Kayaker Tim Taylor went through French Pass today and afterwards went ashore in Elmslie Bay at the settlement of French Pass.

Bad weather forced Tim to spend a day ashore in Kupe Bay on Durville Island yesterday. Today the wind went round to the southwest and would have howled straight into Kupe Bay.

Tim Taylor.

MetService forecast southwest winds rising to 25 knots for a time around midday, with seas becoming rough for a time.

Tim left Kupe Bay at first light before the wind got up and was through French Pass before 9am.
Tim's original plan was to go round the top of Durville Island, but may have changed his mind acting on local advice, says his mum Lyn Taylor.

'We haven't been able to speak because he's been out of coverage,” says Lyn.

'But he has pulled in and I don't know why. He's Elmslie Bay, I would say the weather has made him stop there.”

The Marlborough Sounds themselves funnel strong winds, making navigation difficult at times.

French Pass shortens the distance round Durville Island and avoids the notorious stretch of water between Cape Stephens and Stephens Island. French Pass has its own hazards of eight knot tides, strong eddy currents and whirlpools.