[Paddlewise] Paddling a Kahuna in the Hawkesbury Classic

G'Day,

I've just come off the water after completing the Hawkesbury Classic in a
Kahuna. This is a 111km overnight paddle to raise money for kids with
cancer. The organisers are a truly magnificent bunch. This year we had two
tides against us and one with us. There was a ten knot NE head wind for the
early part of the night - not much but in a race like this it makes a
difference. The night was balmy - not a thundercloud in sight.

There were 400 competitors and its probably the first time a Kahuna has
entered. For this sort of event the Kahuna is quite a slow boat, but it does
allow you to paddle forever. Its average speed through the night was 4mph or
7km/hr. It took 17hours 45 minutes to finish which included two rest stops
each of about 45minutes. It would probably have been faster if I had used a
skeg. and if we hadn't been paddling into the wind for the early part of the
night. The Kahuna was classed as a short recreational boat, which gets a
handicap. If fitted with a rudder it would have been classed as a medium
recreational boat.

My land crew were two young fitness instructors, Sarah and Natasha. When
they heard I was having difficulty getting a land crew they just volunteered
out of the blue. I explained the task was arduous and suggested a cooling
off period, but two days later they were keener than ever. Natasha is an
experienced kayaker and so not only did I get a land crew but some excellent
advice in the three month training period leading up to the race. The result
was that I finished without any mishap and in much better condition than
last year and was able to control a shoulder problem that had thrown me out
of the race at 77km two years earlier. These were two wonderful women and
they will be competing in the Hawkesbury next year.

About 1/4 of the way into the race I hear a raucous "Who's that Silly Old
(the rest is truly unrepeatable) It was my mate Johno who has the remarkable
ability learnt in the Navy to completely ignore pain and never makes any
rest stops no matter how bad he feels. He was paddling a new version of the
Greenlander made under license in NZ and completed the race in 12 hours.
We're both using this race as training for a trip to Deal Island in Bass
strait next December, in case we have to paddle home!

During the race I met Joan, a contemporary of Oskar Speck. She confirmed my
theory on why he had allowed himself to be so easily captured and interned.
Joan is still paddling 111km races in what looks like a custom designed home
built kayak/canoe paddled with a single blade. She was a grand
conversationalist telling me about the old days of kayaking in NSW
Australia.

At about 4am I started to have an irresistable urge to fall asleep with mild
hallucination/dreaming - the water started to slide up and down and sideways
at strange angles. So did my course. Foliage strewn rocks started to remind
me of good friends in years past. A dignified old man appeared out of the
morning mist in a huge kayak towed by two orcas:~) .

After I had zig zagged like a drunk for about 2km the check point asked me
if I was OK and I said yes but desperately needed a coffee. Checkpoint L,
just short of the mudflats near Spencer, makes the very best coffee in the
world. Happily my course straightened. Sadly the venerable gentleman and his
entourage disappeared as caffeine seeped into my cells.

Lots of lessons learn't on this trip, the ones that really stand out were: -

1. The benefits of pre training

2. My rest stops could probably be shorter

3. A sheepkin fleece between the Kahuna seat and the sea sock makes a
considerable difference to comfort in such a long race.

4.  I don't normally drink caffeinated coffee, but will now make an
exception for long distance paddling to stay awake and get rid of
dream/hallucinations and as a digestive for the food eaten while paddling.

5. Oranges!!! Great!!!

6. Drinking plenty of water and balance electrolyte drinks is well known.
This year I also learn't that eating and stretching every hour in the boat
greatly reduces the need to stop and get out of the boat and hugely improves
ones stamina. Its hard to do because its not enough to wait until you are
hungry, by then its too late. The right mix of food for an individual seems
to be crucial as indigestion can completely wreck this strategy. It needs
practice. Likewise stretches that are relevant to ones particular physique
and deficiencies (if any:~).

7. I should have checked sponsons at the first break after sundown as they
reduce tremendously in volume at night and may have slowed the boat down
Likewise release gas the following day to avoid excessive distension of the
fabric.

8. Incoming tides don't need to slow you down much - mangroves are great to
paddle next to with an incoming tide - they slow down the current but not
the boat.

Food eaten during the night: -
	Two very strong black coffees
	Two and a half bottles of Gatorade (a sports drink)
	About 1.5 litres of water
	Three protein/carbohydrate bars)
	Two breakfast cereal bars
	Roughly 6 bananas (lost count)
	Two very large and exquisite oranges
	Two home made rice puddings with sultanas ( I have the greatest mother in
law)

All the best, PeterO
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