Paddling News

Two adventurers left Australia in a two-man kayak Tuesday in a bid to paddle 1,400 miles to New Zealand.

Nine months after fellow Australian Andrew McAuley vanished on a similar voyage, James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, hope to become the first kayakers to cross the Tasman Sea.

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Two adventurers left Australia in a two-man kayak Tuesday in a bid to paddle 1,400 miles to New Zealand.

Nine months after fellow Australian Andrew McAuley vanished on a similar voyage, James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, hope to become the first kayakers to cross the Tasman Sea.

"I believe anyone is capable of doing anything in their life if they truly believe it," Jones said shortly before the pair departed Australia's east coast at Forster, 175 miles north of Sydney.

The friends hope their attempt will end a succession of failed bids by other kayakers.

McAuley, 39, vanished from his kayak on Feb. 9, while he was within 40 miles of Milford Sound on New Zealand's South Island. His body was never found.

The pair believe that traveling together in a custom designed double kayak for the crossing to Auckland will give them more safety than McAuley had enjoyed.

Jones said he and Castrission expected to be hit by severe storms during the anticipated 40- to 50-day voyage.

"The kayak is designed to take 10- to 12-meter (33- to 40-foot) breaking waves, and we've got all the safety features we need so we'll be able to ride out the storm," Jones said.

The pair will keep in touch by satellite phone twice a day and a tracking beacon on board will transmit a signal to base every six minutes.

Article Source: Associated Press