It was good to see Josh back in his kayak. He took a holiday and has been busy at work since competing in the World Canoeing Marathon in South Africa where he came 9^th which was a fantastic result. 

It seems that many of the training groups around the city are getting smaller with every year that passes. So what is happening to them? Are they taking on other sports or are they fed up with paddling or are we just not getting new paddlers on the water?

When I had the shop I had the opportunity to invite new paddlers to a training group. Unfortunately that no longer happens so paddling has lost an important source to recruit.

So now we need to find another way of recruiting new paddlers.

To think most of our competitors are over 35 years old which is not a good sign for the future of our sport. 

 Michael's huge pit crew working on the rudder

The Lane Cove Kayak Club was unbelievable!  ​​​​​​​ 

It’s 7.20pm and it’s dark and I’ve just watched a speed boat fly by at full speed and I mean full speed. If any paddler was paddling on the river at this moment and got in its way they would stand no chance, bang and it’s all over red rover. Earlier at Sandy Beach 6.30pm, as we took Nikki for a walk there were 5 speeding boats go by in 20 minutes. We and another couple watched on as two of them flew by at an amazing speed. We commented that the boat owners know that the police would never be out on the river at this time of night as they are rarely out at the weekend, so why go slow?

Fast boats are a danger to paddlers, rowers and swimmers. Around Ascot Kayak Club and Sandy Beach Reserve there are always swimmers in the river in summer to cool off and to have a good time. I know it might be inconvenient for some boat owners to slow down to 5 knots but they know it’s a 5 knot zone before they enter the water and there are several 5 knot signs along the river.  Even the wildlife is affected. There are lots of ducklings on the river at the moment. One speeding boat can separate the ducklings from their parents to never catch up with each other again. Then there is the erosion aspect.

So what can we do?

Am I just over-reacting and that's life and we do nothing?

Or should we be more active in alerting the authorities?

In the past I have sent photos to the Transport Department and they emailed me back saying:

The form attached is two pages and it needs quite a bit of detail to make a complaint:
see here:-
https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC_F_MarineNonComplianceReport.pdf

​​​​​​​The other way to show the authorities there is a problem is by taking a picture on your mobile phone and just sending it into them with details where you are and time. If they receive enough photos they just might consider doing something about the speeding boats. Send your photos to:-

Whilst I was teaching a group how to paddle on Saturday afternoon a few powerboats sped by including this one which was more than a little above the speed limit.

The Corryvreckan is the largest premium Werner High Angle blade, designed for those who want powerful strokes in all directions. The perfect paddle for the coastal play environment, or for those strong enough to move lots of water and cover the miles fast.

Complete results here:

12 year old Sam Lycho passing the sand dunes.

The course below the bridge and first drop on the Middle Section in 1978

Looking upstream of the Middle Section

Taking on the stopper below the footbridge at the State Slalom Championships.
​​​​​​​Paper clipping from 1983