Features
Dip and swing
By Josh Wiles and Ingrid Baldwin

Volume 11, No. 61, March 08, 2007
 
Sea view: Videographer Lt Josh Wiles documented much of the trip. Waterproof gear was a must with the wild waves and weather of the Tasmanian coast.
Photo by Scdt Thomas Smyth
 
Water warriors: Members of the Australian White Water Association explore a cave during the Tasman Advance Adventurous Training Exercise. Photo by Capt Peter Amaricai
WHEN it comes to sea kayaking in Tasmania you have a choice: paddle when it is cold, unpredictable and windy or paddle when it is worse.

In January, 17 members of the Australian Army White Water Association converged on Hobart to participate in the third annual Tasman Advance Adventurous Training Exercise.

The aim of the training was to develop in individuals, and teams, qualities required in battle.

Sea kayaking is serious business and provided many opportunities for the participants to test their mettle under challenging and sometimes terrifying circumstances.

After reviewing basic skills and rescue techniques, the intrepid paddlers set off on an 18km, five-hour jaunt across Mercury Passage to Maria Island.

The kayakers also saw parts of Eaglehawk Neck. One of its features is a sweeping beach which provided a readily accessible location to develop skills in negotiating surf. Mouths dropped at the sight of the rolling waves crashing relentlessly into the beach.

Wild Tassie weather tested the flexibility of the expedition plan, and often changes were necessary.

On one occasion this presented more relief than disappointment as the exercise to paddle through breaking waves into a blowhole and back out was considered too dangerous.

The last phase of the trip involved long days kayaking around the spectacular cliff lines along Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur.

During the expedition there was plenty of damaged equipment, fatigue, sea sickness and gale force wind. But there were also great demonstrations of determination, courage and teamwork, among mainly novice paddlers.