Eating my creamed rice before the Ocean Champs, Fremantle.

It's been a busy week.

I took part in my first ICF World Ocean Racing Championships yesterday. It was the first time that this championship had been held in Australia and as it was in Perth I just had to give it a go. 
Although I have paddled a kayak thousands of kilometres on the ocean, this was my first ocean race on a ski. (I might even give it another go.) Living on the river, I suppose I find it difficult to drive across to the ocean to paddle.
The wind was blowing and it was hard paddling 2 kms out to a buoy where we turned to head with the wind to Scarborough. The ski was crashing up and down on that section.
After the turn there were some good surfing waves, and although I got lot of rides, the top guys flew past me like I was standing still. I thought the ocean got a little messy near the end but others may have loved it.

It was near the end that I noticed a paddler in the water and his ski was flying away from him. Several paddlers paddled by, but I couldn’t go by without asking him if he needed help. He was trying to get the attention of a boat that was motoring near the finish turn buoy, but it wasn't close and I imagine they couldn’t see him. 

He did want help and he asked me to pull him to his ski. He hooked onto my stern hand hold and I started paddling. Unfortunately his ski was travelling faster than we were, but at least it was headed in the direction of the finish line. 
After several hundred metres and the closer we got to shore the waves got bigger and we were awash at times. After I got him to within a swimming distance of the beach, I asked him if he could now swim in. It wasn't going to be easy for him as he had his paddle and the surf looked a good size. 
When he let go I paddled back out to sea to get around the finish turn buoy and then paddled towards shore.

The surf didn’t look good and several paddlers were being washed off their skis. I thought I was doing well and then a big wave picked me up and that was it, the next thing I knew I was slipping off the ski and was dumped in the water. I was hoping no other paddlers were behind me as I didn't fancy being hit by another ski. 

When I surfaced it wasn’t an easy walk out of the water, as there were lots of dips and holes in the sand. Once out of the water it was a trot up the beach to the finish line and my first downwind ocean race was over.

Results here:

2023 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships (bluechipresults.com.au) 

It's not very often Jenny comes to the start or finish of a race, but yesterday she watched me come into the beach at Scarborough and get dumped by a wave. She was most impressed!

I hope there are no photos!!

The finish line.

The surf was much wilder than that yesterday.

Photo John O'Sullivan.

Presentation time. 
Mixed doubles, SUPs and Masters presentations will be on Saturday.

Cory Hill and Jemma Smith,
ICF Ocean Racing Champions.
Photo Paddle Australia.

Last week I was kindly invited to the Over 45 Canoe Club Christmas lunch and what a lavish lunch it was. Although I am not a member I see the club members on the river all the time when they paddle up towards Ascot.  Many also paddle boats that I sold them.

They are an active bunch of people, easy-going and friendly who love to paddle and socialise. The club has about 95 members. They have that many paddlers on their social paddling trips that their biggest problem is finding enough parking to cater for all their cars. 

If social paddling is your dream, then join one of the many over 45 groups.

My bird book, 
Birds Along The Way 
is on track for me to pick up next Tuesday.

I intend to be at Ascot Kayak Club on Saturday 9^th, 16^th & 23^rd December from 9.00am to 11.00am and on Tuesday night the 19^th from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. Other times will be arranged on demand.

Christmas special - $35.00

I no longer have credit a card machine so its Only cash or bank transfer.
 0417977330

or send me a message

terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au 

• ICF Ocean Racing Championships
• Paddlers of the Week
• Ascot Pairs Enduro
• Canning Classic Race
• The Doctor Race
• Paddling in the Cold
• Birds Along the Way
• Coming Events

Paddlers of the Week

Connor & Beau Jacob.

These guys are the real deal.

They are into all types of paddling and they are good at them all.

They are as 'keen as mustard'.

To come 5th in the Pairs Enduro on Sunday, coming just behind Dave & Darryl was a top effort.

And to think Beau is only 13 years old and Connor 16.

They have already been paddling over 5 years.

Connor paddled the Ocean World Champs, but Beau is too young.

Connor and Beau remind me of when brothers Darryl and Neil Long started paddling, although Neil and Darryl didn't start until being 15 & 16 years old. They too were very enthusiastic  and into all the different disciplines that were around at that time. Ocean downwind ski racing wasn't one of them but we did have races from City Beach to Sorrento and a race to Rottnest, but they were in kayaks. Safety became a concern so those ocean races in kayaks were eventually fizzled out.

David Ahmed & Darryl Long at the AKC Pairs Enduro Race. 
Both paddled the Doctor Race the day before, David in a single and Darryl in mixed pairs.

David was once a WA local paddler, in flat, white water and the ocean, then he went to Cairns to live and work, but he returns to WA quite a lot and he is always here for the Doctor Race and other special events.

They both did the Ocean World Championships yesterday.

Ascot Pairs Enduro

The good thing about this handicapped race is that most teams hit the finish line within 5-10 minutes of the first paddler.

Chris Watson & Bronwyn Martin.

Photo Doug Hodson.

Chris & Bronwyn started 4 minutes in front so Jordy and I had to get in under 4 minutes behind them to beat them. We were 15 seconds short.

Photo Doug Hodson.

Anita & Veronica, Ray & Izzy and Spencer & John.

Photo Doug Hodson.

U18 Taya Cassidy / Matilda Reekie

Results here:

https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=336425

Canning Classic Race

10th December 2023

Register for 2022 Canning River Race - 10th Dec

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=336532

Rego & Start Locations:

Main Race [14 km]: Deep Water Point, Mt Pleasant Car shuffle required for main race. 

The Doctor Race

Rottnest to Sorrento

On the beach at Rottnest.

Photo John O'Sullivan

They are off.

Photo John O'Sullivan

Tom Norton came second in the Doctor Race, but he's had a good week as he won the two Sunset races and came 9th in the Fenn West Coast Downwinder.

Photo John O'Sullivan

Doctor Results Here:

Shaw and Partners AORS (bluechipresults.com.au)

Paddling in the Cold 

Whilst we are paddling in the extreme heat think of those poor souls who are paddling in the cold.

This years trip will be on Saturday 16th December...starting at Old London Rd West Drayton and Ending at Chainbridge lane. A comfortable nine miles downhill.
Under normal conditions this is an easy river for anyone comfortable in moving water.
Please note there are 3 tiny weirs to negotiate and a slightly larger one at Hallcroft which can be portaged if you don't like the look of it.
Water levels will be monitored. We will aim for an early start time and hopefully be on the water for about 9.30  in order to finish in daylight.
This trip comes with bacon butties fitted as standard, a veggie option will be provided, but let me know
Camping may be available approx. a mile from the put in...this was generously made available last year by one of the Beggars, hopefully I will be able to confirm one way or the other in the near future.

Bowron Lakes, British Columbia, Canada in mid November. 

There's water out there somewhere!

 River Ogre in Latvia.

These guys are keen.

Luxury camping. 

Birds Along The Way

I had one cloudless evening this week to get a few moon shots.

Great Cormorant.

White Faced Heron.

White Faced Heron.

Unfortunately the moon wasn't in the right place to get a photo in the background of this Pelican.

A Darter.

Little Pied Cormorants.

Canning Classic Race

10th December 2023

Register for 2022 Canning River Race - 10th Dec

https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=336532

Rego & Start Locations:

Main Race [14 km]: Deep Water Point, Mt Pleasant Car shuffle required for main race 

Short/Guppy Races:

Riverton Drive, East Riverton Rego Notes:

PA Number:

Insert as "PA001234", insert zeros to make up to 6 digits if necessary. Format DOB 08-05-1956 with hyphens. Contact race organiser if there is a problem

Team boats:

All team members must register individually. Select boat & category. Provide name of each team member.

Courses [See Map]:

Main Race [14Km]:

To top of Bull Creek, left around buoy, back & right up Canning River, past Shelley and Riverton fore-shore to Kent St. Weir [short cut only permitted on way up], left round buoy. Finish at Riverton Drive.

Race Day Schedule

Main Race [Deep Water Point]: 

Registration: <07.00

Briefing: <<07.45

Race Start: <08.15

Short Course [6km]:

To Kent St Weir [short cut only permitted on way up], left round buoy. Finish at Riverton Drive.

Novice & Guppy Course [3.5km]:

Up through short cut and right around buoy. Previous requirement for U10 in GK2 has been changed. Guppies can compete in whichever boat they would like

Note that novices and recreational paddlers are encouraged to enter either the Short course or the Novice course. The Novice course will be escorted.

Short & Guppy [Riverton]:

Register: <<07.30

Briefing: <<08.15

Start: <<08.45

Battle of the Bay 

Busselton

16th December 2023