At the age of 38, Andrew McAuley became the first solo kayaker to attempt to sail across the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand. Tragically, this journey was one-way for McAuley. In his childhood, McAuley and his brother would go swimming, climbing trees, and jumping off cliffs. These activities helped Andrew become one of the most fearless kayakers in history.
McAuley began his kayaking career when visited with friends to South America in the late 1990s. During this trip, they got caught in a big storm while climbing mountains. To get through the mountains, they used kayaks to travel through the rivers. This showed Andrew how powerful and free kayaking could be, and he enjoyed it.
In the early 2000s, McAuley had become an experienced kayaker. His most significant achievement occurred in 2003 when he became the first solo kayaker to cross the 250-kilometer-long Bass Strait, a treacherous stretch of water between mainland Australia and Tasmania. It took Andrew 35 hours to complete the journey. People were amazed by his skill, determination, and the meticulous planning he had undertaken.
But McAuley didn’t stop there. In the following years, he went on another big adventure. He kayaked almost 600 kilometers across the Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia. It took him a whole week to finish this journey. During that time, he had to be very strong and tough, and he even slept in his kayak sometimes. This adventure helped him get ready for even bigger challenges in the future.
Antarctic Expedition and Recognition
In 2005, McAuley became well-known as an adventurer after he got an award from the Australian Geographic Society. They named him the Adventurer of the Year. He didn’t just go on adventures for himself; he wanted to explore places nobody had been before and deal with dangerous situations.
The next year, in 2006, McAuley organized a trip to Antarctica. He led a group of kayakers who traveled 800 kilometers along the coast of Antarctica. This adventure helped McAuley get even better at handling tough situations and become more knowledgeable about navigating through dangerous places.
The Ultimate Challenge – Tasman Sea Crossing
McAuley took on a big challenge in the Tasman Sea, which is a large and unpredictable ocean between Australia and New Zealand. Many people had tried and failed to cross it before him. But McAuley was determined to be the first to do it alone in a kayak.
The preparation for the Tasman Sea crossing was exhaustive. McAuley worked closely with engineers to design a kayak capable of withstanding the sea’s worst conditions. The resulting kayak, named Mirage, featured a specially designed capsule known as Casper. This capsule, made from fiberglass, was watertight and buoyant, sheltering McAuley during storms and allowing him to sleep relatively comfortably.
The Voyage Across the Tasman Sea
Andrew McAuley had a big challenge ahead when he decided to cross the Tasman Sea alone. The Tasman Sea is really tough, with big waves, changing weather, and strong currents.
To get ready, McAuley did a lot of careful planning. He studied the weather, looked at past attempts, and learned how the sea behaves. He also made sure he was in good shape by training hard. He needed to be strong to paddle for a long time and deal with being in a small space.
McAuley’s journey was a huge task. The ocean was stormy and full of big waves that seemed never-ending. McAuley had to fight against the waves to keep his kayak floating. The wind was fierce, making the waves splash hard and making it really tough for McAuley.
“I GUESS I’M REALLY DRAWN TO A JOURNEY LIKE THIS—IT’S A REAL PERSONAL CHALLENGE. THERE’S A GREAT DEAL OF SATISFACTION IN COMING UP WITH AN ADVENTURE THAT’S UNLIKELY AND IMPROBABLE.” – Andrew McAuley
One night in January 2007, McAuley was traveling on his journey when he got caught in a really bad storm. He was almost done with his long trip across the ocean from Tasmania to New Zealand’s South Island, which was about 1,600 kilometers. He stayed in his kayak for 28 hours, facing the strong storm. It was tough both outside with the storm and inside his mind, as he struggled with his thoughts and feelings.
“THIS REALLY IS EXTREME. IT’S FULL ON. I REALLY COULD DIE.” – Andrew McAuley
Days later, with the storm behind him and the seas relatively calm, McAuley vanished. The mountaintops of New Zealand’s southern Alps loomed on the horizon, and the paddling community, along with his family and friends, was left grappling with a perplexing mystery. What had happened to the experienced adventurer so close to completing such a challenging journey?
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – André Gide
Andrew McAuley had been drawn to this adventure by a deeply felt inner voice, seeking personal challenge and satisfaction in the face of the unlikely and improbable. He was no stranger to risk, having spent nearly a decade preparing for the journey. McAuley, an IT consultant from suburban Sydney, had a diverse adventurous background, previously dedicating his energies to mountaineering and making first ascents in challenging terrains like Pakistan, Patagonia, and Australia.
“When you do [a trip like this], you are exposing yourself to criticism. I take risks, but they are calculated risks, and I want to be beyond criticism.” – Andrew McAuley
The solo sea kayak crossing was not taken lightly by authorities. Both Tasmanian police and Australia’s search and rescue service had cautioned against the inherently dangerous trip. McAuley’s kayak, a standard 19-foot Mirage modified for sleeping inside the cockpit, underwent thorough testing to ensure its seaworthiness. A yellow fiberglass canopy, humorously named “Casper,” provided self-righting capability and protection during storms.
“We had strongly advised against the trip to start with because we believed it was inherently dangerous.” – AusSAR spokesperson
McAuley went sailing south below the 40th parallel. That’s called the Roaring Forties, and it’s a place where sailors get worried because the weather can be very dangerous with lots of storms. During his journey, when he was about two-thirds of the way there, he got caught in a very strong wind of about 40 knots. It was so strong that it broke his backup satellite phone and tracking beacon. Luckily, he managed to survive the storm. When he was only 120 kilometers away from where he wanted to go, he sent a happy text message to his family.
“See you 9 a.m. Sunday!” – Andrew McAuley
Tragically, McAuley disappeared shortly after this message. A scrambled radio call with distressing words led to a search that uncovered his upturned kayak in near-perfect condition, just offshore of Milford Sound. The cockpit canopy was missing, but the paddle, satellite phone, GPS, and emergency beacon were inside and functional. Despite extensive search efforts, McAuley was not found.
“The EPIRB is a last resort. It is far better (if possible) to make contact by phone or radio and let people know the exact situation—rather than the huge panic and search that an EPIRB generates.” – Laurie Ford
Speculation arose about McAuley’s fate, with the kayak’s designer suggesting that he may have capsized without the cockpit cover and became separated from his kayak. The mystery of Andrew McAuley’s disappearance continues to perplex, leaving the paddling community and McAuley’s loved ones with unanswered questions about the fate of this adventurous soul.
McAuley’s past experiences of capsizing twice, coupled with the complicated re-entry procedure due to the cockpit cover, video camera, and other deck-mounted gear, made him cautious about a potential capsize during his Tasman Sea journey. His kayak had an oversized cockpit and lacked a standard seat, making rolling impossible. Modifications, such as removing the seat for sleeping and accessing gear, were necessary. He sat on a beanbag, doubling as a pillow, and retrieved gear from the rear compartment by lying down and rolling onto his stomach, using strings to pull his gear forward.
“Responsible adventure is character-building and good for people, but I felt that to continue on this occasion was not on.” – Andrew McAuley
Paul Hewitson, the kayak’s designer, speculated that McAuley, with the mountains in sight, might have been eager to reach land and pushed too hard. Facing a small cold front, he might not have worn his drysuit, a decision he planned to make in rough weather. Disaster often strikes those nearing safety, and McAuley, possibly fatigued, may have prioritized making miles over seeking shelter beneath the canopy.
“Andrew thinks the same as I do on this subject… The EPIRB is a last resort. It is far better (if possible) to make contact by phone or radio and let people know the exact situation—rather than the huge panic and search that an EPIRB generates.” – Laurie Ford
After a possible capsize, McAuley might have unscrewed the rear hatch to access his VHF radio and drysuit. During the struggle into the drysuit, he could have become separated from the kayak, along with the Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). McAuley’s decision not to trigger the EPIRB immediately raised questions, but Tasmanian kayaker Laurie Ford suggested that McAuley, like himself, considered the EPIRB a last resort. McAuley may have intended to use it once he was in the drysuit, but the kayak’s separation thwarted his plans.
“It was the separation from the kayak that brought him undone.” – Laurie Ford
Tragically, McAuley had overlooked a crucial detail—attaching the EPIRB to himself, not the boat. Ford speculated that a strobe light might have increased the chances of being spotted by rescuers on the first night of the search.
“Andrew thinks the same as I do on this subject… It is far better (if possible) to make contact by phone or radio and let people know the exact situation—rather than the huge panic and search that an EPIRB generates.” – Laurie Ford
In McAuley’s final days, he acknowledged the possibility of miscalculations, pushing boundaries too far, and the extreme nature of his adventure. A self-portrait taken near the end of his journey revealed a stark contrast to the confident athlete seen in earlier photographs. At a memorial service, a haunting message recovered from McAuley’s kayak emphasized the severity of his endeavor:
“THIS REALLY IS EXTREME. IT’S FULL ON. I REALLY COULD DIE.” – Andrew McAuley
Despite the public criticism of extreme adventuring, McAuley’s family, especially his wife Vicki, emphasized that it was Andrew’s drive to explore his limits that defined him. In the face of inevitable questions about the perceived selfishness or imprudence of his adventure, Vicki highlighted a quote from André Gide on McAuley’s website:
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – André Gide
Andrew McAuley’s attempt to cross the Tasman Sea solo in a kayak was an epic journey that left an indelible mark on the world of adventure. McAuley’s story became a beacon for discussions on safety, preparedness, and the spirit of exploration within the kayaking community and among solo adventurers worldwide.
The legacy of McAuley’s journey extended beyond his final voyage. It prompted discussions on safety protocols, risk management, and the importance of advanced preparation for solo expeditions. McAuley’s story inspired innovations in kayaking equipment and technology, leading to improved safety measures and communication devices.
His disappearance remains a profound mystery, fueling continued speculation and intrigue within the adventure community. McAuley’s enduring impact is reflected in the changes and conversations sparked within the kayaking community, emphasizing the delicate balance between the human spirit’s desire to explore and the respect owed to the unpredictable forces of nature.
