the Kaikoura "Gallop" row #29 June12-14  2020

Post date: Jun 06, 2020 11:10:1 PM

In our first major effort to row in other regions and environs we arranged fellow St Ayles rowers in Kaikoura half way down The South Islands East coast. Kaikoura township began as a fishing and small rural service centre, but in recent years has reinvented itself and a a marine wildlife tourst attraction. Migrating whales pass and stop to feed and play in the deep converging waters of the Kaikoura trench and dolphins and seals also abound so whale watching and swimming with dolphins and seals are key environmentally friendly attractions. combined with great seafood (losters paua and groper) and boutique beer Kaikoura appealed as a intial raid outside our own territory . Historically when building Toroa we borrowed a construction jig of the Kaikoura lads who had just completed their St Ayles skiff Kaikoura Lass so we have been looking forward to getting togerther for quite a while and seeing how our two boats perform together. With most of us retired now, we decided to go for two nights and really take on the local vibe which means rowing the iconic peninsula row from one side to the other, and probably back again as well, while partaking in selected aspects of the superb hospitality options the town has to offer.