RE: [Paddlewise] Hayley Shephard off to Circumnavigate South Georgia

Gordin,

Will be keeping her in my prayers and following her journey. She is one of
the special ones. 

I know she handled herself well on the west coast of Graham when seas got
worse that expected. She was anxious yet kept her head and stayed tight to
her skills and confidence. Her spirit is unquenchable, her depth of
determination perhaps yet to be fathomed - even herself. It was only
equipment failure that hampered her speedy progress to safety Graham Island,
so I do hope she has all her equipment dialed in and has gone beyond
manufacture's maintenance specifications. And I do remember off Morseby's
west coast, she hit shore more than once on gut instinct just before severe
spilling winds hit her. A special lady indeed. 

Thanks for the web cam link too - something else to gawk at on work time and
get yelled at for doing so...:-)


What follows is an excerpt from http://victoriakayaker.blogspot.com/

I said a difficult farewell to Hayley Shephard and Beth-Anne Masselink at
Victoria International last Friday. Hayley is off to attempt a solo
circumnavigation of South Georgia Island. Beth-Anne is her backup rescue
kayaker who will launch from the support vessel and come to Hayley's aid
should it be needed.

The circumnavigation of South Georgia is perhaps the most difficult paddle
in
the world. Although it's not long by many expedition standards there are no
days when you are not at extreme risk. It's 400 miles of deadly risk.

Saying good bye to someone who you may never see again is troubling. All
sorts
of conflicting thoughts run through your head. I took some comfort in
knowing
that well known and trusted west coast guide Beth-Anne Masselink would at
least be near by.

The island lies at 54 15 S and 36 45 W. Look it up on a globe and you'll see
how one could strike out sailing east from South Georgia and your first land
fall would be the west shore of the island you left from. There would be
nothing but wind waves and the odd iceberg on your journey. There is an old
mariners saying "in the forties there is no law - in the fifties there is no
god"

The follow link takes you to a 2009 Christmas Day photo of a sheltered port
on
the east shore. Nothing landed on Christmas Day.

http://www.sgisland.gs/index.php/Image:13dec09.jpg

You  can follow her attempt at the following link.

http://hayleyshephard.blogspot.com/

If you are religious please prey for fair weather and god speed.

Gordin Warner
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