The Sea Canoeist Newsletter THE SEA CANOEIST NEWSLETTER Issue 75 June - July 1998 Editor: P Caff yn, RD 1, Runanga. West Coast .N.Z. Ph/Fax: (03) 7311806 E Mail address: [email protected] The Sea Canoeist Newsletter is published 6 times a year as the offi cial newsletter of the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (N.Z.) Inc. Subscriptions are $20.00 per annum & should be made out to K.A.S.K. (NZ) Inc. & sent to the KASK Treasurer: Helen Woodward, 82 Hutcheson St. Blenheim Ph: (03) 578 5429. email: [email protected] Correspondence to the Secretary: Peter Sullivan, 7 Monowai Cres, North New Brighton, Christchurch. Ph.(03) 388 3380.

INDEX EDITORIAL Colin Monteath, Geoff Gabites and EDITORIAL p.1 The S.O.P.M. (serious overseas pad- yours truly. Which brings me to the dling mission) as noted in newsletter subject of this editorial. EQUIPMENT 74, as the reason for the late arrival Out on a Wing -Wing Paddles of this newsletter, was a great suc- Abel Tasman by Rod Banks p. 2 cess. The cunning plan was a pub National Park. Seeing & Being Seen - lights tour around Ireland, the pub bit being Geoff Gabites talked about many by Kerry Howe enticement for young Conrad to join issues affecting outdoor adventure p. 3 me. Well, the use of an Irish travel in New Zealand today, and made Kayak Lights - Another View agent for the fi nal leg from Heathrow pertinent comments relating to in- by Kevin Jose p. 6 led to a fl ight across a vast ice cap, creasing pressure on the resources of Paddle Weight and landing at an airport where the the Abel Tasman National Park. He by P. Caffyn p.16 uncomprehensible language spoken, blamed yours truly for the increase Rubber Hatch Covers sounded like someone continually in popularity of sea kayaking, and Extend their life trying to clear their throat. predicted that within three years, a (reprinted from n/l 65) p. 17 permit system will be in operation We had arrived safely at Kangerlus- for paddlers, as is now in place for the SYMPOSIUMS suaq, on the west coast of Greenland. A likes of the Routeburn Track. There Coastbusters '98 few anxious moments ensued until our are some eight commercial opera- by Susan Hill p.4 kayaks were unloaded onto the tarmac. tors putting bums in seats currently Coastbusters '98 A ride was teed up to the head of the in the park, and Geoff noted that on by Vincent Maire fi ord, maps bought from the airport Easter Friday there was either 200 or p. 5 tourist offi ce, enough tucker chosen 400 (travel lag memory loss) rental/ from the village shop to last until the guided paddlers heading out into the TRIP REPORTS next Inuit village, and late afternoon park. The increasing pressure on the Melanie's Cook Strait Paddle we were on the water. The timetable beaches, campgrounds and associated by David Herrington p. 7 was tight, but we made the 1100km facilities, and loss of lone wilderness distance to the airport at Narsarsuaq experience for the mobs of paddlers, OVERSEAS REPORTS with a few days to spare, and visited is an increasing problem. And I must BCU Coaching Scheme many of the 1000 year old Norse sites agree with Geoff that unless controls by John Kirk-Anderson p. 9 in South Greenland before winging on the number of concession operators our way home, Conrad back to work, and number of boats per operator is A Kayak Cruise on the Turkish Coast, and myself following after two weeks brought under control by the Depart- Cesme to Bodrum paddling on the west and east coasts ment of Conservation, there will have by Gerry Maire of Sweden. to be a permit system introduced to p. 10 limit the number of paddlers in the Within hours of arriving home, I was park at one time. PRESIDENTS REPORT attending the inaugral IMOFF festival by Phil Handford (International Mountain and Outdoor I understand from one of the long p. 16 Film Festival), held at Hokitia over the established operators, that each fresh weekend of 1 - 2 August. The festival commerical concession application PRODUCT REVIEW was a sellout success, with speakers made has been objected to, but DOC 'Smart Shaft' for take apart paddles including Lydia Bradey, Graham has continued to grant the concessions. Charles, Anna Cook, Cam McLeay, I can only rationalize this, on the

1 No. 75 June - July 1998 basis that demand by the head offi ce beach to your self in mid-summer or at Wellington wombles for parks to self Easter is as good as winning lotto. For ‘Out on a Wing’ generate funding is causing this ‘pad- Kiwi paddlers, wishing for the remote, by Rod Banks dlers in the park’ overload. pristine wilderness experience, there (reprinted from the are alternatives, more distant locations Canterbury Sea Kayak In a recent press release (Christch- or mid winter park visits. Network Newsletter) urch ‘Press’ 27/08/98): Conservation Minister Nick Smith So what to do? Is it not high time the Ever since I had fi rst seen the wing has started a process that could add Department of Conservation stopped paddle, around the time our Olympic 1000ha of beaches, estuaries, and granting concessions to new com- paddlers were dealing to the rest of the rocky shoreline to New Zealand’s mercial operators? I would assume world with them, I had been impressed most overcrowded national park. it is way too late for DOC to impose by that lovely shape, the revolutionary “It’s an anomaly that the beaches controls on the maximum numbers of look that exuded design and function- of Abel Tasman are not actually in seats per operator. ality. When I fi rst tried them on the the park,” Dr Smith said. water, I was somewhat disappointed, To avoid the instigation of a permit sys- the action was all wrong for me. They “It comes from an era when only tem, control on the numbers has to be tended to drag your arms out sideways land-based conservation was seen initiated. I can envisage that it would as you completed the paddle stroke, a as important. The addition of the be impossible to ask the operators to very unnatural feeling. It might have foreshore makes good sense and limit their numbers. Thus to retain a looked very glamorous on the Avon, I hope the community will sup- little of the wilderness experience for but I couldn’t imagine using them in port it.” both Kiwi paddlers and rental guided a tippy sea kayak in a beam sea, not paddlers (not having 40 other kayaks to mention any recovery stroke I may Adding the foreshore to the park on the same beach) DOC must impose have been forced to use. would enable the Department of maximum numbers of boats in the Conservation to better manage park at any one time on commercial So I had gone back to thinking tradi- the park. operators. I would not like to see the tionally, wooden paddles seem to me day arrive when KASK members have to be living things and I have some “Abel Tasman National Park is the to book in for a paddle in the park Canadian White Water paddles by icon of our region and our favourite some 12 months ahead - but unless Nimbus that have a great feel. Wood playground. We need to focus on the numbers pressure is eased, I totally in winter is positively cosy compared how we can ensure that it stays that agree with Geoff Gabites that we are to a glass shaft. Their sea blades looked way for all the next millenium.” in for a permit system. great, but effi ciency should be the main consideration when planning to use DOC’s Nelson-Marlbourough What can KASK do? Letters to the a paddle for prolonged periods. So community relations manager, DOC Minister, Nick Smith, and to esthetics were relegated to the back Alan White, said DOC was not the local DOC community relations seat and I settled with Asymmetric looking at the Abel Tasman fore- manager, expressing our concern over Blades and have used them for a shore for revenue gathering. the increasing number of commercial number of years. They did every thing operators and the lack of number I wanted from them, they were light “What we’re trying to do is grapple controls per operator. and could handle a wide spectrum of with how we deal with increasing conditions and strokes. Their main use of the coast.” Anyone with strong views on the fl aw was the way they would fl utter subject, please write. And remember when paddling hard, that is to say, Some operators who transported this is only a personal view and not turbulence generated as the force of people into the park by boat would necessarily that of the KASK com- the blade is drawn through the water need to get concessions, he said. mittee. and as the water spills off the edges P. Caffyn of the blade causes the whole thing to An accompanying map with the press vibrate and quiver. article shows over 95% of the shoreline would be added to the park, with only I had talked to quite a lot of kayakers two small areas excluded in Torrent about paddles and have watched some Bay and the south side of Awaroa Bay. fi ne exponents of the sport leave me This move is obviously long overdue, in their wake. I had decided it was as previously there has only been the worth trying the new generation of Tonga Island marine reserve under Wing Blades on the market. These DOC control. newer versions were apparently more user friendly allowing one to use a But the attraction for me of paddling wider range of strokes. Well I wasn’t this pristine coastline in summer no completely sure about them until I had longer exists. The chance of fi nding a

2 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter borrowed a set and had given them a as blind your travelling companions. good work out at the local swimming SEEING AND BEING (I once saw the front paddler in a pool. “I wanted to know” can I draw, SEEN double with a working strobe on his can I scull, can I roll, sweep, Dufeck, back, inches from his rear paddler’s slap, brace and any number of trendy LIGHTS FOR SEA eyeballs! - perhaps the latter’s mind poncey strokes I have yet to learn was destroyed and he just paddled like with a paddle. The answer was with KAYAKING AT a duck up the Huka Falls...) some modifi cation to ones grip, an emphatic yes, the only question mark NIGHT. There are two excellent light sources. was Drawing and Sculling. Not very by Kerry Howe One is a cylume stick. These come positive in this area, a bit like trying (Reprinted from the ASKNET in different intensities. A medium to remain upright using a Draught Newsletter, June-July 1998) white one will last up to 6 or more Sausage! - still, I could roll easily hours. Everyone has them at Concert with this paddle, so it meant I could Seeing: in the Park. They are fool-proof - no proceed to the fi eld of battle ‘The Surf’ Night fi shing and paddling can be bulbs or batteries to fail - but once and really test these blades out. exhilarating. You seldom require you start them by bending them and continuous lighting to see where you breaking a phial inside they can’t be Well I gave the borrowed blades back are going. There is usually an amazing turned off, and at $5 a go they are not and demoed a variable length set out amount of light at sea, and the human cheap. They are good when paddling in the waves, well I had a ball, they eye’s night vision techniques generally in a group since their soft light won’t were great for putting in that burst mean that we can see adequately. But blind others. of speed needed to get on a wave. It sometimes if there is no moon or stars really felt like you had a hold on the and if you are away from the glare of The other good light is called a C- water, a gigantic handful of thrust with the city you may need light to spy out Light. It is a small pen-cell type light each stroke, no spilling off the face. If half-submerged rocks or seek suitable powered by two AA batteries and you went into a broach, it didn’t pay landing spots, or check a compass is submersible. Its lens is unusually to brace off the back of the blade for bearing. Possibly the most useful shaped (like the top-knot of a Rus- long, for as soon as the wave released light for kayaking is a headlight, that sian orthodox church) which gives a you, it was belly up folks before is, a light attached to your head. That thin but intense 360 degree band of you’d quoted those immortal words way you can keep paddling and still horizontal light. It can be seen from of Homer Simpsons “DOH!”. I was shine the light where you want it. A some miles away. I always use one certainly getting to like these things headlight is pretty essential if fi shing of these when paddling and fi shing at and now after a number of day trips, - try getting a hook out of a fi sh with night. They cost about $20 from the I Love them. one hand holding a torch! The more Auckland Canoe Centre. popular models in the reliable Petzl Justifi cation - how can one justify range are mostly splash proof but Both cylume and C-Light are best something you can’t live without. I’m seem to do the job very well. Some taped to a thin bamboo/aluminium/fi - sure that if the Inuit had found drift headlights are submersible, and are breglass pole, about 3 feet long. This wood lying along their beaches, which relatively inexpensive. can be held up by fi xing it to your PFD were slightly dished with an over (put cork on the bottom and put it in hanging top edge, they would have If you want a hand-held light, the ever a PFD pocket), or you can arrange a been positively planing after seals in reliable Dolphin lamp is powerful and holder for it on your deck - preferably the Bering Strait. When you lift these totally waterproof. However it is bulky behind you so you are not troubled paddles up in your local kayak shop, on deck. If you really want to vaporise by the light - but make sure you can they feel rather strange, they seem to the dark, you can have a handheld reach the holder! Some people make want to tip forward all the time. Well, spot attached by a lead to a gel battery waterproof box-type holders which this weird feeling in the shop is truly tucked away somewhere. Whatever contain large battery packs with wires natural when you’re on the water. For you use, a totally waterproof torch, running up a pole to a bulb. Most of the best results, you have to fully rotate such as a small Mag-light, in the PFD ones I’ve seen have a too dazzlingly your frame as you paddle, instead of pocket is an essential back-up. bright light. push and pulling the paddles without moving your upper body, you are using Being seen: Some people put a lit Dolphin lamp the wrong muscle groups for a start. inside their kayak, making it glow, Probably most lighting on kayaks The fl at water paddlers may look a bit some would say obscenely in red is so that you can be seen. Whether over the top when they power down the plastic kayaks! The problem with anchored fi shing, or paddling alone Waimak. but it’s all about effi ciency this technique is that if there is even or in a group, some multi-directional and its certainly working for me. small chop, the kayak can be invisible white light is a good idea, especially from a short distance. An effective in the crowded Hauraki Gulf. Don’t Rod Banks 'being seen light’ needs to be white have something too bright which will and have a bit of height, preferably destroy your own night vision as well above head-height.

3 No. 75 June - July 1998

delaminated after a short time. I know power switches off to it and a red LED If some crazed speed boat is bearing of at least one bad person who tries to goes out. I bought my RAM charger down on you and you really want to peel bits of Solas tape off those orange and batteries from PM Distributors draw attention to yourself (other than road cones marking roadworks. (PO Box 27-557, Mt Roskill). I think by setting off a fl are), a small strobe they are great! RAMS also come in light is the answer. They can waken Batteries: size D (6 Amp hours) and C (3 Amp the dead with their pulsating brilliance. The fewer battery types/sizes you need hours). Both use the same charging They cost about $35 dollars and on one the better. All my lighting equipment unit as AAs. Alkaline C battery they will fl ash up to runs on AA’s, (except for the C cell 15 hours. In the unlikely event of an strobe, which is a non-rechargeable Are there any other bright ideas out extended sea or aerial search for you, Alkaline which I replace every 12 there? they are priceless. I bought mine after months - but you can get AA powered Kerry Howe the story of a unlit dinghy drifting with strobes). Common-size batteries are a helpless crew all night across the more convenient for charging, and on Update from Kerry on Bay of Plenty whilst an aircraft fl ew a long trip you can just take a whole battery suppliers: blindly over them many times. Strobes jar along without too much thinking. With regard to the suppliers of the are submersible, and some models will For many years I used the very reli- Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries that fl oat up the right way. I attach mine to able rechargeable Nickel-Cadmium feature in the article, could you please my PFD shoulder so that it will also (NiCad) batteries. But about three add more information, namely: be of some use if I’m in the water, or years ago I discovered Recharge- PM Distributors Ltd even under it. Scuba divers sometimes able Alkaline Manganese (RAM). PO Box 27-557 use them. They are good in fog. It’s They cost $3 each, about the same as Mt Roskill a good idea to take them even on day NiCads, but have many advantages. Auckland trips, especially in the winter when They put out 1.5 volts instead of phone (09) 625 0020 darkness can set in early. NiCads 1.2 but still have a similar or fax (09) 625 0040 better current rating of .6 Amp hours. mobile 025 789 861 Red fl ashing LED bike lights attached A charged battery will hold its charge to a PFD can also warn people of for two years on a shelf, unlike NiCads (see also page 6 for a follow up ar- your presence, but they are a bit which slowly discharge when not in ticle by Kevin Jose on kayaks and too directional, besides being mind use. Most importantly, RAMs love lights.) distorting. Red lights are sometimes being recharged at any stage of their a bit of a problem in that they have cycle. Whenever you get home after another maritime purpose - to indicate using them, no matter how briefl y, port-side, or a port marker. A single, just whip them into the charger. That COASTBUSTERS ‘98 multi-directional white light is the way you always know they are fully by Susan Hill proper indication of a moored ves- charged when you next head off into (reprinted from the sel, or a relatively slow vessel like the darkness. You can’t do that with a kayak under way. But any lighting NiCads because they may develop ASKNET Newsletter is better than nothing when you can memory if they do not go through April - May 1998) hear a launch bearing down on you a fairly full cycle of discharge and I’d signed up weeks in advance, in the dark. charge. Unless you are totally anally announced it to the family, and put retentive and time how long you use it on the calendar, but as the day Red fl ashing lights or white strobes are your NiCads, you can never be quite approached, I could feel the tension not in themselves a signal for assist- sure just how much life they have left building: Mom’s abandoning us! I ance. Coastguard, for example, will in them. RAMS, containing no Mer- know, they’re old enough to be self not investigate them. But people will cury or Cadmium, are supposedly less suffi cient and they’ve been on their know you are there, and if someone harmful to the environment. own before, but they still have to be is actually looking for you, then any taken care of. In theory they are sup- light can be potential lifesaver. There are two potential disadvantages portive of my gallivanting about, but with RAMS, though I don’t think they in practice they’re not so sure. On the Silver refl ective tape can also be very are at all signifi cant. You can charge other hand, if Momma ain’t happy, effective. If someone shines a light you them only about 100 times as opposed ain’t no one happy, So, one kayak will glisten like a Christmas tree. Put to NiCads claimed 1000 charges (so on the car, camping gear in a Bean some on your cap, on your PFD, on how long do you plan to spend in the bag, and off through the wind and rain the stick holding up your light, and dark?). Also you can’t charge them in to Shakespear for the Coastbusters on your kayak. By far the best tape is your existing NiCad charger. RAMs Symposium. the Solas brand, but it is very expen- need a special tapering current, con- sive at about $27 a metre. However, stant voltage charger. But these are the Friday night, lodge-stayers discussed unlike some other refl ective tapes it same price as a NiCad charger - about snoring and chose bunkmates while is saltwater proof. I got all excited $30. As each cell becomes charged, the campers established their own dry when I found a cheap version, but it zones amongst the raindrops and

4 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter peacocks on the grass by the beach. Kayaks of various colours, shapes and Saturday evening, Friday’s full moon Coastbusters has once again come and sizes were sprawled about. We were on put in an appearance, and the coloured gone. By all accounts it was a huge our own for dinner, some with snacks lights and jukebox in the marquee success in spite of the weather and from home, some with carry-out for were bright and loud, eased along wind; indeed, the event has become so the journey, but we met in the hall at with what people had BYOed. We closely associated with crappy weather about 8:00 for the evening’s inspira- demonstrated our non-paddling skills it could be hired out to drought stricken tional entertainment: slide shows and until the wee hours of this lengthened areas as a guarantee of heavy rain. stories of journeys near and far: Gerry night (most of us remembered to and Trish Maire’s trek to Turkey, Paul change our watches), and the ‘Susans’ The weather so impacted this time Caffyn’s circum-navigation of New gathered to celebrate the (almost) Ides that at lunchtime on Saturday, I rushed Caledonia, and Paul Buckley’s son et of March. home to the computer, published lumiere of sights closer to home. another programme which Kevin Sunday morning, almost before the Dunsford and I had drafted out, and Generous wind and rain overnight wind came up, some 90 of us were returned in time to alert the punters did little to dampen spirits, and after divided into teams to get back on the that they wouldn’t be spending the Jannien’s breakfast and a fascinating water and pretend to go on a day trip, afternoon on the water as previously explanation of traditional Pacific dealing with various hazards set up planned. I had to agree with Kevin that navigation methods by Rawiri Taonui, to test our coping skills. I think we the mark 2 version of the programme determined paddlers set out for Army handled potential disasters sensibly, was defi nitely superior to the original Bay, on the ‘calm’ side of the penin- but some of us had trouble navigating model and we once again learnt a sula, in-the-water workshops. My around invisible blue buoys placed valuable lesson on how to continue own self designation as an intermedi- somewhere out there in the bay. the process of honing this wonderful ate paddler seemed a little optimistic event called Coastbusters. given the conditions, but our group did The last session on Islands in our own manage to perform rescues of various Hauraki Gulf was an appropriate end Over 90 delegates participated this sorts in the type of conditions where to a wonderful weekend. Thanks to year and although this was about 20 they would probably most likely be all organisers and participants - an less than we anticipated, the event needed. I must say though, that I was incredibly varied group of people who broke even. feeling a bit green about the gills from shared this time together. pitching and rolling and trying to stay What of the future of Coastbusters? within earshot of the instructor, and A few minor mishaps occurred: one We did learn that the YMCA Lodge was relieved to head for the beach pair of glasses found their way to and Shakespear Bay combine to make through the largest surf I’ve attempted Davy Jones’ locker, one electronic a fi rst class venue. Trade participation (and very nearly successfully!) My car system was disabled by salt water, was better than ever and the new venue, wish for a warm shower and a criti- and my hat blew away. At the end of plus the weather, combined to give cal session on the mechanical kayak Sunday’s water-top event, I removed the trade a signifi cantly higher level machine (not very realistic, but I did hat and drybags from my kayak in of exposure than ever before. I know get some good points) took me through order to try a few more underwater of four sea kayaks being sold over the to the afternoon workshops, on dry exercises, and placed them on the weekend and have had generally good land and at this point, with a bit of beach - properly weighted, I thought. feedback from the trade. sunshine as I recall. I returned from the so-called French Rescue to fi nd the hat apparently Coastbusters may be back in 12 It was hard to get to everything I blown away. It didn’t turn up at the months time in its current form, but wished to see, but Saturday afternoon lost and found session, but someone then again it may reappear as some- and Sunday morning, I managed to said he had seen it rescued from the thing different. Personally, I was participate in a discussion of estab- water, so please toss is back my way disappointed with the lower than ex- lishment of funding, and regulations if you have it - sand coloured canvas pected number of ASKNET paddlers for sea kayaks trails; get some sug- Aussie style, elastic in the brim, leather taking part. Don’t know the reason gestions on nearby places to paddle; chin strap, and meant to be with the why but it is likely to be a combination witness the creation of pizza brownies peacock feather I found in my tent. of a number of things. over a camp stove; and be awed by Susan Hill (09) 445-3236 the creative gadgetry that fi ts inside One thing this Coastbusters did have - or on top of - a kayak. (I too have a in quantity was a very high standard cordless drill, but have abandoned the of speaker. The topics seemed a little idea of attaching fan blades to create a different, almost unusual this year. favourable wind, as the wind always Both Rawiri Taonui and Mike Lee had seems favourable in this part of the superbly informative presentations. world!) I missed out on electronics, COASTBUSTERS Our Australian guest speaker, John handling extreme conditions and a by Vincent Maire Wilde came to us following the very couple of others.

5 No. 75 June - July 1998 recent death of a close friend from a intrusive is the light and how much we had been invisible to him. heart attack, whilst on a sea kayaking power does it need? expedition. He used this tragic story It is very hard to tell the distance of as the focus of his presentation and When I went on my fi rst night trip, an object at night when all you see is made us realise (yet again) why this there were just the two of us in my a light. Is it a bright light a long way sport means so much to us. John is double. We soon left the lights of away or is it a dim light close up? multi-talented and I wouldn’t mind Kawakawa bay behind and were Your brain needs more information. betting we see him here once again. enveloped by the darkness. It was a You expect a light to illuminate an Paul Caffyn was his usual fascinating wonderful, moonless and still as we area around it, a deck, the water or self and the workshops drew large and just glided across the water. We had ground. If you can not see anything appreciative audiences. no fi xed lights and did not use our then you interpret it as a light a long torch. With no background noise or way away. Mike Swift tells me of an I admit that I found this time around any lights, if anything else had moved incident when the Coast Guard knew to be rather stressful and I didn’t start we would have known about it. Be- that there were a group of kayakers to relax and enjoy myself until late ing there without a light is the spirit using strobe lights. They could see on Saturday. I have one big regret; of night paddling. We felt part of the them and were closing in on them when not saying hello to so many faces, environment. When you have a light without warning they found that they both new and familiar. There were on it is more like a bubble travelling were actually in amongst them. Even many highlights but one stands out through the night . Since those days I when they knew what they were look- for me. On Friday evening we had have done a lot more night trips, some ing at they could not judge the distance slide presentations on Turkey and New just around the harbour and others such the boats were away from them. Matt Caledonia but when Paul Buckley as crossings from Whangaparaoa to C only a few months ago was out gave us 20 minutes of his collection the Noises and Tiritiri to Motutapu night paddling and saw a strobe light of local slides, I couldn’t help think or I leave all the lights and traffi c across the water. He thought it must what a fabulous place we live in - it behind and go out from Te Uenga bay be a kayaker as we are mainly the really is a sea kayakers paradise. in the Bay of Islands. In or around the only people to use strobes. He was Vincent Maire harbour there is just too much traffi c at Mission bay and the light appeared nowadays not to have a light. to be in the channel over towards Devonport about 1.5 km, only it was Not long after I started night paddling moving very fast Yes it was a kayak in the harbour strobe lights came onto but only about 100m away. the market and three of us bought KAYAK LIGHTS - one each. We thought great, a small I have just heard of another good waterproof light, but the last time I story. Chris Gulley was in a yacht ANOTHER VIEW used mine was about 5 years ago. I off Tutukaka when he saw a fl ashing by Kevin Jose now really believe that strobe lights light in front of him. It appeared to (reprinted from the ASKNET News- are no longer a valid option and are be quite close when according to the letter August -September 1998) in fact dangerous. chart there should not be anything there. It turned out to be Cape Brett Thanks Kerry for bringing up the topic An incident that made me look for 45km away. of lights. Maybe more of us should another type of light occurred at about use the newsletter as a way of pass- 11pm one night. Two of us were com- Over the last few days I have spoken ing on our experiences. With more ing back from Motuihe with strobe to Michele Pate from Coast Guard, the articles like this we can fi nd out what lights mounted on our decks. We had deputy harbour master Hans Sweet, works for other people and adopt the passed Browns Island and although not and Mark Fifeild the operations man- solution that best suits our one needs. crossing the entrance to the Tamaki ager from Fullers. I think it will always be an ongoing river we were in an area in which boats saga and there is not likely to be a start to converge to go into the river. Coast Guard were most helpful and defi nitive answer. As always even with a light on I had although they to do not know what been keeping watch and had seen a the answer is were keen to work with When choosing a light there are a lot boat coming in the Motuihe channel. us to help make some progress. They of factors to consider. May be one It was now at about 170 degrees to us do think we are a small low obscured light will not cover all cases. Do and maintaining course. It continued object below the line of vision that you want the light only for staying to get closer. We hove to and a 25 to most boaties would be looking at in contact with others of your group 30 foot launch passed at speed about for another boat. Even with lights or is it so that you can be seen by 30 feet in front of us. This was a close we should still have a bright torch that thundering gin palace? What’s call. It was only when we were not readily accessible. THERE WILL behind you? Do you have to stand backlit by the lights of town that he had BE ANOTHER NIGHT WHEN WE out against the lights of Auckland or seen us. He came back to apologise WILL TEST VARIOUS LIGHTS the darkness of an unlit island? How and to see if we wanted a lift. He said WITH COAST GUARD INPUT. IF that he had been keeping watch and yet YOU HAVE A LIGHTING SYSTEM

6 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRY to about 300m. If the strobes have a OUT PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL faster pulse rate, then their visibility TRIP REPORTS AND I WILL TRY TO ARRANGE is increased. AN EVENING PROBABLY IN LATE Melanie’s Cook Strait AUGUST. Our speed is so slow that even when we Paddle are crossing across the background we At this stage we do not appear to be do not have that much relative move- by David Herrington a problem for the ferrys other than ment. If you are being approached that sometimes groups get spread from the stern then movement is To have a go at paddling across Cook out. He made the comment that the minimal so you are concealed by the Strait had been on Melanie’s mind for bridge tends to be higher than that background very easily. a couple of years. of pleasure craft so they tend to look down on things as they get closer The bigger the better for being seen. Early in May 1998 Melanie Grant was and so we are not so disguised in the For you however if the light is too very fi t from all the training for the background lights. Hans is aware that bright then you tend to want to switch local multisport events. (Getting her lights are an issue but did not have it off as it ruins your night vision. A share of the prize money too, I might any answers. He was concerned with small plate under the light will keep add.) The weather pattern looked visibility in general and would like to the light off your boat and does not promising for some calm conditions see our radar profi le increased. More upset your night vision as much but in Cook Strait, southerlies were on the than once he made reference to the does nothing for the people near you. way out and a ridge of high pressure point that he would not like to be the The tri light is good as long as you are would give 48 hours of good condi- operator to hit a kayak as though the side by side. A red light is the least tions before the next northerly set in. way things are going the outcome is disturbing to your night vision. The There was a three metre swell but that inevitable. All three accept that strobes white 4 watts is OK as long as you was on the decrease. are a good start, but this was in refer- are more than about 10m away from ence to groups when there would be each other. On Tuesday the 5th, preparations were lots of fl ashes from one area. made for an early start next morning. Just two things to fi nish on. If a boat These preparations went well into the I have been out one evening with an is closing on you at 20knots, then it night for Melanie and even further into onshore observer to compare lights will cover 500m in 50sec. the night for her father Max. and their visibility. The alarm was set for 3am to hear the We had eight lights: The ferries operate from a darkened marine forecast - light south easterlies 1 20 watt halogen mast head bridge, what is the chance of the dying out about noon, a 10kt northerly 2 8 watt incandescent ( a standard pleasure craft having a light on? pretty developing later in the day and a two marine mast head light) high if you ask Coast Guard. metre swell. This sounded pretty good 3 6 watt halogen tri light so by 4.15am we were on our way to 4 4 watt halogen mast head If you have a light you would like to Makara, with another check on the 5 1.8 watt incandescent and Auckland try out, please give me a call and I will forecast again at 5am. Canoe Center special try to arrange an evening, probably in 6 0.3 watt orange C light late August. It was just breaking dawn and a 7 white strobe Kevin Jose cool but light south easterly breeze 8 blue strobe Ph: 09 846 6796 was coming down the valley behind Makara when we set off at 7.10am. With the observer on the end of The Brother’s light was fl ashing it’s Okahu bay wharf we paddled into the signal in the distance ahead of us. Pad- lights of the container terminal, the dling out of Ohariu Bay, the last few most extreme back lighting. Across fl ashes of the Ohau Point light were towards Devonport, to come down seen before daylight took over. the harbour with moderate lighting in the background and fi nished up with Further out into the strait, away from Rangitoto as a background. the protection of Cape Terawhiti, the swell started to increase. Max altered Findings: his heading and sped up to do a bit This is for single lights, the more lights of surfi ng down the swells. Melanie the easier it should be to see. conserved her energy for the long If you are competing against back- haul ahead with a steady but strong ground lights the colours of the paddle strokes. background lights tend to be yellow, orange or white, therefore the green There was a lot of seaweed and kelp and red of the tri light stand out. fl oating about, the aftermath of the The strobe and the C light are good

7 No. 75 June - July 1998 previous day’s rough seas. A couple here, everything looks okay was the Back to reality, there was still some of albatross and a penguin paid us a reply. We had better get started back serious paddling to do. Setting off on visit. Conditions were favourable and as there is still a fair way to go. Joe a southeasterly heading rather than the judging by the change in the transits gave Max the phone number of the easterly we had been on at the start of of the Brothers, progress was looking fi shing boat and was told if there is our return trip we continued the task good, even though the changing tide any trouble, give a call they’re only ahead of us. had been carrying us sideways. an hour away. On our way out through Tory Chan- Not far now, you could make out more About 4nm (nautical miles) or one nel, the fl ood tide was starting to run. detail on the hills and coastline. Lights hour out from Perano Head, the Max led keeping close to the shore started to appear as the sun disap- rebound of the swell off the shore and making use of the back eddies. peared over the South Island behind started to become much more ap- We were out into the lumpy sea again us. A large moon was masked by a parent, slowly increasing as we got without any problems. We could head thin veil of high cloud. Melanie was close to Ruakawa Rock. Melanie straight out as the tide would carry us paddling in great style, arms high and was busting!! “Keep the liquid intake northwards. Off to our left Perano still powering along. I’m sure Max up” - what is required for racing isn’t Head was drifting behind us. Making was like me and had to work a bit to needed to the same extent on an ocean good progress we paddled into the keep up with Melanie. (Age difference, paddle. (Melanie’s eyes were almost light south-easterly breeze and once I’m sure.) It was dark by the time we watering with bladder pressure.) Ru- again watching the Brother’s transits closed on Makara Beach. We had left akawa Rock was given a wide berth change. the swell behind us. With just the because of an angry sea surging around calm black water around and street it. Further over was a small gravel Not as many ships about now. There lights to guide us onto the beach, we beach sheltered enough to make a had been a big container ship pass arrived back at 7.05pm. Eleven hours landing, an ideal spot of a wee stop. in front of us in the morning. The padding and twelve hours total since Max made a phone call to Margaret shipping in and out of Tory Channel we had left Makara. and the wharf police to say we were towards Wellington could still be across safely. (That was after asking seen when we were on the crest of To the best of my knowledge Melanie a seal to move over as they beached.) the waves; some of which were much is the second woman to paddle across It had taken four hours to make the more than two metres. There were still Cook Strait. She is the youngest crossing. The cloud hadn’t lifted as a lot of birds about. Four more juve- woman and the fi rst to do a double promised by the weather forecaster nile albatross came to check us out, crossing in one day. Congratulations and surges were coming up onto the gannets doing their dive bomb fi shing, Mel. beach trying to take the kayaks, so it and petrel skimming in front of us with David Herrington was a brief stop. their wing tips only a whisker away from the surface of the sea. Melanie We crossed the bay to East Head which was visited by one of the small fl ying is the entrance to Tory Channel with fi sh that were about. It landed on her WANTED the company of lots of seagulls. There spray skirt enabling us to have a close Paddling Companion was very little tidal fl ow, but a very look at it’s long wing/fi ns before it was Giselle Groves would like a paddling lumpy sea. It took an hour to reach reunited with the sea. companion(s) for a 10 day trip in the the shelter of Okukari Bay. In the bay Bay of Islands between October '98 we talked to two fi shermen who said The day wore on, the cloud had drifted and March '99. Giselle is middle aged, a southerly change was coming and away as we came to the diffi cult part of and has some paddling experience in suggested we talk to Joe Heberley, a a crossing. You are out in the middle the Abel Tasman National Park and third generation fi sherman of Tory with no real landmarks to gauge your Marlborough Sounds. Channel. (I was thinking no way could progress. You start to feel weary and Contact: Giselle Groves there be any southerly as the anticylone don’t seem to be getting anywhere. RD 1, Trass Valley was moving away.) You drift off into your own thoughts Wakefi eld. 7181 - even those become stale. It is no Nelson. We landed on the sandy beach of good looking at the time because you Ph: collect evenings, 03 541 8726 Okukari Bay. It was very cold, time did that less than fi ve minutes ago. At to grab some food and a hot drink. least at the change of the hour some With sandwich and drink in hand Max food and drink along with a few words and I set off for the house to seek out exchanged make a break from it all. Joe. We met him as he was coming across the paddock on his way to the I don’t know if it was the midway jetty. After introductions he invited paddle boredom or the mid Cook us up to the house where he made a Strait current which runs up to 2.2kt’s phone call to his son who was fi sh- (3.9km’s), but after our 4 o’clock break ing just north of the Brothers. The when we refocused on the landmarks, weather is good, a 5kt south-easterly we were way north of our transit line.

8 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter test, planned for the following night, OVERSEAS The advanced Profi ciency (or 5 Star was cancelled when conditions be- REPORTS Award) is the highest in the very came too rough. structured BCU scheme. It is a lead- ership and personal skills test where We were then told to plan a trip for the The BCU Coaching Scheme candidates are placed in challenging following day that would enable the by John Kirk-Anderson situations to test their ability to safely assessors to check our group control. extract themselves and others. Our diffi culty was to fi nd somewhere safe to paddle. The winds were still The Situation was not Good Although aimed at recreational pad- from the south and rising in strength, dlers, all six candidates on my course meaning some groups were having Two weeks out from a British Kayak had some commercial interest in at- trouble getting off the beach. Skills test and my shoulders had as- taining the qualifi cation. By the time sumed the consistency of marshmal- paddlers sit this assessment they will My plan, which was used, involved a lows after a month of tramping in have worked their way up through launch from Holyhead Harbour on the Nepal and the Scottish Highlands. My the progressive BCU scheme. I had north side of the island. While it was legs were as hard as those of a frozen an exemption from this background, a bit of a cop-out, the down-wind run chicken, but all my paddling muscles however I still had to attend training along the coast of Anglesey Island was had quietly sneaked away. prior to assessment. great surfi ng fun. The assessor claimed the winds had reached gale force It took a crash course in weight train- Most of the testing took place on the (33+ knots) but there were no dramas ing using house bricks in my relations’ water, but several theory papers also although a mistake in identifying the Edinburgh garden before I was ready had to be completed. The usual skills beach we were aiming for was duly to see how the Brits did things. of group rescues were tested, but in a noted in the following debrief. 5 metre gap between a sea stack and I was to attend a symposium at Angle- a gap in the cliff. The breaking seas There were some very unhappy faces sey in North Wales and would then be and 20 (genuine) knots of wind kept after the private debriefs with only two assessed for the British Canoe Union us honest. This interesting area was of us passing. Three candidates were Advanced Profi ciency Award. This also used for rolling tests and towing. deferred to re-sit some stages and one award seemed to have taken on Nearly smashing an assessor into the person failed. mythical status amongst British pad- cliff during a tow did not help two dlers with tales of assessors merci- candidates’ fi nal marks. The Advanced Profi ciency is not, lessly probing for weakness in skills, despite rumours, a measure of God- knowledge and character. During our prolonged time in this area like performance however, it is highly an RAF rescue helicopter arrived. regarded within the British paddling While treating this folklore with a Whether the crew were just being scene and is a fair test of rounded degree of cynicism, I had still spent nosy or were expecting business, paddling skills. the past year paddling without a I’m unsure. rudder and trying to master northern As the top of the pyramid that is the hemisphere weather. Group control and boat skills were BCU Skills Award, there is a danger tested in the overfalls off the North that holders could believe they knew The fi rst lesson of the symposium was Stack, Holy Island. Flooding at about it all. I saw quite the opposite, pad- to ignore timing. Things were done at four knots, they were great fun, but I dlers realised how much they still a very relaxed pace, but most activities was warned that they could end loop had to learn. worked well. The only problem was Nordkapps. when a trip to a tide race ran 1-1/2 The almost military structure of the hours late, meaning the anticipated While three candidates led a night BCU is very different to our way of whitewater was a mere ripple. trip, I worked on crossing the English doing things and I was interested in Channel - on paper. Making a mistake how it worked in the real world of sea After the three day symposium, several converting tide constants meant I kayakers. The club scene in Britain is BCU courses were run concurrently. did hourly tidal vector plots THREE very strong allowing this Hierarchy Earlier in the week the weather was TIMES. to fl ourish. Most paddlers were well too good and there was talk that the aware of the dangers of following Advanced Profi ciency wouldn’t Fifteen paddlers, from other courses, the party line. I found people very run. The criteria for the test was winds had put their names down to do the willing to discuss the merits of dif- of at least Force 4 (11-16 knots), but night trip. However, heavy rain and ferent ideas, including rudders and a large anticyclone over the British 25+ knot winds whittled the number lightweight boats. Isles supplied light variable winds. down to three. The group returned at Fortunately a low steamed in bringing 1.30 a.m. after searching with mixed A National award has its advantages. southerlies and gale warnings. success, for fl oating chemical light- While trying to arrange a paddle in the sticks in Holyhead Harbour. My own Orkney Isles at short notice and out

9 No. 75 June - July 1998 of the blue, I was quickly able to put civilisations. Trish) did not like to reduce sail and minds at rest regarding my skill. often called for more speed. Skipper Some twenty-seven hours later, as we (Gerry) worked the sail, paddled and Could this system work here? descended into Izmir Airport, my jet tried not to broach and roll the kayak lagged mind contemplated the road as following seas and wind rose. The I doubt it, without the strong club scene transport problem of getting us and water was warm and the sun shone to support it, paddlers wouldn’t bother kayak pieces to the sea coast. I was every day. to follow the paper trail. still thinking about it when my wife, Trish, took control and achieved the Our usual paddling day started early. The scheme does, however, encour- seeming impossible by fi tting us and Down tent and pack up to be on the age skill development and these skills our kayak into a very small taxi van. water by 7 am. Breakfast was between are tested. With half our kayak sticking out the 9 and 10 am at a seaside restaurant. All back of the van, we were soon on the the small seaside towns had a fi shing John Kirk-Anderson magnifi cent new highway to the sea boat harbour, most no bigger than to (John works as a photographer with port of Cesme. moor a few boats with a restaurant the Christchurch 'Press', and is cur- on the dockside. There is no tide to rently on holiday in the USA. John The owners of the small Yelsin Hotel speak of so it was like paddling on is also a SKOANZ accredited guide/ made us most comfortable as we spent a lake. A Turkish breakfast is very instructor). the fi rst few days obtaining supplies addictive - black sweet tea, sliced and gaining local knowledge for our cucumber, tomato, olives, soft white cruise. The winds in the Aegean are goat cheese, a boiled egg and lots of notoriously localised so our weather fresh Turkish bread. information was mostly based on A Kayak Cruise on the Coptic Almanac published in the Mid-morning, the sea breeze started Turkish Waters & Cyprus Pilot (Imray and by early afternoon, the wind the Turkish Coast Laurie Norie & Wilson, UK) by Rod strength could be too strong to paddle. Heikell. The monthly weather predic- The wind usually died again in the late Cesme to Bodrum tions are based on hundreds of years evening. As summer was now on us, by Gerry Maire of accumulated wisdom. the noonday heat put a stop to our pad- dling most afternoons. A good book Many people at some time dream of ‘Ahiri eyyami mator’ or the end of under an olive tree with the occasional cruising the warm waters of the Medi- the blessed season of rainy weather swim made for a pleasant time ashore. terranean Sea in their own boat. For had just passed over and on 3 May Bottled water was readily available so most of us the dream gets lost as the we started out. Rain would not fall on our water fi lter was never used. time and cost involved leave us set- us for the next three months. Wild tling for a week’s holiday on a charter spring fl owers were everwhere on the Between villages, we were always yacht. How could we overcome the edge of the coast. Up the small fertile able to fi nd a quiet beach to camp on. seemingly impossible? We live in valleys, farmers were well underway Dry land days came up every three New Zealand or just about as far away with their spring planting. A southerly or four days with bus trips inland, from Turkey as you can get. gale soon stopped our progress but visiting larger towns and ruins. From ‘no problem’ as they say in Turkey. mosques to crusader castles and the Our children had fl own the nest and it There was plenty to do and see even awe inspiring ruins dating back 2000 was now our time to live the dream. in remote places. Fishermen invited to 5000 years. Having spent summer holidays sail- us to have tea and village folk to have ing and kayaking on the New Zealand dinner. One eventful afternoon was We stayed at the tiny walled town of coast, the best answer to fi t our pocket spent with an extended family at a Sigacik, about the size of a city block. was a kayak. Not your average small beach party to celebrate the coming of Its streets were so narrow, motor trans- day trip kayak but a large double sea summer. The food came all afternoon port could not be used. The famed city kayak equipped to sail and paddle. as did the raki, the local drink. of Ephesus was not missed. Every day To simplify any oversize air and land we found and saw new things. No transport problems, our boatbuilder Back on the water, we found our new timetable was driving us. soon had our kayak modifi ed for roller furling foresail to be essential unbolting into three pieces. Little lug- for a heavily loaded kayak. We could After our stay at Kusadasi, our fi rst gage wheels attached to the bow and sail hard on the wind in up to 5 knots large tourist town, we made ready for stern pieces made for easy movement and with eased sheets cream along the trip around the high mountains of at airports. Six months of planning in 12 knot winds, roller reefi ng if we Can Dagi. This national park wilder- and arranging affairs at home disap- got overpowered. Cheating? Don’t ness peninsula nearly reaches the peared very quickly. Soon the chills believe it! The drag is taken off pad- shores of the Greek island of Samos. of autumn came and we, like migrat- dling to maintain displacement speed Wild animals including cheetahs ing sea birds, fl ew north to explore of 4 mph. At times we covered 6 miles and bears still roam this wilderness, the sunny summer lands of ancient plus per hour. The crew (front paddler, however, wild donkeys were the

10 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter only visitors to our lonely campsite ready for the change back to wilder our rule of ‘If the next or previous land- that night. and more remote areas. We had now ing point is more than 3 miles away fi nished our fi rst month of our Turkish and sea conditions look like changing, The wild grandeur of the high moun- coastal ramble and only traveled 200 don’t push on and hope.’ Take chances tains dwarfed our small kayak as we miles. The ancient coast of the Ionian and you end up fi ghting the elements. made passage up the ancient Gulf of Sea was now behind us and ahead lay Long open coastal stretches were only Latmos to the Menders River delta. the wild mountainous regions of the done very early in the day. Over the centuries, silting has moved Ancient Carian. the coastline many miles out leaving At Akbuk, we broke the rule and a number of what were once ancient The Carian Coast ventured out at 11.30am as the 7 mile coastal cities stranded many miles Bodrum to Marmaris crossing to Sehir looked OK. Dead inland. Memories of Greek history From Bodrum, we entered the Gulf of on time at 12 noon, the meltem wind lessons and the names of early phi- Gokova. This long gulf has very high came funnelling down the Gulf and it losophers came fl ooding back. This mountains on both sides, so when the went from fl at calm to over 20 knots is where many had lived and worked Meltem wind sets in at approximately in minutes. Around we came and high in the splendour of their times. noon, the wind strength can rise to 30 tailed back to shore. As we swung in knots in a very short time. Our plan under the semi-shelter of the shore, Ignoring our weather chart, we started was to run down the northern shore foaming wave crests and wind blown at midday to cross the 15 mile wide then do an early morning crossing to spray indicated 30 knots and our slow river delta. By mid afternoon the ris- Sehir Island. The three days it took to progress dictated we land and wait ing wind and onshore seas decided our run the 50 miles to Akbuk was to be out the wind. day’s destination for us. Stranded on true to the weather pattern. We were an open beach miles from anywhere, pushed ashore early twice but with The previous three days weather pat- we found a few salt bushes for shelter landing possible every few kilometers, tern had indicated this could happen. and pitched our tent. At day’s end, we were able to enjoy the high gran- Why would today be any different? as the wind died, we sat eating din- deur of the wild mountain faces with When the land heats up, in comes the ner enjoying the seeming emptiness escarpments rising high above us. wind. The Gulf of Gokova is a natural when two tortoises came plodding The small village of Oren with nearby wind tunnel, so when it blows, it blows past on their homeward journey after ancient Keramos gave us an insight hard. The safety of Akbuk was better a day’s foraging. A neat end to an into the way these village people live, than a wild ride down the Gulf and eventful day. poor but most friendly. Many of their maybe a swim or two if we rolled. small homes have a carpet loom. The Our kayak has seven buoyancy storage Passing over the clear waters of the high chimney of the mothballed power compartments including lockers either Gulf of Gulluck, we saw our only station east of Oren dominated the side of the two cockpits. This enables pod of dolphins. The overfi shing of landscape, even the high mountains us to empty out and get underway again this area of the Mediterranean was did not dwarf it. The strength of the with minimum trouble in the event of evident everywhere we went. Other tourist dollar has enabled the local a rollover. This we have only done in wildlife we were not too keen to fi nd population of Bodrum to stall the practice, never on the voyage. were snakes and scorpions. Our fi rst opening of this power plant and the snake sighting in the wild was while pollution the low grade coal it is to Sehir Island to Bozburun we explored the old city of Iassos. I burn could cause. There is a new international airport was glad it was going in the opposite at Yerkesik at the head of the Gulf direction as I was amazed at its speed Managing Risk of Gokova servicing Mugla and the of departure. We don’t have snakes in Weather information and knowledge coastal tourist resort of Marmaris. New Zealand. on possible landing places ahead is This places the jetsetting kayak travel- what the sea kayaker needs to know ler within a few miles of some of the From Gulluk, we spent a day inland before heading out on the water each best cruising waters anyone could visiting Milas then to sea again to day. A mixture of land and sea maps wish for. round the Bodrum Peninsula. This and charts, along with a copy of The stretch we were not sure as to what Turkish Waters Pilot gave a reasonable After a peaceful crossing next day, some of the capes and foulground picture of landing places. This infor- we entered a kayaker’s wonderland of would be like. We pushed off early mation was mapped out and carried inlets, bays, islands and creeks. For and beat the wind up the south coast in a mapcase on deck for each day’s the next six days, that should have and rode excellent tail winds around section of our journey. been twelve if we had done it justice, into Bodrum Bay in three days of we cruised along in clear waters with early breakfast stops and afternoon Local weather forecasts were not only short sections of open coastline. township visits. available as our Turkish was not good This area of the world used to have a Bodrum was geared up for the tourist enough to listen to the radio. Seasonal large population. Cities were built on season with hundreds of tour boats weather patterns, local fi shing boat cities over the ages. Forts and castles tied up on the waterfront. After three movements and general observations dotted the landscape. For those people days of the bright lights, were were served us well. This was followed by into ancient history, it’s all here - Car-

11 No. 75 June - July 1998 ian, Rhodian, Confederacy, Roman, miles along the coast and a large bay The few families living in this arid Byzantine, Greek, Turkish and many was entered leading to Selimiye with land still use the same grain grinding others. Ruins where old defensive its mosque on the waterfront (ancient stones as did the people a thousand walls still stand. Kastabos). Later that day, paddling up years ago. beside the high mainland cliffs inside How does one describe such a mixture of Kameriye Island we came upon a In blustery wind conditions, we made of diverse interest. Cleopatra’s Beach strange wooden structure clinging to our way along the high rocky coast- and theatre ruins on Sehir Island, the the cliff face. line towards Gerbekse. We had been serene Soyut Bay, dubbed Honey warned by fi sherman if the sky goes Water Bay. Degirmen Buku (English On a platform above us three silent black to the south, get off the water Harbour) complete with bronze mer- fi gures looked down. Moments later, fast. Away in the distance, we could maid. Kargilibuk, more like a long a very American accent inquired what see a storm moving down onto Mar- narrow lost lake. Yedi Adalari Islands it was like fl oating over an 9th century maris, the air felt heavy as we sighted with their wild fl owers. wreck of a wine cargo ship. A multina- three open fi shing boats headed in to tional team led by Dr George Bass was the nearest shelter. We found a small The small hamlets and ever present in the process of lifting its cargo up. beach and watched. The dark black coastal restaurants with their won- It is interesting the care and attention storm clouds moved closer. Then, in a derful Turkish hospitality stopped to detail archaeologists go to in trying matter of minutes, the sky cleared. any progress during the heat of the to discover what life was like in the afternoon. Camping or accommoda- centuries past in surveying these old Marmaris tion was not a problem if you asked. wrecks. In this area alone, 17 wrecks Marmaris Bay is magnifi cent. Sur- While cruising up to Cataloa (Amazon were known all located by the sponge rounded by pine-clad hills, it is easy Creek) to the restaurant one afternoon, divers. After a visit to an old ruined to see why its popularity has grown so we found the stream was full of small Greek monastery, head winds decided rapidly. Its waterfront was constantly turtles swimming in clear water. for us that Dirsek Harbour was where alive with people and boat traffi c. The we would stop for the day. camping ground on its south shore was To save a rather hard and potentially good but the urge for more creature dangerous 80 mile paddle out around Well fed, showered and camped beside comforts after a few days tenting was the Datca Peninsular with its wild steep the only building in Dirsek, you guess strong. We succumbed and joined south coast, we stopped at Buku Cati right, a restaurant, with a cool beer. the holidaying throng in the town. (the Fish Jump) and looked at portag- The crew (Trish) has a great sense of ing the kayak the 2 miles over. The Crew somehow pulled the wool over culinary skill. She was always on the road we found was too rough for the my eyes in Bozburun and convinced lookout for restaurants that specialised kayak transport cart. me the kayak was a little out of trim in good traditional food. In Marmaris, and we would sail better with a little she excelled. Most resort restaurants Buku Cati had been a beautiful bay. more weight down aft. Afterall the concentrate on the standard tasy dishes As it has the only road access up on skipper has lost his pot belly and with of salads, kebabs and seafood. Many to the Datca highway, it is used as a it several kg in weight. I must have other wonderful dishes were found rubbish transfer point by the gulet tour been drunk, anyway, we now had a and enjoyed. boat fl eet. Lack of management has kilm on board (a turkish woven mat), let this spot turn into an open garbage rugs and kilms are what everyone takes The Lycian Coast - The Dalyan heap with plastic and other fl otsam home from Turkey. Now I must be Delta strewn around. careful, the crew has set other buy- Twenty-fi ve miles south of Marmaris ing objectives - decorative plates and lies the Dalyan Delta. Travelling A family living in a crude plastic kebab skewers. from the coast up to Dalyan involved covered hut indicated their son had negotiating a reed bed labyrinth of a big car and could carry our kayak It was four days before we fi nally twisting channels to reach the Koyc- over. On our return next morning, the departed from Bozburun with great egus River. The aerial photos of this whole extended family was there to memories of its people. The coastline delta are impressive so were were a load our kayak onto a new 3 tonne down to Marmaris has few landing little apprehensive that we could get truck. Grandfather and the young boys places. This should not stop a well lost. Just follow the river taxi boats rode on the back of the truck holding equipped group of kayakers from con- we were told. the kayak while we rode in the front sidering it as the harbours of Bozuk, “Which one will we follow?”called with the driver. Much care was taken Serce, Gerbekse and Ciftlik are well the crew as the fi rst three motor boats driving over the uneven road surface worth the effort. disappeared into the reeds in differing up on to the main highway. We were directions. It was now or never, so we soon set down under the trees in a On instructions from Suzanne York, a chased after the nearest one. After peaceful holiday park in the upper San Francisco archaeologist who had playing dodgems with these river boats reaches of the Gulf of Datca. Across spent many years researching the area, in the narrow channels, we fi nally the bay stands (Orhaniye) Kecibuk we found our way over the isthmus found the fi sh trap gate that marked the with its fort and other old ruins. A few from Serce to the ruins at Thyssanus. entry up the river. With our adrenalin

12 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter now under control, Dalyna soon came and ran down passed a number of of nooks and bays to while away hot into view. This Turkish version of small bays into Kapi Creek. It was sunny days. Venice serves a wide range of tourist only 10.30 am and the sun’s heat was attractions on the river. intense. We were suffering from the We had mixed feelings on what we heat. We were to fi nd out later an would fi nd at Gocek from what we had A few miles up river, the deep green unseasonal heat wave of well over 40 heard. We took our usual precaution waters of Lake Koyecguz opened up degrees was to affect the area for the of spending the night just outside this and we cruised around its shores to next few days. We did not count them town so we could arrive early and fresh a domed marble thermal bath house but the Skopea shore line would have to work out where to stow the kayak to experience its body harmonizing 20 plus bars and restaurants around and stay over. Gocek was a treat. Set waters. That evening we ate our meal its shoreline. Most all of these sum- up around the bare boat hire fl eets and outdoors with a backdrop of Lycian mer establishments are made up of day trip gulets, this neat little town rock tombs lit up across the river, a small service building supplying a still has its Friday market and excel- our kayak asleep at its river mooring shade covered balcony of tables and lent boat supply food markets. Its below us. chairs on the water’s edge. Many foreshore is lined with the usual bars are built on small rock walled areas and restaurants and its one long com- Now we knew how the labyrinth of land where people have lived for mercial services road that runs parallel worked, we had a fun paddle back thousands of years. Other than these to the foreshore has everything for the down to the coast. In between the river summer-run restaurants, there are few visitor. We found easy landing on the boats parked at the beach, the crew other buildings, only the tree clad and western edge of town where many spied a local fi shing boat barbequeing rock landscape. small pansyions and camp grounds crabs on its foredeck. “Stop”, came the were to be found. Jungle camp was order. Lunch is being served. Kapi was one of many we visited over to be the home for our small boat for the next few days as we crisscrossed the next ten days as we escaped the The coast was now less inhabited. the bays looking at old ruins from 40 degrees plus temperatures with a Information on landing points we were many different ages. By this stage, visit to Cappadocia and other inland fi nding a little more diffi cult to obtain. we were adapted to locating pebble sites. (For the jetset kayaker, Dalman Local information was not understood beaches on windward shores where Airport services this area.) or the correct questions asked. Even yachts did not stay in the evening and without detailed information, we al- cool breezes could be had to make 4 July - It was a good feeling to be back ways found excellent campsites and no for a pleasant night’s sleep. Less was in the kayak, being well supplied with uncomfortable situations developed to required in the way of clothes, bed- fresh vegetables from a small coastal upset our cruise. ding and shelter. Our tent fl y had been market. We cut across Fethiye Bay stowed away. to a cove inside Merdivenle Heads. The beauty of the steep land mass Tucked away in a cove facing west, we and coloured cliff faces between The hospitality and excellent company were unaffected by the rising northerly Boz Burnu and Disibilmez Burnu of the Turkish staff at the small restau- that moved in that night driven by bad (points) offset the energy required to rants was too much to resist and many weather from the Black Sea. Next day, push through the choppy seas on our evenings found us being fed, watered the morning breeze was more gusty passage to Baba Adasi. Dalman beach and entertained in grand style before than usual and a fast ride downwind stretched away to the east. Helped joining our hosts to a night’s sleep - to Cape Ilbis was covered in the fi rst by a light on shore wind, we were or what was left of it under the stars. hour. Holding close into the cliffs, we soon on our way again eating up the Outdoor sleeping platforms, the deck battled increasing winds up the high sea miles. of a fi shing boat or the restaurant fl oor. northern cliffs to Gemiler. Rounding That’s where our hosts slept. We put the last point, the full force of the Finding a lovely secluded cove on up our tent liner for mossy proofi ng northerly and short steep seas were the far side of Cape Akea, we settled and found a corner for ourselves. just too much and sent us scurrying in for an afternoon of swimming and Morning, we were usually up and back for shelter. The gale also sent reading . Before the night sounds of on our way by 7am while the local tents fl ying on the coastal resorts. Wild distant goat bells matched yet another population slumbered on for an extra wind gusts funnelling down the valley clear night under the stars. hour. The highlights of Skopea had sent our billy lid fl ying out to sea. By to be Kapi Creek, Wall Bay, Tomb 2pm the weather dropped enough for Skopea Liman, Gocek Bay and Tersane, all not be missed. us to push onto the beach as Gemiler. You would have to call Skopea a The big cave off the point north of The ruins on Gemiler Adasi (Island) boatie’s paradise of world class. A long Ragged Bay on the outside coast and are scattered over most of the island chain of islands protect this small gulf a paddle up to Kizilkuyruk if you are complete with Byzantine churches. where its island and mainland shores doing this area from Gocek makes for St Nicholas is said to have come are indented with numerous bays. a pleasant extra day if you have time from here. to spare. In closer to Goceck, Yassica The early morning land breeze soon Adalari or the Squiggle Islands as we Wishing to see Olu Deniz ahead of the died as we rounded Kurdoglu Point named them, added to the long list visiting hordes the next day we crossed

13 No. 75 June - July 1998 the bay early to drift into the lagoon their hospitality. Camping outdoors mosphere all of its own. This small and enjoy the early morning to our- on sleeping decks, it was indeed a mil- compact lively place of colourful selves. Powered and anchoring craft lion star hotel. The evening meal was shops, restaurants and crowded little are not allowed into this lagoon that shared by all the eight guests and the harbour is large enough to have a noisy is tucked away behind a magnifi cent host family. Luckily for us a Turkish nightlife during the holiday season. beach that is also protected by a bay born Australian was amongst us to Day trips to a wide assortment of des- on its western end. All in all, one of translate in more detail the many ques- tinations can be doen from here. For nature’s most unusual combinations. tions we all had relating to the valley’s the sea kayaker, this is the only place Just in time the powers to be have environment. Late that night, slumber we found it possible to hire sea kayaks. saved most of its beauty from sprawl- came easily in a this valley completely Bougainville Travel would deliver the ing tourist development. The quality at peace with the world. Long may kayaks to anywhere on the Turkish and colour of the water in this lagoon Kabuk remain as a reminder of what coast. They also hire out on a daily is just magic. a wilderness coastal environment is basis trips at Kekova. Ufuk Guven like without development. and most of the staff spoke several As the lines of beach chairs came to languages fl uently. Their spontaneous life with wobbling pink bodies eager We now faced some long paddling help in organising transport for us and to get a tan on their all too short vaca- days as more open stretches of coast our kayak the 700 miles to Istanbul tion from the cold lands to the west, lay ahead. Settled weather next day was typical of the quality of service we moved on to quieter places. made for good progress pas the wild this tourist adventure company had to coastal range known as the Seven offer. (Bouganville Travel Fax 0090 A short distance southeast lies But- Noises and down the long Patra Beach. 242 836 1605 Sea Kayak Hire). terfl y Valley. A peaceful valley with Mid-morning we enjoyed a refreshing a waterfall at its head and no road swim with a group of people off a pri- No problem in Turkey access. Frequented by backpackers vate charter yacht. They were paying There is a Greek Island off Kas. In for years, it sounded a good place to $1500 per day for their holiday. A big fact, it is only 4 miles away, complete fi nd some shade from the noonday contrast from our $50 a day. Camped with a port of entry. Excellent. Let’s sun. All we had heard was true until just short of Kalkan, we slept well after fi ll out the papers and go take a visit. in the space of an hour most of the bay our 35 mile day. How does one go about this? You visit foreshore fi lled with day tripping ferry the Harbourmaster and obtain port of boats fouling the water with diesel and Kalkan to Kas exit papers. Then report to the port with no respect to the beach space Twenty miles of mountains that drop doctor for his stamp, to the port police swimmers were using. The word has straight into the sea. The narrow to obtain clearance and, fi nally, to the spread of the beauty of Butterfl y Bay coastal highway can be seen twisting Harbour Customs and Immigration and it has fallen to the uncontrolled and turning its way along its face, Offi ce. First problem. “Where is your thoughtless mass market tourist opera- seemingly clinging in space. cruising log? All exiting yachts have tors driving cattle trucks. Disgusted, a log. Oh, you have a kayak and have we paddled on. To seaward, islands string out into the come from where?” “Cesme. Quite distance. At this point the Greek Island a trip. 1000 kilometers. Very good At midday, we pulled up onto a near of Kastellorizon is only three miles photos you have.” deserted beach and settled in the shade from Turkey. The previous afternoon’s under a large sea pine overlooking high winds had left behind a sloppy There is a small problem. Kayaks the clear waters. This was Kabuk, sea that made tough going. We were don’t fi t the system. The fax machine not marked on our map or mentioned a mile or so offshore making for the clatters and Antayla reports OK. Fill in any travel guide book. A chance Burnu Peninsula when a small keel out all the papers. Most questions re- encounter during one of our usual yacht hove too in front of us. “Could quire a Nil answer, like nett tonnage of many afternoon swims to cool off lead you confi rm where Kas Harbour is craft. “Well, its 0.1 of a tonne I think. us to yet another of Turkey’s magic please?” came a gruff voice. It turned Well, I don’t know. 75 kg. How do evenings out. Back behind the beach out that in heavy seas the night before I work that out?” lay gardens of Eden created down the their sea chart had been blown away centuries by generations of inhabit- and, with no obvious land points in Now up the hill to the police station. ants. Small tree shaded fl at gardens view to confi rm their position, they Gee, it’s a hot day. On to the port surrounded by stone walls. A short were not too happy. On looking doctor. “No, we don’t require to see walk back to the valley’s steep moun- around, they were right. Just hostile you until you return to Turkey.” tain backdrop lay a cool stream. Club rugged coastline and just as rugged Med had tried every angle to build a islands. Not a nice place to have sailed One hour later, all is fi lled out and complex here. One lone local man had into during the night. Then the usual we are told to return after all other held out long enough to gain notice question we often got. “Where had Immigration offi cers have done their from the international press and stop we come from?” Sea kayaks are not jobs to get the fi nal papers and pay development. The families who live seen on the Turkish coast. $30. This sounded fair for the work in this valley cater for small numbers required. The computer tells a story of eco tourists that come and share Kas is a tourist township with an at- that we have been good tourists and

14 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter our passports are stamped. All is going sarcophagi and rock tombs stood in SEA KAYAKING NETWORK well. Final leg down to the Customs silence as we drifted, our minds on CONTACT ADDRESSES Offi ce. A new form to fi ll out. “Do times long gone. Turning east again Auckland Sea Kayak Network you have any of the following?” VHF, through the Akar Bogazi channel Vincent Maire yes. TV, no. Engine, no. Life jackets, some hours later very hot and a little 7 Motuora Rd, Manly yes. Home port, Auckland. Flag of dehydrated, we found shade beside the Whangaparoa, 1463 Country, Yes, New Zealand. At this last collapsed arch of the ruined Chris- Ph: (09)424 2293 point, the Customs Offi cer senses I tian church in tiny Tersane Harbour. Fax: (09) 424 0385 don’t understand the form. Ten min- Out on the seaward side of Kekova utes later, they had a clear picture of Island, we found enough fl at land at Canterbury Sea Kayak Network where we had come from and what the the head of Karoloz Inlet to pitch our Andy & Deirdre Sheppard kayak was. It is not possible we were tent. Visiting yachtsmen had been Ph: (03) 342 7929 told. Oh dear, what are the problems? feeding the young goats here. After First, where did the kayak come from? a frustrating half hour of trying (the Sea Kayak Operators Assoc. of NZ With us on the aircraft from New Zea- impossible) to stop a small goat from PO Box 56 500 land. We show photos. How did it get eating anything attached to the kayak, Dominion Rd, Auckland. into Turkey? No importation note on we had to anchor back in the water. Ph: (09) 630 7768 your fi le. Not possible. Oh, yes, we Luckily, he left our tent alone. Fax: (09) 630 7768 see, broken down, it does not look like a kayak. Did you not declare it. We The next day we treated ourselves to Bay of Plenty Sea Kayak Network could not. The porters at the airport a pansyion at Kale Koy. Using this Dusty Waddell, Ph: (07) 572 4419 picked it up and Customs waved us as a base, we spent time exploring Jean Kirkham, Ph: (07) 552 5982 through. OK. OK. the surrounding area of coast. What started as a two day stay ended up at Wellington Sea Kayak Network 2nd problem. You do not have the fi ve. But that is another story of a Gill Johnston required list of equipment of a craft birthday party and not being able to Fax: (04) 471 0333 going offshore. By this stage, the get up early enough to paddle the four email: [email protected] whole offi ce thought it was a great and a half hours back to Kas before joke. Yes, like most of the world’s the full heat of the day. Auckland Canoe Club bureaucratic rules, we could travel the PO Box 3523, Auckland. Turkish coast but not cross the bay to The sunrise on our last morning at Newsletter Editor: Julia Thorn Greece. Come back when we join the sea was stunning. My wife and best Ph: 09 575 3099 EC. Then it may be possible or pay friend, Trish’s diary entry sums up our $20 and take the ferry. It is cheaper feelings on that last day. ‘It’s so sad Ruahine Whitewater Club but we are tourists and tourists like to to take the kayak apart today. I could 71 Salisbury St., Ashhurst. do uneconomic stupid things for the paddle on this coast forever.’ Ph: 06 326 8667 fun of living. Fax: 06 326 8472 Gerry Maire August was approaching and our KASK HANDBOOK three month visitor’s permits would Over the past two months the LRB2 expire. We decided our ultimate goal (2nd. Ed. Kask Handbook) has been of Antalya was not to be this trip as we closely proofed, and once the correc- could not leave Turkey without seeing tions are completed, a 200 copy print Istanbul. But before we departed the run is planned. For new members, and coast, there was still one more destina- existing members ordering the LRB2 tion on our must see list. from Helen Woodward, the mother of all sea kayaking handbooks should be Kekova Roads in the mail to you by late August. The coast had become more arid and mountainous with fewer places to COSTS: land. More care to navigation detail New members:1 gratis copy was required. Because of heat haze, Existing members: $10 + $1 p&p visual distance was only half what we Non-members: $18 + $1 p&p are used to in New Zealand. Keeping Make cheques out to time/distance under constant check, KASK(NZ)Inc. we entered a long inlet guarded by the Sicak Yarimadasi (Hot Peninsula) a lit- Trade enquiries and orders to the tle over three hours paddle from Kas. Kask Treasurer, Helen Woodward, 82 Here, we drifted over the submerged Hutcheson St., Blenheim. quays and ruins of the ancient city and port of Aperlae, the old city walls,

15 No. 75 June - July 1998

readers for your efforts over the past saving in using the lighter paddle is PRESIDENT’S few years. astounding. It is no wonder that is REPORT I hope to be able to make some more took two days to recover after each by Phil Handford progress with promotion of the LRB2 of the 120 mile overnighters during over the months ahead now that we the Australian trip! This newsletter is a little late, but when are better positioned to supply what- the editor is away in Greenland and ever number of copies are requested. So bearing this weight factor in Sweden getting some well deserved Completion of a small promotional mind, and that I would be chasing adventure and inspiration then it is pamphlet for companies is a key part the younger and extremely fi t Conrad always well worth the wait. This is a down the West Coast of Greenland, I bit of an update on a few things attempted to trim even more weight off the lightweight paddle. With a new The Kask Handbook (LRB2- little EQUIPMENT paddle shaft from Tony Free in Napier red book, Edition 2) is now close to PADDLE WEIGHT (Canoe Sports NZ), I reduced the pad- its fi rst reprint. The fi rst print of the by Paul Caffyn dle length by 5cms and improvized second edition was a run of only 50 super-duper lightweight drip rings. copies in time for the KASK forum. Picking up on a comment from Peter It has now been expertly proof read Sullivan, regarding the difference Although drip rings are not really and now that Paul is back he is making between using a heavy paddle and a necessary in tropical waters, they are the corrections. The second run will lightweight paddle and the extra en- essential in colder climes to keep the be 200 copies printed in Greymouth ergy required to lift the heavy paddle, hands dry and warm. I decided that the where we have managed to get a good I recently accurately weighed two of standard black rubber, drip rings were price from a long established printing my paddles. too heavy and was casting around the fi rm. Thanks for the patience of those house for an alternative. And - I feel awaiting copies they have ordered or I weighed the paddle used in the trip Sandy Ferguson would be proud of me new members who are to get a free around Australia and the light paddle - I found that blue or green plastic milk copy. I used in the 1997 trip around New bottle tops from one or two litre milk Caledonia. The Australian paddle has containers were perfect. The tops have Thanks to Vincent Maire and the a laminated wooden shaft and sym- an inner rim or lip (to prevent leakage), Auckland Sea Kayaking Network metrical fi breglass blades which have the inside diameter of which matched (ASKNET) for the article on KASK pop rivetted, aluminium wear strips on perfectly with a outside diameter of and a review of the Kask Handbook. the base of each blade, basicaly an old the paddle shaft. A stanley knife and As a result of this and the joining form, style whitewater paddle. sandpaper produced a snug fi t, with Helen Woodward has already had a the outer lip of the bottle top turned good number of new members. Wel- The light paddle is one I built using a obviously towards the blade. come to you all and your LRB2 will New Zealand carbonfi bre/fi breglass be on the way when the 2nd reprint is shaft and blades that Mike Neckar The result - a lighter, lightweight pad- completed. With the next Kask forum (Necky Kayaks in Canada) helped dle (that I can’t weigh as it is still in in Napier this will be closer for those me build in 1984. The blades are Greenland), and drip free hands during from northern NZ. carbonfi bre/kevlar cloth with a foam the Greenland trip in icy cold seas. core sandwich construction. We have finally received written And did the slight decrease in paddle confi rmation from NZ Recreational Aust. paddle - 3.470lbs (1.575kg) weight help me keep up with Conrad? Canoeing Assoc. that KASK now light paddle - 2.055lbs (0.932gms) I am embarrassed to record that the has status as the national sea kay- young fella still had a considerable aking body. This will signifi cantly The difference in weight is 1.415lbs edge on me. So what next ? As Conrad strengthen our case to become a (0.642kg). At 60 strokes per minute, uses a wing paddle, and Rod Banks’s member of the Water Safety Council. the extra weight I lifted with the Aus- article also describes the advantages of Our application for WSCNZ is to be tralian paddle calculates as follows: using a wing paddle, it is time I had a heard in September. serious trial of a winged paddle. per minute - 84.9lbs (38.51kg) The newsletter is now being printed per hour - 5,094lbs (2,310.64kg) To conclude, when you purchase a in Hamilton, labels are organised per 8hr day - 40,752lbs (18,485kg) paddle, bear in mind the difference in by Helen Woodward in Blenheim energy requirements between lifting a and mailing by David Herrington in The staggering difference over light and heavy paddle. Particularly for Dannevirke. This change gives Peter an eight hour day is 18.19 tons! longer duration trips, I would suggest and Diane Sullivan in Christchurch a (18.485tonnes) the exra $ required for a lighter paddle break as they have organised printing are well justifi ed. and mailing as well as Peter being Even applying a 50% discount factor, Paul Caffyn secretary for a number of years now, for the non lifting hand supporting the so a big thanks from The Sea Canoeist other end of the paddle, the energy

16 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter In Alaska this year, my VCP hatches ISBN: 0 07 026204 7 PRODUCT REVIEW had not been removed from the Nor- Publisher: Ragged Mtn Pr.USA Canoe Sports dkapp for four years. I struggled to Good meaty & well illustrated North ‘SMART SHAFT’ remove the fi rst one, and in doing so, American manual. by P. Caffyn cracked the rubber. I then bought a At Coastbusters, I was impressed by spray pack bottle of Armor-All Pro- Title: Inuit Kayaks in Canada. Review the latest development in ‘take-apart’ tectant and liberally dosed all three of Records & Construction. paddle technology - it is a ‘Smart hatches with the spray. The result was Author: Arima, E.Y. Shaft’ adjustable paddle shaft fi tting, remarkable - hatches looking like new, Published: 1987 (A4 s/b) produced by Tony Free of Canoe a new lease of life to the fl exibility ISBN:0 660 10764 3 Sports NZ, in Napier. Previous joining of the rubber, and so much easier Publisher: Nat. Mus. Canada systems used for take-apart paddles to slip on and off the hatch opening 235 pages, with old photographs and were either of threaded metal alloy and coamings. line drawings of surveyed kayaks in thus heavy, or threaded plastic that was Canadian museums. susceptible to wear. The new innova- Although primarily aimed at the car tive Smart Shaft has a unique thread market, for treating vinyl dashboards Title: Old Kayaks in the Nederlands design to avoid the wear problem, and to stop UV light deterioration, this stuff Author: Nooter, Gert it also allows easy adjustment of both is magic. The label notes it ‘guards Published: 1971 (s/b) shaft length and blade feather angle. against cracking and fading caused ISBN: 90 04 03431 5 by the harsh effects of heat, ozone Publisher: EJ Brill Nederlands For do it yourselfers, the Smart Shaft and ultraviolet rays.’ For previously Surveys of E. Greenland kayaks in comes in a complete kit with a page untreated surfaces, three applications Dutch museums. of assembly instructions. are recommended. Leave penetrate for 30 minutes after the fi rst and second Title: Leadership & Headship E. Transporting long paddles to the op- applications. Leave the third applica- Greenland posite end of the globe, is not easy tion penetrate overnight and then wipe Author: Hooter, Gert and I have decided to install one of off the excess liquid. Published: 1976 (s/b) these kits in the paddle currently in ISBN: 90 04 04866 9 Greenland. And this new system is Especially if you boat is stored outside, Publisher: EJ Brill Nederlands lightweight. I strongly recommend a visit to the Inuit life in E. Greenland. local service station, pick up a small If unable to have a gander at a Smart plastic bottle of Amor-All and liberally Title: Canoe & Kayak Books Shaft, contact Tony Free for informa- dose the hatch covers. Author: Jerry Cassell tion on your nearest dealer at: Paul Caffyn Self Published A4, 133 p. Canoe Sports NZ Published: 1997 PO Box 109, Napier BOOKS A guide to over 2,000 English language Ph: 06 835 8408 Recent additions to my library, as yet books and ephemera about the canoe, fax: 06 835 8409 unread, include: the kayak and other paddlecraft. email: [email protected] Author: Southby-Taylour, Ewen Title: Superior Journeys on Title: Blondie An Inland Sea Published: 1998 (HB) Authors: Gary & Joanie McGuffi n ISBN: 0 85052 516 0 Published: 1996 (HB) Publisher: Leo Copper UK Publisher: NorthWord Press. Can- EQUIPMENT Biography of Blondie Hasler, who led ada the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ foldboat raid ISBN:1 55971 483 2 Rubber Hatch Covers on German shipping in the Gironde Beautifully illustrated trips on Lake Lengthening their Life Estuary during WW2. Superior. Coffee table quality book. (Reprinted from newlstter No.65) Title: Umiak An Illustrated Guide An excellent book 'The Strip-Built Sea For all owners of kayaks with the Author: Snaith, Skip Kayak' has sold out quickly at Canoe circular, black rubber hatch covers, Published: 1997 (s/b) and Outdoor World in Christchurch. I recently stumbled on a method for ISBN: 0 9658725 9 9 Stephen has more on order, and a book lengthening their life. Publisher: Walrose &Hyde USA catalogue due shortly. This book is A well illustrated book on how to build currently available from Boat Books in The early VCP hatch covers, were an Umiak. Auckland at $49.95; 202 pages, b&w susceptible to UV light deteriora- photos and drawings; published 1998 tion. Prolonged exposure to sunlight Title: Complete Sea Kayak Touring by McGraw-Hill. led to cracking and ultimately gross Author: Hanson, Jonathan emailaddress: crew@boatbooks. failure. Published: 1998 (s/b ) co.nz

17 No. 75 June - July 1998

If undelivered, please return to: Helen Woodward, 82 Hutcheson St. Blenheim. SUBSCRIPTIONS - $20 - due 28 February 1998

18