w h i t e w a t e r • r i V e r • s e a • m u l t i s p o r t ... - Canoe & Kayak

Queen Charlotte Sound
by Joelene Sutton/Herrick
I jumped at the opportunity to spend a weekend kayaking in
Queen Charlotte Sound with the Yakity Yak Club. But I had
only attended the skills course 3 weeks prior, and to say I
was worried about my limited kayaking experience was an
understatement. I also worried whether I would get on in a
very diverse group of people. Would a common interest in
kayaking be enough?
Award Scheme
The NZKI Award Scheme was formed in response to a
growing need in the Kayaking Industry to have more
people with Kayaking qualifications, to encourage more
kayakers towards expanding their skills and knowledge
and to continue to increase the safety of our sport.
The NZKI Award Scheme is structured around the
assessment of skills and knowledge that are required
for the type of activity to be undertaken by the
Instructor or Guide.
A star is awarded for each level achieved, starting off
with the NZKI One Star for personal paddling skills and
knowledge and moving up to the NZKI Five Star for
an Assessor.
For more information phone 0508 5292569
www.nzki.co.nz
As it turns out, yes! I had a
fantastic weekend!
The trip began with a night
paddle from Picton to
Mistletoe Bay. The night was
clear with a light breeze and
choppy sea. I couldn’t see
the waves before they hit!
It was my first extraordinary
e x p e r i e n c e o f m a r i n e
phosphorescence.
On Saturday morning the persistent breeze was still lingering. Two of our
party hatched a cunning plan to do “what had never been done before”.
Ten kayaks rafted up and with the assistance of three sails, we sailed across
Double Cove towards Kumutoto. The buzz this created was more from novelty
value than the speed achieved. However, as one who does not own a sail, I
did appreciate the free ride. Our original plan had been to check out the
DOC campsites in Kumutoto Bay and set up camp. But we came across an
unexpected gem in Kaipakirikiri Bay, a secluded campsite amongst the trees,
with a good fireplace and a plentiful supply of firewood. We spent the evening
around the fire sharing stories.
On Sunday another clear day, with a light breeze which provided assistance
to those with sails! We followed through on the previous day’s plan, and
headed into Kumutoto Bay, checking out the luxurious facilities offered in the
campsite. We paddled on
to Allports Island, hoping
to find a campsite for
future trips, but alas to no
avail. There were no good
landing spots (on the side
we reached). To avoid a
long haul into a head wind
we made a beeline for the
closest beach and spent
a few hours over lunch
enjoying the sunshine. Liz
directed Andy in a short
film, both confident that the
effort would be sufficient to
win $5,000 prize money on
offer from Cadbury. What
people do for chocolate!
It was a short paddle back
to Picton, and we had four
hours to spare before
boarding the ferry. Some
chose to spend it shopping
or visiting family in the
area, but a dedicated few
took charge of babysitting
ten kayaks. The only seats
which served to keep an
eye on the kayaks were at a
local bar. A nice end to what
was for me, an outstanding
trip. More stories shared
over a few drinks!
6 ISSUE FORTYone • 2 0 0 7