Further to our story last week about the attempt by two adventurous Aussie paddlers to cross the intimidating Tasman sea, the treacherous body of water separating Australia and New Zealand, Aussie newspager The Age has posted the following:

Two Australian kayakers trying to cross the Tasman still have 1,266km to go to reach Auckland.

James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, have been paddling for 14 days from their starting point in Forster, NSW, and say they have covered 40 per cent of the route.

At 10pm (2000 AEDT) Monday they had covered 838km.

Australian adventurer Andrew McAuley, 39, lost his life in February during a similar solo attempt, when only 65km off Milford Sound.

Castrission and Jones are averaging 3.32kmh for the journey, down from their highest speed of 6.8kmh on the second day, when currents helped them rack up 164km in one day.

Race Recon executive director Patrick Brothers said at the weekend “the guys reported that they are were short with each other, doing silly things and getting clumsy”.

On the pair’s website, he said that a lack of sleep, hot conditions and the general fatigue of being half way between Australia and New Zealand were starting to take a toll.

“The signs and symptoms they reported today are commensurate with someone who has had very little sleep and is still working hard,” he said.

The “clumsy, irrational behaviour” that the paddlers had reported would be a concern if it continued: “Many have suggested that this is a potential factor that led to the disappearance of Andrew McAuley during his attempt,” Mr Brothers said.

Talk about “adventure kayaking”…here’s a story of 2 kayakers planning to paddle across the Tasman Sea from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand. Just goes to show, for those with an adventurous spirit, there are still plenty of places on earth left to conquer.

Considering the guy who tried this same crossing earlier, was never heard from again…let’s keep these two in our prayers.

Here’s the whole story, courtesy of The BBC:

Two young university graduates from Sydney have begun an attempt to become the first kayakers to paddle between Australia and New Zealand.

Justin Jones and James Castrission, who are both in their mid-twenties, have set off in their twin kayak from a small coastal town north of Sydney.

They hope to complete their 2,200km (1,370 mile) journey by Christmas.

The two kayakers aim to conquer one of Australia’s last great untamed adventures, the mighty Tasman Sea.

Their voyage to New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, is expected to take between 40 and 50 days.

They will be at the mercy of the weather. Conditions in the Tasman can be extremely inhospitable, with waves up to 10 metres high and gale force winds.

The Australian kayakers hope to paddle for up 14 hours a day.

‘Looks impossible’

Justin Jones says they want to make history.

“First and foremost is for the pure adventure of it all. I mean, everybody, inside anyone has got a little bit of adventure in them and we’ve just got to go out and follow that. It would be a crime not to,” he said.

“Another reason is an expedition like this looks impossible - paddling to New Zealand we first thought, I mean, ‘You’re kidding. That can’t be done’.

“Only by looking at all the little steps along the way and each little problem can we actually piece together a responsible, safe way to do this.”

The pair have been planning the trans-Tasman crossing for the past five years.

Their custom-built kayak is equipped with solar panels, satellite tracking and navigation as well as plenty of food.

The young adventurers have embarked on a hazardous voyage. Earlier this year a fellow Australian went missing after attempting the same journey.

It is thought Andrew McAuley, who was 39, drowned off New Zealand’s South Island after falling from his kayak in rough seas. His body has never been found.

Know any adventurous kayakers? Let us know about them. Maybe we’ll even post their story right here! Click to contact us

At least it is in my neck of the woods. Too cold for kayaking? Depends on who you ask. There are still plenty of events coming up before the end of the year.

Here’s what we’ve got for you if you’re not quite ready to hang up your boat yet:

November 17
Alafia Challenge Canoe & Kayak Race in Florida

November 18
Delaware & Raritan Canal Paddlers Race in New Jersey

December 2
Deception Pass Dash in Washington state

Whether you’re done for the year or you’re still looking to get in some paddling, be sure to check out our Races & Events pages, and also our Places to Paddle page.

If you have paddling events you’d like us to include in our list, please send them to us through our Contact Us page.