Issue 32 by Canoe & Kayak

WIN A KAYAK COURSE

$5.95 NZ

Win

NZ Kayak Magazine Buyers Guide

Rapid Personal Flotation Device valued at $169 SPONSORED BY

W H ITE WATE R • R I V E R K AYAK I N G • S E A K AYAK I N G • M U LTI S P O RT Discover Another World

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

Issue 32 Cape Brett or Bust. 6 Taranaki Yakity Yak club find heaven in the far north.

To Wing or not to Wing 19 Rob Howarth emphasises the importance of coaching, no matter which paddle you prefer.

Surf Generation 30 Stop working, start surfing says Sam Goodall

Spark of Desire 32 Sharon Torckler turns ‘what if’s’ into reality. Wild men of Borneo 8 Kelvin Oram and his brother James get more than they bargained for on the Kinabatangan river.

A hazard with your name written all over it 20 AUT’s Matt Barker argues different angles of safety vs hazards.

Adventure Philosophy 10 The team are off again, this time to circumnavigate South Georgia Island. My first time over Huka Falls Michael Burden takes the plunge.

The first roads of Raglan (Whaingaro) town, Harbour and County. 12 Ruth Henderson is captivated by this Waikato area and its history.

Waihaha - Why not? 23 Steve and Freddy take the Taupo Yakity Yak club for a weekend jaunt.

Day 9 34 In 10 days paddling, one is filled with drama for John Humphris and Mike Scanlon.

Product Focus - towlines etc

Night Paddling It’s dark, it’s different. Try it!

Product Focus - lighting etc

Meeting of the Waters 38 Building a play-hole takes perseverance, but is worth the effort.

Maritime Safety Authority updates 24 Paul Caffyn provides updates on PLB’s and night lights Boat Show Winners all round. Kuaotuna Weekend 16 Manukau Yakity Yak club enjoy perfect weather on the Coromandel peninsula.

The Rodney Coast Challenge Multisport Race

ISSUE THIRTYt

Better than the Movies 28 Marty Benson and mates catch up and grab a snapper or two...

Winners - from Issue 29 & 30

wo • 2005

Seven Dams, Seven days by Sea Kayak 40 A 300 km paddle and trundle from Taupo to Port Waikato. Kayak Cooking 42 Gordon Daglish turns into a cooking teacher. Buyers Guide

Kayak tuition

Directory - accommodation, tours and kayak hire.

Photography - how to get published

Front cover: Warren Kennedy and son, Oliver on Browns Bay Reef Photo by: Ruth E. Henderson

Our Land?

EDITOR: Peter Townend Ph: [09] 473 0036 Fax [09] 473 0794 Email: pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz SUBEDITOR: Ruth E. Henderson Ph: 021 298 8120 Email: ruth@canoeandkayak.co.nz DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Breakthrough Communications PO Box 108050 Symonds St, Auckland Ph: [09] 303 3536 • Fax [09] 303 0086 Email: kayak@graphics.co.nz Website: www.graphics.co.nz PUBLISHER: Kayak NZ Magazine is published six times per year by Canoe & Kayak Ltd. 7/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale, Auckland PRINTING: Brebner Print DISTRIBUTION: IMD SUBSCRIPTIONS: New Zealand – 1 year 6 Issues = $30 Overseas – 1 year 6 Issues = $50 Payment to: Canoe and Kayak Ltd, 7/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale, Auckland Ph [09] 421 0662 • Fax [09] 421 0663

From time to time you will have heard about private land being closed off to the public and while the current government pushes for more public access to private land, I thought we should think about this hot topic. We are blessed with many beautiful areas around NZ, which we Kiwis have used for generations and now believe to be ‘Our Land’. We may understand it to be Crown Land, or something to do with the Queen’s Chain, whatever that is or Council or DOC land. In fact we will often be using private land that some kind person has left open for us to enjoy. These assumptions are getting us in trouble and we will continue to lose access to areas that our parents and ourselves have enjoyed over the years and that we hoped our children and mokopuna would also enjoy in the future. The specific case, which has woken me up, concerns the great area of the Waikato River known as Fuljames or Ngaawaapurua. It has a world class surfing wave produced by a drop and constriction in the river. There are many excellent camping sites, natural hot springs and heaps of trout. Over the last three decades I have camped, played, paddled and swum with friends and family. My wife and I spent

our honeymoon sitting around a camp fire on star filled nights and swimming in the warm pools. Over the years I’ve told new paddlers and campers that it is Ngaawaapurua Trust land and thought no more of it. I have never rung or written to ask or to thank. I have just assumed that for some reason it is my right. Well, as of last week, the area is locked down and no one can go there any more. It would be easy to blame the last big group of drunken, defecating Uni students, but who am I to cast that stone as I have also failed in common decency towards the land owners? It doesn’t matter whether the owner, or the user, is Maori or Pakeha or just a Kiwi, the issue here, folks, is manners. We must ask and thank those people who are kind enough to let us use their land. Then we must respect the land and their wishes. Friends we have not seen for a while have just arrived, so I must go. Interesting that I first met them 25 plus years ago on the banks of the beautiful Waikato when, on someone else’s land, they introduced me to the love of my life. Peter Townend

✄ Subscribe a friend to the Kayak NZ Magazine

Overseas subscribers can make payment via credit card number on subscription form. CONTRIBUTORS: We welcome contributors’ articles and photos. • Deadline for issue 34: 10 October 2005 • Deadline for issue 35: 10 December 2005 • Text should be submitted on disk or emailed as a Word text file. • Photos should be emailed or put on CD as a high resolution (300 dpi) jpg at full size accompanied by captions. Prints should be captioned on the reverse and numbered and listed in text.

Subscription Form • One year subscription, that’s 6 issues for $30, saving nearly $6 off the news-stand price, delivered free.

Name:

• All care will be taken to safeguard and return material.

Email:

• No responsibility is accepted for submitted material.

Address:

• Material published in the magazine must not be reproduced without permission.

S t u ff

Phone:

• Refer to www.canoeandkayak.co.nz. NZ Kayak magazine ‘Contributors’ Guidelines’ for more details.

Card No:

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

Signature

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS TO: Ruth E. Henderson ruth@canoeandkayak.co.nz New Zealand Kayak Magazine

G re a t

Cheque

Visa

Safet

y Flag

• Very easy to remove • Simply plugs into a rod holder • If lost overboard it floats • Flexible plastic base and fibreglass shaft

Mastercard

Being seen has never been easier

Expiry date:

Send form to Kayak NZ Magazine. PO Box 100 493, NSMC, Auckland. Or phone [09] 421 0662 Fax [09] 421 0663 email: pete@canoeandkayak.co.nz

Available at all good Kayak stores Includes Safety Flag & Rod Holder email: greatstuff@woosh.co.nz

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

S E A K AYA K I N G

Cape Brett or Bust It’s official. Kayaking heaven has been discovered in the far North, nestled between Haruru Falls and Cape Brett. 12 Yakity Yak clubbies on a trip organised by Taranaki Canoe and Kayak, undertaken during the week before Easter, discovered it. We assembled at Haruru Falls Resort camping ground in time to set up camp. Our dinner was a lavish affair of fish and chips on the Paihia foreshore. The following morning 10 of us, Pete and Bronnie, Rusty, Barry, Shane, Brendan, Judy and Graham in a tandem, Darryl and myself were on the water around 8.00am to avoid low tide and a slog in the mud. Breakfast in Russell, washed down with mixtures of Latte, hot chocolate and Cappuccino; saw us refuelled ready for the next stage. We headed off around Tapeka Point, to Motuarohia Island and the site of Captain Cook’s historic 1789 landing. Stopping for lunch and a quick snorkel we paddled around the seaward side of Moturua and Motukiekie Islands to Otehei Bay, and set up camp at DOC’s Cable Bay campsite on the southern end of Urupukapuka Island.

by Reg Christiansen

off through the gap, followed by Darryl. Darryl’s timing wasn’t quite so good. A big swell had him paddling up a wall of water, before disappearing into the hole. We hesitated! Pete, Bronnie and Darryl popped into sight having successfully made it through. Judy and Graham took off. The rest of us followed in single file.

rudder useless, the power of the swell had taken over and there was bugger all room to manoeuvre. Within seconds I am on the rocks high and dry. I have just invented a new water sport, rock hopping in kayaks!

As a relative novice in the sea I wasn’t comfortable. I recalled Pete’s advice, ‘The bigger the wave the faster you paddle’. My paddling rev counter was off the clock. I could see a big swell coming. The surge pushed me to the left of the hole. Foot hard down on the right rudder and left paddle doing overtime got me back into the middle. I finally popped out to even more turbulence on the southern side.

I held onto the rocks for grim death to avoid being flipped. The spray deck popped and I had to get out of the boat, fast.

The entire group kayaked through the Hole in the Rock and everyone was stoked at having had a chance to have a crack at this classic tourist attraction. Dinner that night was a fairly quiet affair. We had a few shoulder muscles we didn’t know we owned and were weary.

Dinner included fat juicy mussels gathered by the snorkellers, steamed open in a billy over the gas cooker and devoured without mercy.

We sat there quietly washing down dinner with some very drinkable Chateau cardboard provided by Shri and Rachel and were suddenly aware of a pod of dolphins in the cove. Energy was instantly restored. Knackered kayakers jumped into their boats to meet the cavorting pod. Amongst the acrobatic dolphins a mother and juvenile leapt in unison, having the time of their lives.

Sunday morning arrived and we were all on the water at 9.00am carrying enough water to see us to Deep Water Cove and back.

The experience left us ecstatic at being able to get so ‘close and personal’ to these graceful creatures.

We crossed to Rawhiti, joined up with clubbies Shri and Rachel as arranged and headed between Rawhiti Point and Urupukapuka Island towards Deep water Cove. In the distance, a Dolphin watching boat attracted our interest. Suddenly, we had dolphins rising all around us, blowholes venting. We tracked the pod for some distance until they parted company.

On Monday we packed up at a leisurely pace and headed back to Urupukapuka Bay, exploring the coastline and checking out the numerous sea caves.

Cable Bay has a picturesque sandy beach, toilets, fresh water and a cold-water shower. What more could we ask for?

We pitched tents at Deep water Cove before lunch, emptied the kayaks, and at 2pm headed for Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock. The sea became progressively more turbulent. At the Hole in the Rock good swells were crashing through the hole. Would I kayak through that Hole in the Rock? Not bloody likely! A Fullers Ferry lingered around the entrance, reading the swell pattern before finally charging through. Pete and Bronnie arrived, sized it up and after a short reconnaissance, suddenly charged

ISSUE THIRTYt

After lunch and a short paddle we pitched tents in Urupukapuka Bay, another DOC campsite well set up with toilets, fresh water and shower. On Tuesday morning, still in brilliant weather, we rafted up for a team photo then paddled around the seaward side of the islands sticking close to the coastline looking for gaps we could ‘shoot’. Around the outer edge of Okahu Island we spotted one. Intending to whip through the gap, one at a time, we timed the swells. This would be another clinical exhibition of kayaking skill by the team...yeah, right!! I took off into the gap and I was almost through when a swell came over the rocks from the right. Suddenly I was heading for the rocks on my left,

wo • 2005

The next surge tried to turn my newfound sport into an underwater event.

The swell retreated leaving me high and dry. Bronnie and Brendan were on hand to assist. I slid my Tasman Express back down the rocks. Bronnie towed it and I jumped to grab Brendan’s Penguin for a tow to more settled conditions. It was an interesting experience, which reminded me of the sea’s power. Not to be outdone, Brendan refined his kayak rock hopping skills a few moments later. Racing into a gap he suddenly found himself picked up and climbing fast up the rocks. Briefly left high and dry, the next swell grabbed him and he was sucked back to where he started. Exciting stuff, but I can assure you, the bum of your kayak does not appreciate the experience. This should not be attempted if you are prone to high blood pressure. Following the brief drama, we stopped at Motukiekie Island for lunch and paddled between Motukiekie and Moturoa Islands. Round the seaward side of Motuarohia Island we headed for Tapeka Point and a brief stopover in Russell. Pete and Bronnie arrived separately, and were chased by Brendan, trying to flip them. He quickly learnt that a swimmer bent on mischief is no match for a paddler intent on staying upright. We left Russell in time to catch the high tide. Paddling in a line, a brief burst across the harbour, saw us safely negotiate what appeared to be a marine version of the 5 o’clock rush hour. We celebrated our return from Cape Brett, nosing the boats under the Haruru Falls and lined up for a memorable ‘trip completion’ photo. We timed our return on the high tide perfectly. Our boats were soon emptied and loaded on to the trailer and roof racks for an early start the next day. We had had the trip of a lifetime, perfect weather, dolphins galore, beautiful beaches and coastline, excellent paddling conditions and a great bunch of clubbies to enjoy it with. In the morning, we were still buzzing over the trip but sad that it was all over. We pondered options for future trips. It would have to be something out of this world to beat this one. When it comes my time to take my last breath, I’ll know where heaven is...I had just paddled it for 4 days!!

Haruru Falls

Group on last day at Urupukapuka Bay

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

I N T E R N AT I O N A L K AYA K I N G

Wild Men of Borneo by Kelvin Oram “We’ll hire you a canoe when we get there!” I promised my brother James while discussing plans for our paddle down the Kinabatangan River in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Tackling 3 consecutive rivers on my own would have severely tested my sanity! I was really looking forward to sharing a river with someone who was my best mate as well as my brother.

concluded that it must be an allergic reaction to the fibreglass seats of the kayaks. After suitably padding their posteriors we continued paddling down the windy river through the Bornean rainforest past troops of macaques and proboscis monkeys. Our heavymetal loving guide knew about the sexual prowess of the dominant male proboscis monkey. It is also known as the 24-hour monkey due to its permanently erect, bright red member! This cheered us up no end!

However, I had reservations: I was to be responsible for someone who had never kayaked before on a river once famed for its 8m crocs and headhunting locals! After a day’s practice near Batu Puteh, the village where our expedition was to start, we met our local guide Bart, already a friend of mine from a previous visit to Borneo. We hired a couple of kayaks, pumped mine up and set off into the unknown. The villagers had never been more than half a day’s paddle down the river and thought that we were nothing short of crazy. We had no map, no compass, no forms of communication with the outside world (although Bart could sing quite loudly!) and our guide had only been a few hundred metres down the river and had only kayaked on a handful of occasions. Then things started to get interesting!................... The 2 hired fibreglass kayaks, had been lying under a shed for 2 years before we used them! They were rudder-less and ‘slightly’ difficult to paddle in a straight line. So the whole of the first day, James and Bart zigzagged down the Kinabatangan, wasting huge amounts of energy trying to point in the right direction! Their kayaks also leaked. Every hour or so we had to find a sand bar, empty the boats of gear and then of water and load up again. This was a frustrating start to our troubles! James noticed, on one of the sand bar stops, that along with all the water draining out of the kayak, a steady trickle of little red ants formed rafts on the surface of the river as they escaped. There was a huge ants nest in one end of his kayak and they were not all that happy about being flooded out. Next James winced with pain and scratched his arse frantically. After sitting in the river for half an hour while we smirked at him unsympathetically from the riverbank, Bart noticed a similar sensation. They both sat in the cool water rubbing their botties while we debated the cause. Because Bart didn’t have an ant’s nest in his kayak, we

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

At 4pm we asked “How far to the campsite?” Bart replied, “round the next bend ha ha ha!” After half a dozen of these “round the next bend ha ha ha’s” we paddled in silence. An hour later as it was getting dark we reached the hill marking our camp for the night. At precisely 7pm, we were enjoying our 2 min noodles when a cacophonous whine hit us. The killer mozzies from hell had arrived from the surrounding jungle to drive us into our tents for an early night. I had forgotten how small my tent was with two

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

people inside. We endured a different but no less annoying kind of hell! My brother and I are close but not THAT close. In less than 30 seconds the tent was transformed into a steaming sauna. We just lay there in pools of our own sweat, trying not to touch each other and swearing quietly. Meanwhile Bart snored like an amplified epileptic orangutan in the tent next to us. It may be true that in extreme adversity, men pull together and show their true spirit, but not that night! We pulled the fly off to let in some air, were eaten alive, and grunted monosyllabic insults at each other in our mozzieinfested cocoon. The next day started slowly and irritably. 24-hour monkeys watched with interest from the trees above our camp. Bart, whose nocturnal rumblings had kept us awake for most of the night, said “I didn’t sleep very well last night!” After coffee and ciggies we all felt more human and ‘Bart’s Crazy Safari’ (his expression) continued. Overnight, the river had risen a couple of metres and picked up speed. Luckily Bart had checked the kayaks during the night and pulled them further up the bank, so his night-time noises were forgiven! We ate lunch at Bilit, a little village, and went on to a luxury rainforest lodge. We asked if they had a local map. Looking at it we discovered that we had paddled 80kms in the past day and a half! To celebrate we stayed the night and had hot showers, cold beers and steak and chips for tea!! We set off the next day fully rested and with newfound energy. We stopped for lunch and a walk around Sukau village. We returned to find James’ kayak had sunk and was stuck in the mud. We were lucky that it hadn’t drifted away. By this time J & B were now used to the idiosyncrasies of their kayaks. Paddling on we saw bearded pigs, loads of monkeys, a 2m long croc and giant lizards bathing in the afternoon sun. Not fancying another night in the tents (James still had suppurating welts all over his body from the first night, plus mental scarring!) we decided to stay with the workers in one of the oil palm plantations by the river. We ended

up staying with a Phillippino immigrant called Santos in his section of the plantation workers’ longhouse. 1000’s of Kms from his family he was working as a truck driver. We chatted with him and he shared his fresh river prawns and rice. The next morning’s 2 hour paddle to Abai was to be our last on the river. We left most of our food with Santos as a small gesture of thanks for his amazing hospitality (I wonder what he made of stripy peanut butter and crackers?) Unfortunately the river had slowed considerably since the day before and by lunchtime (4 hours paddling!) we still hadn’t reached the village. We ate the last of the crackers and some cheese by a small tributary wondering where the bloody village was. Bart exclaimed “it’s round the next bend ha ha ha!” And it was!! At Abai we were informed that our lunch spot was inhabited by a 20ft croc and that no locals go there in small boats for fear of being eaten! We had made it. 150kms in 4 days, braving giant crocs, hordes of voracious killer mozzies, hitchhiking ants, fibreglass botties and head-hunters (alright we hadn’t seen any but we KNEW they were there!). J&B had probably paddled twice the distance due to their interestingly designed kayaks. The next 2 weeks were spent on a different kind of ‘Crazy Safari’, travelling round Borneo with our parents! It was wicked to discover Sabah again with my family and say hello to pygmy elephants, orangutans, swiflet caves and tropical islands which make up this incredible part of SE Asia. Now I am in Kota Kinabalu waiting for a plane to take me back to Thailand and on to the next river adventure: Delhi and the holy Ganges through N India. Editors note - Through his journeys Kelvin is attempting to raise money and awareness for the ‘Save the Children” fund to help their projects around the world. www.savethechildren.org.nz

Adventure Philosophy to attempt circumnavigation of South Georgia Island. Graham Charles, Mark Jones and Marcus Waters are heading south again to attempt the circumnavigation of South Georgia Island. Located approximately 1,300 Km East-South-East of the Falkland Islands, South Georgia is situated at the same latitude as Cape Horn in the furious fifties and it is little surprise that the southwest coast has not been kayaked. With 161 glaciers slithering off South Georgia’s flanks the Paddling Perfection Sea Bears, that will be taken for the journey, have been reinforced to deal with bashing through miles of brash-ice, and for the violent surf landings the team expects to face. The complete circumnavigation will entail 600kms of kayaking along some of the most hostile coastline in the world, remarkable for an incredible abundance of wildlife. The latter will pose problems for the team as they land and compete for tent space on a beach crammed with aggressive fur seals! Their story so far: Adventure Philosophy had its beginnings in a dream to sea kayak along the Antarctic Peninsula in early 2001. Logistically complex and without boat support it was a bold undertaking. In keeping with their ideal of promoting adventure through inspiration the trio have developed a reputation for returning with and producing quality media. TV3’s 20/20 made a 20min documentary of this achievement. ‘Colder Than Ice’, a 46 min documentary made in the USA, has screened around the world.

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

‘The Frozen Coast’ a 120 page full colour book was published by Craig Potton Publishing. In January and February 2003 the Adventure Philosophy team completed another world first expedition, in the southern Andes. Approaching the Darwin ice cap by sea kayak for 400km, they then negotiated difficult glaciated mountain terrain and horrendous Fuegan weather to forge a new route through the Darwin Cordillera back to the Beagle Channel. This traverse had never been attempted before or since. ‘Buried in a Blizzard’, a 24 minute documentary was produced by Creative Touch Films, and has screened around the world. Even in NZ. Adventure Philosophy believe outdoor adventure is more than just adrenaline and thrills. It is a vital human development medium for those who have been fortunate enough to be touched by it. “We have a rich adventure heritage in NZ and there is some fantastic stuff going on here and on the adventure world stage by New Zealanders. We want to see that reflected in the mainstream media to keep our adventure heritage alive” This philosophy has been translated into action through the ‘Good For Life’ scholarship launched in 2000. Now known as the ‘Goretex Good For Life Scholarship’ this is available to young New Zealanders to pursue their own adventure dreams. The driving objective of the scholarship is to promote adventurous qualities in young New Zealanders. To find out more visit www.adventurephilosophy.com

W H I T E WAT E R K AYA K I N G

My First Time Over Huka Falls by Michael Burden This summer a lot of my friends had run Huka and had kept on at me that “it was easy” and “you could do it easily”. Living in Taupo I look at the falls all the time so I know the line, right flows, and the moves. I am also aware of the consequences. It’s like any kayaking; a good paddler makes the hardest of lines look easy and attainable by anyone. This can be a fatal misconception. Good paddlers get thrashed in either of the four drops. Every year people are pulled up the walls of the gorge by their mates or other kayakers. Every year at least one person swims over the falls, and swimming out of the base happens often - any swim in this area could result in uncomfortable periods of time without oxygen. All of these things are constantly in my mind as I say to myself that tomorrow, if the flow is right, I will just have to get it over and done with and do it for the first time (the first time is always the worst). I got back early from the Mohaka. Colin was waiting at the shop looking for someone to paddle the falls with. The sun was shining and everything felt right so off we went. All the way to the river I’m nervous, talking, analysing my own fear; kind of felt like watching a laboratory rat trying to escape impending doom. One last look to confirm the flows right then start to get ready. Feeling really nervous, nervous vomit in the bushes. Just doing things automatically now get changed - everything out of the kayak I won’t need, all I need is a throw bag and airbags. One last check of my gear as I push off into the river - helmet - pfd - spray deck - bung.

than it looks from above - paddling hard heading left, timing it all for the last stroke, soft landing. Paddling into the eddy Colin tells me to relax, breathe, count to 10. I guess I looked pretty excited! Two down, two to go. I take the chance to look around. It’s cool being down in the depths of the gorge, not aware of the people on the bridge above at all. It sounds all peaceful but in reality the eddy is boiling and there is a bit of wall action as well. Enough of the reverie. Here we go down the tongue of the ‘pencil sharpener’. I take a different line to Colin, preferring to play with the big white stuff than the recirculating eddy on the left. Now it gets interesting (all these things are happening with the ever apparent horizon line getting closer all the time). Colin’s RAD is a lot slower than my MAC so once through the ‘pencil sharpener’ I have closed up with him. We head left for the final move. I am catching him up all the way. He then stalls on a diagonal at the top of the ramp and by the time he goes off the edge I am only three metres behind him. My last thought as I go over the lip is “I hope I don’t hit him, it will hurt us both.” I have a couple of goes at rolling but give up. Get out of my boat, washed up into an eddy, get back in and paddle about for a bit below the falls. Yes, I know I swam, still for my first attempt I am feeling higher than any drug could take you. It took about four or five days to wipe the smile off my face. I will do it again when the flows are right and I am feeling right. It is still and always will be a drop that is a challenge mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Practise rolls on both sides and then eddy hop down to Colin. His final words of advice “Boof everything”. I watch Colin’s line and pull out making each stroke count, timing it all for the last stroke and boof. It is big, white and powerful as I drop into the smallest of the drops. I am pushed left and keep paddling for the next boof. Everything looks higher when you are on the lip of the drop, soft landing, looking for my next eddy on river right, dodging the boils off the wall and the muchy hole at the top, I carve into the eddy. Breathing heavy - one drop done, three more to go. I cannot see much from the eddy I am in but I know the move well enough. I peel out and into some waves heading left - everything is bigger at river level

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

K AYA K I N G D E S T I N AT I O N

The First Roads of Raglan (Whaingaroa) Town, Harbour and County by Ruth E. Henderson Raglan has magnetism. As a child my family holidayed there, in teen years ‘Mi-Tonic’ a 10ft red ply dingy, my mate Jan and I were frequently marooned by the disappearing tide in the Narrows or Kaitoke Creek. I bought my first home, kayaked and windsurfed there. My parents retired there; my Dad lies there, and one day my Mum will too. In the last year I have led three North Shore Yakity Yak club trips there. Raglan has history. The stories in ‘Raglan County HILLS AND SEA’ by Vennell and Williams add spice to every name on my well-creased R14 topographical map and Waikato roadmap. Six hundred years ago, Rakataura, a tohunga from the Tainui canoe, climbed Mt Karioi’s 2000ft summit, looked down on the 10-mile stretch of water and named it Whaingaroa, or Long Harbour. It is hard to imagine the incredible effort early explorers and settlers put in to reach the Whycoto and Whaingaroa. Rev. A.N. Brown in 1834 attempting to follow Samuel Marsden’s trail, took 3 weeks from the Thames valley by canoe and foot, “during which the party was reduced almost to the point of starvation” to reach the Waikato River about two miles downstream from the present Tuakau bridge. His party decided to reach the Waikato Heads by water and then tramp down the coast to Whaingaroa. No canoes were available so they constructed ‘moki’ made from bundles of raupo, lashed together to form boats. Their journey changed direction when they met a trader who not only fed them “a square meal of potatoes” (and we moan if on a long trip we have to eat dehydrated but balanced nutritious meals!) but also lent them a canoe to travel inland by river, the overland route being almost impassable. They paddled for two days, against the two-knot current, to the mouth of the Waipa River. Here they got fresh provisions of mutton and milk, switched to a boat and “a pull of two hours bought them to Te Kowhai”, and then they walked one of the Maori tracks linking the Waipa valley with Whaingaroa. A day later they arrived at Waingaro Landing, found two canoes waiting for them and paddled down to the northern side of the heads. The next

ISSUE THIRTYt

day they crossed the Whaingaroa (Raglan) harbour heading south for Aotea, on a track inland from Mt Karioi ...continued to Kawhia... and finally returned to Puriri, near Thames. PHEW! At a rough count, a 50-day journey and all this in a hostile environment where talk was mainly of war, or as Brown wrote - “Their feet are swift to shed blood.” Whereas, one weekend we drove mostly on tarsealed roads; paddled from the Landing then dragged our boats over the Paritata Peninsula; paddled on to the Raglan campsites welcoming hot showers; and finally wined and dined at the Pub! The next day going with the flow of the tide, we paddled back. Oh yes, on that day, it was windy, rainy and visibility was almost zero.... BUT! Sorry Greg, Helen, Paul, Jenny et al. But the more I read the more I thought the Yakity Yak trips to Raglan this last year were ‘poof ’, nothing, not worth talking about compared to the history of the settlers and farmers which we were ignorantly driving, paddling or hauling our boats past. Another stoic missionary the Rev. James Wallis of the Wesleyan Mission Station possessed a wry sense of humour and was master of the understatement. He gives new meaning to camping. He reached Whaingaroa in 1835, to settle on the northern side of the harbour near Te Horea Pa. Sheltering in a raupo whare for two weeks while the mission house was being finished he wrote: “My comforts were not superabundant. My bed was composed of fern leaves; two blankets; my seat the earth, and the rest of my accommodation parallel to these.” In 1839 the south side of the harbour was deemed more suitable for settlement, but there being no shelter at that time, he and his wife roofed their four-poster kauri bedstead with blankets and boards. Wallis wrote: “It answered the double purpose of drawing room and bedroom!” KABOOM! Following the foundation of Auckland in 1840 the Waikato people were quick to appreciate “the prospect of a more lucrative occupation than shooting each other... Down the river highways, their canoes were soon carrying pigs and goats and potatoes...” and by 1852 another source of income was the production of wheat with water mills grinding it to flour. W.H. Wallis, the son of Rev. James Wallis, acquired a suitable site near the mouth of the Okete stream. I wonder if the pile

wo • 2005

of ancient machinery which lies at the bottom of the waterfall is from this mill or the flax mill built in 1868 and closed in the late 1920’s? Isolation and transport were key issues for early settlers. By 1855 there were 15 settlers. “Most holdings were on the southern shores of the harbour or on streams flowing into it, so that they had water access to the outside world.” There were objections and obstructions to building roads. William Naylor, the Christian chief, offered to sell his land between the Waitetuna and Waipa rivers, and “a chain-wide strip on which to build a road from Raglan to Whatawhata” to the Government. This suggestion caused alarm. Such a road would put the Maori King’s headquarters at Ngaruawahia “at the mercy” of the British troops landed at Raglan. The wars did come and so did the roads eventually. The next urgency was a wharf. All goods brought to Raglan by sea or shipped out had to be loaded onto a boat for transfer to or from the anchored ship. There were no docking facilities. Vessels brave enough to face the bar had to anchor mid channel or shelter under the limestone cliffs on the northern side of the harbour. With two or three ships in the channel, the lack of a port caused severe congestion. When a steamer was due at port, twenty wool bales at a time were loaded onto a punt and rowed out to meet the ship. That was the easy way! Some vessels stayed outside the bar and wool bales were loaded onto boats and rowed out through the surf. Hard to imagine, such toil and such a busy and congested harbour. On the days we paddled, windsurfers were the only craft we encountered on the water. By the time a wharf was built in 1874, Raglan had a population of 112 and a township of 52 dwellings. Those not living in the town still faced arduous journeys, just to get supplies. The Cogswell family in Waitetuna used the water route. On occasion, stormy weather meant they could not reach Waitetuna Heads from Raglan and had to retreat to Okete and store their goods at Wallis’s mill until the weather improved. Their tidal timing would have to be spot on regardless of the wind. Shucks, we only drew a few inches but on one trip a few of us got grounded with the rapidly retreating tide, a mile or more before the Waitetuna Heads! In the 1880’s, settlers relied on punts and ferries to cross the rivers. Cattle had to swim across and

Jeff Mercer enjoys the limestone rock gardens.

ISSUE THIRTY

two â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

“sheep were carried, two at a time in cockleshells.” Picture plenty of wet sheep! Bridges, oh bridges, we do take you for granted! In the early 1880’s Waingaro hot springs “health-giving properties” attracted European attention and Samuel Picken inspected the land. Next time you go ‘house or land hunting’ picture this: Huntly by train, cross the river by boat, on horseback along a bridle path to Glen Afton, by foot to Waingaro. He bought the Waingaro block. Within a year there was a bridle track from Ngaruawahia, and before long, it was extended to the Waingaro landing at the eastern end of the Raglan Harbour and the Raglan Township could be reached by sailing boat. The potential of the ‘Hidden Springs’ was soon realised and the Waingaro Spa Hotel was built in 1885. One hundred and twenty years later our club can recommend both facilities! Roads were still desperately needed, but in the 1890’s the best the Raglan County Council could do was occasionally “turn a pack track into a dray road to enable new settlers to reach their sections.” The first roads have always been rivers and inlets of the sea. Raglan County was lucky to have the Waikato and Waipa rivers on its eastern and northern boundaries; its own extensive harbour and another harbour south. As early as 1856 there was a ferry across the harbour to Te Horea, and whilst kayaking and exploring the limestone rock gardens we spied remains of a jetty.

buggy, or canoe! And so we have Raglan, established to “facilitate the shipping trade” for the district. It has developed into a seaside resort and community centre for the county and “retains some of the quaint characteristics of a port community.” It has been called the Brighton of New Zealand. Today, it being only 30 minutes drive by road from Dinsdale, Hamilton I’d call it the café centre of Hamilton. One of the first large buildings, the Harbour View Hotel, still dominates the main street. The three groups of Yakity Yakkers who recently visited its ‘Verandah Bar’ and indoor restaurant can vouch for the reason for its popularity - great food of course! And it’s only a wobble away from the great facilities at the Raglan Kopua Holiday Park Camping Ground. Ph 07 825 8283 For information on other places to stay email the Raglan Information Centre at raglaninfo@xtra.co.nz They have a spreadsheet with details on dozens of different establishments from backpackers to luxury Villas. For Waingaro Hot Springs Motor camp phone or fax 07 825 4761 They have campsites and caravans to hire, and motel units.

Stockmen from Te Akau swam their cattle, for the Waikato markets across from Marotaka Point, near Te Horea. “Encouraged on either side by men in canoes, the animals struggled across to land on the sandspit...” Want to try herding cattle in a kayak? In 1903, with the increase in flax and wheat exports and visitors to the seaside a steamer, the ‘Maori’, began a shuttle service between Raglan and Waingaro Landing. “Travellers joined the steamer at the mouth of the Waingaro River where a stone outcrop marked the western terminus of the through coach service from Ngaruawahia.” A coach of course was not an air-conditioned, high padded seat, motorized bus and the roads were not sealed. About this time my husband Ian’s grandfather was a carrier transporting general goods by horse and cart from Frankton, Hamilton to Raglan. Ian remembers stories of MUD! By 1911 two motorcars made the journey over the “abominable” mountain road from Whatawhata, “...the drivers predicted that many visitors would make the run when the new, shorter deviation was opened for traffic.” With cars came problems. In 1911 the Ngaruawahia - Waingaro road was closed to motorised wheeled traffic because of the dangers when horse traffic suddenly came upon a motorcar round a sharp bend.

Cement silos now apartments

By 1914 these laws were repealed and motor vehicles with loud-sounding horns could travel at 6 mph (roughly 10 kph) in daylight hours. Despite the increase of roads, waterways were still used extensively for freight. Export trade increased with the building of the dairy factory in Raglan in 1902, and the development of the timber, wool and flax industries. Trade slumped in the 1930’s but by the 1950’s the port was the most economical and efficient in the Waikato. The “phenomenal success” of the Railway’s inter-island freight roll-on, rolloff steamer service in the 1960’s caused a decline in coastal trade, however Raglan’s harbour trade was revived by the erection of the first cement silo in 1967 and a second one in 1974. From the water these stand out like sentinels. Their cement days over they are being converted to apartments! Across the harbour at Panganui Inlet, the limestone is 20 feet thick. In 1920, a crushing plant pulverised 12 tons a day. But agricultural lime could be bought more cheaply from the Te Kuiti kilns and eventually this industry also died. The inlet’s limestone rocks are pure pleasure to paddle amongst. The crevices allow plenty of eye contact with crabs. Beef and sheep flourished and in 1967 a large gathering marked the 50th anniversary of the Waingaro saleyards. “Gone were the spoke-wheeled cars, the horse-drawn buggies and the saddled horses lining the fence.” I found the photo depicting the 1917 scene hanging on the wall of the Waingaro pub fascinating. It’s not THAT long ago since we all travelled by foot, horseback,

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

Mural on watertower depicts Raglan’s history and attractions

Paritata portage

Limestone rocks at Marotaka Point. Pure paddling pleasure.

ISSUE THIRTY

two â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

S E A K AYA K I N G

Kuaotunu Weekend by Julie Reynolds In perfect weather, Scott and I joined 6 other merry paddlers on Saturday morning at the Kuaotunu camping ground, which was virtually empty and very quiet. We headed straight to the beach in front of Black Jacks. After the plan of attack was shared by Sue, we were happily on the water by 10.15am, destination Opito Bay, approx 11km’s away. We saw very few boats on the water and had a sense of being quite on our own. The vista was fab. A cooling breeze came up around 11am. The water was beautifully clear and along the cliffs we were treated with fantastic changes in water colour and patterns on the sea floor. Fish were jumping and I caught a fleeting glimpse of a stingray. We stopped at the halfway mark for a stretch and a chocolate bar then ambled along, taking in the peace and quiet and truly enjoying the easy camaraderie. At midday we landed on the south end of Opito Bay for lunch. Once again very few other people about. The guys tabled a plan to push on to Simpson’s Bay just north of Whitianga. Another 16km’s. While they got back on the water the girls climbed the 200 steps to the top of the old Pa site. Personally I think that effort required more commitment than the extra 16km’s the boys were doing. I could have kicked myself, looking down at the four boats passing below the cliff, in exquisitely clear water. They would have made a great photo. My camera was still in my boat 200 steps below.

in Whitianga and paddle up to the Coroglen Pub. This was unknown water for us so we followed the map. We hoped we’d make it to the pub but if not we’d come up with a plan B. On an incoming tide up the estuary we covered the distance in a very short time. We took instruction from a local fisherman who sent us in the right direction, but because we were following the map, his shortcut took us past the next expected left turn. We missed the pub and ended up in a tangle of mangroves. Sue, Paula and I had a great time battling on until we had to face the reality that we could go no further. The rest of our group had chosen to wait for us in a wider body of water.

Paula in the Mangroves in a wider section of the tributary.

We descended after a wee while, got back on the water to rock garden around the corner to Red Bay and then return to Opito Bay for Sue’s Mum to pick us up at 3.15pm. The rock gardening was awesome. We paddled through numerous channels amongst the rocks. The cliffs were a baby pink shade. Eventually though, we had to head for the beach. It was a great day out on the water. After some back and forth with cars Paula and I picked the boys up just after 5pm at Simpson’s Beach. They were happy but very weary. Apparently they had a head wind most of the way. Well that’s their story anyway. Sue’s Mum and Dad put on a fantastic feast for us all that night at their home in Kuaotunu. After fine food and a couple of wines we were all heading for bed by 10pm. Sunday dawned much the same as Saturday, fine, clear and warm. Not even any dew on the seat of my boat. Sunday’s plan was to put in at the estuary

ISSUE THIRTYt

More pink rocks.

wo • 2005

Their boats were still clean. I have to note here that amongst all the giggling the 3 of us certainly used all our different paddle strokes, braces and railing techniques. I think I paddle backwards better than forwards. Once we rejoined our fellow explorers we settled on plan B, to return to the boat ramp in Whitianga and drive to the Coroglen Pub. Mighty fine plan. The food was generous and the beer garden empty. A good place to stop on those Coromandel excursions. All in all a great weekend. Thanks Sue for organizing a fantastic club weekend.

Great Package Deals SWING 400 PLUS

Package includes • Seat • Paddle (alloy shaft) • Two rod holders fitted • Safety flag fitted

FISH N DIVE

Package includes Now only

$1399 Save $68

• Seat • Paddle (alloy shaft) • Two rod holders fitted • Round hatch

Now only

$1499 Save $81

Easy finance available. Conditions apply.

CONTOUR 480

TASMAN EXPRESS

Package includes

• Paddle (fibreglass shaft) • Safety flag • Two rod holders fitted • Spray deck

• Paddle (fibreglass shaft) • Safety flag fitted • One rod holder fitted • Rasdex combination spray deck

Now only

$2499 Save $113

Easy finance available. Conditions apply.

Now only

$2799 Save $185

Easy finance available. Conditions apply.

Only available from your local

shops ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

M U LT I S P O R T

The Rodney Coast Challenge Multisport Race - Fun for Everyone 6th November 2005 Did you know that Multisport racing is the fastest growing sport in NZ? Thanks to the heroics of Steve Gurney, the ‘Speight’s Coast to Coast’ and a lot of hard work behind the scenes, there are now huge numbers of multisport races in New Zealand with some great events in the Auckland region. The Yakity Yak Kayak Club has a growing band of multisporters regularly training around Auckland and with events such as the ‘Cambridge to Hamilton Kayak Race and Cruise’ they are also attracting recreational Sea Kayakers to the racing scene. John Elia (aged 60 from Browns Bay paddling a 5m sea kayak) competed for the first time this year in ‘The Cambridge’ to Hamilton. ‘What a great day out, I nearly beat a 36 year old in a 6.4m racing kayak - I’ll get him next year!”

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

The ‘Canoe & Kayak Rodney Coast Challenge’ has become one of the most popular events in Auckland and is an ideal race for beginners to the sport. The race winds its way from Muriwai Beach over to Wenderholm Regional Park via a 10km run, a 30km road bike, a 24 km mountain bike and finally an 8km kayak. The Kayaking section is down the Puhoi River and is an easy kayak leg with no white water to contend with! The race is organised by Kaukapakapa Scouts and takes place on 6th November 2005. Race organiser Graeme Hounsel says. “It’s a great event. The camaraderie before during and after the event is amazing; its what makes multisport so different, everyone is willing to help a competitor in need. Teams can consist of any combination up to four people, so you don’t need to be good at everything to compete.” To register your interest and to receive more information contact Graeme Hounsell ghounsell@xtra.co.nz or rob@canoeandkayak.co.nz

M U LT I S P O R T

To Wing or not to Wing That is the question

by Rob Howarth

The wing paddle has defined itself in paddle sports as a tool to make you go faster. But there is a key word behind the increased forwards paddle efficiency that the wing paddle has to offer - coaching. Some Multisporters will choose a wing paddle as their first blade; others seem to naturally migrate to a wing paddle over time. The Wing blade is designed to increase forwards paddling efficiency and was first used by the Swedish National Team in the mid 1980’s. So what makes this tool so effective over a regular paddle? Well, to begin with lets define what it is that allows the wing paddle to gain that forwards efficiency: Firstly the shape of the blade captures more water during the stroke and therefore allows for less energy loss through spillage over the sides of the blade. Secondly, due to the aerofoil shape of the blade, it can generate ‘lift’ as it is pulled through the water, in other words the paddle becomes selfpropelling. This lift occurs when a pressure

differential is created when water flows at different speeds over the two faces of the blades (For those scientists out there this is Bernoulli’s principal at work). This only occurs however when the blade is moving correctly through the water. Thirdly the wing blade has a flow path through the water that helps the kayaker to use the big muscle groups, the abs, the chest and the lats. These muscles have much more longevity than the arms, which paddlers tend to utilise when using a regular blade. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that the purchase of a wing paddle will instantly increase your speed and efficiency. The majority of paddlers who have taught themselves how to use a wing paddle have poor technique and are not maximising the benefits that a wing paddle has to offer. There is only one solution - Coaching. “Wing paddle coaching is invaluable” says Adele Anderson (nee McLarin) of The Waitemata Canoe & Multisport Club. “The maximum efficiency gain is about 4-5% over a regular blade, but this is not an automatic result. The theory behind the wing paddle is excellent, but in order to take advantage of this tool and ensure efficiency of the paddle stroke (therefore increased speed) the blade needs to be used correctly. Coaching will provide you with knowledge and understanding about the optimal body and paddle position to help you gain the most from your wing blade. Most self taught paddlers have no idea of these concepts and are missing out”. Adele has been coaching wing paddle technique for 5 years since retiring from the New Zealand Marathon Racing Team in 2000. In conjunction with Canoe & Kayak North Shore Adele is now offering a 4 hour video analysis coaching session.

“The results from these clinics speak for themselves” states Adele “if you are spending $400 - $500 on a new toy you are crazy not to get some coaching”. Do not despair however if you are still using a regular blade and do not want to move into a wing paddle. Regular paddles offer a much easier learning curve for the full range of paddle strokes such as draw strokes and sweep strokes. And as for forward paddling remember that the basics of efficient paddling are the same whether you are using a regular blade or a wing - utilise body rotation and engage those big muscle groups. And the same key word still applies - Coaching. For more information on regular and wing paddle coaching clinics contact rob@canoeandkayak.co.nz or drop into your local Canoe & Kayak shop.

Rebel For paddlers of both genders up to 75kgs wanting a fast multisport kayak.

Designers & Constructors of Multisport & Adventure Racing Kayaks Phone/Fax 06 374 6222 E-mail:- mike@ruahinekayaks.co.nz Website:-www.ruahinekayaks.co.nz

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

OUTDOORS WITH

A hazard with your name written all over it

Matt Barker has been coaching white water kayaking for nearly 20 years. He holds a Coach Level 5, the BCU’s highest award, and NZOIA Level 2 Kayak. He works as a Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology. AUT offers diploma and degree level programmes in outdoor leadership and outdoor education. For enrolment enquiries contact Marilyn Squire on 09 9179999.

by Matt Barker What a dubious position to be in, paddling a river knowing that there was a hazard there with your name on it... literally! It had been bugging me for a while now, well 18 months to be more precise, but only off and on and never when I was actually on the river. The fact was that I knew there was a killer waiting and that it had my name all over it. It was an uncoiled throw bag lurking somewhere in the river. I was not worried that I had lost a throw bag but by the fact it now possibly presented a real

hazard with entanglement and entrapment potential, quite probably unseen, the type of hazard that catches you completely unawares. One of my students had taken a swim on this grade 4 section of river and the throw bag had come out of her boat during the rescue and was last seen unstuffing itself floating in the river. Then it was gone ... never to be seen again... or so we thought. Maybe we should have made more of an effort to search for the throw rope, and avoid endangering future swimmers. But time was against us and I thought it was better to write it off, finish the rescue and recovery and get to the takeout with plenty of daylight left. The memory of that throw rope faded with time and I presumed it had either been picked up by someone or was out of harms way. Then one day during a flood on the same stretch of river, a boat was pinned on the other side of the river to the eddy we were in and just above a series of drops. I carried my kayak upstream a little to make a ridiculous ferry across to the type of eddy you would never usually go to. It was 20 cm too short, half a boat’s width too narrow for my kayak and was festooned with cuttygrass. But it was the only eddy on that bank anywhere near the pinned boat. Reaching the eddy, if you can call it that, and scrambling to stay in it, I instinctively grabbed for a green slimy tree root for a firm handhold. But I had grabbed a bunch of knotted tangled green slimy rope wrapped around something solid. It afforded me a much needed purchase to get onto the bank. How lucky, I thought, that there was something to get hold of though it was pretty dangerous to have lengths of old rope hanging about in the river. I decided to be the good citizen and clear this junk out of the river. With a last yank out came a nylon bag attached to the end of the rope. Wait a minute there was something written on it ...that phone number looks familiar and hey what is my name doing written on it... It was the long lost throwbag! The boat was recovered in short order using my lost and found piece of equipment. This incident got me thinking about the Environment Bay of Plenty reaction to Rock A on the Rangitaiki, and the policy of national organizations towards hazard removal. There are so many divergent views on what is a hazard and what is part of the natural environment. Some white-water boaters cherish the challenge of obstacles, the natural slalom; the environmentalists believe that every rock and every piece of wood in a river is something’s home and a vital part of a healthy aquatic ecosystem; the council’s “raison d’etre” is to nullify all hazards to the public, while the natural reaction of friends and families is to remove the hazard which has wronged their loved one. These are reasoned arguments and will have their advocates and opponents, each being right in their own way.

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

As well as getting away from it all and the aesthetic pleasure that being in the natural environment brings, some people go white water kayaking to pit their wits against the white water and the natural hazards created by the objects it flows around and through. White water kayaking (like most things) is inherently risky and the removal of all risk would reduce the attraction of the activity to some. If we removed all the dangerous rocks and cut back all the overhanging trees, or any that might fall into the river and took out all the sharp bends, would the amenity value of that river be lost? Would it resemble a concrete lined water supply canal more than the natural water course with its natural hazards, inherent risks and pleasurable challenges and surroundings? If we remove natural hazards, not only do we harm the environment of the river for the range of plants and animals that inhabit it and reduce the amenity value for human users but we also, more dangerously, lull ourselves into a false sense of security. The aquatic environment is dynamic and ever-changing. We must not expect the river hazards to be the same today as they were yesterday. They can and do change. If we paddle a river thinking it has been made safe we tread on very thin ice indeed. Sooner or later it will not be hazard free and we will be caught out. It’s like overtaking round a bend on the road presuming there is no car coming. Yes, we may get away with it but sooner or later.... We should paddle a river thinking that around every corner there might be a tree or a rock sieve or other potentially lifethreatening hazard, because in reality there is every chance there is! Paddling from safe eddy to safe eddy is the only way to paddle safely. By removing all known hazards we are in danger of forgetting that trees exist and move. When we

come across one we are taken by surprise and can be in danger. Trees in the river act as timely reminders to be vigilant. A couple of years ago Northland council left cars wrecks on the road verges as a very strong and timely public notice about the inherent risks of driving too fast. Leaving wood in rivers could do the same role for paddlers. The physical danger is increased but the educational value fosters better paddling ethics and practices. A worthwhile trade off. We shouldn’t think that a rock fall or tree in the river spoils an otherwise excellent stretch of white-water. We should appreciate their educational role in fostering good judgement and sound risk management practices. Even on the easier grades, getting a group to observe a hazard and discuss the reasons why certain courses of action will be necessary allows them to feel that they have made a wise decision. This can be an important lesson, a not to be missed opportunity. It’s not such a bad thing to have the occasional close shave with a natural strainer to keep you on your toes; a good lesson has been learned or revised. But hazards which cannot be seen from any angle; quiet, sinister, hidden dangers do not fit into this mould. No lesson is learned by them being left there, except one of ultimate price. Luckily these are very few and very far between. So next time you go paddling be constantly aware of what might be around every corner or behind every rock, and if there is a hazard there does it really need to be removed? Now that I am once again safely in possession of the bullet with my name on it, am I any safer? Well from this particular manmade hazard yes, but not from the others... only perennial good judgement, risk awareness and appropriate risk management will keep me safe on the water.

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

L A K E K AYA K I N G

Waihaha - Why not! by Steve Kittle Well done Kev. Kev is one of our staunch Yakity Yak Kayak Clubbies who loves a wave or two and a bit of the rough stuff (ooeeer). I say well done because it was Kev’s idea to paddle Lake Taupo from Kinloch to Waihaha

ISSUE THIRTYt

and camp overnight. It turned into one of the best weekends we have ever had. We had a huge turnout, with 21 paddlers congregating on Kinloch’s fine beach for the beginning of an excellent two days.

wo • 2005

We had a safety brief, chose leaders, distributed walkie talkies and headed into the unknown. The forecast was looking sweet for the Saturday with moderate Southerlies expected for the Sunday. Ideal conditions for the chosen destinations. As we paddled out of Whangamata Bay, I expected the wind to pick up a little. Nothing, it was like

paddling on glass - the sun beat down, highlighting the silken threads bearing gossamer spiders to new horizons. We opted for the direct route across Kawakawa Bay to Boat Harbour, where we would stop for lunch. Boat Harbour, as the name suggests, is a popular spot for overnight fishermen and campers to moor up. Campers be warned there are rats the size of dogs here, eager to dispatch your food. After stuffing our faces and experiencing the rather unpleasant long drops, we ventured out of the bay and followed the amazing cliffs of Waihora Bay. I tried to drench my co-paddler, Freddy, under a waterfall. She was sitting in the front of our Eco Niizh super tanker at the time. I had almost paddled her under the falls when a torrent of choice language flew forth from her mouth [Steve is actually unaware that I am fluent in Uzbekistani]. I put the reverse power stroke into action [along with my now demented efforts] and sheepishly paddled away hoping I would not be beaten later when I was within reach. The group paddled, chatted, laughed and generally enjoyed the surrounding beauty which is Lake Taupo. Just when I thought things couldn’t possibly be more perfect we rounded a headland and spied Waihaha Beach. The cliffs dropped away either side to reveal a beautiful beach bathed in the golden light of the afternoon sun. We were greeted by David, one of the caretakers of Waihaha campground. He showed us the cleared areas to camp in amongst over 1000 native plants which he and the local Maori trust had planted over the years. Once we had pitched our tents and established a small town, we went in search of wood for our fire. We didn’t need to search long. Miriama, another caretaker, kindly let us use some of her logs and even helped get the wood to us by tractor and trailer. As on most overnight trips everyone shared stories, food, wine and space by our roaring camp fire. Some of the guys (and gals) went hunting for trout while we gatherers very effectively reduced the amount of available alcohol. Two very decent sized trout and lots of silliness later, people peeled off to the relative comfort of their nylon homes. Morning came very quickly. My eyelids peeled back to reveal the devastation that was my tent. Clothes everywhere. Thermarest not under me, broken zip on my sleeping bag and kayaking gear in the dirt. But in my defence, my shoes were neatly placed together. I crawled out and watched blearily as super organised Brian cooked bacon and eggs very slowly on his Trangia stove. I could only dream of the day that I would be clever enough to pack breakfast. Once we had broken camp, the group divided into two. Some ventured up the Waihaha River to the falls and our group of 10, headed back to Kinloch. It was as flat as a pancake on the lake for about 10 minutes and then it picked up. Within 1/2 an hour we were being pushed towards our lunch stop, Boat Harbour, by 20 knot winds. One of the clubbies, who shall remain nameless, had the bright idea of bringing a sail and was buzzing along nicely. It is cheating though Baz! After lunch we braced ourselves for the next section of our journey, across the huge Kawakawa bay in increasingly strong winds. The wind direction was still in our favour and we had a blast surfing the waves all the way to Whangamata Bay. At the headland of Te Kauweae Point the waves were getting up to one and a half metres, it was brilliant. Surfing a fully laden 5.6 metre double kayak is no easy task but my God what fun it was. We were eventually dumped on the beach where I got pounded by the surf while my co paddler leisurely removed herself from the dry seat in the front. Once changed, warm and dry and driving back to Taupo, I had one of those feelings you get when you have been on a really good holiday and don’t want it to end. I was very sad it was all over but so glad I went and had a really great time with such a diverse group of people. The one thing that we all had in common was a taste for adventure, a love of the outdoors and to see it all from a kayak. Long may it continue.... If this sounds like ‘a bit of you’ then contact Steve or Freddy for information on the Taupo Yakity Yak Kayak Club - 07 3781003 or phone a Canoe & Kayak shop near you.

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

PRESS RELEASE Safety Updates from Maritime Safety Authority by Paul Caffyn Personal Locator Beacons From 1 February 2009, the satellite system that tracks distress beacons will stop processing 121.5 MHz analogue signals, and will only detect beacons transmitting on the 406 MHz frequency. A 406 beacon can be detected more quickly and accurately than a 121.5 MHz beacon - to within 5km as opposed to 20km for the analogue beacons - which has obvious advantages in an emergency situation. The 406 MHz frequency can also be linked to a database of registered owners held at the MSA Rescue Coordination Centre. In an emergency this allows search and rescue staff to access valuable information such as contact details and vessel type. The MSA RCCNZ is reminding existing owners of 121.5 MHz beacons to change to 406 MHZ beacons, and also for people considering purchase of a beacon, that the 406 MHz is the best choice.

Lights for Paddling at Night A white light is essential for paddling at night, particularly in highly congested boat traffic areas such as Auckland and Wellington harbours, and the approaches to Picton and Havelock in the Marlborough Sounds. An all round white light mounted on a stubby mast, aft of the cockpit is one approach many paddlers have taken, but a bright white torch can be used to signal your presence to an approaching vessel. Whichever method used, it is a legal requirement, under either the Maritime Rules or Regional Council bylaws, for vessels (including kayaks) to display a white light when underway at night.

When paddling at night, do not display a strobe or flashing light, as this is the distress signal for man/woman overboard. Having said that, if you are in the water and requiring a rescue, that is the time to turn the strobe light on. Recent night exercises involving Wellington Coastguard and local paddlers proved the effectiveness of quickly locating paddlers in the water who had strobe lights attached to their lifejackets.

Long Arm of the Law At the recent Wellington meeting of the National Pleasure Boat Forum, of which KASK is a member, comment was made of Regional Council Harbour Masters issuing infringement notices for failure to either exhibit white lights at night or wear/carry lifejackets. Both the Lake Taupo and Southern Lakes District (Wanaka, Manapouri and Te Anau) councils have a zero tolerance policy on the non-wearing of lifejackets. Although the MSA rules and regulations apply to all New Zealand waters, Regional Councils have their own set of navigation bylaws covering their own patches.

Safety Message Getting Through Also at the recent forum, KASK was complimented on their efforts with the work involved and promotion of the colour brochure, ‘A Basic Guide to Safe Sea Kayaking.’ As of March 2005, 20,000 copies have been distributed, and since November 2004, there have been no serious incidents involving drowning or serious injury with sea kayakers. Bulk orders of the brochure are still available from Water Safety NZ for any commercial outfitters who have run out of copies.

The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show Congratulations to Peter Townend and Daniel Sommerhalder designers and builders of the Canoe and Kayak stand. Their creation caught the attention of judges and visitors alike. Out of 230 exhibitors, they won the ‘Quick Nautical Equipment’ Most Innovative Stand award at NZ’s largest and longest running boating event. The stand was novel in having a ‘fishing pond,’ complete with water and boats, where keen fishermen and woman exchanged a gold coin donation for the opportunity to catch a prize. The donations, reached an impressive $1243 for the Wilson School for special needs children. The main prizes of three kayaks were won by: Chris Bancroft of Howick who won a Cobra Fish n Dive, Harley Butcher of Tauranga who won a Perception Swing, and Dave Shanks of Whangaparaoa who won a Q-Kayaks Escapade. Canoe & Kayak would like to thank Perception Kayaks, Q-Kayaks and Cobra Kayaks who helped make the show such a success by their support and generosity in contributing prizes.

Harley Butcher in his Perception Swing

ISSUE THIRTYt

Dave Shanks and family with their Q-Kayaks Escapade

wo • 2005

Getting into Multisport Kayaking? Ask anybody who has competed in a multisport race and they will say

One or two weekends training Is just NOT ENOUGH!!! We believe our comprehensive Grade 2 Training & Certification is the best you can get. To gain the skills to confidently paddle on white water, you need between 3 and 8 weekends on the water with an instructor.

PHONE NOW

0800 529256

OR CALL IN TO YOUR LOCAL CANOE & KAYAK SHOP FOR MORE DETAILS AND COURSE DATES

2005 Multisport Package $795

Official Sponsor

ISSUE THIRTY

two â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

NORTH SHORE

MANUKAU

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

710 Great South Road, Manukau

PHONE: 09 262 0209

PHONE: 09 479 1002

AUCKLAND

HAMILTON

502 Sandringham Rd

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

PHONE: 09 815 2073

PHONE: 07 847 5565

SILVERDALE

BAY OF PLENTY

DISTRIBUTION CENTRE

3/5 Mac Donald Street

7/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale

Mount Maunganui (off Hewletts Rd)

PHONE: 09 421 0662

PHONE: 07 574 7415

DISCOVER AN

Easy finance available. Conditions and booking fee apply 26

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

HAWKE’S BAY

TAUPO

15 Niven Street

38 Nukuhau Street,

Onekawa, Napier

Taupo

PHONE: 06 842 1305

PHONE: 07 378 1003

TARANAKI Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth

Now selling new territory for Canoe & Kayak shops. Interested?

PHONE: 06 769 5506

PHONE: PETER TOWNEND 0274 529255

Unit 6, 631 Devon Road

WELLINGTON Opening soon.

OTHER WORLD

To join, see your nearest Canoe & Kayak shop

www.canoeandkayak.co.nz ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

K AYA K F I S H I N G

Better than the Movies by Marty Benson It started out to be a perfect day, gentle south west breeze, little cloud puffs scattered about the sky, absolutely perfect paddling & fishing conditions, even better for an overnighter. Peter Wickham, Peter Jane and myself, packed our gear into the trailer, loaded the kayaks and away we went. At our launching spot, we re-packed our gear into the kayaks and a-paddling we went. It was absolutely perfect. The water was like glass, just wicked paddling conditions. The forecast couldn’t get any better, but never the less we still took gear for four seasons. At our chosen spot (yep that will do) I decided to go a little further as hhmmmm I just felt like it. Pete and Peter (Peter Jane = Popa smurf, Peter W = Gargamal) set themselves up an awesome little camp (dump gear go fishing). I arrived back 2 hrs later with little to report. Well, I’d caught a nice snapper of 5kg but he went straight back into the water to fight another day. It is a great feeling to catch a beautiful snapper and

release him unharmed for my nephew to catch when he gets older ... Popa smurf had caught some nice fish 5-7 kg. Gargamal was way over the other side; I found a nice rock to fish from right beside a sandy gut. There we were fishing in our own perfect worlds, still in communication distance with each other but miles away from anything. The sun was just setting and a pod of dolphins came cruising past. What a great show they put on for us, jumping together with big belly flops creating big splashes. It was like a couple of kids trying to do the biggest bomb, at the same time I looked at Popa smurf who was fighting a good fish. He landed it and put it back. Soon I’m into a good fish about the same size as Pete’s 3-4 kg I returned that one as well. Then I heard Gargamal do the big Yahoo! He was into a good fish. A couple of minutes later I heard Gargamel’s ‘famous words’ “ oh for *%#! Sake” That put a big smile on my face. He had lost his fish. It was just perfect: the water like glass, the moon a bright orange as it comes out of the sea, everyone was catching fish after fish. Man I tell ya it was better than any digital make believe. A couple of hours had passed, the moon was high in the sky and it was like daylight. No torches were needed, but we all gave the flick of the light signal to each other, time to get back to camp for a hot choc. Popa smurf was there first and the smile on his face told the story, “Fish everywhere, Marty how did you get on?” I showed him the 3 fish I’d kept. Biggest 7.5 kg smallest 2 kg. “How many did ya let go Marty? “ “About 7or 8, I lost count to be honest.” “Yeah,” says Popa smurf “So did I.” We both laughed like little kids as Gargamal just came around the corner and said, “It’s going off” then splash, and his ‘famous words’ came out again as he stood into a deep rock pool.

• No drainage hole • Strengthening under flange • Only 3 rivets for mounting, less holes in your kayak • Fits Great Stuff safety flag DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS Available at all good Kayak stores email: greatstuff@woosh.co.nz

ISSUE THIRTYt

We sipped our hot chocolate and ate ‘Farmbake’ cookies under the full moon with the gentle sound of waves hitting the rocks followed by a hollow rumble. The little wave made its way up an underground crevasse, causing an echoing boom at the end. (It’s a kind of spooky sound)... I wouldn’t change that feeling for anything in the world. The ultimate perfect conditions - full moon, no wind, gentle waves. With my old school teacher (Popa smurf) and Gargamal (school friend) it felt like the most special place in the world. We talked about someone going on holiday to Fiji or some place and I said “Why would anyone want to leave the most beautiful place in the world and go to an over fished, over populated place

wo • 2005

Gargamal with a keeper

when NZ has everything?” We had a good feed and turned in for the night, Popa smurf found a nice flat rock to sleep on and Pete and me fought over the only piece of sand!!! I lost and removed rocks (big canon ball size) to make something suitable to sleep on. In the wee hours of the morning we all sort of woke up about the same time, trying to get comfortable. With raincoats and life jackets as bedding it’s not easy to sleep solidly. We all woke up at sparrow fart (before sun rise but light) and Popa smurf said something like “I’m not gonna bother sleeping next time,” I gave Gargamal a kick in the ribs to get up. He sat up then said his famous line (“ for %*#* sake”) followed by “I’m going back to sleep.” Popa smurf and I went back to the spots we fished earlier and it was very quiet. I hooked a small fish then the hook pulled. Things were very quiet so I put my skills to the test and changed my tactics. I hooked a screamer of a fish. Man this fish took off like a freight train. He went straight into rocks or weed. Slowly but surely I eased him out. I could see he was a good fish. I landed him in a perfect gut, lined with weeds, and just slid him up onto shore, a 7-8 kg fish bright red, lip hooked, landed without a scale missing I couldn’t resist releasing him, so I put him back, then watched as he just magically disappeared in this little gut, 2m wide 7m long with a sandy bottom. I thought I would watch him swim out but he just disappeared. I mean disappeared!! It was just incredible how he camouflaged himself so quickly. I told myself that’s his world, time to have breakfast and go home. We had breaky and started to pack up. For some reason no one was in a hurry, no one wanted to leave. Fishing, camping, kayaking all in one - what an awesome experience. It was like the end of a great movie you want to see more. The difference? This movie was real. How do you find this special movie theatre? Just get out there, anywhere, just go, be prepared, be safe, and make sure some one knows where you are. See ya, at Marty’s Pack or Paddle.

W I N N E R S Winner of Escapade Issue 29 Our lucky winner of the Q-Kayaks Escapade from Issue 29 is Mark McEwan of Spreydon, Christchurch. Mark, a 37 year old Priority Banking Manager and father of two boys - recently finished the 2 day Coast to Coast and is now looking for something a little more recreational that he can do with the family. The Escapade will help with that. Mark told us he was really stoked at winning and canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to get out in the surf for a play. Enjoy your prize Mark!

Winner of Tri/Sea Vest Issue 30 Mike Pearson 55, married to Amira and father to two grown up sons, Simon and Kevin wins the Issue 30 prize of a Day Two Tri/ Sea Vest. He lectures in biology at The University of Auckland and enjoys tramping, tennis, snorkelling and kayaking. An outdoor man, he has climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, and abseiled over the Whangarei Falls. In his student days in the UK he did a bit of river kayaking. His first experience of sea kayaking was on a memorable family holiday in 1994; five days paddling the Abel Tasman Park. A few years later Amira and Mike bought a couple of basic sea kayaks for beach holidays and an occasional local trip. Now they would like to do more and are investigating the Yakity Yak club, starting with a Skills Course through Auckland Canoe & Kayak.

ISSUE THIRTY

two â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

K AYA K S U R F I N G

Surf Generation by Sam Goodall The recent massive swells on the east coast of the upper North Island are a classic example of how surf is generated. Many people believe that if it’s a windy day then the surf will be up. Not necessarily. Surf is created by swell generation out at sea and this can happen in two ways: 1. Wind swell is created by localised on-shore wind conditions which can generate reasonable sized (depending on the strength of the wind) but messy surf on our beaches. 2. Ocean swells are created by off-shore low pressure storm systems. The winds generated within these storms often do not effect our shores because they are so far away, but they create a maelstrom out to sea which creates waves. These waves then travel outwards from the storm (just like throwing a stone into a pond) and form a swell (or a big ripple!). The swell travels towards land where it appears as surf on our beaches. The recent 6m east coast swell and subsequent awesome surf was a byproduct of the storm you can see in the Pacific Ocean on the weather chart. When this sort of swell hits Auckland we get great surf on our local beaches - it doesn’t happen very often and there is only one thing to do - stop working and start surfing!! See you on a wave!

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

Red Beach

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

S E A K AYA K I N G

Spark of Desire In summer, January 2001, a steady northeasterly wind encouraged a few white caps to dance across the top of the waves. From where I holiday, this wind comes straight through the gap between Takatu Point and Kawau Island, through the little islands, known to the locals as Rabbit and Goat, and reaches land, to buffet my campervan. The wind makes it unpleasant to seek some vitamin E from the suns rays, or to try and get out to the favourite fishing spot to catch the evening meal. This day as I sat playing cards with the kids, a kayak came around the point from Algies Bay - I was surprised to see someone in so small a craft propelled by man’s own strength, out in weather too rough for my powered tin boat. But even more to my surprise 3 others accompanied him. I sat and watched as they made their way across the

Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers N.Z. Inc. (KASK) KASK is a network of sea kayakers throughout New Zealand KASK publishes a 146 page sea kayaking handbook which is free to new members: the handbook contains all you need to know about sea kayaking: techniques and skills, resources, equipment, places to go etc. KASK publishes a bi-monthly newsletter containing trip reports, events, book reviews, technique/equipment reviews and a ‘bugger’ file. KASK holds national sea kayaking forums.

Website: www.kask.co.nz

Annual subscription is $35.00.

Kask PO Box 23, Runanga 7854, West Coast

ISSUE THIRTYt

by Sharon Torckler

bay, heading for Mullet Point. What was their destination... Martins Bay? Motureka?, The Bee Hive?, Kawau? Where had they come from ... Algies? Snells?, Sandspit? I longed to know. They then disappeared out of sight and I was left with the thought of “what, when, where, why and how could I do that?” It was my first experience of sea kayaking. The spark of desire had been lit. Holidays over I meandered into the lunch room, for a coffee break and noticed a magazine on the table, a New Zealand Kayak Magazine, could this be fate? I read that mag from cover to cover, and from cover to cover again. I just had to get myself onto one of those amazing trips. Thinking it would only be a summer sport, and with the chilly temperatures of autumn approaching, I made the necessary phone call. I was talked into doing the Skills Course. I just wanted to go for a paddle, Hmm... but I took the advice, enrolled and it did not take me long to discover that it was excellent advice. Friday night in the pool - freezing cold. Saturday on Lake Pupuke - wet from re-entry practice. Sunday on the sea - windy. Being so unfit, I was sore and exhausted, but I was elated at what I had achieved. Couldn’t wait for my next outing. Family commitments meant that, time on the water was spasmodic, but the desire had not been dulled. In July 2003 my husband encouraged me to buy my own boat. I debated that I didn’t get out enough to warrant owning a boat, but he was persistent and the yellow piece of plastic was purchased. (Sometimes husbands do show wisdom or was it something else?) Another Christmas came with Santa, holidays and sun, and it was now my turn to be the yaker on the water. With the sun shining, the water calm, I climbed into my yellow craft and headed for Mullet Point. Staying as close to the landmass as possible, avoiding skiers and eager fishermen heading out for their day’s quota, I reached my destination, but was wary of venturing further. Being on the water all alone was rather daunting. My mind was being filled with ‘what ifs’. What was actually lurking in the depths of the deep blue sea? Not good thoughts when you only have a few millimetres of manmade product keeping you afloat. I decided just to do ‘group stuff’. Day paddles, organised by other clubbies, was my forte. On Labour Weekend 2004 I was encouraged to go on a Yakity Yak Weekend trip. Another piece of advice for which I am extremely grateful, and another of many firsts. We paddled further than I thought paddle-power could take you. Yet, I found my muscles were still intact and ready for more paddling the following day. This was the norm evidently for weekend trips, along with the

wo • 2005

drinks and shared nibbles at the end of each day. It all added a new dimension to kayaking and it refuelled my desire for more ... there was plenty more to come. In February 2005 - I finally took the plunge to conquer solo-paddle fear. Launching from my favourite destination I unloaded, lifted and shuffled (wheels would be good here - definitely my next purchase). I paddled off to Mullet Point. With a strong north easterly afternoon breeze starting to pick up, I cancelled the option of The Bee Hive, considered Kawau, which could be a good ride home, but chose to head round to Martins Bay. You may have realised by now that I am in no way a risk taker. I lunched and sunbathed on the beach. With a headwind, and as the waves splashed over the bow, I wondered if someone on shore was thinking similar thoughts to mine back in 2001. Round the point the wind became a tail wind. I surfed and played in the waves as I headed back to shore. What a great life this is. In 2001 a desire was sparked. In 2005 I look back at what I have achieved through kayaking. I have paddled to islands for day trips and overnight trips. I have paddled up rivers. I have visited pubs, which served food. I have visited pubs, with no food to serve. I have lunched at cafés. I have been in choppy seas. I have been on the harbour in its most glassy calm state. I have travelled to parts of NZ that I haven’t been to before. I have boogie boarded, awesome! I have boogie boarded down a sand hill - yes I screamed, and I went back for more, fantastic! I have had many laughs with the amazing people that I have met through the Yakity Yak Kayak Club. And ... there is still a desire for more. Photo by Dave Evans

Book Review

‘Coastal Sea Kayaking In New Zealand (A Practical Touring Manual)’

For Sale Kayak Shops Interested in owning your own kayak shop?

Review by Paul Hayward OK, I’ve a conflict of interest here - I think the photographs in this book are tremendous, because I took a number of them. That may not be enough reason for you to read it, but it leads nicely on to why you might want to consider it. It’s written for us. Kerry writes both well and entertainingly. At the outset, he clearly states his motivation. He feels we deserve a book which illuminates our local paddling paradise, a book without the oft-seen pages on bear-avoidance and instantly numbing cold water. He covers sharks and jet skis instead. He tempts us ‘to go beyond the confines of the harbour or bay and not come back before dark’ - and gives both general and personal insights into why you should.

Canoe & Kayak Ltd is ready to open Licensed Operations in new centres and has the going concern Hamilton Canoe & Kayak, The Corner Greenwood St & Duke St, State Highway 1

Although Kerry says this is ‘not a book about how to sea kayak’, it really is. It’s about how to enjoy the process. No, he doesn’t tell you how to identify a trawler by its lights, nor yet how to phrase a PanPan on your VHF - much less how to do a roll. He does tell you why you might enjoy learning these things. Why you might enjoy seeking out knowledge and practising skills which stretch your mind and body and deepen your enjoyment of the superb kayaking environment we have so abundantly available to us.

bypass for sale.

Having sold you on why, he very usefully tells you where best to find the information. He covers just about everything I can think of: for trip planning: transport, food, equipment, weather and communications. He describes his solo paddles and has some cogent advice on the benefits and dangers of group expeditions.

Phone: 09 473 0036

His final paragraph sums it up well: ‘That is what sea kayak touring...is ultimately all about - getting to know yourself, your abilities and your limits, and your willingness maybe to push them a bit further next time.’

Peter Townend Managing Director, Canoe & Kayak Ltd and I’ll be glad to have a chat. All approaches will be dealt with in confidence.

Published 2005 by New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd RRP $29.99 Available from any good book store and Canoe & Kayak.

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

S E A K AYA K I N G

Day 9

by John Humphris

The day started with flat and glassy water in Whangamumu Harbour on Cape Brett. Mike and I aimed for an easy day to Deep Water Harbour on the Bay of Islands side of the Cape. We shot some gaps in the rocks and closer to the tip of the cape gave one a miss due to the shallow rocks. Passing it, I saw a large tunnel on our left. I watched the waves and decided to gofor-it. I could handle the smaller 1 metre waves straight on, before the next biggie. Three paddle strokes towards the tunnel, which was approx 30 - 40 metres long; I was hit with a tremendous wind. It almost froze me in fright. A large wave came towards me, and even more frightening was a huge hole in the sea between me and the wave just inside the entrance to the tunnel. Water was gushing in from a cavity in the side of the wall and I was being sucked in. My attempts to stop were futile. I screamed out “Noooooooooooooooo!” warning Mike not to follow. The wave washed up the sides of the tunnel, filled the cavities and caused a big sideways surge. It washed me from one wall to the other. I was fighting for my life. Tossed around like a cork in a washing machine, another wave chucked me into the wall again. I went over and was sucked out of my cockpit. Tossed around I yelled, screamed and shouted, in fear and to let Mike know not to come in. My field of vision narrowed to the surrounding 2 or 3 metres. The surge was strong and confused. I was tossed and sucked in several directions, unable to let go of

the kayak as only my stretched out arm with my hand locked onto the side of the cockpit stopped me from being sucked deeper. I pushed off the side of the wall and tried to launch myself over the cockpit. I grabbed a good lungful of air, and then up, up, up I went on one of the larger waves... it didn’t seem to stop... Sliding up the wall of the tunnel I leant into the cockpit to protect my head. Gasping for air, I tried to get myself onto the kayak but got washed off every time. I was being washed back, forth up, down and sideways. A huge swell came through. I pushed myself and the kayak away from the side of the tunnel to protect my head and arms. I was tiring. Sometimes, I pushed myself under the kayak to stop it crushing my head against the wall. Once, I came up into the upside down cockpit hoping for a calm airspace, but it was full of water. Then, almost as if a switch was flicked, I became so weak I had trouble holding onto the kayak. I relaxed, calmed down, stopped fighting, lay back and rested, floated. Mike noted my plea for help had changed from a ‘fighting scream’ to a ‘come and get me or I’m not going to make it.’ The next wave scraped me along the side of the tunnel. I reached out and grabbed hold of the wall until I was lifted by the wave and had to let go. I hung on to my kayak and relaxed. I noticed I was moving with each backwash. I alternated holding onto the side in an effort to move through the tunnel and lying back and breathing. I felt energy returning. Now out of the critical area, but not yet

out of danger, I considered getting my paddle float out and into use. I wasn’t sure how I could blow it up! As I reached for it, wow there’s Mike! He said he came through in a break in the waves but I now know that he thought he could die. Rather than fussing about fixing up a towrope I held onto both kayaks while he towed us to a safer place away from the surge and the vertical walls surrounding us. I was now safe... and soon would be back in the kayak. It was hard work being a towrope. After 15 minutes towing I was back in my Storm. Mike pumped it out while I lay back and regained my strength. I had escaped with the only damage being no skin on the fingertips of my right hand, a few deep grazes on both elbows, a couple of minor scalp wounds and a few stray scrapes. We had about 20 Km to go until our next landing/ camping spot. I feared running out of oomph so we pushed on around Cape Brett, braving the now confused seas and wind bombs. At Whapukapirau Bay we paddled into paradise, behind a small island. Sun, shingle beach, no wind or waves. I staggered up the beach where I collapsed full length in the long grass to sleep solid for about 2 1/2 hours. This was the only drama on the whole trip with one evening of light rain and three days of head wind. All our landing spots were almost glassy calm and our campsites magical. We covered the approx 340 km from Auckland to Paihia in 10 days with 9 days paddling and one rest day. We both learnt that you must have a tow rope and it must be easily and rapidly deployed i.e. set up and ready to go, preferably deployable one handed. It should be long enough for the rescuer to get out of the danger zone and paddle in relative safety. Editor’s note - Mike and John have paddled several thousand kilometres together, most of it in exposed and open sea, with archways, tunnels and slots. This is their first totally unsafe situation. Never be complacent. Have appropriate safety gear, have it secure yet accessible.

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

DAY TWO

PALM CLASS FIVE COWTAIL WITH PADDLE CARABINER AND O-RING: To be used only on whitewater rescue PFDs with integrated rescue belt with quick release buckle and carabiner park. 1m long extended with internal flat bungee to reduce the length while stored on the side of your PFD. RRP $75.00.

PALM INSTRUCTOR TOWLINE:

ASTRAL AQUAVEST A fantastic rescue vest with quick release belt, hand warmer, bladder pouch, throw bag pouch and whistle. RRP $399.00.

Adjustable quick release waist belt with back pocket which holds 2.5m of webbing. Small carabiner included. Suitable for towing from longer kayaks and whitewater up to grade 2. Shock cord bungee is built in to the end of the webbing to reduce sudden pull around the waist. RRP $75.00

MULTIMATE VESTS RASDEX

RASDEX PURSUIT DECK

The new 'bubble' print on the Rasdex Pursuit Deck is guaranteed to stand out in a crowd. This tough spraydeck fits most multisport boats, plus polo and slalom kayaks.

A great vest for racing and touring. Lots of pockets front and back for drinks bladder and food. A detachable belt for towing or leave it at home when racing. RRP $259.00.

RRP $139.00

SPORTRACK

MODULAR REMOVABLE ROOF RACK SYSTEM

This system can easily be adapted to more than one vehicle by simply changing the module length. Extremely quick and easy to mount. Integrated Lock System. Micro-ratchet system with release mechanism. High tensile strength stainless steel. Lighweight 6061 T6 Extruded Aluminium. RRP $440

DAY TWO RIVER VEST The river vest has heaps of flotation, including extra in the front pocket. A large rear pocket for your drinks bladder. The front pocket has a key clip and plenty of spots to clip on your karabiners. This vest has a built in tow belt and the webbing over the shoulders goes right to the bottom of the vest for those tricky situations when youre being rescued. RRP $269.00.

ISSUE THIRTY

two â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

N I G H T K AYA K I N G

Rangitoto by night Organised by Auckland Canoe & Kayak, 15 enthusiastic paddlers met at Okahu Bay, Orakei on a fine Saturday afternoon for a night paddle to Rangitoto Island. At 4.45pm we set off in convoy, stopped at Bean Rock and crossed the Rangitoto Channel surfing a passing ferry’s wake. We reached the pontoon, changed out of our wet gear and had a quick bite to eat before climbing the rough, steep scoria track at a steady pace.

by Steve Smith

It’s fun to be with people of all ages and experience, out for a good time and a bit of banter; and you don’t have to be super-fit or an expert paddler to enjoy yourself. But make sure you have the right equipment - in this case head torches, snap-lights, light poles, good sized dry bags for food and clothes - and water. Its thirsty work scaling a volcano! I’m looking forward to the next one.

It was now dark and those people that had them switched on head torches - free to use both hands to cope with scrub and rocks, reaching Rangitoto’s crater site safely. Even in the dark, it’s very impressive. We climbed 100 steps to the top and spread out before us, the lights of St Helier’s, Mission Bay, Kohimarama, Orakei and Auckland centre twinkled under a full moon. We re-fuelled on chocolate, biscuits and a drink and returned to the kayaks. We reached Okahu bay at 11.15pm. You can’t climb Rangitoto in Shropshire in the UK and NZ is proving a wonderful home for a recent expat. Watching Dennis disappearing into the gloom without a torch because he wanted to see what the darkness was like with no lights; Phil’s wine-tasting at the summit - glass and all, Rangitoto’s moonscape landscape, and just drifting in the Rangitoto Channel admiring the Auckland cityscape by night - all was magic!

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine by Ruth E. Henderson

All excited, and eager for my first night paddle I rushed off and bought a ‘light stick’. Not wanting to drill holes in my kayak, and not having a lump of wood handy, I attached it to half a dozen LP records (those black vinyl circular things that do not fit CD or DVD players) on an adjustable clamp. The records slipped under my rear deck bungie. I thought this would be a handy position, as I could reach out and lower it when I wanted to go under a wharf or a catamaran!

it was pitch black and beautiful. The phosphorescence was gorgeous. We played with it. Tossing paddle blades of diamonds and amethysts up onto our bows and at each other. Fish jumped and splashed radiating rings of sparkling purple. Glowworms quietly twinkled. The Milky Way in comparison was a riotous band of brightness. So totally peaceful, so refreshing and restorative. Just what the doctor ordered.

Organised and legal I was ready to join Steve Knowles and fellow team mates for a paddle over to Motuora for an Ocean Skills course. Everyone had lights, and everyone had a different solution to the attachment scenario. That night we shared another dimension to paddling and a quickening of the pulse when there was a thump, thump in the dark. Dolphins had come to play. A great start to night paddling and the weekend. One of the most exquisite kayaking experiences I have had was a night paddle up the Glen Eden arm of the Matakana River with my light turned off for most of the trip. I was in desperate need of mental revival (having just put a magazine ‘to bed’), so I sent out a “Pan Pan’ call disguised in an email as “Hey, anyone else want to campout and have a paddle before Sunday’s trip to Tawharanui?” Greg, Lou, Roger and Guy answered the call. The campground at Tawharanui Regional Park was full, but Sandspit had room at the inn. After a good feed at the Café, we headed out. Once past the moored boats, and residential lights

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

Dave Evans and Jacqui Tyrrell

LIGHT STICKS

Light Sticks are easy to fit . They thread into a bung which can be fitted to any kayak or mounted on a piece of wood for those who don’t like cutting holes in their kayak. Mounted on a 1m pole, they are visible above the paddler’s head for up to 3km in good meteorological conditions. They run on 2 AA batteries for at least 8 continuous hours (depending on quality of batteries), are totally water proof and the light unit, batteries and switch are all self contained. A magnifying lens which alters the intensity of the light depending on which angle you look at it, makes them stand out better against city back lights. RRP $99.95

AMPRO

PERCEPTION The Rapid PFD had been manufactured using state of the art foam moulding technology. Its 3 dimensional design means it hugs your body to give a comfortable fit. RRP $169

OTTERBOX: CRUSHPROOF / WATERPROOF CASES, NEW LOOK!

SILVA L-SERIES HEADLAMPS A cutting edge LED headlamp range. The L1 is the world's brightest LED headlamp, featuring Luxeon 3 Watt LED with 100m range. L1 & L2 switch to powersave when battery charge drops to 15% or less. L4 features up to a mammoth 150hrs battery life. See www.ampro.co.nz for more. RRP $69.00 - $270.00

The OtterBoxT was built to keep items dry and safe - cell phone, GPS, palm computer, camera, or anything else that needs protection against the elements. The closed cell neoprene o-ring creates a positive seal which does not allow water in, and the box itself is made with a fibreglass reinforced ABS resin that is virtually indestructible. The boxes tested off the coast of Alaska reached depths well beyond 100 feet without leaking. See www.ampro.co.nz for more.

MEMORY-MAP: GPS NAVIGATION SOFTWARE Memory-Map lets you navigate with GPS and plan & review your trips with ease. With a GPS connected it shows your position on a full colour detailed map and helps you navigate. The Performance Review features let you see exactly where you've travelled, distance covered and speeds. Ideal for printing your own custom maps, programming waypoints into a GPS and real time GPS positioning. Topographical version is only $79.95 for a region (6 regions in total), $199.95 for north or south island, and $349.95 for all of New Zealand. Marine charts based on the Leisure Craft series including Coastguard PilotGuide points of interest are only $99.95 per region. Available from leading outdoors stores. See www.memory-map.co.nz for more details

DESCENTE

Following on from success in the USA with new blade shapes for the “OrigiNZ” nylon touring blades and the “Jazz” carbon / epoxy touring blades, is the “Velocity” brand. They will be available in NZ for the 2005 - 2006 season in either 1 piece, 2 piece split or with “Quiklok” adjustable shaft. The “Energy” nylon blade, and the carbon “Impetus”, identical in shape and of a medium size, are nicely balanced units equally at home in a lake, river or sea environment. Plenty of

power available from the larger tip area compared to more conventional blades. The smaller “Finesse” nylon blade is the baby of the group and perfect for the smaller person who requires light weight at 980 grams* and economy. The largest blade in the range, the carbon “Impetus” at only 720 grams* is a lightweight powerhouse for the larger, stronger paddler. * on a 1 piece shaft. For any further information on the paddles or your nearest supplier, contact us at flite@xtra.co.nz

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

W H I T E WAT E R K AYA K I N G

Meeting of the Waters Play-hole in New Plymouth At the Meeting of the Waters picnic area, the tailrace from the Mangorei Power Station f lows into the Waiwhakaiho River. The tailrace has been developed into a slalom site. It is also the site of the play-hole, originally an accidental ledge left by a digger. However with a lot of rock obstructions, it was an unsatisfactory affair. It was noticed that when the Waiwhakaiho flooded the rising water level downstream created a better play-hole. This discovery led to the idea that the rocks could be shifted to create a tidy hole with eddies either side. A small weir downstream would provide the correct level. Trust-power, who control tailrace flow expressed support. Andy Fuller and other kayaking experts gave us some tips. The basic idea was to ‘squeeze between two rock embankments and then drop the flow over a rock ledge.’ The first drawing of the concept was in dust on a van door during discussions on a Rangitikei trip. A visit to the Penrith artificial course on the way to Nepal, gave us a valuable insight into how playholes are formed. However meccano concrete slabs and plastic pegs were a bit beyond our resources. After this we were still uncertain that our proposal would work, but it was worth a try. We needed a play-hole because there are not enough rainy days to enable frequent river runs. We needed something to quench the need for a paddle in between times, and it would be good to have a place to warm up before a river run. We decided to get all required approvals in advance. The New Plymouth Kayak Club prepared an eight-page proposal which was submitted to Taranaki Regional Council, District Council, Trustpower, TOPEC (outdoor pursuits education) and DOC for approval. Using the Council GIS map we determined that the site was on DOC land. The survey peg was found (with pinpoint accuracy) using a GPS. Because of the minor scope of the works TRC approved the proposal as a permitted activity, so the full resource consent process was not required. We had no trouble getting approvals, but the processing time was slow. NPKC obtained a grant of $2500 from TSB to cover the costs of digger hire etc.

ISSUE THIRTYt

Building it took four digger visits. Our first attempt had a 3 metre wide gap and produced an awesome pour-over. Rock collapse due to water flow pressure was a problem. The shoulder collapsed after this first attempt. We widened the gap (ledge width) to 5metre.Then in spite of the rocks being about half cubic metre each, the ledge collapsed. On the third attempt the ledge rocks were secured by large downstream toe rocks partially buried. Neither concrete, nor artificial materials were used. The toe rocks were kept as low as possible so a kayak’s nose would not hit them. The ledge rocks were trimmed with a hired diamond blade, petrol driven concrete cutter to get an even height. Because the downstream weir did not create enough pool height, we had a sticky hole, requiring an act of bravery to enter it and some swim outs. So, on the fourth digger visit, the whole weir was shifted downstream and built up higher with small rocks. While the turbines were turned off, a frantic working bee with two wheelbarrows secured these with a light veneer of cement/sand mix. The downstream location now provides enough time to roll up and get out of the current before being swept over the weir. Arranging Trust-power to drop the flow to 1 m3/ sec for a couple of hours, when a digger was available made for difficulty. Tip - employ a contractor with several diggers! One is likely to be available. The play-hole is now complete. It is a popular spot for paddlers as Taranaki rivers are rain dependent. The play-hole can be surfed at a relatively low flow of 4 m3/sec. Maximum flow is 7 m3/sec. The usual moves - cartwheel, spin, pirouette, blast, blunt etc can be performed. We are looking forward to seeing the first loop. Many thanks to everyone who assisted in the planning and building.

Design notes for technical minds: General A hole is created as follows. • Accelerate the flow between two shoulders • Drop the flow over a ledge. The width of the ledge is critical i.e. it must be in the right proportion to the flow available. The ledge width and the flow govern the height of the upper pool.

by Mark Garner lower pool is the drop. The drop is critical for the following reasons. • Not enough drop and the hole washes out. • Just right gives a retentive hole • Too much and you’ve got a sticky hole The drop is actually quite small, about 250-300mm for this play-hole.

Design flow range The design flow is critical. For a power station the choice is easy i.e. all turbines running. In this case the maximum flow is 7 m3/sec. We have found that this is an ample flow for a decent size hole and the minimum flow in practice is 4 m3/sec. Less and the hole is too small.

Ledge width The choice of ledge width is governed by experience with other play-holes. It is not calculated. We selected a 5m width for a design flow of 7 m3/sec. For comparison, the Tekapo playhole is 9m wide and the flow is 18 m3/sec.

Weir height The weir is essential to control flow of 4 to 7 m3/ sec. The height of the weir crest is the same as the ledge height. The height of the downstream weir should equal the natural height of the stream at design flow. However in this case the ledge is a little higher to accommodate variations in height of the Waiwhakaiho River.

Weir width The weir width needs to be wider than the ledge. In this case this is calculated at 10 metres.

Hydraulic calculations For engineers, who are well represented amongst kayakers, Chapter 5 ‘Notches &Weirs’ from the textbook ‘Hydraulics’ by Lewitt is very useful. Broad-crested weir and submerged weir formulae apply.

Terminology Ledge - water drops over the ledge to create the hole. Shoulders - the left and right hand shoulders either side of the ledge which funnel and accelerate the flow over the ledge. Drop - the fall from upper to lower pool. Upper pool - upstream

A downstream weir is needed to control the level of the lower pool.

Lower pool - the pool in which the kayaks are playing.

The difference in height between the upper and

Weir - creates the lower pool and controls its height.

wo • 2005

Weir under construction

View of completed project from footbridge

Aaron playing. Flow about 4 m3/sec.

ISSUE THIRTY

two â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

Seven Dams, Seven Days by Sea Kayak by Mike Bell The planning started nearly twelve months ago. The challenge was to portage the seven dams starting from the Fuljames rapid in Taupo and finishing at Port Waikato. A total paddling distance of over 300km without assistance from a support vehicle. We were to free camp along the way carrying provisions, food, cooking and camping gear for the journey as well as six litres of water to last two days. Water top ups could be made along the way. Most of us had paddled the individual lakes and side-streams on day trips and had explored different parts of the river north of Lake Karapiro so we asked, “Why not the whole way?” The five were Evan and Linda Pugh from Leitchfield, John Flemming from Rotorua, Ryan Whittle from North Shore and Mike Bell from Cambridge. That’s me. I was the last to arrive at the get-in on Friday afternoon with enough time to load my kayak so we could leave together. Small rapids kept us focused and with a good flow we managed 28k before pulling the kayaks up a small bank at 7.45pm. With two dams to portage we were up before sunrise for an early start. The Ohakuri Hydro would be the hardest of the trip. A short portage brought us to an area high above the water level of Lake Atiamuri. The only ‘easy’ way was 40m straight down a fisherman’s track. Each of us carried 10m of rope, joined by John to lower each fully laden kayak to the bottom of the track. Evan and I manoeuvred them to the get-in. We had a short paddle to Atiamuri Hydro-dam. Towering cliffs edged this part of the lake in a landscape which can only be enjoyed from the water. The water level was low and we had to stop in knee-deep mud. It smelt real bad! Portaging to the base of Atiamuri Hydro was relatively easy but the water at the get-in was moving quickly. Evan went last to make sure we got round the first few corners leading under State Highway 1. He and I got round the corner to find John capsized, holding on to the back of his kayak. Evan quickly passed me, hooked on his towline and paddled to a large easy back eddy. We both pumped out John’s kayak then steadied it so he could re-enter. A few bits were lost from his trolley so we phoned to arrange a spare for the next morning. An easy paddle to campsite 2 past the Youth camp, then a wash down, dinner and a beer finished the day. It was a misty, calm morning. After breakfast, packing the gear, and getting the kayaks on the water we were off for the next day’s paddling. Skiers camping at the reserve opposite us asked: “Where are you headed?” When we answered “Port Waikato”, there were a few wows and good wishes. They probably thought we were mad!! We had a short rest and snacks at the top of Whakamaru Hydro, trollied up and portaged to the next get-in at Lake Maraetai. At the base Evan, Ryan and I paddled under the spillway. It’s an eerie feeling when you realize the bottom of the previous lake is close through the concrete structure. At the exit point of Lake Maraetai, the portage down a rough four-wheel drive track became the undoing of 3 trolleys. One was repairable while the other two weren’t. Damn! All we could do was double back for the remaining kayaks. After refuelling with drinking water and food, the final part of this portage began. We lowered each kayak down a steep slope beside a bridge, and then eased them down 2m onto a concrete platform to water level. Without incident we continued through scenic Lake Waipapa until we

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

reached our designated camping spot. The next day’s portage at Waipapa hydro was probably the easiest and we were quickly back into the kayaks on Lake Arapuni. The coloured steep cliffs at Lake Arapuni are quite spectacular. Our 6th portage of approximately 3.5k’s was the longest. After what seemed hours we arrived at our next campsite exhausted but with plenty of daylight to set camp. Tuesday dawned and promised to be a shorter day. The plan was to paddle the length of Lake Karapiro, portage the Karapiro Hydro and camp in the old quarry. A distance of only 25ks to cover. At the start, 500 metres of rapids smooth out and form the top of Lake Karapiro. I led determinedly, and with lots of yehaaas and woohoos we all got through unscathed. Evan recorded a top speed of 17.2kph, which was the highest for the entire trip. Fresh blackberries were a nice treat, a change from muesli bars and nuts. We topped up with fresh water at Finlay Park then while Evan, Linda and John went to Horahora reserve, Ryan and I paddled the Pokaiwhenua Stream, as far as we could go, a distance of about 4km. We caught up with the others at Horahora for lunch and managed to dry some of our gear before setting off again for Karapiro domain. A short portage and a lift over a fence gave us access to the track leading to the unused quarry. We gave a shout of delight as this was the last of the dams and from here it was plain sailing, ah kayaking. We camped and I made a call home to arrange a traditional NZ dinner for the adventurers. Yes, fish and chips and hamburgers finished with ice cold Cola. What a treat. My wife took gear no longer required. The following morning we intended to use a manmade lagoon as an ideal get-in but the river level had dropped 1.2m making it too high. Instead we had to use strops to carry each kayak to an easier put-in further up stream. We entered a narrow gorge with a surge and exited without any problems. One small rapid to go... I was the last to go through, then without warning, I was over. Bugger, I’ve capsized. As the others were ahead I self-rescued, got in first time, pumped out most of the water, replaced the spray-deck, disconnected the paddle float in time to negotiate the last bit of fast water just before Cambridge. I caught up to the others, explained what had happened and sponged the remaining water out as we headed toward Hamilton. At Horotiu a powerful stench hit us from the freezing works. An amazingly disgusting Hamilton refuse site is a few hundred of metres from the river edge. Makes you wonder how much stuff seeps into the river. Yuck!!. We stopped at Huntly to fill bottles with fresh water. The river water here isn’t that tasty. We passed the dominant building of the Huntly Power Station and finished the day setting up camp on a semi-island, watching the sun go down. We had been on the water for 7hrs 50mins and completed 74ks for the day. The river flow helped us a lot. Another morning and up before dawn. There was a light mist on the river, which burned off quickly giving us a beautiful day. We stopped at Mercer for lunch and ice cream. On a journey like this you have to treat yourself along the way. An easy breeze was against us and about mid afternoon we found an ideal camping spot on an island big enough to farm. Cows looked on as we pulled the kayaks ashore and erected tents where they had stood. On our final day we stopped at Tuakau to empty our rubbish and continued on to our destination Port Waikato. As John drifted by a sand quarry, which

was in full operation, he told a bloke we had started from Taupo. His eyes must have popped out of his head with amazement. We beached on the sandy shore opposite and could hear the conversation on the CB between the blokes on the barge and the guys on the shore. As we left they wished us a safe journey and gave us a mighty wave. We reached the island system to face the last of the incoming tide. Instead of fighting the current, we had an early lunch and rested for about an hour. In the estuary we had a following wind, which made paddling easy, but with the tide still coming in the chop was bigger but not uncomfortable

In the distance we could see our landing point. I asked everyone to keep his or her gear on and pose for a last photo. We landed, posed, changed into dry clothes and enjoyed beer, coffee, café food and other carbohydrate replacements while we waited for our pick up. When the vans arrived we loaded up and congratulated each other on our accomplishment. Just fantastic!! Actual paddling time was 41hrs 1min with an average paddling speed of 7.4kph covering a total distance of 303k excluding side-streams.

Thank you Hawkes Bay Regional Council. from the Taupo Canoe & Kayak gang For a slightly eccentric paddler known as River Ron, being pinned by a submerged metal pole facing upstream in a grade 2 rapid is not nice. I refer to the metal poles that had made their way into river, from the old Bridge across the Mohaka (about 0.5km upstream of the Napier/Taupo Highway 1). It pushed his kayak sideways and pierced his spray deck, narrowly missing his leg. Unable to free himself, he was rescued by fellow paddlers and lived to tell the tale and paddle another day. After that incident we changed our Ops manual and portaged the area while we worked out how, when and who could remove the offending poles. My first port of call was the Hawkes Bay Regional Council who advised me by letter that “river users need to be cognisant of the poles or any other submerged objects (rocks/trees). They were not the responsibility of the Council”. Fair enough I thought, while wondering what

cognisant meant. However, the letter went on to promise that they would send an Environmental Regulation Officer to have a look. Well, look he did and while said officer was there he undertook the task of taking them out and cutting a couple of them to a reasonable level under the low river mark. By all accounts he did a splendid job, removing the potentially deadly poles and making us feel a whole lot better about taking clients there. It’s also good to know that we have served the kayaking community as a whole and saved another poor soul ending up like Ron, or worse!! So, hats off to the guys and gals at Hawkes Bay Regional Council and the mystery person from the Environmental Regulation Section for their efforts in making the Riverland’s section of the Mohaka a safer place to paddle.

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

K AYA K C O O K I N G

Bush Bread by Gordon Daglish After a hard day paddling, (that’s if you have got away early enough and are not now trying to set up the tent in the dark!) food always comes very high on a list of priorities. If it is freshly cooked all the better. One of my favourite, tried and true meals is ‘Bush Bread’ The fastest way to make bread is in boiling oil. (Keep the pretty parts of your body away as boiling oil will burn). The recipe can be changed by adding muesli or just about anything you have left over. Mix dry ingredients then add water slowly to the centre so that at the end of mixing you still have dry flour sticking to the dough. Knead the dough. Adding flour will stop it sticking to fingers, pots, hair, etc. (Using a plastic bag will save washing up.) Leave to rise if not too hungry. Add small balls of dough to oil (keep them thin or they will be doughy on the inside) and cook until golden brown. Remember to cook lots for other people. Good luck.

BUSH BREAD Self-raising flour - 4 parts Milk powder - 1 part Mix dry ingredients together Add Water - put in centre of dry ingredients Knead Leave to rise Roll out to patty size and/or fill with “Stagg” and make into ‘Cornish pasties’ Fry in very hot oil. Photos by Rachel McCormack. Master Chef - Gordon Daglish

Apprentice Chef - Ruth Henderson.

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

n i W

Rapid Personal Flotation Device valued at $169 Name: Email: Address:

For more information on any of these kayaks or equipment - fill in the form and receive an information pack and Go in the Draw to WIN....

Ph: home work mobile Please send me info. on: Send form to: WIN A RAPID PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE; NZ Kayak Magazine, 7/28 Anvil Rd, Silverdale. Phone (09) 421 0662.

Prize drawn on 31 September2005

NEW ZEALAND KAYAK MAGAZINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BUYERS GUIDE RECREATIONAL AND SIT-ON-TOP KAYAKS

SPECIFICATION Weight: Width: Length: Price:

34 kg 83 cm 4.70m From $1429

ACADIA 470 A great fun family boat with plenty of freeboard allowing for a heavy load. Excellent for sheltered water exploring. Paddles quickly and has excellent stability. Dry storage compartment. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

SPECIFICATION

KAYAKS

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

ACADIA 280 A light easy to use family kayak. Enjoyable paddling for the whole family in sheltered waters.

21.77 kg 597 mm 5.046 m From $1995

EXPEDITION is designed to go fast. It is built to accelerate quickly and get to its top speed in a short period of time. This boat has lots of storage and is ideal for any paddler interested in performance touring, sea kayaking and long distance cruising.

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

23.5 kg 62 cm 4.5m $1360

SWIFT The swift is an easy handling and stable sit-on-top, with a hull shape similar to that of a sit-in kayak to give it greater speed. The standard Swift comes rigged with a rudder and storage compartments, making it the ideal craft for those longer trips or a day out fishing beyond the breakers.

Weight: 22.68 kg Width: 711 mm Length: 4.55 m Price: $1195 (x A hatch and tank straps incl.)

TOURER This kayak has it all, even an adjustable leg length rudder system. The low profile hull of the Cobra Tourer cuts down on windage, enabling paddlers to maintain high speed and straight tracking with easy handling in all conditions. The integrated keel provides stability and efficiency.

17 kg 68 cm 2.8 m $859

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

27 kg 750 mm 3.46 m $910

ESCAPADE Great general purpose kayak for fishing, diving and having fun in the sun.

Easy finance available from

Conditions and booking fee apply

ISSUE THIRTY

two â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.

RECREATIONAL AND SIT-ON-TOP KAYAKS

SPECIFICATION Weight: Width: Length: Price:

KAYAKS

SPECIFICATION Weight: Width: Length: Price:

18.18 kg 790 mm 3.43 m From $895

36.36 kg 915 mm 5.03 m From $1295

THE EXPLORER is ideal for fishing, surfing and exploring and one of the

THE TRIPLE is an excellent performing family Sit-on. The centre seat area

driest ‘Sit-ons’ you will find. Great hatches for storing your goodies

is dry with heaps of room so the kids can move and fidget without causing the adults any concern. The centre space also allows for storage of heaps of camping equipment.

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

25.90 kg 915 mm 3.81 m From $1095

THE TANDEM ‘two person’ is ideal for fishing, surfing and exploring with great hatches for storing your adventure equipment. Now available with three person option. It is often used by one person. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

17.27 kg 710 mm 3.10 m From $649

Weight: 25.85 kg Width: 914 mm Length: 3.81 m Price: From $995 (hatches & accessories not included)

FISH ‘N DIVE The ultimate fishing/diving kayak. A large well is located in the stern and holds up to three tanks. There is one centrally located seat and a smaller companion seat near the bow. It can also be fitted with an optional motor bracket for an electric trolling or small outboard engine. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

15 kg 780 mm 2.7m $489

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

34 kg 840 mm 4.75 m $1599

SQUIRT A Sit-on-Top for the family. Able to seat an adult and a small child. It is easy to paddle and is very stable. Easily carried by one adult or two kids. Weight: Width: Length Price:

SWING 470 PLUS A fantastic two person cruising kayak which is stable and fast. It has plenty of storage and great features to make your adventures fun.

23 kg 750 mm 3.3 m $770

ESCAPEE Probably the closest you will come to finding one kayak that Weight: Width: Length: Price:

25 kg 780 mm 4.01 m $1099

does it all. Surfing, fishing, snorkelling. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

SWING 400 PLUS Flat water cruising, well appointed with gear storage inside. Also includes an optional extra pod that detaches, which is great for carrying your fishing gear to your favourite spot. The pod can also be used as a seat. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

22.7 kg 810 mm 3.12 m $939

TORRENT FREEDOM Great for the surf and the river with awesome manoeuvrability. Excellent finish.

14 kg 700 mm 3m $710

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

32 kg 830 mm 4.2 m $1160

SPRITE ONE A kayak for the family, able to seat an adult and child. Easy paddling, adjustable seat back and clip down hand grabs, paddles well in a straight line and is very stable. Suits flat water conditions.

DELTA DOUBLE Fun for the whole family at the beach or lake. Plenty of room and great stability.

Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.

RECREATIONAL AND SIT-ON-TOP KAYAKS

SPECIFICATION Weight: Width: Length: Price:

KAYAKS

SPECIFICATION Weight: Width: Length: Price:

21 kg 770 mm 2.5 m $630

32 kg 820 mm 4.5 m From $1170 to $1590

WHIZZ A great multi-purpose family boat for big kids and small kids alike.

SPRITE TWO Two person cruiser, comes with dry gear storage. Fast,

Lots of fun this summer at the beach. (Hot surfer!)

stable and easy to use. Adjustable back rest. Suits flat water conditions. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

27 kg 67 cm 470 cm $1299 (Std) $1559 (Expedition)

NAPALI 470 The Napali 470 has been loaded with lots of technical features. It is a stable sit-on-top, and as efficient as a standard-size touring boat. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

NAPALI 520 We took the lines of the Napali 470 and stretched them out to nearly 5.2m and added another seat. The result is the Napali 520, a most efficient tandem sit-on-top.

16 kg 685 mm 2.92 m $795

COBRA STRIKE A Wave Ski which the whole family can enjoy. Fantastic in the surf, it‘s a fast and manoeuvrable sit-on-top.

32 kg 74 cm 520 cm $1499 (Std) $1899 (Expedition)

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

20 kg 710 mm 2.98 m $849

Five O Amazing surf sit-on-top. Fun, agile and performance orientated.

LAKE AND SEA KAYAKS Weight: Width: Length: Price:

35 kg 800 mm 4.87 m $2750

CONTOUR 490 This double Sea Kayak is an ideal day tourer with the easy ability to do those weekend camping expeditions. It handles well, is fun to paddle and has well appointed accessories. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

Your height, weight and paddling ability will affect the type of kayak best suited for your needs. Ask for advice at your specialist kayak shop. Weight: Width: Length: Price: Tourer Expedition

45 kg 760 mm 5.64 m $3589

20 kg 675 mm 3.7 m $1289 $1599

ECO NIIZH 565 XLT This upgraded model is proving a hit with its new lighter weight and some excellent features. We now have a plastic double sea kayak that is great to use for all those amazing expeditions and adventures. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

ACADIA 370 Flat water cruising, well appointed, a nifty adjustable backrest, an access hatch in the back which is great for carrying your extra gear.

27 kg 62 cm 480cm $2199

CONTOUR 480 Is a roomy, manoeuvrable, easy to handle boat. A channelled hull provides outstanding tracking that helps keep you on course. Its upswept, flared bow makes crossing rough water a breeze.

Weight: Width: Length: Basic Excel Excel lightweight

Std 22kg 610 mm 4.4 m $1410 $1750 $1920

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

Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.

LAKE AND SEA KAYAKS SPECIFICATION

KAYAKS

We recommend that everybody who uses a kayak should participate in a training course. This will ensure your enjoyment and safety. Ask at your nearest kayak shop. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

Tasman Express responds to rough conditions but its decreased weight, and increased stiffness, gives even better performance.

overnight expeditions. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great fun to paddle and handles easily. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

expeditions. Huge storage and lots of leg room.

Std 26 kg 590 mm 5.4 m $2699

ECOBEZHIG 540 An enjoyable sea kayak, fast and nimble with huge storage, great features and the most comfortable seat your butt will ever meet. Weight: Width: Length: Price: Lightweight

25 kg 610 mm 4.8 m $2250 $2520

PENGUIN Has all the features for multi-day kayaking with ease of handling in all weather conditions. With great manoeuvrability this kayak is suitable for paddlers from beginner to advanced.

23kg kevlar/carbon 600 mm 5.6 m $4110 Kevlar

TORRES A fast and stable sea kayak capable of handling extreme

27 kg 610 mm 5.3 m $2550 $2820

TASMAN EXPRESS Responds to rough conditions. Its low profile and flared bow enable it to perform well in adverse conditions. It is designed to give the paddler maximum comfort, with adjustable footrests, backrest, side seat supports and optional thigh brace.

26kg 640mm 4.5 m $1999

CONTOUR 450 This kayak is designed for day tripping and light

SPECIFICATION Weight: Width: Length: Price: Lightweight

22 kg 610 mm 5.3 m $3980

TASMAN EXPRESS KEVLAR As per the plastic model, the kevlar

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

KAYAKS

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

22kg 600 mm 5.4 m $3960 Kevlar

SOUTHERN SKUA Fast, stable sea kayak. Great in the rough and in the wind. Well appointed for expedition and day trips. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

Weight: 22kg Width: 590 mm Length: 5m Price: $3110 (Freight charges may apply)

34kg 820 mm 4.5 m $1690

CHALLENGE 5 Slightly larger volume than the Sequel and lighter at 22kg. A fast and stable touring sea kayak well appointed and featuring a great rudder/steering system.

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

WANDERER EXCEL A stable fun kayak which is easy to handle. This is an enjoyable kayak for all the family. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

26kg 580 mm 4.93 m $2099 North Island $2195 South Island

SEQUEL Fast, light, touring kayak suits beginners through to advanced paddlers. The hull design allows for great handling in rough water. Well appointed and ideally suitable for multisport training.

BREEZE Fully appointed sea kayak. Light weight and agile with a long waterline giving good speed in a smaller sea kayak. Designed with the lighter paddler in mind. Suitable for day or overnight trips. Fun in a compact package.

Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo â&#x20AC;˘ 2005

22kg 600 mm 4.5 m $1785 North Island $1903 South Island

We have many more kayaks available so please ask if you cannot see what you want.

MULTISPORT AND RACING SEA KAYAKS KAYAKS

SPECIFICATION Weight: Width: Length: Price:

SPECIFICATION

KAYAKS

11kg 450mm 5.65m $2995

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

16.5 kg 500mm 6.4 m $3495 kevlar & carbon $2995 fibreglass

REBEL This new fast funky Ruahine Kayak is designed for paddlers of both

OCEAN X This Racing Sea Kayak was designed specifically for the ‘Length

genders up to 75kgs. It is 5.65 metres long, which is half way between the length of the Swallow and the Opus and goes faster than an Opus.

of New Zealand Race’ and built around the safety criteria drawn up for that race. The Ocean X is also very suitable for kayak racing in the many harbours, estuaries and lakes of New Zealand and lends itself well to the kayak sections of many multisport races.

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

12.5 kg 450mm 5.89m $2995

OPUS This popular ‘user friendly’ kayak, with its excellent balance of speed and stability is designed for the multisport paddler moving up to a faster kayak from a Swallow or similar. Weight: Width: Length: Price:

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

14.5 kg 540 mm 4.94m $2295

INTRIGUE This kayak is ideal for the beginner kayaker who is looking for a quick, light kayak with great stability.

12 kg 480mm 5.4 m $2795

Weight:

Length: Price:

SWALLOW The next step up from the entry level kayaks. Fast with good

13.5 kg Kevlar 12 kg Carbon / Kevlar 6.2 m $3095 Kevlar $3295 Carbon / Kevlar

stability. Medium skill ability is required to enjoy racing this kayak.

F1 This innovative new multisport kayak is designed for the advanced and Weight: 16.5 kg to 19 kg depending on construction Width: 510 mm Length: 6.43 m Price: $2980 - $3330 depending on construction

elite paddler. This radical kayak is fast with considerable secondary stability and is fitted with our new “bikini” seat. It will accelerate with ease, cutting wave trains and eliminating rocking.

Weight: Width: Length: Price:

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

19.09 kg 585 mm 5.03 m $1495

THE ELIMINATOR is a fast stable racing Weight: Weight:

26 26kg kg Glass Kevlar/Carbon 24kg Kevlar Width: 550mm Width: 550 mm Length: 7m Length: 7m Price: $4995 Price: $4995Glass - $5495 $5495 depending on construction Kevlar/Carbon

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

ADVENTURE DUET This lightweight, very fast and recently updated Adventure Racing double kayak continues to dominate adventure racing in NZ and is very suitable as a recreational double.

Give your specialist kayak shop a call and talk to one of our friendly team to help choose the best kayak for you.

Easy finance available from

Conditions and booking fee apply

Please note that all prices are subject to change without notice. Accessories and hatches as pictured may not be included in price.

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

Learn To Kayak SEA KAYAKS, TOURING AND SIT-ON-TOPS

WHITE WATER AND MULTISPORT

Stage 2

Stage 1

INTRO TO WHITE WATER

SKILLS COURSE

ESKIMO ROLLING

A comprehensive course designed to cover the skills required to become a technically correct and safe paddler. The course progresses so you develop techniques and confidence at an enjoyable pace with great end results. This course is run over a weekend or by request in the evenings.

This course covers the skills required to become a technically correct Eskimo Roller. You increase your confidence, allowing you to paddle in more challenging conditions. Being able to eskimo roll will make you a more competent, safe and capable paddler.

A comprehensive course designed to cover the skills required to become a technically correct paddler. Starting off in a heated pool and progressing through flat water to moving water, it allows you to develop techniques and confidence at an enjoyable pace with great end results.

Course: 4 evening sessions COST $200

Course: Weekend COST $349

COST $295

Stage 3

Stage 2

ESKIMO ROLLING This course covers the skills required to become a technically correct Eskimo Roller. This will increase your confidence, allowing you to paddle in more challenging conditions.

Course: 4 evening sessions COST $200

Stage 3

Stage 4

MULTISPORT On this course we continue to build on the skills gained on Stage One and Two Courses. Developing your skills, technique and confidence on the faster moving white water of the Waikato River and progressing on to a Sunday day trip on the Mohaka River. Includes, eddie turns, ferry gliding, rolling, surfing and building new skills in River Rescue techniques and River Reading.

During this course we build on the skills gained on the Stage One to Three Courses. Developing your moving water skills, technique and confidence in your Multi Sport Kayak. We start on the Mohaka River on Saturday and progress to the Whanganui on Sunday for some big water paddling. River racing competency letters are awarded to those who meet the standard and criteria as outlined on the Grade Two Competency Certificate. A copy is available from Canoe & Kayak Shops.

Course: Weekend • COST $349

RIVER SKILLS WEATHER & NAVIGATION Understanding the weather and ability to navigate in adverse conditions is vital when venturing into the outdoors. Learn to use charts and compasses and forecast the weather using maps and the clouds.

Course: 4 evening sessions COST $150

OCEANS COURSE An advanced course designed to build on your skills. Covering paddling technique, kayak control, rescues, preparation, planning and decision making.

Course: Weekend/overnight. COST $350

Stage 6

Stage 5

Stage 5 KAYAKING SURF COURSE Surfing is heaps of fun when you know how. We will spend the evenings starting off in small surf and building up to one and a half metre waves. We will use a range of sit on tops and kayaks to make it fun and easy to learn. Skills to be taught include surfing protocol, paddling out, direction control, tricks and safety

RESCUE COURSE

Course: 4 evening sessions COST $349

Programme One Evening Cost $60

You need rescue skills to look after yourself and your paddling buddies in adverse conditions. This course covers towing systems, capsized kayaks, T Rescues, paddle floats, stern deck carries, re-enter and roll.

n i W

For more information on any of these courses or tours - fill in the form and receive an information pack and Go in the Draw to WIN.... Prize drawn on 31 September 2005

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

ADVANCED WHITEWATER

RIVER RESCUE

This course is designed to sharpen your whitewater skills and start learning simple rodeo moves. We will focus on skills such as river reading, body position and rotation, advanced paddle technique, playing in holes and negotiating higher Grade 3 rapids. We recommend you are feeling comfortable on Grade 2+ rapids. Ideally you should already be paddling the mid section of Rangitaiki or equivalent.

This course is designed to cover likely scenarios on white water rivers. The course is suitable for paddlers who feel comfortable on Grade One to Two rivers. The areas covered are rope skills, muscle techniques, team control, heads up, risk management and combat swimming. Also covering skills required in the following situations: entrapments, kayak wraps, swimming kayakers and their equipment.

Course: Weekend • COST $349

Course: Weekend • COST P.O.A.

SEA KAYAK SKILLS COURSE valued at $295 Name: Email: Address: Ph: home work mobile Please send me info. on: Send form to: WIN A KAYAK COURSE; NZ Kayak Magazine, 7/28 Anvil Rd, Silverdale. Phone (09) 421 0662.

Directory: Things To Do

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

$85 per person (bookings essential). Call freephone 0800 KAYAKN for details.

TAUPO Accommodation Accommodation available to Yakity Yak club members and their families... Ideal for sport and school groups... Situated on the banks of the Waikato River our Kayakers Lodge accommodates up to 12 people, is fully furnished, with plenty of parking and a quiet location.

$25 per person per night. Phone: 0800 529256 for details

Hawkes Bay Harbour Cruise A guided kayak trip round the safe waters of the Inner Harbour, while learning about the history of the area. During this stunning trip around the beautiful Napier Inner Harbour of Ahuriri, we stop to share a glass of fresh orange juice, local fruits and cheese platter.

All this for $40 per person. Phone 06 842 1305

Paddle to the Pub Kayaking to a local pub is a unique way of spending an evening, bringing your group of friends together by completing a fun activity before dinner and making a memorable experience. These trips are available to Riverhead, Browns Bay and Devonport Pubs. COST: $59.00 each • GROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!

Okura River Kayak Hire Company Phone: 09 473 0036

Waikato River Discovery

Mohaka

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

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

Price: $40 adult $25 children Special group and family rates. Call freephone 0800 KAYAKN for details.

Waitara River Tours

Price: $100 per person. Call freephone 0800 KAYAKN for details. Phone: Taupo 07 378 1003, Hawke’s Bay 06 842 1305

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

Allow 2 hours paddle only. Priced at $50. Phone: 06 769 5506

Two day trips $220.00 or one day $70.00. Phone 06 769 5506

Exploring Karepiro Bay and the Okura Marine Reserve. Enjoy this scenic trip with abundant wildlife and a stop at Dacre Cottage, the historic 1840 settlers house, which is only accessible by boat.

Okura River Kayak Hire Company Phone: 09 473 0036

Twilight Tours Departs from one of The East Coast Bays beautiful beaches. Enjoy the scenic trip with the sun setting over the cliff tops as you paddle along the coast line. COST: $49.00 • Group discounts available!

Okura River Kayak Hire Company Phone: 09 473 0036 Mobile: 025 529 255

Interested in a great adventure on this Magnificent River? Give us a call and we will give you a memory of a lifetime. Canoe & Kayak Taupo

Price on application.

0800 529256

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

Okura River Tours

Whanganui River Trips

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

Allow 3 hours subject to weather. $50.00 per person. Phone 06 769 5506

NZKI

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

Phone Canoe & Kayak on 0508 KAYAKNZ for details

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

Don’t delay phone 0508 5292569 now

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

Contact your local store on 0508 KAYAKNZ

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

Phone Canoe & Kayak on 0508 KAYAKNZ to find out more

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

How can you get your photos in this magazine? We are always always looking looking for for great great front front cover cover shots, shots, and always always need need pictures pictures to to illustrate articles. articles.

Photo by Gerry Maire

Digital photography being relatively new to most of us - here are a few pointers: Set your camera on the highest possible resolution, and superfine compression. At this setting with a 256 MB CF card or equivalent (about $100) you can take oodles of photos before having to edit and delete. When out snapping, turn your camera ‘on its ear’ and take some photos in ‘portrait’ format. Kayaks being long, do not lend themselves to this format, but if you want a front page shot, or full page photo, this is what is needed. Who says we need to see all of the kayak anyway? An ‘in your face’ shot is more likely to be chosen over a passive scenic shot. Do not ‘play around’ with your photos. Resist the temptation to do any image altering or enhancing. Leave that to the professionals. The old rules still apply - to get better pictures: move your feet (or kayak) to avoid the power pole or to get in closer; notice where the sun or shadow is, use the early morning or evening light; shift the offending rubbish bin, errant twig or paddle; frame the shot - create a picture. Download your best images onto a CD, at 300dpi at maximum size or get your friendly Chemist/Photography shop to do it for you. Do not send 107 shots. Pick your top ten! Post CD’s, (or transparencies and prints - which will be returned) to NZ Kayak magazine, 7/28 Anvil Rd, Silverdale. Don’t forget to include your name, address, phone number and captions for your photos. Who knows........ your artwork may be on the cover of your magazine (and we’ll give your Mum, sister, girlfriend... copies). Ruth E. Henderson

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

ISSUE THIRTY

two • 2005

DISCOVER ANOTHER WORLD ST LUKES RD

NORTH

ON DEV

D ROA

LAKE TERRACE

502 Sandringham Rd Telephone: 09 815 2073

38 Nukuhau Street, Taupo Telephone: 07 378 1003

Unit 6, 631 Devon Road Waiwhakaiho, New Plymouth Telephone: 06 769 5506

Arenel Ltd T/A Canoe & Kayak Auckland

Rees and Partners Limited Trading as Canoe and Kayak Taupo

Peter & Bronnie van Lith Trading as Canoe and Kayak Taranaki

Unit 2/20 Constellation Drive, (Off Ascension Drive), Mairangi Bay, Auckland - Telephone: 09 479 1002

7/28 Anvil Road, Silverdale Please phone for opening hours Telephone: 09 421 0662

Flood Howarth & Partners Limited Trading as Canoe and Kayak North Shore

Canoe & Kayak Limited Trading as Canoe and Kayak Distribution

HAMILTON GREENWOOD ST SH1 BYPASS

KA NORTH

HIK

ATEA D RIVE

The Corner Greenwood St & Duke St, State Highway 1 bypass Telephone: 07 847 5565

OPENING SOON

WIRI STATION ROAD

TO TAURANGA BRIDGE

MACDONALD STREET LIQUORLAND

3/5 Mac Donald Street Mount Maunganui (off Hewletts Rd) Telephone: 07 574 7415

J. K. Marine Limited Trading as Canoe and Kayak Manukau

Jenanne Investment Limited Trading as Canoe and Kayak Bay of Plenty

JOIN THE

Easy finance available.

PHONE YOUR NEAREST

Conditions and booking fee apply

www.canoeandkayak.co.nz

ISSUE THIRTYt

wo • 2005

KFC

MAUNGANUI ROAD

710 Great South Road, Manukau Telephone: 09 262 0209

SHOP

This shop is for sale

CSJ Limited Trading as Canoe and Kayak Hawke’s Bay

NORTH

DUKE STREET

KAHIKATEA DRIVE

15 Niven Street Onekawa, Napier Telephone: 06 842 1305

BAY OF PLENTY

WELLINGTON

KILLARNEY ROAD

DUKE STREET

BRONCOS

SOUTHERN MOTORAWAY

IL R

V AN

NORTH

ROAD TAVERN FOU NDR Y

FIRST DRIVEWAY

GREAT SOUTH RD

OA D TR

CONSTELLATION DRIVE

MANUKAU

NORTH

NIVEN STREET

TOYOYA

WAY RTH HIGH MAIN NO

CO AS

NORTH

SILVERDALE

ASCENSION PL

UPPER HIGHWAY (16)

NORTHERN MOTORWAY

NORTH SHORE

RIVER WAIWHAKAIHO

HEWLETTS ROAD

SANDRINGHAM ROAD

ROAD

ST ARIRO TONG

DOMINION

TAUPO

HAWKE’S BAY TARADALE ROAD

1 H.

CITY

A SP

NORTH

AD RO

SMART ROAD

SOUTH

BALMORAL ROAD

TARANAKI

U HA KU NU

AUCKLAND