Surf trips in general are as much about the trip as the surf. Amazing waves are the cherry on top, but the sundae is still delicious without it. Torren Martyn is a man who knows this well, and on a relatively recent sojourn to Tasmania, he dipped his toes in the rugged waters on a real hunt. He and travel partner/friend/filmmaker Ishka Folkwell have bitten off about as much as they can chew various times in the past, and this trip was no different.
“As predicted the West was wild and was no place for us in our plastic vessels,” Martyn said after they had returned home safely. “We spent three nights taking refuge up river and then pulled the boats out of the water and retreated down to the far south east to ride the back of the system up the coast. After six weeks and over 700km of sailing, peddling, tacking and gybing our way around Tasmania, it’s time for a break to be back with our families who we have missed a lot and to give the bodies a rest.”
Tasmania is a unique place. The island sits off Australia’s southern edge, at the confluence of three oceans. Untempered swells hammer in from the depths of the notoriously wild Southern Ocean, so it’s a place where the unexpected can be expected.
“It’s a place defined by contrast — from calm, sunlit waters in the north to the wilder, more rugged seas of the south and west,” the Need Essentials, the team’s wetsuit sponsor wrote. “The east coast can feel almost peaceful, with quiet beaches and gentle waves. But looking south or west, you’ll see a different side: rough seas, dramatic cliffs, and weather that can shift quickly. It’s a landscape that asks for respect — especially from those navigating it in small boats.”
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That’s why Martyn and Folkwell decided to explore the vast coastline via 18-foot plastic trimarans. They each sailed one, carrying their gear along with them, following the coastline only with wind and their own pedal power.
“Over several months, Torren and Ishka moved with the rhythm of the weather, letting conditions guide their journey,” Need Essentials continued. “Progress was slow, often shaped by wind, swell, and the need to wait and watch. Along the way, they met people who shared local knowledge and offered insights into the coastline and its ecosystems. They embraced the discomfort — the cold, the unpredictability, the physical and mental demands — and in doing so, began to build a more grounded connection to the place. It wasn’t just about exploring the coastline, but about learning how to move through it with care and awareness.”
The journey is to be made into another amazing film from the minds of Martyn and Folkwell called Fathoming Sea Country. You may remember their epic journeys documented in Lost Track: Atlantic, Thank You, Mother, or Tesoro Enterrado, and if those are anything to judge by, the upcoming film will be necessary viewing.
“I feel very fortunate to have had the run we did and grateful for all the local knowledge shared and the support we have had along the way,” Martyn concluded. “I have a much deeper connection to this rich and diverse island and a huge amount of respect for the ocean around it.”
