NYAA Entry - Physical Recreation - Entry 4 - Kayaking Expedition 4

ENTRY FOR PHYSICAL RECREATION
Kayak Expedition IV

Participants
Calvin, Zhan Liang, Jiawei

Overview
- Kayak from PRSSC
- Used a Dancer kayak (single)
- Went on a round-Coney Island trip
- Passed Western Tip of Coney Island
- Return journey back to PRSSC
- Completed 8.5 km of mileage in 7 hours, from 1000-1700

Kayaking @ Pasir Ris

Date: 25/2/07
Hours Completed: 7 Hours (1000-1700)

We went to Pasir Ris this time for our kayaking expedition as we had previously trained there for our two-star course and were famillar with the area there. This time, we wanted to try something different by going around Coney Island instead of just reaching its' eastern tip and going back.
After meeting at Pasir Ris MRT station at 0900, we proceeded to take a bus there and rented 4 single kayaks at PRSSC. We got ready for the day ahead by packing our lunches and adjusting our boats from 0930 to 1000. As soon as we were ready, we went into the water and warmed ourselves up by paddling about in the demarcated area till 1045 to gain water confidence at the same time. We left for Coney Island at 1100 after a short break and paddled towards its's eastern tip. At around 1145, we reached a channel meant for sand barges marked by a yellow buoy and took a break there, which was the halfway point too. We decided to carry on and managed to reach Coney Island at around 1230 where we beached up on its' northern shoreline.
We proceeded to have our lunch on the island and rested at the same time while enjoying the island's isolated environment. Having some time on our hands, we decided to scout ahead on foot by walking on the beach. We managed to establish the proper route for us to take after reaching the western tip of the island. We then made our way back and started paddling at around 1400.

On our return leg of the journey, we realised that the waters off Coney were filled with jellyfish swimming around our boats. As it was low tide then, it was all the more amazing to see how many there were in different sizes in the water. We stopped to admire them for awhile but had to continue due to time constraints. By 1430, we had reached the western end of Coney and we paddled back towards PRSSC from the other side of the island which we have never seen before. When we finally reached the eastern tip of Coney at 1515, the sky turned dark with rain clouds looming above us. We had no choice but to hasten and continue on our return trip before we got caught in the rain.

Luckily for us, we had crossed the sea channel and was well on our way to PRSSC by the time the dark clouds caught up with us. Although we got caught in a light shower, it made the expedition all the more challenging as we tried to stay close to shore to seek shelter. Our journey ended when we beached up on Pasir Ris beach at 1615, where we decided to continue paddling at our own pace before washing up for the day at 1645.