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Further down -
Read about my paddle down the extremely remote Prince Regent River
and being hit by a shark and chased by a crocodile.
AKC Progressive Racing Group
Skills Night
Handicapped Race night Tuesday - Skills Friday night.
To get better in your race kayak you need to do more than just paddling forward. You need a confident support stroke to avoid capsizing, a good lean to be able to turn your craft better around turn posts or buoys.
When you line up for a start on a windy day you need to be able to paddle backwards which can be tricky when in an unstable craft with a rudder blade making it even harder. And it's much harder to do sideways draw strokes in an unstable craft when it is windy and you are nervous and under pressure.
All these skills are much easier when paddling a stable craft but transferring them to an unstable craft can be challenging. So it needs practise, confidence and a lot of fun challenges to help you get better.
That's why we practise. Do you?
Canning Canoe Club Tuesday night race.
At Kent Street Weir.
Dave Gardiner (front) taking on the double of Richard Tempest.
Pity I'm not able to carry a quality camera in my pocket, if I could my photos would be sharper. But it's just so up-lifting to be able to watch and mix with the local wildlife when I go out paddling.
The reflections this morning were perfect at Bassendean.
John O'Sullivan was up at 4.30am to get this great photo of the Canning River near Riverton Bridge.
That's a bit too early for me John.
You can see from John's photos, which I use a lot in this newsletter are much more professional than mine.
Check out his facebook.
Only on the south coast.
Photo Brodie Soanes.
Don't forget these races.
Paddle WA Live Lighter Sprint Regatta #4
Sunday 29th November 2020 Champion Lakes Regatta Centre
Entries now open now and close Monday 23rd Nov Midnight
All paddlers welcome for division racing. Enter via Webscorer here:
The Moore River Race
Guilderton.
As I drove over the hill at Guilderton and saw the reefs breaking out to sea it was quite a
beautiful sight but then I saw the sandbar had broken through which wasn’t so good as it meant the river was going to be shallow.
Only the afternoon before I had seen photos on facebook showing how high it was, so it was a bit of a disappointment.
To find out how shallow the river was Doug Hodson the organiser sent a rescue boat upstream to check the depth as one year when the sandbar was opened by some children, paddlers had to walk around the island
where we usually turn. This year it was too shallow to turn around the island so the rescue boat stopped a little before the island turn and the boat was used as the turn point. (We just have to remember that if a record is broken it couldn’t be recorded this year.)
Although it was windy on shore it was certainly windier once we got into our kayaks and onto the water. With the wind and shallow water it was going to be a testing
race.
And it was.
When drove over the hill and saw the ocean for the first time it was a beautiful view with the reef's breaking in the distance.
Then I noticed the break in the sandbar which would certainly affect the race.
The river would be shallow.
A great view of the Moore River entrance and coastline.
Photo John O'Sullivan
It's amazing how the water cut through the sand bar and left such steep sides. It will be interesting to see how long it takes to form back.
Lawrence Greed and Alan Ribbons - Vlad Vanek and Helke Melville - wait to start.
Photo John O'Sullivan
The Mix K2 Championship Race is off.
Photo Lynette Campbell
Luke Dooley and Jane Pankhurst run into Grant Pepper and Wendy Burdett after losing their rudder.
Photo John O'Sullivan
Division 3 take off.
Photo John O'Sullivan
Division 3 heading upstream. 14 year old Hunter Florisson won the division.
Photo John O'Sullivan
Division 4 take off with Sam Meyers returning first.
Photo Lynette Campbell
The guppies and short course grid take off with Rhys MacRae leading.
Michael Liddle and his partner Shannon Timms take off in their first race together. Shannon only started paddling recently.
Photo Lynette Campbell
On the way home. Photo John O'Sullivan
1st over the line. Matthew Greed and Harriette Alexis.
2nd Nicky Taylor and Ramon Andersson.
3rd Francis Nolan Jane Pankhurst.
Photo Lynette Campbell
A race to the finish. Brett and Julie McDonald left just pip Jane and Peter Liddle to the line. Grant Pepper and Wendy Burdett come up behind.
Photo Lynette Campbell
**********************************************
Moore River 2020
Sunday 15th November 2020
Julie McDonald
The river bank has broken.... the plug is pulled and the river is draining quick.
Double Boats On the Moore river lining up for a running start (what ever that means)
Paddler Brett lined up next to Jane Liddle and Pete and Mark Sedgwick and Kate Martin.
I’m nervous I say to Jane that I am nervous she says “deep breath” then whack Brett takes off, didn’t hear the start at all (yes I was talking).
I quickly snap into gear.
The start was fantastic, whooo hooo I yelled out. Brett amps up and I try to keep up.locking my feet in and trying to stay in the boat.
The groups settle in and we are up with the big guns, we settle in a routine and I then I realise my legs have settled down not so shaky now. I remind myself to leg drive.
I ask Brett how we are going he yells out “punching above our weight” as he didn’t expect us to be in that position oh cool, motivated and feeling great. Right now we are with T2 and Anne Harris, Vald and his partner.
We see Kate and mark ahead just a little way again we serge but I yell out to Brett don’t blow don’t blow so he settles back down and waited for other teams to catch up.
Next minute our paddle buddies Jane and Pete come up next to us, Brett and I keep pushing strong both feeling good. Enjoying being together again with others.
We head around the turn (thanks Bronwyn) and power back, we now have Wendy and Grant, Jane and Pete and Brett and I are riding the biggest wave ever behind them so cool. It was like surfing.
We tussle a little bit and all find our spots, I can hear Brett pushing himself trying to hang on to them, I keep helping at the back digging deep.
We all see the finish line and Brett serges like a man who’s wife’s back seat driving yelling at him go go go and encouraging those to come with us.
We cross the line I can hear the volunteers yelling go Julie go, way to cool hearing that. Thanks Marie Andersson and Beck
Florisson.
We cross the line and we finish the race.
My fist official double race with my hubby and I’m so happy living like it’s my last breath.
I admire those who raced in a single well done.
Paddling is great but it’s always about the people making you feel welcome and included.
I see Terry Bolland and Sharon Cobley and then I realise oh we can ahead of them way to cool! Terry thinks it will be the last time.
What an absolute wonderful weekend
Looking forward to next year.
Thanks to John and Lynette for the fabulous photos credit to you
1st Kris Plain 2nd Garth Civil.
1st Kris Plain - 2nd Garth Civil.
Photo Lynette Campbell
John Dinucci 69, Jayden O'Brien 33, and Hunter Florisson 14.
And Hunter beat John and Jayden by 2 minutes.
Photo Lynette Campbell
Jane Dooley paddling so fast her hair is blowing sideways.
Photo Lynette Campbell
Paul Spencer and Arnold. He did the race in this short slow kayak.
Well done Paul.
Photo Lynette Campbell
Paddle WA Marathon 2020 Mixed Doubles Champions:
Photo Lynette Campbell
More photos on the WA Marathon Canoeing Series facebook page.
Race results
Kimberley Kayaking 1982
part 18
100 Days Solo
Heading up the Prince Regent River.
Being hit by sharks and chased by crocodiles.
The morning brought a low tide that had exposed a reef and coral which turned out being slippery, difficult and a dangerous job just getting the kayak and gear to the water. I was happy when I was afloat, knowing that I had lugged all my heavy gear across a reef which could have easily cut and carved me up if I had fallen.
In the early morning light and assisted by a rising tide, I paddled around the calm waters of Cape Wellington, one of the most remote capes in Australia. Then only 20 metres from the rocky cape something suddenly smashed into the back of my kayak like a raging bull. I gained my balance and composure and in horror I glanced behind expecting to see the ‘Incredible Hulk’, or the sea equivalent. I could see
nothing but rings of disturbed water, but I just knew it had to have been a big shark or less likely a crocodile. I was hoping it wasn’t looking for breakfast?
I paddled away from the cape left wondering what the hell it really was! Being only inches above the water and no-where to escape to, I really wasn’t in a good place. With no follow up attack it was a relief to be riding a swift current towards the narrows near Uwins Island. Then I noticed a strange phenomenon occurring to my right. I could see a body of water (the tail-end of the outgoing tide) speeding
closer and travelling in the opposite direction to the current that I was riding on. It was so strange to be riding on an in-going current and seeing an outgoing current pass by only metres away (although I had seen it happen in the King Sound.)
Like a speeding bullet I passed the islands at the entrance of St George Basin, conquered the tidal disturbances in the narrows and headed across the mangrove lined basin with the famous Mt Waterloo and Mt Trafalgar in the distance. In this area I was more concerned about crocodiles than sharks.
Prince Regent River was named in 1820 by the first European to discover the river, Philip Parker King and the crew of the Mermaid. The river is named after the Hanoverian prince, King George IV, who was shortly to succeed his father to the throne.
The first European to settle in the area was Joseph Bradshaw who established Marigui homestead along the river with his cousin Aeneas Gunn in 1890. In 1891 he discovered the Bradshaw rock paintings on his land. The pastoral venture was unsuccessful but Gunn later documented his memoirs of the time in the book Pioneering in Northern Australia.
Crocodile Chase
After kayaking 63 kilometres from Cape Wellington I turned out of the mangrove, cliff lined Prince Regent River to paddle 6.7 kilometres along Camp Creek to find a camping spot at the end. Mangroves lined the junction of the two waterways, with a huge body of lush mangroves, a perfect crocodile habitat, in two wide gullies either side of the creek. It was perfect crocodile ambush area. I scanned the water for
any movement and noticed a log near the mangroves on the left shore, but it moved, it was no log, it was a croc. Trapped inside the narrow creek with two mangrove forests either side of me there was no quick escape. I instantly took a wide berth, moving to my right but the croc swam closer and closer. My heart started to pound like an African drum as I was forced nearer to the thick mangroves lining the right bank. The croc stopped for a split moment, I sighed with relief but it gave chase
again. It’s hard to describe the feeling of being pursued by a very unpredictable animal. I daren’t slacken off my pace as a split second might mean life or death.
My body was fixed on paddling hard to get away, but my mind knew that the croc was faster and was it coming to attack, or was just being inquisitive! It wasn’t worth stopping to take a photograph to find out. It was just too dangerous.
I knew that I was intruding into crocodile territory, so really I had to expect that I could be attacked and to never to be seen again. But it was a gamble worth taking, I was kayaking in one of the most beautiful and isolated places on earth and I knew of no other kayaker who has been here before me. Like an early explorer I thrived in being here in such a hostile environment where danger was part of the
challenge and created so much excitement.
My ticker now raced much quicker than Big Ben. I was clipping the mangroves and paddling in a wide arch, trying to avoid those ugly looking nostrils bearing down on me. That nose, which had a slight resemblance to my own, finally started to slow. I began to feel a lot happier, but I couldn’t ease up, it might change its mind. The thought of having to return this way in two days’ time wasn’t a pleasant
one.
Although this croc had stopped the chase I still faced several kilometres of thick mangroves where there could be more waiting, but I reached the end of the creek without incident. Here I could see nothing, but mud, mangroves and slimy rocks but just when I felt there was no hope and I may have to turn and go back, I noticed a narrow passage between some cliffs that led me into a pool and paradise. Before me
were lush trees, beautiful fresh water streams, polished rock ledges, a cliff face and a waterfall a few hundred metres up stream. What more could a man ask for. Within minutes the tide had turned and the water allowing me to paddle into the pool was gone. Beyond my pool, now downstream of me soon turned to mud.
A little like the crocodile that chased me.
I also had to pass by it on the way out of Camp Creek.
Arriving at the freshwater of Camp Creek was such a relief.
In 6.5 hours I had paddled 70 kilometres. That was my best achievement yet. Needing a rest and the enthusiasm to face the croc and the hostile world out there again I settled in for a 2 day break. People had camped here before as there were chairs made from the local
timber.
On a 1997 trip in this area with Ken Cornish, we turned on the Flying Doctor Radio for the morning schedule to hear some distressing news. An American women, Ginger Meadows had been taken by a crocodile only a few kilometres away from us in the Prince Regent River. A search was on to find her body, but no other details were released. We wondered how the news would affect our wives. The police wanted us to return as they said it was too dangerous for us to be out there. I don’t
think they realised how far we were away from civilisation.
Two days later, a search team found her armless body face-down in the water near some mangroves. It was being “stored” by the crocodile for a future meal. I met up with one of the search team Vic Cox 2 weeks later on Cockatoo Island.
It was such a beautiful place to spend a couple of days to rejuvenate.
Fresh water and beautiful rock to camp on.
Boaters had been there before me.
Excited of being in such a beautiful place I just wanted to explore the country by foot as it felt much safer. I soon started my trek and a few hundred metres away I climbed around two waterfalls and followed the creek further into the interior. The creek was teeming with birds, lizards and wallabies but it was the scrub bulls, which were in a prime condition that I
had to avoid. Being miles away from the nearest cattle station I expect the bulls hadn’t seen a human being as they stood their ground. For a moment I felt like a matador. I wasn’t scared of bulls as I had been brought up on a farm, but these heavy beasts weren’t your typical bull, they were frightened of nothing and were happy to give chase.
After several hours of walking I returned to wash, write and to relax. I had been paddling solo around the Kimberley for about 85 days and as my mind wandered, and the longer I relaxed and thought about home, the more I began to feel homesick. Up until now my trip had been action packed and I’d had no time to get
homesick, the excitement saw to that. But now, as I washed and shampooed my hair in the sacred fresh water, sewed my deteriorating clothes and cleaned my equipment I had time to think about home and how Jenny was coping without me. Out here I had no way of communicating and letting her know where I was and if I was safe.
A billabong on Camp Creek above the falls.
What a pleasure to be able to wash and wash my clothes in fresh water.
After the two day break I was ready to face the dangerous world out there again so at 2.00pm when the tide eventually reached my campsite I paddled out of my safe heaven, through the cliffs and along the corridor of mangroves. Within 200 metres I spotted a 2-3 metre croc sunning itself on a rock ledge. It was
oblivious of my presence so I quietly paddled by it pushing hard against the wind and incoming tide heading back towards the Prince Regent River. Twigs and logs floated by. Most reminded me of a crocodile so I strained as I looked for those bony eyes and nostrils in the murky water.
Camp Creek at low tide.
As I left to head back to the river a crocodile was sunning itself on the ledge and I managed to pass by it without disturbing it.
Waiting for the tide to reach my position before being able to leave to paddle along Camp Creek and out into the Prince Regent River..
After passing the point where the croc had previously given chase, I was able to relax. Once out into the main Prince Regent River, large wind waves, which had generated enormous power as they swept along the very straight, long river, tossed me around like a cork. Being back on the water to face such elements meant the excitement grew again and my feeling of home sickness soon faded as I realised I loved being out there. By nightfall, I had only paddled a few
kilometres against the swift current, and I had no choice, but to find a camp along the unsuitable, mangrove, cliff lined shoreline.
At the first chance of seeing a way up a cliff to camp I manoeuvred my kayak through a line of mangroves and between two large boulders and anchored. I checked the water and mangroves around me with a keen eye before disembarking and trudging through the thick oozing mud and near impenetrable mangroves to get my gear above the high water mark and safely up the cliff. The sand-flies and mosquitoes wasted no time in attacking my exposed skin, my long pants were
locked away in the bulkhead of the kayak.
The mangroves blocked my way to the cliff top so I had no choice but to chop a narrow path through them with my tomahawk. It was hard moving my gear from the mud, but it was more agonising lifting my 35-40 kilogram kayak through the mangroves and then climbing an uneven ladder of sandstone boulders to a height above the high tide mark to be a bit safer.
When I reached the top, the hard work and effort was well worth it, the view was simply stunning. One slip over the 20 metre cliff edge though, and I would find myself sharing a place with the mud, the mangroves, the crabs, crustaceans and the crocs. So it was best not to fall!
Up on the cliff I felt safe from all the dangers and my hammock was strung above the cliff edge between 2 trees overlooking the magical Prince Regent Reserve. I relaxed and watched rock wallabies bound off into the night and viewed a spectacular electrical storm in the southern skies. Oh, what a place to be! Lovely one day, perfect the next! Once more, I realised why I was here putting myself in danger.
Sleeping in a hammock above the Prince Regent River watching for crocodiles was magic.
As the sun goes down on the Prince Regent River there was no better place to be.
The Death of Ginger Meadows
Sunday, March 29th 1987 11.20am
A man who watched in horror as an American 24 year old beauty queen was dragged under water and eaten alive by a huge saltwater crocodile has revealed what really happened on that fateful day.
Ship captain Bruce Fitzpatrick said part-time model Ginger Meadows was told not to get into the crocodile-infested water at Cascade Falls, south of Darwin, in 1987, but she failed to heed the warning.
Ms Meadows - who decided to visit Australia after watching hit movie Crocodile Dunee - and her friend, chef Jane Burchett, splashed about in the water when Mr Fitzpatrick and other members of the crew were climbing the majestic falls.
The skipper saw a crocodile approaching the women and screamed out to them, but it was too late.
The saltwater predator was too fast for the girls to get back to the safety of the boat – so instead they backed up to the waterfall's wall – still waist-deep in water.
Ms Burchett revealed her horror as the crocodile's jaws widened in front of the two women.
'It swum right up to us and had its mouth open,' she said.
'Then I took my shoe off and threw it at it and hit it on the top of its head and it closed its mouth.'
The crocodile then went under the water and Ms Meadows jumped into the water in an apparent attempt to reach safety.
'Because the crocodile was in front of us maybe she thought she could swim to the shoreline and get away,' Ms Burchett said.
'She let go of my arm, jumped off the ledge took two strokes and it grabbed her around the waist and pulled her right under the water.
'Then he pulled her up out of the water right in front of me – I looked her right in the face she had her arms in the air and she was looking right at me.
'Then it pulled her back under the water.'
The young woman's body was recovered the next day – which would have been her 25th birthday.
Mr Fitzpatrick was the skipper on board the Lady G the day he witnessed Ms Meadows being taken by the four-metre crocodile.
He was taking the luxury boat to Darwin with a skeleton crew.
Ms Meadows had hopped on board as the chef's assistant and planned to visit Papua New Guinea as well as northern Australia.
'We were aware there were crocodiles in the area,' Mr Fitzpatrick told Daily Mail Australia.
'And before we went Ginger was told to not so much as dangle a foot in the water.'
News of the American beauty's death shocked the world and was one of Australia's most high-profile crocodile attacks.
The Cascades, a stunning terraced waterfall that overlooks a bay off the Prince Regent River, sits 39 metres above the cove.
The pool below is surrounded by a semi-circle of steep, rocky hills filled with trees and plant life that make the area one of the most beautiful and rugged places in Australia.
Prince Regent River, Australia —
A small boat carrying remains believed to be those of a Colorado woman killed by a crocodile was attacked by another crocodile that lunged four feet out of the water and snapped at the body bag, officials said Wednesday.
The boat attack came as police gave the first detailed account of Sunday’s grisly crocodile killing of Fay Ginger Meadows, 24, of Snowmass Village, Colo., who was attacked at the spectacular Kings Cascade Waterfall in northwestern Australia.
Chief Inspector Arnold Davies of the regional police station in the port of Broome said that remains believed those of the woman were found Tuesday afternoon at the edge of the Prince Regent River near a cluster
of mangroves.
He said the remains were put inside a body bag, which was placed at the front of a 23-foot rescue boat.
“After traveling 15 kilometers (9 miles) up to the mouth of the river, a large crocodile leapt out of the water about four feet and snapped the end of the body bag, trying to tear it,” the official said.
Crew Feared Another Attack
Davies said the crocodile then disappeared, but the crew of the boat, fearing another attack, turned back and anchored in the St. George Basin until a larger Customs Department vessel could take charge of the remains for the trip to Broome
With people feeding crocodiles like this no wonder there are crocodile attacks.
Length 6.0 Metres Width 54 cm Cockpit: Keyhole
The Time Traveller is a stable, fast kayak suitable for most levels.
With rudder and pedal steering.
I'm selling it for a friend.
Used. $1500.00
The West Coast Downwinder
registrations are now open.
Saturday 21st November 1.30pm registrations with a 2.30pm start.
Port Beach to Sorrento - 24kms. Presentations and drinks at Sorrento SLSC afterwards.
The Swan Canoe Club Social Committee Presents:
SCC Paddle Rally
Arrive 2.30pm, Briefing 3.00pm, On water 3.15pm
Following the one hour paddle event enjoy BYO drinks and nibbles on the balcony and watch the presentation of the inaugural trophy to the winner around 4:30pm
For those of us old enough to remember the good old days of car rallies, this is a paddle rally. Each competitor (can be an individual, couple or family) will be given a set of clues at the briefing then must jump in their paddle craft and find the answers. Points awarded for correct answers and time taken. No paddling expertise required – all answers found within the boundary of Chidley Point and within 50 metres of shore.
All rally equipment provided – just wear what you usually wear paddling (but maybe bring your reading glasses….)
Pre-Registration with Marion is essential.
Paddle WA Live Lighter Sprint Regatta #4
Sunday 29th November 2020 Champion Lakes Regatta Centre
Entries now open now and close Monday 23rd Nov Midnight
All paddlers welcome for division racing. Enter via Webscorer here:
https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=227243
Indian Ocean Paddlers
Races
Summer Series dates are now locked in. We are also very pleased to announce that Brad and Kate Hardingham Realmark have agreed to stay on board as our seasons sponsor. This support for IOP is massively appreciated.
Race dates:
21st November / WCD
28th November / Doctor??
12th December Xmas paddle
9th Jan 2021
30th Jan
20th Feb
13th March
Next race 21st November
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