A very successful, warm & sunny 2024 Training weekend was held on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 February (34th year for the record). Our pick of the weekend, based on mid-morning high tide, amazingly coincided with launching Kotukumairangi & paddling down the Opara Stream into Okains Bay so that the waka could be towed to Whakaraupō. This was not on the paddling programme, but a few of us were amongst the 30 or so on board helping to paddle.

Kotukumairangi is a waka tangata, meaning a canoe for people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. The waka will participate in a waka pōwhiri to welcome overseas crews and then opens racing at Sail GP in March.

We had 38 people registered, 10 coaches, 20 people at Okains Bay for the first time, a few travelling internationally, some intercity & a few brand new to sea kayaking. Not a record attendance, but a really good ratio of teaching to learning (we all learn a tremendous amount by teaching).

On Saturday night John Kirk-Anderson intrigued us with his Icebergs to Astronauts talk - Instructing in Alaska for the US National Outdoor Leadership School where students ranged from college-age kids who had never been away from home to US Navy officer-cadets, and culminated in training astronauts who then crewed on the International Space Station. Icebergs, bears and lots of rain were considerations but the greatest hazard proved to be the “National Birds of Alaska”, the mosquitoes!

Oli showed a selection of photos on his recent trip with Steve and Geoff to Doubtful Sound and environs.

Camping at Okains is now limited to 250 people, so I usggest you book in advance next year so that you don't miss out on a campsite.

Thank you to the committed kayakers who extend the reach to others so they might enjoy their time on the water (& in the water) safely.

Ian McKenzie

Information provided in advance for attendees in 2024:

Register at 9.30am Saturday. Sessions are planned to start at 10.00 a.m. Many people arrive at Okains Bay on the Friday night.

Saturday evening we intend to use the Okains Bay Community Hall (back up the road, opposite the musem). We can have a good de-brief from Saturday, plan Sunday.

Paddlerzone will hire helmets for free so Plase bring a Helmet  if you are going to participate in surf (launching & landing) sessions. In shallow water a helmet provides good protection against the sandy bottom, which is surpisingly hard. With lots of kayaks doing the same thing (people learning in the small surf or out futher in the larger waves) a helmet is also essential protection against 5m semi-guided missiles. Also a reminder to brace properly in the surf, keep your hands below your shoulders to avoid injury.

Health & Safety information

1. Please ensure you are healthy enough for each activity & take responsibility for your own safety (anyone teaching is doing it as a volunteer)

2. Ensure your kayak & gear is seaworthy.

3. Attach your spray deck, wear your Lifejacket, wear a helmet in the surf.

4. If you are having problems, communicate these & stay with the group.

5. If you are not kayaking with a training group or kayak beyond Okains Bay, please make your intentions clear

All FREE, except for camping fees, $15 per person (or thereabouts) per night and showers $2 coin. Identify yourself as part of the Sea Kayak group as you book in and pay at the office.

Bring drinking water unless you want to boil the local supply.

Camp in the area to the right of the road near the entrance to the campground. It is the most sheltered area should the wind be southerly or norwest and there are plenty of trees under which to shelter from the sun. It would be great if everyone camps here and not futher down the track as we used to for many years.

NOTE - you are there at your own risk (usual H&S disclaimer etc.). All instructors are volunteers, there to advise, use that advice to suit you and the conditions you might encounter.

The 2023 Okains Bay training weekend was held on Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 February 2023.

30 People registered including 6 volunteer coaches.

Saturday sessions included launching & landing in the surf, flat water stabilty in the estuary for those new to kayaking. Rescues were popular - emptying a double & getting back in provided much amusement & learning.

Sat evening at the hall we talked about the day's training then: trip planning & Southern Lakes examples (Oliver Winkler); Hahei KASK FEST photos (Ian McKenzie), KASK membership & AGM  (Ian and Steve Cooper); Protect your shoulders workshop (John Kirk-Anderson).

Sunday - bracing, turning, paddle strokes, by which time the surf had come up a bit and landing-through--surf skills got put to good use. Many then cleaned sinuses & had a good play in the waves.

Ian McKenzie

Okains Bay training was held on 26/27 February 2022, the 32nd time the network has gathered at the Bay.

The sky was a bit dull & perhaps the threat of Omicron and the weather forecast deterred some. 28 registered including 7 volunteer coaches.

Surf was suitably small for teaching on Saturday and it is just as well we got on with it as all waves had disappeared entirely by Sunday. By the time we had finished rescue practices Sat afternoon the southerly was blowing us out into the Bay. The breeze had also gone on Sunday morning so a flatwater cruise to East and West heads allowed some paddling skills to be practiced. There was a wee swell at the heads & a little bum clenching could be detected as some navigaged between the islands for the fist time.

Sat night we saw some great photos of wild trips: Lake Te Anau and portages further inland, Milford Sound, Mt Cook glacier lakes (with a bit more portaging), Stewart Island. Plus some of the recent North Island KASK locations - Hahei and Stony Bay.

Ian McKenzie

The following message was for people attending in 2021 & 2022 (we hope that Covid-19 has gone by 2023 so reference to vaccine passes will be history):

Vaccine pass is needed for the campground and the training.

Plase bring a helmet  if you are going to participate in surf (launching & landing) sessions. In shallow water a helmet provides good protection against the sandy bottom, which is surpisingly hard. With lots of kayaks doing the same thing (people learning in the small surf or out futher in the larger waves) a helmet is also essential protection against 5m semi-guided missiles. Also a reminder to brace properly in the surf, keep your hands below your shoulders to avoid injury.

2021 date was 20/21 February

65 people attended the fantastic weekend, including 7 volunteer coaches, many arriving on a sunny Friday afternoon and evening. Rescues and surf training were very well attended with two sessions of each on Saturday and another on Sunday. Beginners were well catered for in the Opara Stream estuary and easy surf on Sat morning. The whole group assembled at the Okains Bay Community Hall on Sat night for a series of short presentations, which seemed to be well received, first time we have used the hall. We camped at the sheltered eastern end of the camp ground for the first time. Conditions were so calm however that the benefit will need to be reserved for future years.

Ian McKenzie

2020 date was the weekend of Sat 22 & Sun 23 February

51 People attended, 25 were new to the network. We knew the tide wasn't going to be quire right (low tide in the mornings) and next time we would hope to coincide with a high morning tide which would provide a better opportunity in the estuary for beginners to become familiar with their kayak.

2019 date was the weekend of Sat 16 & Sun 17 February (notified 8 Nov 2018)

62 people attended, 23 were new to the network

Draft programme for the weekend is in the document repository (12 Feb 2019).

2018 date was 10 & 11 February

Arrive Friday evening or Saturday morning. Registration starts at 9.30am Saturday, briefing at 10.00am and on the water (if you choose an on-water activity) at 10.30am.

Activities include: bracing in the surf, paddling near rocks, paddle strokes, route selection & navigation, wave theory, landing & launching off the beach, rescues, clothing selection, explore North or South head. A programme has been prepared and will be confirmed at the briefing as it is weather/wind/surf dependent.

2017 review:

The 18/19 Feb weekend was forecast to be a little damp, weather wise that is, with an easterly wind. However as the intention for the weekend was to Immerse People in kayaking Experiences and Enthusiasm, there was a guarantee of getting wet!

Once out of the mist on the Summit Road & down the hill into Okains Bay, the weather was mild and rain insignificant. The wind provided a great range of surf conditions for learning to brace and for at least one 'endo' out in the bigger stuff. A well timed high tide also meant the Opara Stream estuary was viable for teaching rescues & paddle strokes.

30 people attended, all fitting into the large shelter tent & awning for briefings and evening presentations.

2017 Advert:

18 - 19 Feb 2017 - Okains Bay Annual Training Weekend hosted by the Canterbury Sea Kayak Network.

2017 will mark the 27th annual gathering of paddlers on Banks Peninsula, notes ones of the organizers Ian McKenzie. The popularity of this training weekend seems to grow by the year and best of all says Sandy Ferguson, it is ‘free’ - there is no cost for the training and instruction, just a fee for camping at the bay. In February 2016 Ian noted 55 kayaks on the beach Saturday morning with upwards of 79 paddlers attending. The Canterbury network has a talented bunch of instructors, including Martin and Fiona Fraser, John Kirk-Anderson, David Welch, Doug Aitken and Ian McKenzie. For any queries, contact Ian McKenzie: (03) 355 0684 [email protected]

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2016 date was 13/14 February, starting 9.00am rather than 9.30am. 79 names on the registration list, many at their first training weekend. A full programme was published (for only the second time)

2015 weekend was 31 Jan/1 Feb, with over 60 present.

2014 event was held on 15/16 February.
There were 56 participants of which 18 were new to the network.
Practice in rescues, surfing, efficient paddling, trip organising (leadership)

2013 - included 23 February

2012 - included 18 February

2011 - included 12 February

2010 - included 14 February

2009 - included 31 January
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Directions to Okains Bay

Okains Bay is 1.5 hrs drive from Christchurch, you simply follow the Christchurch Akaroa Road (Highway 75) until you reach the Hilltop Tavern and then go straight ahead along the Summit Road. Travel for about half an hour passing the bays to your left until you reach Okains Bay, which is signposted. Turn left into Okains Bay and travel down towards the bay.

An alternative is (maybe a kilometre shorter) from the Hilltop, drop down into Akaroa Harbour and after Duvauchelle, at the top of the next hill, climb up the Okains Bay Road, over the top down into Okains Bay.

The camping ground is at the very end of the road and the office is on the left about ½ km before the beach.

Camping costs approximately $15 per adult/per night (identify that you are with CSKNet & you might get a discount) and can be paid upon arrival at the camp ground office. The camp ground has drinking water, toilets, communal kitchens (with fridges), $2 showers and washing machines, as well as a pretty good flying fox for the kids!! Enter the campground and look for the campsites/cars with kayaks.