Expedition KaBiReTian Part 2 - The Longest Day

Day 2 was the longest paddling day at 27Nm (approx 50km), from Pulau Kapas to Pulau Bidong. Going by our average of 2.7knots, that would take 10hrs. To survive such a long journey, the best chance is to set off early and hopefully end before sunset. 

Apart from the long distance, the other challenge was the 2nd half of the journey would be through the open sea without any visible landmark to guide our navigation. This is a rather daunting task as you can only rely on your compass to guide your direction, but not knowing how the wind and current might have affected your course of travel. 

Combine the 2 challenges together, we will be setting off before sunrise at 430am, pitch dark, and without any landmark in the later part of the journey, taking at least 10hrs. Well sounds exciting, here we go!

Paddling in the dark wasn't too difficul, as long as you keep the fleet close so you can see one another. The navigator also has to know where he/she is going. Most important is to be able to see the sea compass in front so you can stick to your bearing; and having sight of landmarks on land helps to confirm your location. Plus no issues with heat as the sun was still sleeping behind the horizon. Actually the biggest problem was the constant glare of the spotlight from the motherboat.

Best thing about pre-dawn paddle.... eventually the sun will rise and you get beautiful sunrise pictures of you and your kayaks.

A gentle glow of light illuminates the horizon, after almost 2 hours of paddling.

The first break that was not in the dark.

Once the sun was up, the whole scenery changed. The world was lighted although some faraway landmarks were still hidden due to the haze. Very soon heat crept in to sap our energy.

Protection from the sun means covering the everything and leaving as little exposed to the sun as possible. Ie looking like a ninja.

Paddling during noon was the most demoralising, the sun is beating on you, tired and having already done 5hrs of paddling, you hear the navigator say "we are almost halfway there! From now on we will not have anymore landmarks. Everybody follow bearing of 330! We may see land after another 3hrs!" Everybody's heart just sank into the bottom of the deep blue South China Sea.

Thankfully it was just an hour later that we saw the faint outline of an island in the horizon, that was to be our destination Pulau Bidong. Having sight of the destination was the magical potion that injected energy and strength back into those exhausted minds and bodies.

The biggest challenge for me was not the arms but the lower back, aching after sitting on a kayak for more than 10hrs. To be able to finally get off the boat and just float in the water was just....heavenly.

Eventually we reached our destination at 3pm, still could catch a bit of nap before getting up to cook dinner.

Even the longest day has to come to an end.