ISSN 1177-4177 THE SEA CANOEIST NEWSLETTER No. 132 December 2007 - January 2008 The Journal of the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (NZ) Inc - KASK The Sea Canoeist Newsletter INDEX EDITORIAL South Island Circumnavigators EDITORIAL p. 3 Newsletter Freya Hoffmeister fi nished the fi rst Thanks to Barbara Leslie, Sarah solo circuit by a woman on 2 Janu- KASK Wilson and Kerry-Jayne Wilson for ary 2008. Freya’s two diary days, President’s report your positive feedback on the KASK her equipment list and a profi le give by Susan Cade p. 4 newsletter. Kerry has requested more some insight into the planning, drive AGM & Photo Comp. p. 5 colour photos of East Greenland – not and determination that allowed Freya Club & Network Contacts p.22 a problem. to complete this trip solo and unsup- ported. OPINION Almost 12 months ago, Wellington Sea Kayaking comes in from the Cold paddler David Blake put a lean on Swedish paddler Babs Lindman set (EPIRBS) me to trial the printing company he off solo from Picton before Xmas and by David Winkworth p. 6 worked for at Petone. Massey Prin- rounded Puysegur Point on 5 February. tery had been printing the newsletters Justine and Barry Shaw left Sumner on Crossing the Ditch for over a decade, but from the time 26 January, and have reached Dunedin by Paul Caffyn p.20 I mailed off a CD and hardcopy to by 6 February. The respective blog NEW ZEALAND TRIP REPORTS Palmerston North, and the folded sites for Babs, Justine and Barry: A Monumental Paddle newsletters were couriered back to by Jacqui Anderson p.8 me for stamping and mailing, it was www.barbrolindman.blogspot.com taking up to three weeks. South Island Circumnavigation www.cackletv.com/blog Profi le of Freya Hoffmeister There was a very steep but necessary by Paul Caffyn p.10 learning curve for me to change from Does anyone have thoughts on why Freya’s Expedition Kit List p.12 the outdated Pagemaker layout soft- the South Island has become such a ware to the current universal standard popular destination this summer for Freya’s Diary Days of Indesign. David was patient with overseas expedition paddlers? Just a Normal Day on the West Coast my numerous queries, and newsletter by Freya Hoffmeister p.16 No.127 with colour cover and satin I lay the blame on Justine Curgenven The Final Leg - I’m Done fi nish paper certainly lifted the qual- with the inclusion of two segments on by Freya Hoffmeister p.16 ity. The costs of printing the cover in New Zealand paddlers in her This is colour, meant the inside covers and the Sea 3 DVD. Freya’s Arrival at Okiwi Bay rear cover could also be colour for by Martin Fraser p.18 no difference in cost. Number 129 A veritable procession of visiting over- with Max Grant’s beautiful Fiordland seas paddlers has been passed through HUMOUR p.21 photos then set the standard for future the 12 Mile this summer, seeking newsletters. advice on the South Island coastline. NEXT NEWSLETTER My former reclusive lifestyle seems DEADLINE The advent of broadband on the Coast to be a thing of the past. Road now allows transmission of the 18 March 2008 newsletter to Format in fi ve separate KASK Handbook PDF fi le attachments via email. The The fi rst print run 750 is almost gone. Coming up in Newsletter No.133 old days of applying labels and stamps A second print run of 750 is being The Solomons at the 12 Mile are over, as Format also printed in mid-February. Spelling and Mackenzie Rver undertakes the newsletter labelling grammar errrors spotted by Sandy Okains Bay weekend and posting in ziplock bags. KASK Ferguson and Waveney Inch have been Whangarei to Bay of Islands Administrator Linda Ingram emails corrected, along with a little tweeking Format an Excel spreadsheet fi le with of diagrams and photographs. As with PHOTOS: the addresses, and the turn-around time the newsletter I had to change all the Cover: Freya Hoffmeister paddling from when I now send the newsletter handbook fi les to the new software, into the fi nish of her trip at Okiwi Bay. to the Format can be as little as four reformat pages and relink all the im- Photo: John Kirk-Anderson days. My thanks to Mark Allen and ages. Sounds easy but it took nigh on especially David Blake at Format for three weeks to complete. Top: Freya arriving at Blaketown La- their patience and help with this new goon, Greymouth, on her paddle up the system. KASK is funding the reprint - the fi rst West Coast of the South Island. run of the fourth editions was helped Photo: Murry Cave When taking photos of trips, please with a $6,000 grant from Water Safety keep in mind a portrait format picture New Zealand. My thanks to Waveney Bottom: On Okiwi Bay, as Freya for the newsletter cover and high and Sandy, also Kay Costley for proof paddled in, fox terrier Shandy was resolution, landscape format pics for reading. maintaining a proper lookout for his the inside covers and rear. family. Photo: Paul Caffyn Paul Caffyn 3 No. 132 December 2007 - January 2008 KASK Susan Cade arriving at Ratimera Bay for the Annual Sounds Pilgrimage PRESIDENT’S REPORT by Susan Cade What a busy, exciting time for sea kayaking. The Australian team of James Castrission and Justin Jones made a successful Trans-Tasman paddle - what an amazing feat. Freya Hoffmeister (from Germany) was the fi rst woman to paddle around the South Island. Babs Lindman (Sweden) is currently underway on the same challenge ahead of another pair Justine Curgenven and Barry Shaw (from the UK) - may they all be successful. In March we have Coastbusters in Auckland (February 29th - March 2nd) followed by the 1st NZ International Kayak Festival during the following week and then the NZ Kayak Builders’ forum in Rotorua (March 7th – 9th). The KASK forum and AGM at Ohope is from noon Friday 25th to Sunday 27th April and is receiving a lot of interest. I will be stepping down with sadness after four years as KASK president as my work commitments make it too diffi cult to put in the time that the role deserves. On the local scene I have had a Neth- erlands sea kayaker Albert-jan Zijlstra visiting who gave some surf, stroke and rolling training to WSKN club of data is a formidable challenge, as WSNZ also has a target to develop members. He also gave a presenta- there is currently no data from many a research fund over the next fi ve tion on paddling from Cuxhaven to countries (including developed ones) years to provide ongoing research Lauwersoog in the Waddensea, which and concludes that there needs to be that compliments what is already he described as a typical Dutch trip. more understanding of the signifi cance being done. One of the key areas is He was very surprised to hear that of the problem. The recommendation to expand Drown Base to include some experienced New Zealand sea is that all member countries provide behaviour, knowledge, perception, kayakers paddle solo - his Dutch club drowning data including non-fatal attitude and other conditions associ- requires members to paddle in groups incidents. ated with drowning. of at least three people. Since 2004 WSNZ has been commit- I agree with the need for compre- I attended the Water Safety New ted to the development of its drowning hensive reporting of incidents in sea Zealand (WSNZ) funding meeting in records known as ‘Drown Base’. It has kayaking that result in loss of life or December 2007. A major project in identifi ed a need to research increased injury and also near misses. From which WSNZ is involved is gathering understanding of behavior associated this, the distribution of knowledge data on drownings. WSNZ attended with drownings. Some of the current and skill development will improve The World Congress on drowning goals are the inclusion of injury data sea kayaking safety. where it was indicated that there is and an annual aquatic risk profi le a great need to obtain more accurate report. Drown Base is admired as one WSNZ’s Education Strategy goals records. The World Health Organiza- of the world’s foremost drowning data include the need for a national frame- tion has also noted the need to identify bases. Sadly NZ has the 3rd highest work to co-ordinate, monitor and pro- vulnerable groups and address their rate of the countries that do provide vide consistency. It will also provide needs. The 2007 World Drowning data on drownings ongoing evaluation for all drowning Report identifi es that the collection prevention strategies and review 4 The Sea Canoeist Newsletter current water safety programmes, mention in particular the great work resources and drowning statistics. that Paul Caffyn has been doing by KASK AGM & re-formatting and organising a new Graham Eggar WSNZ asked KASK to be involved print run of the KASK handbook in this project, to provide resources, and his sterling work in producing Paddle Trophy initiatives and a contact person, to the regular KASK newsletter. Also participate and complete surveys and Evan Pugh has been busy organizing Awards provide consultation. We may also the KASK Forum at Ohope. I gather be involved in focus groups. Evan already has lots of prizes and FIRST CALL FOR volunteers to share skills and knowl- NOMINATIONS/ In funding applications WSNZ will edge. And I must thank Linda Ingram MOTIONS be looking for projects that have a our administrator who continues to good research foundation, sound keep our books in good order and AGM Motions logic and which are transparent.