MAATSUYKER CANOE CLUB

Background-

The Maatsuyker Canoe Club was formed in 1984 by Laurie Ford.  Laurie has now left Maatsuyker Canoe Club and formed the Albatross Sea Kayak Club.

The Maatsuyker Canoe Club was formed for sea kayakers who sought a little bit of adventure.  The founding members were Laurie Ford, Jeff Jennings, John Wilde, Bruce Davies, Ian McDonald,  and the club's only life member, Cecily Butorac.  The club was designed for paddlers who wanted to go to travel to interesting places, not just paddle about in calm sheltered waters.  Club trips mainly consist of overnight paddles.  Most members kayaks are fitted out with sails, rudders, electric pumps and  hatches, to make long distance paddling as enjoyable as possible.

Tasmania has a very appealing coastline, from gentle beaches and headlands along the East Coast; to spectacular cliffs with many sea caves in the South East; to the spectacular, rugged, remote South-West Wilderness.  Tasmania also has numerous offshore islands, some within easy reach, others requiring a more adventurous attitude.

During a normal year we have eight to twelve weekend (overnight) trips in most parts of Tasmania, and around the Christmas/New Year period we have a longer trip (up to three weeks) to a remoter part of our island state, to such places as Flinders Island, Maatsuyker Island, Port Davey, Albatross Island etc..  On many of these trips we are miles away from civilization and totally self-sufficient.

Excellent professional videos of some of our trips are available from Jeff Jennings.

Some of this information was taken from Laurie Ford's old Maatsuyker Canoe Club web page.  Laurie has now formed the Albatross Sea Kayaking Club