Port Blair, April 18: Tanaz Noble, a Level- 2 Kayak Instructor, certified by the International Canoe Federation and Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association is a local lad from the islands who broke her own record recently by Kayaing 60 Nautical Miles from Chidiyatapu to reach Hut Bay Jetty of Little Andaman Island.
Tanaz started her solo sea kayaking expedition from Chidiyatapuat 05:36 hrs on the 14th of April 2018 with a night halt at North Brother Island. She reached Hut Bay, Little Andaman at 17:40 hrs on the 15th of April 2018 covering a total distance of 60 nautical miles. Her first break was at Passage Island at 10:30 am of the 14th from where she re-started at 4:30 pm and reached North Brother Island by 8pm. Started her journey again at 5:30 am on 15th , the Kayaker reached Little Andaman Island Area no 16 at 10:15 am and then Hut Bay by at 5:40pm.
In April 2015 stepping away from the coastline and into open sea, Tanaz did a Solo open-sea kayak expedition from Barren Island, India’s only active volcano, to Havelock Island all-night non-stop for 11 hours.
In February 2015 she kayaked from Yerratta Jetty, Rangat, Middle Andaman Island to Havelock Island, via Long Island and North Passage Island. She also did a solo by circumnavigating in sea kayak of Havelock Island, covering a distance of 55 kms, many times. Her first time was December 2012 and the fastest timing was 5.5 hours in March 2015.
In March 2013 Tanaz solo sea kayaked along entire coastline of Port Blair from Sippighat area to Wandoor area, via Viper Island and Chidiyatapu. In February 2013 she sea kayaked from Havelock island to Port Blair, a distance of 50 km within 6.5 hours. And in November 2012 the young kayaker solo sea kayaked from Havelock Island Jetty to Neil Island Jetty, on to Sir Hughe Rose Island, and return to Neil Island jetty and subsequently to Havelock Island jetty.
As per records, nobody has kayaked the waters of the Andaman Islands to the extent Tanaz Noble has done. To add to, it can be mentioned that no Indian woman has kayaked these distances at sea and no Indian kayaker has left the coastline and ventured into open sea before.
In a communication to Andaman Chronicle, Tanaz said, “This has been the longest open-sea distance kayaked by me or any Indian woman till date. Many foreign kayakers have kayaked our Indian coastline in the past, but none have ventured into our Andaman waters”.
“Many foreign Sea kayakers have done even greater distances, even inter-continent expeditions. Unfortunately there is yet to be an Indian woman’s name among the greats of solo sea kayaking. I would like to change that. I hope this puts courage into the hearts of so many of our country’s talented kayakers and brings forth many more kayakers to explore these waters and test their own limits”.
Tanaz has expressed gratitude to Port Management Board authorities without whom this expedition would not have been possible. She also thanked her brother, Shiraz Noble for being a true unsung hero of this expedition by supporting her to sustain such long hours in giant seas.
Explaining about Duncan Passage, Tanaz said, it deserves special mention, as this expedition was, in fact, her second attempt at crossing this treacherous Passage. During her first attempt it was at Duncan Passage that she had to make the difficult decision to abort the expedition and turn around due to very rough waters. Even in calm weather there are constantly confused and rough seas and the winds in this area are constantly shifting.
“It is unfair if only I am considered to have done this. Instead it is the Port Management Board, Coast Guard, Navy, MFV Pratima, with its kind, efficient and hard working crew Sanjit Mondal and his son Bhola, and my dear brother, who have completed this expedition with me in spirit”, added the young lady Kayaker.
Tanaz Noble is a Level-2 Kayak Instructor, certified by International Canoe Federation and Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association. She has been instructing and guiding sea kayak tours and expeditions at night and during the day in the Andaman Islands since 2011. She has been guiding night kayak tours revealing the basics of the night’s sky and how to use it for navigation in open sea for 4 years. Additionally Tanaz is certified in First Aid and CPR and successfully completed the Life Rescue training programme held by National Institute of Water Sports.