Sailing?

Breakfast was as impressive as the meal the night before, fruit juice, muesli and French toast (eggy bread). After striking camp a water taxi picked up our overnight gear before we set out on the 17km trip back to Kaiteriteri. Along the way we met the seals again and even a baby blue penguin that impressed the girls. Lunch was had at Observation Beach before we set out to cross the bay. Stephan had a trick up his sleeve for this afternoon. The tarpaulin that was our kitchen shelter the night before became a sail, we rafted up, the front of the kayak holding the base of the sail and the rear of the kayak using the paddles as masts we had a square sail to catch the breeze. After a few failed attempts we started soaring in the gentle breeze. Stephan went from being able to lap round us to struggling to keep up and we shot across the bay at Marahau. An hour’s paddling became half  an hour of hanging on as we sailed across the bay at a blistering five knots. All that was left was the paddle into the bay at Kaiteriteri and to say our goodbyes from another excellent trip before heading for Christchurch. Gambling with the fuel gauge until late into the night we finally arrived in Christchurch at 1am.