ISSN 2253-3826 NEW ZEALAND SEA CANOEIST

No. 177 June - July 2015

The Journal of the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (NZ) Inc - KASK

New Zealand Sea Canoeist INDEX EDITORIAL ‘back upright’ grim photo on page EDITORIAL p. 3 10. Belinda Mulvany’s Fiordland KASK Forum 2016 landscape pics are evocative, captur- SAFETY Many, many moons ago, I did a ‘Liv- ing both soft early morning light and Out of Your Comfort Zone? ing Legends’ talk to NSW kayakers squally afternoons. I leaned on both How to Deal with Bumper Dumpers? at Ettalong Beach, and the co-pre- Belinda and Vincent for tips on how by John Gumbley p. 5 senter was expedition paddler Larry they achieve such superb photos. Gray. If you have a look at his web- More on Bumper Dumpers, site: www.primalvision.tv, you can Next Magazine Buoyancy & PFDs see what this bloke has been up to Held over for next time, John by Paul Caffyn p. 7 by way of paddling expeditions and Dowd’s 6th edition of Sea Kayaking film making. Larry was one of four and Justine’s Kayaking the Aleutians THE ‘BUGGER!’ FILE paddlers on the 1986 East Greenland DVD. I have watched Justine’s DVD Complacency & Skill Erosion expedition, and he subsequently re- twice now; it is up there as one of by John Kirk-Anderson p. 8 turned to Greenland to film a kite- her best in terms of the story, the va- surfing crossing with ‘kayaks’, east riety of the shots and the music. My NEW ZEALAND TRIP REPORTS to west across the icecap. He is a apologies to Justine for being slow Doubtful Sound talented speaker and musician, thus to include a review, but you can buy by Stanley Mulvany p.11 we are in for a treat for the Saturday directly from her website at: night at the forum. CackleTV.com TECHNICAL Using DSLRS on the Water Dave Winkworth has also confirmed Paddle Leashes by Belinda Mulvany p.13 he will be joining us, and is planning Two recent sit-on-top fatalities have ‘fireside chat’ sessions, sort of low again highlighted the importance of OVERSEAS REPORTS key panel discussions on various as- wearing a PFD and led to quite a West Island Bits July 2015 pects of sea kayaking. bit of discussion as to whether sit- by David Winkworth p.15 on-tops should be equipped (when If you have a session to present, ei- sold) with paddle leashes or at mini- The Sacred Ratio ther on the water or on shore, or can mum with an attachment point for a by Vincent Weafer p.17 help with the forum organization leash near the bow. In both instances, What Camera Kit Does please get in touch (see email ad- PFDs were not worn, no emergency Vincent Weafer Use? p.19 dress contacts on page 3). comms were carried and the pad- dlers were knocked off their sit-on- BOOK REVIEWS For those of your travelling from tops and lost contact with them. Pad- Down the Mississippi with Stinky overseas (Aussie or the North Island) dle leashes were not used. Author: Dorie Brunner if you can allow the following week Review: Paul Caffyn p.19 for tiki-touring in the Sounds or cir- There is concern when surfing in a cumnavigating D’Urville Island? sea kayak with a paddle leash, that The Emerald Mile entanglement after a capsize is an Author: Kevin Fedarko Photos and Cameras issue. Feedback from Aussie pad- Review: John Gumbley p.20 Boy there are some skilled paddlers dlers Vincent Weafer and Dave and photographers out on the water. I Winkworth is that entanglement is HUMOUR p.21 was spoilt with choice this magazine a non-issue (see page 16 for Dave’s with so many superb scenic and grip- comments). Feedback from Peter Editing & Layout: Paul Caffyn ping action pics to chose from. Townend raised concern with the bigger and heavier two person sit- Proofing: Lynda Ferguson NSW paddler Vincent Weafer’s surf- on-tops paddle leashes can put too Deadline for material for the ing photos are dramatic, although he much force on a paddler’s shoulder next magazine: is reluctant to divulge where his fa- in surf. 25 September 2015 vourite surf break is located. JKA’s ‘Bugger!’ file photos are superb, For over 25 years I have used a especially when comparing his big (stretchy coiled) paddle leash on my grin on page 2 to the nose dripping wave ski. After a missed roll and a

COVER: A beautiful still morning in Doubtful Sound. Photo: Belinda Mulvany How does Belinda takes such magic photos? See her technical tips article on page 13 Top left: Thompson Sound, Fiordland, Stanley Mulvany paddles in front of a fresh northerly chop. Photo: Belinda Mulvany See Stanley’s trip report on p. 11 Bottom left: John Kirk-Anderson punching into a fresh southerly polar blast in Lyttelton Harbour. This was before the “Bugger!” incident. Photo: JKA. See John’s story on p. 8

3 No. 177 June - July 2015 sound thrashing in breakers, I release the water without wearing your life- For the full set Avon Descent race the waist belt and just hang onto the jacket. rules, see: paddle. When the wave subsides, I http://www.avondescent.com. reel the wave ski in and climb back After my big swim when the wave ski au/?page_id=111 on. My worst leash situation oc- paddle leash broke, I was shocked by curred in a big offshore break when how little buoyancy the wet suit pro- Given the amount of kit that paddlers the leash snapped and although I vided; mind you it was an el-cheapo do carry on their PFDs, VHF radio, wore a thin full ankle to wrist wet- from the local red shed. I have prom- watch, EPIRB, knife, light, and suit, it was a long swim back to shore ised myself to do a check on how some with camelback water pouch- with bugger all buoyancy from the much buoyancy that wetsuit in fact es, I do wonder how much positive wetsuit. provides. In Terry Bolland’s latest buoyancy such laden PFDs provide. weekly CDU email newsletter (Ca- Perhaps we can try tank testing of In my sea kayak, I do carry a paddle noeing Down Under), he described PFDs at the Anakiwa forum. leash but use it only when the wind is race rules for the annual Avon River strong enough to wrench the paddle descent in WA, one of which notes: out of my grasp. Also a leash is great for situations require both hands, ie The PFD must have sufficient buoy- for filming or snacking on the water. ancy to float a 6kg lead weight and be in good condition. Prior to race PFDs and Wetsuit Buoyancy commencement, each paddler’s Greymouth polytech student Ruby PFD was tested in a water-filled Mitchell describes (page 7) the dif- bin. It was placed in a 6 kg cage ficulty of donning a PFD when in and placed in the bin. PFD floatation testing in WA prior the water – her learning experience to the Avon Descent race. was in a swimming pool and Ruby If the PFD didn’t come to the sur- challenges paddlers to try the same. face, it was failed! No racing al- The ‘Bugger!’ File Her message is simple - never be on lowed for that competitor. John Kirk-Anderson’s article on missed rolls in the chilly mid-winter waters of Lyttleton Harbour (page 8) KASK Committee 2014 - 2015 is a timely reminder for us all. He titles the story ‘Complacency and Tim Muhundan - President email: [email protected] Skill Erosion’ and chides himself for Ian McKenzie - Committee email: [email protected] failing to maintain his rolling skills. Sandy Ferguson - Webmaster email: [email protected] Paul Caffyn - Publications email: [email protected] I was impressed with John’s elapsed Shawn Walsh - Committee email: [email protected] time for four failed rolls, a failed Robert Brown - Committee email: [email protected] re-entry and roll and his success- Lois Cowan - Committee email: [email protected] ful paddle float roll - two minutes KASK Administrator (Karen Grant) email: [email protected] and 48 seconds. But with the water temperature at 10˚C, even then John found his hands were surprisingly cold after that short time. c2016 KASK NATIONAL SEA KAYAK The 27 July Escape section of the FORUM Christchurch Press carried a three Friday 26 - Sunday 27 February 2016 page story and photographs titled Wet and Wild - The Joys of mid-win- Overnight campout Sunday evening, at Mistletoe Bay. ter sea kayaking.

The registration form will be included in the next KASK maga- West Island Bits zine and on the KASK website soonish. Nice to have Dave Winkworth back If you can help with on the water sessions; please get in touch with his regular report on what’s happening over the ditch. with John Kirk-Anderson: [email protected] Thanks If you have ideas for on shore sessions, or can help with the fo- To all the contributors and photog- rum organization, please email Paul: [email protected] raphers, Belinda and Stanley Mul- vany, Vincent Weafer, JKA, John Gumbley and Dave Winkworth. Experienced Aussie expedition paddler and film maker Larry Gray is our Saturday night keynote speaker. Paul Caffyn

4 New Zealand Sea Canoeist

SAFETY around New Zealand, is now pad- – I sit and watch the pattern first and Out of Your Comfort Zone? dling around Svalbard, way north of may choose to go around rather than & How to Deal with Bumper Norway through a gap. If crossing a channel on a return trip and the forecast has Dumpers? - Justine Curgenven (Wales) changed to say 20 – 25 knots rising by John Gumbley Justine is renown worldwide not – I look at the sky, gauge the actual only for her laugh, which gave rise to weather, distance, tide and make a This is the third in a series of safety her film production company (Cack- judgment - I may be feeling fit and questions posed to sea kayakers. le.tv) but also as one of the most ex- energized and go for it or I may elect perienced sea kayakers in the world. to not go then, to stay put till the wind John Gumbley in his role as the Her trips include around Tasmania, drops even if it means being late and BASK (Bay Association of Sea Kay- South Island, Tierra del Fuego and missing an appointment. akers) Safety Officer, emailed sev- her most recent trip was along the eral experienced kayakers with two Aleutian Island chain. Tara: safety questions on safety for inclu- There are plenty of situations when sion in the BASK Bulletin: - Babs Lindman (Sweden) I have been out of my comfort zone, Are you able to briefly reply to the Babs first serious expedition paddle most often when I’m on a commit- two questions below. The ‘comfort was around the coast of Norway. She ting stretch of coast with limited zone’ question I pose was prompted wrote a book on the trip (in Swedish) landings and its windy and rough. by my recently organizing a surf and then became the first blonde to For me it’s really important to always training exercise and finding that paddle around the South Island. be aware of all my bail-out options, many find surf, and other aspects of and following my instincts. I focus kayaking, intimidating e.g. choppy QUESTION 1: on all the things that I can manage seas and the fear of tipping out. What puts you out of your comfort and control, and am always prepared zone and how do you manage those to change my mind at any moment. John chose four very experienced situations when they arise? women paddlers for his questions Babs: [from a conversation at the this time: Ruth: Ohope 2011 KASK forum] ‘Piss poor preparation’ puts me out I don’t take risks - rather I look for - Ruth Henderson (Kawau Island) of my comfort zone. Even if I am and take opportunities. When on a Ruth is one of the wonderful char- not the trip leader, I like to look at surf beach it can be easy to fret be- acters of Kiwi kayaking. A talented the maps, and weather forecasts, and cause in the wider beach landscape, writer and photographer, Ruth has a have a back-up plan. I do NOT just it can look too rough but if you nar- car on the North Shore, and kayaks ‘go with the flow’ and blindly follow row your focus at what’s in front and out to her home on Kawau Island. others. if you are comfortable and prepared go for it and keep focused (on what’s - Tara Mulvany (Svalbard) Two examples - when rock-gardening in front). Tara, the barefoot kid who has be- through narrow slots with the poten- come the first woman to paddle tial of a ‘rogue’ wave catching me out Babs Lindman

Ruth Henderson Tara Mulvany

5 No. 177 June - July 2015

QUESTION 2: ting my legs into the cockpit as I pad- How do you manage ‘bumper dump- dled, one at a time. I’d hope to get er’ surf, of the kind you would have over the next wave before it broke, or experienced in the South Island. if it broke, hope I could still get out Does it require a different approach over it and then pump my kayak out to getting in and out of ‘normal’ surf? with help from Barry.

Ruth: Once safely out of the surf zone, I’d I avoid ‘bumper dumper’ stuff. I’m a pump out if necessary and put on my wimp, but I have old injuries to take spray deck. This often worked well care of and being mangled, twisted and I found it easier than trying to get and shunted about in an uncontrolled in my kayak and put on my deck on way in the water is not wise. I aim to the beach then launch. I usually got stay in my boat, so chose my launch- turned sideways by the next wave ing and landing spots carefully. If when I tried this - although if I was Justine Curgenven necessary I’ll paddle on. I don’t able to put my deck on really quickly, Justine: mind choppy, washing-machine seas this could work well. If anyone wants Anything that gets my heart beating – I have learnt to trust my sea-kayak advice, then I’d practice in smaller fast, and where I’m not confident (Q-K Southern Skua) and have rea- waves and see what works for you! what the outcome will be, puts me sonable balance. I practice getting ------out of my comfort zone, even if I back on and in my various kayaks Below, photos by Mary Kirk-An- think I can handle things but have a and when in what could potentially derson of JKA (helmet) and Mar- small element of doubt. be capsize situations – I talk to my- tin Fraser (red shirt) helping Freya self, reminding myself to pay atten- Hoffmeister launch through power- This level is different for everyone, tion, ‘to be alert, the world needs ful bumper dumpers at Birdlings and my comfort zone varies from more lerts’ and run over in my head Flat, south of Banks Peninsula. day to day, depending on how much what to do and how to do it, if I do paddling I’ve been doing, my frame- get tossed out. of-mind etc. Tara: When I’m nervous, I try to ignore Dumper surf is a bit of trial and er- things like how loud the pounding ror. I’m personally a big fan of go- surf is or how scared my friend is. I ing for the ‘sprayskirt off’ launch, try to analyse what is in front of me. where I wait for a ‘lull’ then drag my OK, it sounds loud but what is actu- boat down quick, jump in and pad- ally going on? How powerful is that dle as fast as I can and hope for the wave? How long do I have between best. Usually I’ll end up with quite a waves and can I get in my kayak and bit of water in my boat, which is an- get away from the surf zone in be- noying, but not the end of the world. tween waves? How quickly can I get Landings about riding the back of a in my kayak and out from the shore? big enough wave that I’m washed If I think I can time it so that I don’t high up the beach, then jumping out get my hair wet then I concentrate on quickly and grabbing boat even fast- that task and try not to think about the er! And again hoping for the best! pounding waves if I get it wrong. If the consequence of getting it wrong Justine: is a real trashing, then I’m more cau- When Barry and I paddled around the tious than if I’ll just get a bit wet. South island, we experimented with the best way to deal with the bumper I believe you can work up to every- dumper surf. Usually we would take thing, given practice and good judg- it in turns to help the other one to ment. I practice useful skills that will launch, as this was a lot easier. help me deal with tricky situations and build up gradually to bigger If I launched alone, I would often waves. You can practice getting into stand in the water with my kayak, try- your kayak and getting your spray ing to keep it pointing out to sea and deck on really quickly on the beach. trying to avoid getting water in the You could even time yourself so cockpit. In a break between waves, you have an estimate how long you I’d sit in the kayak with my legs on need. Then practice doing it in small either side of the cockpit and paddle waves and work up to it. out to sea as quickly as I could, put- She’s in there somewhere!

6 New Zealand Sea Canoeist

6 February 2015 SAFETY The gravel beach of Lake Ferry Spit in Palliser Bay faces from Paul Caffyn south. These are More on Bumper Dumpers the biggest bumper These are the waves generally found dumpers I have ever on steep-to beaches, where the gra- seen! dient of the inter-tidal zone plunges steeply into deep water – no shallow offshore sand bars to absorb the en- Luckily we do not have too many are- help with paddlecraft incident statis- ergy of breaking swell. Commonly as in NZ with bumper dumper beach- tics. Ruby Mitchell related a learning there will be only one breaker at a es; Gillespies Beach in South West- experience when she was in her final time, rearing up and smashing into land, Birdlings Flat and Palliser Bay year at Nayland College. It was dur- the gravel with unbridled force. It is are well known for inflicting grief ing a course run by Swimming NZ the power of the breaker that paddlers on paddlers. In calm weather and for an assistant swim teacher award: respect, not only when the face of the seas, these beaches look so benign, wave topples, but also when the vi- with just a gentle surge working on a This was two years ago I still re- cious surge churns up the beach, then gravel berm face, but the photo of the member one task in particular very sucks back at great speed. soon to be submerged Landrover on clearly. It was a task which sounded Lake Ferry Spit (Palliser Bay) gives a simple and yet challenged us all. The sequence of graphic photos on scale reference to the massive bump- We were to tread water for about the opposite page show how two er dumpers in the background. Back two minutes (in a swimming pool strong blokes were necessary to in late 2013, two Wellington paddlers that was actually shallow enough to launch Freya Hoffmeister through a who attempted to land through Pal- safely stand in) then were thrown line of bumper dumpers at Birdlings liser Bay bumper dumpers survived a pile of lifejackets to put on. Try- Flat, south of Christchurch during big swims, but lost for ever their ex- ing to sort the appropriate sized her South Island attempt. In the final pensive kayaks and kit. lifejacket whilst treading water, photo of the sequence, Freya is bur- was challenging enough in perfect ied in gravel-loaded white water. If PFDs vs Wetsuits Buoyancy conditions, let alone trying to put you look really close, just the tip of Two recent paddlecraft fatalities it on in challenging conditions her black wing paddle can be seen. have again highlighted the paddler I’m sure. As I tried to put on the buoyancy issue. A sit-on-top pad- lifejacket I would sink to put my John Gumbley’s questions and an- dler drowned in the surf off Muri- arms in and was confused on how swer section has feedback from sev- wai Beach on 3 May. The 51 year to put on a simple lifejacket. eral experienced women paddlers, old male was wearing a wetsuit but but I thought I would add a couple not a PFD. The sit-on-top had grab For something that sounded so of my learning experiences as well. handles on the bow and stern, but no simple, I remember it so clearly Bligh Sound, Fiordland, January decklines or paddle leash. two years later. As a kid I grew up 1977, Max Reynolds and I were en- fishing with my family on a boat tering the fjord after the sun had set. On 6 July, a 21 year old Maori lad and remember how the men would We headed for what I thought looked drowned off Waiotahi Beach in the take their life jackets off when we like a sand beach in the gathering eastern Bay of Plenty. He had gone were fishing to be more comfort- gloom, and I rushed the landing. out fishing on a sit-on-top, but was able. Their life jackets would be wearing only shorts and a T-shirt – no thrown in a pile in the front of the The beach was not sand but a steep PFD, wetsuit or paddle leash. boat. After this experience in a safe wall of solid boulders. I was too slow swimming pool I have realised the to exit the cockpit and drag the bow Would PFDs have saved either or reality of if anything happened out clear of the surge. We (me and the both men? In both instances emer- on the water in a real situation it isn’t kayak) were sucked back into the gency comms were not carried but likely to be calm, warm water, with face of the next bumper dumper, and emergency services were called rea- no wind or swell and I personally looped end over end. So lucky I had sonably promptly, by either family or think it would be near impossible the helmet on. My head took the up- on-shore watchers. In my view the to put on a life jacket then when side down impact with the boulders. I wearing of a PFD would have greatly you needed it most. had a smashed helmet, blood pouring increased their survival once they out where a tooth had gone through were swept away from their sit-on- I challenge each and every one of my lip and two cracks in the bow. tops, until rescue services arrived. you to try putting on a life jacket in a safe situation, and use this Treat bumper dumpers with absolute Donning a PFD in the Water experience to ensure you are never reverence - never under-estimate the I was asked by one of the local Grey- on the water without a life jacket power of a bumper dumper. mouth polytech outdoor students to on in future.

7 No. 177 June - July 2015

While the odd gust lifted sheets of get much of a surfing run. As I got THE “BUGGER!” water, for the most part the wind was close to home I headed to an area only about 20 knots, and the waves where the waves steepen, as the wind FILE weren’t as steep as I’d hoped. pushes over the incoming tide. After a bit of a play there I did another roll, I was wearing a GoreTex drysuit again using the wind and waves to Complacency & Skill Erosion. over two layers of Merino under- push me over and help to come up. garments, booties, a paddling jacket, by John Kirk-Anderson a Peak UK buoyancy vest, and a hel- Happy that I had covered every di- met over a fluffy rubber skull cap. rection of wind, light and expression The mission was simple: Get a self I’ve never paddled with gloves, have for the camera, I headed home. As I portrait while paddling in strong very occasionally used pogies, but paddled into the waves I did another winds for a newspaper article. was not this time. roll, this time facing directly into the wind. Why then was I floating alongside In my buoyancy vest I was carrying my kayak as waves broke over my a PLB, a VHF radio, an LED torch, My rolls are completed without head? an LED strobe, and a knife. My Nor- thought, as I’m happy that I’ve dkapp has a small ‘ocean cockpit’ reached a level of unconscious com- Previously a journalist had inter- and a ‘pod style’ seat, and a bilge petence. This time I came up into the viewed me for an article on my pref- pump supplements a foot-operated wind, and the waves pushed me back erence to paddle in rough conditions pump. Spare paddles on the rear under. I automatically swapped sides rather than the more common per- deck are secured in a net bag, which and set up for another screw roll but ception of sea kayaking as being a also holds a two-chamber inflatable this also failed. benign activity. The only thing lack- paddle float, which is secured with a ing was a photo of me paddling in long tether. At this point I started to take note of windy conditions as when I go out what was happening, and decided I’m normally concerned more with I was also wearing a Suunto sports to do a reverse screw roll, as I was paddling than selfies! watch, which has a chest strap to leaning back from my failed attempt. measure heart rate and a GPS to log This also failed, and I was aware that I had been waiting for a good south- distance. I had lifted my head so I tried again, erly blast in Lyttelton Harbour to co- with a screw roll from the front. This incide with a day off, and the time After 2.4 kilometres, which took also didn’t work and so I made a de- had arrived. I had made a selfie-stick 26 minutes, I turned around to surf cision to bail. and mounted it on the front of my downwind. As is also a normal prac- Nordkapp, with a GoPro camera tice, I did a quick roll when broad- As I grasped the release tape for my looking back at me. A previous at- side to the waves as I turned, just for spray deck I paused, and consciously tempt hadn’t been successful as the the fun. The return run was disap- thought, “Is this the right thing to wind died suddenly, and my wife, pointing, with the waves too low to do? Yep, I’ll catch my breath and Mary, also said I looked too grim!

Desperate for a breath, my head comes up, the paddle dives, So I headed off, with a camera shoot- and there is no hip-flick. This is a roll destined to fail. ing a photo of me every half second, capturing the manic smile plastered on my face (see photo on page 2).

My usual drill is to paddle straight into the wind until I run out of wa- ter or energy, depending on the wind strength. When its over 30 knots I can’t make headway, and in 40 knots I have to hunker down in a low brace as life gets interesting. The forecast was for 30 knots, gusting 40, and the tide was two hours into the flood, creating a wind over tide situation, which causes the waves to steepen. The water temperature at this time of year in Canterbury is about 10 de- grees C.

8 New Zealand Sea Canoeist

wind blade, which made bracing a little difficult.

I decided to leave the spray deck off and just keep paddling, while I took the paddle float off. Once this was done I turned up into the waves, which were no longer breaking, de- flated it and attempted to put it back in its bag behind the cockpit. My hands were too cold to feel the bag opening so I just stuffed it into the net bag in front of me. I managed to refit the spray deck and started drain- ing the cockpit with my foot pump as I paddled to sheltered water, which was only about 300 metres away.

Once ashore I packed up quickly, very keen to check the photos! With no hip-flick, this roll wasn’t going to work either. After downloading the data from my re-entry roll.” That was a very clear a very slow roll as the blade doesn’t Suunto watch, I analysed what had decision, made because I was out of move through the water. As I sur- happened. When I capsized I had breath. faced I was hit by another wave and been paddling for 1 hour 8 minutes, braced on the float, which was on the and had covered 6.7 kilometres. My I surfaced with the kayak on my down wind side, as the Nordkapp heart rate was 150 beats per minute, right, holding the cockpit rim in one had turned while I was setting up. which for me is quite high, indicat- hand and my paddle in the other. This roll was also ugly, but, aided by ing my level of exertion. the float, successful. I quickly orientated my paddle for The time from when I first capsized a re-entry roll, my preferred and My cockpit was half full of water, to when I was back in the cock- practised recovery procedure if a but as I had moved the front bulk- pit having done four failed rolls, a roll fails. I train this as a drill, and if head to suit my short legs, and it has failed re-entry roll, and a success- I’m facing the stern with the kayak a pod-style seat, there isn’t much ful paddle-float re-entry roll was 2 on my right then the paddle is orien- flooded volume. I am well practiced minutes 48 seconds, and my heart tated with the right paddle blade for- paddling with a cockpit full of water rate on completion was 160 beats ward. As a re-entry roll is a half roll I so stability wasn’t a problem. As I per minute. A nearby weather sta- needed to be on the up-wind side, to went to fit my spray deck I suddenly tion showed wind speeds at the time allow the wind to assist my roll. discovered my hands were very cold, I capsized as 28 knots with gusts to and I couldn’t feel the deck at all. 38. They were not that strong where I quickly slipped into the cockpit, The paddle float was on my down- I was. locked my knees into the braces, and rolled up. Except I didn’t, my roll The paddle float re-entry roll. Again my head is up and there is no hip-flick, failed again. but an extended paddle with a float saves the day.

On wet exiting, I kept the Nordkapp upside down, locked my legs into the cockpit and removed the paddle float from its storage bag on the rear deck. Fitting it to the left paddle blade I made sure to attach it properly and inflate both chambers fully.

My preference is to do a paddle float re-entry roll rather than use it as an outrigger, as I’m faster and have fewer complications.

As usual when rolling with a float at- tached, I extended the paddle, doing

9 No. 177 June - July 2015

Well, that wasn’t quite what I was expecting!

I honestly can’t remember when I where multiple, confused capsizes My hands got cold surprisingly had last swum a kayak, and Mary are common. quickly, and I may consider wearing said I must have been pissed off that gloves. I will revisit my method for my rolls had failed, but I was actu- To be in a situation where a series carrying a paddle float, with ease of ally elated that this had happened! of rolls failed and I had to dig deep, replacing it a priority showed that I had allowed my skills I looked on it as an audit of my cur- to slip. Looking at the photos on Given that I was working hard, had rent competency, and it showed that the GoPro showed awful technique, already been for an hour’s run before I had become complacent and my with no hip flick and a lifting head. paddling, was in cold water in strong skills had eroded. As an instructor This had obviously crept in over the winds, I could probably invent some I am regularly assessed, and I often years and as the pressure came on, excuses or casual factors as to why demonstrate rolls while teaching I discovered the tipping point, pun I was swimming rather than rolling, others. I usually finish a paddle with intended. but the truth is my skills just sucked! a couple of lazy rolls, and as I did this time I will play around when the I am pleased that I was very clear All in all, a really useful exercise, waves get up. with my decisions and my drills and proves again the Japanese prov- once I had wet-exited were good. erb, ‘Saru mo ki kara ochiru - Even I haven’t paddled in decent surf for My equipment, which has been well- monkeys fall from trees.’ a long time, and I think this was im- tested over the years, performed portant, as that is an environment well. John Kirk-Anderson 2016 KASK FORUM A c2016 KASK NATIONAL SEA KAYAK FORUM 26 - 27 February 2016 Registration form in the next KASK magazine

Anakiwa Cobham Outward Bound School Queen Charlotte Sound

10 New Zealand Sea Canoeist NEW ZEALAND TRIP REPORTS

Doubtful Sound by Stanley Mulvany

photos by Belinda Mulvany see also cover photo & pages 2 & 23

Summary: A 10-day sea kayaking trip on Doubtful Sound 13-23 Feb- ruary 2015 by Lisa McCarthy, Mark Dabbs and Belinda and Stanley Mul- vany. Deep Cove at the head of Doubtful Sound. Mark, Lisa and Stanley setting From 13-23 February our party of off from the road end, on their 10 day paddle. four paddled most of the arms of Doubtful, Bradshaw and Thompson On the way we noticed spouting in On the way we had a wonderful dis- sounds. Mark and Lisa were expe- the distance and this materialised play of several kaka who followed rienced paddlers from Sydney and into a pod of dolphins. We beached us screeching and showing off. We Belinda and I were locals. This was at Haulashore Cove and walked over heard rather then saw tuis and bush a shakedown trip for our upcoming to Dagg Sound. We had portaged robins. Greenland expedition this July. I first across from Dagg Sound on our met Mark about 10 years ago at Es- 2006 Gumotex 1 expedition but I Once above bushline, we walked quilent Bivy on Mt Earnslaw, when hardly recognised it with the amount along the ridge to point 1022 m but Simon, Tara and I arrived from Pluto of regrowth since then. It must have beyond it, a deep technical breche Col, after climbing up from Span- taken us nearly an hour to walk over barred our way. To the north of us iard valley. We’d stayed in touch off and once there, we had a swim, that in a valley was Secretary Lake with and on since then. Sea kayaking and is the Kiwis not the timid Aussies several DoC huts beside it. It looks mountaineering being a small world, in our party. On the paddle back up like the best route to Mt Grono is we had several mutual friends in Crooked Arm we had a headwind from Secretary Lake or north from Australia in the paddling and climb- and camped at the same place. Thompson Sound. From Point 1022, ing scene. a more direct track led us down a On 15 February we left Crooked spur to near Gut Hut. We had an early start from Invercar- Arm with little wind and kayaked gill and drove to Manapouri where down Malaspina Reach. Near First we met Tara, who was taking some Arm we headed across to the Gut clients over to Doubtful. We loaded Hut. As the weather was fine we the kayaks onto the Real Journeys circumnavigated Bauza Island and boat to West Arm and then Tara cruised around the Shelter Islands drove us over to Deep Cove. It was a into Gaol Passage returning to Gut gorgeous day as sorted out our gear Hut. The hut was a bit run down but on the beach. OK. It even had a cold shower but the sandflies made sure this was ex- Then we got away, paddling down ecuted with haste. We had a pleasant Doubtful Sound. Near Elizabeth Is- evening and planned on climbing Mt land the offshore wind came away Grono next day. and built rapidly. We decided to cross over to the south side and once Before the trip I’d been given a map into Crooked Arm conditions were of the DoC trap lines on Secretary much easier and we paddled on for a Island so I had an idea on the routes few kilometres and camped. there. We left next morning at 8:00 am along a rough track to Blanket Next day we kayaked out of Crook- Bay. After about 1.25 hours we took ed Arm into a strong easterly in the another track that led steeply uphill main channel but it was too rough towards the ridge to the north of us. The view west from the bushline for us so we retreated back into the After four hours of steep climbing, over the entrance to Doubtful Sound arm and paddled to the head of it. we reached the bushline.

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sheltered. On 18 February we got away at 8.00 am as the wind had died down quite a bit though still blow- ing from the NW at about 15 knots. It took us two hours to reach Deas Cove where there was a big white boat moored, but no sign of Mark and Lisa. We got our gear up to the hut, which was a lot nicer than the Gut Hut, and had breakfast.

Then at about 11:45 am, just as we were leaving to look for Mark and Lisa, they paddled around into Deas Cove. They had missed us the pre- vious day and not knowing where Deas was, had returned to Gut Hut. Lisa and Mark were prepated for the voracious Fiordland sandflies In the afternoon a group of divers ar- with headnets The team: from left, Stanley, rived and they were very considerate Belinda, Mark and Lisa. We got away at about 8:30 am to an and kept to themselves, cooking out- overcast day with cloud right down On 17 February we left at 8:30 am side and not filling up the hut with on the peaks. I did not use my rud- and paddled to Blanket Bay where their gear. Our plan was to head to der, as I was concerned it would fall we got a weather forecast off a fish- Bradshaw Sound next day. apart. I rarely paddle without a rud- ing boat - 15 knot NW freshening to der and I found it surprisingly easy 30 knots in the evening. On round- We woke to rain and wind outside. to manage without one. B and I set ing Common Head into Thompson Mid-morning our diving compan- off first and made good time down Sound, we paddled into increasingly ions went off for a dive. Then the rain Gaer Arm and Bradshaw Sound in rough seas and a headwind. We fol- eased and the wind dropped so we light airs. Mark and Lisa came later lowed along the side of Secretary set off at lunchtime down Thomp- and we had arranged to rendezvous Island and just north of Surgeon son Sound. It was a bit rough on (now more organized) at camp 6 be- Bay, Mark and Lisa stopped to put the headlands but nothing desperate fore Pack Point. on their dry tops. B and I decided at as we made rapid progress towards that point to head across, assuming Bradshaw Sound. It was a nice run Once out of Bradshaw Sound into the others had seen us, streaming out up to Macdonell Island in Bradshaw Pendulo Reach, it became very rough into Thompson Sound, making for Sound and we camped on an old with a strong onshore wind and I had the far side. campsite on the other side of the is- to stern rudder to get in towards the land. We did explore the Rum River beach that was a bit of a tricky land- Unfortunately, we had not specifi- delta but it was shallow and stank of ing. We thought we’d camp there cally told them our intentions. It was ammonia from the salt marshes. but it looked pretty dismal and ex- a bit rough crossing maybe getting posed, so after discussion with Mark up to 20 knots and it was no place The 20th was a lovely clear day as we and Lisa we elected to carry on to to linger. Once across, we landed kayaked around Precipice Cove. The Crooked Arm which was much more on a beach and waited expecting to reflections were amazing of bush, sheltered. Mark offered to paddle my see Mark and Lisa but they never rock and ferns reflected in the still kayak, as I was not confident I could showed. All the time the seas were waters as we paddled past the cliffs. manage the seas without a rudder. getting worse as we paddled north to Then, we turned up Gaer Arm and However once deployed, my rud- Lyall Bay. We tried to paddle along paddled up the Camelot River to the der worked fine. Once we got into to Deas Cove but by now the wind rapid where we stopped for lunch. Malaspina Reach, the seas calmed and seas made this difficult so we Again B and I had a swim in the and we had the wind behind us and it turned back and found a sheltered crystal clear waters while the Aus- was much more enjoyable. beach and campsite in the middle sies skulked on the rocks. On the of Lyall Bay. Earlier on, I did see way back we went up a narrow creek On rounding Ranson Head into the others on the other side heading on the true right to a spectacular wa- Crooked Arm, we were surprised to north so had assumed either they had terfall. At the head of Gaer Arm we see disturbed water ahead of us and camped opposite us on a beach or camped on the true right in a lovely sheets of spray lifted off the crests. made it to Deas. As it turned out I spot. Just as I was landing my rudder Quite rapidly this advanced on us was wrong on both accounts. pin sheared off. Later, Mark jury- and in no time we were hit by a fero- rigged it back in place with spectra cious squall and driven along almost It was pleasant enough where we cord and this held till we finished the out of control. Mark and I were in camped out of the wind, dry and trip. front and B and Lisa who were cruis-

12 New Zealand Sea Canoeist ing along leisurely about 100 m be- We rigged up a tarp and pitched our in the Real Journeys boat a display. hind us. We rounded a headland in tents underneath it. Then we stripped We did paddle some of the way into front of us and waited for the girls. off our wet clothes and got into the Halls Arm and saw two parties of They eventually arrived somewhat tents. I cooked the evening meal, commercial sea kayakers. As the shaken and recounted how they relieved to have made it all the way wind was behind us, we did not want had been suddenly hit by the same back to Crooked Arm. In the even- to have to struggle out later, so head- squall and had been submarining at ing it cleared up and we could see ed back and camped on a flat area on one point. We estimated the wind numerous waterfalls dropping out of the north side of the entrance. Close strength at 35-40 knots. the clouds all around us (the magic to our campsite was an open stream of Fiordland!). bed and we had our meal there. Close to our old campsite we could see the waves crashing in to the bush The 22nd dawned fine and we had a On our last day we had a short paddle as it was right on high tide and this pleasant paddle into the main chan- back to Deep Cove as we were due made for another tricky landing. nel. Ahead of us the dolphins were to be picked up at lunchtime. Again By now it was bucketing down, the back, spouting and breaching some it was a lovely clear day and all went heaviest rain I’ve ever seen in Fiord- spectacularly. They cruised by sev- to plan and soon we were cruising land just like being under a waterfall. eral times and even gave the tourists effortlessly across Manapouri.

TECHNICAL

USING D(digital) SLRS ON THE WATER by Belinda Mulvany

SLRs are great if you are used to in a drybox in a dry hatch and only I have found the 24-70 mm to be the using one, and if you don’t have an use on land. Boring! most useful professional lens to use. accident. Compact cameras meet the If not using a professional lens, then same fate if not waterproof or in a Once an avid DSLR user, always one. I a big range zoom is the best option. housing. They are just easier finan- found my wee Canon Powershot S-110 I rarely take a flash (the D4s does cially to replace. with a waterproof housing (which ne- not have a built-in-flash), or other gates the compactness) in Greenland lenses now; unless I am hoping to I agree that most paddlers use a com- so frustrating, especially when trying photograph birds on the water, or am pact waterproof camera these days. to deal with awkward lighting. accessing a place via my kayak or They are all fairly good quality for packraft specifically for other pho- what they are. Panasonic have an When in Doubtful Sound I used a tography. excellent one, which Tara is very Nikon D4s with a Nikon f2.8 24- pleased with. Stan has the older 70 mm lens with mostly a polar fil- I have yet to find a drybox that will model which is good as well. ter attached. To get the lovely soft fit my set-up so I cut the lid open on early morning or evening lighting, a previously used ‘International’ box The day I dropped my SLR camera in I remove the polar filter. I did not which I’m not sure is still available. West Greenland was perfectly calm. take the Canon. I shoot in ‘JPEG It is more cuboid in shape to any That is why I was using it. I had it on & RAW’. This necessitates a whole other boxes I have looked at. For my lap in a large soft drybag. new discussion. smaller camera bodies and lenses, it will be easy to find the appropriate Don’t use a bag that appears to be the sizing. But make sure it has room right fit, as when you want to grab for a spare memory card, a removed the camera in a hurry, or put it away filter, a spare battery and a cloth to quickly you need that extra large wipe yours hands, and one for the opening. I was using the camera so front of the lens. frequently that I just had it wrapped in the drybag and forgot it wasn’t For extra water safety you can also actually in it. Upon reaching shore put the camera in a soft drybag in- I leapt out with great gusto, grabbed side the box. I built up the hole in the up the drybag and watched my cam- lid to cover the camera with closed- era arc out into the waves. SOB! cell foam (ie., insulator sleeping pad) and Ados F2 glue. This glue is So - my mantra is: if you want to not for long term immersion. take photos on the water, the camera has to be readily and quickly avail- able. Otherwise keep it locked away Left: Belinda’s DSLR camera box

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these holes. I then have short pieces of tape with snap buckles, which feed through the loops and around the deck lines. I drilled holes in the han- dle and tied long cord loops through these and also onto stainless steel karabiners. These click onto the decklines further back towards the cockpit rim. I found it very difficult to pop the latches in a hurry, espe- cially with cold fingers and thumbs so I drilled two more holes through Above: The camera box mounted on the latches and tied small grab cord the kayak foredeck loops onto these as well. Below: view from the cockpit; shows the wedges of blue foam to stabilize You soon get used to the ‘unsteady/ top-heavy’ weight and adjust your movement of the camera box. Colorspace hard drive which paddle stroke accordingly. Belinda uses for back-up, to store photos when her cards run out. It is I like to use a Q-Kayak sail (sorry also a card reader. It just fits into this for the swear word, Paul) when con- drybox. The pen shows how big it is. ditions permit but I have to be very careful with the lines as they could potentially rip off my closed cell buy them (via the USA) at differing foam lid! storage capacity. I can download the cards straight onto the hard drive, as While in Doubtful Sound there were a back-up or when the cards run out. I have also done some modifications wonderful gloomy, moody, rainy It has a poor resolution screen and so I can attach it to my front deck, times out on the water. But there was somewhat crude interface, but I do midline and horizontal. I have glued also a sloppy chop which knowing not edit my photos using this device. two pieces of closed cell foam on the my bad luck, would have slopped I wait until I get home. (I carry the base. I cut them roughly, glued them straight into my open drybox. I Colorspace in a drybox). onto the base, stuck some 80 grit didn’t have the extra drybag in the sandpaper onto the deck with dou- box at the time. So those potential Greenland: ble sided sticky tape where I want to scenes are only memories. A com- Belinda and Stanley Mulvany are sit the box, and sand the final shape pact camera would have struggled to currently paddling in SW Greenland. by rubbing the box back and forth cope with the lighting. Before leaving Belinda advised: on the sandpaper until satisfied. Re- I have decided to invest in a wa- move the sandpaper and sticky tape. On overseas trips I do not take a lap- terproof sport housing which is for top. I have a Colorspace UDMA 2 surface use, rather than diving. I I drilled two holes in the back ‘rib- hard drive which also has a Compact am taking it to Greenland where bing’ and tied two cord loops through Flash, and an SD card slot. You can the theory is to have the camera always at the ready - ready to use. Unfortunately it does not appear to Belinda Mulvany with an earlier have an option to turn the camera on deck camera box on Okarito Lagoon and off whilst inside the housing! I was hoping to just put my camera in the housing and leave it there. But I am going to have to continually pull it in and out to turn it on and off at the start and end of the day. GRRR!!!

Taken from the cockpit looking Belinda (and Tara’s) Photo Website: forward. Note the cord loops and http://lightbeamphotography.photo- stainless steel karabiners and the shelter.com/gallery cord loops on the catches. Also the lid extension which I had to put on due to the height of my camera. Tara’s camera only just fits into a more compact box.

14 New Zealand Sea Canoeist

We have a Navigation Challenge Overseas Reports Trophy event on the Saturday in which teams of two paddlers have to find checkpoints around the lake system using a supplied topo map West Island Bits 07/2015 and a list of grid references. When by David Winkworth they find a checkpoint they have to answer two Australian trivia ques- 2016 KASK FORUM tions. 15 checkpoints make it a good I don’t think I’m letting the cat out day on the water! of the bag to say that one of the guest speakers at next year’s Anakiwa Saturday night is a catered dinner KASK Forum will be Aussie paddler and the following day we paddle and film maker Larry Gray. out to Gabo Island offshore right on the Vic-NSW border. This year was Dave Winkworth and Kristin Nelson Larry was a member of the Austral- a standout as we saw many seals, at an earlier Anakiwa KASK Forum ian Kayak Expedition to Greenland penguins, Fairy Prions and about 20 in 1986. He is also the designer of humpback whales all around the is- it a bit and it will become your natu- the iconic Aussie sea kayak the Pit- land. The wind dropped to calm on ral stroke. We might do a session or tarak. Larry is an award-winning our return paddle to cap off a great two on this at the Forum next year. film-maker and I understand that weekend! some of his films will be shown at Kevlar the Forum. If any Kiwis plan on coming over for Stephanie Kwolek died late last year the weekend next year, we’ll even in the USA aged 90. Who was that Larry is an entertaining speaker with throw in a few NZ trivia questions you ask? many good stories to keep you enter- to give you a chance of taking the tained and amused. So put it in your trophy home! She was an American chemist and diary - next year’s forum is an event inventor who created the first in a not to be missed! Guaranteed! Forward Paddling family of synthetic polymers that Over the years, plenty of paddlers would later be spun together into Keppel Sea Kayak Symposium have asked me about my thoughts Kevlar, which of course is most fa- This event – 4 days long this year – on upgrading their kayak to a faster mously used in bullet-proof vests. is held on North Keppel Island about model. In reply I have often suggest- 15 kms offshore from Yeppoon in ed that they look to improving their It wasn’t long before someone said, early August each year. I attended forward paddling stroke to pick up a “Hey, lets cement these fibres up with last year and had such a great time bit more speed rather than spending polyester resin and make boats with that I’m heading back again this lots of dollars on a new boat. it.” The rest, as they say, is history. year! Paddle Capricornia is the ac- tive and keen group which hosts the That’s the way it is, isn’t it! If you We have been paddling Kevlar kay- event at the Environmental Centre can buy speed then many paddlers aks for many years haven’t we? on the island. Tim Morris is the VP will do so. The fibre is light, has great tensile and driving force behind the event. strength and toughness and works He runs the Farnborough Store at Problem is that they can swap their well in a hybrid lay-up for kayak Yeppoon - it’s a general store which ‘all round’ OK handling, no vices, construction. sells just about everything including honest-to-goodness kayak for a spe- lots of quality sea kayaks and gear. cialized piece of equipment that will I must say though that I’ve ‘gone off’ If you’re planning a trip in that area go fast in a straight line but gets all the product for kayak manufacture you should definitely call in on Tim sullen when asked to turn through in recent years, preferring instead for help and advice about his local the rock gardens or catch a wave to hybrids of carbon and stitched ‘glass area. He’s a great contact for pad- the beach without pearling. Worth fabrics. Kevlar is relatively expen- dling the Queensland coast. thinking about. sive, suffers UV degradation over time, difficult to work with and great Winky’s Weekend at Mallacoota So, if this might be you, have a close care needs to be taken to ensure the A couple of months ago I ran my an- look at your forward paddling stroke, fabric is wetted out well with resin nual weekend at Mallacoota Lakes or get a friend to video you – that’s during lay-up. In addition, it appears for the Victorian Sea Kayak Club a good idea. not to take up resin anywhere as well and our local ‘SCARPPERS’ pad- as ‘glass. My main concern is that, as dling group. Mallacoota is in Victo- Look to a straight arm catch, torso with any woven fabric, weaknesses ria just across the border from NSW. rotation that has your top hand rotat- are created by the very weaving of It’s virtually part of our Nadgee Wil- ing right across the kayak and blade the fabric and the crimps created derness and a great paddling venue. moving OUT from the boat. Work at as the warp fibres run over and un-

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were fixed to all paddles for the du- Things I’d Like to See ration of all our trips. We didn’t ever Would you like to see some trade have an entanglement - and we had displays at future KASK Forums? I lots of capsizes and wet exits. would.

What we did have though - and our They’re pretty much standard over trips were all in the winter months here at NSWSKC Rock’n Roll with cold water - were the kayaks Weekends and VSKC AGM Week- coming ashore with the paddles eve- ends. They work well too. The dis- ry time. No one had to be sent out to plays add a focus to the weekends – retrieve a floating paddle! people naturally congregate around them as members endlessly discuss I generally don’t use a leash but I the pros and cons of products or try think I’m careful in predicting a on paddling gear. The Victorian club capsize or an endo and I try to keep doesn’t charge for vendor displays my paddle along the kayak for these except that vendors donate the odd events to ensure it’s not whipped out prize for raffles etc. The NSWSKC Paddle leash in use on a sea kayak. of my hands. ‘Never lost one yet. have taken it further and charge vendors for space at the event. ‘Ex- der the wefts. In impacts, I’ve seen Freya Hoffmeister lost her non- pedition Kayaks’ usually sponsor fractures predictably running along leashed paddle in some West Coast the whole weekend and get naming weave axes which concerns me. surf a few years ago. It can happen. rights for the event.

Stitched fabrics get around this frac- New Gear It doesn’t have to go that far of ture problem by not being woven, Am I a gear freak? I don’t know - but course – the fact that a vendor is the fibres instead being held together I do like to watch developments in there implies no club endorsement by lines of fine polyester thread. I’ll outdoor gear. I also like to go into the of the products on sale. I just think write more about this type of fabric shops and stroke the products! it’s nice to see what products are on in a future newsletter. offer out there without me having to A couple of really nice products are trawl the outdoor shops. Here’s a little story though which il- appearing on the shelves about now, lustrates the ‘toughness’ qualities of that deserve a mention. Check them Commercial Sea Kayaking Kevlar: out sometime: Businesses and Operators Some time ago I purchased a roll Should they be brought into the of Kevlar in a stitched fabric form There is a new Jetboil stove com- KASK fold? I think they should. (double bias). ing onto the market in a couple of As I do with all my new fabrics, I months. Jetboil have been around for They fit right into Points One and laid up the Kevlar with some ‘glass 15 years or so and have some great Two of the KASK Objectives – in a test panel. I then tried to trim the gas canister stove products on the namely, promoting and encouraging test panel with the usual diamond market. I like my Jetboil because it the sport of sea kayaking and pro- blade in the angle grinder. Result? all clips together (I can use it in the moting safety standards. Wouldn’t cut it. Had to resort to the tent), it’s very efficient (bring it to metal cut-off blade. the boil and turn it off and it contin- I would like to see them all receive Now, that’s tough! ues cooking) but the pot is long and (free) the same PDF copy of the deep and it’s difficult to set on sim- newsletter that I receive. I print mine Paddle Leashes in Surf? mer. out in two secs on the printer, pop Is this the most controversial topic in in a few staples and I have a cof- sea kayaking? I think so. I stand on Now Jetboil have produced a new fee table edition to read for the next the side of the fence that says paddle model called the MiniMo which ad- two months. It costs KASK nothing leashes are OK in the surf. dresses these deficiencies – the pot to do this. What a nice free service is lower and wider - and it has a new that would be for businesses doing it The issue is of course potential en- valve to make setting it on simmer tough out there! They’re helping us. tanglement with the leash in the much easier. Google them up for a Can we help them? event of a capsize. look. Enjoy your paddling as the days Over many years I ran commercial Sea to Summit have a new line of lengthen! Roll on to Spring! sea kayaking trips along our surf sleeping mats on the market. I did coast for school groups. The kids lash out and buy one and …wow… Dave Winkworth paddled fully loaded double sea it’s the most comfortable mat I’ve kayaks and had to contend with surf ever slept on. They are worth check- entries and exits every day. Leashes ing out.

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ging etc), packing stuff like food, Overseas Reports water, electronica (don’t forget the spare batteries) into the boat or PFD, The Sacred Ratio carrying it all to the water, skirt and By Vincent Weafer paddle leash on - paddling time - ah- hhh (how sweet it is) - and do it all Well everyone’s sacred ratio is dif- in reverse at the end of the paddle ferent but my sacred ratio for kayak- – do we need a debrief? Don’t for- ing is paddling time (bum in kayak get the freshwater rinse and hanging seat actually paddling/sailing/surf- up gear, storing the kayak - and the The Sacred Ratio ing/rolling) versus all the other lo- muesli bar wrappers in the day hatch. gistical stuff to get you there. Should the logistical stuff include How can we reduce the logistics part I estimate my paddling/logistics ra- researching, discussing, trying out of the sacred ratio? tio is currently at (perhaps optimis- gear, deciding on techniques? How tic) 2:1. about trialling different paddling We all sub-consciously become gear and boats, purchasing (and more efficient in the logistics – it What’s yours? possibly re-selling further down the may be hard to remember yourself as track)? Should it include outfitting, a beginning paddler, but try surrepti- I’m not putting a stopwatch with a repairing and maintaining gear and tiously observing how long it takes a time and motion study on everything boats? Or is this fun? Would you be newbie to get his/her kayak on water I do which is related to kayaking, but doing it, if you had no intention to with bum in seat. the more efficiently we do the logis- paddle? I haven’t yet met a non-pad- tics, the more time we have to pad- dler obsessed by kayaks/paddling If we consciously think about each dle - or other fun stuff like watching gear/gadgets yet, but I’m sure they little step and how we could delete/ your kid’s soccer games. are out there in the wild somewhere. modify it to save time – even a few seconds multiplied it by the number The logistical stuff is huge and all At the very great risk of being ac- of future paddles can accumulate to encompassing. cused of teaching paddling grannies be a considerable time saving. to suck eggs. It includes checking and packing all Here are some of the logistical steps the gear, checking and loading the We can extend the paddling time part I have changed over the years in no boat, consulting weather and possi- of the sacred ratio easily by going on particular order. I’m not saying this bly maps (GPS), liaising with pad- more frequent, longer paddles; pad- will be right for you, but perhaps it dling partners, driving to paddling dling around one more headland, will stimulate a small time saving of destination (avoiding peak hour), catching one more wave, doing an your own. unloading boat, dressing in paddling extra circuit, etc. gear, boat adjustments (hatches, rig- Vincent with a superb Go Pro photo - just one more wave

17 No. 177 June - July 2015

All gear drying in the one spot 1. Get in the habit of paddling at least once a week – the logisti- cal steps become automatic, gear doesn’t quietly rot in storage, you deafening ‘riffling’ sound is multi- Well maybe just one more wave are less likely to be caught out with tudes of carbon/fibreglass kayakers car. I tell him I may be a little late the wrong gear with the change in simultaneously turning onto the next for his pick up after the game - how seasons, and no instances of, “Now page. My hatch covers and paddle, many kids’ soccer games must a kay- where did I put that paddle?” all lie on top of the kayak and my sail aking parent endure? hangs nearby so I don’t forget them. 2. Have all your kayak gear in one I can see the egg sucking-granny vul- place – I hang up all my wet paddling 4. Transporting the kayak – in the tures circling – might just squeeze in gear (including booties hanging in past I used a trailer but ‘lost’ too another quick paddle! cable tie loops) in the one and same much time hitching and unhitch- place, and pack the dry gear into the ing the trailer. Now I use roof racks blog one and same box. Paddling gear with kayak cradles and ‘just the http://vincentkayak.blogspot.com. should only be used for paddling – a right length’ webbing straps staying au/2015/07/sunrise-with-surfers. paddling friend once turned up with on top of the old Corolla (with or html his wife’s (too small) booties. without kayak) – there is a ‘hit’ from videos UV degradation but it saves a lot of https://vimeo.com/vincentkayak/ 3. Storing the kayak – I used to time. I wash down the car, straps and sunrise-with-surfers hang up my kayak on pulleys - it was cradles when I’m washing down my (best downloaded first for glitch- an engineering wonder of the world boat and rinsing the gear. free play back) - but also very time consuming. Now http://vincentkayak.blogspot.com. my kayak rests on old cushions on its 5. Combining trips – my son is very au/2015/07/playing-with-waves- gunwale – it’s plastic (the gunwale understanding when I drive him to whales-and-water-and.html and also the rest of the kayak). That soccer with my kayak on top of the

18 New Zealand Sea Canoeist What Camera Kit Does Vincent Weafer Use? BOOK REVIEW I use a GoPro 4 Hero Black. (GP4HB). I have in the past used a GoPro 2 which abandoned ship, af- Title: Down the Mississippi ter it discovered it wasn’t tethered with Stinky (gremlins hiding in the kayak) and a Subtitle: Two Women, a Canoe and GoPro 3 which mysteriously stopped a Kitten working, after the same gremlins left Author: Dorie Brunner a anti-fog insert in the rubber seal of Published: 2000 the water proof door. Videoing with Publisher: Prairie Oak Press, gremlins can be an expensive habit. Wisconsin USA Contents: 136pp, 1 map, 9 b&w I take a lot of footage and try to photo plates chuck out lots of uninteresting clips Cover: softover The GP4HB does seem to have bet- Size: 153 x 230 mm ter video footage in darker conditions Price: US$ 15.95 than its predecessors. This is an ad- ISBN: 1-879483-69-6 vantage when your camera, hopeful- Availability: AbeBooks.com ly attached, goes underwater. Clear Review: Paul Caffyn Dorie nor Lou Germann kept a dairy, water and a strong light also helps. the text is based on Dorie’s 40 year I also use Kayalu mounts which al- So many of the narrative paddling old trip memories and some notes lows me to get a variety of angles – titles published in the USA in the penned on map margins. As the au- sometimes the more interesting shots past 15 years are what I call ‘Vanity’ thor writes in her preface, it was are those obtained accidentally when print runs. Authors paying for print a rescued kitten that provides the the mount is slewed due to wave ac- runs that are top heavy with up to ‘main driving force’ for the book. tion or a heavy wipeout. 550 pages of diary style text, whole Not long after launching their red pages without a paragraph break, fibreglass canoe from Lake Bemidji, I also film at 1080 x 1920 pixel reso- very light or totally deficient with an unusual mournful cry was heard lution running at 60 frames per sec- maps, clumped together photograph from a mud flat. The women turn ond (fps), which allows me to grab sections (sometimes), cheap paper back to find a scrawny kitten stuck interesting frame stills. I would like quality and no bibliography or index. in the mud, covered with insect bites to try higher fps rates or higher reso- and perhaps not much longer to live. lutions but am stopped by the power When buying such narratives via They called the kitten Stinky for of my laptop. new and second-hand websites, it is where they found him. not the same as picking up and fon- I edit my footage on my laptop with dling a book in a bookshop, getting This was quite an ambitious chal- a video editing program, Adobe Pre- a feel for the ability of the writer to lenge back in 1960, especially for miere Pro CS 5.5 which is getting a spin a good story, and viewing the two young women. There is not a little dated (but I prefer to the newer illustrations and maps. These web- lot of background, up till when they releases which you hire for one year sites are a trap for paddling literature started the paddle, aside from brief and don’t own outright). bookaphiles such as myself. But oc- mention of prior paddle training in casionally the rural postie delivers a Canada, seeking sponsorship for a I enjoy filming and editing because wee treasure of a book. canoe and kit, and research for maps it helps me relive the buzz of recent and background information on the trips and also hopefully gets other The title – and subtitle - of this one river. Aware of the nasty affects of folk out there thinking, ‘I might just intrigued me, and what a corker encounters with poison ivy, both try that’ and grow our sport. book. It is the story of two teach- women took a pill for three months ers, Dorie and Lou, who decide to prior to gain immunity from the Underwater selfie of Vincent paddle a Canadian canoe down the ‘miserable poisonous plant’. And it 2,300 mile length of the Mississippi worked. River in the North American sum- mer of 1960. For the two lasses, it Encounters with river bank dwellers was choice of teaching jobs in North and boaties are described. From a lit- Africa or the Mississippi paddle - the tle newspaper publicity on the way, long paddling trip won out. most folk were aware of the trip but were most interested in meeting and The author Dorie Brunner must have hearing stories about Stinky. It was been 34 years old when the duo not all smooth paddling; a night en- started the paddle. Although neither counter with a rabies-ridden skunk,

19 No. 177 June - July 2015 and two occasions when the women had to bring out their hand guns for BOOK REVIEW protection from male ‘river rats’. A warning shot fired in the second en- counter, sent two rats scurrying for Title: The Emerald Mile their dinghy. Subtitle: The Epic Story of the Faster Ride in History Through the In the lower part of the river, they Heart of the Grand Canyon were nailed on several occasion by Author: Kevin Fedarko very powerful and swift moving Published: 2013 tornados, having to dig themselves, Publisher: Scribner Book Co. Stinky, the canoe and paddles from Website: Scribner Book Company under layers of river sand - frighten- Contents: 413 pp ing encounters. Cover: both soft & hardcover Size: 23.11 x 15.24 x 4.06 cms Dorie and Lou (and Stinky) made Price: NZ$39.50 HB, $24.95 s/b quite a team, with only one minor ISBN: 978-1-4391-5986-6 disagreement when tempers frayed Availability: Fishpond, TheNile and Dorie hurled the chart book Review: John Gumbley into the river. Fortunately the book Colorado at night. The conditions floated and was quickly recovered. This is a great read and was chosen on this 277 river mile adventure, The women had a terrible night with as the best adventure book of 2013 negotiating nearly 200 rapids, was Stinky missing from the tent, but by several outdoors magazines. considered suicidal. The trip leader, made up by recalling stories of their Kenton Grua, planned, if all went ‘Canoe Commander’. In the winter of 1983 a large El Nino well, to hurl himself and his two event resulted in massive snowmelt companions through the rapids in They get almost royal treatment runoff racing down the Colorado the heart of the Grand Canyon in the when they finish at New Orleans, river toward the massive Glen fastest time. and even Stinky gets to stay in the Canyon dam which is located at the hotel’s baggage room. head of the iconic Grand Canyon. I started reading this book before going down the river in May this Nine black and white photo plates As engineers struggled to avoid one year and could not put the book bring the story to life; the single map of the most dramatic dam failures in down on my return. Regardless of show the states, the major cities and history, they began releasing massive having the privilege of experiencing major tributaries. A nice cover de- amounts of water that caused a this mighty place, this book is a sign also, a photo of the two women maelstrom so powerful that the river fascinating and thrilling read. Its with Stinky, with a background ‘wa- became a disaster zone for the many flowing prose during the Emerald termark’ of a river map. craft that privately and commercially Mile’s epic run is spot on. Thirty six raft the river - from traditional dories hours, 38 minutes, and 29 seconds - An ‘Afterword’ provides advice for and kayaks to large commercial what a race. anyone considering paddling ‘The inflatable rafts. Father of Waters’. My only gripe, check this out on The book describes this iconic page 64: BOOK NEWS landscape and briefly describes the It may not be much of an over- Lynette Ramsay Silver has written landforms, geology and natural statement to say that, along with a third book on the WW2 foldboat history. Indian and European history splitting the atom and sending the raids on shipping in Japanese oc- is also described, in particular the Voyager spacecraft beyond the solar cupied Singapore harbour. Titled huge debate about whether dams system, Hoover (dam) is the most remarkable thing this country has Deadly Secrets - The Singapore should be built on this huge unique ever pulled off. Raids 1942 - 45, this well illustrated river system. The history and 464 page book is the most compre- characters associated with rafting Mind you seeing those images of hensive to date on Operations Jay- is particularly fascinating from the Pluto from New Horizons, the United wick and Rimau. early explorers - Major John Wesley States can be forgiven just this once. Powell first surveyed the river in Canadian Canoe author John Jen- 1869, to modern-day adventurers. nings has a superbly illustrated book (2012) titled Bark Canoes - The Art In the midst of the crises rapidly and Obsession of Tappan Adney. evolving with massive winter 1983 Tappan Adney was co-author of the flow, a trio of river guides secretly classic Bark Canoes and Skin Boats launched a hand-built wooden of North America (1983). dory named Emerald Mile into the

20 New Zealand Sea Canoeist

The game warden looked at it, then “Well, I’ll be darned,” he says, “I HUMOUR reached over and grabbed the sec- didn’t know Viagra worked as a pain ond duck, sniffed its bum, and said, killer, too.” “This ain’t a Queensland duck. This “It doesn’t,” the dentist replies, “but Good Night Kiss duck’s from West Australia. You got it will give you something to hold on One night a young bloke takes his a West Australian license?” to as I pull your tooth out.” girlfriend home. As they are about Curly reached into his wallet and to kiss each other goodnight at the produced a West Australian hunting Forgetful Actor front door, he starts feeling a little license. There was once an Irish actor who horny. With an air of confidence, he The warden then reached over and did Shakespearean plays, but he had leans with his hand against the wall picked up the third duck, sniffed its aged and could no longer remember and smiling, he says to her, “Honey, bum, and said, “This ain’t a Western his lines! After many years, he finds would you have sex with me?” Australian duck. This duck’s from himself in the GlobeTheatre in Lon- Horrified, she replies, “Are you South Australia. You got a South don, where they were prepared to mad? My parents will see us!” Australian huntin’ license?” Again give him a chance to shine again. “Oh come on! Who’s going to see Curly reached into his wallet and The director says, “This is a most us at this hour?” he asks, grinning at brought out a South Australian li- important part, and it has only one her. cense. line. You walk on to the stage carry- “No, please. Can you imagine if we The game warden was extremely ing a rose. You hold the rose to your get caught?” frustrated at this point, and he yelled nose with just one finger and thumb, “Oh come on! There’s nobody at Curly, “Just where the hell are you sniff the rose deeply and then say around, they’re all sleeping!” from?” the line, ‘Ah, the sweet aroma of my “No way. It’s just too risky!” Curly smiled turned around, bent mistress.’” “Oh please, please, I love you so over, dropped his pants, and said, The Irish actor is thrilled. All day much!” “You tell me, you’re the expert!” long before the play he was practic- “No, no, and no. I love you too, but ing his line over and over again. I just can’t!” Invoice Help Finally, the time came. “Oh yes you can. Please?” The owner of a golf course in the The curtain went up, the actor “No, no. I just can’t.” Bay of Islands was confused about walked onto the stage, and using just “I’m begging you...” paying an invoice, so he decided one finger, as directed, he delivered Out of the blue, the light on the to ask his secretary for some math- the line, “Ah, the sweet aroma of my stairs goes on, and the girl’s older ematical help. He called her into mistress.” sister shows up in her pyjamas, hair his office and said, “You graduated The theatre erupted, the audience dishevelled, and in a sleepy voice, from the University of Auckland and was screaming with laughter and the she says, “Dad says to go ahead and I need some help. If I was to give director was steaming! “You bloody have sex with him, or I can do it. Or you $20,000, minus 14%, how much fool!” he cried, “You have ruined if need be, mom says she can come would you take off?” me!” down herself and do it. But for God’s The secretary thought a moment, and The Irish actor was bewildered, sake, tell him to take his hand off the then replied, “Everything but my “What happened, did I forget my intercom!” earrings.” line?” “No!” screamed the director. “You Duck Hunting in Aussie Subject: Lady Dentist forgot the bloody rose!” Curly went hunting one day up in A guy with an aching tooth rushes to The Northern Territory. And bagged the closest dental surgery to have the Making Friends Outside three ducks. He put them in the back tooth extracted. of Facebook of his Ute and was about to drive The female dentist pulls out a large Presently, I am trying to make friends home when he was confronted by syringe to give him an anaesthetic outside of Facebook by applying the a surly Territory game warden who shot. same principles. Every day, I go didn’t like smart alecs. The warden “No way! No needle! I hate nee- down the street and tell passers-by ordered Curly to show his hunting dles!” the guy hollers. what I have eaten, how I feel, what I license, so Curly pulled out a valid So she starts to hook up the nitrous have done the night before and what Northern Territory license. The game oxide tank. I will do after. warden looked at the license, then But the guy again cuts in, “Forget it! reached over and picked up one of Not that gas thing! Just the thought I give them pictures of my wife, my the ducks, sniffed its bum and said, of a mask on my face suffocates daughter, my dog and me gardening “This duck ain’t from The Territory. me!” and spending time in my pool. I also This is a Queensland duck. You got a So, the female dentist gives him two listen to their conversations and I tell Queensland huntin’ license?” Curly little blue pills and, after he quickly them I love them. And it works! I reached into his wallet and produced swallows them, he asks, “What kind already have three people following a Queensland license. of pills did you give me?” me; two police officers and a psy- “Viagra,” she replies. chiatrist.

21 No. 177 June - July 2015 4th Ed. KASK HANDBOOK WELLINGTON Sea Kayak Network KASK John Andrews KASK, the Kiwi Association of Sea NOW OUT OF PRINT (04) 472 8281 (021) 454 096 Kayakers (N.Z.) Inc., a network of [email protected] New Zealand sea kayakers, has the A 5th edition of the KASK Handbook www.wskn.wellington.net.nz objectives of: is planned. It is a mammoth compila- 1. promoting and encouraging the tion on all aspects of sea kayaking in SOUTH ISLAND sport of sea kayaking New Zealand, by many of the most MARLBOROUGH 2. promoting safety standards experienced paddlers in the Universe. 3. developing techniques & Martyn Smith equipment SEA KAYAKING Ph: 03 577 6256 email: [email protected] 4. dealing with issues of coastal NETWORK ADDRESSES access and protection NORTH ISLAND NELSON Canoe Club 5. organizing an annual sea kayak NORTHLAND Canoe Club forum www.nelsonkayakers.co.nz PO Box 755, Whangarei PO Box 793, Nelson 7040 6. publishing a bimonthly Barbara Leslie, 17 Dolly Lane, newsletter. Diane Winter RD2, Kaiwaka, 0573, Northland Ph: (03) 548 2026 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter is Ph: (09) 945 0935 [email protected] published bimonthly as the official email: [email protected] newsletter of the Kiwi Association CANTERBURY Sea Kayak Network of Sea Kayakers (N.Z.) Inc. AUCKLAND Canoe Club Andy & Deirdre Sheppard PO Box 9271, 53 Kent Lodge Ave, Articles, trip reports, book reviews, Newmarket, Auckland Avonhead, Christchurch 8004 equipment reviews, new techniques, email: [email protected] Ph: 03 342 7929 letters to the editor, and moments email: [email protected] when the word ‘Bugger!’ was said HAURAKI Kayak Group www.sportsground.co.nz/canterburyseakayak singularly or often (referred to by PO Box 46-146, Herne Bay, Auckland some as incidents) are sought to en- email: [email protected] OTAGO Canoe and Kayak Club liven the pages of the newsletter. www.hkg.org.nz Lesley Pijpker Send to: email: [email protected] Paul Caffyn, WAIKATO KASK Contact Ph: 027 7270811 1843C Coast Rd, Evan Pugh, RD2, Putaruru 3482 RD 1, Runanga 7873, West Coast email: [email protected] SOUTHLAND Sea Kayak Network Ph: 03 731 1806 Ph: 07 883 6898 Stan Mulvany Email: [email protected] www.sportsground.co.nz/bayseakayak 03 215 7263 KASK Annual Subscription email: [email protected] RUAHINE Whitewater Club www.sskn.uniformnz.com $35 single membership. c/o Melanie Grant, 5 Waitapere Court, $40 family membership. Ashhurst, 4810. YAKITY YAK Clubs $35 overseas (PDF email newsletter) P: (06) 326 8667. A subscription form can be down- www.canoeandkayak.co.nz ph: (09) 476 7066 loaded from the KASK website. BAY OF PLENTY - KASK Contact Cheques should be made out to: Iona Bailey, Tauranga NZOIA Outdoor Instructors Assn Kiwi Association Sea Kayakers & Ph: 07 576 1492 www.nzoia.org.nz mailed to: email: [email protected] KASK Administrator Coastguard Boating Education P: (0800) 40 80 90 (09) 361 4700 PO Box 23, Runanga 7841 BASK Bay Assn. of Sea Kayakers E: [email protected] West Coast Bevan Grant W: www.boatingeducation.org.nz Payment can be made by direct cred- [email protected] it (preferred) to: Ph: (07) 576 8885 New Zealand Search & Rescue 03 1706 0010205 00 www.sportsground.co.nz/bayseakayak www.nzsar.org.nz with your name and/or KASK mem- www.adventuresmart.org.nz bership number for reference. ROTORUA Kayak Club www.beacons.org.nz 7 Mahana Place, Rotorua Correspondence - Queries Ph: 027 292 3138 Maritime New Zealand and Change of Address to: email: [email protected] www.maritime.govt.nz Karen Grant, KASK Administrator PO Box 23, Runanga 7841 GISBORNE Sea Kayakers Club West Coast John Humphris, 3 Matthews Rd, Gisborne KASK Website or email Karen at: Ph: 06 868 4657 [email protected] email: [email protected] Kask.org.nz

22 A rare exceptionally still morning in Doubtful Sound. Photo: Belinda Mulvany

A dusky dolphin spouts between Belinda and the other three paddlers. What timing for a photo. Crooked Arm in Doubtful Sound. Photo: Belinda Mulvany MAILED TO

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