Patrick about to start paddling for wave (8)
I believe the answer is:
whitecap
'for wave' is the definition.
(whitecap is a kind of wave)
'patrick about to start paddling' is the wordplay.
'patrick' becomes 'White' (Australian author Patrick White).
'about' becomes 'ca' (abbreviation for 'circa').
'to start' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'paddling' is 'p'.
'white'+'ca'+'p'='WHITECAP'
(Other definitions for whitecap that I've seen before include "A mountain" , "Redstart" , "American vigilante" , "has one wave" , "Crested wave" .)