PIRATES-UMHLANGA-PIRATES – SERIES RACE 8
Like I said last week, you never get it all your own way in this old traditional race. We were all jumping for joy when we saw the small surf at the start. This place can get mean. When we returned the tide had gone out and the sand bank still claimed a few scalps.
Although it was a bit cold on the water, the field enjoyed a light down wind fun paddle to the half way mark at the Umhlanga Rocks lighthouse. We turned into a fairly fresh head wind, annoying chop, which turned the race into a 3 hour slog for some of the slower competitors.
I switched to double ski for this and the remaining races in preparation for the Scottburgh to Brighton Marathon, in 3 weeks time, in which double ski is the feature race this year. Myself and work colleague, Mark Mulder finished in a credible 3rd place overall behind a rampant Barry Lewin and Ant Stott, and Quinton Rutherford and Brain Taylor who have been dominating proceedings in the series up until recently.
NEW APEX DOUBLE SKI - We used the race as a comparative exercise between our old APEX, (which we used in the race), to the new APEX, which we will have in the water this weekend for the first time. We have kept the stable hull shape the same to keep the ski within the reach of novices, but have drastically improved both cockpits, also moving the cockpits slightly further forward in the ski, making it even more competitive. The size range has been increased drastically in both cockpits.
The ski is a great balance, suitable for novices, but very competitive in open ocean conditions, in particularly down wind. We will have to see how we go this coming weekend. Report and pictures to follow.
NEW MARINE SLSC CLUBHOUSE – Marine Surf Lifesaving Club, has been a strong surfski paddling hub for a number of years and in addition to the long tradition that Marine has in Surf lifesaving, the club has always had a very large paddling membership in excess of 200 paddlers. The new facility caters for 300 members racks excluding the clubs other function of housing, sea rescue rubber docks, surf boats, club craft, nipper division etc.
The new facility is really stunning. It has all the creature comforts of a first class club house and situated along the new revamped Durban promenade, will become the hub for surfski, triathlon, lifesaving etc. Although not completed, the first ski race took place there a few weeks ago, supported by a very excited enthusiastic crowd of paddlers. See pictures 1&2
SURF BOAT – I really must commend the MARINE SLSC surf boat crew, who without any major competition during the Winter months, take part in all 10 of the Durban Winter Surfski series races. Boat Captain, Gary Brummer uses the opportunity to develop new oarsmen for the boat crew, create awareness of surf boating in South Africa and to keep up the momentum of Marines amazing club spirit. What they do is not easy and they have the prospect of rowing the full distance of the 46km Scottburgh to Brighton to look forward to. See picture 3 from one of the races.
SERIES RACE 9 – This weekends race is a down wind race of about 22km in the open ocean South of Durban. Can’t wait.
See you on the water
MARK
