Surf skis, Waka Ama and SUP's hit the water again in good numbers for Race 2 of 4 of the Series run by Garth Spencer and Rachael Dodwell. Garth is the man behind Pacific Ocean Paddlers and Rachael is a K1 sprint paddler who dabbles in a bit of surf ski.
The event was based from the Royal Akarana Yacht Club...but had Lamond Start 400 metres south from the Club on the sandy beach at Okahu Bay close to Fergs Kayaks.
There was a 6 km and 18km option and due to the lack of wind the option was to go for a 6km circuiit course....so 3 laps for the long course.
From the start paddlers headed out through the gap in the poles near The Aquarium then along the pole line and west towards the far entrance into the Orakei Basin along the breakwater then under two more bridges before shooting back around the corner to RAYC to complete the circuit.
The Race start was at 2.30pm.......with high tide at 12.30pm but it was clear things were moving on the water with a golf tidal flow out the City end of the basin, which was akin to paddling upriver....but only for a mere 50 odd metres. It's swings and roundabouts and on the flip side we had a god outgoing flow at the RAYC end as we headed back out under the two bridges.
There was just enough boat wake on the course to make it interesting and the run from The Aquarium along the Poles to Orakei basin had some positive little swells to run all craft down that leg of the course.
A great spectator course plenty of craft to paddle with, great company well Organised......a big thumbs up......put one of these events on your must do list.
To view results and more about P.O.P www.pacificoceanpaddlers.com
Here's some pics
Click on any photo to enlarge
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