"Do we have to wear spray decks?" Judy asked as we went through the kayak briefing. "We didn't need them on Sydney harbour, and they always make me feel unsafe."
"Yep, everyone has to wear skirts on this trip," I replied with a smile, referring to the neoprene deck covers by their other popular name. "These are full sea kayaks. For the first few days, we will be inside the reef, and skirts aren't critical, but if the wind comes up suddenly and we are outside the reef or if we have to cross the reef with an awkward current, the deck becomes essential to staying afloat."
We were starting a nine-day kayak trip around Upolu, the
