Adventure Sea Kayaker Missing
More Articles Related to NewsAdventure sea kayaker Andrew McAuley has become lost while attempting to become the first person to kayak across the Tasman Sea between Tasmania and the New Zealand coast. His 7-meter long damaged kayak was discovered just 120km from his destination and 80km off Milford Island.
The missing sea kayaker has had considerable experience in adventure sports and sea kayaking. Andrew McAuley's kayak adventures include crossing the Bass Strait 3-times and kayaking the Gulf of Carpentaria. In 2005 McAuley was named the Australian Geographic Adventurer of the Year.
This has been Andrew's second attempt to kayak the Tasman Sea. Last December he was forced to abort his first attempt after wet conditions lead to hypothermia.
After modifying his sea kayak to deal with the cold wet conditions, McAuley began this second attempt to kayak the Tasman sea on January 11th. Starting from Fortescue Bay in Tasmania and heading toward the New Zealand coast 1600km away, Andrew was kayaking an average of 50km per day.
A large wave on Jan 16th turned over his sea kayak, damaging his tracking beacon and a satellite phone. But McAuley continued on his kayak adventure.
Nearly a month later and close to his destination, last Friday Andrew sent out a distress call that included the words "My kayak is sinking".
The New Zealand air force subsequently discovered his upturned sea kayak only 80 kilometres from Milford Sound on New Zealand coast. The plastic saftey bubble had been ripped from the sea kayak by rough seas. The saftey bubble was designed to right the kayak if it were capsized.
It is known that Andrew McAuley had a Kokatat dry-suit, life jacket, and VHF radio. These items were not found with the sea kayak. One important question is whether or not he had taken a full immersion suit, which could buy him an additional ten or twelve hours of survival in the cold water.
It is important to note that AusSAR the Australian Search and Rescue Organisation advised against Mr. McAuley's attempt to cross the Tasman Sea in a sea kayak as being too dangerous.
Those who know Andrew McAuley believe that if anyone can survive in those cold southern waters, he can. His wife Viki McAuley and their son have been waiting for her husband at Te Anau, near Milford Sound.
What do you think of the adventure sport of sea kayaking? What about pushing the limits and the risks involved to yourself, your loved ones, and would be rescuers?
For more information on Andrew McAuley's adventure kayaking his website is still online, specifically check out his Trans Tasman Kayak Expedition page.
Oregon
I love kayaking, but I recognize that there is a reason why certain things have never been done before: because some things are just not possible for humans to survive! Just because we really want to accomplish something, doesn't mean it's possible. 1600 mi without support or even getting out of your boat, or getting clean and dry for all that time is just not a good idea, not to mention the weather and 40 foot seas!
You are welcome to share this Survival Topic with others. I only request that you use a short blurb (not the entire survival content) and this code to
link to the origional:
Australia