Adventure Paddle, Middle Harbour 2 February 2008

The Max Adventure Paddle Race is simple you get given a map with 27 check points marked on it. A hooter blasts you sprint 1km to a little dingy where you are handed a card with the points values of all the check points marked on it. You then make a quick decision as to how to accumulate the highest amount of points in the given time (5 Hours).

The 2nd February dawned with a hint of rain in the air and a drop in temperature. Ideal conditions for 5hours of racing around Middle Harbour on Sydney’s North side.

I was teaming up with Mike Snell again for the second Max Paddle, hoping to repeat our form from last year paddling a Double Red7. We arrived at 6.30am to check in and collect our maps. Already there is a hive of activity at race head quarters located at Tunks Park in Northbridge. Lots of old faces and plenty of new ones too. A quick once over of the map with Mike and Jay Wilson (Solo Favourite) we decide we should be able to clear the course provide we don’t have any hiccups. Anytime a map is involved there’s always plenty of opportunity for hiccups. We plot a course heading out to sea first picking up the 6 or so check points then up to Roseville Bridge for the rest.

After a lot of last minute rushing we head to the briefing. At the briefing we are informed that 3 check points have been withdrawn due to possible bad weather coming, which will also mean a 30 minute reduction in race length.

Gathering at the start line lots of bumping as all the racers crowd onto the start line the hooter blasts we are off, sprinting to the dingy manned by  Big Steve Cooper  with Team Element hot on our heels Dean (Kato) Wayne and Craig Elliott working hard. We soon make a gap and head on our way out under the Spit Bridge to picking up three CPs on our way to Balmoral pool for CP 23 we spot the CP five metres to our right no time to get close Mike dives off and swims to it, 8.5 metres of ski just doesn’t maneuver quickly. Then it’s across middle harbour to pick up the next 3 Cps including the mystery CP16 which we would find out the location of at CP17.  CP16 is located on a monument next to Spit Bridge our first hiccup is about to happen we arrive at the Monument but no CP16 after running round for almost 10 minutes searching the area we recon it’s not here. We head off on our way to the first of the running CPs picking up two CPs on the way. As we head back under Spit Bridge we start to see some of the teams who went in the opposite direction at the start.  Lots of warriors on the Toy boys. The craft provided by the organizers, two person plastic sit-on-top kayaks. Hard work if you ask me but they all seem to be having fun in this first hour.

A decision to be made, do you run to CPs 6,7 and 8 or run to 7 and 8 then paddle to 6 we decide to run to all 3. This is where we  put a large gap into Team Element as they lose 30minutes trying to get to CP6 by water then bush bashing up to the CP.  Back on our Prokayaks RED7 we head to the furtherest point on the course CP1 up past Roseville Bridge some 2.5km. The rain is falling now, it’s dead calm and fantastic paddling conditions and each paddler we see has a smile on their face. CP1 collected it’s back to CP2 a favorite of the organizers a whole lot of stairs and where my team mate Mike shows what 150km of running a week can do for you as he powers ahead to the CP. We have been informed that CP16 is in fact right where we were looking for it. We decide to pick up the pace to try and get enough of a lead to give us time to pick it up at the end.

We are on the homeward journey now and keep the pace high we head into first Sugerloaf Bay for two CPs then into Sailors Bay for two where we encounter the effects of the tide for the first time today and have to get out and run for 50metres or so. We collect CP15 then head back to Spit Bridge to correct our mistake a 3km detour we arrive at the monument and can’t believe it’s right there less than a metre away we would have looked right at it some three hours ago. Back in the Ski and full speed ahead back to race HQ “have we been passed or had we done enough to keep our lead?”

We arrive at the finish to the news we had made it back in time for our second Max Paddle Win. Soon the Team Blasters arrive for second place Simon Manson and Andrew Love having cleared the course as well. Pb Sports take out 3rd spot and a top effort sees Jay Wilson clearing the course but losing 2 points for being a couple of minutes late to win the solo class. And to top it all off a nice sunny afternoon to finish. A great event put on by Gary and his Team. See you at the next Max Paddle.

Matt Blundel - Prokayaks