Paddle power

Sea dogs: Lt-Col John Frewen and Maj Chris Dutton prepare to enter a sea cave along the Tasmanian Peninsula. Photo by Capt Daryl South

By Capt Daryl South

THE Combat Training Centre’s Battle Command Wing (BCW) has ended the year with a sea kayaking expedition of the Tasmanian Peninsula.

CO Lt-Col John Frewen chose the activity for adventure training to help team building ahead of BCW’s move to Townsville in January, where half the staff have been located for the past several months.

“Maximising safety was a primary consideration and the first test, a 200m swim in Tasmanian waters, proved a challenge for Townsville based team members,” he said.

After some training in Hobart, the team got into the kayaks in readiness to tackle the peninsula – but not before capsize and self-recovery drills were practised.

“All kayaks used were doubles, so it took some coordination to empty the craft, and regain entry. An additional military flavour was added by the inclusion of Kleppers (canvas folding kayaks).”

Negotiating the surf, coming in backward, forward and practising side-surfing took place off the Tasman Peninsula where metre waves provided a challenge.

The team then began the paddle to Fortescue Bay, but a deteriorating seastate brought on one bout of seasickness, causing the paddle to the Totem Pole to be cancelled, and the team putting in to Safety Cove.

“Plenty of wind and a one-metre swell provided enough of a challenge – any halt in paddling had the kayak blowing backwards,” he said.

The trip included visiting sea caves, and a night paddle around the Port Arthur historic site, including the convict cemetery the Isle of the dead.

“The wind and swell had abated by time of the night paddle – it was quite an experience paddling into Port Arthur in the dark, but no fashion prizes were awarded as the team dressed for the occasion with cyalume sticks taped to helmets for safety.”