NATHAN PETTIGREW

Our paddle-pushing marine man delivers sea kayaking 101.

Any time’s the right time to take up the super ‘sport’ of kayaking. Kayak fishing is an ever-popular form, but for our purposes, I’ll be concentrating on standard sea kayaking. If you’ve ever contemplated giving it a go, here a few tips to get you started.

PICK & CHOOSE

One thing I’ve learned about kayaks is that you may not finish with the one you started with. It’s a good idea to invest in a sea kayak that suits your level at the time.

For beginners, a slightly wider boat offering greater stability might be more beneficial than a narrow, racy version, which could end up left in the garage in the ‘too hard’ basket. Start out with a beginner-to-moderate boat and grow your skills from there.

Choosing a kayak might seem like a daunting task but, thankfully, you can get fantastic advice from local kayak shops such as Canoe & Kayak. They’ll assist you with all your kayak needs, from boats to clothing to paddles and more. Their advice is invaluable and they can point you in the direction of local kayaking clubs too.

SAFETY FIRST

Safety gear is a must, and it’s not worth the risk to venture off without communication tools. Your friends and family want you home safely, so invest in a good PFD (personal flotation device), enrol yourself as a Coastguard member and organise multiple modes of communication. A VHF radio, GPS, mobile phone and emergency positionindicating radio beacon (EPIRB) are strapped to me at all times when I kayak, for if I need to make that call. Don’t take shortcuts in this area. And don’t forget appropriate clothing so you can cover up in the heat of the sun, either.

FIT FOR IT

Fitness for kayaking can build relatively fast – if you keep at it. Generally (unless you fall in love with kayak surfing, like I did), sea kayaking is low impact and you’ll find that you can paddle a good distance once you get into the rhythm of the strokes. When you start out, just do what you can and remember that wherever you go, you must come back, so save some energy for the return trip.

Some of my best advice, though, is to soak up the atmosphere. Often, when I’m 12km from shore, the sound of silence is the most peaceful experience imaginable. Absorb the beauty around you and take the time to appreciate any marine life you see.

Kayaking offers a world of amazing adventures and the most tranquil journeys, depending on what you’re looking for – and the fact that’s all achieved under your own steam is incredibly rewarding. For me, kayaking’s a way of life and I’m grateful I was introduced to it. I’ll see you out there!

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