Wish you were here.

Wow nice conditions to blood the local surf ski paddlers into Ocean Racing.

Today's recce paddle down the Mana Kapiti Coastline went pretty much without a hitch.

This 19 km stint today from Ngatitoa Domain to Paekakariki is the fore runner to the big "Welly Downwinder" in December 2014 or January 2015. With the huge Ocean Racing World Series event "The Doctor" in Perth now changed to the end of November we are looking to position our event before or after.....with the idea that International paddlers, especially those from the Northern Hemisphere, Australia and South Africa may wish to cross the ditch to extend their break from home and stay "Down under" for the two week period.

The course is a pearler even in the lighter South Easterly that we had today, which is offered a bit of shelter along the Coastline.......when the Northerly comes through it's "game on" and you can get some huge linking down wind runs..... along this mix of rocky and sandy beached Coastline.

All paddlers we all pretty much organised for the cooler 13 degrees C temperatures and a keen 28kmh Southeasterly that belted through a couple of times with 55 kmh gusts off the valleys and ridge tops between Te RewaRewa Point and Wairaka Point (just before

Pukerua Bay).

The last 9km from this point produced some of the best linking swells we could get with 3/4 metre to 1 metre swells providing plenty of forward momentum.

We started in two groups the first group of three had a 6 minute head start and the next group of 5 off after that.

Big thanks to the paddlers Rueben Hill (Paekakariki) Graham Daniel (Whitby) Dave McKnight (Tawa) Mike Tate (Levin) Neil Taylor (Nelson) Leon Rossbotham (Whangaroa, Bay of Islands) Jeff Booth (Eastbourne) Chester Burt (Miramar).

Big thanks to Sharlene Winiata, Leonie Howell & Sarah, Kate Booth, Lei Faletolu, Bart Fletcher, Pauline Dennehy, Catriona, James & Connor McKnight and Monica (Neil's girl friend)....... For acting as transportion dynamos, shoreline safety points and also providing some great photos.

Here's a few photos from Bart Fletcher just to wet everyone's appetites.........a slideshow to come tomorrow night and also some on water video from Dave McKnight....the video may also feature some dolphins that Dave spotted...........as long as the battery didn't go flat!

some photos here....more tomorrow.... off to work now!

click on any photo to enlarge