Kaustubh Khade’s first tryst with kayaking began in Goa and
it is perhaps befitting that he chose to undertake his pilot and record
breaking long-distance paddle from Mumbai to Goa. “It all began at Palolem when a friend and I
decided to kayak out, rather than hire a mechanised boat, to spot the dolphins. The waters were choppy, but needless to say I
fell in love with the sport. It’s the reason I chose the route to Goa,” recalls
Kaustubh, who trained with under 12-time world champion in Surfski racing Oscar
Chalupsky, and later went on to represent India at two Asian championships –
winning two silver and one bronze at the Asian Dragon Boat Championships
(Thailand 2012) and finishing fifth out of 17 at the Asian Sea Kayaking (Krabi
2013).
These two championships were the precedents for a new
idea. “I was stuck with the thought of
doing something never attempted before – to kayak the Indian coastline. The Mumbai-Goa kayaking expedition was but
the pilot project of the bigger plan,” explains Kaustubh. The Magic Bus campaign to raise funds for
underprivileged kids through sports raised the ante of this pilot project even
further. “I always wanted to do something for the Magic Bus kids ever since I
graduated in 2009,” explains this IIT graduate who proved his mettle in the
sports arena as well playing football, track field and as captain of the rugby team.
“I truly believe in the purpose of Magic Bus. They have a phenomenal team and
they do an amazing job of getting kids engaged in sports and imparting them
with life skills,” he avers.
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Navigating the Arabian Sea from Mumbai to Goa on a solo trip
that took 17 out of the planned 20 days has been a gruelling, but nevertheless
rewarding experience gaining Kaustubh access to the Lima Book of records as the
Longest Solo Kayaking expedition by an Indian in the process. The journey that
was flagged off from Gateway Mumbai on February 14 this year, circumventing
Kihim, Kashid, Diveagar, Velas Beach, Murud, Anjanvel, Velneshwar,
Ganpatiphule, Ratnagiri, Godavne, Devgad, Tarkarli and Vengurla, culminated in Morjim, Goa on March 2,
covering a distance of 416 kms (220 nautical miles). “The journey was for 17 days. I paddled for 14 days and of the three
planned breaks managed only two. The 12th day was the toughest on the stretch
from Tarkali to Vengurla. There was a
constant wind blowing and waves coming right at me. My 19 foot kayak would have toppled had I
stopped paddling. On a day I averaged 7.5kms, but that day, just managed 4 kms.
The toughest time to paddle is between 9.30am to 11am. That is the time when the sun is not entirely
up and the heat beats down on the body and the glare from the water blinds,”
explains Kaustubh who was accompanied by his parents on the safety boat
travelling along side.
Beset by heat and dehydration and the ensuing muscle
fatigue, cramps and calluses despite being in his custom-built hybrid Epic
kayak, Kaustubh credits his endurance to
the three-month prior training, for which he took time off from work. “My
training regime at Mandwa was rigorous, well-planned and accompanied by a good
diet. I would do endurance training for three hours in the morning. Then
practice balance and speed in the afternoon when winds and tides are the
strongest. I also practised different techniques in different kayaks,” shares
Kaustubh.
Having thus braved his pilot project, Kaustubh is all geared
to realise his ambition to kayak across India’s 7,500 km coastline, to promote
the sport which he avers can be a brilliant leisure activity if one acquires
the right technique.
