NYAA Entry - Physical Recreation - Entry 3 - Kayaking Expedition III

ENTRY FOR PHYSICAL RECREATION
Kayak Expedition III

Participants
Calvin, Zhan Liang

Overview
- Kayak from National Sailing Centre
- Used Double Open Sea Kayak
- Passed by Bedok Jetty
- Passed by VJC
- Reached Big Splash
- Return Journey back NSC
- Completed more than 18 km of mileage in 8 hours, from 0900-1700

Kayaking @ East Coast

Date: 11/2/2007
Hours Completed: 8 Hours (0900-1700)

Today was the second day of VJC's Outdoor Adveture Club's (ODAC) Leadership Training Camp. We were startin on a kayaking expedition from the National Sailing Centre (NSC) to the Big Splash further down East Coast Park towards the Central Business District, where I kayaked the previous time at Kallang. This time round, we used double open sea kayak, which is imposible to capsize at all.

We reached NSC by 0845 from Changi Jetty. By 0945, we were all ready with our sea packs and gears to set off for the expedition. Between that, we had some games to warm everyone up for the journey. First, we started off with a 'Dog and Bone', where specific people have to try to snatch an item in the middle of the circle from one another. Next, we had 'Catching', also within a similar circle, and the runner can be switched as he or she stands in fron tof another person in the circle.

Each group begin to set off by 1000. My group, Cyclone, was one of the last to do so, as the rest rafted up near the shore. 15 minutes later, everyone was briefed about the journey ahead and ready to kayak off. The open sea kayak was much heavier and difficult to kayak in as a larger amount of strength is required to propel the kayak forward. The sun was also being hard on our skin, especially at the thigh area as it shone brightly. By 1045 we had reached Bedok Jetty, one of our many check points to rest.

We headed for our next checkpoint 5 minutes later, that is Victoria Junior College. The drift back towards the NSC was getting stronger as addition strength is needed. Everyone was begining to feel the strain now. By the time we reached VJC, quite a number of people were found lagging behind at a distance.

After the well needed rest, we headed off to our destination, that is the Big Splash. The sun starts to get hotter as it nears noon time. Luckily, most of us wore long sleeve white shirt. We successfully reached Big Splash by 1230. The lunch for today was packed chicken rice. There was a period of rain when we were there though it did not last long.

We left by 1345 to begin a longer journey back NSC. At VJC, all second kayakers did a rescue simulation as we jumped off our kayak before trying to re-enter it. It was quite fun. The current got stronger as time reaches 1600. Just before reaching NSC, the instructors held a mini race back to the shore. But it was quite a distance away and many did not manage to sprint back. By 1630, everyone had already beached up and ready to clean up.