A rough night Crossing The Ditch
Two Australians, James Castrission (25) & Justin Jones (24) who are attempting to kayak to New Zealand are back on track after a harrowing night which saw their rudder disabled and wild 30-knot winds pound their craft.
The young adventurers reported that the Lot 41, their specially designed sea kayak’s main line had wrapped around the rudder, leaving them unable to steer.
However, the line has now untangled and the two adventurers are back on course, albeit still 900 kilometres off the coast of New Zealand.
Within the last hour the duo sent a text message to their Australian-based support team indicating they were safe.
The message said: “All ok, night was rough and stuffy, but all ok.”
You can listen to their latest report that they had posted earlier today at this link… Crossing The Ditch Podcast
They were faced with an incredibly difficult decision last night… to stay in the kayak or to risk going outside in a 7m swell and try and untangle the main line. The risk to the kayak was that the rudder could be ripped off and potentially sink the kayak. But the risk to the guys going outside in the dark in a huge swell and getting into the water was even more dangerous. They decided instead to get into their survival suits and sit the night out hoping the kayak holds together. By morning the seas had abaited and they were able to untangle the line and proceed.
This was exactly the situation that Andrew McAuley was in when he was lost doing the same trip. That’s the nature of this crossing and why it is so risky. Castrission and Jones face ongoing bad weather today with strong winds from the south east and heavy seas.
The two men set off on the 2200-kilometre voyage from Forster in a custom-designed double kayak on November 13. The friends, who went to school together, hope theirs will be the first successful attempt by kayakers to cross the Tasman Sea after a series of failed bids.
The most tragic bid occurred in February, when 39-year-old Australian Andrew McAuley died.
You can listen to their ongoing commentary and get the latest updates at their website… Crossing the ditch