Comments on: When is a kayak not. . .

By: Tim Wise

Tim Wise — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 06:12:52 +0000

The BaseFx Rowers will not be the first to row across the Tasman,
New Zealander Colin Quincey did it 30 years ago in a boat called the Tasman Trespasser. Taken from the Ocean Rowing Website,

“In 1977 Colin Quincey astonished the world when he rowed alone in his six-metre fibreglass dory Tasman Trespasser for 63 days 7 hours from New Zealand to Australia. He was the first (and so far only) person to have accomplished this feat. Quincey battled a bad back, setbacks by currents, screaming winds, sore fingers from bailing, sleepless nights and salt water irritations while completing his 2170 km arc across the top of the Tasman.”

An amazing feat in the pre Cell phone, GPs, Internet era.

When the Crossing the Ditch Team hit New Zealand they will be the
first Kayakers to complete the trip, although Andrew McAuley certainly
prove it was an achieveable goal. Both AM and CTD used the much
more difficult route from Australia to New Zealand against the prevailing winds and seas.

As for the CTD kayak and the BaseFX Rowing boats looking similar
I guess they do for the same reason long range aircraft all basically
look the same, only the power plant is slighly different.

Tim W

corssing the

By: bonnie

bonnie — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:36:40 +0000

I enjoyed Silbs’ further thoughts on the issue.

Seems like the first big jump in nomenclature was when the term “kayak” started being applied to non-SOF’s – maybe another when folks in warmer climes began disposing of the deck –

Whatever that is, it’s been fun having this arise & seeing people really thinking and talking about definitions! This is the sort of debate that’s actually fun.

Hey, my secret word is Madison! Captcha must be in Wisconsin!

By: Stevie McAllister

Stevie McAllister — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 17:44:48 +0000

If I remembed correctly, the original definition of the word kayak.
Is a “hunting boat”.
I don’t think the “Crossing the Ditch” kayak is optimized for hunting, but I guess it’s possible.
Most Americans invision a white water kayak when they think of a kayak. A ww boat would probably really suck as a seal hunting platform as would an Olymic racing K-1-4 kayak:-)

By: silbs

silbs — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:15:24 +0000

It’s a boat, and we need to start coming up with new names for them. The skin on frame is always specifically referred to. It is now assumed that kayak refers to that same design in synthetic materials. Same with an inflatable, etc.. Not to take away from the human feat of these adventures, I still vote not to call them kayaks. (we do the same with cars..compacts, sedans, etc.). My fear is that we lose the connection to the origins of our sport.

By: bonnie

bonnie — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 01:34:25 +0000

I’d say as long as it gets ‘em where they are going safely, it’s a fine…uh…

boat.

It’s interesting how the two designs look so similar and both resemble the craft in which Roz Savage was trying to cross the Pacific last summer.

Convergent evolution in boat design.

Funny, they don’t look much like normal rowboats either, but I guess with a rowboat they can point at the oarlocks & say “See? Rowboat!”.

Well, whatever you wanna call the boat, I agree with you on both main points –

a) it’s impressive.
b) it’s better left to Guiness to sort it out!

Seasons greetings!