Events Calendar

Upcoming dates to remember

Join in the latest events and ativities at East Coast Kayaking. Meet our instructors and find out more about the open water and having fun and an amazing experience with sea kayaking.

The Kayak Shop - Opening hours

The Kayak Shop will be open in September 1st - May 31st (weather permitting). To make an appointment outside these dates, please call Us on 03 9597 0549.

Kayak Event -

“Across the bay in a Day” - Paddle As a Pod - 2011

15/5/2011 29/5/2011 (alternative date)

LIMITED PARTICIPANTS get in early
bookings close 7/5/11

Cost: $90 including shuttle bus back to 37 Jetty Road
from where the paddle may take us.

Be a part of the annual Across the Bay in a Day – Paddle As a Pod.

The proposed paddle is from Hampton Pier to Portarlington Pier, or vice versa depending on wind direction. The paddle will be postponed if the weather report forecasts winds of more than 22 knots. Alternative routes will be planned and considered depending on the weather forecasts. A shuttle bus will take you from the finishing location back to the starting location.

Paddling As a Pod means we will be paddling as fast as our slowest paddler, and you may be required to tow or be towed. With the TEAM, together everyone achieves more… IT IS NOT A RACE! It is a fantastic opportunity to paddle and enjoy the Port Phillip Bay.
Across the Bay in a Day is not for the beginner sea kayaker, it is designed for those with intermediate and advanced skills. It is strongly suggested that you undertake training before the paddle.
Last year the 35.5km took us 7 hours, however be ready to sit in your sea kayak for at least 8 hours. The planned route is 35.5km; however alternative routes may be as long as 45km. It is recommended all paddlers complete a Sea Starter Course prior to the event, as this will ensure all participants are competent in self and assisted rescues, as well as basic paddling skills, making for a safe and enjoyable day.

For details of upcoming Sea Starter Courses with East Coast Kayaking, head to: http://www.eastcoastkayaking.com/seaStarterCourses.htm

At the conclusion of the paddle you will have the opportunity to enjoy a well earned meal at the Portarlington Pub before returning home.

Participants will meet at a designated point at 5:30am for that early morning start and exciting sun rise paddle!

View our movie from the 2010 Across the Bay in a Day

The maximum number of paddlers this year will be 24, so put in your entry now to make sure you are part of the Pod. ENTRIES CLOSE 7/5/10

Minimum gear requirement for Across the Day in a Day 2011 paddle

• Sun smart clothing - hat, long sleeve cotton shirt, high visibility clothing
• Wide brimmed hat/legionnaires cap
• Sun cream and zinc
• 2 litres water
• Lunch that can be eaten in the kayak
• Snacks – we will stop every 45mins for a break
• Tow line (floating) 15m
• Bilge pump (hand pump/foot) and sponge
• Spray skirt that fits cockpit and paddler with release strap
• PFD type 2
• Paddle
• Sea kayak 500cm +( with perimeter line, tow point, rudder or skeg if fitted to be fully retractable and in proper working order, watertight bulkheads and hatch covers, including positive buoyancy, hand toggles on bow and stern
• Mobile phone and water proof case
• Whistle (pealess marine Whistle)
• Footwear
• Personal First Aid kit
• 2X Glow Stick (for that early morning start)
• Rescue knife
• Cold weather clothing, thermals and fleece bottom and tops, CAG
• Shuttle Clothes, dry cloths for that return trip stowed in dry bag

SEE YOU DOWN AT THE SHOP FOR A CHAT

Congratulations Peter and team crossing Bass Straight

Bass Strait Crossing 2010

Trip organiser Robin Boundy invited me to join in his second crossing of Bass Strait, intent on the paddle being a tight pod with group cohesion from start to finish - this sounded like my kind of trip!

Robin’s son Tom (18) along with old sea starter students Neil Brenton and Raia Wall completed the team. Feeling fit after months of training we waited for the right weather window and launched from Port Welshpool. The planned route of 345km included Refuge Bay (The Prom), Hogan Island, Erith Island, Deal Island, Killiecrankie (Flinders Island), Royden Island, Whitemark (Flinders Island), Thunder & Lightning Bay (Cape Barren Island), Preservation Island, Spike Cove (Clarke Island) then Little Musselroe (Tasmania).

Reasonable wind and seas saw some of the most spectacular sunrises and relaxed island living you could imagine. Approaching Hogan Island a bronze whaler had a close look at the stern of Raia’s kayak before diving below. At Winter Cove, the remains of a 10 metre beached whale - whilst a tad on the nose - provided a rare biology lesson. Most nights were like sleeping amongst the Phillip Island penguin parade, cute but noisy. One lay day we clambered up Mount Strezleki on Flinders Island (750m). The longest day on the water was around 11 hours, so a well fitted out boat was essential. We each took enough food for 20 meals and 20 litres of water in case the weather prevented paddling - one previous crossing was held up for 10 days!

Even the roughest day, paddling closely together meant we could communicate and keep an eye on each other. With strong tidal flows, wind, tide and wave bounce off the cliffs there were some challenges, for example the last day was a 4:00am wake up, around 40kms, 15 -20 knots, 2m swell with 1m cross waves. There was not too much time for snacks, let alone lunch until we had knocked over around 30km and were in the lee of Swan Island.

All in all a very special trip as planned well, with gentle landings, beautiful islands, vast stretches of ocean and total freedom from regular city life.

Peter Costello

Murray River Marathon - 27th December '09

This iconic event is a 404km, five day flatwater race on the mighty Murray River - bordering Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. The 2009 race will start in Yarrawonga on the 27th December and head downstream to finish on New Year's eve in Swan Hill.

• Find out about 2009 event details.
• Register to become a Volunteer.
• Interested in becoming a Sponsor?

Keep checking the YMCA website for updates - first Murray River Marathon starting on Sunday 27th

Industry & Organisations

We work closely with a whole range of organisations and industry bodies, including both community and corporate groups.

Big W Kayak 4 Kids

Kayaking 440 km in a fortnight is not an adventure for the faint hearted, but five mates from Melbourne are taking on the challenge for a good cause.

The team of middle-aged fathers will kayak for around two weeks from Port Fairy to Port Melbourne to raise money for heart research at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, with support from Big W.

Expedition leaders Jason Wilson and Mick Thomas said the decision to paddle for charity was prompted by a wish to give something back to the community and inspire people along the way.

“We knew Big W already supported heart research at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and thought this would be a great opportunity to raise further funds” Jason says.

“As fathers of young children, we value the importance of research because we all want our kids to get the best medical care possible when they get sick."

“We also wanted this challenging journey to show our kids what can be achieved when you put your mind to something and to inspire people around us.”

The challenge, believed to be the first of its kind from Port Fairy to Melbourne by kayak, will start on January 8 in Port Fairy. It will take a port-to-port route down the bay, before crossing to Portsea, and arriving back to Southbank, Melbourne on January 22.

The paddle is expected to attract a big crowd of supporters including families and media at each of the 11 leg stopovers.

Kayak enthusiasts will be invited to join the Kayak 4 Kids team on the final leg up the Yarra river from Brighton to South Bank.

Big W is getting behind the challenge by sponsoring the team and raising funds in store, and encourages other companies and individuals to also get involved.
Donations can be made at www.everdayhero.com.au/kayak4kids.

Key Event Dates

ABOUT THE KAYAK 4 KIDS TEAM

Member	About	Photo
Jason Wilson	Jason Wilson is the ‘old man’ of the K4K team. At 41, however, he should not be underestimated – he recently completed paddling 204km along the Murray River. Jason is a statue maker and supplies Big W garden centres. He is married to Tara and they have three young children who will be madly cheering their dad all along the shipwreck coast!
Michael Thomas	Michael Thomas is a Major in the Australian Army. He has previously paddled with the Army from Cape York to PNG but sees this as a far more challenging paddle. Michael will be supported all the way by his wife Jodie and 6 month old baby son Paddy.
Michael Ward	Mike is the newest father of the group with his wife Susie recently bringing baby Ivy into the world. He is an avid outdoors man and a keen adventure racer who worked for several years in Outdoor Education delivering programs to students throughout Victoria. Mike is currently working for a community agency providing assistance to people in hardship.

ABOUT THE CHARITY MURDOCH CHILDRENS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute is Australia’s largest child health research organisation. Its team of 1200 passionate researchers are committed to discovering ways to helping kids live happier, healthier lives. Research priorities include conditions such as allergies, diabetes, premature birth and mental health problems that are increasingly affecting Australian kids, and conditions such as cancer, genetic disorders and heart disease that remain unsolved.

Kayak 4 Kids aims to raise $200,000 to support the Institute’s heart disease research.

Heart disease is a leading killer of Australian children, accounting for more than one third of all childhood deaths. It is also the number one cause of admission of our kids to intensive care. Some heart conditions can be avoided with early diagnosis and others can be corrected with surgery. But for many forms of heart disease, there is no known cure.

Prevention, detection and early interventions need to be developed so that we can beat every form of childhood heart disease. Murdoch Childrens brings together a team of world-class experts to improve the diagnosis, treatment and care of children with heart disease.

A MESSAGE FROM BIG W

“Big W has been a proud supporter of heart research for the past seven years. It is wonderful to see a team of dads get behind and raising funds for this important cause.

Big W is pleased to support Kayak 4 Kids and we hope it will inspire many more people along the way to make a contribution to heart research.

We wish the team the best of luck for their challenge.”

Shane Thornton
Big W
Regional Manager Victoria & Tasmania

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