Greatest adventure feat this century ?

Good eveing. It is almost midnight in Jakarat and I went to crossing the ditch website and was so pleased that Justin and James are telling us what is happening after that epic feat of kayaking across the tasman Sea. I rate it as the greatest feat of daring, courage and adventure of this century, possibly in the last 20 years. What do you think out there ?

Have a read of James' report written yesterday.

Congratulations again to you James and Justin.

Bob


Back in Oz.
Sat 19 Jan 2007 - 14:57 (GMT +11)


Wow.. back on land. It's funny, when out there land became a distant memory just as Ol Oiler from the forum advised early on in the expedition.
Thanks for the amazingly overwhelming support. The last couple of days since our arrival I think we have slept just as much as during some of those storms that we got engulfed by! Fortunately, we've had close family and friends to rub shoulders with rather than sharks, dance floor lights instead of lightening and fresh food to eat rather than mouldy nuts!

We are really excited to have 60 Minutes on board who will be screening an "exclusive" between Feb 7-14. Some of the footage they have captured is phenomenal and we cant wait to share it with you guys.

Yesterday we had a DXA Scan carried out by Jarrod at Body Composition Australia (www.bodycomposition.com.au) in which a detailed analysis has been carried out on our physiological composition pre and post expedition. A full medical report is being written. The results are truly astonishing.

As you can imagine, we are completely exhausted at the moment. The stress that we put our bodies through, will take sometime to recover. It's going to take many months or R&R to get back to our former selves. Walking up and down stairs we still need assistance.

We'll be keeping the website updated and forum going. As you can imagine, we have been inundated by emails, phone calls, letters and the list goes on. In good time, we'll try and get back to each of you as life calms down a little.

Finally, an enormous thank you to New Zealand (especially the folk of New Plymouth!) for the most amazing reception we could've ever dreamt of and all our sponsors (especially the Team at Unwired) for making this expedition happen. Please jump on our sponsor's page and send some of them an enormous thank you- they deserve it- they backed us right from the start.

Love you all.

Happy Paddling!
James

Speights beer for Justin and James

This picture was taken by my beautiful and highly intelligent sister-in-law, Barbara mcKerrow


To Tom Mitchell and the Media and Public Relations Team - Crossing the Ditch

Dear Tom

i would like to congratulate you and your team for managing one, if not the greatest, adventures in the world. For 60 days I was riveted. I checked the website at least once a day. Wrote quite a few stories for my blog too. I attempted it in 1989 with Paul Caffyn and we were basically arrested by the Tasmanian Police.

Hard on the heels of Andrew McAuley's tragic crossing, it was so good that two real gutsy guys have finally "knocked the barstard off". as Sir Ed would say. Now we can get on to other challenges, humanitarian and otherwise.

The tracking map was great and the website superb. Well done guys.

I have my brother and his wife living in New Plymouth so I was able to get first hand accounts. The latest was a few minutes ago. You'll love this:

"It was good to see that the first beer the kayakers had was SPEIGHTS it was
on the TV one new tonight ,

Go SPEIGHTS , they must be good blokes ."

All the best guys, and thanks Tom.

Bob McKerrow from Indonesia.

First hand account of arriving in New Plymouth for Trans Tasman Kayakers

My sister in law Barbara McKerrow was at the landing in New Plymouth for the two Trans Tasman kayakers. Here is her story and above, two of her photographs. The first is James and Justin arriving, and below a Maori welcoming party. Thanks Barb.

Kia ora Bob

I have just returned from a great event at New Plymouth's Ngamotu Beach
where the intrepid cross-Tasman kayakers arrived just after midday. I was
part of the welcoming party with our Mayor and it was bedlam down on the
beach. The boys were in high spirits and seemed in good shape after such an
ordeal. They could walk (just) and I stood next the mother of one of them
(James)who wept to see her son arrive to such a fantastic Taranaki/New Zealand welcome. The Mayor said the estimated crowd up and down the coast out to greet them was 45,000. Attached are 3 of the better photos I managed to get - the arrival, the kapa haka group and the 2 men speaking to the media. They were overwhelmed. I hope this is useful to you.

Cheers

Barbara

"Go Aussies!" roared the massive crowd

THEY MADE IT - WONDERFUL NEWS

Two Australian kayakers have completed their journey across the Tasman Sea.
James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, reached shore at Ngamotu Beach, about 4km west of New Plymouth on NZ's West Coast, at 1220 local time
The pair, who have spent the last two months paddling across the Tasman Sea, were given a heroes' welcome after completing their epic crossing today.
More than 10,000 cheering onlookers watched as the pair paddled to Ngamotu Beach inside Port Taranaki. At 12.20pm they stopped paddling and sat about 10 metres off the shore as a local kapa haka group treated them to a rousing welcoming haka.
Supporting each other, they gingerly stood up from their seats to cheers of "Go Aussies!" from the massive crowd.

Then they jumped into the waist-deep water and, arm-in-arm, they waded ashore for a tearful reunion with waiting family.
"This feels bizarre - I can hardly walk," said Castrission after stumbling at one stage before he could reach his family.
And when asked by the Taranaki Daily News what their first thoughts were on finally landing, Justin Jones said "Thank you so much New Zealand - you guys rock."
Addressing the crowd a few minutes later the pair expressed their thanks to the people of Taranaki for their support over the last few days.
During the past 62 days the pair travelled more than 3,300 kilometres and battled strong winds and tides that saw them go round in circles for part of the trip and arrive 20 days later than originally expected.
As they approached shore today a fleet of Maori wakas sailed out to welcome them, as did dozens of local kayakers.
A New Zealand tug boat gave them a "spray welcome" by shooting water over their kayak, and a giant television screen was set up on the beach so those in the crowd could watch proceedings, entertained by a live band.
After greeting their families, they were expected to complete a customs check before being taken by ambulance to a local hospital for a check up.
There were fears Jones would be unable to stand because of the deterioration to his leg muscles, which have not touched dry land in two months.
The pair are thought to be the first to kayak across the Tasman, and have taken part in the longest two-man kayaking voyage ever.

"Thanks Taranaki - you kept us going," said Jones.
The crowd reacted by breaking into song, roaring out a huge rendition of Waltzing Matilda.
The crowding is so severe that authorities have been forced to close all road entrances to the port - forcing onlookers to foot it to the kayak's landing point, Ngamotu Beach.
But they are still pouring to the scene. Several thousand people are waiting at the beach, and many more are lining the lee breakwater at the port's entrance.
"It's absolutely huge - the place is crammed with people," says Taranaki Daily News reporter Leighton Keith, who was aboard a boat following Justin Jones, 24, and James Castrission, 25, as they made their way to the finish.
Small boats, yachts, kayaks, surf club IRBs, coastal vessels, and even the Port Taranaki tugs joined a flotilla that accompanied the pair to the finish - with the tugs are adding to the festive atmosphere by spraying water into the air from their fire-fighting hoses.
"There are lots of video cameras out, helicopters overhead. It's all developing into something special," Keith said.
Jones and Castission paddled all yesterday until 1am today, then slept for two hours before picking up the paddles again at dawn today for their final run to shore.
Before they started their adventure they had hoped Sir Edmund Hillary would greet them on their arrival, but were told he was too sick.
Expedition spokesman Tom Mitchell said the pair were gutted to hear of Sir Ed's death on Friday, but were used it as inspiration to paddle without rest until their arrival.
(Thanks to the Taranaki News and Stuff for using parts of their reports and one or two photos in this and past blogs on the kayakers)

The arrival of the Trans-Tasman kayakers in a few hours.

Justin top and James below

It is 3 am in Jakarta. A beautiful night and the stars dancing heel and toe. I am so excited about James and Justin arriving in New Plymouth soon.On crossingtheditch website they have just under 10 km to go.

My brother Barry, who lives in New Plymouth, has just sent me the latest update. Thanks brother.

" A great cloudless sunny day , no breeze to think of , no swell either At Ngamotu beach 5 km from NP they will come through the breakwaters into the inner harbour past the 8 restaurants up onto a sandy beach 1 km long backed up with a grassy area which is full of picnic tables, where the first NZ company ships arrived from Devon / Plymouth areas on my birthday not yours as it was in Otago .

Action plan .

Security has been dispatched in rubber duckies to clear a path for the
Kayakers. The port is full of Oil Tankers , Drilling ships , container ships, the fire tug boat.

People have been told by radio to park their cars far away as possible and
walk to Ngamotu beach .

Police & Venture Taranaki staff will be on hand .

2 Chairs have been put near the water so they can be carried up the beach on
the them . (High Tide 12.30 aprox )

Entertainment & food,drink stalls have been set up with Mr Whippy & Snowcone
in attendance (a good NZ tradition ).
The Parahaka festival of peace is on 60km away so theIR will be a rush on for
cultural performers between venues .

The media have been looked after and given their accreditation passes .

It will be a great welcome. "

Thanks Barry. I hope you will be taking down some shoes for James and Justin.

What a remarkable chapter in world adventure and exploration. It is right up there with the great Kayaker Franz Romer who on March 31, 1928, set out alone from Lisbon, Portugal, to make the first recorded crossing of the Atlantic in a sea kayak.

Barry, give the kayakers some of your shoes

They may have no shoes and no money when they arrive in the next 24 hours in New Plymouth but who cares ? The early Polynesians arrive barefooted after their early kayak voyages. The people of New Plymouth are generous and will lavish them with hospitality and at least give them a pair of shoes each. I am watching the countdown on crossing the ditch website and they have paddled 1.05 km in the time it took me to drink my tea. Two Bangladesh wickets fell during that time in the test match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
With many of us still reeling today after the death of Sir Ed yesterday, I couldn’t help but think how he would have approved of the raw courage, determination and doggedness of Justin Jones, 24, and James Castrission, 25, as they close in on New Plymouth.

They were deeply moved last night when they sighted Mt Taranaki about an hour before sunset last night.

At 0700 Jakarta time, 1300 NZ time, they had cracked the 60 km mark, with 59.9 km to go. This is real adventure bought into your living room or office. For me it is a small office on the 19th floor of an apartment in Jakarta.

During their last broadcast the two kayakers said it was a starry night, with calm seas "and the lights of New Plymouth are starting to twinkle".
The sighting followed a vexing two days in which winds and currents turned them round in a loop to the north, when they were actually trying to paddle southwest to reach New Plymouth.

My brother Barry McKerrow and my two nephews Sean and James are surfers and have been sending me the sea, current and wind conditions during the past two days so I feel I am out with James and Justin. I am going to call Barry in a few minutes and see if they can take a few pair of shoes down to the harbour to give to James and Justin.

How times have changed since Paul Caffyn our famous New Zealand Kayaker did the first circumnavigation of Australia in around 360 days, There were no bugles, no drums and virtually no publicity for Caffyn when he finished all his major kayaking adventures..

Technology, and I am proud to say it is from a company, TracPlus, in my home town Dunedin, is able to track them every centimeter of the way.


Yesterday they stayed in the tiny cabin of their 9m kayak until the wind became more favourable, and put themselves back on full food rations, after halving their daily meals 30 days from mid-December. They began paddling again about 3pm.
"The guys are so frustrated at today's progress they have decided to paddle into the night," Mr Brothers said after the sighting of Mt Taranaki-Egmont. "They are steaming for NZ".
The pair have already covered more than 3000km, weaving across the Tasman on a trip which was planned to take 42 days to cover about 2200km on an approximate straight-line route.

As I conclude this piece, another wicket has fallen in the test match and they have only 58.55 km to go.

C’mon James and Justin. Bloody great efforts guys.

Thanks to the Daily News in New Plymouth for the photo ( I sent an email asking for permission)

126.13 KM to go. Kayaking the Tasman Sea

What can you really say, except sit in awe as you look at the map on crossing the ditch website ? As I write Justin Jones and James Castrission probably have around 100 km to go to reach New Plymouth and on arrival,will be the first people to complete an Australia to New Zealand kayak journey across the unforgiving Tasman Sea.

I have found the website brilliant and it has brought the dangers, fears, tears, frustration, pain,joys and beauty into my appartment in Jakarta. I have felt I have been doing it with them as the live updates, maps and news put you right in the kayak with the boys. Check the website out: http://www.crossingtheditch.com.au

I have ordered my brother who lives in New Plymouth to get out there and greet them when they arrive over the weekend. He is on strict instruction to take some good photos and to send them to me.

As I mentioned in an earlier posting I had a crack with Paul Caffyn to do this trip in 1989 as well as doing a lot of solo kayaking over the years, and can really identify with these two brave and modest guys.

Justin and James, I will pray for a safe arrival and you are a real inspiration to an aging kayaker.

Kayaking the Tasman Sea

I listened this morning utterly fascinated at being able to tune in to Justin Jones reporting on their progress in attempting to be the first people to kayak across the Tasman Sea.

James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, left Australia on November 18 heading for Auckland but have struggled strong headwinds, mechanical failures, powerful currents and now, bruised with and sore bodies, they appear to be rapidly running out of energy. deteriorating. (photo above of the start)

This morning their progress chart was showing they were 167.83 kilometres out from New Zealand with a predicted landing at New Plymouth on 13 January 2008, as currents drag them south. Yesterday landing at Cornwallis Beach in the Manukau, was an option but no longer.
Listening to Justin today, you can hear and feel the end of trip lethargy and depression setting in as he says, “it is a bleak grey day” and “we have to grind it out.” But again, you can feel patches of sharpness as he says “ we have to stay focused.”

Referring to their state of health, expedition spokesman Tom Mitchell said.
"There are certain health issues that have come up."
"They have continuing skin infections, deterioration in the legs."
While the men have exercises that they are meant to do regularly for their legs, they are often too exhausted to do them properly.
"They have a lack of muscle co-ordination from not standing up for a long time," he said.
"It's definitely an issue that will become apparent once the boys attempt to walk on ground again. Go to to read more: http://www.crossingtheditch.com.au

But I can’t get that haunting picture out of my mind of Andrew McAuley’s partner crying as she kneeled on his upturned kayak. Paddling by day, drifting at night when he slept in a protective cocoon, McAuley, 39, crossed 1500 kilometres of ocean. On Friday, February 9, 2007, he was within 30 nautical miles or 54 kilometres of the South Island of New Zealand, close enough to take photos of high mountains.
Some time the next day, he expected to make landfall and achieve a long-held ambition to become the first man to take a kayak across the Tasman Sea. At 7.15pm, the New Zealand Coastguard picked up an almost indecipherable distress signal from a vessel that identified itself as Kayak 1. There were two clear words: "help" and "sinking". Then silence.
The following evening, his upturned seven-metre kayak was seen from the air. It was recovered but McAuley's body has never been found, and it is believed he drowned in 15-degree water when the kayak capsized while he was asleep. My prayers and thoughts go out to Justin and James for a safe landing.

Then there was the other trans-Tasman rowing success on the second last day of 2007 when Steven Gates, Andrew Johnson, Kerry Tozer and Sally Macready arrived in Australia on December 30 after completing a trans-Tasman row in 31 days. They set out from Hokianga Harbour, north of Auckland, on November 29.


And another wonderful kayaking achievement was by the German kayaker Freya Hoffmeister who became the first woman to paddle around the South Island.
Hoffmeister returned to Okiwi Bay near Nelson a few weeks back, setting a new record of 70 days for the 2500km trip and finished with a flourish, doing two rolls as onlookers cheered and opened a bottle of bubbles.

"I feel well done, like a good steak," Hoffmeister said as she climbed out of her trusty black kayak and patted her butt. "I want a shower and dry clothes, but first I must go for a swim."
The 43-year-old then floated on her back, stretching her tired muscles.
She had paddled the final 169km through the night from Big River east of Kahurangi Point on the West Coast, taking 10-second power naps. She had planned to rest overnight at Farewell Spit but decided to keep going and with a tail wind reached Okiwi Bay at 3pm.
West Coaster Paul Caffyn, the first kayaker to circumnavigate the South Island, was there to hug Hoffmeister, who beat his record by six days.
"It's an outstanding accomplishment," said Caffyn. "I don't think there is anybody with quite the same 100 per cent determination for achieving a trip like this.
"You have to be so strong mentally as well as having the physical skills."
Christchurch kayaker Fiona Fraser, who greeted Hoffmeister with a pavlova, said: "She is so brave and inspirational. She has battled huge seas, doing 60 or 70km some days."

Kayaking the Tasman Sea.

Caption: Justin Jones and James Castrission leaving Australia on their attempt to kayak across the Tasman Sea a few weeks back.

With co-paddlers, Paul Caffyn has twice attempted to kayak across the Tasman Sea from Tasmania to New Zealand but has been thwarted on both occasions by the Tasmanian authorities and bad weather. (Cackle TV website)

In 1988 I joined Paul Caffyn in an attempt to be the first kayakers to paddle the Tasman Sea. After two hours into the trip, we had to return to shore for adjustments to the front cockpit I was sitting in. The rudder cables were cutting into my knees.

Once on shore we were served a summons by the Tasmanian Police and forbidden to make another attempt on the Tasman Sea.

So I am following with great interest the current attempt by two kayakers to cross the Tasman Sea. In today's paper I read the following:

Equipment failures and the "gnawing" elements have hampered a trans-Tasman paddle with fears two Australians face certain danger as they get closer to New Zealand.


Justin Jones, 24, and James Castrission, 25, have been forced to dump overboard the bilge pump from the cabin of their custom-designed double kayak after it stopped working.

Their electric desalination pump also broke, requiring them to use a manual version to produce up to 10 litres of filtered drinking water a day.

The effort takes two hours from their paddling regimen, which can last up to 15 hours each day.

The pair departed 18 days ago on their 2,200km adventure and hope to be the first Australians to complete a tran-Tasman paddle by reaching New Zealand by Christmas.

The pair have just reached the halfway point of their journey and posted their most recent audio message on their website.

I have been thinking a lot about the guts and commitment it takes just to prepare, train and get on the water. For our attempt in 1988 I remember doing a double crossing of the Cook Strait, a another 70 km crossing of the same strait from Paraparaumu, paddling past Kapiti, Brothers Islands, and Cape Kaomaru to reach the South Island at Cape Jackson. I also did a lot of night paddling to get accustomed to reading the sea in the dark. Paul and I did a few trips together but little preparation in the kayak we started out in, as it was stored in Tasmania after his unsuccessful the previous year. Paul was worried that if we were seen practicing in Tasmania the Police would become supiscious and arrest us, which finally happened.

I have a sad photograh in my current dairy under an entry on February 14 this year of Vicky McAuley, the wife of Andrew McAuley, kneeling and weeping by her husband's kayak that was found about 80 km off Milford Sound, without him. His body was never found.

This is a reminder of the seriousness of such a journey and my thoughts and prayers are with Justine and James out on the Tasman, Hang in there guys, you can do it.