Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Fri, 12/11/15
Issue
488
11th December 2015
Message Bank
It was great to see Dave Winkworth a paddler, instructor,
expeditioner drop into the shop for a chat. Dave is from NSW,
it was about 20 years ago when we first met at a Sea Kayak
Instructors course which I ran with him. I have seen Dave
about 3 times in the last twenty years so catching up even
for a short time made my day. Dave has done a lot in sea kayaking
and is always at some sea kayak symposium. His most famous
exploit was wrestling a crocodile to save his mate. See story
further down.
Adam Rudy also visited the shop. The last time I saw Adam
was about 33 years ago. Back then he was only 15 years old.
Although now he has a beard, a little bit bigger around the
belly and he didn't say who he was when he came in, I just
felt from his smile that I knew him. It took me a few minutes
but I eventually worked out who he was. And it was just great
to see him again. I used to take him and several other juniors
paddling the white water on the Avon, down south and at Harvey.
They were good days and the kids were so keen. It was sad
when they all stopped paddling when they got their driving
licenses and found women!
Young Adam Rudy at Harvey
in the 19080s
***********************************
There was a bit of rain in the air last Saturday morning
but it didn't stop paddlers coming down to fitness training.
34 paddlers braved the weather, although a bit gloomy it was
actually quite good up to 9.15am when the heavens opened up,
but we were finished by then.
This Saturday CDU Race &
Christmas Breakfast
We will be having a sausage sizzle breakfast after the 4.1km
race on Saturday 12th December.
(Sausages, buns, juice etc provided by Canoeing
Down Under)
Paddlers can bring their own alternatives if they wish
also
The CDU Ski
Championships
1st male $50.00 gift voucher
- 1st female $50.00 gift voucher
Spot prize $50.00 gift voucher
If you could all bring a single ski, we can
have a good race with everyone in a similar craft.
***********************************
We were paddling passed the Osprey's nest
the other day on Ron Courtney Island and one of them started
flying quite low through the trees. We were admiring this
wonderful, majestic bird of prey gliding along when it went
into a dive. Then with no hesitation it grabbed a Willy Wagtail
that was sitting on a branch and took it back to it's nest.
We were in awe of it, then our hearts went out for the poor
Willy Wagtail. That's nature!
***********************************
Whilst I was on the jetty doing the timing last
Saturday a bunch of senior paddlers passed me from Ascot Kayak
Club having just paddled 15kms. I think they must be at an
age that they can't sleep so they get on the water early!
I'm not saying they are old but they paddle long, stable craft
(bought from Canoeing Down Under) so they can still get up
a good speed without any balance problems. I also have one!!
What does that mean?
Top. Geoff Mullins, John Nash, Max Kelly.
Bottom. Far side Steve Coffee, Alan Moreby and Vince Linardi
Training & Courses
Saturday Morning Fitness Training
7.30am start on the dot
Sandy Beach Reserve, West Road, Bassendean
PFD must be worn
$5.00 for paddlers who have
bought a boat from CDU
$10.00 for other paddlers
Don't forget your PFD
Fun, fitness and a great group of people
This Saturday CDU Race &
Christmas Breakfast
We will be having a sausage sizzle breakfast after the 4.1km race
on Saturday 12th December.
If everyone can bring their
single ski we can have a good race with everyone in a similar craft.
(Sausages, buns etc provided
by Canoeing Down Under)
Paddlers can bring their own alternatives if they wish
Featured Products
MQR K1
Fibreglass construction.
11.5kgs
Special Price: $1290.00
This is very similar
to a Nelo K1. Best for paddlers under 80kgs.
Perfect for a junior
********************************
More Barracuda
Interface Have Arrived
We all want a lighter
kayak so
why not trial the lightweight
Interface?
Lightweight only 19kgs
*******************************
Mirage 600
Versatile, compact, stable, and sleek:
this newly released double sea kayak is where performance
meets practicality.
Paddle with ease and confidence, thanks
to a well balanced and stable hull design. High-volume storage
hatches encourage both casual harbour cruising or multi-day
expeditions
Highly maneuverable and light to paddle,
the Mirage 600 is the ultimate touring double.
Perfect for:
• All sizes of paddlers, from beginner
through to advanced paddling skills
• Fitness paddling, day touring
and multiday touring in larger sheltered waters to coastal
and open ocean environments.
• Paddling with large amounts of
gear or two large paddlers.
Mirage 600 Features:
• Unique Mirage pedal and integrated
rudder system which improves propulsion and offers superior
directional control
• Three high volume dry storage
compartments with easy access snap lid hatches – great
seaworthiness and good storage capacity including convenient
day hatch - These hatches are made by Kajak Sport Finland.
• Very large centre hatch that
can also be accesssed through the rear cockpit - perfect for
fitting medium sized eskys.
• Full safety perimeter line and
functional elastic deck rigging
• Contoured, supportive, ergonomic
seats with comfortable seat pad and fully adjustable, low
profile back rest
• Dual solid cross beam footrests,
enhance paddler performance
• Component upgrade compatible
- look at our Outfitting section to find out how you can customise
your kayak.
Specifications:
Length: 5.99m
Beam: 70cm
Weight:
Kevlar IRT = estimated at 30kg
Kevlar = estimated at 34kg
Fibreglass = estimated at 36kg
Volume:
Total Volume: 680L
Rear Hatch: 70L
Front Hatch: 55L
Day Hatch: 38L
Centre Hatch: 86L
Centre Hatch Opening:
- 490mm wide x 350 long x 310mm deep.
There is no bulkhead between the rear of the centre hatch
and the rear cockpit; this allows for additional storage in
front of the rear paddlers feet.
Child Seat will be available shortly
moulded in the centre hatch area (perfect for kids from 2
to 6 )
**************************
Christmas gifts
**************************
Check out the
new Epic V5
http://www.epickayaks.com/article/article/v5
Stories
The Frankland
River
the tranquil parts
Last weekend Pam, Steve,
Olwyn, Gisela and Brian took a trip down to Walpole.
Tranquillity at its best.
Photo Pam Riordan
Olwyn loves her lightweight
17.5kg Barracuda Beachcomber. So easy to lift on the car,
so easy to push through the water. Photo Pam Riordan
Gisela and Brian at Nornalup
Inlet. Photo Olwyn Brown
Race of the Week
Dave Winkworth
- To Wrestle a Crocodile
on a trip to Cape York
in 1999
Dave Winkworth
"Lets land on the
island ahead for lunch," I shouted over the wind.
Arunas and Mike nodded in agreement. We approached the mangrove
stands and saw that they were part of a huge reef system,
which disappeared over the horizon to the south. So, skirting
the reef to the north, we soon found the "top" and
paddled around to a small sand cay protected from the wind
on the north-western tip of the reef. A prominent sign above
the beach here proclaimed this place to be Macarthur Island.
From here, the coastline and Messum Hill were visible, 12
kms to the west. Shallow warm crystal clear water and clean
white sand fringed by reef greeted us as our kayaks touched
the beach. This was heaven on earth, no doubt about it!
With the boats just clear of the flooding tide, I stripped
off and entered the water for a swim in the shallows. Mike
prepared a fire for a cuppa at the top of the beach and Arunas
circumnavigated the island, a journey of about 4 minutes duration!
Arunas joined me at the water's edge. I sat down next to my
boat as Arunas stripped off and waded out into the sandy shallows
of our little cove. He flopped forward into the water, a little
further out than where I had swum, but still in only thigh-deep
water. We joked briefly about his lack of faith in my navigation…….
And then it happened…..
Arunas let out a cry - a half scream, half shout. He was on
his feet, there was terror in his eyes as he looked at me.
The surface around him was froth and foam, the sand all churned
up. A big animal had him by the leg. Was it a shark? Was it
a croc?
I jumped up and ran out into the water the ten or so metres
to him. Below the surface I could see the outline of this
thing. It was a big crocodile, and it was trying to sweep
Arunas off his feet in a death-roll.
Arunas stuck his fingers in its nostrils. It didn't let go.
He put his hands in the croc's mouth, attempting to prise
open the jaws, cutting his hand on a tooth. Still it wouldn't
let go, it's teeth firmly embedded in Arunas' right leg. I
straddled the croc's back and put my arms around its smooth
hard belly and hung on.
Whether it was me on it's back or not, we'll never know…but
it did let go. It shot through so powerfully with barely a
flick of it's tail, back out onto the reef from where it had
come. I felt the curve of the croc's body as it spat me off.
THIS was a big hard strong animal.
The croc was gone, but would it come back? I stood up next
to Arunas. We were now in deep shit! There was an angry croc
out there and we were still in its hunting territory. It now
had four legs to choose from!
"Get out of the water Dave," yelled Arunas.
"Not without you mate….come back with me….keep
coming," I coaxed.
I held my arms outstretched out in a defensive position as
we retreated.
Mike was there with us at the water's edge, and we now worked
as a team to care for Arunas. We lowered him to the sand.
His right leg was a mass of puncture marks and ripped flesh,
but luckily there was little blood loss and minimal shock
for him. I put my rashie around Arunas' thigh as a precautionary
tourniquet. We were later to find that the croc's teeth came
perilously close to his femoral artery.
At the water's edge we were still in danger. The croc could
come back at any moment.
We helped Arunas to his feet and I supported him from behind,
my face on his shoulder, as the narrowness of his escape hit
me.
"Oh shit mate, shit shit, oh God."
We moved together further up the beach, Mike and I observing
Arunas as we went. We didn't want him to fall over because
if he did, we didn't think we could pick him up again.
At the top of the beach we lowered him to the sand again with
a plastic bag behind his leg keeping sand out of his wounds.
I put up the tent while Mike stayed with Arunas. Mike and
I took turns to stay with him at all times. As we lifted Arunas
to take him to the tent, he nearly passed out.
To this stage, there had been no talk of calling for help.
I'd earlier thought that we could tow him to the mainland
where our map showed 4WD access to the coast, but would there
be anyone there? Infection was going to be Arunas' big problem
- crocs have dirty teeth. We had to get help quickly or Arunas
could die.
Mike had brought an EPIRB with him but none of us had ever
had to use one in an emergency. If ever there was a time,
this was it. (I wonder how the Maatsuyker Club, who shun such
modern rescue devices, would have handled this scenario?)
"The EPIRB Mike - switch it on," said Arunas, as
we propped him up on cool waterbags in the tent.
Mike wedged the little yellow EPIRB into the sand at the top
of the beach and switched it on. It immediately began singing
its song to the satellites.
We dressed Arunas' wounds, administered strong painkillers,
a double dose of antibiotic capsules and his favourite black
tea. We kept a written record of all medications and obs for
the paramedic we hoped would come soon.
There was nothing more we could do for Arunas but we still
had other jobs to do.
In 1990 I paddled from
Cooktown to Cape York on one of my trips and landed on one
of the Macarthur Islands and was greeted by crocodile tracks.
See below.
In 1990 I landed on
Bushby Island one of the Macarther Islands and was greeted
by crocodile tracks. 9 years later Dave Winkworth must have
found it!
At 10.20am I approached
Macarther Islands. I aimed for Bushy Island the closest and
followed its reef edge around to the west side. The reef dropped
off quickly but with the water so clear I could see the fish
and corals without taking a dip. The water depth and colour
changed frequently. It looked inviting, but I resisted the
temptation to swim. Egrets were searching for food on the
exposed reef. The beach on the west side was very steep and
as I pulled in I could see crocodile tracks descending into
the water. Not a huge croc, its foot prints just over one
metre wide, but nevertheless a croc and it was here on an
island that could be classed as paradise. I spent an
hour on the island before heading on a compass course across
to the mainland...........
Back to Dave....
We moved the kayaks to the top of the beach out of the reach
of the tide and placed two of them in a V, the internationally
recognised distress sign. We cut up a large yellow plastic
bag of Mike's and made a 2 metre long V sheet. Using another
yellow bag, we attached it to a paddle as a signal flag. We
wrote the words CROC ATTACK - ONE EVAC in the smooth sand
of the beach in 1.2 metre high letters. We did this many times
as the strong wind continually smoothed out our writings.
We also prepared a smoky signal fire.
We saw several ships travelling north way out to the east
in the inshore shipping channel but were unable to attract
their attention … and then … exactly 2 hours after
the attack, we were buzzed about 6 times by a Coastwatch Dash
8 aircraft. It banked low over our island.
"You bloody beauty," we shouted. "You'll be
out of here soon Arunas, he's seen our sign for sure."
Mike and I then cleared a helipad on the top of the island
which we marked with a large yellow plastic "H"
and sat down to wait - there was nothing more we could do.
We heard the resonating "thump thump thump" of the
chopper before we saw it, coming in low from the north and
homing in on the EPIRB signal. What a beautiful sight! The
pilot landed the chopper and a paramedic and volunteer assistant
went to Arunas in the tent.
Paramedic Dave Barz inspected Arunas' wounds, pronouncing
"You're not going to die," inserted an intravenous
line and within ten minutes Arunas was gone, on his way to
Thursday Island Hospital.
Arunas, we'd agreed, would arrange a fishing boat to pick
us up from the island as soon as possible. We had 2 weeks
food and unlimited fresh water with our desalinator. We were
content to share this island with the crocodile. It was gone
for now but would come back later.
Mike and I sat down and made a cuppa, trying to "come
down" from the tension of the previous 4 hours:
"Shit," I said, shaking my head.
"Yeah, shit," sighed Mike.
As the sun disappeared behind the coastal sand dunes, we were
preparing dinner. Suddenly 2 rubber duckies full of sailors
appeared off our beach. We ran down to the water:
"Don't get out in the water, there's a big croc here,"
we shouted.
They ran their boats up the beach and jumped out. A few sailors
carried automatic weapons. The croc appeared on the surface
off the point at our beach.
"There he is," called a sailor, and we saw weapons
being cocked and raised.
"You're not going to shoot it?" we questioned. They
didn't, but we think they would've if we hadn't been there.
"Where's the patient? I'm a paramedic" said one
of the sailors.
"You're too late. He went hours ago," we replied.
The Executive Officer then introduced himself:
"We're from the minehunter HMAS Huon which is waiting
out in the channel. There are also three warships standing
by to assist out in the Coral Sea. We've come to rescue you."
"We don't need rescuing. We're OK," we replied.
"We've come to take you to Thursday Island," he
said.
"Can you take our boats too?" we asked.
"No can do. Just you."
We folded our arms; body language speaks volumes.
"Then we're not going," we said.
This was going to be interesting! We know the Navy is in need
of some good publicity after the Collins Class Sub problems
but can you imagine the tabloid headlines: "SEA KAYAKERS
REFUSE TO BE RESCUED BY NAVY!" There was a flurry of
radio chatter to the mother ship. The Ex came back to us:
"OK, we can take the kayaks too."
And so we left this beautiful place to the crocodiles, with
our kayaks balanced precariously across a rubber duckie. Mike
and I were well looked after by the Navy. We were transferred
to the Thursday Island Navy boat at 4am in mid channel near
Thursday Island - the Huon was in a hurry to get to Darwin
- East Timor matters, we think. The T.I. Navy boat was full
of media - cameras, reporters, spotlights - you name it. These
guys work fast and the Navy needed good publicity - remember?
Meanwhile, at Thursday Island Hospital, Arunas was also being
well-looked after. They kept his wounds open for a week before
stitching him up to check for infection and pumped massive
amounts of powerful antibiotics into his veins. There was
no infection at all.
Mike and I stayed with the Navy and Army for a few days -
they were terrific - we had accommodation, a place to keep
the boats AND they kept the media away. We thought if we didn't
say anything at all to the media that they would go away but
that was naive - they just made stuff up! Cheque-book journalism
is alive and well and living in little Thursday Island. -
there were lots of offers! In the end we took their money
and did a TV piece for "Today Tonight." We gave
the proceeds to Torres Volunteer Rescue and Thursday Island
Hospital. We met Paul and Rhys on T.I. They are the island's
resident sea kayakers and they gave us great hospitality.
Mike went for a day paddle with them in their Rosco's.
Thursday Island, the commerce hub for all the Torres Strait
Islands is one laid-back place. No-one gives a stuff about
road rules and many of the cars are held TOGETHER by rust!
One night, we were returning to our hostel after visiting
Arunas when a car came down the main street in an erratic
manner:
"Let's get up on the footpath Mike. This guy may have
had a few."
It was the local paddy wagon.
We shipped the kayaks back to Cairns with Sea Swift for $50
each. When Arunas was discharged we flew back to Cairns, picked
up the vehicle and kayaks (thanks Mike) and, with the patient
on a mattress in the back, headed for home, stopping at hospitals
each day for Arunas to have his wounds dressed. It was nice
to finish as a team.
******************************************
ARKIB : 22/08/2000
Aussie Croc Wrestler Receives Bravery Award
For Rescuing Mate
SYDNEY - An Australian
who wrestled a four-metre crocodile, forcing it to release
another man from its jaws, received a bravery award Monday.
David Winkworth, 47, now
nicknamed ''Crocodile Winky,'' tackled the crocodile after
it seized a friend during a kayaking expedition off Cape York
on Australia's northeastern coast last August.
Dave at the Victorian
Sea Kayak Symposium where I was a guest speaker
Winkworth's friend Arunas
Pilka was attacked while standing in thigh-deep water.
''The croc spun him around
and with the sand it was like he was in a spa,'' said Winkworth.
''He (the crocodile) was
trying to run him off his feet. I ran out through the water
and grabbed him (the crocodile) hard.''
When the crocodile tried
to trap Pilka in a death roll, Winkworth locked its torso
in a bear-hug.
The crocodile gave up its
hold on Pilka, flicked Winkworth off its back and fled into
deeper water.
''I guess when I grabbed
him from behind, it surprised him,'' Winkworth said.
Winkworth received the
governor general's award for bravery.
Pilka only suffered a badly
cut leg.
Winkworth, an ocean kayak
designer, said: ''We will go back again ... but I have got
a few trips organised before then.'' - AFP
******************************
Adam Rudy walked into
the store on Wednesday to buy a fishing kayak. I hadn't seen
him for over 30 years. He looked a bit different but he had
the same smile and the same laugh.
Here are some of the
teenagers I spent a lot of time teaching in the 1980s but
have lost contact with.
Phil Graham, Arron Darcy,
Craig Atkinson and Adam Rudy having fun at Bremmer Bay after
doing some Kayak surfing
Craig, Shane Richardson,
Ian Cornish and Adam on top of Bluff Knoll on a New Years
Eve. We had camped on a narrow ledge on top of the mountain.
************************************
Doug Tompkins,
the outdoorsman and conservationist who co-founded the North
Face,
has died following a kayaking accident in Patagonia.
Patagonia founder Yvon
Chouinard and mountaineer Rick Ridgeway were among the kayakers
rescued by naval personnel on Tuesday. In a news release published
on its website, the Chilean navy identified the other paddlers
who were out with Tompkins as Weston Boyles and Jim Ellison
of the United States, and Lorenzo Alvarez of Mexico.
According to the release, the local naval authority received
a phone call at 11:10 a.m. alerting them that a group of six
foreign kayakers were drifting near the Avellano area of the
lake and needed rescue. The navy dispatched a patrol boat
to the area, while coordinating support from a local air ambulance
company and a ferry, La Tehuelche. The kayakers also arranged
for a private helicopter from Lodge Terraluna, a tour company
in nearby Chile Chico. The rescued kayakers "indicated
they had flipped due to the prevailing weather conditions
in the area, produced by high wind and the surf at the moment
of the accident," the Navy said. Original post: Doug
Tompkins, the outdoorsman and conservationist who co-founded
The North Face, has died following a kayaking accident in
Patagonia. Tompkins, 72, was kayaking on Chile's General Carrera
Lake with a group including Mexicans and Americans at around
11 a.m. local time when six of the paddlers capsized, according
to Chilean news site La Nación. While three of the
kayakers successfully made it to an island, Tompkins and two
others remained in the water until personnel from the Chilean
Navy arrived to rescue them. Tompkins was then transported
by helicopter to the Coyhaique Regional Hospital, where doctors
attempted to revive him. Carlos Salazar, director of the hospital's
emergency unit, said earlier on Tuesday that Tompkins faced
steep odds.
"In these extremely serious cases of hypothermia, survival
is very rare," he told Chile's EMOL news site. An accomplished
climber, paddler, and mountain guide, Tompkins is best known
for founding TNF in 1966. In recent years, Tompkins and his
wife, former Patagonia CEO Kristine McDivitt-Tompkins, had
worked to create a string of of new, U.S.-style national parks
in southern Chile, acquiring hundreds of thousands of acres
of rainforests and former ranch lands, rehabilitating them,
and transferring some to the control of the country's government.
-
See more at:
http://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/north-face-founder-hospitalized-after-kayak-accident/#sthash.TGWQ496G.dpuf [ http://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/north-face-founder-hospitalized-after-kayak-accident/#sthash.TGWQ496G.dpuf ]
Race of the Week
Claisebrook
Marathon Race & Festival
When - Sunday 13 December 2015
Where - Claisebrook Cove, Victoria Gardens, East Perth
Registration - 7:30 - 8:15am
The Claisebrook Marathon
is the first part of the Canoeing in the Cove Festival. After
a short break paddlers are invited to participate in short
(100m) sprint races and then stay on and watch a Canoe Polo
game. Bring the Family down and enjoy a picnic on the lawns
or quay or enjoy the local cafes and bars.
Race on-line Entry - Entry via Web-Scorer
- Remember, each paddler in a crew boat must do a separate
entry, naming their partners and craft in the box.
On-line Registration will close Thursday
10 Dec 2015 at 6:00pm to allow paddlers to be placed in correct
Divisions and paperwork printed. All entries after this will
be charged a $10 late entry fee.
Please Note : There is no vehicular
access to the lower area of Victoria Gardens except for a
car & trailer from each of the clubs .. parking can be
found along Nile and nelson Streets behind the Gloucester
Park or opposite in the Brown Street carpark.
Noise: Be aware of the residents in the area
Start Order : - 8:40am - Division 4 , at 2 minute intervals
- Division 3, Division 2, Division 1 / Doubles Division, K4
& K3s Championship Classes, 8:50am Short Course, Novices
and Guppies ..
9:40 am - Marathon Cut-off - Windan Bridge
10:45 am - Marathon Presentation
11:00 - Sprints Start
12:00 noon - Canoe Polo
***************************************
Marathon 10Km Championships
28-12-2015
Event Start Time
08:30:00
Location
Champion Lakes
***************************************
2015/16 Marathon Series Race Dates
13th December - Claisebrook
Race
28th December - Champion Lakes
14th Febuary - Canning River Race
12/13 March - State Champs
25/26/27 - National Champs QLD
24th April - Pinjarra-Ravenswood
29th May - Double Barkers
5th June - Perth Paddle 50
19th June - Middle Swan Race
*****************************
IOP Downwind Races
Xmas Paddle 19 December 2015
9 January 2016
30 January 2016
20 February 2016
12 March 2016
2nd Hand Boats
Wavehopper
$650.00 Cash
************************
High Deck Wizard
Kevlar: 5.2m
$800.00 cash
************************
Slalom Kayak
Free to a good
home
Needs a good clean...Not
suited to big paddlers