In this epic tale of sea-kayaking adventure, Chris Duff places readers in the cockpit of his 18-foot kayak and lets them experience the full power and beauty of the Southern Ocean and the wild energy of the Tasman Sea as it thunders onto New Zealand's uninhabited west coast. Not just an account of human physical endurance and determination to attempt what had only been accomplished once before, this narrative reveals the philosophical and psychological life of a man who has chosen the sea as the master to sit before and to learn from. The intense and often terrifying sea journey is balanced by meetings along the way with the friendly New Zealanders and with the diverse wildlife of this tiny and remote island country.

About the Author

Chris Duff has travelled more than 15,000 miles by sea kayak and was the first person ever to solo circumnavigate England, Wales, and Scotland. He is the author of On Celtic Tides and has contributed articles to Sea Kayaker magazine and the anthology Seekers of the Horizon (Globe Pequot, 1989). He lives in Port Angeles, Washington.

Reviews

"Chris takes us on an intimate journey . . . . He explores not only some of the most challenging coastline in the world, but also the inner joys and torment of the long distance solo paddler . . . a beautifully written and compelling read."
--John Dowd, author of "Sea Kayaking: A Manual for Long-Distance Touring"