Welly Paddlers

Hi All,

Great day out there in Evans Bay today, the predicted light Northerly ended up being a 70 kph one so it produced some good surfable swells.

We had a good range of craft on the water today and the 20 paddlers that took part enjoyed the conditions.

The 7 km course was actually 8.3 km in the end thanks to the GPS on board with Dave today.

This year we will attempt to get better downwind sections on our courses, and to achieve this today the best way to do this was to utilise a two lap course and with the help of a bit of shelter at Greta Point the upwind leg was sheltered slightly in parts.

It is good to see another Waka Ama club in Wellington (yet unnamed) but they hail from the Taranaki Whanui Iwi (Apolgies to Holden if I've mis spelt this information) and I say this because they came out and supported the first race of our Series and it was probably their first race as a club also. Special mention must go to Kokiri who were able to support them by loaning their trailor to bring the O.C.6 around to Evans Bay.

Sharlene was able to take some good photos of todays race: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29817729@N02/sets/72157607289355892/show/

The next race in 2 weeks time will be from the middle of the Petone Foreshore near the two giant oars. The course will be out around Matiu Island and back which is around 7 to 8 km the GPS will tell the truth on that one in two weeks.

I will send an e-mail out on the Thursday a few days before to confirm the venue. The day before.............. if the weather looks dicey you can phone us on 0274-581-005 to confirm exactly where the race will take place............... we will have "plan b" courses for every race so there will be no postponements/cancellations.

If any clubs are short of paddlers to crew an O.C.6 you know that you can always ask one of the other clubs if they have a spare paddler or 2 or 3.

This Series is all about bringing Clubs and paddlers together Wellington is one big community after all................... rivalries are like................ us against Auckland................. or us against Canterbury................... or if it's Hurricanes versus Canterbury................it's us versus Canterbury and Steve Walsh :-)

Thanks today to the Sea Kayakers who are back with us this year, from the Kupe Canoe Club we also have the Mana Kayak Racing Club here in Wellington based out at Onepoto, you may see some of there paddlers come along as well. There are also a number of paddlers who do not belong to clubs, but also show good support to this Series as well.

If you know people who are interested in getting out on the water with us, please get them to come along, sports grow when you include new people.

Don't forget it's not totally about racing for the Town clock in this series...........you can come along and use these series races as training or to build fitness.............. we give results mainly so you get to know each others names and get an idea on how long it takes to paddle a distance for your own future reference................... for some of us who are showing off and coming in a little ahead at the moment it's because I've been training my butt off lately for a 90 km river marathon in 5 weeks...............

Below are results from today you will also find these in the Dompost tomorrow or Tuesday and you can read other info results and photos on our blogspot and also view reports on http://www.surfski.co.nz/ and
www.sportzhub.com

If anyone would like their name added or removed from this mailing list please e- mail me back.

Regards,

Chester and Sharlene

Canoeing Wellington Race 1, Surf ski and Waka Ama SeriesEvans Bay course 8.3 km Waka Ama men: Neil O'Brien 50:31,1; Joern Scherzer 51:18,2; Craig Allen D.N.F Waka Ama Women: Raewyn Anderson 61:56 Waka Ama O.C.6: Tunui 54:27,1; Te Maramatangi 54:38.Sea Kayaks: David Fisher 55:18,1; Pete Notman 56:17,2.Surf ski: Chester Burt 44:28,1; Jimmie Fourie 53:39,2.