Kayaker Tim Taylor Nears City of Sails

12th May 2011

Kayaker Tim Taylor Nears City of Sails

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Today, Tauranga adventurer Tim Taylor is paddling north from Port Waikato and planning to stop off at Piha near Auckland – nearly six months after setting out on his record-setting bid to kayak around New Zealand in a single voyage.

Tim left Tauranga on November 27th to start his epic paddle.

He has spent more than 90 days at sea and another 76 days stuck on land waiting out bad weather or rough seas too hazardous to take on.

As a solo paddler Tim judges each and every day with extreme care, carefully analysing weather and sea conditions. He says that in spite of carrying an emergency locator beacon and other safety equipment, if he gets in trouble other people could put at risk in a rescue bid.

Tim has been paddling anti-clockwise around the country, to make the most of tidal flows, covering as much as 100 kilometres a day when he’s lucky enough to have ideal tail-wind conditions. He expects to have travelled 5,500 kms by the time he gets back to Tauranga some time around the middle of next month. He passed the half-way mark of about 2,700 kms in his voyage, in Fiordland.

Tim has been paddling with a hand-crafted, custom-made wooden paddle made by Dirk Passchier.

If you want to follow Tim’s progress as he approaches the North Island – visit his website www.nzkayaker.com The site is kept fully updated with Tim’s blogs and other comments from his support crew, the Taylors.

Vital Stats for Tim’s Big Paddle (as at Thursday May 12, 2011):

• 4,470 km paddled
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• 1100 km to go (approx)
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• journey 80% complete
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• 91 days paddling
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• 76 days not paddling (stuck on shore)
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• average speed a little over 6 km per hour
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•
ends

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