LAST UPDATED 3 June 2008

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TRIPS REPORTS

My first attempt to circumnavigate Tasmania - May 1999 trip from Hobart to Port Davey & return- "heading back down to south-west cape, well offshore, I lost sight of land in thick mist, 10m swells and gale force n/w wind.  I thought to myself "This can't be good!"
My solo circumnavigation of Tasmania by sea kayak - November 1999 - starting from Pirates Bay - heading anti-clockwise
My second solo circumnavigation of Tasmania - November 2001 - different weather and many different landing points - starting and finishing from Hobart - paddling anti-clockwise
Steve Dineen's sea kayak circumnavigation of Tasmania - February 1998 - Steve's trip was the inspiration for my trip.  It gives you an insight into the mental & physical suffering that this trip inflicts
Steve Dineen and Lester Nation's Bass Strait Crossing - March 1998
The first circumnavigation of Tasmania by Sea Kayak - John Brewster & Earl Bloomfield- 1979
Bruny Island in a day (142km in 18.5hrs) March 1, 2001
Bass Strait Crossing (Maatsuyker Canoe Club Trip - Feb 2001)
Paddle from Huonville to Kettering
Three Peaks Race - By Sea kayak.
Ed Gillet - California to Hawaii
Australia to New Zealand - crossing the Tasman Sea ... some notes about Andrew McAuley's trip
Photos of circumnavigation of Tasmania - this has some missing links that I have to fill sometime
 

WHAT IS A 'ROGUE' WAVE? - About 1 wave in every 2000 waves will be about double the average height of the other swells - this is about every 2-3 hrs.  So you could expect if you are paddling down the west coast of Tasmania and the swells are 5 metres that every 2-3 hrs you will get one come through at 10m.  (This information was from Simon McCulloch - metoerologist & ABC TV weatherman)

Link to NSW Sea Kayak Club article by Richard Birdsey (very interesting)
Link to the Tasmanian Coroners finding about the death of Hamish SAUNDERS on Pedra Branca rock - 28km off the south coast of Tasmania.  Reading this is very sobering and highlights how quickly the Tasmanian weather can change and how scary it must have been clinging for life as waves broke over the 60 metre high island.

Greenlander - Sea Kayak by Penguin Composites (formerly Penguin Fibreglass), Tasmania.  Review and comparison pictures of old & new model.  Great for sailing.  After the recent visit by Justine Curgenven I have found that there is more than one Greenlander Pro sea kayak.  Nigel Dennis kayaks from the UK also produce a Greenlander Pro.  They are nothing alike.  The Tasmanian boat has a rudder and a totally different hull design.
Elaho HV & Looksha IV - Sea Kayak by Necky, Canada. (I sold my Looksha IV plastic sea kayak a couple of years ago - but it was my first preference as far as plastic sea kayaks go.  The Necky Elaho HV is a new model that has improved from the Looksha IV.  It has a day hatch and a more comfortable seat.  I just collected this November 11, 2004 and I plan to use it for solo trips to rocky islands.
Mirage 580  - If I could only have one kayak I would have a Mirage 580.  The cockpit is roomy & comfortable.  They go pretty fast, catch waves easily and hold lots of gear.
Mirage 22s - racing sea kayak - good for calm & moderate seas.  Good for flat water racing also.
Mirage double sea kayak - good touring double that cruises along quickly.
Slingshot - Sea Kayak by Paddling Perfection, New Zealand.  It is great for catching waves on large following swells but not the most comfortable kayak to use on long trips.

RACING KAYAKS

Grafton Paddle Sports - boat comparison
Grafton Paddle Sports - Wizard high deck
Grafton Paddle Sports - Time Bandit, Time Machine, Time Traveller, Wizard - low deck (effectively a slightly more stable K1)
Aurum K1 - from Dean Gardiner, Sydney (oceanpaddler.com) - my K1 just arrived.  It is a beautiful carbon/kevlar boat.  I am hoping to go fast in it when I get used to it.
Sisson Evolution Edge & Sisson Evolution Ski (Skevolution)  I bought an evolution ski (skevolution) from New Zealand.  It cost a lot, was roughly made and arrived with lots of cracks from the freight - but it probably would have been fast if I didn't sell it
JKK ufo 6.4 - a fast, skinny racing kayak.  JKK won't freight boats to Australia but there are other retailers in NZ that sell UFO's that will send them to Australia ... shop around or just get a Time Bandit from Grafton for half the price and no hassles.
Perception Wavehopper - good for training in rocky whitewater rivers or for playing in the surf
Other good NZ racing kayaks -
Wildabout - Phantom
Venture Out Kayaks - Advantage
Brainwave FB2
Sharp 6.5

OTHER STUFF