The Ultimate Sea Kayak Trip

Stuart Trueman has today kayaked into Broome, completing his circumnavigation of Australia. It is an absolutley amazing feat. Congratulations Stuart!

Here are a couple of media interviews by ABC and Channel 7

Stuart Trueman has circumnavigated Australia in his sea kayak

St George Head Circumnavigation

Seven of us enjoyed a great paddle out through Jervis Bay around St George Head finishing with an up current slug up Sussex Inlet and accross St George Basin to Erowal Bay.


St George Head Circumnavigation from Matt Bezzina on Vimeo.

Ian Vaile got some pics and video as well.

Urban Epic III

There were Six of us up for the latest Urban Epic Club trip. We again had a grey day only this time with the added bonus of strong Southerlies and a livley sea. Both me and Garry were in unfamiliar boats and as both of us have come from the rock steady reliability of Mirages we found staying on course a bit of a handfull (and upright in some instances - Garry got to do a couple of rolls in anger). George's shark sighting and resultant yells helped I'm sure. I'm hoping that improved skill and getting used to our boats will overcome these issues for us. While some skeg paddlers seem to accept that zigzagging is part and parcel of paddling downwind I find this frustrating. Going in a straight line and catching waves at sea is now my prime focus. The Stern rudder helps maintain course for sure but I don't like this stroke as it has a breaking effect (when compared to forward paddling) which can result in missed rides (tragic). I accept that its essential for surfing breakers on a bar or beach or when sailing (15 KT +). I will now focus on more aggressive edging to maintain direction without compromising the all important forward stroke. Next test this arvo in Easterlies which will produce rebound waves off the cliffs. I've installed an inflatable beanbag type seat which will raise my seating position and might help with edging.

weirdos

Thanks to Andrew E, Andrew C, George, Neil and Garry for making it such a fun day! Photos by Garry Thompson.

Stuart Trueman joined Rob Mercer's Tuesday Night Paddle at Watsons Bay after padddling from Broome, Western Australia. Stuart headed out Sydney Heads the next day having already completed around half of his epic circumnavigation of Australia.

Matt, Stuart, Owen, Mark

This is one person I admit to having a bit of celebrity worship for. All the best Stuart!

Figure 8 Trip

GPS Trip Log - Mission Accomplished!

From the harbour .......

to the sea
George Jessup, happy to be finished the first portage and heading out to sea

Ian Vaile tests out his new Greenland T

Garry Thompson - out there

Portage two - Andrew on route from the ferry wharf to Manly Beach

The final leg - out we go again

the downpours were spectacular

Andrew & Cathy having fun

Neil & Cathy coming in through the heads

that rain was so good

It's a great feeling doing a one way trip and landing back at your starting point. Can't wait for the next one!

David Fisher has more pics, trip data and a video of this amazing journey.

An Urban Epic - The Circumnavigation of Sydney

A while back there was a photo in The Herald of a kayaker paddling under The Harbour Bridge. The kayaker was Phil Newman who in 2007 along with Richard Barnes completed a full circumnavigation of Tasmania. In the accompanying article Phil philosophises that you don't need to travel far or go to exotic places in search of adventure - it can be found right on your doorstep - all you need is a bit of imagination. This coming from someone who had paddled the whole of Tasmania was surprising. I'm glad I came across this article because it changed my mindset and from then on every paddle became a fun little adventure to be enjoyed in its own right, regardless of how close to home it was.

Track Log from Dave Fishers GPS

The adventure begins

Laurie Geoghegan enjoys the sights

Laurie manufactures the legendary Nadgee Sea Kayaks

Always smiling - Mark Schroeder

Ian Vaile enjoying the day at Coogee

TJ - Never a dull moment

Dave Fisher - life's good!

Rob Richmond - wore the Lycra suit for the portage as well!

Rob's a bit of an authority on circumnavigating Sydney

Cathy Miller - Great Laugh guaranteed to make any trip a fun trip

Cooks River was OK

The pull out at Marrickville

Bemused golfers - "what the . . . "

"Road Subject to Flooding" bring it on!

George Jessup - was on a mission to be home for dinner!

Our paddle went "down the drain" from here.

This took us underneath Parramatta Rd and not long after that . . . .

the tide came in

After doing kayak limbo to get under a low bridge and getting up to ramming speed to make it over a rubbish boom we were once again in deep water. A solid headwind slowed us down just a bit. We said goodbye to Cathy & Ian who live on the waters edge at Balmain and made the last dash for home. Once in Rozelle Bay we had the wind behind us for the final push under The Anzac Bridge and back to the point from which we started.

The entire round trip came in at just under 65km with about 3.5km being on foot. Thanks to a great crew for making it such a fun day. We proved that Sydney can be circumnavigated by kayak (and trolley) and that you don't need to leave town to have an adventure!


Freya Hoffmeister also circumnavigated Sydney but she went the long way round. She mustn't have known about the drain under Parramatta Road. Onya Freya!