THE MAGAZINE OF THE NSW SEA KAYAK CLUB ISSUE 102 | SEPTEMBER 2016 Circumnavigate Tasmania - Bass Strait - Preservation Island - Tasman Peninsula - Bruny to Maria and NW Tasmania - Strahan to Cockle Creek KAYAKTOPIA 2 Sat - 15th October Come down and paddle a huge variety of sea kayaks in one day - Talk to industy experts from different brands - Package deals on the day - Full range of paddling accessories and clothing - Also on the beach - Ocean Skis, SUPS , Sit-Ons 15th October, 2016 at JBK Store in Huskisson and on the beach For NSWSKC Members only - all weekend: - 15% off any paddle in store - 20% off all clothing - 20% off all Northwater gear NSW Sea Kayak Club Inc. CONTENTS PO BOX R1302, ROYAL EXCHANGE NSW 1225 From the President’s Deck 3 The NSWSKC is a voluntary organisation run by members who give their time AGM Report 3 freely to the club. Membership is offered yearly. Please see the website for details From the Editor’s Desk 4 and application. www.nswseakayaker.asn.au Training Coordinators Report 4 PRESIDENT: TRIPS CONVENOR: Ex-president’s last hurrah 5 Megan Pryke Selim Tezcan RnR Update and flashback 6 [email protected] [email protected] Flexibility and Kayaking 8 VICE PRESIDENT: ROCK ’N ROLL COORDINATOR: Paddling Tribes 10 Tony Murphy Simon Swifte [email protected] [email protected] Car Shuffles 12 SECRETARY/TREASURER: INTERNET COORDINATOR: Club Trips Alison Curtin Stephan Meyn NSW Challenge 13 [email protected] [email protected] NSW Trip - Terrigal to Norah 14 TRAINING COORDINATOR: EDITOR: NSW Trip - To the Gong 16 Nick Blacklock Ruby Ardren Wedding Cake Island 18 [email protected] [email protected] Private Trips Contributions yes please! Salt the magazine of the NSW Sea Kayak Club is published three to four times a year by the NSW Sea Kayak Club. The NSWSKC welcomes articles relating to sea kayaking for Preservation Island 20 inclusion in the Club’s magazine and website. Publication in the magazine and/or website is at the sole discretion of the editor. All articles submitted are subject to review by the editor who reserves the right SW Tasmania 22 to reject or edit material. Please email contributions as Microsoft Word or text files. Images need to be Tasman Peninsula 27 supplied at the highest possible resolution. All material is copyright. The contributor retains underlying intellectual property rights in the contribution however the contributor grants the club a global perpetual Ulladulla to Gerroa 30 all-media license to publish the contribution in club communications, including in print and digitally. Reproduction in whole or part is strictly forbidden without written permission from the editor, author or Tasmanian Holiday 36 photographer. Advertisers must adhere to legal requirements and undertake to indemnify NSWSKC Turkey Bay 42 against any consequences arising out of their advertisements. For further information contact the editor. Saltiest Article 43 All views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NSWSKC. IMPORTANT: Please review the Paddler Safety, Required Equipment, Grading System and Club Bass Strait 44 Calendar sections of the club website. SEPTEMBER 2016 | SALT 3 From the NSWSKC AGM Report The NSW Sea Kayak Club AGM Tasmanian Sea Canoeing Club. President’s was once again held at the Yarra Many of the members make their Bay Sailing Club in July, following own kayaks, and most carried successful pre-AGM paddles out of fibreglass even on day trips (which Deck Yarra Bay. is possibly also an indication of the more difficult conditions they have The committee sadly farewelled MEGAN PRYKE to deal with). They are big fans of members who had made significant sailing, typically carrying two sails, contributions to the club over the one a main sail and one a storm sail last few years including: Campbell (smaller). The other difference is the Tiley, Stuart Trueman, Steve mast is inserted in a vertical tube Hitchcock, Shaan Gresser, and directly in front of the cockpit and David Linco. between their legs. Most of the new committee had Rae shared photos from her trip been nominated prior to the AGM, to Freycinet where she had calm but the new president was still seas. She then talked about her uncertain. Fortunately after being trip to the Hunter Group, where nominated by John Piotrowski, she tackled tides, the ‘Dangerous Megan Pryke agreed to take on the Banks’, mutton bird colonies, and president’s role to cheers from the sea eagles. During this trip she members. Her dedication to the club mulled over whether or not to tackle has been amply demonstrated by the Western Bass Strait crossing. her commitment to running trips for Even the group Rae was paddling members, so we look forward to her with didn’t know what she was I was recently on a solo trip. Being term as president. considering until she had made able to achieve this reflects how the decision to head north, as much I’ve learnt over time from the The entire committee didn’t retire at once, with Tony Murphy, she wanted to avoid the external generous sea kayaking community pressures of media, photos and that is our club. Due to conspiring Alison Curtin and Stephan Meyn charities etc. circumstances, I could not attend continuing in their roles. In addition the first committee meeting. Thank to Megan (who has been on the Rae added a few extra tidbits you to Tony Murphy for conducting committee before), others new to build on her Salt 101 article, this committee meeting. At the time, to the committee include Nick such as finding out on reaching I was my sea kayak, prepared to Blacklock for training, Selim Tezcan Apollo Bay that her boat had been bunker down for a weather change. for trips, Ruby Ardren as editor, seriously damaged in her launch and Simon Swifte as Rock ‘n’ Roll from King Island – serious enough With a mix of experience and fresh coordinator. that if she’d seen it she may have ideas, I am certain the current decided not to continue. committee will function well. To The presentation of the evening the previous committee members, was from Rae Duffy, who shared The presentation was enjoyed by thank you for leaving the club in photos and stories from her recent all, and ended a wonderfully social good shape. trips around Tasmania with the day and evening. Cover photo: Heading out of Macquarie Harbour in SW Tasmania (Shaan Gresser, article by Matt Bezzina page 22); Right: Tim Pearse on Sydney Harbour (Rob Mercer) NSW SEA KAYAK CLUB | SEPTEMBER 2016 4 Training Coordinator 2014-16 STUART TRUEMAN This takes considerable effort and commitment from many involved: • The two prospective instructors have to advertise their From the assessment/training day on the club website training calendar and Editor’s process members who wish to The NSWSKC is aligned with attend training. the Australian Canoeing Award • Instructors prepare and present Desk Scheme. on various themes to other NSWSKC members are taken on instructors and prospective RUBY ARDREN trips by those who have attained instructors. Sea Leader and Sea Guide awards. • Two groups of members have to I love everything about the Salt register and attend training. These Leaders and Guides can magazine. I love reading it, I love • Other members working towards writing for it, and I love taking tailor trips based on the Skills Awards gained by the participants. the Instructor awards attend as photos with Salt in mind, knowing assistants and to gain experience. that there’s a chance they’ll get NSWSKC members gain these • Assessors and prospective published. I love that the members awards through members with assessors attend the two days. of NSWSKC are so ready to Instructor awards. volunteer articles and photos, and • Accommodation is organised and All these awards are presented by I hope that continues under my funded by the NSWSKC. qualified Assessors. editorship. The weekend coincided with one Without members who are able and I’ve had a great year laying out the of Sydney’s most intense weather committed to gaining these awards, magazine under Steve’s excellent events of the year. One hundred the club could not offer much in the guidance, learning the ropes and kilometre winds, huge surf (swell way of practical sea kayaking. what works for the magazine. of 12 metres was recorded) and There is a continuous flow of heavy rain, all represented in While I’m editor, I will prepare a members through the club and the news through the image of a guide to submitting articles that there is a need to maintain the flow row of Northern Beaches houses will make sure we get the best of active members with AC Awards. precariously leaning into the sea. out of your article. I’d also like to encourage our writers out there The Training Coordinator position Despite days of dire forecasts that want to extend themselves develops opportunities for everybody turned up and we beyond trip reports. I’d like to see NSWSKC members to go up the managed to get an assessment articles that talk about the history of award scheme by encouraging done on the Saturday. Sunday was kayaking or places we kayak to, or guides, instructors, assessors and cancelled when a ‘Storm Warning’ geography, or nature notes, and I’ll interested members into action. was issued for enclosed waters! always welcome technical articles It’s a process that is rewarding for The weekend was a showpiece of as well. all involved, including the Training preparation and commitment by I’m very happy to take on the job of Coordinator.