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Novice Paddler Race
If you are a novice paddler or you are a paddler who doesn't race that much and want to be part of a fun race we have a Novice Race at Ascot Kayak Club this Saturday morning 13th April meeting at 9.30am.
We are not vying for sheep stations, just to have fun and to get the heart pumping and the muscles working a little harder than usual.
The distance will be about 7.5 kms around a circuit.
The more the merrier so don't be shy - come along.
There will be a Novice Race at the Australian Marathon Championships on May18th on the Saturday afternoon. All novices are welcome to take part. An entry system will be set up on webscorer soon.
Some of the members of the Progressive Racing Group who meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Last week the group awarded me with a chequered flag, a bottle of wine and a $120.00 gift voucher for the Barchetta Cafe in Cottesloe.
Thursday Group - Why not join them!
Channel 7 Taking Shots - Promotion for
The Australian Marathon Championships
Coran Longwood practising his portaging this morning at Ascot kayak Club, the venue for the Championships.
Last week I met up with Colin Thorpe who I have known in paddling for nearly 40 years but I hadn't seen him for a long time. Colin did a lot for Canoe WA and several years ago he started a social paddling group at the University of WA and still has contact with the members.
The UWA social paddling members off for a paddle to a cafe in Maylands.
2019 Freestyle Team Announcement
Congratulations to Christopher Greed (AKC) who was selected onto the Australian Freestyle Team earlier this week.
Ex-WA paddler Josh
Singleton, who now resides in Penrith, has also been selected onto the team. Chris and Josh are just two of four WA paddlers to make the freestyle team, the others being Robin Bell and Kynan Maley in 2005.
The 2019 ICF Freestyle World Championships will be held in Sort, Spain from the 29th June to 6th July 2019
Marathon #5
Pinjarra 2 Ravenswood
14th April
Henry St Boat Ramp - Ravenswood Bridge
John Sims Race
28th April
Ascot Kayak Club
A Light Paddle
feels amazing and invites for faster paddling
Club Carbon $450.00 --- Full Carbon $570.00
Augusta Paddling
Last week Jenny and I took a 4 day break to Augusta, staying with Alaine and Tom who moved down there at Christmas.
I managed to get in 5 paddles and some sight seeing.
There were at least 5 large rays patrolling the beach at Hamelin Bay. Jenny joins lots of other tourists who were trying to get a closer look.
The foreign tourists were having such a unique experience and they loved it.
Fishermen clean their fish near the Turner Caravan Park.
The rays and the pelicans enjoyed the scraps.
Swans ahead. Paddling a section of the river called 'Deadwater' which was once part of the river before the new channel was built at the western end near colour patch.
It seems the new channel may have ruined it for kite surfers. Comments from kite surfers...
6 Nov 2018 10:10AM
Augusta was once one of the jewels in the WA crown for windsurfing. Those who come from all over the globe to kite it, stay at the caravan park and spend money in the town but I doubt much consideration to this was given when they decided to chop the new mouth in and starve it of flow. Once loaded with crabs, whiting, rays and the odd dolphin, you see nothing now.
Opening to ocean on the eastern end would be a start I'd think but would also need to be opened up to the River again on western end as its just small flow in two spots.
24 Dec 2017 8:49AM
I haven't kited there for about 8 months and the place is changing rapidly. Best launch for the flat water is now on the ocean side and kite down the channel. Getting back up the channel, up wind and maybe up current can be challenging. The flat water is becoming very weedy. The last time I was there the flat water was still ok but reports are it is getting worse.
15 Jan 2018 8:32PM
I was there over the weekend, after the least windy Christmas to new year period I can remember in 20 odd years. The deadwater is ok, heaps of space for kites but the tidal flow has caused deepening of the river channels and brought sand onto the sandbar, reducing the flow into the deadwater. The result is the deadwater isn't getting renewed as it has in the past couple of years which made it perfect for kiting and the flow through the river is fast making it hard to get out, upwind and
against the current. But, the sandbar is huge so there's heaps of space there now compared to years past. Launch at Jays beach, where the surfers lookout is, it's nice and flat with plenty of space then kite across, or a little further south before the rocks and reef, you'll get a good run through the surf break.
A ray swims in the shallows of Dead Water.
Stingrays, Swans and pelicans were seen in 'Deadwater"
Looking back towards Augusta. Can you see Alaine's house?
Augusta to Molloy Island & Return
I did a 20km paddle from Augusta to the southern end of Molloy Island.
At one stage I was travelling at 10.5km an hour which wasn't bad since I was in an Epic 18X sea kayak. The tide was going my way at the time.
With the tide coming in all the sand flats would be soon covered.
Fishermen stretched nets along a shallow part of the river. The pelicans were interested in a feed.
Over 50 pelicans gathered.
A Paddle up the Scott River
Alaine and I went for a paddle from the Caravan Park opposite Molloy Island and up the Scott River. There was a fishing contest on so we saw lots of fishing paddle craft in the area.
Heading towards the Scott River was quite beautiful. Tall grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) were quite stunning.
The river narrows. It's truly an untouched part of the south-west.
Rocks under water lie in waiting in the Scott River. A high tide is needed to go further up without scraping over the rocks.
Australia must have the most diverse vegetation in the world. I have paddled in many places but Australia's forests are so varied and beautiful.
Since closing the shop Alaine hasn't paddled that much but she misses it and loves a day on the water.
Houses on Molloy Island. It can only be reached by a ferry or boat.
My last paddle into West Bay
Passing Flat Rock near the sailing club. My last paddle.
Even Nikki enjoyed exploring the different areas.
SunSmart Marathon #5 - Pinjarra to Ravenswood
Henry St Boat Ramp to Ravenswood Bridge, 14th April
The 5th event in the SunSmart Marathon Series will require a car shuffle as the main course finishes and ends in different locations. Competitors paddling craft with underslung rudders are recommended to take caution and follow the middle of the river. Number slots will be on sale at the start for $15 each.
Those competing in the 17km full course should check in at Henry St Boat Ramp, Pinjarra from 8.15am-9.00am
Those competing in the novice/short or guppy course should check in at the south side of Ravenswood Bridge from 8.15am-9.00am
Registrations close 11.59pm on Friday 12th April.
2019 Oceania & Australian
Canoe Marathon Championships
Ascot Kayak Club WA, 17th-19th May
T-shirt order deadline: Monday 15th April
Early-bird entries close: Tuesday 23rd April
All entries close: Wednesday 8th May
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