Issue 74

Issue 74

The Speight’s Coast to Coast has a new Race Director

Kayaks or Lures: Discover the Chatham Islands

Kayak Fishing Choosing the right tackle Proudly supported by:

Paddling the Beautiful Adriatic

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Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 3

Contents

Sea Kayaking Discover the Chatham Islands Whitianga Wander An Aquatic Adventure on the Adriatic D’Urville Day Trip (DDT) Pilgrimage to the Home of the World’s Best Boats Fishing Choosing the Right Tackle Team Canoe & Kayak Waikato Come Up Trumps White Water Spring time competition at the White Water Grand Prix

Health Wipe Those Weeds Off Your Kayak

38

24

Puzzles Soduku Quick Crossword Puzzle Solutions

37 37 46

16

First Aid Drama at Sea

31

Bush Craft Quick Emergency Shelters Paddlers, Pigs and PTA

40 28

Book Review New Zealand White Water 5

39

Kayaks & Product Starport HD Kayak listings

36 44

6 10 12 20

34

47

Multisport Speight’s Coast to Coast Has A New Race Director

32

Technical Trip Card - Tuakau to Port Waikato Trip Card - Whangarei Harbour

42 43

Editorial

Issue 74

We are not a religious family, but hold to many of the teachings from Sunday school. We encourage; good community attitudes, a caring nature in our kids, look after others and be kind and supportive to your friends, and strangers alike, taking more time during the day for thanking the kids for what they do rather than hassling them for what they don’t. But realistically busy parenting, bills to pay and the day to day stress of being a dad earning a living, tends to mean the latter is more common.

So it is a time for a change as recent events in our family have forced us to reflect on just how short life can be. I am going to try, while we all sit down at dinner, to follow the example of many of our good friends, and take the time to praise our family members more for the good things they have done and accomplished during the day and week and to be thankful for the amazing life we have.

On this note, I thought I should give you an insight as to what our staff and volunteers do. How their efforts impact on you and give them a big thank you for the sterling effort they put into the kayaking community.

The Yakity Yak Kayak Club volunteer leaders spend a huge amount of time and effort training to gain their leaders qualifications and they have lead thousands of club trips throughout New Zealand and beyond so members can be more adventurous and safer while enjoying great company. Over 11000 past and current members are a huge tribute to this amazing group of volunteers.

The crew in the Canoe & Kayak stores are dedicated to passing onto customers the virtues of getting involved with kayaking, including training courses and the activities of the Yakity Yak Kayak

Club. They share their personal experiences and, in this way have improved the safety and enjoyment of tens of thousands of kayakers. They also need to sell gear as this is the income earner for the stores, however they always suggest the correct equipment to suit you and what you want to use it for. You can rest assured their advice will come from personal experience and knowledge and you will almost certainly see them on the water when you are enjoying your new gear.

A huge thank you from us all for all the efforts of staff and volunteers and you the customers. You have all been a large part of building Canoe & Kayak and the Yakity Yak Kayak Club and in turn have had a large input into what kayaking in New Zealand is today, a safe enjoyable sport appreciated by thousands of Kiwis.

Cheers Peter Townend This spring edition is dedicated to Briannah Townend our loving daughter 1994 to 2014. How fast 20 years flew by.

Copyright: The opinions expressed by contributors and the information stated in advertisements/articles are not necessarily agreed to by the editors or publisher of New Zealand Kayak Magazine.

Pricing: At the time of printing the prices in this magazine were accurate. However they may change at any time.

CONTRIBUTORS: We welcome contributors’ articles and photos.

EDITOR: Peter Townend Ph: 0274 529 255 Email: pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz PUBLISHER: New Zealand Kayak Magazine is published four times per year by Canoe & Kayak Ltd. PRINTING: MHP Print DISTRIBUTION: MagMag SUBSCRIPTIONS: (see page 46) New Zealand – 4 Issues = $25 Overseas – 4 Issues = $40

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Refer to www.canoeandkayak.co.nz/guide New Zealand Kayak Magazine ‘Contributors Guidelines’ for more details.

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS TO: James Fitness Email: james@canoeandkayak.co.nz New Zealand Kayak Magazine Front page: Richard Ussher competing in the Speight’s Coast to Coast Photo by : Jeremy Cronin Contents page: - Exploring caves on the west side of Sipan, Croatia Photo by: Leanne Mercer Issue 74

Spring 2014

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Discover the Chatham Islands ‘We don’t call them kayaks here….we call them lures!!’

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Issue 74

Spring 2014

By Paul Gurney

www.kayaknz.co.nz

‘We don’t call them kayaks here….we call them lures!!’

View of Point Weeding Beach and McClatchie Reef.

That was the matter of fact comment I got when our small fleet of kayaks were spotted being taken out of the shipping container and into our new home on the Chatham Islands.

Stories of great whites and seven gillers, huge sting rays and orcas.

Nibbled paua and cray divers and cautionary tales ending with the standard ‘you’re mad’ comment hasn’t put us off…too much. A great white was spotted near our destination several weeks ago. Hmmmm.

In our time here, we haven’t seen too many people kayaking round the place or even kayaks but there are a few lurking in local sheds and school.

We haven’t seen any great whites either. They are there though the cray and paua divers assure me and the odd sighting is reported.

You have to make the most of good weather when it arrives. Wind speed and direction, swell, tides and general weather dictate which beaches and bays to go to. One learns to read a weather map here as the TV weathermen and woman have forgotten we exist out here.

So, when I spied a great sunrise and calm sea from our living room one morning, it was the right time to drop tools and get on the water.

Launching from Waitangi Beach we started paddling through the local fishing fleet. Cray and cod boats, their masters having a day off at this time of year with the crayfish being out of season, lay idling on the calm sea.

The historic Waitangi wharf, a popular fishing spot, was viewed from underneath for a change. Remnants of my own and others fishing lines hung down from above, several of mine still wrapped around the piles after battles with moki and sharks.

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Spring 2014

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Enjoying the view back towards Waitangi wharf.

A 7 year old boy caught a 9.62 kg blue moki here several days ago.

Hence we brought the spear gun on this trip.

Tikitiki hill and the orange cliffs that lead out to Point Weeding were lit up with the sun. The layers of volcanic tuff that were formed in under water volcanic activity thousands of years ago, are a great geology lesson for the kids as we move by.

A lot of the island is of volcanic makeup with schist, limestone outcrops and sand dunes in between.

A short scramble up the hill above the beach to the Point Weeding light revealed a magic view over Petre Bay and views to the rest of the island.

We travelled through a Mars-like landscape with weather worn orange volcanic soil leading down to spectacular cliffs and a blowhole which was working well with the swell.

I can imagine the wind whistling through here in a descent south wester and with the rocks being very clean high up, the wave action obviously gets large at times. A view to the south west coast wetted the appetite for a future kayak trip all the way round the point.

The weather report promised a 2-3 metre south west swell and as we got to Point Webb and got a view of our destination, the swell could be seen coming over McClatchie reef. We were nicely protected though and had an easy run onto the beach.

This is a sheltered bay in this weather with no sign of human interference apart from a sheep on the cliff above and a marine reserve marker post.

The kids were soon out exploring the rock pools and a cave at the eastern end of the beach, whilst Rachel and I donned wetsuits for a snorkel and spearfish out towards McClatchie reef.

The fishing can be ‘quite good’ out here. I’m only just getting into this spearfishing caper. A short swim off the beach revealed blue cod, blue moki, yellow banded wrasse, spotties, kina and paua plus various other species. Plenty of crevices for crays to hide in but we left them alone on this trip. A nice large moki was selected for dinner.

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Spring 2014

Walking on the beach. www.kayaknz.co.nz

Letting people know where your going and when you’re due back is a must as anywhere else. There is good VHF coverage though some of the high cliffs around the island can limit the reception. Someone is usually listening in, with most houses on the island having a radio.

I’ve found the Chatham’s pure gold for sea and lake kayaking.

Trips abound and many stories could be written. The weather and sea state control everything though. Living here certainly makes it easier to wait for that low wind and swell and decent sun.

Getting ready on Waitangi beach.

This is an easy trip in the right weather and is not far from town. The weather has to be right though and one requires permission from the farmer to access the land. The majority of the Chatham’s are in private ownership.

We are lucky that we have our own kayaks here. There are no hire shops. You need to take extra precautions with safety as there’s no cell-phone coverage and no quick helicopter rescue if you set off that PLB. A PLB will be picked up though by the Rescue Coordination Centre, the island policeman being notified and local fisherman being sent to effect rescue.

Paddling through the cray and cod fleet towards Waitangi wharf.

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Issue 74

Spring 2014

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Whitianga Wander

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Issue 74

Spring 2014

By Ali Ryan

www.kayaknz.co.nz

A gathering of cars with kayaks strapped to roofracks in a motorcamp is always a sign of a great weekend ahead.

on a mangrove island. Not quite the pub grub we’d looked forward to but a meal with a view and good company none the less.

The lure of finding a pub up a creek and doing a bit of rock gardening tempted a good-sized group of us to meet up at the Harbourside Holiday Park in Whitianga on a Friday in the middle of winter. Unfortunately our intrepid leader Ruth was unable to join us due to injury, but duties were ably taken on by Renee and after much group discussion, perusal of charts, studies of swell maps and weather forecasts a plan was hatched for the following day.

Back at the motorcamp we studied charts and GPS’s to see where we’d gone wrong and blamed the mangroves for tricking us into paddling up the wrong creeks. A very convivial evening followed with an excellent dinner at Al Camino restaurant and then a visit to Smitty’s Sports Bar to watch the game. For some of us, the rugby failed to inspire but the lure of a band playing at the Whitianga Hotel sounded good, so off we went to dance the night away.

We gathered at the boat ramp near the marina on Saturday morning, loaded up our boats and headed off up the estuary in search of the Coroglen Pub where a cold beer and hot pie awaited us. Greg knew where he was going, so we followed him. It was a nice paddle past the boats moored up.

The hills in the distance came in and out of view as the clouds and rain showers passed by, and the mangroves stretched out towards us.

Sunday dawned clear and without a breath of wind. A one-in-a-million day spread out before us, so we paddled out of the harbour and into the bay, following the cliffs and beaches around to Cathedral Cove where we stopped for lunch. Out in the bay a sea-mist slowly lifted, and for most of the trip we were the only craft on the water. Conditions were perfect for rock-gardening and exploring right inside the sea caves. We were provided with a touch of drama as the day’s only swell caught Linda as she tried to slip between a couple of large rocks. With nerves of steel she backed out of the gap while the rest of us shouted encouragement and bit our nails.

Unperturbed she carried on and successfully rock-gardened the rest of the day away.

After a while we found the creek we were looking for and followed it down to a road bridge. Unfortunately it wasn’t the exact creek or road bridge we were looking for. Another check of the chart and back down the creek we paddled. Returning to the estuary Renee decided to check out one clump of mangroves for the right creek, while the rest of us went the other way. Being a trip with a high leader ratio several of them decided they had figured out where to go so at points along the way one or two would peel off in search of the elusive Coroglen Pub. We knew it existed.

We’d seen it on the drive here!

It remains the Holy Grail of Paddle To The Pub’s. We shall return to be victorious another weekend!

Once the tide turned we decided to return to base, lunching on a beach

Conditions being so perfect, after lunch it was decided that we should explore the offshore islands. Rock falls have closed up a cave Chris remembered but there was an arch to paddle through which provided some great photos. Paddling back to the harbour was like gliding over melted butter and we seemed to get back to the boat ramp far too quickly.

Greg redeemed himself by recommending a great cafe in Tairua for coffee and cake before we said our goodbyes and left behind a weekend of magic kayaking and awesome memories.

NEW AGENCIES & EXISTING TERRITORIES AVAILABLE THROUGH OUT NEW ZEALAND Call Pete Townend pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz or phone 0274 529255

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Issue 74

Spring 2014

P A G E 11

An Aquatic Adventure on the Adriatic

By Leanne Mercer

My fiancé Matthew and I recently spent four months travelling around the world and one of the highlights was a kayaking trip off the coast of Dubrovnik in southern Croatia, during October 2013.

After a couple of days exploring the gorgeous Old Town of Dubrovnik we met with the team from Adriatic Kayak Tours (www.adriatickayaktours. com) to hire two single kayaks and all the paddling gear we needed. As well as renting kayaks to experienced paddlers, they also do 1-14 day guided tours, and have a wide range of top quality boats and gear. Together we plotted out a three day route through the Elaphiti Islands, booked our accommodation and discussed good places to eat. There are thirteen islands in the archipelago but only three are inhabited and camping opportunities are limited, so it was great to get the locals’ advice.

Adriatic Sea is so salty that it was instant! With the high buoyancy levels we bobbed around in the shallow bay at Sunj and joined in with some kids tossing a ball around.

Lopud island is shaped like an H, with Sunj beach on the south side of the horizontal bar and Lopud town on the north side. It takes about 20 minutes to hike from one side to the other. After the cruisey start to the

On our first day, we put-in at Zaton, a bay just north of Dubrovnik, and paddled around Kolocep Island to Lopud Island. It was an easy couple of hours and we enjoyed the views of the rugged pine forests, olive groves and stone houses on Kolocep. We reached the southern end of Lopud and stopped for a picnic lunch, a drink from the tiki bar and swim in the sandy bay of Sunj.

It normally takes a few days of salt, sand and sunscreen for me to develop a good crop of ‘beach hair’ but the PAGE 12

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trip we thought it would be a quick paddle up the west coast and into Lopud’s main bay at the opposite end of the island... yeah right! The Nor’wester had really picked up and it was hard work! At one stage I was just paddling on the spot like a kayak-treadmill and when Matt stopped to wait for me he would come shooting backwards.

We finally got into Lopud harbour and as we beached I thought I was hallucinating: Matt looked like the Abominable Snowman with his holiday-beard and eyebrows completely encrusted in sea salt. Our hands were pretty sore, slowly ground raw with each paddlestroke as the splashes evaporated quickly in the hot sun, leaving only the salt on our hands and paddle.

Having used up all the fuel in the tank, we walked down the waterfront in search of the famous Lopud bakery. It was a calorific oasis at the end of our saltwater-desert crossing. We devoured everything with our eyes and eventually settled on a few things to take back to our guesthouse. Five steps and three bites later Matt’s pizza bread was gone and mine didn’t last much longer!

Lopud is a peaceful fishing village with a few hundred inhabitants. Its Franciscan monastery dates back to the 15th century and sits stoically amongst crumbling limestone cliffs and towering palm trees – a beacon to those entering the bay. The village has a number of guesthouses and seafood restaurants catering to the overnight tourists, however, most visitors come and go on day-cruises from Dubrovnik. It was quiet in midOctober, the end of the summer season, but still warm enough to dine al-fresco and watch the sun dip behind the hillside as the lights of the moored yachts sparkled across the bay.

The wind dropped overnight and we had a pleasant second day cruising over to Sipan Island and up the west coast to Sipanska Luka (the port/town) on the northwestern side of that island. There were a number of caves to check-out along the way and we saw some schools of small fish jumping. The Adriatic water is an amazing turquoise blue and we had great views of the kina and starfish in the rockpools below.

It got a bit choppy towards the end of the day when we passed through the channel between Sipan and Otok Jakljan islands. Turning into the bay towards Luka we were broaching a bit due to the strong following seas, but we caught some great surfing waves too.

Sipanska Luka is slightly bigger than Lopud and a little more developed. A mistake with our guesthouse booking meant we were put up in the fancy hotel that dominates the waterfront. We felt slightly out of place in the hotel lobby, dripping in our salt-encrusted paddling gear, amongst the well-dressed yacht owners starting their après-sail. A hot shower soon fixed that and we strolled down the bay to check out the half a dozen different restaurants. The locals gathered on small stools outside their homes or shops and drinks were served on make-shifts tables as everyone soaked up the last of the day’s rays.

On our third and final day we paddled north to the www.kayaknz.co.nz

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top of Sipan and crossed over some rough seas to the Croatian mainland. With strong winds it took almost two hours to cross and I was busting for a wee stop by the time we reached the mainland. The beaches in southern Dalmatia are few and far between, so we had to scramble out onto some rocks at the bottom of a cliff to achieve some (rather exposed) relief. Luckily no yachts were going past at the time!

We had a long but pleasant paddle down the coast of the mainland to get back to Zaton bay.

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The landscape in this area is dramatically dry, almost barren. Pines and cypress trees cling to the cliffs and olive groves and vineyards have been terraced into the hillsides wherever possible. There were some gorgeous, mostly empty, holiday homes tucked into the bays along the way, hidden from the main road winding high above. Even in October, the sun was harsh and we wore our paddle jackets for sun protection more than anything else. The packet of lollies strapped to my deck was also starting to look a little worse for wear.

We stopped for lunch and a swim at a nice beach halfway along the coast. I threw on the snorkel & mask and was surprised at the variety of fish. During our lunch stop Matt sent a text message to the kayak rental company and unfortunately set a very ambitious pick up time!

That afternoon, after around seven hours of paddling, we hit the wall. Our muscles ached and we were low on energy. But we were a team and we supported each other to dig-in and finish the adventure together. We were determined to make it on time, so with much encouragement, humour, and melted sticky lollies we paddled on and crossed the finish line, physically exhausted, but with a fantastic sense of achievement.

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Choosing the Right Tackle

By Jason Walker

Fishing from a kayak is still fishing. Most of the tackle and techniques used with fishing from other vessels are transferable to the kayak but there are some things to keep in mind when you choose a kayak as your preferred fishing platform, which will influence your choice of tackle and this

The Basics These are the basics of any fishing set up and it doesn’t make any difference what type of fish you are fishing for or the technique you use; these are the two items of tackle that you will need.

is what I will look at in this article.

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Rods There are two types - overhead and spin - the type you require will be dictated directly by the reel you choose to use. Pick an overhead rod for an overhead reel, and a spin rod for a spinning reel. Overhead reels sit above the rod and the spinning reels sit below the rod.

Length and weight also need to be considered when purchasing a rod. The length of rod on a kayak can work for and against you, a short rod under five foot can leave you with very little opportunity to play a fish as most shorter rods tend to be stiffer thus transferring the fight from the fish into your arms. That energy absorbed in a longer rod now has to be absorbed by you as you work the fish and overworked arms can leave you fatigued as you paddle back to the beach. A short rod can also lead you with instability issues as the shock absorption of a longer rod has now gone and with each hard pull or quick turn you can become very unstable especially if you are working the fish at a ninety degree angle to the kayak.

Rods between five and seven foot (1.5 - 2.1 m) are the more commonly used. These enable you to take advantage of the flex of the rod to fight the fish for you and work the fish in a larger arc so the fish is not so close to the kayak. Most of the time a seven foot rod will allow you to change

the side of the kayak you are fighting the fish on. You have the length to be able to bring the line around the bow to the other side of the kayak. This simply wouldn’t be possible with a shorter rod.

I wouldn’t recommend going longer than a seven foot rod on a kayak as you run the very high risk of what’s called “high sticking”. This is where you are fighting a fish with the rod near vertical and the fish right under the rod butt. The rod butt, or bottom section of a fishing rod can handle tremendous amounts of force but the tip section cannot and will simply snap possibly losing you the fish at the same time. To avoid high sticking move the rod butt away from the fish as you bring the fish close to the kayak. If I am playing the fish on the right side of my kayak and my rod is in my right hand, as the fish nears the surface for landing I will pass the rod to my left hand and put the rod butt out the left whilst my right hand grabs the fish or the leader, this way

your rod will be at a shallow angle thus putting no force on the tip of your rod.

The majority of the time you will be holding the rod while kayaking, therefore weight of rod must

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be considered. Kayak fishermen tend to be very active fishers. It’s not about baiting up a ledger rig, dropping it over the side, and dropping the rod in the rod holder while you go make yourself a drink. You can ledger fish from a kayak, but when you are so mobile and stealthy why would you? You want to paddle around looking for the likely fish holding spots and flick a few baits around trying to find the fish. Therefore you’ll end up holding that rod all day long, so look for a lighter rod. Again you will need to save your arm strength for paddling back to the beach or playing the fish.

Reels There are principally two types of reel, the overhead and the spinning reels. These two reels will allow you to carry out most fishing techniques bar the odd one or two, like fly fishing, which uses a different type of reel.

The choice of reel will be mostly influenced by the fishing technique you wish to use. Most techniques will favour one reel type or the other, although there are some that support both reel types such as jigging.

Factors to consider when purchasing your reel for kayak fishing are: weight; drag; body material; and serviceability.

Weight Again, the amount your reel weighs relates directly to how long you will be able to hold it without tiring your arms. This is especially important when soft baiting where you are spending a large amount of the time casting and retrieving the soft bait.

Drag Consider the proximity to the water when kayak fishing. The reel WILL get wet and if your reel gets wet then so will the drag system on the reel.

A wet drag is not a good drag. When buying a reel look for one that has

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a waterproof drag. These reels have been built with a system of seals to keep out any water that is splashed on the reel out of the drag system.

Just be aware that waterproof does not always mean that no water will get into the drag. In extreme conditions, such as your reel being smashed by the surf there may be some ingress, therefore servicing the reel on a regular basis is required.

Material We all know that salt water and metals do not mix.

The reel on your kayak will be exposed to lots of salt water over its life and to keep your reel in tip top condition you need to be sure to give your reel a thorough wash down and clean after each use, otherwise the oxidation will soon start to creep in. There are a few manufacturers with

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reels that have been made of non-metallic materials. This eliminates the threat of any oxidation to our reels, and these reels are normally much lighter than many of their metal based competitors too. Of course this comes at a cost, so expect to spend a few more dollars.

Serviceability You will soon find that kayak fishing will take its toll on all of your gear with the continued exposure to saltwater so it all needs to be easy to service.

When you get home, a quick wash down with fresh water of your landing net, gear and reels is all that’s required generally.

boat because it was much more well protected from the environment and this is especially true with reels.

I have found that my reels would last me several seasons on a boat but they now only last one or two at the most in a kayak, so take this into consideration when buying reels. Your investment may need to be made again in the not too distant future. The key to reel life is servicing, don’t do it at your peril. When I started, I was using my six month old boat reel that I had used previously for soft baiting, I continued to service it just as often (never) and the reel only lasted a further six weeks before is literally fell apart. The oxidation had eaten through the whole frame of the reel and it finally broke into several parts in my hands.

However there is a lot more going on inside a reel than on the outside.

All the bearings and gears will very quickly deteriorate if the reel is not serviced on a regular basis. So the question to consider is can you service the reel easily? The basic rule of thumb is; the more expensive the reel, the more technical the reel will be. A cheap reel might have a just a few bearings whereas an expensive reel will have several, i.e. more to go wrong if not correctly looked after.

You have two options: DIY or pay someone to do it. Either way is fine and I do both myself. The key is to do it on a regular basis or your thousand dollar reel won’t last long. Ideally your reels should be serviced every four trips, so this may influence whether you service your own or to have it done professionally.

Reel Life As I have said throughout this article your gear gets a hard life on a kayak and even with a good cleaning and servicing regime I have found the life of all my gear is not as long as it was when I was fishing from a

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PAGE 19

D’Urville Day Trip (DDT)

by Nathan Fa’avae PAGE 20

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For many sea kayakers D’Urville Island (Rangitoto Ki Te Tonga) ranks highly on one of their lists, either as a trip to do, a favourite trip or a trip with many a wild tale. Protruding off the Marlborough Sounds to the north the island is in many ways the headstone of Tasman Bay. It is far enough out of the bay to make it exposed plus it’s the point where the compression of north west weather systems squeeze into the Cook Strait. The only places I have been truly forced ashore while kayaking is the South Cape of Stewart Island and the West Coast of D’Urville Island.

Like all places though, storms pass replaced with tranquility, I did a five day trip with my wife and three children (aged 5, 7 and 9 at the time) around D’Urville Island.

Mostly I associate paddling trips on the island with idyllic campsites, driftwood campfires, abundant fishery, relished isolation and no annoying insects.

the conditions didn’t look like they’d produce anything a surfski would revel in.

It’s about a two hour drive from Nelson so we headed in the previous night to allow a relaxed start. The slack water at the much respected French Pass was estimated at 8 am so we figured that was a sensible time to cross. The current in the pass flows at 15 km/h at full flow, which combined with whirlpools and overfalls make it impossible to paddle through. There are two major vortices that form up after the pass as the tide increases that quite frankly are frightening, even at slack water we were spun about, enough to make Sophie raise her eyebrows a little. The forecast was for a light 10 knot northerly to build late in the afternoon. We decided to paddle clockwise hoping to catch a tail wind for the final 20 km down the eastern side.

D’Urville Islands west coast is a powerful and magnificent coastline. It’s easy to feel very small as you paddle beneath sea cliffs rising hundreds of

One thing I have always wanted to do was paddle the island in a day. The shortest route around is about 80 km but because the island is deserving, we’ve always tried to spend as much time there as can be afforded. The day trip idea though appealed a lot to my adventure racing team mate, Sophie Hart, so we decided to make it happen, a solid paddle training day. Nicknamed the DDT (nothing to do with the nasty pesticide) we eyed up the weather forecast and found a day that suited, April 1st, foolish enough idea?

We discussed paddling ocean surfskis but opted for sea kayaks. We felt they would be more comfortable and

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metres out of the water. The rock walls clearly jammed full of all sorts of colour and goodness, it must be a geologists wonderland. From in the seat of a kayak, the passage ways, caves and tunnels add plenty of exploration to the circumnavigation.

Conditions were about as flat as they can get which provided Sophie and I plenty of opportunity to contour the shore. Knowing we had a big day we decided to have two stops but make them decent breaks to allow for recovery, essentially paddling three 25 km stretches.

The tidal movements around the Island have to be experienced to do them justice and we were again awed at the power of the ocean as we rounded Nile Head and again at Stephens Passage at the top of the Island. Relatively calm seas still built up standing waves a metre high as the outgoing tidal stream met lingering swell and other swirling currents, pretty exciting stuff, paddling hard to make eddies in a sea kayak.

The contrast between the West and East coast is rapid and alarming.

A Comfortable Entry Level Sea Kayak • • • • • • • • •

Two Large Storage Compartments Two Large Hatches Comfortable Foam Padded Seat Easy to use Rudder System Stable and Comfortable to Paddle New Zealand Made with Top Quality UV Stabilized Plastic Orange Fade - A Stunning, Safe Colour Two Year Warranty Exclusive to Canoe & Kayak

All this at an affordable price PAGE 22

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www.kayaknz.co.nz 20/01/2014 11:29:57 a.m.

It is literally like going from the West to the East coast of the South Island. In the space of a few minutes you go from paddling the wild west with jagged rock everywhere to the Marlborough Sounds, calm water, farm land, beaches (Don’t be lured like a cod though, the East Coast can cut up too).

We’d been paddling for six hours from Black Reef Bay when we landed at Garden Bay for a lunch a few hours rest, a swim, boil the MSR (which was blocked so we lit a fire), sandwich, coffee and to straighten the spine out.

Meet the world’s most affordable colour fishfinder. With an LED-backlit display, see fish and structure detail in full sunlight and from wide viewing angles.

Like all big days, the closing hours are the often most challenging and this trip was no different, but 12 hours after we departed we

quietly paddled into French Pass village, after a total of nine hours paddling time. In that time we’d seen only two other people, a couple of fisherman.

It was a highly satisfying feeling paddling the island in a day, the weather was very kind to us so we are thankful for that. We did take enough gear should we get stuck somewhere but the forecast held true allowing us a safe passage.

We’re now planning another challenging day trip; we’ve done a double Cook Strait crossing already so we’ll be getting the charts out and scheming something up.

Combined with award-winning Broadband Sounder™ and a Skimmer™ transducer with water-temp sensor, the new Lowrance Elite-3x will help make the most of your time on the water.

Visit lowrance.com to learn more.

www.kayaknz.co.nz

Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 23

Pilgrimage to the Home of the World’s Best Boats

by Peter Sommerhalder

Auckland, New Zealand, Home of the World's best Boats.

This is what I read on the label of my first Sea Bear kayak.

And from there on every kayak of the Sea Bear Family had this statement. Today, over thirty years later, Auckland, in the suburb of Kelston, is still the home of Ron and Nancy Augustin. And that is where we were going to have lunch at the end of March. A lunch with a difference.

It was the brainchild of John Hotham and Peter Sommerhalder, an idea born while paddling to the Riverhead pub in the Upper Harbour. “Why not?

Maybe Ron could bless all the Sea Bears turning up?” Next step was setting the date and organising a cruise from the Point Chevalier Sailing Club boat ramp, along Pollen Island, turning left into the Whau River at the Te Atatu Boating Club, and keeping going to Archibald Park, our destination on the right. We estimated it would take about 1 ¾ hours to get there. We sent out trip details and hoped for the best.

The Augustins were very enthusiastic when we warned them to expect guests for lunch. A fleet of over 30 kayaks rode the tide up the Whau River on a splendid Sunday morning and homed in on the park's boat ramp,a right next door to Augustin’s home. Ron made an extra effort to meet us on the high sea. Unfortunately we arrived just before he launched his Sea Bear, clad in his kayaking gear with lifejacket on. Within minutes the area near the boat ramp was covered in parked sea kayaks of all sizes and colours. Most were Sea Bears and related models from the Paddling Perfection factory; singles and doubles, made of fibreglass, kevlar, and many home-assembled ply kitsets. A good number were older models with a story to tell. Several plastic kayaks from various manufacturers had joined in also. The first to arrive was Colin Quilter in his still immaculate PAGE 24

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Spring 2014

ply kitset Sea Bear single, he built in 1985. It has Serial No. 3 and has travelled an estimated 25,000 km in 29 years, the biggest mileage by far of any kayaks present. Several Polar Bears in the fleet drew interest. One of them was paddled by Mark Jones with his 6-year-old daughter in the front hatch. Mark used this kayak as one of three New Zealanders paddling in Antarctica in 2001. Another paddler in today's group was Gemma Augustin, Ron and Nancy's granddaughter.

Nancy, acting as Ron's voice (he suffers from vocal cord problems), pointed out milestones of the Sea Bear history over the last 30 years.

What started Ron building canoes, after establishing a successful marine engineering business, known around the Pacific area for manufacturing propellers and customising car motors for use in boats? In 1971, his then 11-year-old daughter Jan asked her father to build a canoe she could carry around by herself. “Mini Ha Ha”, a 2.4 m (8 ft) play canoe was the result.

It proved a great success, and when Ron advertised it in the Woman's Weekly, he sold 300 sets of plans. The ad was aimed at families and worked. This led to the production of ply kitset river canoes, “Li'l Bear” and “Big Bear”, a double in 1976.

Ron eventually decided to design a sea going kayak, and the Sea Bear was born. He paddled the first prototype, held together by nylon fishing line and masking tape, from Waiheke Island to Rakino and back, with his launch along as escort. That was in April 1984, and the beginning of the production of a series of popular ply kitset canoes, singles and doubles.

The Sea Bears were amongst the first sea kayaks available in New Zealand made in fibreglass and kevlar. Eventually the Sea Bear Packhorse, with an extra storage hatch between the two cockpits, became a popular model for hire operators at Abel Tasman and right around New Zealand. When three adventurers planning to paddle in Antarctica approached Ron for www.kayaknz.co.nz

help. He designed the Polar Bear, a single kayak with extra storage compartments. It was the kayak used for the successful New Zealand Antarctica expedition in 2001. Sea Bears from the factory in Kelston found their way to customers in Australia, and even as far away as Japan and Scandinavia.

Following trips on the Whanganui River in the early seventies, both Ron and Nancy taught kayaking to girl guides, and led guided Sea Bear Tours, making sea kayaking available to their friends and the public. A highlight was a carefully planned crossing from Matheson Bay, near Leigh, to Port Fitzroy, on Great Barrier Island, on 27 December 1986. Another milestone in 1992 was a circumnavigation of Auckland, cleverly connecting the tidal flows in both harbours, the Waitemata and the Manukau. This involved two portages and the use of collapsible trolleys. Again Ron came up with his own design of trolley.

In appreciation of Ron Augustin's contribution to canoeing, Karel Kuper, now the owner of Paddling Perfection, handed over a framed certificate. Nancy's role, as the woman behind a successful designer and builder of the world's best boats, was honoured with flowers. We all shared some soup and fascinating tales while having lunch. Then it was time to ride the ebbing tide back to our get-out point at the Sailing Club in Point Chevalier.

While loading our kayak onto the car, a young mum with two children told me that she built two Sea Bears and still owns them. I was a bit sceptical at first. But she explained then that she built them at Avondale College some years ago, with Ron as their woodwork class instructor. This is another example of how the Augustins reached out and connected with schools, clubs and friends, teaching paddling skills, and sharing with them many amazing outdoor adventures.

Photos Top: Nancy and Ron Augustin with their certificate for contributions to canoeing Middle: Dropping in for lunch Left: Colin Quilter has paddled and sailed 25 000 km in his ply Sea Bear built in 1985 Opposite Page: The fleet on the Whau River Photos taken by John & Rosemary Jones and Peter Sommerhalder

www.kayaknz.co.nz

Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 25

Discover Another World.

We’ll show you how!

Find out more at yakityyak.co.nz, phone 0508 529256, email info@yakityyak.co.nz

Spring Enrolments Open Now.

Join Join the the Yakity Yakity Yak Kayak Kayak Club Club now, now, and and let let the the adventures adventures begin. begin.

Yakity Yakers at Lake Arapuni Photo by: Ruth E. Henderson

Proudly supported by:

Paddlers, Pigs and PTA

By Ruth E. Henderson

Kayakers, who also hike or bike – spread the word, not the disease!

In the beginning, out of nothingness Ranginui (the sky father) and Papatuanuku (the earth mother) were created.

They clung together, trapping their children in darkness, until Tane mahutu pushed his parents apart, bringing light to the land, letting his children flourish. So Maori legend tells us.

Now Tane Mahutu and his progeny are at risk.

Aged somewhere between 1200 and 2000 years old, standing 52m tall and measuring 4.6m across – how on earth is this magnificent kauri endangered? Having stood strong for so long, what deadly disease could kill such a specimen?

This disease is host specific, only attacking kauri, Agathis australis. It has no respect for venerable old age nor youthful vigour. Kauri dieback was first spotted on Great Barrier Island in 1972 but misdiagnosed, and then sick kauri were reported in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges in 2006. In 2008 the disease was identified as Phytophthora taxon Agathis or PTA. Commonly called ‘kauri dieback’ it’s a horrid disease, with no known cure, though a collaborative effort between six Government agencies and local government including MPI Bio Security NZ and DOC are doing their best to research control and treatment methods.

Before a kauri has visible die-back it will look a bit off colour, with sickly yellow leaves, followed by more than usual leaf fall, revealing a thinning canopy, and eventually dead branches. It is also possible to see lesions or wounds weeping gum on the tree trunks, sometimes girdling the tree at ground level.

The threat to our iconic forest giants is real. Up until this year kauri dieback infected trees were restricted to the Waitakere Ranges Regional PAGE 28

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Spring 2014

Park, on private land throughout the Auckland area, in forest plantations in Omahuta, Glenbervie and Russell in Northland, DOC reserves at Okura, Albany, Pakiri, Great Barrier, Trounson Kauri Park and Waipoua Forest in Northland, the home of our largest and most famous kauri Tane Mahutu.

Now it has spread to the Coromandel, in the Whangapoua Forest north of Whitianga. The tragedy is that it didn’t get there by itself, it is not windborne; it was not spread naturally. It was spread by ignorance.

Kauri dieback is a soil-borne disease with long-lived resistant microscopic spores that is spread by soil movement such as in the tread of your hiking boots, or on pig’s trotters and snouts. It can also be spread by short-lived spores that swim in the ground water, or it can spread from tree to tree underground via one tree’s roots coming into contact with another.

So unless, little Miss Piggy walked all the way from the Waitaks to the Coromandel – we humans must take the blame for this calamitous spread of kauri dieback disease.

www.kayaknz.co.nz

How can we protect healthy kauri and stop the spread?

•

If walking - clean your walking shoes or boots plus walking poles, before and after visiting the bush. If walking in an area that does not have a cleaning station, scrub footwear with soapy water or a mild bleach solution before you leave home, and on your return.

•

If cycling – clean your tyres, before and after visiting the bush

•

Keep your dog on a lead and away from kauri trees

•

Stay on tracks, boardwalks

•

If camping - clean your tent pegs, poles, & ground sheet

•

If tree planting on islands or sanctuaries – make sure your spade, gloves and shoes are clean

•

If gardening - don’t dump garden green waste into the bush

•

If farming – keep movement of stock and dogs away from kauri trees

•

Report any sighting of sick kauri to the Kauri Dieback Management Team on 0800 NZ KAURI (6952874).

•

Check out www.kauridieback.co.nz for further information.

Kayakers, who also hike or bike – spread the word, not the disease!

HELP! When disaster strikes who are you going to call when you are out of Cell Phone range?

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Your position is transmitted to the Rescue Co-ordination Centre within a few minutes and the search area is narrowed down to a few square metres.

Peace of mind for loved ones and so small it fits in a pocket!

Distributed by Bright Ideas ELB Ltd Ph: 0800 713 656 www.brightideas.co.nz

www.kayaknz.co.nz

Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 29

PFDs and Kayaking When choosing a PFD, you must consider what you will be using it for. The most important thing is that it only works if you wear it.

Things can go wrong quickly, and once you are in the water, it is very difficult to put it on. It needs to be fit for purpose, and it must fit properly.

Most people are naturally buoyant in the water and only need a few additional kg of buoyancy.

Some Common Types of PFDs Type 401 – open waters lifejacket - these are designed for rough or open water where rescue may be some time coming. They have the most buoyancy, are brightly coloured and are designed to turn most unconscious people face up in the water. These can be inflatable, or with semi-rigid foam flotation. They are generally used by ocean going vessels for use in an emergency when abandoning ship.

Type 402 – inshore waters lifejacket – designed for calm inland waters, where you are likely to be rescued quickly. They have a collar to support the head and they will turn some unconscious wearers face up but not all of them. This is the most common type for recreational use.

PFDs and Kayaking Inflatable lifejackets are becoming very popular as they are low profile and very comfortable. They may be manual or automatic. The manual type has a tab to inflate it, and automatic lifejackets inflate as soon as they are immersed in water. Both will also have a mouthpiece to manually inflate. It is the author’s opinion that these are not suitable for kayaking. An automatic PFD discourages rescue practice as you will need to purchase a new gas canister every time you practice.

They may also inflate unexpectedly if they get wet in rough water. With the manual type, in an emergency you may not remember to, or may be unable to easily inflate it. They must be serviced regularly and should be checked before each use to ensure the gas canister is full and the unit is serviceable. Without this, they may not work when you need them. When inflated, they are very bulky and it would be very difficult or impossible to re-enter your kayak.

PFD Sizing and Fitting Each PFD has a different design and shape, and different features.

Some will fit you better than others.

To try it on correctly

Type 403 – buoyancy aid or buoyancy vest - these are suitable for kayaking and some other sporting uses. They have no head support, are comfortable, and provide freedom of movement. They will not keep the head clear of the water if unconscious. Some have pockets. Bright colours and reflective tapes enable the wearer to be more visible on the water.

Type 406 - includes various specialist PFDs for rafting, jet boating, kayaking. They are labeled to indicate their intended use. Those for kayaking are similar to Type 403.

By Larraine Williams

•

Loosen all the straps, put it on and do up the zip.

•

Starting at the waist tighten all the straps, shoulder straps are last.

•

Next, pull up on the PFD shoulder straps. If it slides up past your ears, tighten the straps a little more. If it still slides up, it is too big.

Try a smaller size, or a different design.

Adults and Youths - it is body size that will determine which is the right size of PFD, not weight. It should fit snuggly, be comfortable, and enable the wearer to move freely.

Children – sizing for a child depends on his or her weight. Correct fit is also important to keep a child’s head above water. Do not get one that is too big thinking that the child will grow into it. If it is too big, when the child is in the water it will ride up and not provide sufficient support.

Infants and toddlers - should have all or most of the floatation in the front to turn the child onto their back, and a head support. A crotch strap will help keep the PFD from riding up and the child slipping out, and a grab handle will make it easier to pull the child out of the water. The child needs to be comfortable wearing it, and they should practice floating with it on to become familiar with it.

Type 401

Type 402

All PFDs sold by Canoe & Kayak have been manufactured to meet the required safety standards.

Sources www.clubmarine.co.nz/internet/clubmarine.nsf/docs/MG255+Water+Wise www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Recreational-Boating/Lifejackets/ Types-of-lifejacket-and-PFD.asp

Type 403 PAGE 30

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Type 406 Spring 2014

Inflatable www.kayaknz.co.nz

Drama at Sea

First Aid

By Paul Hemsley

On Sunday, June 15, four of us (Paul, Andrea, Linda & Cheryl) planned to launch at Army Bay and circumnavigate Tiritiri Matangi. But things didn’t quite go to plan. A very high tide and rough water made launching tricky, complicated by simultaneously trying to rescue a fishing kayak that was going off on its own, and my kayak clipped me just below the knee.

The general rule is ‘never get between the boat and the beach’ as even a small wave can drive the kayak into you and cause an injury, but be aware that in certain sea conditions it can be just as risky on the seaward side of a kayak!

The injury was not initially considered too bad so I decided to continue with the trip. I didn’t realise the injury involved damage to a major vein at the front of the leg, and by the time we reached Tiri, it was becoming very painful, a hematoma had developed, mainly because of the low dose aspirin I'm on; the leg ballooned.

Thankfully we were well equipped to deal with the situation. We had welcome assistance from a paramedic who happened to be onsite, and it was his opinion that the injury was serious enough that a helicopter should be called. Sunday was an excellent day to be lifted off the island, with splendid views from the helicopter on the trip back to the city.

Later that day, while in hospital, the hematoma erupted; I needed surgery, and had a 10 day stay!

In this instance we benefited from being a close knit team who have paddled together for many years, and could "read" how each was feeling.

I would like to express my gratitude and heartfelt thanks to those who helped me with my emergency - my kayaking buddies, Andrea, Cheryl and Linda; the volunteer management team on Tiritiri Matangi; some excellent folk from 360 Discovery Cruises; and the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew.

Lessons learned -

Equipment found Helpful

•

Be aware of, but do not get distracted by, what is happening around you.

•

Pain relief medication

•

VHF radio to contact Coast Guard

•

If you have sustained an injury, be aware of the risks of leaving the beach.

•

Survival blanket

•

Recognise the longer term risks of letting down your paddle partners if you go on the water injured.

•

Warm clothing to change into whilst waiting for assistance both for the injured person and those assisting.

•

Don't be too proud to take third-party advice.

•

Sharp knife to cut leggings to allow injury to be examined

•

Always make sure that you are fully equipped.

•

Tow systems - used for towing me to the beach for assessment, and the empty kayak back to launch point.

•

Be sure that your paddle buddies are aware of any relevant medical issues - in this case the effect of low dose aspirin was underestimated.

•

Dry bags to elevate and support injured leg.

•

•

Have contact numbers for personal emergency contacts.

Breakable ice bags. If not available, sponges seeped in cold water.

•

Food intake is not advisable if surgery is a possibility in the near future.

•

Mobile phone to contact relatives &/or emergency services

www.kayaknz.co.nz

Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 31

Speight’s Coast to Coast Has A New Race Director Richard Ussher talks about his journey to the new role.

I first competed in 1999 in the 2-day event. I’d seen Steve Gurney race across the country on TV, and typical of a young guy, didn’t think he looked that quick.

So I promptly went to the local kayak shop in search of the sleekest, fastest looking craft they had. I had Speight’s Coast to Coast domination on my mind. Unfortunately I couldn’t even keep the widest slowest boat they had upright, and so began a long, painful learning experience on kayaking and the race itself.

The event certainly humbled me on many occasions – symptomatic of going off too fast, I usually blew up somewhere on the way up to Goat Pass which made the run out decidedly less fun and a lot

slower. I also saw first hand that Gurney was pretty quick. I never did beat him to Sumner, in his last race in 2004 he passed me for 2nd place 10 km from the finish – gutted!

The race certainly did deliver plenty of highlights too – after four previous attempts I finally managed to nail it, where in scorching hot conditions, I took my first win in 2005. For me this was the pinnacle of anything I’d achieved thus far as an athlete. Even the Olympic experience I felt was incomparable as I was only there to make up the numbers. At the Speight’s Coast to Coast I was in Gold medal contention. It was an all together different place to be mentally and it was certainly a touch longer than a 30 second mogul run!

If you participated in the Speight’s Coast to Coast this year, you’ll know it’s a long road, and half the battle is just getting there.

Now looking to next year...

Grade Two certification and brush up courses run through out the year.

Contact your nearest Canoe & Kayak Centre for details.

Will you be there in 2015?

1 4 P ACoast G E to3Coast 2 2014 I s v1.indd sue 7

Spring 2014

w w w . 15/08/2014 k a y a k n8:46:12 z . c oa.m. .nz

It was also the start of a great rivalry with Gordon Walker. I had the wood on Gordy for the first two years but then he gave me a right canning at some other events and in 2007 he blew me out of the water for his first win.

This was the catalyst I needed to take things to the next level, and in 2008 I got my revenge at the Coast with probably the single best performance of my career, to win by almost 20 minutes.

When I returned to the event after a bit of a dabble at Ironman, there had been a distinct changing of the guard, with the likes of Dougal Allen and Braden Currie tearing up the course. I racked up victories four and five before Braden started putting in the type of dominate performances I’d been used to having, resigning me to consecutive second places.

In mid-2013, the opportunity to take on the race directors role came somewhat out of the blue. I had the chance to sit down with the new owners and share some thoughts on the direction of the race. I really hadn’t given any role with the race much thought, I just thought there was a huge opportunity to enhance the event based on what I’d seen and experienced at other events around the world.

The Speight’s Coast to Coast has been a large part of my life over the past 15 years – it was the race that inspired me to take up endurance sport, was the event that launched my career which has subsequently taken me around the world, I’ve gained many new friends (a wife as well) and in general just exposed me to the best that life can be, and for that I will be forever grateful.

So the chance to be a part of this iconic event moving forward was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. It is a fantastic and passionate group of people involved and we all want to see the event be as great as it can be. An event that other Multi-sport races around the world will aspire too.

We have a lot of ideas and there have been a lot of great suggestions too, on what we should do and not do to the race.

We have made some big changes, such as the revised entry fees and the new finishing line.

New Brighton will be a big improvement for the ride through town, but most importantly it will future proof that section of the

event. We’ll have lots of other changes too, most of which will be far more subtle.

It’ll not only be around the race as I saw it, at the elite end of the field, but most of all we want to enhance the experience for the bulk of the field. For those who are challenging themselves in just as big a way, by committing to being on the start line, and not giving up while striving to reach the finish.

Already it has been quite a daunting task at times, but I’m as passionate about being on the organizational side of the race as I was when competing and trying to win it.

The new route for the final stage. www.kayaknz.co.nz

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Spring 2014

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Team Canoe & Kayak Waikato Come Up Trumps at the Orton Events Auckland Classic 2014

Written by Mitch Read and Arnie Mears from Team Canoe & Kayak Waikato Pictures by Jason Milne The team was on a high! We were all buzzing about this event in the Orton Events Kayak Fishing Series. This was on our turf... well Mitch's and Cris' anyway. Arnie and Dylan were travelling up from Hamilton. This was going to be the first time fishing as a complete team and we all wanted that one thing.. a comp winning fish.

Dylan and Arnie had the day off work on Friday and were eager to get to Auckland with the trailer loaded up with their Viking Reloads and two spaces left for and Cris and Mitch's Reloads.

We set off for Cris' house in Whangaparaoa which was going to be base camp for the duration of the comp. Arriving at around 12:30pm we had plenty of time to sort out gear and rig up the rods ready for an early morning fish.

For Mitch trying to work when you know, in a few hours, you will be at a briefing made for a really long day at work. After battling the Auckland traffic, he made it to the Brownzy just in time to catch up with the team mates and other teams before the briefing started. After safety, rules, fishing areas, and weather were discussed, we were heading back to Cris' to hatch a plan for the weekend’s mission.

With the weather forecasting 20-25 knots SW/SE, the plan was made to fish one of Cris' local spots. Plenty of snapper there, but would there be a comp winning fish? We woke the following morning to light winds and clear sky so after a quick dash to get all the last minute checks done we were off. We got to Army Bay and it became obvious that 90% of the guys in the comp had the same plan as us. Pulling up to the car park we could see at least 50 lights paddling off into the distance. A quick gear up, a bit of banter and we were off.

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Fishing wasn't easy, a few fish here and there but nothing of size, and not comp winning fish, so we split up to see if we could find that moocha that we needed. Dyls and Mitch headed out to a deeper reef, while Cris and Arnie stayed fishing a reef closer in. After a few long drifts we had a few fish in the Chill Pods. Dyls with a nice 50cm snapper from the reef and Mitch had one for dinner in the back of the Reload, but again fishing was slow. The hardest part is when you can see the snapper on the sounder but they just don’t want to play ball. Arnie had been trying to catch bait fish all morning but was only getting baby snapper. Suddenly a big school of baitfish came through on the sounder! In went the sabiki and he pulled up a jack mackerel so out it went under the balloon. A few minutes later his reel started going off, the balloon popped and it was all on. Arine put a call out on the VHF, he had just got a rat kingi around 60cm. There was plenty of sign around them so we all headed over to see if we could get in on the action. This was not to be, again looking at snapper on the sounder but they were just not eating anything we offered them. Again we split up and not long after Arnie had himself a nice kahawai in the chill-pod. Sweet! Things were looking up, maybe that moocha is around here somewhere?

Around 10.30am we started to see a whole lot of gannets flying around.

Sweet! This could be our chance to get into a work up. We paddled over to them, only to find they had moved a km away. Paddled again over to them, they moved another km away…. I don't know what’s more frustrating, watching snapper on the sounder not eating your offering, or arriving at a massive work up of gannets and watching them fly away! That's fishing I guess.

With a new plan needing to be hatched, the call was made to hit Wellington reef and try to pull something out the hat... Well, that was a great call!

www.kayaknz.co.nz

Paddling up to the reef, getting smashed by a good 1.5 metre swell, a quick looksee around and there was a nice gutter that Mitch cast his soft bait into and wham! It got smashed on the surface! Zzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!! Finally something of size! After some good run’s and a few tangles with the reef, up popped a nice snapper of 4kg. Stoked! In the pod and re-adjust the softbait, cast into the same gutter and bang! On to a nice trevally. By this time we had to get back to land to get to the weigh in. There was some good snapper weighed, biggest being 7.8kg.

They're chasing up the kahawai!”. In the pod Dylan’s fish went and Arnie cast his softbait in. He started winding as fast as he could then Bang!! He was on. After a good fight in the shallows and being taken into the rocks a few times he pulled up a really nice kahawai even bigger than the one he had landed the day before. Great, he still might have a chance at taking out the kahawai section. But this fish was not meant to be... because Arnie had lost his landing net on the last fishing trip he reached for the jig and the fish dropped the hook. Bugger..oh well off to weigh in we went.

Mitch's snapper was not even close to make the top 5 but his trevally was coming 1st and Arine’s kahawai was leading as well, so it was back home for some more planning. The call was made to fish Army Bay again since we knew there were fish there. Here's hoping they would be biting this time.

After some good banter between the boys and a good feed from the Bradley crew and it was prize giving time. To our surprise Mitch placed 1st with his trevally, Arnie placing 1st with his kahawai. We got ourselves a nice new Okuma rod and reel set each. Cris took out a spot prize with a heap of Viking Kayaks and Railblaza vouchers then Boom Dylan won the major spot prize a Viking Profish Reload! As Dylan and the rest of the team already paddle Viking Reloads he grabbed the alternative of a $1000 voucher for Viking Kayaks.

Day Two was not to be our day. The fish started biting early on and Chris and Arnie caught a couple pannies on the way out to the reef , and that was it, it turned out very very slow with only a few fish each. Dyls with a few nice table fish but we struggled along with everyone else. Looked like the southerly was doing its thing and making fishing hard. The call was made to head back to weigh in and see how the other teams had done. On the paddle back Dylan and Arnie had come across some good sign in the shallows so thought they would give it one more go. First cast and Dyl got hit, pulling in a small kahawai he yelled out “Arnie!!! There's kingies here!

www.kayaknz.co.nz

This was a wicked end to the weekend for Team Canoe & Kayak Waikato with some sweet prizes and good times with mates. This is what fishing is all about. See you at the next in the Orton Events series: The Cove To Cape 2014 Kayak Fishing Challenge.

You can follow Team Canoe & Kayak Waikato's journey through the competitions on Facebook by searching 'Team Canoe & Kayak Waikato'.

Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 35

New Product

StarPort HD, this StarPort goes where others won’t.

In 2010 RAILBLAZA released StarPort, RIBPort and RailMount 19-25, then in 2011 came SidePort and RailMount 32-41.

Over the following years many customers have wanted to use RAILBLAZA in place of their Scotty, RAM, Cannon or Fish-On. It’s now clear that RAILBLAZA were listening to these requests.

They have just announced the release of StarPort HD, a stylish, low profile, four screw base mount. This StarPort has the same footprint as the brands listed above, and allows users to install RAILBLAZA instead.

In addition it boasts the extra versatility of being track-mountable with tool-free adjustment.

“We’re very excited about this product, and are gearing up for big numbers based on the sheer volume of requests we’ve had. On top of that, the tool-free track-mount option gives it that RAILBLAZA versatility.” said Ross Pratt, RAILBLAZA’s CEO. StarPort HD was available in the Southern Hemisphere mid July, and will follow shortly to the rest of the world.

For more information, and a list of RAILBLAZA dealers go to www.railblaza.com, or see RAILBLAZA in use on youtube.com/railblaza.

Buy it online at canoeandkayak.co.nz/railblaza

Join Us For A Kayaking Adventure - Specialty Tours

Taupo Maori Carvings Half day guided trip to the rock carvings, Lake Taupo... only accessible by boat.

A leisurely paddle of about 3 km to the rock carvings. The largest is over 10 m high and from below in a kayak it is imposing.

$95 per person (bookings essential).

Phone 07 378 1003 for details.

PAGE 36

Issue 74

Waikato River Discovery Glow Waitara River Tours Worm Kayak Tour

2 hour guided kayak trip. Experience the magnificent upper reaches of the mighty Waikato River - Soak in the geothermal hot springs - Take in the stunning environment... a perfect trip for all the family...

Adult $49, Children $29 Special group and family rates.

Call 0800 KAYAKN for details.

Spring 2014

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 Road Bridge where we will stop for a snack .

Allow 2 hours paddle only.

Priced at $85.

Phone: 06 769 5506

Sugar Loaf Island From Ngamutu Beach harbour we head out on the open sea to Sugar Loaf Island Marine Reserve. View the scenic & rugged Taranaki coastline as we draw closer to the Islands.

Enjoy the seal colony and experience the thrill of close up views of these fascinating marine mammals.

Allow 3 hours subject to weather. $95.00 per person. Phone 06 769 5506

www.kayaknz.co.nz

Puzzles

Quick Crossword Test your knowledge of kayaking and kayaking safety.

Across

2

1

3

4 5 7

6 8 9

10

11 12 14

13 15

16

17 18 19 20

21

22 23

Down

24

25

Sudoku 5 5

6 8

3 9

9 8 7 4 4

1 2 8 7 6

5 9 2 8 1

2 6 5

1. A way of determining your position by taking into account such factors as currents, wind speed, and your projected course and speed.

4. A type of pressure wave that tends to deflect boats and swimmers from the rocks that generated it.

6. The line on the hull of a vessel to which the surface of perfectly calm water rises when the vessel is motionless.

10. A technique for landing a freefalling boat flat on its hull.

13. The curve on the bottom of the vessel along the center line from the bow to the stern.

15. The rails or side edges of a kayak, often marked by a seamline on fiberglass kayaks.

17. Used for self rescue.

18. A playboating maneuver where the kayaker allows the bow of his boat to be sucked into a hole, standing the kayak up on end, until the buoyancy of the boat sends it shooting back up in the air.

21. The rim of a kayak’s cockpit.

23. Model of composite kayak by Q Kayaks.

24. A point when the kayak is oriented to waves, currents or an obstacle.

25. The distance between the waterline and the lowest point of the deck of the vessel.

5 7 3

www.kayaknz.co.nz

2 8

5

The objective is to fill the 9×9 grid with digits so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 sub-grids that compose the grid contains all of the digits from 1 to 9. Solution on page 46

2. A type of paddle on which the top side of the blade is longer than the bottom side.

3. small craft propelled with one or more single-bladed paddle(s) while sitting or kneeling and facing the direction of travel.

5. Attempting to surf a wave or hole that another person is already using.

7. A receding current 8. The spot on the banks of a river or lake where you put in or take out.

9. Carrying a boat or its contents over land from one body of water to another.

11. The side of a paddle blade that is pushing against the water.

12. A technique that propels the boat continuously sideways towards the paddle.

14. Used to control a fish.

16. Maori New Year.

19. The term used to describe how well a boat keeps its direction under the influence of currents and winds.

20. A section of river that flows between two large obstructions, compressing the water and causing a swift current.

21. Clasp used for towing, in rescues and for general fastening.

22. The vehicle used for, or the practice of transporting paddlers or equipment by road to the opposite end of a paddling trip.

Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 37

Health

Wipe Those Weeds Off Your Kayak

As winter melts away and the sun begins to smile upon us more each day, our natural motivation to jump into our kayak should ripple out right? Well what if it doesn’t? For many of us, it takes more than wiping the cobwebs off our togs to get our kayaking mojo back!

Can you relate to these excuses?

1. I really want to, but I don’t have the time!

2. If I didn’t work so much, I’d have more time to kayak?

3. It’s too cold!

Are these the kind of excuses that circle in the roundabout of your mind?

Don’t worry you are not alone! Let’s ponder these excuses! The great thing about excuses is they are habits, and the best thing about habits is that you can change them.

Let’s get you out of your excuse lane and merge you into the “can do” kayakers lane. It’s time to overhaul your excuses.

1. I really want to, but I don’t have the time – The average person spends 5-24 hours a week watching TV, so “no time” is a sloppy excuse. Let’s do a trade in on that excuse. Put it in your calendar for a weekly kayak. If wind and rain blast out switch it up to a gym or yoga class.

2. If I didn’t work so much, I’d have time for a kayak?

Most of us feel we work too much, yet waste endless hours on the computer/Facebook, TV’s. Shift priorities. The ocean and lakes have endless “open hours”. Sunrise/sunset paddles are magical and that’s when the water is more calm too.

3. It’s too cold or wet!

It’s only cold for the first few minutes, bundle up and you’ll soon warm up. Don’t worry if it rains, your going to get wet anyway! Some of my best paddles have been in the rain, it’s simply beautiful!

Now that we have cut through those excuses, here is my motivation

PAGE 38

Issue 74

Spring 2014

toolbox for you. I’ve used these tools for many years myself and as a single parent of three children, it helped manoeuvre around those “roadblock” excuses and replace them with good solid exercise habits.

Have your kayak gear ready – Place your kayak gear in a easy to reach place, I like to keep it in a bin in the boot of my car. If you store it away in your garage or closet buried under mounds of “stuff” that will be one more excuse for not getting “out there” Make a kayak date with friends – Instead of meeting your friend for breakfast/lunch/dinner/wine, suggest you go kayaking together first, then reward yourselves with a nice healthy meal after. Planning it with another person or group makes you accountable to others, thus creating a higher “show up” success rate.

Prepare yourself for your excuses – Your excuses will come, you are human right? Simply be prepared with a comeback.

Excuse - > I’m too busy today” Reply - > “Taking care of my body is the most important thing I can do today, a great kayak will energize me and set me up for an amazing day” Excuse - > “I’m too tired, and not in the mood” Reply - > A kayak will boost my energy and enhance my mood” you know how amazing and alive you feel after right?

It’s a mind game really, list your excuses and prepare your replies.

Getting started is the key, putting one toe into your kayak gear is like getting into first gear and you are well on your way!

Remember life is a series of habits: transform your bad ones to good ones to make your life healthy, happy and joyful.

Dr Theresa Dobson I invite you to sign up for my weekly – “30 Second Healthy Habit” Blog at : www.drtheresadobson.com Theresa is a leading health expert helping people stay young, fit and vibrant.

www.kayaknz.co.nz

Book Review

New Zealand Whitewater 5 180 Great Kayaking Runs Author:

Graham Charles

Published:

2013

Publisher:

Graham Charles

Website:

www.grahamcharlesnz.com

Contents:

332 pp, maps, black & white photos, central colour plate section

Cover:

softcover

Size:

147 x 209 mm (A5)

Price:

$34.95

ISBN:

978 0 47326 094 1

Availability:

NZ bookstores

Review:

Paul Caffyn

number of runs had grown to 125 with the 4th edition published in 2006. Graham has self- published this brand new Whitewater 5 which uses the same easy to follow format, but the number of great kayaking runs has jumped to 180, and although an extra 36 pages, there is no difference in the size or weight of the book – which is ideal for chucking in a dry bag.

Graham has grouped white water lists into 11 chapters based on geographic regions, from Northern North Island to Fiordland. The biggest chapter is devoted to West Coast rivers, almost 90 pages, and Graham notes that this area ‘really deserves a guide book of its own.’ In the introduction to this chapter: ‘Big rivers/small rivers, steep creeks/steeper creeks, scenic wonderlands/ multiday trips, beginner trips, intensely difficult walk-in trips – you name it and the West Coast region has it.’

In both the 4th and 5th editions, cartoons by Bruce Dowrick add humour

Graham Charles is well known to Kiwi paddlers for the Adventure Philosophy team trips to the Antarctic Peninsula and around South Georgia, both of which have books in print. But like many Kiwi bi-paddlers, that is, they paddle both white water and the sea, Graham is a serious white water paddler.

Back in 1996 when Graham’s guide to running New Zealand rivers was first published as New Zealand Whitewater 100 Great Kayaking Runs, this white water guide filled a big ‘hole’ with serious and localized white water trips. Paddlers in the 90s were seeking more challenging white water trips than those listed in regional river guides published in the 70s.

Graham’s book format worked well, with a central colour plate section, plenty of black and white photos, good sketch maps, and a side bar summary which included class (grade), level, gradient, time, distance, maps and a hot tip of each of the 100 runs.

That same format was used for two revised editions, although the

to the serious and committing nature of the runs - almost worth buying the books for the cartoons. Quite topical with the recent release of an epic film, is a paddler dropping down a raging, flooded river, closely followed by a huge ark, with two giraffes peering over the bow. With the preponderance of pencil cams and Go Pro cameras with white water paddlers today, the cartoon on page 240 shows a paddler with 30+ cams, the cameraman on shore with the radio control pack, and the captions reads: ‘I’ll switch to sphinctercam as you hit the drop…’

Appendices include a glossary, a list of helicopter operators (essential for many of the south of Hokitika West Coast runs), runs both alphbetical and by class and lastly a reading list.

An excellent guide, with informative sketch maps, delineating individual rapids, and space for notes after paddling each run. My only gripe is with the quality of the paper – the black and white photos have not always reproduced well, often too dark and with a loss of sharpness. A satin finish paper may have impoved this.

Buy it online at canoeandkayak.co.nz/WW5

Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers N.Z. Inc. (KASK) Annual subscription is $35.00.

Kask PO Box 23, Runanga 7841, West Coast

www.kask.co.nz

www.kayaknz.co.nz

KASK is a network of sea kayakers throughout New Zealand

KASK publishes a bi-monthly newsletter containing trip reports, events, book reviews, technique/ equipment reviews and a ‘bugger’ file. KASK holds national sea kayaking forums.

Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 39

Bush Craft

Quick Emergency Shelters

Andy Blake reflects on the benefits of carrying a survival kit

If you find yourself unexpectedly needing a shelter for the night, this is my favourite. It is a combination of old and new designs. I like to carry a small waterproof nylon tent fly whenever I kayak but if you don’t have one open up your survival kit and grab the survival blanket.

Locate an area within the bush beside a large tree which shelters you from any wind. Ideally the ground will be slightly sloping away from the tree so you don’t wake up in a puddle!

1. Lean a stick, the same length as your blanket up against the tree so one end is on the ground and the other is no more than a metre high up the tree trunk, this forms the main ridgepole.

2. Place your survival blanket, silver side down, over this stick and secure the end away from the tree down to the ground. Flax makes great string.

The other end should be tied around the tree. The aim is to create a body sized nest - no need to build a mansion.

3. Lay sticks up against the central ridgepole from both sides to give the structure rigidity. This also allows you to cover the whole area with smaller branches, ferns and leaf litter which increases the shelter’s thermal capabilities and reduces the noise made from wind and rain.

2. Lay a basic framework out from the kayak, on the leeward side of the kayak,using sticks or your paddles and lay the survival blanket across the top, tie the corners down.

3. Now carefully cover the entire top of this shelter with small sticks and vegetation to add to its thermal qualities. Remember to block off one end.

Unfortunately this covering doesn’t help with your visibility for rescue, but it will keep you warmer.

4. As with the other shelter, line the inside with lots of insulating material to get you off the cold ground and remember to keep the shelter small.

Also always assume it is going to rain or be really cold.

If I only had a small amount of time or light, I always focus my energy into making a really luxurious shelter, then and only then would I look at getting a fire going. This is because a fire will quickly go out in heavy rain whereas a good shelter would protect you from the rain. Because of New Zealand’s changeable climate, it is common to have clear skies when you go to sleep and have rain during the night. In the middle of the night is not a great time to start making or improving your shelter.

If you do have time, construct your fireplace at a safe distance from your shelter and use a good reflector to send the heat your way. Heat up

4. Pile copious quantities of insulating material like fern or grasses inside to protect you from the cold ground - dry spagnum moss is luxurious to sleep on. Remember to keep the entrance small to conserve heat. Time now to carefully enter your shelter, get yourself into the foetal position and have a good night’s sleep!

If you are stuck on a rugged featureless coastline, then you can use your kayak, paddles and survival blanket to make up a beach lean to.

1. Simply position your kayak on its side somewhere sheltered WELL above the high tide mark – secure if necessary or pile up sand or stones.

PAGE 40

Issue 74

Spring 2014

www.kayaknz.co.nz

baseball sized rocks that can be used as “hot water bottles” that slowly release their heat for many hours - Be careful not to burn yourself. Collect twice the amount of firewood you think you may need for the night - see previous articles on "Fire".

Remember to always practice these good skills – you never know when you just may need them. Happy Survival.

adventure equipment

Adventure Touring Cag

Kurve Touring PFD

Make loading kayaks easy Easy quick mounting and dismounting boat roller.

No need for a heavy permanently mounted system that effects handling and fuel consumption.

2 mounting positions to fit most vehicles.

Just apply to clean glass or paintwork when needed.

Then use roller to roll kayak onto your vehicle.

Igneous Touring Boot

Strobe Ladies Cag

RFD New Zealand Limited 0800 777 009 Auckland Wellington Nelson Christchurch Filename: SURVITECpos_PMS.eps Colourway:

www.kayaknz.co.nz

&

100% Pantone PMS 158c

YAK qtr page 14-01 colour white background.indd 1

&

Phone your closest kayak retailer or for further information email Great Stuff Ltd Distributed by Great Stuff Ltd. www.greatstuffltd.co.nz or email greatstuffltd@xtra.co.nz

SeattleAD-Jan14

100% Process Black

Issue 74 4/02/2014 10:44:46 a.m.

Spring 2014

PAGE 41

Trip Card # 017 Tuakau to Port Waikato

"Port Waikato wharf" by Gadfium

Tuakau to Port Waikato Route card No. 017 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: 25 Km Start point: Finish point: Tidal times/ notes: Coastguard contact: Comms coverage:

Map no: BC31/ 32 Tidal Port:Port Taranaki

Tuakau Bridge Dairy just before Port Waikato township It is worth getting to the lower end about half tide so you get the benefit of the outgoing tide.

Auckland 09 303 1303 Raglan VHF Channel 81 Nowcasting Channel 22 VHF coverage is fair and cell phones only work in some areas.

Introduction: This paddle takes you to a part of the country few people see. The Waikato River is a haven for duck hunters and white baiters alike. Their mai mais are a sight to behold.

Description: A vehicle shuttle is required between Tuakau and the dairy just before Port Waikato township. It is only a 20 minute drive.

Leaving Tuakau Bridge an hour before high tide allows you to make the most of the outgoing tide when on the lower reaches of the river.

Paddle down following the river left shore line.

There is lots of wildlife to see and really fun mai mais to spot. Some you could live in.

As you approach Port Waikato, look out for the small beach before the prominantry. This is the get out point.

Hazards: This is a paddle that will be made more difficult by the predominant westerly winds.

River flow at river mouth Duck hunters during season Recreational Boat users

Accommodation: Port Waikato Holiday Park 115B Maunsell Road Port Waikato RD5 Tuakau New Zealand Phone: 09 232 9857 Fax: 09 232 9802 Freephone: 0800 276 259 www.portwaikatoholidaypark.co.nz Cabins

Car & Boat Parking

Camping

Toilets

Sites with power

Showers

Laundry

Internet Kiosk & wireless

Bird and wildlife watching

Fishing

Please note; Every care has been taken to ensure the information contained in this Trip Card is correct at the time of publication, but things change and you will need to confirm the information provided. You will also need to get further information to ensure a safe trip, this will include an up to date, relevant weather forecast and the ability to understand its implications for the area and talking to locals in the area to garner new information on any hazards in the area. It is also expected that an appropriate level of knowledge, skills and equipment are required to safely complete the trip. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are unsure of any information or you find the Trip Card needs updating. Cheers Peter Townend,Yakity Yak Kayak Club. Updated: August 2014

Trip Card # 018 Whangarei Harbour

Whangarei Harbour Route card No. 018 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: 15-30 Km Start/ Finish point: Tidal times/ notes: Coastguard contact: Comms coverage:

Chart no: NZ 521 Tidal Port: Whangarei

One Tree boat ramp This is a tidal region with many exposed mudflats at low tide.

Auckland 09 303 1303 mobile *500 Whangarei VHF Channel 83 Nowcasting Channel 21 VHF coverage is good and cell phones work in most areas.

Introduction: Whangarei Harbour has a host of paddles of varying lengths to suit all paddlers.

Description: A convenient base camp at Ruakaka with near by One Tree Boat ramp gives you the flexibility to paddle up towards Onerahi, across to Parua Bay or out towards the Whangarei Heads.

There is great fishing in this area with easy access to scallops and other shell fish.

There is so much to do, you don’t know where to start.

Stunning beaches although some are eposed to the ocean swell.

Hazards: Tidal flows Big surf outside the harbour Shipping Recreational Boat users

Accommodation: Ruakaka Motor Camp 21 Ruakaka Beach Rd, Ruakaka 0116 09-432 7590 www.motorcamp.co.nz

Cabins

Car & Boat Parking

Camping

Toilets

Sites with power

Showers

Laundry

Internet Kiosk & wireless

Bird and wildlife watching

Fishing

Please note; Every care has been taken to ensure the information contained in this Trip Card is correct at the time of publication, but things change and you will need to confirm the information provided. You will also need to get further information to ensure a safe trip, this will include an up to date, relevant weather forecast and the ability to understand its implications for the area and talking to locals in the area to garner new information on any hazards in the area. It is also expected that an appropriate level of knowledge, skills and equipment are required to safely complete the trip. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are unsure of any information or you find the Trip Card needs updating. Cheers Peter Townend,Yakity Yak Kayak Club. Updated: August 2014

Kayaks

White Water Price

4.50

620

26

$1699

Reval

5.50

540

24-26

$3495

Kiwi Excel Kiwi Lite Skua Skua Lite Shearwater Shearwater Lite Tasman Express Tasman Express Lite Tasman Express Elite Foveaux Express Southern Skua

3.75 3.75 5.20 5.20 480 480 5.30 5.30 5.30 5.00 5.40

740 740 600 600 610 610 620 620 600 600 600

23 18 27 24 26.5 23 29 25 22 19 22

$1660 $1970 $2890 $3140 $2650 $2900 $2890 $3140 $4590 $4460 $4590

Contour 450 Contour 480 Eco Bezhig

4.50 4.80 5.40

620 620 590

26 27 27

$2549 $2849 $3099

Manitou 13 Looksha 14 Eskia

3.90 4.30 4.90

630 625 635

20.5 26 27

$1299 $2199 $2499

Barracuda Beachcomber

4.90

600

17

$3100

Sea Kayaks Double Length (m)

Width (mm)

Weight (kg)

Price

Q-Kayaks

Southern Endeavour

5.60

800

46

$3750

Mission

Contour 490 Eco Niizh 545 COM

4.90 5.65

800 770

35 55

$3499 $4999

Necky

Amaruk

5.40

725

41.3

$3499

5.80

700

28

$4300

Barracuda Beachcomber Duo

Width (mm)

Weight (kg)

Price

Astro 58 Magnum 72 Magnum 80 Thunder 65 Thunder 76

1.93 2.41 2.54 2.34 2.44

650 660 254 650 660

15.5 18 67 18.5 29.5

$1725 $1595 $1595 $1895 $1895

Remix 59 Remix 69 Remix 79 Freeride 57 Freeride 67 Stomper 80 Stomper 90

2.57 2.64 2.72 1.98 2.06 2.49 2.57

640 650 670 650 660 650 680

19 20 21 14.5 15 21 22

$1999 $1999 $1999 $1999 $1999 $2049 $2049

2.60

610

16

$1160

Length (m)

Width (mm)

Weight (kg)

Starting Price

Twist 1

2.60

790

6

$1095

Twist 2

3.60

830

9

$1395

Helios 1

3.10

710

13.5

$1595

Helios 2

3.80

750

17

$1895

Sunny

3.80

800

16

$1895

Tasman K40

4.40

670

15

$3036

Pacific K50

5.35

670

20

$3680

Length (m)

Width (mm)

Weight (kg)

Starting Price

Hurricane (kevlar)

5.90

490

12

$3170

Maximus (kevlar)

6.40

510

16

$3890

Q-Kayaks Stealth

Inflatables

Incept

Necky Mission

Tahe

Length (m)

Riot

Weight (kg)

Gumotex

Matariki

Width (mm)

Q-Kayaks

Canoe & Kayak

Length (m)

Liquid Logic

Sea Kayaks Single

Multisport

Q- Kayaks

Great Advice / Great Brands / Great Service

Sit-on-Top Single

Point 65

Starting Price

Fire Fly

2.40

700

16

$535

Whizz

2.50

770

22

$750

Escapee

3.30

740

23

$775

Escapade

3.50

750

27

$975

Play

3.10

710

18

$549

Escape

3.20

790

17

$649

Explorer

3.40

790

18.20

$749

Navigator

3.80

790

22

$849

Length (m)

Cobra

Weight (kg)

Ocean Kayak

Width (mm)

Width (mm)

Weight (kg)

Starting Price $1699

Marauder

4.30

780

28

Fish n’ Dive

3.80

915

28

$899

Tourer

4.60

710

23

$1799

Prowler 13 inc seat

4.10

710

28

$1799

Tetra 12 Angler inc seat

3.70

710

24.5

$1499

Prowler Ultra 4.1 inc comfort seat

4.10

710

28.5

$2099

Prowler Ultra 4.3 inc zone seat

4.30

740

32.5

$2499

Prowler Ultra 4.7 inc zone seat

4.70

740

35

$2649

2.70

760

17

$499

2.95

750

19

$949

Glide 390 inc rudder

3.90

850

28

$1249

Xstream 420

4.20

730

28

$1349

Prowler Big Game II

3.90

865

32

$2499

Frenzy

2.75

790

19.5

$749

Line 280

2.80

730

18

$1299

Mysto inc seat

2.95

790

21

$849

Catch 290

2.95

750

19

$1049

3.90

850

28

$1649

Scrambler 11 inc seat

3.60

750

23

$1099

Catch 390 inc rudder Line 400

4.0

840

32

$1599

Tetra 12 inc seat

3.70

710

24

$1349

Catch 420 inc rudder

4.20

730

28

$2049

Pacer XS inc paddle

2.7

780

16

$599

Espri Angler inc delux seat & paddle

3.6

800

22

$1149

Profish 400 inc delux seat & paddle

4.1

780

24

$1699

Profish 440 inc delux seat & paddle

4.4

770

29

$1999

Profish 400 Diamond inc delux seat & paddle

4.1

780

25

$2999

Profish Reload inc delux seat & paddle

4.5

740

29

$2499

SoT Fish Pro

4.20

680

18

$3500

Length (m)

Width (mm)

Weight (kg)

Starting Price

Ozzie inc paddle

2.7

790

17

$699

Nemo inc paddle

3.2

790

20

$799

Espri inc paddle

3.4

790

18.2

$999

Tequila! Modular

3.0

750

21

$1299

4.20

680

18

$2800

Barracuda SoT Tourer

Mission

Squirt Flow

Viking Kayaks

Viking Kayaks

Ocean Kayak

Mission

Cobra

Q-Kayaks

Length (m)

Fishing Singles

Barracuda

Sit-on-Top Double

Q- Kayaks

Cobra Mission Ocean

Length (m)

Width (mm)

Weight (kg)

Starting Price

Escapade II

3.50

750

26

$900

Delta

4.00

830

32

$1295

Tandem

3.80

799

26

$799

Long Reach

4.40

910

36

$999

Surge

3.90

850

28

$1149

Malibu 2

3.65

870

27

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Issue 74

Spring 2014

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6 5 1 3 7 8 9 2 4

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Spring time competition at the Mike Dawson White Water Grand Prix

- Olympian Kayaker

By Josh Neilson

Interview by Josh Neilson

Not for the faint hearted!

After a long NZ summer of photo and film jobs it was that much loved time of year again. It was time to leave New Zealand again to follow the summer to the Northern hemisphere.

First stop on the trip was Canada and more specifically the thawing rivers of Northern Quebec. We often talk about chasing summer and living in the sun and warmth the whole year round, but this trip began far from that!

After about 40 hours of air travel I disembarked in Quebec and then set out on a further eight hour drive to the frozen area of Lac St Jean. After a much needed sleep and a few hours of catching up with friends competing in the White Water Grand Prix (WWGP), it was time to get to the river.

The event had been on for a week already and there were three stages left to go. My first day was a rest day for the athletes, so we went to check out the Mistassibi River. At the put in the huge icebergs floating past us, indicating that spring was still in the air. It was a bit of a shock to the system coming from a season on a warm and low water Kaituna River, dropping in to rapids in freezing temperatures and hundreds of times the flow. A swim in these rivers would mean lots of time underwater and a good chance of hypothermia!

With a new dry suit and neoprene gloves, we were set for the elements and had a great day on the river. After the initial shock the sun came out and we were on track for a great spring. The next stage of the WWGP was a big trick competition on a seldom surfed wave called Black Mass.

The opaque slab of golden brown water that formed the wave’s launching

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Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 47

pad shimmied ribs of water towards the crest of the nearly vertical wave, shooting riders into the air, but also causing them to flush and flip. The athletes were getting huge air and I was nice and warm on the bank helping shoot footage for the media team. Coming from NZ, where we don’t get world class freestyle waves, it was great to see how dynamic some of the paddlers were in amongst huge water.

Some and chose to sit it out. It says a lot; as these athletes were chosen for this event for being the best paddlers in the world.

It’s good to see that there is no pressure to compete in conditions outside your comfort zone and people are willing to give up the glory if they are not

With a few more days off to wait for prime water levels, we set off to paddle some new rivers and enjoy the area. Right next to our hotel was a rapid called ‘Bridge Rapid’. While some paddlers chose to run the middle line in creek boats there were two who could see a huge wave at the top and wanted to surf it. To get the most out of the wave they got into their tiny play boats and dropped in. It is by far the biggest river wave I have seen with a kayaker in it. To make things even more intense there was still the huge rapid below. Dane Jackson and Kalob Grady caught some of the biggest air time pulling tricks on this wave until Dane lost his paddle and was forced to run the huge rapid below with just his hands.

By now everyone was ready for competition again, but unfortunately the flows were not ideal for the waves they wanted, so they chose to compete on a smaller, friendlier feature. With less stress the athletes could get some more wave time and pull off the tricks they had come here to show.

Top competitors were still pulling moves out that wowed the crowd and it proved to be a great event.

The last stage of the event was a time trial on a river close to Quebec City about four hours away. With everyone packed up, the convoy of team vans and buses headed south away from Lac St Jean.

At the river everyone was pretty nervous. The flow, in my opinion, was unnavigable. But word was that by the next day it would be ok. After a good night’s sleep we were back and most paddlers were ready to compete. www.kayaknz.co.nz

Issue 74

Spring 2014

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feeling safe on the day. With that said, the event was a hit and there were some fast times being set on the Basse Cache River. After a few swims and a few more paddlers pulling out, it was time for the final runs and the conclusion of the WWGP. Dane Jackson kept his composure and took first place with a strong list of paddlers very close behind him. Martina Wegman from the Netherlands was in first place in the women’s race but Mariann Saether took out the overall winner for the competition.

By now everyone was ready for a break and a good closing party in the city.

The next day Tyler, Kim and I headed out together for some more kayaking and it was perfect timing. We revisited a run called the Mastigouche, I’d paddled on a previous trip and its up there as one of the best runs I have done. With perfect flows we paddled from the top all the way down huge slides to our camp. Every rapid drops with a huge gradient

but nothing compares to the bottom slide. The bottom slide pours over a wide horizon line and makes its way toward the left wall before pushing back to the middle and into a huge pool at the bottom. In total it drops about 30m and slides for about 80m. So much fun!

We spent two days here running laps on this river and enjoying lots of time in our kayaks. The others had some work commitments, so we set off back to Ottawa for a few days before beginning a new trip exploring the world’s best freestyle spots.

In the next issue you’ll see why Canada is the place to go to enjoy freestyle kayaking. Congratulations to all the athletes who competed in the White Water Grand Prix!

This is a huge progression in kayaking competition!

ASTRAL BREWERS

Distributed by:

www.performance paddling.co.nz www.kayaknz.co.nz

Performance on the river... ..style off the river Issue 74

Spring 2014

PAGE 49

Josh Neilson & Tyler Fox run the Big Slide on Mastigouche River Photo by: Kim Dodd

PAGE 50

Issue 74

Spring 2014

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