Started early Staurday morning making sure all my nutrition, water, maps, gps, torches etc were packed and nothing left behind. Headed out to Windsor and headed through a lot of smoke as there were apparently 70 back burns being undertaken across Sydney.
Arriving at Macquarie Park there were crafts of all shapes and colours.
With almost 600 paddlers in the race it was time to get in line for scrutineering.
With everything on the checklist ticked off, it was time to sit in the shade and try to relax. It was really hot even in the shade and without realising it I actually drunk 3 litres before the race even started.
As we headed off into the afternoon/night/morning into the wind and against the tide I tried to settle into a nice rythym at about 7km/hr. Unfortunately I couln't hold this as the Suplove Stingray just wanted to go faster and it was hard keeping it below 8km/hr. I knew this would come back to haunt me and it would not be the last time I saw a canoe/kayak/OC past me.
The first pit stop at Cattai was the first goal (12.4km) after getting into a good rythym it came up pretty quick and as I was feeling good I decided not to stop and continue onto Sackville (31km).
I knew this was going to be the hardest stretch into the wind and against a full flowing tide. It was about 10:30-11:45 that I hit the first wall. After hitting lots of weed for about 15km and the unrelenting tide I started to think what was I doing. Then it all seemed to come together. Cleared all the weed and had two kyakers setting a nice pace that I could sit with and that pulled me over the wall.
I knew the next stretch to Wisemans Ferry (64km) would be the quickest with outgoing tide and only light winds. Getting into Wisemans felt good as I had managed to make up a little time. With a little strecthing, warm clothes and some food I was off again to make the most of the last bits of the outgoing tide.
Even though it was all down hill from Wisemans I knew that this was the long stretch into the finish (64km-111km).
There are some interesting characters in this race and on this leg I met 4 guys from UNSW who had made there own 4 man OC and had attached a stereo to the ama, so this provided a good hour of entertainment.
As the sky started to lighten and I rounded the corner from Spencer I felt a big thud. Looked down and there were jellyfish the size of your head floating around. 100s of them. All I could think of was the stories I have heard of people having to dodge turtles on the Maliko run and thought the last thing I need now is to rip the fin out and not be able to finish.
As dawn turned into morning I knew the finish line was just around the corner and would have the tide with me for the last hour or so. With the finish line in site and two kms to go I decided to put whatever I had left in me to sprint to the line. With cheers from the crowd and the announcer urging me on it felt good to cross that line
Also a big congratulations to Lanee Beashel who became the first women to complete the classic on a SUP.
Big thanks to Stuart Murray from Suplove for all his positive advice and guidance over the last few months and the very gracious offer of one of his race boards as well as a bag of fins, paddles, rig everything.
Also to Matt Worley (Worslup) for his advice on nutrition and training, Paul from Under Armour and my support crew.
Great effort mate
and thanks for the words and pics.
Those long distant races in Hawaii would be a walk in the park for you after that effort! The longest I've ever paddled in the flat is 50 kms averaging 7 minutes a kilometre when I was training for the Hawaiian Molokai Race because the winds where wrong for an ocean paddle. I find paddling in the flat as boring as (Help Me Please Mr Wizard) so I take my hat of to you.
And well done to you Lanee you're a weapon your boyfriend I recon would make love to you like a mink and not like a lion!
see ya in da ocean DW
