Having seen my attempt at a one day circumnavigation of Maria Island, Matthew Watton decided to give it a go. He has (in the last couple of months) finished first in the sea kayak section of the Murray River Marathon, had a ten day trip to Flinders Island in January, and crossed Bass Strait in February. Fit? You'd better believe it.

I saw his car down by the mouth of the river in Orford while I was building, and wandered down late in the day to see what was going on, and he told me he was camping there for an early start in the morning. Seeing I was only a minute away he came up to stay the night, after hiding the kayak in Chris's parents front yard.

We sat around in the evening and I heard a bit about the Flinders trip, and the Bass Strait crossing. He was planning to be on the water at 5.00am so we didn't sit up all night.

About 4.30am he roused me from a deep sleep, and we went down to the river and I helped him carry the kayak to the water. About 5.00am he was away, lost immediately from sight in the darkness.

I worked on the house all day, thinking he should be back about 3.00pm. I just happened to look out at 2.45pm and there he was almost behind the trees as he entered the river, and landed about 12 minutes to 3. Just under 10 hours. Brilliant. That record should last for a few years, and will give any sea kayaker who thinks he has a bit of speed and stamina something to chase. Well done Matthew.
Laurie Ford.