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From The Times
November 14, 2007

Students try to conquer the cruel sea in a kayak

Bernard Lagan in Sydney

Two students set out to face one of the world’s last remaining open sea challenges yesterday - kayaking across the treacherous Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand.

No kayaker has ever completed the journey of more than 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles), with most being beaten back within days of starting out.

Andrew McAuley, a 39-year-old Tasmanian, nearly became the first when he got to within 70km of New Zealand in February. But he disappeared before he could make landfall. His empty boat was found later, but his body was never recovered.

Nine months after McAuley’s disappearance the adventurers James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, set out from Foster, north of Sydney, for Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. They are attempting the crossing in a specially designed kayak.

The pair believe that travelling together in a custom-designed boat will give them an “inherent level of safety” that McAuley did not enjoy. Their trip is expected to take between four and six weeks.

They are attempting their Tasman crossing well north of the route chosen by McAuley, who paddled below the 40th parallel – a region well known for its punishing weather. Aside from the sapping storms and gales that McAuley endured on his shorter southern route, the waters off Tasmania are nearly ten degrees colder than off the mainland north of Sydney from where Mr Jones and Mr Castrission set out.

“Obviously, it’s a very tragic thing that happened with McAuley,” Mr Jones said. “He was an amazing adventurer, but we’ve tried to learn as much as possible from that experience and also we’re taking a vastly different approach to the way he did it. There’s been a range of emotions, but I’m just keen to get out there; really keen to get out there.”

The pair will keep in touch with their base by satellite phone and a beacon on board will transmit their whereabouts every six minutes.

Looking forward to seeing the boys on the other side.

Tom Mitchell, Newtown, NSW

My Names Rikki Johnson, Im The first Disabled Man( No Right Elbow ) in New Zealand History To kayak both The Notorious Straits Cook & Foveaux, without any adjustments to my kayak whatsoever.

These two Students Whom have set off from Australia to Kayak the Tasman, Lets face it, THAT IS NOT A KAYAK!!!!! It looks like it even contains a flush toilet in the Back of it.

A kayak is a Kayak , NOT!!! a kayak that looks remarkably similar to a boat.

In March This year Im going to Kayak the Kermadecs, I will just be using a normal Kayak & Paddle, Why dont you guys do stories on us whom bust our guts out there doing these things, we alone are extreme athelete,s, . Weve earnt the Title of that through the pain and suffering that we go through to achieve what most call humanly impossible. without modifications to our equipment.

How can these two Kayakers call themselves extreeme athelete,s when they are not using the original kayak that everybody knows, Bit dissapionting really!!!!!!!

Rikki

Rikki Johnson, Auckland, New Zealand

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