Br.Ant.Territory : Poor Odds for Kayak Circumnavigation of South Georgia
Submitted by (Juanita Brock) 07.10.2005 (Article Archived on 21.10.2005)
A team of four intrepid kayakers are going to attempt a circumnavigation of South Georgia in aid of charity.
POOR ODDS FOR KAYAK CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF SOUTH GEORGIA
By J. Brock (FINN)
As first reported on the South Georgia Website, a team of four kayakers hope to make the 400 mile circumnavigation of South Georgia during this austral summer. After arrival at South Georgia via the Falkland Islands – an 800 mile journey in itself, the intrepid four, Pete Bray, Nigel Dennis, Jeff Allen and Hadas Feldman will slide into their sea kayaks and begin the risky journey on November 12th.
Awaiting the men at times will be mountainous seas, ice, fierce winds and lots of Fur Seal pups. There are great stretches of coastline where the men will not be able to land and it is hoped (for their sakes) that the changeable weather will be in their favour when they are in the most dangerous parts of the Southern coastline of the Island.
What is not known from the reports in the UK Press is whether the team has a back-up ship to support them, should they run into trouble during the expedition. One can’t plan an accident to fit in with the schedule of a ship. Further to this, it is a hard and fast rule to get the permission of the South Georgia Government to do an expedition like this and I am sure the intrepid four managed this before setting off.
Even with a back-up ship and freeze-dried meals, it’s not going to be a Sunday picnic, as several attempts to circumnavigate the Island have failed. Earlier in 2005, a US team of two tried to kayak around the Falklands and had to abandon the full trip due to the adverse sea and weather conditions.
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