[Paddlewise] Further report on Chris Duff's kayak breakage

I received this report from Paul Caffyn just before mid day Friday, 25
February.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris talked to me next am:

Talked to Chris early am 24 Feb. Late pm on 22 Feb, some 10 miles north
of St Anne Point, which is at the entrance to Milford Sound, Chris
attempted a landing through 8 foot high surf. He was capsized twice on
the way to the beach but rolled successfully each time. At the beach he
was too slow exiting the kayak and pulling it clear of the sucky bumper
dumpers. His kayak was sucked back and smashed almost in half on the
beach. Part of the cockpit rim gone, some deck/hull joins opened up, and
boat quite flexible beneath the cockpit area. He tried Fiordland
maritime radio to hire a chopper with no success. His parka raised on
poles above the beach failed to attract the attention of a passing fixed
wing, a passing helo. Four fishing boats offshore did not respond to his
VHF calls. While radioing a passing cruise liner, Fiordland M.R.
responded and Chris was able to charter a Squirrel from Milford to
transport him and the kayak back to Milford. 

Chris is keen to continue the trip. He will attempt to have the boat
repaired, failing that he will borrow another kayak.

cheers
Paul

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex
.
.
Alex (Sandy) Ferguson
Chemistry Department
University of Canterbury
New Zealand
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