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GRANT MATTHEW / STUFF
It could be twelve months before trans-Tasman kayaker Scott Donaldson recovers completely physically from his 62 days in the Tasman Sea.
The Kiwi adventurer became the first person to sail the 2,200-kilometer ocean in a kayak solo when he landed on Ngāmotu Beach on Monday night, after leaving Coffs Harbor on May 2 . But the trip took its toll.
Paddling up to 20 hours a day meant that Donaldson was in the same position for so long that his hip flexors were shortening and his knees and ankles were affected.
ANDY JACKSON / STUFF
He also lost a lot of weight – 16 kilos to be exact. The 48-year-old man tipped the scales to 98 kg when he boarded Australia and 82 kg fully dressed once he landed in New Plymouth.
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* The Tasman kayak rudder crossing intact after shark took a fancy
* The Trans-Tasman Kayaker Scott Donaldson Leaves
And it is these physical and mental limitations he overcame – "what people have not seen" – which he is most proud of.
ANDY JACKSON / STUFF
"I did things that I do not have I think I could do physically and mentally."
In his 6.3-meter kayak, Donaldson was carrying a watermaker to make Drinking water and edible. He used it to dab his freeze-dried bolognese spaghetti, his vacuum-packed porridge and several antibiotic treatments that he had to take occasionally for his skin and a stomach stink bug.
If it was cold, Donaldson had to ignore it unless it affected his performance. For a week in a row, he could not feel his hands anymore.
GRANT MATTHEW / STUFF
He wore gloves about 10% of the time, not for cool weather, but to protect his skin.
Every day he woke up 40 minutes earlier to get dressed as much as possible – trying not to touch anything and wetting the bandages, and keeping in mind any small cut to avoid Infection
is easily compromised when you are wet all the time. "
Tags Donaldson kayak porridge Scott skincare Story Vacuum