Kayak Tamaki Strait - Browns and Motuihe Islands

Who: Annette, Shirley and George, (Shirley's dad), in Ciao and Bluey
When: 29 December 2012

A sunny day with light winds, a beckoning sea and lots of Christmas dinners to work off - a perfect opportunity to take the boats out for the day.

We decided to Island hop, aiming to go to Browns, Motuihe and Waiheke. Setting out early from Eastern Beach, it was an easy thing to get started. Yay for carparks close to the water.

The tide was just turning to go out when we started, but we didn't really feel much advantage while at shore. We were in exploratory moods and I had just bought my waterproof camera, so today was as much about taking photos and going with the flow as actually getting anywhere.

Following the coastline from Eastern Beach. New camera working nicely!

Skirting the coast until we reached the headland of Musick Point, we then turned towards Browns. It wasn't the cruisiest paddle with the wind working against us. In Bluey, I loved riding the wake of the many boats that shared the water with us. Have mostly paddled in Ciao, it was a new experience to do so much on my own in Bluey, with such a light paddle.

Bluey and I take on the Strait

The Islands beckon

We arrived at Browns after about an hour of paddling, longer than it would usually take. We didn't want to round the island due to the wind and there were no suitable places to put in where we were, so we rafted together to eat our morning tea close to shore. The bobbing wasn't great for Annette's sea-legs and we decided to get back to work quickly for that reason.

Break time off Browns

Next stop, Motuihe. We were all a bit tired at this point and the wind was more than we had expected, so we spent another hour or so getting there.

Jelly arms at the beach

It was good to pull in to the beach and stand up. My arms, not used to paddling without a partner, were jellied! After lunch on the beach, including lots of scroggin and chocolate, it was time to explore. Motuihe has a DOC campground and a number of walks to explore the bush and remnants of settlements. With a history as a quarantine station for those with influenza, it was fascinating and quite sobering to visit the hilltop cemetery and read the inscriptions on the graves. So many young people.

Motuihe walk

Motuihe walk

We came from that-a-way

Motuihe walk

We didn't take too long on Motuihe. The idea of paddling on to Waiheke had been mooted long before - we were all tired and the wind was picking up. Time for home. My arms were still like jelly and I realised that I would not have the strength to safely paddle Bluey back. I swapped to Ciao, leaving my dad to be the solo paddler.

The return home was bittersweet. My dad had come for the sailing and isn't a keen paddler. Yet, he was now stuck in a kayak without a sail. Annette and I, on the other hand, FLEW back to shore with the wind filling the sail magnificently. It was so much fun - the first decent sail we've had in Ciao. So in between whoops of delight and a touch of terror, we were feeling sorry for my dad and attempting to stay as close to him in Bluey as possible. Not easy when you are almost taking off.

It was very low tide when we arrived back at Eastern Beach and, despite my dad paddling quite a different route to us on the way back, we arrived within minutes of each other. We were amazed at how he had managed to keep up.

Lots of wading with the boats through shallows later, we got to shore and realised that the paddle had taken a toll on my dad. Quite a somber ending to our adventure, with me taking him to the doctor on the way home. (All good at the end.)

What we did well:
1) Knew our limits and cut the adventure down, as well as swapping boats for me.
2) Sailing Ciao - what a rush!

What we learned:
1) My dad prefers to be a sailor, not a paddler.
2) The boats have different strengths. If we are to stay together when paddling, we need to find a way for Bluey to sail.
3) Activity is the best way to stave off seasickness for Annette. Bobbing in the ocean is not the best thing.

To figure out: How to sail a normal kayak? Watch this space...