Following on from his hugely successful book Sea Kayak, Gordon Brown brings his vast experience and unique style to this latest publication Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue. Each chapter begins with a real-life incident which sets the scene and helps to emphasise what follows. The underlying principles are highlighted, practical lessons learnt and the hard skills explored in detail. Numerous colour photos complement and illustrate the text. This book is essential reading for any sea kayaker, and will be enjoyed and valued by both novice and experienced paddlers alike.

Our journey across the Tasman was frightening at times. Sharks tearing at our hull, 30-foot waves crashing over our kayak, and the possibility that the stern of the boat might be ripped away; these were all very real fears. Who were we to take on the Tasman Sea? But the little kid inside me screamed, ‘Go on, mate, give it a go.’ ” James Castrission, from Crossing the Ditch. No one had ever successfully navigated the Tasman by kayak from Australia to New Zealand. Andrew McAuley had come close just months earlier – tragically, though, not near enough to save his life. But two young Australians, James Castrission and Justin Jones, reached the sand at New Plymouth – and a place in history – on 13 January 2008, 62 days after they’d set off from Forster on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. They were sunburnt, bearded, underweight, physically and mentally wasted …and, most of all, happy to be alive.

Paddling thousands of miles in his double Klepper, John Dowd became, by default, one of the early leaders in recreational kayaking in America. His modestly epic voyages showed the rest of us that this was more than a weekend float across a pond. Sea kayaking was still a Pacific NW/east coast/UK sport when John’s book came out. It showed us how to roll, how to read the tides – all the things Derek’s book did – and reinforced the importance of that knowledge as “must know” basics for this upcoming sport. John’s Sea Kayaker magazine remains one of his many legacies to those who are sea kayakers.

On October 27, 2015, Lynn (Red) Paterson set off in her kayak from Takapuna on Auckland’s North Shore to begin an adventure she thought might take six months. She returned, after having circumnavigated both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, as well as Stewart Island off the coast from Bluff, on December 31, 2016 – more than a year later.

This is the amazing story of what happened in the months in between.

The ‘take of the hero’s journey’ is one of our most enduring narratives. The hero sets out on a quest that seems formidable, the obstacles insurmountable, and the goal so far away that reaching it befuddles the mind and disquiets the heart. But just how the hero finds it within herself to conquer those obstacles is the thrill of the tale.

Red’s story is that sort of tale and more. It’s the story of how one person becomes the sort of character who can even image achieving such a monumental feat as circumnavigating New Zealand solo.

Red at an early age learnt that life had to be done SOLO.

This book tells of the incredible journey of 81 days, undertaken by a Father and Daughter to kayak around the South Island of New Zealand. On the 29th April 2008, Malanie Grand and her father Max set out from Jackson Bay, not knowing that they were embarking on a trip that would take them around the complete coastline of the South Island. This story tells of their fears, their doubts, and the joys that were all part of the journey. The places they visited and the people they met along the way makes for a fascinating story of this couple’s trip around 2,750 kilometres of some of New Zealand’s most rugged coastline.

As well as a record of some of the most adventurous sea kayaking trips undertaken in New Zealand, this book gives an insight into some of the achievements of author Max Grant. His circumnavigation of the Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, D’Urville Island, White Island and his trip to the Sub Antarctic Islands is described in great detail and is very well illustrated with photos taken throughout all journeys

The seas off the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand are always restless. An endless succession of waves dash their might into the reefs, cliffs, and beaches of this rugged coast. A similar restlessness in Paul Caffyn set him to match his skills and wits in a 1700 mile odyssey around the coast of the North Island.

Paul began his odyssey in late December 1978 from Kakara, near Wellington, in an 18 foot long fibreglass sea kayak named Isadora. In the South Taranaki Bight the trip nearly ended in disaster when his kayak ‘end over ended’ in a storm surf onto a boulder beach. Gripping struggles with the west coast surf continued until Paul rounded Cape Reinga and began the downhill leg back to Makara. Encounters with sharks, killer whales and a tourist launch in the Hole in the Rock near Cape Brett are but a few of the daily highlights. History of the early ports and lighthouses, the pranks perpetrated by the lighthouse keepers and stories of courageous rescues by the Cape Reinga crayfisherman add depth and colour to the narrative.

When the evening’s suns rays slant across a heavy rolling sea, there are deep shadows cast in the troughs between wave crests. The ocean kayaker drops into the gloom of the wave shadows, fleetingly glimpsing the rays of golden sunlight from the wave crests.

Paul Caffyn, in his quest for adventure, has to journey into the wave shadows and pit mind and body against the forces of nature. On the dark side of the wave, he has to draw on his inner strengths to reach shore before nightfall. And with sound decision making, he will emerge from the shadows to face the dawn of another day.

In the winter of 1979, Paul teamed up with Max Reynolds – veteran of their successful Fiordland Kayak Expedition – to tackle the formidable coastline of Stewart Island. As a warm up to the trip, Paul and Max set out to cross the treacherous waters of Foveaux Strait.

Dark Side of the Wave is Paul’s second book of a New Zealand Kayak Odyssey trilogy. The first being the very successful Obscured by Waves.

This new book is a gripping account of the first kayak circumnavigation of Stewart Island. It is a blend of exciting dramatic moments, folklore of the crayfishermen at work and play, snippets of local history, the antics of the support crew, encounters with elephant seals and horrific tide races, not to mention some absolutely terrible puns. (I told you not to mention them!)

Paul Caffyn lives on the West Coast of the South Island and works as a coal exploration geologist. Since his kayak trip around New Zealand, he has gone on to complete the first kayak circumnavigations of Great Britain, Australia and Japan.

When the evening’s suns rays slant across a heavy rolling sea, there are deep shadows cast in the troughs between wave crests. The ocean kayaker drops into the gloom of the wave shadows, fleetingly glimpsing the rays of golden sun from the wave crests.

Paul Caffyn, in his quest for adventure, has to journey into the wave shadows and pit mind and body against the forces of nature. On the dark side of the wave, he has to draw on his inner strengths to reach shore before nightfall. And with sound decision making, he will emerge from the shadows to face the dawn of another day.

In the winter of 1979, Paul teamed up with Max Reynolds – veteran of their successful Fiordland Expedition – to tackle the formidable coastline of Stewart Island, Rakiura. As a warm up to the trip, Paul and Max set out to cross the treacherous waters of Foveaux Strait.

Dark Side of the Wave is Paul’s second book of a New Zealand Kayak Odyssey trilogy. The first being the very successful story of his North Island paddle.

This book is a blend of exciting dramatic moments, folklore of the crayfishermen at work and play, the antics of the support crew, encounters with elephant seals and horrific tide races, not to mention some absolutely terrible puns. (I told you not to mention them!)

This 2nd edition includes stories and photos from paddlers who in more recent years have paddled around Stewart Island or been stymied in their attempt.

Since his paddle around NZ, Paul has gone on to be the first to paddle around Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Alaska and New Caledonia. He has spent four northern summers paddling the west and east coasts of Greenland, and his last big trip was down the Antarctic Peninsula.

‘Obscured by Waves’ is Paul Caffyn’s own story of one of the most amazing journeys ever undertaken by a New Zealander. It is the remarkable tale of the first circumnavigation of the South Island by canoe.

Paul Caffyn began his 1500-mile trip from Te Waewae Bay in Southland and travelled up the West Coast and down the East Coast before returning to the starting point. Most of the long and gruelling hours at sea were spent alone.

The author tells the story in a frank and honest style, and the narrative is a blend of history, dry humour, exciting dramatic moments — and some terrible puns. The first half of the book describes the Fiordland section of the trip made in the company of fellow canoeist Max Reynolds. Fiordland is an area noted for its unpredictable weather, spectacular scenery, and the roughest seas around New Zealand’s coastline. Descriptions of the sounds, the crayfishermen at work and play, and the lighthouse-keepers, add an insight to this least known part of New Zealand, not to mention the antics of the canoeists’ support party.

The remainder of the book concerns Paul’s solo paddle around the South Island, highlighted by encounters with sharks, tide races, and killer whales. Paul Caffyn’s story is one of great endurance and courage requiring the highest levels of seamanship and skill.

The Author

Paul Caffyn lives on the West Coast of the South Island. An experienced mountaineer, he has made two ascents of Mount Cook and a winter ascent of Mount Tasman. His interest in caving took him to Papua–New Guinea as geologist and photographer for the 1973 Speleological Research expedition.

The author has been canoeing since childhood — his first canoe was a 17 foot long wood and canvas Canadian type. Since his circumnavigation of the South Island he has completed a similar solo trip around the North Island, and is planning a circumnavigation of Stewart Island.

In late December 1977, Paul Caffyn and Max Reynolds set out from Te Waewae Bay to paddle sea kayaks around Fiordland. The south-west corner of New Zealand has a reputation for unpredictable weather, big seas and lots of sandflies. Surviving capsizes in surf at night, some huge swell days, not to mention the sandflies, they arrived at Jackson Bay 27 days later, both adamant they never wanted to sit in kayaks, ever again.

With Max unable to join him, Paul returned to Jackson Bay and set off solo to continue paddling around the South Island. With a shore-based support crew following, including the ship dog Ben, Paul complete the first 1,550 mile kayak South Island circumnavigation back at Te Waewae Bay in late April 1978.

Paul’s account of the South Island trip was published in 1979 by McIndoe, but the 2,500 print run of ‘Obscured by Waves’ sold out by 1984 and was virtually impossible to track down in second hand bookshops. Continuing enquiries for the book led Paul to publish a second edition in a completely new format. The preface includes an update of many of the characters who featured in the first edition, including local tour bus operator Matthew Lysaght who was one of the support crew for the Fiordland trip. His nickname at the time was Maestro. Paul has used a large A4 format for the new edition, added more photos and redrawn the maps with help from Lyn Rothery.

The first half of ‘Obscured by Waves’ describes the Fiordland trip, the magnificent fiords, the crayfishermen at work and play, the lighthouse keepers and the humorous antics of the paddlers’ support crew. The second half of the book describes Paul’s solo trip, highlighted by encounters with huge surf landings on West Coast beaches, sharks, killer whales and strong tide races. The story is a blend of narrative, early maritime history, insights into the life of lighthouse keepers and friendly coastal dwellers who took Paul into their homes and hearts, and some absolutely terrible puns.

The Dreamtime Voyage is Paul Caffyn’s story of one of the most remarkable journeys ever undertaken by kayak – the first kayak circumnavigation of Australia – a 9,420 mile 360 day epic. It is an inspirational tale of one man’s dogged determination to fulfill his impossible dream against all odds, including tropical cyclones, raging surf, sharks, sea snakes, crocodiles and three long sections of sheer limestone cliffs.

Once a unique form of transportation, now a popular avenue to adventure and recreation, sea kayaking has become an exciting link to the marine life of the world’s coastal waters. But whether you are a seasoned paddler battling a winter surf or an enthusiastic novice exploring a placid lake, you know there is more to kayaking than boats and paddles And you can find it all in The Coastal Kayaker’s Manual

This hands-on guide presents a broad range of information on equipment, techniques, safety, navigation, and trip planning all with an eye toward proficiency.

You will learn everything you need to know about
* Kayaks: fibreglass, plastic, single, double, folding
* Gear: paddles, sprayskirts, life vests, clothing
* Paddling: stroke cadence, braces, sweeps, draws, launching and landing, surfing
* Capsizing: recoveries alone or with a partner
* Navigation: nautical charts, tidal currents, compasses, dead reckoning, piloting

Written with the conviction that successful sea kayaing integrates skills and knowledge with high standards for safety, The Coastal Kayaker’s Manual goes beyond the how-tos to offer advice on: gaining experience, understanding your limits, judging potentially dangerous situations, taking risks, and paddling defensively. This book is an essential and invaluable accessory to every sea kayaker’s library.

This book is intended to be a comprehensive look at the sea kayaking environment and how to be sure you have the correct safety equipment available to you. Understanding the weather, (including how to read and utilize forecasts and what it actually looks like on the water), sea conditions, water quality and temperatures, currents, rules and regulations, other water users, indigenous wildlife issues, the surf environment, specific river hazards, cold water hazards and much more. Exercises and examples help you hone your skills in interpreting the information and making the right decisions to stay safe.