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Are You Interested
in
Up Skilling - Refining -
Improving
Your Basic Paddle Strokes & Skills?
If so why not join this course.
Suitable for paddlers who have some knowledge of the basic strokes.
(Using 3 – 4 metre white water
kayaks.)
This course will run for 5 – 6 sessions depending on paddler’s skill level.
The idea is improve people’s paddle strokes & skills to an advanced level or to a Basic Skills Instructor level & beyond. Paddlers must be in a Club or belong to Paddle WA
Contact Terry 0417977330 or terry@canoeingdownunder.com.au
The Avon Descent Training Course Starts this evening (Friday 13th March) Flat water first....
With superior flat water strokes & skills - the easier it is to master the white water.
Australia Sprint Championships taking place at Champion Lakes again today and run until Sunday lunchtime. Masters join in on Saturday & Sunday
Tuesday evening Progressive Racing Group time trial at Ascot. Slalom paddlers Kai & Rhys lead Kate & Nigel
Ascot Kayak Club City Lights Race
The long and the short of it. Selena had no problem seeing over me. Photo Babett Fekete. Results here:- City Lights 2026 | Race
results | Webscorer The City Lights Race is a race that my wife Jenny doesn’t particularly like. It’s not the race itself, it’s the fact that she is asked to drive my big landcruiser back from the start of the race which has gears that she is not used to. For 364 days of the year she drives a nice easy to drive Toyota automatic Rav 4. As I usually paddle my long Epic
double it really needs a long car body to carry it. Even then it hangs more than it should over the back of the vehicle. This year I was paddling with Selena Lloyd. She hadn’t paddled 29 kms before so it could be a tough race for her. On our start line we had Paul & Tink
Measey, Ash Townsend & Izzy Maddison and Warren Southwell and Anne Harris. On paper, three of the teams I thought were equally matched, but Paul & Tink were the dark horses. When Danny started the race Paul & Tink sped ahead like two people possessed. But Ash & Izzy were equally as mad as they crazily took off after them. Selena & I managed to have our moment of
madness and got behind Ash & Izzy for a short time, but after a few hundred metres we realised that we couldn’t keep it up. By now Warren & Anne had come across and they were sitting beside us and as we turned and approached the pipeline a big fish jumped out of the water and hit the bow of Warren & Anne’s ski.
Our grid were off. Photo Babett Fekete.
As we crossed the shallows after the pipeline Paul & Tink and Ash & Izzy were several metres ahead and by their speed it looked as if we wouldn’t see them ever again. So that just left me & Selena and Warren & Anne to fight it out. However by the time we got to the Shelley Sailing Club we were catching up with Ash & Izzy as they
had lost Paul & Tink. They paddled to the left of the convict poles and we followed, but Warren & Anne kept to the right of the poles. For some reason Ash & Izzy then decided to move over to the right of the poles which I thought was a bit risky as they would be crossing submerged poles they couldn’t see. Nevertheless they started to cross over so not wanting to lose them I took the same path hoping that they would hit the post first and we could deviate. As luck should have it we both crossed over without hitting anything. Warren & Anne soon caught up so we were three heading to Salter Point sandbar. It looked deep enough to cut the corner across the sandbar, however we were pressured by the other two boats to the left of it and towards the spit post. I could sense that Warren was shepherding us towards the post so he could then do a quick short cut sprint across the sandbar to lose us, which he did. However I was ready for his move and we managed to speed up in the deeper water and get in front of them. So now we were split, Warren & Anne and Ash & Izzy were over on our right but we were
travelling on a more direct line and leading. They eventually caught up in the shallows under Mount Henry Bridge where we were met some kamikaze jet skis and a few boats that gave out some good solid waves.
Paul & Tink Measey shooting off and never to be seen again. Photo Gordon Innes.
Some faster paddlers on the next grid after us taking off.
Only one pair, Garth & Jade, caught Selena and I before the finish. Photo Babett Fekete.
As we headed under Canning Bridge next to Warren & Anne a jet ski was heading towards us. Luckily it was under better control than the others we saw. As we moved along the freeway after Canning Bridge we kept in pace with Warren
& Anne. It was much calmer than other years but there were moments when the waves came from the side and made it just a little more challenging. I wasn’t sure where Ash & Izzy were, but at least they were behind us. On the last kilometre coming up to the narrows bridge, where the waves did give some concern we split up and we managed to get slightly ahead, but we could still hear Warren’s voice so we knew they weren’t far behind. We moved under the Narrows Bridge and out into Perth Water where it was nearly dark and it wasn’t long before Warren & Anne caught up and paddled beside them to the new portage at Coode Street. As we were getting out I quickly released my leg strap, picked up the bow as Selena lifted the stern and we started
trotting around the jetty. I think Selena was a little surprised that we trotted as she said later she doesn’t jog much.
Warren & I catching Selena & I as we cross Perth Water towards the new portage area. Photo Gordon Innes.
Ash & Izzy on a mission to catch us up.
Garth & Jade. Photo Gordon Innes.
Arriving at Coode Street portage with Warren & Anne and Ash & Izzy.
We jumped back onto the Epic double ski and headed to the left of Heirrisson Island and towards the lights of the WACA. At that point I didn’t know if we had left the others a long way behind at the portage as it was dark and hard to turn around to see. I asked Selena if she could see anyone behind, but as she hadn’t have time to take her sun
glasses off at the portage, she said everything was so black she couldn't see. At least I couldn’t hear any talking behind us. But if I was creeping up on someone I would be keeping as quiet as possible. We kept up a good solid pace and were soon passing under the new brightly lit up Boorloo cycle bridge, then the Causeway where there was a checkpoint, and across to the Matagarup
Bridge hoping not to get stuck in the shallows just before it. I was feeling confident and strong as we past the stadium. I told Selena it was about 11 kms to go. I think she was hoping it was closer, nevertheless I felt this powerhouse in the back was still paddling hard. We started passing a few slower paddlers and at that point we hadn’t had any of the faster teams who started
behind us pass us. Then out of the darkness, a few hundred metres beyond the Maylands boat ramp a fast male/female team came cruising by. It was hard to know who they were as they said little, but at that point it didn’t matter, my objective was to try to wash ride them as far as we could. We sped up and managed to get on their side wash. I was surprised that we were able to keep
on the side wash for over 800 metres before we had to drop back, but we weren’t finished. I steered us onto their tail and kept up with them another 500 metres to the bridge checkpoint at Ascot Waters where it shallowed further. (We found out later it it was Garth and Jade.) Despite over extending ourselves by keeping up with Garth and Jade we still had fire in our bellies and we
didn’t want them to get too far ahead. Once out of Ascot Waters I was feeling more confident that we were going to beat Warren & Anne and Ash & Izzy. However you can never be too confident especially in a night race when you have no idea where your opposition are. They could be silent lambs directly behind us waiting to pounce, but I was hoping they were a long way back. Our aim was to keep the pressure on all the way to the end and that’s what we did and amazingly we crossed the line being as fresh as daisies and extremely happy that we had beat our competition by 2 minutes. It was another enjoyable race and thanks to the organisers and volunteers.
Celebrating 50 Years of Paddling Year 1988 Kimberley Kayak Expedition #5 The short stay at Kuri Bay gave us the opportunity to wash our clothes, repair our gear and collect rations for the final stage of our sea journey. The hospitality and co-operation of Bob Haddock and the Kuri Bay people was over-whelming, as always. We moved on 25 kilometres towards the site of the old Kunmunya Mission where Michael and Susan Cusack, who were sponsored by Australian Geographic were living in the wilderness for a year.
Ewen & I camped next to Kunmunya Hill.
Michael and Susan only had two weeks of their year long stay to go when we reached their makeshift home a few kilometres inland. We left our kayaks at the Gutter and walked along a creek bed towards their camp. I had been to Kunmunya, a deserted Aboriginal Mission in 1982 on my first Kimberley trip. When we reached their camp the area was plagued
by flies, most likely because of the many wild mules and cattle that roamed the region. It was great to meet Mike and Sue and hear all their stories of their year in the wilderness. They were equally as impressed with what I had done over the years. We had so much in common and our short stay was exciting. Before leaving Mick and Sue and a few million pet flies, we loaded our kayaks with one hundred litres of freshwater so we were really loaded down. Mitchell Plateau was 317 kms away, a minimum of ten days paddling and with no reliable water supplies en route we needed to carry sufficient for entire journey.
Getting out at the Gutter.
Michael & Sue at their bush house they built. The flies tormented them more tha anything.
An elder lady who used to once live at the Mission dropped in to see what the place was like now whilst we were there.
When we stayed at Mike & Sue's Ewen had placed his food in the same compartment that he had his repair resin in and that was enough to taint all the cereal and some of the other foods. So when we came to eat it it tasted like resin and made us burp. Although we had to eat most of it we chose to eat my rations first. At Careening Bay, just beyond the Prince Regent River we stopped at a large boab tree in which Captain King’s crew had carved the ships name, ‘Mermaid 1820’. When we landed Ewen didn’t pull his kayak far enough up the beach and as the tide rose it started drifting away with the wind. He did a quick dash into the water and caught it before it went sailing away. A bush fire was creating a smoke haze
over the bay and when the sun went down there was an amazing glow in the sky. In 1982 I had also visited the tree. We weren’t to know that gale warnings had been issued for this part of the coast as we paddled for up to 11 hours a day, battling our way towards Mitchell Plateau. The howling wind and constant saturation from the waves caused a massive heat loss from our bodies and
we were often cold which was hard to believe in such a hot environment. Only days before, the stifling heat had been unbearable. We had to be careful not to drink too much water in the morning, because it was a difficult task trying to urinate in a container in the kayak in the rough seas. The further north we paddled the harsher and hostile the environment became. The coastal ranges
were barren, the sea was rough, the tides were swift and crocodiles, sharks and sea snakes were our constant companions. And if anything serious did happen the nearest civilisation was hundreds of kilometres away.
Kings boab tree with the carving Mermaid 1820.
A bush ire had created an amazing red sky.
On June 27th 1988 we cruised into Crystal Creek in Admiralty Gulf to find the falling tide had left our only access, a narrow channel which cut through a mangrove swamp, and the home we had been told of two saltwater crocs, a muddy, slippery mass of oyster laden rocks and steep muddy banks. It looked an evil place and as our memories lingered
back to croc attack nearly 3 weeks previously, we shunted nervously towards a barrage of muddy boulders ladened with razor sharp oysters. Stranded by the low tide, we faced a three hour struggle to hoist our gear to the top of the cliff, to where eventually Dennis and Duncan greeted us with champagne to celebrate our safe arrival.
Arriving at Crystal Creek where we were going to meet our support team.
Although Dennis and Duncan had left our banner on the cliff top they weren't there to greet us until later.
It took us a long time to unload our kayaks on the slippery oyster laden boulders and carry all our gear to the top of the cliff.
A Paddle from Perth to Kalbarri Luke Dooley Massive swells breaking hundreds of metres from shore, hoons speeding towards me as I slept in my tent and gusting easterlies pushing me out to sea were some of the challenges I faced recently on my 10 day, 570 kilometre paddle from Perth to Kalbarri. I began my journey from my paddling mentor Terry’s place in Ashfield on the banks of the swan river a few hundred metres downstream of Ascot Kayak Club. This trip had been on my bucket list for a long time having grown
up in Kalbarri and travelled to several races in Perth wondering if one day I’d be able to paddle the distance without resorting to using a car. As I had a break from work after Christmas I figured this would be my best chance for a while to find out and hopefully arrive in Kalbarri for Australia Day weekend. Having borrowed his sea kayak, I set off from Terry’s place on Friday the 9th of Jan for what would be “day zero”, a 59km, 6 ½ hour paddle to Hillarys which would give me a
chance to iron out the kinks and assess if I was prepared for the rest of the journey. The trip to Hillarys started cloudy and windy. There was to be an incoming tide all day which would hinder my progress but to my amazement the current was still flowing out to sea as I paddled around Optus Stadium, past the city skyline and only met an incoming current as I was a few kilometres from
Fremantle. Having had lunch just before the Stirling Hwy Bridge I paddled out of Fremantle Port, around the North Mole and pointed my nose north for the first time towards Hillarys and eventually Kalbarri.
I spent the next few days preparing my equipment, food and other supplies before departing Hillarys on Wednesday the 14th fully laden with three days’ worth of water and food for ten. The first night’s stop was in the dunes just north of Moore River. Although progress was slow from lack of wind, I was kept entertained by watching the
bustle of the city slowly fade into the distance behind me as I eagerly anticipated the sea breeze coming in and pushing me to my campsite. Unfortunately as I left Two Rocks after having lunch, my dreams of an easy run into camp were quickly dashed by the south westerly wind. Throughout the summer there are races called ‘down winders’ which involve paddlers waiting for the sea breeze to come in and then racing along the coast south to north riding the waves caused by the sea breeze. When the
waves are right behind you, very good speeds can be achieved, especially by top paddlers who are able to link wave after wave. Sadly for me, this tail wind which I was relying upon to push me to Kalbarri was more of a side wind and a hindrance to my speed. Because of the shape of the coastline along this stretch which ran SE to NW, the south westerly wind was coming at me side on which meant I was not able to ride the waves and my speed dropped further as the day went on. This turned what I had
anticipated to be a leisurely 15km cruise to camp to finish off my day into a three hour ordeal which resulted in me arriving in camp having paddled 63kms for the day pretty exhausted. A quick look at the shape of the coast on a map and a check of the south westerly wind forecast caused me to suspect that the next few days to Jurien Bay were going to be much the same as Day 1; a lot
harder that I had expected. As the days unfolded and kilometres slowly ticked by, my suspicions were proved correct and after a few days of slogging it out amongst some stunning sunsets, several thousand ticks crawling around my tent and a particularly spectacular campsite at Wedge, I arrived in Jurien Bay. I landed mid Friday afternoon and was later met by my fiancé Clare at her parent’s holiday house which was conveniently located a few hundred metres in from the beach. We spent two nights in
Jurien Bay together while I topped up some of my supplies and made some repairs to my 20+ year old kayak which had been paddled from Perth to Shark Bay via Kalbarri by Terry back in 2002. Report to be continued.............................
Photo taken with an Iphone.
Photo taken with my camera.
Christmas is coming. Don't forget to purchase a book. For paddlers a special price of $35.00
Werner Corryvrecken 2 piece Prem touring paddle 2 piece 210 cm long Normal price above $500.00 SPECIAL PRICE $350.00 Only one left Terry 0417977330
Rod Fry Memorial Race 2026 Sunday, March 22, 2026 Registrations close 11.59pm Friday March 20 2026. All paddlers in team craft must enter individually. THE RACE Where: Swan Canoe Club, Johnson Parade, Mosman Park Check-in: 7:00 –
7:45am Race / Safety Briefing: 8:00am Start (1st Wave): 8:30am SAFETY We share the Swan River with other traffic and the 12km course requires paddlers to cross the main channel. Paddlers must obey water rules and be confident in their own competency and fitness. Remember hydration, sun protection. PFD for under 16 not compulsory with parent permission. All
participants must attend the Race/Safety Briefing at 8am. COURSES [Link to race map] Start/Finish at Swan Canoe Club jetty. 12km (turn at Stirling Bridge, North Freo) 6km (turn at Point Roe red marker) 3km (turn at Chidley Point red marker) All turns are anticlockwise. Wave starts from 8:30am. Waves/Classes to be confirmed on race day. Race Director has discretion. Dragon Boats: 6km only PRIZES Cash prizes for fastest male
and female single paddlers (12km course): 1st: $150. 2nd: $100. 3rd: $50. Plus random draw for other prizes. Presentations after the race. FEES Adults: $35 Juniors (U18): $20 Morning tea and refreshments are included in the race entry fee – available at
the club after the race. $20 for insurance will be added for non-affiliated paddlers ENQUIRIES: admin@swancanoeclub.org.au TO REGISTER: https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=421720
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