Safe Paddling

Well, if you're thinking about sea-kayaking on Kangaroo Island, I guess you need to have a fair idea of what you are doing. I'm a little disconcerted when people rock up to go paddling in T-shirts and jeans, with a sit-on-top kayak and a pair of whitewater paddles. You ain't coming sea-kayaking with me, with that shit.

A real sea kayak

The whole point about a proper sea kayak is that it is designed to allow the paddler to go anywhere. To do this, it needs to be a decked kayak, preferably with a minimum volume cockpit. It needs waterproof bulkheads and hatches, with buoyancy in case of flooding. Most importantly, it needs a paddler who is physically and psychologically prepared to cope with whatever the sea throws at him/her. The paddler must be able to swim, be able to self-rescue and, to my mind, should be able to roll reliably. A spraydeck, PFD and safety gear should be included, as well as clothing suitable for immersion in the sea.

Capsizing can be surprise for the unwary

So here's the dilemma - kayaking is generally a safe activity, and indeed is one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities in Australia...but much of this expansion is in the sit-on-top or kayak-fishing market - great fun for mucking around in protected waters, but a recipe for disaster on exposed coasts or if the weather changes.  At the other extreme is your expedition-hardened sea-kayaker - ready to paddle unsupported or in a small 'pod' across Bass Strait or to circumnavigate Kangaroo Island.

Not so long ago, people learned to kayak through joining a club and invariably learned to paddle under tutelage of more experienced paddlers. Nowadays it's easy to wander into a kayak store and walk out with a new kayak - or purchase a second-hand kayak on eBay - and be on the water with relative ease. I think this is great to encourage people to explore the marine environment...but it's a worry when people set out to explore with a lack of knowledge, skills or equipment. The death of two people who attempted to cross Backstairs Passage to Kangaroo Island is a good example.

Simon Willis sums it up nicely "Sea kayaking is a seductively easy sport. Photographs...are usually taken in the most benign conditions, because when it's rough both hands are on the paddle. While it's easy to get started and it's even easier to become complacent or take the sea for granted, this is a mistake some people only make once".

I like mucking about in kayaks and have been doing it for over 30 years (mostly in whitewater). Nowadays I like to paddle the coast of KI and get close to wildlife or explore the many cliffs and bays. I have a well-kitted out kayak (a skegged Valley Nordkapp LV) and of course can roll. But I am still learning about the sea and treat it with a lot more respect as I get older.

For me, sea-kayaking is all about freedom - being out on the water, exploring the coast, seeing wildlife, rock-hopping, surfing and just getting wet. It's an easy sport and one in which I'm always keen to encourage and mentor others...but it's wise not to venture out unless you know what you are doing.

Some chop off Cape Forbin, North Coast

Who wants to paddle with KI-yak?

So - if you're coming to KI and want to paddle, that's great. If you are an experienced paddler, or an intermediate paddler looking to expand your horizons, then give me a call. With a well-kitted out kayak and a paddler who has some experience, KI-yak can help you access some of the 'special' places on KI to explore the coast and see some amazing things.

But if you're a first time or novice paddler in a sit-on-top...well, perhaps KI-yak ain't for you...yet.

Get some instruction, join a club (Adelaide Canoe Club are good) or perhaps consider some excellent local instruction from Phil Doddridge (Adventure Kayaking SA) and get into paddling a real sea-kayak.

Once you've mastered it, there is nothing to stop you...

My end of the Island - Cape Forbin looking west to Cape Torrens