Trip Preparations
On January 11, 2007, Andrew McAuley set out on his quest to become the first person to kayak from Australia to New Zealand across one of the wildest and loneliest stretches of ocean on Earth. Before departing, he was busy preparing for this dangerous trip.
Food and Water
Andrew carried with him approximately 30 gallons of water which lasted 2 - 3 weeks. He supplemented this on a daily basis with desalinated water. By the final week, he was de-salinating all water. His food was specially prepared by a dietician to ensure a high calorie diet. Fat was the highest percentage, but the diet was also high in protein and carbohydrates. He took 40 days rations that consisted of:
-Backcountry de-hydrated meals that could be heated using military heat packs. When salt water was added to the packs, a chemical reaction would heat his meals.
-Peanut butter
-Chocolate
-His mothers fruit Christmas cake
-Candy & chocolate bars
-Powerbars
-Cheese
-Tins of tuna
Clothing
-Dry suit (to be worn only in rough weather)
-Sharkskin neoprene long pants and top.
-Thermal underwear, he would change into at night.
-Paddling cag (GORE-TEX spray jacket)
-Paddling shoes (booties) neoprin boot.
-GORE-TEX socks
-Paddling gloves
Training
Andrew paddled to and from work 3 times per week – approximately a 25 mile return journey. In addition he endured paddling training on weekends, including several overnight trips. These overnight trips prepared him for sleeping in the kayak when later on the Tasman Sea.
^M
