Review
"Chris takes us on an intimate journey . . . . He explores not only some of the most challenging coastline in the world, but also the inner joys and torment of the long distance solo paddler . . . a beautifully written and compelling read." --John Dowd, author of Sea Kayaking: A Manual for Long-Distance Touring


Review
"Chris takes us on an intimate journey . . . . He explores not only some of the most challenging coastline in the world, but also the inner joys and torment of the long distance solo paddler . . . a beautifully written and compelling read." --John Dowd, author of Sea Kayaking: A Manual for Long-Distance Touring


Review
"Chris takes us on an intimate journey . . . . He explores not only some of the most challenging coastline in the world, but also the inner joys and torment of the long distance solo paddler . . . a beautifully written and compelling read." --John Dowd, author of Sea Kayaking: A Manual for Long-Distance Touring


Book Description
In this epic tale of sea-kayaking adventure, award-winning author Chris Duff places readers in the cockpit of his 18-foot kayak and lets them experience the full power and beauty of the South Pacific Ocean and the wild energy of the Tasman Sea as it thunders onto New Zealand's uninhabited west coast. Not just an account of human physical endurance and determination to attempt what had only been accomplished once before, this exquisitely written narrative reveals the philosophical and psychological life of a man who has chosen the sea as the master to sit before and to learn from. The intense and often terrifying sea journey is balanced by serendipitous meetings along the way with friendly New Zealanders and with the diverse wildlife of this tiny and remote island country. Southern Exposure is a force of writing that will captivate the armchair adventurer as well as the seasoned ocean traveler.


From the Back Cover
Experience the full power and beauty of the wild seas off the largely uninhabited coast of New Zealand's South Island. Southern Exposure is the firsthand account of how Chris Duff accomplished what only one man had done before. Not just a tale of physical endurance and determination, this epic sea kayaking adventure reveals the philosophical and psychological life of a man who has chosen the sea as his spiritual master. Southern Exposure's stunning photos and vivid descriptions of Duff's setbacks and triumphs will captivate the armchair adventurer as well as the seasoned ocean traveler.


About the Author
Chris Duff has traveled more than 15,000 miles by sea kayak and was the first person ever to solo circumnavigate England, Wales, and Scotland. He is the author of On Celtic Tides (St. Martin's Press, 1999) and has contributed articles to Sea Kayaker magazine and the anthology Seekers of the Horizon (Globe Pequot, 1989). He lives in Port Angeles, Washington.


Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
All the years of paddling, the thousands of miles of exploring, the whales, the seals, the albatrosses, the sunsets and the wonder of the sea, all vanished into the awful terror that what I feared most was actually happening. "My God I'm going to get blown out to sea!" The realization flashed through my mind as the fear soared and started to flare into panic. "THE RADIO! GET THE RADIO OUT." Another blast from the side hit with such force that the boat went over on its edge and hung there for seconds without rolling. The blasts shifted slightly and the boat recovered with a hip snap. "FORGET THE RADIO." I didn't stand a chance of opening the hatch behind my seat and getting it out. If I let go of the paddle for an instant it would be ripped out of the other hand and would be gone just like the chart. "FOCUS. JUST STAY FOCUSED. THERE'S NO ONE TO CALL ANYWAY!" The bow dove again and I ducked into the wave that broke over me. I lay low over the foredeck trying to minimize the sail area of my body, and trying to breath with my chest compressed and the water flying into my face. I jammed my feet onto the pegs, pushed myself farther back in the seat and locked my thighs under the cockpit cowling. My legs started shaking from the strain of trying to keep the bow dead into the wind. If the wind caught the bow and swung it off course I'd never get it back.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Experience the full power and beauty of the wild seas off the largely uninhabited coast of New Zealand's South Island. Southern Exposure is the firsthand account of how Chris Duff accomplished what only one man had done before. Not just a tale of physical endurance and determination, this epic sea kayaking adventure reveals the philosophical and psychological life of a man who has chosen the sea as his spiritual master. Southern Exposure's stunning photos and vivid descriptions of Duff's setbacks and triumphs will captivate the armchair adventurer as well as the seasoned ocean traveler.

SYNOPSIS

An extraordinary account of the author's 1700-mile circumnavigation of New Zealand's South Island by sea kayak, combining high adventure on terrifying seas with an inner journey of the mind.

FROM THE CRITICS