One of the final sets of equipment we required for our overnight training and the Tasman row itself is our onboard living kit - sleeping bags, cutlery, bowls, headlamps, and thermal flasks. Step in Auckland store Bivouac Outdoor, who have come to our aid.
Bivouac Outdoor has stores around New Zealand including four stores in Auckland and each one has a huge and diverse stock of quality kit for outdoors enthusiasts. Their expert advisers helped us select the best kit for the tough and unusual environment of the Tasman Sea. Our special thanks go to the team at the 210 Queen Street who have become our team store.
Sleeping bags are vital for our recovery in the short two-hour breaks we get between rowing. Research led us to the Marmot Trestles 30 Sleeping Bag, a light and compact bag stuffed with synthetic insulation that won’t shift or bunch thanks to its special wave construction.
We tested it on a row around Great Barrier Island and quickly found that crawling into a warm, comfortable sleeping bag that wasn't soggy was the only goal after a wet, cold and windy shift at the oars.
We also needed some bright, reliable headlamps that will work well when the Tasman throws its worst at us. Bivouac Outdoor recommended the Black Diamond Storm waterproof LED headlamp. These are perfect for night-time use, whether it be moving around the boat to find some equipment or when you need your hands for the oars. The white and red light options mean we don't lose our night vision and have proved to be invaluable.
The next challenge was some tough thermal flasks to keep our freshly boiled water at high temperatures for as long as possible for our Back Country meals and cups of tea. This will mean we can keep the amount of times we need to light the stove to a minimum.
The high-quality Primus Vacuum Flasks solved that. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay used a Primus on Mount Everest when they reached the summit in 1953. If it's good enough for New Zealand's favourite son, it's good enough for us, although there have been some improvements since then!
To complete our media kit we needed some Go Pro HERO cameras, the world’s only 1080p HD on-board video and still photo watersports camera which is fully waterproof to 60 metres. Bivouac Outdoor is an authorised dealer so has the full range of cameras and accessories.
James Blake, our onboard camera specialist, will attach three Go Pro HERO HD cameras to our boat so we can capture all the best (and worst) moments of the row.
The Bivouac Queen Street team have kindly provided a spare Go Pro HERO HD camera for one lucky Team Gallagher supporter to win. All you have to do is answer three simple questions. Please read our terms and conditions before entering.
Thank you to Assistant Manager Andrew Turnbull and his team at Bivouac Outdoor Queen Street for their support. Pop in and see them at 210 Queen St or check them out online at http://www.bivouac.co.nz.