Enjoy the CDU Newsletter
Published: Fri, 05/12/17
543
12th May 2017
Message Bank
It was going to be interesting to see how many
paddlers were going to enter the popular John Sims Race this
year. Most of the other races over the last year or two have
been down in numbers. By Thursday night 133 paddlers had entered
so numbers were pretty good, 10 better than last year but
well down on 2010 when 216 paddlers entered.
There are now less competitive paddlers and
novices wanting to race coming into the sport especially in
the open category and there are certainly less paddlers paddling
plastic boats so having this downturn in competition is a
big concern for our sport. When competitive clubs lose active
members or they are not replaced much of the activity level
in the club is lost and the heart of the club is torn out.
When that happens it is difficult to get back the buzz and
to how it was.
There are now more sports available for people
to get into. Stand-Up Paddle Boards, Adventure Racing and
other sports are capturing the imagination of the people that
paddling needs to capture. There is so much publicity given
to Stand-Up-Paddle-Boards but you see very little about kayaking,
canoeing or ocean ski racing.
Are we marketing our sport as good as we should
and with more water sports coming under the same banner of
Australian Canoeing or Canoe WA can they give the right amount
of attention to kayaking and ski paddling?
In the John Sims Race in previous years 110 paddlers entered
in 2016, 126 paddlers entered in 2015, 162 paddler entered
in 2014, 185 paddlers in 2012, 210 paddlers in 2011, 216 paddlers
in 210 and 165 in 2009. So it was around 2010 that flat water
paddling was probably at it's best.
The young guns at the John Sims Race. The
three fastest teams and they were all 16 or under
Precision paddling. Photo John O'Sullivan
In 2009 my time in the John Sims Race in a
DR kayak was 1.2.32. This year being 8 years later (and 66
years old), my time was 1.2.53, 21 seconds slower
In 2009 Dave Worthy's time in a DR kayak was
54.35. In 2017, his time was 55.12, 37 seconds slower
Results here: https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=99840
*************************************
In 1981, I and several other WA paddlers took
part in the Australian Slalom and Wild Water Championships
in Nymboida, NSW. Dave Worthy is still going strong winning
the Wild Water category at the John Sims Race in a time 55.12.
He will be hard to beat at this weeks DR Buoys Race at Ascot
Kayak Club.
Neil Long, Rod Fry (Rod was killed in a car
crash several years ago) Richard Denby (moved to Bunbury)
and David Worthy
******************************
2018 Australian Canoe Marathon
Championships
The 2018 Australian Canoe Marathon Championships
will be held on the weekend of 18th to 20th May 2018 in South
Australia.
The exact venue is yet to be determined and
once settled it will be conveyed.
******************************
Junior World Championships
Fundraiser is on this Saturday!
for Swan Canoe Club junior paddlers
Date: 13th May
Location: Swan Canoe Club
Time: 6.30 pm-10.30 pm
With live jazz/ funk music from Bass Lemon
Canoeing Down Under has given lots of prizes
******************************
WW Buoys Race
This Saturday Ascot Kayak Club
WW Race 1 : 13th May, AKC Buoys Race
Location: Ascot Kayak Club, Garvey Park
Registration between 11:45-12:30pm
Briefing 12:45pm
Race start 1:00pm
There will be a Slalom Race at the club in the morning
Can you believe this was Luke Dooley in May
2014. Luke will be racing this Saturday in the WW Buoys Race
Luke now - 3 years later
******************************
A Charity Paddle in London
******************************
Winter Down Wind Races
Are you ready for the first Astute/IOP 2017 Winter Series
Race. Registration to follow soon for Race 1.
All races will start and end at Sorrento, will likely be to
Trigg and Back (but weather dependant) starting at 7.30 am
(race check in will start around 7 am) First Race May 27th
- Race 1
******************************
Do You Have A Good Reason/Story
To Be Included in the 2017 Avon Descent Profile Pages
The Avon Descent is looking for a competitor with a good
story to be part of our yearly doco. In general we are always
looking for people with a great story for our profile-stories.
On the website, we have used the following text for the doco:
This is YOUR chance to be part of our 2017 Avon Descent doco
'Water Warriors'. Tell us why we should follow your campaign
in this year's event.
Comment on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/avondescent
or send us an email socialmedia@avondescent.com.au
**********************************
Avon River Guide
Grab one before they all get sold
The Avon River Guide is a must for all paddlers
entering the Avon Descent or paddling socially down the Avon
River.
It not only has heaps of information, training tips, it also
contains detailed maps of every rapid and has 353 colour photos
of the rapids. Another Terry Bolland Production.
Specs: A 4 size.
Cost: $ 40.00
Training & Courses
Saturday Morning Training
7.15am for a 7.30am start
Sandy Beach Reserve, West Road,
Bassendean
*******************
Monday Night Training
Ascot Kayak Club 5.45pm
Featured Products
Grafton Paddle
Sports
who makes them?
Avenger, Avenger, Bettong,
Time Bandit & Time Bandit
Weights 10kg - 13kgs
depending on construction
So who makes these great
looking kayaks
Grafton Paddle
Sports
is run by Steve and Leila Muir. Both have
been involved in kayaking for many years.
Steve started paddling after his dad
built a kayak in the garage out of canvas pulled tight over
a wooden frame. Later he built his first fibreglass kayak
(Olymp 73) at the Big River club shed. Steve represented Australia
in the junior team to New Zealand in 1978 in slalom and downriver.
He went on to represent Australia in the senior Wild water
racing team in 1987,89,90,91,93,98 and 1999. Steve won the
Australian Open Men's Wild Water Championship 4 times.
Leila started paddling after she met
Steve and got sick of waiting in the car at the take out while
the boys had all the fun. She went on to represent Australia
in Wild water racing in 1990 and 1999. She has won the Australian
Open Woman's individual wild water title 4 times (3 X classic
and 1 WW sprint title).
Steve & Leila
Steve has also won the
Avon Descent twice.
1st in men's doubles with Tim Doyle.
1st in men's singles paddling an Avenger.
He and Leila came 3rd in mixed doubles
Leila & Steve in
the Avon Descent
Steve & Leila about
to go down the Washing Machine, Emu Falls
Alchemist 5.2m Width
40cm
The Alchemist K1. This
is a no compromise kayak that has better stability than an
Olympic type K1 but has the speed of a top flight K1 but with
superior ease of handling. If you can't master an Olympic
type K1, this is the kayak for you.
The Alchemist is good for paddlers above
80 kg and there is also a small version called the Alchemist
SV for paddlers under 60 Kg and a mid sized model, the Alchemist
MV, for 55 to 85 Kg.
We also have a wildwater version with
a high front deck and keyhole style cockpit with knee grips.
Bettong 5.2m Width 45
cm
The Bettong kayak is
designed to be the best combination of speed and handling.
Using the proven Alchemist hull but with the sides angled
out to leave a slim hull with a wider beam at the join.
This leaves the Bettong
with a slim fast hull but with better secondary stability
in adverse conditions.
Chrono Elite 5.8m Width
42cm
The Chrono although shorter
than the Time Bandit it is a little more unstable than the
Time Bandit but a faster craft.
The Chrono Elite is the
fastest of our Multisport kayaks and it is one of the fastest
kayaks ever to hit the water. It is for the more experienced
paddler. It is much friendlier than a Sprint kayak and a lot
of the ocean skis.
Time Bandit 6.2m Width
42cm
The longest multisport
kayak in the range. The Time Bandit is remarkable for its
speed, turning ability and ease of handling.
The length and volume of the this kayak
make it particularly suitable for paddlers over 75 kg. The
Time Bandit has established it self as the the multisport
kayak against which all others are judged.
Time Traveller 6.0m Width
54cm
The Time Traveller is
a boat for most training and racing conditions. Its combination
of speed & stability gives it the universal appeal that
has made it one our most popular multisport kayaks. It's a
great kayak for bigger sized paddlers
It also suits recreational paddlers
seeking a light craft that handles well on the water and is
also easy to manage on and off the roof racks.
The Time Traveller's narrow front deck
encourages a comfortable & efficient paddling style and
its larger cockpit opening helps with speedy transitions.
Time Traveller 575
At 5.75m, this kayak is the perfect choice for lighter paddlers
seeking speed with stability. It is the little brother of
the popular 6 metre Time Traveller.
Fusion 6m Width 54cm
The New Fusion LR6 is
a fusion of the proven long recreational Time Traveller hull
and Alchemist K1 style deck.
What you get is a fast, stable and comfortable
kayak that will handle well in adverse conditions without
being affected too much by side winds.
GT Aero 4.58m Width 58.5cm.
Weight 10kg - 12kgs
The GT is an exceptionally
stable, comfortable and easy to handle racing or touring kayak.
A perfect boat for new paddlers.
Its light weight making it easy to manage
on and off the car and its performance making it ideal for
rough conditions.
For those paddlers wanting stability,
lightness and good speed that will still be perfect as a touring
kayak, this is the one for you.
******************************
Thule Slipstream
Having Trouble
Getting Your Kayak on Your Car Roof
Sliding roller extends
out beyond the back of the vehicle and supports up to 34kg's,
91cm kayak width and 50% of the kayak’s weight for easier
loading and unloading.
Sliding roller extends out beyond the
back of the vehicle and supports up to 34kg's, 91cm kayak
width and 50% of the kayak’s weight for easier loading
and unloading.
Pivoting saddles automatically conform to nearly every kayak
shape and size for secure transportation.
Double-coated, corrosion resistant steel designed for long-term
use.
4-touchpoints of padded support conform to the hull for added
protection.
Carries 1 kayak and requires 1 person to load and unload.
Up to 2 carriers per vehicle.
Includes all straps to transport 1 kayak.
Length of unit 178cm.
Kayak cradels lengthways apart 145cm.
Width of base unit 59cm.
Primary watercraft: Kayak.
34kg load rating.
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsjDL8Y7MtM
$669.00 RRP - SPECIAL
PRICE ONE ONLY $400.00
Stories
Lake Dumbleyung
Alan Kerrigan at Lake
Dumbleyung
The moon rising over
Pussy Cat Hill earlier this week. Photo Alan Kerrigan
The hill gives a panoramic view of the lake and has a memorial
to Donald Campbell's world water speed record breaking attempt
in 1964
Pussy Cat Hill. Dry lake
2014
Brian Bracknell, the
local Dumbleyung freight carrier, and the Bluebird on his
truck.
Bluebird on Lake Dumbleyung
Lake Dumbleyung is 13km in length, 6.5 km in width, has a
perimeter of 42 km, an area of 5200ha (52 square kilometres)
and a capacity of 200GL.
The catchment area of the lake covers 7790 km2.
Lake Dumbleyung is fringed by dead trees, samphire, and saltbush.
Casuarina obesa ( Swamp Sheoak) and Eucalyptus species and
sledges surround the fringe belt.
Flat topped Yates and Salmon Gums grow above the high water
mark.
The lake supports and is an important refuge to a range of
bird species including the White-faced heron, Black Swan,
Eurasian coot, Pink-eared duck, Grey Teal and Australian Shelduck.
The lake is fed primarily by the Coblinine River system.
Mean annual inflow is 38.1 gl
Water overflows to the west into the Blackwood River system-this
has occurred only 3 times in the last 100 years.
Lake Dumbleyung is a popular recreational area with activities
including canoeing, water-sking and yachting when water levels
are adequate.
DSS (Dumbleyung Short Stories book)
Information collated by B.Bartram.
1872 Very wet winter lake full
1913 7 inches and no longer could drays cart wheat across
the lake to Nippering.
1918 or 1919 The yacht club started (Jan 1918 DSS Pg 232)
– lake at highest level for 40 yrs
1929 Bathing boxes on edge of lake
1933 Lake was full and all sorts of sporting activities occurred.Peter
Kosta drowned (Pg 62 DSS)
1943 or 1944 – Lake bone dry- (Pg 61 DSS)
1945-6 Very wet years and the lake overflowed
Feb 1955 Big flood -lake overflowed -Feb 10th it rained continuously
for 10 days (Pg 63 DSS)
1964 Donald Campbell set World Water Speed record
Oct 1967 – First meeting of reformed Lake Dyg sailing
club (Pg 232 DSS)
1968 – Head of the Lake race being staged by the newly
formed Lake Dumbleyung Sailing Club
April 1969 – Underwater diving team employed to cut trees
for more suitable launching site – present day yacht
club – 8-10 feet water.
1974 Big rainfall
November 1978 – Lake dry.
1982-3 Wettest seedings ever- lot of crops didn’t get
planted (Jan 82 – 7 inches – filled to halfway –
In 1983 filled to brim)
September 1986 – Terry Ward caught two bream in lake
with nets.
Bream released earlier to see if they would breed.
1984 Water in lake for 20 yr Campbell celebration (Pg 234
DSS)
1993 5 inches in March
2005 Winter rains half filling the lake
2006 Swim across the lake from ski club to yacht club
2014 January- Lake dry
2017 Lake full
***********************************
There are a few over
45 Social Paddling Groups in Perth, Leisure Paddlers is one
of them
Leisure Paddlers
‘LEISURE PADDLERS
45 Plus’ was formed with our first paddle on the 30th
September 2008 at Garvey Park, Redcliffe. We are an incorporated
club and founded to cater for those people 45 years of age
or over who wanted to paddle their ‘sit-on’ or ‘sit-in’
kayaks in a group situation for safety in numbers, fun, companionship
and general fitness.
Weather permitting, we meet and paddle
every Tuesday morning from numerous locations around the metropolitan
area so it’s never boring. You need your own kayak but
If you don’t have one, don’t worry, it’s so
easy to learn and we’ll point you in the right direction
as to where to get the best advice and help you select one.
We can also help you learn to paddle as you go and increase
your enjoyment and satisfaction on the water.
Check their Website:
http://leisurepaddlers45.org/
***********************************
Sprint Nationals
River Armenti
This year, the 2017 National Sprint
Championships were held at the Sydney International Regatta
Centre in Penrith, just outside of Sydney, New South Wales.
The event went on for 5 days with cloudy weather for most
of the week.
My experience in Sydney was very overwhelming. As this was
my first time in Sydney I found that everything was very different
to Perth and I had to quickly adapt to the course, climate
and time difference to apply all my focus on my racing. As
we arrived at the course I was amazed at how big the structure
of the regatta centre was. Knowing that the course was used
for the 2000 Summer Olympic Games I had the chance to experience
it first hand as a kayaker.
I raced in the women's under 16; k1 200, 500 and 1000 metres
and k2 200, 500 and 1000 metre events, making it into the
finals for the 200 and 500 metre events. Unfortunately I missed
out in the finals for 1000 metre events as there were 36 girls
in my category making the competition very tough. I raced
with Siobhan Martin for the k2 events and as a team we raced
extremely well together.
I got to make new friendships as well as seeing old friends
who made it an even better experience. One experience I'll
never forget is when I got to meet the Olympians and para
Olympians from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, which was organised
for all the juniors to have a meet and greet with the Olympians
and even hold their medals.
I'd like to say a big thanks to Ascot Kayak Club with their
assistance in helping me go to this years Nationals and always
being an excellent club ever since I started kayaking. Ascot
Kayak club has always helped juniors to have the best opportunity
for the sport and I'm very grateful to be part of such a wonderful
community.
Thank you coaches and Ascot Kayak Club for all your support,
River Armenti
River Armenti at the
Sydney Olympic Regatta Course
Races
Down Wind Races
Are you ready for the Astute/IOP
2017 Winter Series. Save the following dates. Registration
to follow soon for Race 1.
All races will start and end at Sorrento, will likely be to
Trigg and Back (but weather dependant) starting at 7.30 am
(race check in will start around 7 am)
May 27th - Race 1
June 17th - Race 2
July 8th - Race 3
July 29th - Race 4
Aug 19th - Race 5
*******************************
Get ready for a wild
winter
2017 WW Race Calendar
Race 1 : 13th May, AKC Buoys Race.
Race 2 : 11th June, Drain Race
Race 3 : 25th June, Upper Swan Race
Race 4 : 9th July, Walyunga to Bells Race
Race 5 : 19th August, Bells Rapids Race
Race 6 : State Championships and Geegelup Cup : Bridgetown.
Date to be decided
*******************************
Kalbarri Canoe
& Cray
Kalbarri Murchison River Dash on Sunday 4th June
*******************************
2nd Hand Boats
380 Kayak
A great kayak for whitewater
or as a general kayak for learning all the paddling skills
Very manoeuvrable
Price: $250.00