Fed: Tran-Tasman kayakers battle fatigue, morale and competition

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2007
Fed: Tran-Tasman kayakers battle fatigue, morale and competition

EDS: Takes in Row. Please note language in paragraph 7.



By Vincent Morello and Crystal Ja

SYDNEY, Dec 27 AAP - Two men attempting to become the first Australians to paddle across
the Tasman are battling physical and emotional exhaustion, as well as the likelihood a
competing craft will steal their glory.

Eight-metre swells continue to swamp their custom-built kayak as Sydneysiders James
Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, paddle towards Auckland in rough conditions.

The pair set out on their 2,200km journey on November 13 from Forster, on the NSW mid-north
coast.

They reached their halfway point in early December but went around in circles for two
weeks in attempts to dodge persistent head winds and a whirlpool of ocean currents.

They are now 540km from Auckland, but their support team estimates the men have paddled
an extra 1,000km as a result of their unplanned detours.

"They're physically and mentally exhausted, and morale has gone to its lowest point
in the journey," support team member Tom Mitchell told AAP.

"Basically, they're sick to death (of trying) to get their arses across to New Zealand."

For the past two days, they have made big advances, paddling more than 200km, and expect
strong westerly winds to push them similar distances for another two days.

But strong tail winds have brought big seas that make paddling difficult.

The kayak enters the middle of eight-metre swells, submerges slightly and resurfaces
to repeat the challenge.

"And on top of that, they've only been getting one hour of sleep a night because the
seas are so rough," Mr Mitchell said.

"They've described it as trying to sleep with 12 kids jumping up and down on the bed."

Their original arrival date of Christmas Eve has been extended repeatedly, but the
support team expects the pair to arrive in NZ as early as January 7.

Crossing from the opposite direction, a four-person rowing team of Steven Gates, Andrew
Johnson, Kerry Tozer and surf boat champion Sally Macready, set out on November 29 from
Hokianga Harbour, north of Auckland.

The conditions that hammered Castrission and Jones favoured the foursome, who reached
their halfway mark in just 15 days.

They are now just 370km from Sydney Harbour and are expected to arrive on New Year's
Day or the next day.

The larger team has also endured rough conditions and a near-miss with a freighter
on Christmas night.

But on Boxing Day, they encountered a pod of dolphins and good conditions.

"The weather was glorious. We finally struck a favourable current and it was great
to be on the ocean," Gates said in a statement.

Jones and Castrission are not expected to reach land first, since easterly headwinds
are forecast to return on Sunday.

Mr Mitchell said the pair are not bothered that Gates' team will arrive first, especially
since they have twice the rowing capacity.

"Everything that's held our boys back has given the other team the advantage to keep
paddling hard to make it there before them," Mr Mitchell said.

"And the more people you have, the less prestigious it is."

He said solo kayaker Andrew McAuley would have been the ultimate champion.

He attempted the crossing to New Zealand's Milford Sound in February, but he disappeared
after sending out a garbled distress signal only about 50km from his destination.

His partially submerged craft was found drifting in the ocean, but his body was never located.

AAP vpm/hn/jl/mn

KEYWORD: KAYAKERS NIGHTLEAD (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

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