrs 30 min. Map 2; Our next trip, New Lynn to Pt Chevalier, was planned for Monday 8th December after work when high tide was at 4pm. This is another section of the old portage between the Waitemata and Manukau harbours. This one should have been easier.

Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers N.Z. Inc. (KASK) KASK is a network of sea kayakers throughout New Zealand

700 m of mud & mangroves Portage Road

On Friday, 15th November we tackled the Otahuhu portage, starting at Portage Road with an easy 300m between Otahuhu Cemetery and Canal Reserve.

Then squelch! 700m of

Mangrove swamp. The map above shows a route that Ian and I took. On the left you can see Portage Rd, near work, where the Maori portaged their canoes from the Manukau Harbour to the Tamaki River and the Waitemata Harbour. “Let’s retrace the portage from Otahuhu to Glendowie.” Seemed like a good idea. We carried our surf skis for the ﬁrst 300 m through the reserve and stomped through the mangrove swamp. Before the mangroves grew and rubbish accumulated, it would have been a clear waterway and only a 10

minute paddle to get under the motor way. At times we were hip deep in mud & every step was a battle. We either sank in the mud or climbed through the mangroves carrying 6.5 m long surf skis. Twice my ski stuck up a tree, which is very funny now but at the time was rather annoying. 350m into the mangroves Ian holed his boat. Because he didn’t want to give up we carried on, eventually reaching water which could float the skis. To avoid flooding, Ian turned his boat upside down, making progress very slow until we found some plastic rubbish to fill the hole. We paddled for 2 km and asked for tape at the Auckland rowing club. When people stopped laughing we dried off the ski & applied enough tape to get us home. After paddling 1km, hungry and thirsty, we turned into Panmure lagoon where the

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KASK publishes a 200 page sea kayaking handbook which is free to new members: the handbook contains all you need to know about sea kayaking: techniques and skills, resources, equipment, places to go etc. KASK publishes a bi-monthly newsletter containing trip reports, events, book reviews, technique/equipment reviews and a ‘bugger’ le. KASK holds national sea kayaking forums.

Website: www.kask.co.nz Annual subscription is $35.00.

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Sandbar (complete with entertainment)

Short cut through the mangroves

The planned trip on Monday 8th was cancelled due to high winds, rough seas & a big weekend. Rescheduled! At 6.45 a.m. on Saturday 13th December 2008, because our very understanding wives have given up chasing us around the country & waiting for us, Ian and I are driving two vehicles. We took the skis on the truck to Olympic park New Lynn, deciding on the way to do a bigger paddle so we left the van at Coxs Bay At the start point we found a rail bridge being built. The nice people had made steps to the water’s edge and encouraged our 8 a.m. easy launch with big smiles. We paddled 20m to the ﬁrst bend where a metre diameter pipe blocked progress. At low tide you might get under it but not at high tide. We climbed the steep bank, dragged the skis over the pipe and re-launched. On 80 metres and a tree stopped us. Once again up the bank to drag the skis 35m across lumpy boggy ground for a third launch. After an hour we stopped for a drink & a banana. Floating with the wind & tide we could see that the mangroves were mostly under water offering channels for a short cut. It probably took longer than sticking to the main channel but it was a bit of fun. Down the estuary, under the motor way, we stopped on the sand bar for a rest and a stand up to stretch our backs before setting off to Pt Chev. Birds, pretending to have broken wings, tried to distract us from attacking their nests and young. We were standing in ankle deep water and watched for about 5 minutes. When we paddled off sea gulls, who also had nearby nests, dived bombed us. Reaching Pt Chev in an uneven, choppy swell and a cross wind was a bit of a challenge but once sheltered close to shore it was a

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cruisey paddle to Coxs Bay. Two hours, ﬁfteen minutes after we started our 15 km trip we lifted the skis on to the van. It had been enjoyable but not fast. Next trip: Coxs bay to St Heliers, a continuation of this trip or Green bay to Mangere Bridge on the other harbour.

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Multisport

Speight’s Coast to Coast 2009 by Rob Howarth Despite a global recession the Speight’s Coast to Coast attracted a huge ﬁeld for the 27th anniversary event on 13/14th Feb. Conditions were the toughest for many years with a bitterly cold southerly and very low water in the Waimakariri River. Congratulations to Auckland’s Gordon Walker who won the Longest Day competition keeping the Cantabs quiet for another year! Congratulations also to Luke Chapman who came 3rd behind Walker, Luke was a surprise medallist who is based in Nelson. His Mum and Dad, however, are North Shore Clubbies who live on Whangaparaoa, which makes Luke one of our own!!! For those of you who don’t know, the race consists of: A 3km run from Kumara Beach followed by a 55km road cycle. A 33km mountain run over Goat Pass (Arthurs Pass National Park). A 15km road cycle followed by a 67 km Kayak leg

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down the grade 2 Waimakariri River. And ﬁnally a 70km road cycle to Sumner beach in Christchurch. The event can be run individually over one or two days and there is also a 2 person team two day event. This iconic kiwi multisport event attracts athletes from all walks of life and with over 30 North Shore clubbies competing this year Rob

Glenys Moy Age: 40 Occupation: Marketing Coordinator 2009 Entry: First time Individual 2 day, 20 hrs 57 mins Support Crew: Two Friends

Larry Cochrane Photo by;Pauls camera Shop

“What attracted you to the Coast to Coast?” “I had done a marathon the year before but wanted a more interesting challenge!” “What was the toughest Leg in this year’s event?” “The mountain run – the downhill section was wet and slippery.” “What was your most memorable or enjoyable moment?” “The last bike ride. I got into a great bunch and we smoked it! Oh and I didn’t fall out on the kayak leg!” “Will you be back next year?” “Yes I want to better my times! I had a lot of fun, I learnt heaps during the last year and I’d love to continue.”

Howarth decided to ﬁnd out what makes some of them tick: Larry Cochrane Age: 52 Occupation: Radiologist – Middlemore Hospital 2009 Entry: 2 day individual 16 hrs 36 mins (previously done 2007 & 2008 Individual 2 day) Support Crew: Wife, Alison (with some help from Rob from Canoe & Kayak!) “What attracted you to the Coast to Coast?” “I had done a lot of Ultra Marathons previously and wanted a change from road running, but I was still keen for a challenge!” “What was the toughest leg in this year’s event?” “The run,

Tony Scott Photo by; Pauls camera Shop

because of cramps, but usually the kayak leg as I’m not an experienced kayaker.” “What was your most memorable moment this year?” “The Rock Garden Rapid. A girl had fallen out just in front of me and she caused a bit of chaos. My heart was pumping but I managed to stay in my kayak and navigate the rapid successfully.” “Will you be back next year?” “No, 3 years is enough and I need a break but I’ll be back in the future. Next year I’ll come and watch – it’s a great event.” Glenys Moy Photo by; Pauls camera Shop Tony Scott Age:

Occupation: Doctor, Cardiologist North Shore Hospital. 2009 Entry: Longest Day, Did Not Finish, I was too slow this year and missed the cut off on the kayak leg. (Previously 2005, 2006 two day Individual, 2007, 2008 Longest Day) Support Crew: My wife and son plus my Sister, Sister in law and their partners – what a team! “What attracted you to the Coast to Coast?” “A friend suggested a

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Gladiator ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Multisport team entry way back in 2004. He subsequently pulled out and I ended up entering the 2005 race as an individual. I loved it and have never looked back.” “What was the toughest Leg in this year’s event?” “It would have to be the first bike ride. There was a harsh headwind and I ended up riding on my own for most of the leg. It made the mountain run that much tougher” “What was your most memorable or enjoyable moment?” This year it was definitely the kayak leg. It was a beautiful day and the scenery was magical. I had no real pressure as I had figured out that I would probably miss the cut off time later on. I paddled hard and had a great time.” “Will you be back next year?” “Yes but not in the Longest Day. I’ll probably do a team entry and encourage friends or family to give it a crack.” Chris & Toni keeping company The Keelings – A Family Affair (Interview of Peter Keeling) Age: Peter 40, Christine 44, Toni 17, Esther 48 Occupations: 2009 Entry:

Teacher, Valuer, Student and Teacher. Peter 2 Day Individual, 16 hrs 16 mins Christine, 2 Day Individual, 15 hrs 15 mins, Bronze Medallist Veteran Women Toni, 2 day teams (mountain runner) 15 hrs 12 mins Esther, 2 Day Individual 17 hrs 20 mins Our son Daniel plus my Sisters + Husbands plus

Support Crew: more friends! “What attracted you to the Coast to Coast?” “Watching Steve

Gurney on the Telly gave myself and Christine inspiration many years ago, now we are addicted and the rest of the family is starting to race too.” “What was the toughest Leg in this year’s event?” “For me it was

the kayak leg. The water was so low with a head wind too. The rapids weren’t scary though!” “What was your most memorable or enjoyable moment” “Riding the last bike leg with my daughter Toni and crossing the finish line together. Christine was waiting for us – it was an awesome feeling.” “Will you be back next year?” “Christine will definitely do the 2 day again. As for the rest of us – probably! We aren’t sure exactly what section we’ll enter, but we’ll be there!” The 2010 event will be held on 12th/13th Feb. For more information on the race and grade 2 kayaking certificates contact Rob Howarth on 09 479 1002 or email rob@canoeandkayak.co.nz Water levels were low

Peter, Christine and Toni joined by ‘Judders’ after the ﬁnish.

2nd annual surf ski sea kayak waka ama ocean rower

Over 100 paddlers took part in the inaugural event. See www.transtaupo.co.nz for more information, results, video footage and photos.

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The pinnacle of open fresh water paddling.

Sea Kayaks, Surf Ski’s, Waka ama and Ocean Rower.

A 44km paddle race across the pure crystal mountain fed waters of New Zealand’s (and Australasia’s) largest freshwater lake.

From Tokannu to Taupo. Solo and Team Categories. Saturday 28th March 2009.

Canoe & Kayak BOP For Sale! Canoe & Kayak Bay of Plenty beneﬁts from a high exposure site in Mount Maunganui with time to run on the lease. It includes a specialist kayak store with retail and on water activities. It is the Home of the BOP Yakity Yak Club, BOP kayaking school and is the specialist BOP Roof Rack Centre. The company has also runs a successful kayak tour operation catering for tourists to the Bay of Plenty, locals and businesses. Above the kayak shop is a 65m2 self contained unit, currently rented to a small business. Steve and Karen started the Centre in 2003. Since then it has been a tip top, well regarded, proﬁtable and growing business. The business is run by the owners, one part time staff member and one additional summer

Canoe & Kayak Bay of Plenty.

staff member. BOP Canoe and Kayak Centre is one of 8 linked to the largest specialist Kayaking Company in New Zealand. Licensed to Canoe and Kayak Ltd the owner enjoys the Company’s proven business systems, purchasing power and on going head ofﬁce support. To ensure continuing business success from day one, the Company provides a comprehensive training course for new owners followed by bi-monthly meetings of fellow owners to discuss and share strategies, marketing and operations. A rare opportunity to purchase a proﬁtable life style business in this exciting and growing industry. Please call me on 0274 529255, for a chat. Peter Townend, Managing Director, Canoe & Kayak Ltd

In store BOP

Taupo Canoe & Kayak For Sale. This fantastic lifestyle kayaking business is for sale. Canoe The Castle

& Kayak Taupo has been established for over 10 years and is now in a superb location in the most recognisable building town. ‘The Castle’ is on one of Taupo’s busiest roads, with huge exposure. The business - a specialist kayak store with amalgamated Roof Rack Centre - has a healthy turnover and continues to grow. We also offer White Water, Multisport and Sea Kayak instruction. Our guided trips on Lake Taupo and the surrounding rivers are extremely popular. Hire of kayaks and equipment is also offered. Above the shop is a 3 bedroom, 95sqm Flat. Open plan, 1 bed en suite, mountain and lake views, currently rented out. Canoe & Kayak Taupo is 1 of 8 stores on the North Island, part of a licensed operation. Income is approx 50% retail and 50% tourism and instruction. At present it employs 3 full time staff members and many ‘on call’ guides and instructors. Thorough training is given by Canoe & Kayak Ltd with plenty of ongoing support. Also there is the opportunity to buy the Kayakers Lodge, a 4 bedroom self contained house on the banks of the Waikato River. 14 beds, a renovated, 1 bedroom sleepout (also rented out) and double garage. The house is set up to accommodate clients while on kayaking courses,

The Lodge Taupo

and is shared with the current owner. This business is reluctantly for sale due to change in circumstance. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity, live the dream...give me a call on 0274 529255. Peter Townend, Managing Director Canoe & Kayak Ltd

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White Water

Paddling in Africa

by Josh Clarke

Sunset run

Kayaking holidays overseas always seemed to be more of an

eventually be ﬂooded out and turned into a lake. However it is exciting

ideal dream than a reality for me. I’d decided I’d had enough

for Uganda to know that their economy is going to get an impressive boost once the dam is complete. Bernard and I met up with a large contingent of kiwi mates who all

of dreaming, and took the plunge with a ticket to Africa. YEAH BABY!! A good friend Bernard and I had seen plenty of footage to know how intimidating and exciting it was going to be. With plenty of advice and reassurance from friends we were on our way to Livingstone, Zambia to paddle the mighty Zambezi River. We spent two weeks at Victoria Falls, one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’. It’s an incredible feeling to drive past elephants on the way to the put-in, paddle past monkeys chilling on the side of the river, and to hear the horror stories of crocs swimming beneath us. And just to top it off, we were amongst the biggest whitewater we’ve ever paddled. A favourite rapid would have to be the ‘Big Boof’ over a pour-over on No. 5. It gets my heart thumping every time I think about it! With butterﬂies in your stomach you line up the pourover and get as much speed as you can muster, plant a massive boof stroke giving you 1 second of airborne time before you get slammed back down into the messy hydraulics surrounding you. And then it’s hold onto your hat as you ride the rest of the rapid out, barely being able to see the massive

studied Outdoor Education at Christchurch Polytech with us. So there were 11 of us Kiwis in Africa, paddling the Nile, experiencing the culture, and just having a blast. We went on a 4-day safari at Murchison Falls to check out some white rhino’s, lions, a heap of giraffes, crocs, hippos, and other cool animals. We spent Christmas at the Hairy Lemon Backpackers on an island in the middle of the Nile River. It also happens to be right next to the famous Nile Special wave, which is one of the biggest, fastest and most fun waves I’ve ever been on. And then we spent new years exploring the North-West of Uganda at Sipi Falls, another beautiful spot. I believe kayaking is an excellent medium from which to explore foreign places and cultures. And every year it’s becoming more easily accessible to go on your own kayaking adventures. So grab your mates and take the plunge for the White Nile before it’s lost forever. You’d also get to meet the legendary Chaffee from Bujugalli who makes the best damn chapattis in all of Uganda! See you on the water.

diagonal hits coming at you from all directions. YEEEEEEWWW!! The Day 1 section on the Zambezi feels like a big day out, with heaps of rapids, big hits, intense heat, and a rather large hike up out of the gorge. Luckily a couple of legendary porters with superhuman strength come with the shuttle service to lug our boats out of the gorge for us. “Thanks fella’s, I don’t know how you do it!” Our next destination was the White Nile River. After a plane ride and a few dodgy bus trips via Kenya, we arrived at Bujugalli Falls, Uganda, the pearl of Africa. We put our tents up and made it our new home for the next 2 ½ months. There are 2 main sections on the White Nile called the ‘Day 1’ and ‘Day 2’ sections. They both consist of world class waves and rapids which puts Uganda on the map in the world of whitewater. Unfortunately for kayakers and rafters, and in terms of preserving the natural environment, the Day 1 section will soon be lost due to the large scale dam construction that is currently underway. This whole section will

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Anna & Leela charging down Silverback

Soph giving the kids a go 'Team Kiwi', Murchison Falls

Josh, Khalagala Falls

Easy on big boy!

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White Water Nepali Girls take to the water

by Sophie Hoskins

The newly trained girls in front and the ﬁrst Nepali women to summit Mt. Everest at the back.

I t ’s t h e l a s t d a y o f t h e t r a i n i n g

clothes sitting nervously by herself. Then

in the industry. With 37 people on this trip,

programme and I’m smiling as we

Pasang Sherpa introduced herself in ﬂuent English and said she was in the training

they got more than a taste of industry life. Fifteen hours in buses got us to our next destination, the Trisuli River, where the Peak UK Himalayan White Water Challenge was

push off from our last campsite. Sita and Susmita are guiding the rafts and Radha is rowing the oared boat. Five weeks ago the girls were struggling to swim in a pool, now they are bursting with confidence thinking girls can do anything. I’m so proud of these beautiful women. They have worked so hard, come so far, pushed through so many barriers and achieved so much. Now they have opportunities. Rafting companies want them and they are being offered jobs left right and centre. The best part …………………..this is only the beginning. When, ﬁve weeks ago, we arrived at the Holy Lodge (a great place for a kayaker to stay) in Thamal, Kathmandu, we met Inka Trollsas (the project organiser). Before we knew it we were walking into the Nepali Police Pool, jet lagged and loaded with the gear we needed to teach 10 Nepali Women basic kayaking skills. It began their training to enter Nepal’s White Water industry. I noticed a small girl in traditional Nepali

programme. She introduced us to the nervous eighteen year old, Kamala Chepung who, though she could speak no English, was the top girl in her village school. Sam-Bhavi, Hasilla, Radha, Anita and Rama arrived, shy at ﬁrst, but it didn’t take long for the Kiwi and Nepali girls to bond . Two days later we were in a bus, en route for the Sun Koshi River to work on skills for two days before starting a 10-day river trip. After the two days the girls could carve in and out of eddies, paddle in a straight line and relax when they tipped over. At 1pm on the 16th, two big buses full of old and new friends, girls from all over the world, arrived to be part of the project. Just three hours later we pushed off, laden with enough food for thirty seven people for ten days. The ten days went fast. The Nepali Girls were in kayaks for the easier sections and then in rafts for difﬁcult rapids. They worked so hard, up at dawn cooking breakfast and preparing lunch, then a big day on the river. Sometimes there was more kayaking at the campsite in the late afternoon before preparing dinner. They were learning kayaking and rafting skills and enjoying a taste of what it’s like to work

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to be held. This is three days of kayaking and rafting including, slalom, freestyle and downriver racing. For the first time ever Nepali Women would be competing. Sita, Susmita and Anu (a little more experienced than the other 7) entered in the kayak events. There were only 3 Nepali women in their category, so they earned great prizes, paddles for the slalom, dry tops for the down-river race and helmets for the rodeo. Susmita took out overall first place for Nepali Women and won a brand new Jackson kayak. The Nepali girls worked on rafting skills for another week on the Trisuli River then went back to Sukute Beach for a three day White Water Rescue Training course on the Bhote Koshi River, joining forty other Nepali raft guides. The girls mixed in smaller groups with the guys, returned to the Trisuli River for another week rafting and practising their newly learnt WRT skills. We parted with the girls after the kayak festival, sneaked in an amazing trip to Annapurna base camp and rejoined them on 16th of December for their final trip on the

Everyone on the log sporting their new KEEN shoes Sorting gear at the Holy Lodge in Thamel Kathmandu

lower Seti River. We found them loading the rafts at the put-in, tying knots, working as a team and shining with confidence, eager to show us all they had learnt. Three days later we were on the bus to Kathmandu, so proud of what these girls had achieved. At a ceremony on the 20th the first Nepali women to reach the summit of Mt Everest presented certificates. There was a beautiful speech about Nepali women developing a passion for adventure. The thermometer was falling, rafting

Five prominent rafting companies want to employ them and there are more jobs available than there are girls. Thanks to all the people who made this happen, they have opportunities, a club with all the gear they need and support from Nepal’s White Water industry. Many New Zealanders contributed in big ways to this project and on behalf of the Nepali Women a huge thanks goes to everyone who made donations and brought rafﬂe tickets; Canoe and Kayak, Ice breaker, Keen Shoes,

companies were closing for the winter and foreigners were returning home. The Nepali

Fergs Kayaks, The Lions (Edgecumbe and Methven), Bivouac, SheWee, CPIT, OPC,

girls who, 5 weeks ago, had not known each other, now had a tight bond and quite possibly strong friendships for life.

Outward Bound, Day Two, Mission Kayaking, MacPac, Paddler Zone, Singapore Airlines, Tongariro River Rafting, Wet n Wild Rafting

Rotorua, The Wall Rotorua. Without their donations of gear and dollars the HRG club would have half the amount of gear. Also thanks to Josh Neilson. He is making a documentary about the project and has scheduled ﬁlm shows all over the country in April. For dates and locations go to his blog www.whitewater-koa.blogspot.com. The Nepali training programme will be repeated next year. If you would like to give your time or equipment or help with raising funds please email nepaligirlskayaking@ gmail.com. For a more detailed breakdown of the trip, the girls progress and photos check out www. nepaligirlskayak.blogspot.com.

Susmita showing her line on HAKAPUR to Malin from Sweden(centre) and Beckey from Wales ((left)

Sita Thapa competing in the Rodeo at the Peak UK Himalayan White Water challenge

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Product Focus

125mm, 360 degree LED light

NEW Safety Flag

Mighty Mite Cart

& Light

Be seen day or night with Great StuffÕs new Safety Flag LED Light unit

A trolley for the budget concious! At only $149.00 this is one of the cheapest kayak trollies on the market. Suitable for most sit-on- top kayaks. This light weight trolly comes complete with a webbing strap, and a handy stand. The wheels require little maintenance. A good wash after every use and oil occasionally will extend their life.

¥ LED light with 20 hour battery life. ¥ Waterproof up to 300 feet. ¥ Visible up to 500 metres in darkness ¥ Available in rod holder mounting or easy install screw base.

Screw in base

¥ Easy screw-on flag ¥ Very easy to install. Simply drill 2 or 3 small holes and rivet or bolt onto your kayak deck.

Beckson Pumps The Beckson THIRSTY-MATE ® hand pump is manufactured in the U.S.A. from the finest materials available. It is selfpriming and very easy to clean. This hand pump is designed specifically with the Sea-Kayaker in mind. It has an aluminium reinforced shaft which prevents the pump shaft from flexing in a rolling sea. A Sleeve installed at the factory provides positive flotation if the pump is dropped overboard.

Kayaka Polartec Powerstretch Top

Duel purpose fishing and safety option

The ultimate in comfort! The brushed lined fabric not only keeps you snug, but it also wicks moisture away, keeping you warmer for longer. Available in time for winter paddling.

¥ Safety Flag base unit fits into a Great Stuff rod holder. Go fishing dusk or dawn and still be visible.

4 Way super-stretch brushed lined fabric. Moisture wicked away from the skin. Superior warmth with less bulk. Windproof, splash proof. Men’s, Woman’s, short and long sleeve styles. Available Winter 2009. GS3

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Surge

This awesome kayak is the perfect solution for the whole family. It’s 2 + 1 layout gives you the ﬂexibility to do just about anything. With the central seating position, a single paddler can handle the boat easily. Two up, there is room to carry your picnic or shorkelling gear too. You can even take the family! The Surge is stable and tracks well with the aid of the short keel and grooves in the hull. The ﬂared front lifts the bow in any surf or sea and

the sharp lines cut into the face of the wave making for a comfortable and well controlled ride. The moulded handles make handling on shore a breeze. There is plenty of room for rod holders so you can take a line out with you. For both parents and kids alike, the Surge is easy to paddle and great fun as a swimming platform. Surely one of the most versatile kayaks on the market.

Kayaka Paddle Longs & Shorts A must for any paddler. The bare minimum in paddle wear. These pants keep your vitals warm dry and comfortable. 3/2mm Seamate Neoprene. Flatlocked seams. Supratex knee pads. High cut waist with toggle to prevent ride-down. Anatomically designed for maximum comfort. Men's, Women's, Shorts also available (Pictured). Available now.

Kayaka Long John For the serious fisherman. These long johns are designed to keep you warm in the roughest of conditions. They are so comfortable you can wear them all day.With the flat locked seams, you get no chaffing and there is extra protection for your knees. Kayaka Long John 3/2mm Seamate Neoprene. Flatlocked seams. Single Velcro Shoulder. Supratex knee pads. The kayak fisherman’s best friend. Men's, Women's. Available now.

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Kayak Tours – A Great Way To Explore The Country by Karen Knowles Have you been looking for something different to give as a gift or a way to get into kayaking? .....why not come along on one of our guided kayak tours? It’s different, fun and the perfect way to spend time with family or friends! There’s a range of different tours to suit everyone, you don’t need any experience and all kayaking gear is supplied. What’s more, our guides are qualiﬁed so you are in very good hands and safety is our priority. Canoe & Kayak run a range of tours and can arrange a personalised itinerary to suit you and your group. Come and explore New Zealand’s beautiful waterways with us! BAY OF PLENTY Canoe and Kayak Bay of Plenty’s tours to suit everyone, with competitive rates and a fantastic friendly service! Glow worm Canyon on Lake McLaren – The spectacular Glow Worm canyon is only accessible by kayak making this peaceful experience truly something different. This is popular tour runs year round. An amazing experience for the whole family! $75 per person, min 2 pax. Around the Mount - Departing from Pilot Bay and heading round “Mauao” (Mount Maunganui) to Rabbit Island for a look around its beautiful scenery and back to Pilot Bay. During the winter months we often have close encounters with seals. $75 per person, min 2 pax. NORTH SHORE, AUCKLAND There are so many options for tours in the kayaking paradise of Auckland. Our most popular tours are: Puhoi River, Greenhithe to Albany Waterfall, Greenhithe to Riverhead Pub, Historic Dacre Cottage. Trips can be one way or return, just give us a call and we can arrange everything for you. Prices on application depending on numbers. MANUKAU CITY Coastal Paddle to the Pub. Here’s something different – kayaking to the pub! Explore the beautiful coastline from Omana to Pine Harbour reaching the The Jolly Roger Pub for a well deserved cold one or relax with a coffee at the Cafe. This tour is a popular idea for birthday parties, corporate team building or holiday makers. Cost $75 per person min 4 pax (transport to Omana and from Pine Harbour not included, all

Enjoying the Moari Carvings

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refreshments costs clients responsibility). Or let us arrange transport and breakfast or lunch for $135pp. TAUPO Waikato River Discovery Trip. One of Taupo’s best kept secrets is the sheer beauty and tranquillity of the Waikato river meandering by just minutes from the centre of town. The water is crystal clear and our trip takes in Cherry Island and the Thermal Hot Springs where we stop for a soak. $45 Adults $25 under 14 yrs. Maori Carvings Tour. Visit the world famous Maori Carvings which are only accessible from the water. The main carving depicts the face of Te Arawa’s high priest Natoro-irangi. This is surrounded by many smaller and intricate carvings best seen by kayak. $90 per person suitable for those over 12 years. TARANAKI Sugar Loaf Island Marine Reserve View the scenic & rugged Taranaki coastline as we draw closer to the Sugar Loaf Islands. Enjoy the seal colony and experience the thrill of close up views of these fascinating marine mammals. Allow 3 hours subject to weather. $55.00 per person. MOKAU RIVER Enjoy this beautiful scenic river which winds through some of New Zealands lushest vegetation. Camping overnight and exploring some of New Zealands pioneering history. A true Kiwi experience. Two day trips $230.00 One day $80.00

O LL

R TO A DI LA G

G RI

The next step up from the entry level kayaks. Fast with good stability. Medium skill ability is required to enjoy racing this kayak. A very popular Coast to Coast kayak.

Intrigue is ideal for the beginner/entry level kayaker who is looking for a quick, light kayak with great stability. Also suitable for ﬁrst time Coast to Coasters.

Gladiator with its larger cockpit, is built for the bigger paddler looking for a longer, fast and stable kayak for Coast to Coast etc.

Priced at $2710, $2940 Kevlar

Priced at $2460, $2740 Kevlar

Priced at $2860, $3170 Kevlar

Length: 5.4m, Weight: 14kg Glass, 12kg Kevlar, Width: 480mm

Length: 4.94m, Weight: 14.5kg Glass, 12kg Kevlar, Width: 540mm

Length: 5.9m, Weight: 15.5kg, 13.5kg Kevlar, Width: 530 mm

FIREBOLT

Buyers Guide

T OL B E FIR

This very user friendly kayak with excellent combination of speed and stability is suitable not only for the intermediate/ advanced paddler, but also for the busy, but keen ‘Weekend Warrior’.

Multisport

E UR T N T VE UE AD D

Adventure Duet is a lightweight, very fast and recently updated Adventure Racing double kayak. It continues to dominate adventure racing in NZ and is a great recreational double.

Priced at $2860, $3170 Kevlar

Priced at $5260, $5760 Kevlar

Length: 5.9m, Weight: 14.5kg, 12.5kg Kevlar, Width: 455 mm

Length: 7m, Weight: 29 kg, 24 kg Kevlar, Width: 550 mm

L BELAR E R EV K

REBEL KEVLAR

OCEAN X

The Rebel is designed for paddlers of both genders up to 75kgs. At 5.65 metres long, the Rebel is half way between the length of the Swallow and the Firebolt and is faster than both.

Priced at $3150 Length: 5.65m, Weight: 11kg, Width: 450mm

R TO A IN IM EL

The Ocean X is suitable for kayak racing in the many harbours, estuaries and lakes of New Zealand and lends itself well to the kayak sections of many multisport races.

Priced at $1695 Length: 5.0m, Weight: 22kg, Width: 584mm

Fast ocean going Racing Sea Kayak. The broad bow allows this kayak to ride over waves like a surf ski without losing any speed and is easy to control while surﬁng. A low proﬁle reduces buffeting by the wind in adverse conditions.

Priced at $3200, $3700 Kevlar

Priced at $3620

Length: 6.4m, Weight: 18kg, 16.5kg Kevlar, Width: 500 mm

Length: 6.43m, Weight: 16kg, Width: 510mm

RF SUSKI

A fast stable racing and training ‘Sit -on’. It has an adjustable dry seat and a cool draining system. Ideal for the paddler wanting a good ﬁtness work out.

MAXIMUS

R PE VI

An excellent training and competition surf ski, can be used with under-slung rudder or rear mounted rudder.

Priced at $1795 Length: 5.3m, Weight: 22kg, Width: 510mm

This boat is a great training/ racing, rota-moulded alternative to expensive composite crafts, has moderate stability and good speed.

Priced at $1695 Length: 5.2m, Weight: 22kg, Width: 550mm

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UI PE

This is a versatile touring kayak for lake, river and sea. Stability, speed and easy tracking make for an enjoyable day’s paddling. A larger cockpit allows for easier entry and exit.

ER AT W AR E SH

Penguin has as all the features for multiday kayaking with ease of handling in all weather conditions. With great manoeuvrability this kayak is suitable for paddlers from beginner to advanced.

A comfortable performance orientated sea kayak which will suit all sizes of paddlers with plenty of foot room for the bigger ones. The Shearwater handles well in rough conditions. A fun boat to paddle.

Prices start at $1930

Prices start at $2430

Prices start at $2475

Length: 4.5m, Weight: Std 24kg, Width: 620 mm

Length: 4.80 m, Weight: 26.5 kg std, 23 kg light, Width: 610 mm

Length: 4.80 m, Weight: 26.5 kg std, 23kg lite, Width: 610 mm

N MA SS S E TA PR X E

Its low proﬁle and ﬂared bow enables the Tasman Express to perform well in adverse conditions. It gives the paddler maximum comfort, with adjustable footrests, backrest, side seat supports and optional thigh brace.

N MA E S T TA ELI

As per the plastic model, the kevlar Tasman Express responds to rough conditions but its decreased weight, and increased stiffness, gives even better performance.

Prices start at $2695

Prices start at $4260

Length: 5.3m, Weight: 29kg Std, 25kg light, Width: 620mm

Length: 5.3m, Weight: 22kg, Width: 600mm

RN HE A T U U SO SK

Sea K

See in-store for that su

The Southern Skua has a low deck proﬁle enabling it to perform extremely well in windy conditions. Its longer hull gives it greater speed and allows it to surf the waves in a following sea. It gives maximum stability in the open sea.

Prices start at $4235 Length: 5.4m, Weight: 22kg, Width: 600mm

ES R R

Torres, a fast and stable sea kayak, capable of handling extreme expeditions. Huge storage and lots of leg room.

UX EAESS V FO XPR E

Foveaux Express, a very responsive and playful sea kayak. Comes with a moulded thigh brace. The dolphin nose with ﬂair, allows lift in the ocean swell. A fun, nimble kayak.

Prices start at $4320 Length: 5.6m, Weight: 23kg std, Width: 600mm

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Prices start at $4160 Length: 5.0m, Weight: 19kg, Width: 600mm

KS C& D’ F P

Increase your visibility in these yellow bouyancy aids. They can be adjusted with side, shoulder and waist straps. There is an inside pocket with a ring to store keys, knife or whistle.

$99.50

0 R 48 TOU N CO

0 R 45 TOU N CO

This kayak is designed for day tripping and light overnight expeditions. It’s great fun to paddle and handles easily.

0 R 49 TOU N CO

A roomy, manoeuvrable, easy to handle boat. The channelled hull provides outstanding tracking which helps keep you on course. Its upswept, ﬂared bow makes crossing rough water a breeze.

This double Sea Kayak is an ideal day tourer with the easy ability to do those weekend camping expeditions. It handles well, is fun to paddle and has well appointed accessories.

Prices start at $2300

Prices start at $2550

Prices start at $3199

Length: 4.5 m, Weight: 26 kg std, Width: 640 mm

Length: 4.8m, Weight: 27 kg, Width: 620mm

Length: 4.87 m, Weight: 35kg std, Width: 800mm

O LT EC H X IZ NI

O IG EC ZH BE

ayaks

Eco Bezhig is an enjoyable sea kayak, fast and nimble with huge storage, great features and the most comfortable seat your butt will ever meet.

This model is proving a hit for its lighter weight and excellent features. This is a plastic double sea kayak that is great for all those amazing expeditions and adventures.

Prices start at $3199

Prices start at $4250

Length: 5.4 m, Weight: Std 27 kg, Width: 590mm

Length: 5.64m, Weight: 45kg Std, Width: 760mm

VE FI

a package deal its you

VE FI

Five- O-Five is a fully-ﬂedged touring kayak for entry and medium level paddlers. A high-quality touring boat. At 505 cm it offers great glide and tracking.

Prices start at $2299 Length: 5.05m, Weight: 25kg, Width: 580mm

CH ER A B BE M O C

T AM LOA O F F LE DD A P

A paddle float you don’t have to inflate! The reflective webbing trim and a metallic chrome front panel enhances visibility. Deployment is easy with a large pocket for your paddle blade, and a wide adjustable leash to secure the paddle shaft.

$109.90

M NE

The Beachcomber combines the latest design with cutting edge technologies to create an ultra light, thermoformed, manoeuvrable sea kayak, perfectly suited to New Zealand conditions.

The Point 65 Nemo is a comfortable and stable recreational kayak for the whole family.

Prices start at $2950

Prices start at $1099

Length: 4.88m, Weight: 17kg, Width: 600mm

Length: 3.5m, Weight: 22kg, Width: 630mm

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O FL

A Sit-on-Top for the family. Able to seat an adult and a small child. The Squirt is easy to paddle and is very stable. Easily carried by one adult or two kids.

RG SU

Stable and easy to paddle, Flow handles surf with ease. Simple for the beginner to use, yet exciting for the more experienced paddler.

Prices start at $1299 Length: 3.90 m, Weight: 28 kg, Width: 850 mm

Length: 2.7m, Weight: 17 kg, Width: 760 mm

SS E C 0 AC 28

A fun double sit-on-top kayak with the option of a third person sitting in the middle. Surge has ample stability and speed and performs well in surf.

Prices start at $879

Prices start at $449

AY PL Length: 2.95m, Weight: 19kg, Width: 750 mm

Access 280 is a nimble performer that turns really easily. The open cockpit houses a comfortable moulded padded seat, an adjustable backrest and an easy to reach, under deck tray for all your necessities.

Play is great for the paddler who wants a fun fast surf and ﬂat water kayak. Kids love this Sit-on as it is not too wide for them to paddle and yet is very stable.

Prices start at $879

Prices start at $749

Length: 2.8 m, Weight: 18 kg std, Width: 730 mm

Length: 3.10 m, Weight: 18 kg, Width: 711 mm

Recre

E IK R ST

See in-store for that su

A Wave Ski which the whole family can enjoy. Fantastic in the surf, Strike is a fast and manoeuvrable sit-on-top.

Prices start at $895

Fishing

Length: 2.9 m, Weight: 16 kg, Width: 686 mm

R DE U A AR M

SH E FI DIV ’ ‘N

Fish ‘n’ Dive is the ultimate fishing/diving kayak. A large well located in the stern holds loads of fish. You can customize it with hatches, fish finders and rod holders.

The Marauder is for the serious kayak ﬁsherman. It is fast, stable with loads of deck space. Performs excellently in surf.

The low proﬁle hull of the Cobra Tourer cuts down on windage. Paddlers maintain high speed and straight tracking with easy handling in all conditions.

Prices start at $1395

Prices start at $1295

Length: 4.3 m, Weight: 24 kg, Width: 780 mm

Length: 4.55 m, Weight: 22.68 kg, Width: 711 mm

Prices start at $1195 Length: 3.8 m, Weight: 28 kg, Width: 914 mm

ER UR

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E AD P CA ES

E PE A C ES

LY EF

Here is a little cracker! The Fireﬂy is designed so the kids can have fun. Little and light, easy to handle and stable. The kids will love it, if they can get Dad off it!

Probably the closest you will come to finding one kayak that does it all. Surfing, fishing, snorkelling. Escapee is stable and easy to paddle. A boat the whole family can enjoy.

An extended Escapee for the larger paddler. You’ll ﬁsh, dive and have fun in the sun. There’s a storage hatch behind the seat for easy access and wells at the front and rear.

$496

Prices start at $810

Prices start at $1020

Length: 2.4 m, Weight: 16 kg, Width: 700 mm

Length: 3.3 m, Weight: 23 kg, Width: 740 mm

Length: 3.46 m, Weight: 27 kg std, Width: 750 mm

M DE N TA

I W KI

The fantastically stable and manoeuvrable Kiwi has two dry compartments for gear. Light, super comfortable and fast for its length. It’s an awesome, all round kayak.

ational

A ‘two person’ kayak, ideal for ﬁshing, surﬁng and exploring. Tandem has two 6” hatches to store your adventure equipment. Room for three, often paddled by one.

Prices start at $1270

Prices start at $1195

Length: 3.75m, Width: 740 mm Weight: 20 kg Std, 23kg Excel & 18 Light.

Length: 3.81 m, Weight: 25.90 kg, Width: 915 mm

P EX

a package deal its you

Explorer is ideal for ﬁshing and exploring and one of the driest ‘Sit-ons’ you will ﬁnd. Great hatches for storing your goodies are available.

Prices start at $995

Kayaks CH T 0 CA 39

Catch 390 features satisfy the keenest angler, beginners & experienced alike. Front & rear bulkheads. Watertight ﬁshing rod chute. Flush mount rod holders behind the seat .

Prices start at $1650 Length: 3.90m, Weight: 28kg, Width: 850 mm

Length: 3.43 m, Weight: 18.18 kg, Width: 790 mm

Y ET S F SA LAG F

NE LI 80 2

The ‘pimped’ Angler edition of the Access. The Line 280 is ready to go fishing when you are. Anchor running line is already fitted. There are rod holders, and paddle parks to store your paddle while you fish.

Prices start at $1095

Be seen day or night with Great Stuff’s Safety Flag, LED light unit. It comes complete with Rod Holder or alternative deck ﬁttings. A must for all open water kayakers.

$119.90

Length: 2.8 m, Weight: 18 kg std, Width: 730 mm

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E/ H DL AS D E PA D L O R

E DL T D A PA LO F

E LG P BI UM P

A must for every boatie. Our 36 litres per minute Bilge Pump features an easy-grab handle, super-strong pump shaft and heavy-duty impact resistant plastic.

Two chamber ﬂoat gives added safety. A 2nd chamber for use when you need extra buoyancy or if one chamber is accidentally punctured. There’s a clip on safety tether to eliminate loss in windy conditions.

$59.90 E UD ACK T I T S LA UFF T S

$84.90

$34.90

R PE UDE U S IT T LA

With full horizontal access, our Latitudes eliminate the hassle of having to dig vertically to get at what you want. Built with a polyester body and heavy-duty vinyl ends, Latitudes are built to perform, but at a value price!

Eco-friendly PVC Free Super Latitudes feature the great wide mouth-lateral design. They slide easily into kayak hatches. Our hands-free Autopurge valve automatically purges the air as the bag is compressed.

10Ltr $69.90 - 21Ltr $79.90 - 51Ltr $99.90

10Ltr $69.90 - 21Ltr $79.90 - 51Ltr $119.90

The Opti Dry is super-tough made from super-clear heavy-duty vinyl. It has an abrasion resistant bottom.

10Ltr $29.90 - 21Ltr $34.90 - 41Ltr $44.90 TY RT H IG A M TE C I M

Prod Y DR CK I N PA OM CK A B

NI G OMY BA DR

TI G OP BA Y DR

These all-purpose bags are great for any adventure. The Omni Dry Bag features a waterproof 3-roll closure with D-ring, vinyl body and heavy-duty abrasion resistant bottom.

At 140 litres you can ﬁt all your wet gear in one bag, or keep all your gear dry! A heavy-duty 3-roll closure system and adjustable, padded shoulder straps makes for easy use.

10Ltr $39.90 - 21Ltr $44.90 - 41Ltr $54.90

$99.00 Y EY AV OLL E H TR TY DU

D Y ST LLE O TR

Our new Mighty Mite Cart is small enough to ﬁt in most Kayak holds, With pneumatic wheels, anodized aluminium frame, a single tie-down, and a stand, this cart offers great features at a low price.

These wheels are the step down from the heavy duty version. Large wheels still make any terrain a breeze, while a pin holds them in. They still fold away into your back hatch. A lighter weight trolley for moving mainly empty kayaks.

$149.00

$199.00

Unique quick-release-at-paddle feature allows paddle to be easily attached/ detached to/from leash. It comes with a heavy-duty snap hook for maximum durability and an internal Kevlar cord ﬁlament for maximum breaking strength.

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Easy to carry a sea kayak loaded down with all your gear! Heavy duty stainless steel construction. Wheels fold down conveniently to ﬁt in a back hatch.

$349.00

A SE VER SS A RO MP O C

A R SE HO C AN

CK PA INK S

A great small-craft safety accessory. These heavy duty Sea Anchors are built in tough PVC for maximum abuse. With tubing sewn in, they stay open to deploy quickly. 300mm dia. opening 580mm length.

The Sea Rover features a large compass with easy to read markings. With a simple, yet elegant base, it attaches easily to deck lines or sits nicely on top of a deck bag. Quick-release buckles allow for easy attachment.

Our 15 litre capacity square camp sink can’t be beat. The Pack Sink’s unique square shape makes cleaning larger items simple and it folds ﬂat for easy (out of the way) storage when not in use.

$79.00

$79.90

$35.90 X LU BAG E D K C DE

D G ST K BA C DE

ucts

Join the club. You will get a weekend skills course to teach you techniques and safety skills and a year’s membership. If you are keen to learn more there is a bunch of courses which teach everything from Eskimo Rolling to becoming an instructor.

Our Deck Bag offers exceptional value! The entire bag is radio frequency welded to keep waves and rain out. Our splash proof, HydroKiss™coated zip is sealed in with no excessive needle holes for water to ﬁnd.

The Deluxe Deck Bag offers a unique window view access, high capacity and light reﬂectivity. A clear window allows for easier gear location and a higher proﬁle for better gear storage.

$119.90

$149.90

Kayak Centres For Sale

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What a great way to earn a living. Working in a recreational retail business with heaps of time outdoors, at sea with great company. Phone Peter Townend on 0274 529 255, or email pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz for more information.

6 issues for only $40, saving nearly $5.00 off the news-stand price, delivered free. This great magazine will give you heaps of information and ideas to make your kayaking more enjoyable.

NORTH SHORE

WAIKATO

Unit 2/20 Constellation Drive (off Ascension Place), Mairangi Bay, Auckland

The corner Greenwood St & Duke St, State Highway 1 Bypass, Hamilton

PHONE: 09 479 1002

PHONE: 07 847 5565

AUCKLAND

MANUKAU

502 Sandringham Rd Sandringham

710 Great South Road, Manukau

TARANAKI Unit 6, 631 Devon Road Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth

PHONE: 06 769 5506

WELLINGTON 2 Centennial Highway Ngauranga, Wellington

PHONE: 09 815 2073

PHONE: 09 262 0209

PHONE: 04 477 6911

SILVERDALE

BAY OF PLENTY

TAUPO

3/5 Mac Donald Street Mount Maunganui (off Hewletts Rd)

PHONE: 07 378 1003

DISTRIBUTION CENTRE 6 Tavern Road, Silverdale

PHONE: 09 421 0662

PHONE: 07 574 7415

Subscription price to anywhere in NZ $40.00

77 Spa Road, Taupo

Please Note: For the kayaks advertised, the price is for the kayak only. It does not necessarily include any of the accessories, hatches, seats etc shown in the photos. The prices were correct at the time of printing however due to circumstances beyond our control they may alter at any time. Please contact your nearest Canoe & Kayak Centre and they will put together a great package of the best equipment available for your kayaking fun. ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Directory: Things To Do

TAUPO Maori Carvings

Waikato River Discovery

Mohaka

Taupo Adventure Tours

Half day guided trip to the rock carvings, Lake Taupo... only accessible by boat. A leisurely paddle of about 3km to the rock carvings. The largest is over 10m high and from below in a small boat it is imposing.

2 hour guided kayak trip. Experience the magnificent upper reaches of the mighty Waikato River - soak in the geothermal hotsprings - take in the stunning environment... a perfect trip for all the family...

Need some excitement? Take a kayak down this wicked Grade II river run... this is a whole day of thrills and fantastic scenery down the Mohaka River.

$90 per person (bookings essential). Phone 0800 KAYAKN for details.

Adult $45, Children $25 Special group and family rates. Call 0800 KAYAKN for details.

We can organize specialized kayak tours to suit any budget. From helicopter access, white water paddling to extended cruises aboard a mother ship. Give us a call and we will give you a memory of a lifetime.

Canoe Polo A great game for young and old. A fast, furious and fun way to improve your skills. There’s a league to suit you. Contact your local store for more information.

Glow worms Cruise

Waitara River Tours

Price: $125 per person. Call 0800 KAYAKN for details.

Mokau River

For those who are slightly more adventurous at heart, this is a scenic trip with the excitement of grade two rapids. Midway down, we paddle under the historic Betran Rd Bridge where we will stop for a snack.

Enjoy this beautiful scenic river which winds through some of New Zealands lushest vegetation. Camping overnight and exploring some of New Zealands pioneering history. A true Kiwi experience.

Allow 2 hours paddle only. Priced at $60. Phone: 06 769 5506

Two day trips $230.00 One day $60.00 Phone 06 769 5506

River Tours Exploring beautiful estuaries. Enjoy a scenic trip with wildlife and wonderful views.

Taupo - Open for the summer and by appointment. Have some paddling fun on the beach or let us run a Tour for you and your friends and explore these beautiful areas.

Price $75 per person. Phone Canoe & Kayak BOP for bookings. 07 574 7415

Phone Canoe & Kayak on 0508 KAYAKNZ for details

Phone Canoe & Kayak on 0800 KAYAKN for details

Twilight Tours

Kayaking to a local pub is a unique way of spending an evening, bringing your group of friends together by completing a fun activity before dinner and making a memorable experience. These trips are available to Riverhead, Browns Bay and Devonport Pubs. COST: $70.00 each • GROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!

Departs from one of your local beautiful beaches. Enjoy the scenic trip with the sun setting as you paddle along the coast line. Group discounts available!

Phone Canoe & Kayak on 0508 KAYAKNZ for details.

ISSUE FORTYnine • 2009

Sugar Loaf Island From Ngamutu Beach harbour we head out to the open sea to Nga Motu/Sugar Loaf Island Marine Reserve. View the scenic & rugged Taranaki coastline as we draw closer to the Sugar Loaf Islands. Enjoy the seal colony and experience the thrill of close up views of these fascinating marine mammals.

Allow 3 hours subject to weather. $60.00 per person. Phone 06 769 5506

Kayak Hire

Join us for a picturesque paddle on Lake McLaren to view glow worms by night or beautiful waterfalls by day. This trip takes about 1.5-2hours and is suitable for paddlers with no experience. All gear, hot drinks and nibbles are supplied.

Paddle to the Pub

Phone 0800 KAYAKN for details.

New Zealand Kayaking Instructors Award Scheme Become a kayaking Instructor and Guide. Get into gear and get qualified! It’s fun and easy to do.

Don’t delay. Phone 0508 5292569 NOW!

Customized Tours

Join the Yakity Yak Club

• Work Functions • Schools • Clubs • Tourist groups

Want to have fun, meet new people, have challenging and enjoyable trips, and learn new skills? PLUS get a regular email newsletter and this magazine! Also, get a discount on kayaking courses and purchases from Canoe & Kayak Centres. Then, join us!

Whether it’s an afternoon amble, a full days frolic or a wicked weekend adventure we can take you there. If there’s somewhere you’d like to paddle we can provide you with experienced guides, local knowledge, safe up to date equipment and a lot of fun.

Contact your local store on 0508 KAYAKNZ.

Phone Canoe & Kayak on 0508 KAYAKNZ to find out more.

Built Fish Cobra Fishing and Touring Kayaks’ range of accessories allow you to configure your kayak to your own specialist needs for sports fishing, diving and distance touring. All Cobra Fishing and Touring Kayaks can be fitted with a motor bracket for an electric trolling motor. Plus, with the largest hatches on the market, there is still plenty of room

Experience the thrill and ease of Cobra Fishing & Touring Kayaks. Fish in spots you can’t get to by boat, enjoy built-in exercise and get close to the action on the water. All this with an easy to transport Cobra Kayak for a fraction of the cost and hassle of a boat!

for rod holders, scuba gear, battery, tackle box, bait tank, and much more. Cobra Kayaks all feature polyethylene hulls for super tough performance with a LIFETIME guarantee to prove it. The self draining reinforced scuppers throughout give unparalleled hull rigidity and a drier ride.

MARAUDER Length Width Weight Capacity

4.3 m m 780 mm 24 kg 216 kg

Call us now or visit our website for our dealer locations and ﬁnd out how to make your dreams a reality on the water this summer.

PRO FISHERMAN Length Width Weight Capacity

4.1 m 730 mm 24 kg 205 kg

TOURER Length Width Weight Capacity

4.6 m 711 mm 23 kg 216 kg

FISH N’ DIVE V VE Length Width Weight Capacity

3.8 m m 914 mm 28 kg 272 kg

Free call 0508 AQUATX or visit www.aquatx.co.nz