Petone Matiu Island course 8 km
A good little Northerly greeted 37 paddlers for race 7 of the Surf ski and Waka Ama Series out at Petone on Sunday morning. The field was made up of fairly even numbers of most craft today, and we had a course that started with a downwind leg out to Matiu Island. The Ocean racing skis lead out with Dave Hicks and Hulio McPike taking quite diffrent lines but both getting to the Southern tip of the Island together with most skis leading the way closely followed by the OC.1's of Neil O'Brien and Joern Scherzer and Jack Wormald (Christchurch) and then Taranaki Whanui and Tu Nui clubs in their Waka Ama O.C.6's.
Once around the back of Matiu Island and in the shelter of the flat water a few dramas started to unfold. I think that the words that were uttered at the briefing of erring on the side of caution and staying wide of any rocks went out the window, temptation got the better of us all and we were tempted by a nice little shortcut between the main island and an offshoot rocky outcrop island. It is always nice to let someone else lead at these times and Hulio made the sacrifice in the lead group of two, and bullseye a rock got his rudder and stopped him in his tracks.
The Waka Ama's didn't go unscathed either with two singles loosing their rudders altogether and a few others getting caught in weed.
Neil, Joern and Jack managed the squeeze through the gap eventually and came out unscathed in the lead group of O.C.1 mens, the Sea Kayaks were happy as they had flip rudders, but mostly at the end of the day sometimes a shortcut to save 15 secs is just really not worth it, listening to the race safety briefing (properly) is sometimes a really good idea.
Most were happy with the shortcut especially those who discovered some sea life in abundance and also those that had a dip in the odd rough patch (just to cool off mind you)
On the return Journey home it was all upwind with a bunch of lumpy roller coaster chop just out from the Island and a persistant but smaller chop and a tough shallow run back to the beach all part and parcel of that section of Foreshore. Dave Hicks, fresh from King of the Harbour lead the Ocean Surf skis home, with Dave Ryde being the leading Surf life saving spec ski home, Joern Scherzer headed the O.C 1's which, as usual produced good numbers and close racing in that field. Mereana Mike lead the O.C.1 womans field in with the much improved Taranaki Whanui O.C. 6 crew claiming there first victory of the Season in O.C.6's.
Great weather, great comaradery and great team work with all paddlers looking after each other. Thanks to all paddlers for assisting the Race Organisers by paddling back out and keeping an eye out and checking those at the tail end of the field.
Results
Race 7, Surf ski and Waka Ama SeriesPetone/Matiu Island course (8.5 km)
Waka Ama O.C.1 Men: Joern Scherzer 51:22,1; Neil O'Brien 51:48,2; Jack Wormald 51:59,3; Peki Emery 56:41,4; James Sadler 56:55,5; Brendan Comerford 63:50,6; Royce Kokiri 70:45,7; Star Olsen 72:46,8; Dennis Ngatai 82:34,9.
Waka Ama O.C.1 Women: Mereana Mike 62:30,1; Kris Dahl 65:23,2; Katie Townsend 82:34,3.
Waka Ama O.C.6 Mixed: Taranaki Whanui 56:56,1; Tu Nui 62:58,2.
Waka Ama O.C.2 Womens: Hine & Amanda Kokiri 70:06,1.
Sea Kayaks Men: Dave Fisher 53:42,1; Sandy Winterton 56:43,2.
Sea Kayak Woman: Dianne Morgan 66:08,1.
Ocean Racing Surf ski: Dave Hicks 43:47,1; Chester Burt 44:20,2; Hulio McPike 44:45,3; Lyall Reedy 49:34,4; Liam Drew 50:52,5;Kevin O'Connor 62:29,6.
Surf Life saving ski: Dave Ryde 51:08,1; Wil Van Breda 68:21,2.
You can view the race article on http://www.surfski.co.nz/ and http://www.sportzhub.com/ results should be in the Dompost "scoreboard" section tomorrow morning.
The next race of the Series is: March 1, 2009 and will be out at Ngatitoa Domain, Mana The course will be 10km and will be around the Plimmerton reef and Bays, Pauatanui Estuary and Porirua Harbour areas.
further info:
Chester or Sharlene 04 976-1795
chester.burt@gmail.com
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