[Paddlewise] Crossing The Ocean Roar

Peter,
Like many on this list, I was following your fellow Aussie, Andrew McCauley, 
on his inspiring Trans-Tasman Kayak Expedition as it progressed on the web. 
I don't usually follow many of these web-coverage journeys as they are 
tending to become more numerous and many have lost their sense of wonder as 
the world shrinks. But Andrew's trip was just a bit different. While an 
extraordinary man in many ways, he still was a regular bloke paddling an 
only slightly modified production-single kayak, one self-modified under 
budget restrictions and employing his own deep-water tweaking requirements. 
He was an IT consultant, 39 years old. And he was paddling entirely below 
the 40th parallel - the "Roaring Forties." I was only hoping for more daily 
reports and was deeply saddened to suddenly learn of the loss of this fine 
paddler recently - an adventurer of the high altitude and lower latitudes, 
you might say.

His final attempt on January 11, 2007 at the first-ever 1600 km unsupported 
journey by kayak from Fortescue Bay (an actual honeymoon beach of his 
apparently ) on the east coast of Tasmania to New Zealand's Milford Sound 
inspired ordinary paddlers and expeditioners the world over. With respect to 
inspiring other people to specifically reach out for "big, bold goals on a 
shoestring budget in conventional kayak designs", I believe he succeeded. 
His stated objectives include those specifically mentioned on his departure, 
namely that that the crossing would challenge himself, extending his 
boundaries and taking himself outside his comfort zone. I'll say. Risk 
taking is just what he did, as they say. Or as Andrew's friend, Jen Peedom 
reportedly remarked, these challenges are part of a risk-takers spirit, and 
if they don't act upon them, then part of their spirit dies.

My memory is a bit foggy with respect to when you brought Andrew's crossing 
plans to the attention of the list. I remember he failed at his first 
attempt, finding it too cold paddling or sleeping in the hull without 
insulation, I think. I have to admit I wrote him off a bit at that point 
(lost a bit of interest), figuring it was a close-to-being a Peter Bray 
style initial fiasco (Peter's first attempt at the Atlantic crossing seemed 
to need better equipment testing and planning, and required a rescue). The 
reasons for the misgivings for me were simply critically-constructive ones, 
based on the premise that if inadequate testing equated to turning back so 
early due to simple sleeping/conductive heat-loss issues, despite the 6 days 
paddling and sleeping during the Gulf of Carpenteria crossing, how well 
tested were other things like the "Casper" capsule, etc., in truly 
outrageous seas likely to be encountered? I thought he might run into 
problems mid-way, and was a bit worried at times. Would he hit his head 
while being tossed around, though secured inside the Casper capsule? What 
about the Casper casual being ripped off in huge seas or a rogue wave? How 
could he brace and paddle effectively with no proper seat and thigh bracing? 
I wasn't sure what to think. Extreme adventurer or a guy with a goofy yellow 
capsule? After clearing half way, it was looking good though. Having said 
all that, Andrew was still, and will always be to me, in the same league 
with men like Romer, Lindermann, Gillett and Bray. Not that I have a right 
to judge. This post is only my perspective as it developed.

I do know Andrew must have had the determination, drive, experience, passion 
and athleticism and calm/cool/collectedness to make such a crossing attempt. 
Included with other accomplishments, as you know, he was also a veteran of 
three Bass Strait crossings, including the fist-ever non-stop crossing of 
the Bass Strait (220 km in 35 hours) in 2003, the Gulf of Carpenteria 
crossing in 2004 already mentioned, and the 2006 Australian Antarctic 
Territory 850 km or so expedition paddle from Hope Bay to the Antarctic 
Circle. I didn't realize until recently how difficult his paddle back to 
Tasmania against seas and gales had shown just how strong and savvy a 
hardcore paddler Andrew was. And he turned back, precisely to avoid the need 
for a mid-crossing rescue scenario. His public words about safety and 
responsibility within an adventure travel framework did reconcile, ringing 
true and right in retrospect.

I couldn't help but compare Andrew's attempt with the planned attempt by 
James Castrisson and Justin Jones. Their trans-oceanic expedition is to be 
performed in a two person kayak - what I think amounts to a stretched 
version of Peter Bray's second-attempt, successful-crossing single. Both men 
will be crossing in a tandem together from Sydney to Auckland. Paul Cafynn 
and tandem-partner sound like the only other attempt by kayakers to make the 
crossing, and that ended I believe when the Harbour Master had them 
arrested. I was impressed with James and Justins preparation, planning, 
equipment choices, safety provisions, and overall attitude to the crossing. 
Less experienced than Andrew, I'm sure they are giving every permutation and 
what-if a huge amount of thought. When they cancelled once (a few time I see 
now), I didn't check back on their sight, and now see they have postponed 
their crossing until November. They were not happy with the weather windows, 
gear and boat irregularities, etc. They seem to be taking a serious approach 
to their safety and garnering approval from authorities such as the 
Australian Maritime Safety Authority, with their Sydney to Hobart yacht race 
style provisioning. They are using their "Crossing The Ditch" adventure to 
raise funds for the Sydney Children's Hospital. This doesn't make the trip 
any more or less noble in my mind, though. I do find the name of their 
crossing to be sort of odd, given the conditions Andrew faced. But, I'm not 
privy to Aussie word choices. Their route is obviously different, but I 
can't see it as vastly safer, and their financial investment is much, much 
higher. Delaying the trip was probably a good idea, leaving one to believe 
these guys will be okay when they do finally attempt the crossing in late 
2007.

In trying to understand what went wrong to cause Andrew to loose contact 
with his kayak and eventually all hope only 80 km or so from the New 
Zealand's South Island coastline, I followed PeterT's direction to Laurie 
Ford's site:

>Peter posted:
>There's a little more about this on Laurie Ford's website, for those 
>interested:
>http://members.iinet.net.au/~lford1/nz.htm<

I've always liked Laurie's commentaries - he has the background and 
experience to carry real veracity in what he says, though I do find him 
off-putting at times. Perhaps some latent penal-colony genes, or am I way 
off base and pathetically racist? Never mind, don't answer that question. I 
repent. On the periphery, Laurie seems upset with folks who were critical of 
Andrew's inclusion of a small sail for the second attempt, supposedly 
rendering the trip is some people's view as not pure as an unaided 
human-propulsion paddle. Well, it is an issue with some paddlers 
unfortunately, but the issue of purity does remain wholly subjective. I do 
actually see how modern paddlers using modern gear differentiates between 
traditional paddlers, with the sudden inclusion of sailing apparatus. We are 
talking propulsion differences, not high-tech electronic gear type 
differences and comparisons. It didn't however, detract in any way the 
significance of what Andrew was trying to accomplish. Overall, Laurie's 
summary gave an excellent perspective, and helped me visualize how things 
possibly unraveled at the end so ironically for Andrew, so close to land.

First though, Laurel's defense of Andrew included the fact that the Hobart 
Marine Board, the local police, and two members of the Australian Customs 
approved and/or paved official way for Andrew to proceed. According to 
Laurie Ford, word for word: Tasmanian Police took Andrew's kayak to the 
Derwent River near the Queens Domain in Hobart and tested it. Within the 
Search and Rescue Dept of the Tasmanian Police there is a very very 
experienced kayaker - this kayaker/policeman put a wetsuit on and got into 
the kayak and tested its self righting ability. After he finished testing 
his comments were "I don't have any problems with it".

This all sounds very good. Obviously, given the state the kayak was found in 
with most of its gear, I agree with Laurie that something sudden happened 
whereupon he lost contact with the kayak. Having had this happen to me in 
storm force winds, particularly in waves breaking greater than 2 to 3 
meters, a kayak drifts away in micro seconds. Unlike others perhaps, I do 
feel that big swell with breaking seas atop, are still more difficult than 
lower swell with the same sea state. There is just huge amounts of dynamic 
energies as peaks combine. It is legendary what one can do in a rough sea 
with adequate thermal protection, a mask/snorkel, and fins - along with some 
skill and backup. These were not realistic options for Andrew to get back to 
his kayak. My own use of tethers suggest they are highly underrated. 
Although Andrew reportedly employed the use of a boat-to-person life line 
rope, he obviously wasn't attached. I'm not sure how 
user-friendly/functional his tether was. The first rule of ocean crossings 
in never loose contact with your vessel (as long as it remains viably 
afloat).

The family believes high seas took Andrew's life from him. I can't image the 
total dejection Andrew underwent, separated from his kayak (if that is 
indeed what happened), knowing he was so close to his family and success. I 
know from survival swimming situations Even more so once I had a small 
family to think about), how painful the psychological pressures are 
struggling in the water. And while one can summon amazing courage, strength, 
and pull out amazing resources of determination and resolve to get back into 
a kayak in gnarly seas (as he had done a few times on the trip already, and 
was desperate to avoid repeating), once separated, most often only tragedy 
awaits. Much was made in the media as to wither Andrew was wearing a drysuit 
or not. It seems he was, or was putting it on under difficult circumstances, 
but in 18 degree water, without a raft of some sort and a personal EPIRB 
attached to his person, there wasn't much hope. 12 to 15 hours is usually 
tops, though some individuals have survived longer.

The 70 centimeter-tall Casper capsule could have broke away during a front 
moving through, or by a rogue wave. Paul Hewitson, Mirage manufacture, did 
indicate this as a possibility too. The Casper capsule bubble was designed, 
as we know, to self-right the kayak during sleep-mode or during rest 
periods, etc., but given its reliability across the bulk of the trip in 
roaring 40 knot northerlies, the assumption now is it ripped off post 
capsize. This seems very plausible, as the capsule would not have been 
properly secured while it was bouncing around. I'm not sure what Andrew's 
PFD situation was. He obviously did have the Kokata drysuit according to 
family and friends, and it wasn't in the kayak. We also know that flotation 
aids survival time. Vicki, Andrew's wife, is reported to have said that her 
husband likely lost strength after battling storms at the end of his 
month-long passage, which may have added to his difficulties post event. 
It's odd to think adventurers like Chris Duff were somewhat terrified of 
being blow offshore, out of places like the Milford Sound coast, and out 
into open water. Open water is where Andrew operated, thrived, and 
challenged himself.

Laurie Ford's claim he was about to attempt a similar crossing a while back, 
but only his wife prevented him from going, was interesting. He was to 
perform this crossing in a conventional kayak, without any support or aid, 
nor any outriggers, etc. I don't know how he intended to sleep/rest had he 
had departed or planned further. I did like his time frame: 15 days or so 
tops. Andrew's 30 day crossing is a long time to be exposed. The only way to 
do a fast crossing is in a double with two paddlers, a Klepper-style kayak 
under sail perhaps, or in a surf ski. The latter presents difficulties for 
sleep, obviously.

When I think about it, what Andrew attempted is truly amazing. That he made 
it as far as he did, even more amazing. That he failed so close to land, a 
minor detraction in terms of what is now possible. When I try to image what 
it must have been like for him out there at various moments, both during the 
highs and lows, I can't even comprehend. Life is a series of moments, held 
together briefly like sand gripped between the fingers of one's clenched 
fist on a hot summer day at the beach, slowly pouring away. That Andrew had 
so few of those precious moments to share with loved ones like his small 
son, Findlay, is truly sad. I hope that as his son grows into a young man, 
he will appreciate the legacy his father left behind, especially given his 
father's ability to squeeze the life force from each handful of sand he 
grasped - fleeting moments indeed.

On this day of celebrating Andrew's life at his memorial service, I like 
many, feel sullen by the loss yet elated by the courage Andrew' showed us. 
Most of us have never met Andrew, and hopefully claim to comment about his 
life with trepidation and humbleness. I can't help but admire Andrew 
McCauley and the life he lived more than I realized.

Doug Lloyd
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