AKE Survival Secrets (Part 1)

So ... you think you've made it ... (or think you can make it) ...

You are a Part C cadet and very soon you'll be one of the at the top the food chain in your unit. You will lead younger and fresh cadets and moulding them into disciplined, coordinated members of the NCC.

But there is one more challenge that has to be taken - the Annual Kayaking Expedition (AKE).
An offspring of the Round Island Canoeing Expedition (RICE), it has often been a challenge mentally and physically for anyone who has tried it.
Due to changes in the physical geography of Singapore, completing a full round island kayaking expedition is no longer feasible in three days. But NCC has taken the opportunity to issue a challenge to the ablest of its cadets this year. Completing a grueling three day expedition on the Eastern coast of Singapore.

How many cadets will be able to form the final group who are mentally and physically fit to try?
How many cadets will actually be able to complete the whole expedition and get the honour of wearing the coveted AKE badge?

As reported in previous posts on this blog, there has been lots of preparation for AKE 2006. Differents schools/units and clusters/zones have been given the opportunity to send their best for the preparation training.
Some have been eliminated by the lack of enthusiasm of their teacher/instructors, others were observed to have lack water confidence. Even more elminated because their skills for handling the tide and weather were deemed lacking. In the end, the ones who voluntarily fell out due to medical conditions or weak dispostions were also sent packing.

But for those who will attempt the mini-expedition and the actual AKE, some of teachers/instructors have gotten together to put a list together to hopefully help you along. These tips are garnered from experience painfully gained throughout the years of long distance canoeing/kayaking.

It is important to note that even with all the tips it is ultimately a TEST of one's endurance - PHYSICAL and more importantly MENTALLY. At the end of the day, YOU and YOU ALONE (with help from your equally determined partner) will accomplish the task of paddling dawn to dusk for three days. Let's hope no one comes up to the instructors and say: "Your tips caused me to be unable to complete the AKE!"

So let's do a HEAD to TOE review for the preparation of this journey into self-discovery:

Head Gear

• Big Hat - imagine a Mexican Sombrero or a Chinese Farmer Straw Hat
  
  1. A good military hat that covers all around and not just a baseball cap, helps to prevent sunburn on your scalp, ears and neck
     
  2. A good hat helps to provide shade for your eyes
     
  3. A good hat provides protection if the weather turns bad
     
  4. A good hat helps to soak up the sweat beads that may inadvertently sting your eyes, though the sea spray will do the same
  • Accessories:
    • Japanese Neck Flap - also known as "Good Morning" Neck Towel -
    • made famous by the WWII Japanese soldiers with a rectangular cloth hanging below the jungle caps/helmets (for those adverse to Japanese soldiers - think about the French Foreign Legion and their White Kepi).
    • Or for a more local flavour, think about the neck towel/sausage used by the construction worker. "Good Morning" towels are lightweight, long enough to go round your neck and relatively cheap
    • Think about "Velcro"ing the towel to your hat, as most glued on products may not be able to withstand 3 days of corrosive sea water, have the Velcro sewed on so that the towel is hanging down and covering your neck so that it is not overly exposed to the sun
    • As a backup bailer device, being absorbant it can be used to remove water from your canoe in the event you lose your primary bailer.
    • Throughout the expedition you will feel the heat and the towel is a good way to help cool down your face
    • Crocodile Clips with a string
    • This is a simple device that may save your hat from being swallowed by the sea, one end clips to your shirt, the other your hat
      
    • There is no easy way to describe this, but here is a link for you to see what it looks like - LINK TO ALPINEER.COM's Chums Rope Hat Clip
    • One can probably be made from parts available at Beach Road
  
  
• Sunglass
• Polarized: this helps to cut the glare being reflected back from the sea's surface. Often, polarized shades are expensive, so consider carefully before purchasing. The most important point is to protect your eyes - almost any good pair of shades will be sufficient
• Lightweight: Some shades will sink to the bottom of the ocean! If you are wearing a pair of sunglasses, you might consider whether if floats or add a floatation device to it ... like the original Croakies (BTW, they also have a cap clip - they call it "lid latch")
  
• Matt finish: let's not try to blind your mates on the water

While there is more to survival in the high seas, we'll let you take a break and digest what has been said so far.

Take care and come back for Part 2!

Cheers!