Adventure Paddle, Middle Harbour 2 February 2008

A fairly ordinary day greeted Steve Russell and I as we headed off to Tunks Park for the start of the Adventure Paddle. Overcast, threatening rain.
We’d been kindly loaned a boat for the day, and after a couple of familiarisation paddles, felt reasonably comfortable and pleased with our pace.
Easy, we said, and besides, don’t know anyone else doing the event, so competition shouldn’t be too hot.
Mmmm….
Arrive at Tunks early and get a prime parking spot. Matty Blundell, with partner Mike Snell, already there and rearing to go.
Big seas force the cancellation of the Manly leg, so we lose 3 checkpoints and half an hour of paddle time. Steve and I prepare for all eventualities, except the obvious ones.
‘Steve, have you go a watch?’
‘No. Have you?
‘Never wear one’.
Especially at timed events where every minute late costs you points. Doh!
So, borrow a watch from a friend, and a plastic sleeve to put the map in (yes, that too!) and tape it to the deck in front of Steve.
‘Not wearing your glasses, Steve?’
‘Too expensive to replace’
Mmmm….
All ready, marathon drink system in place, extra gear and food at the ready. Lots of stuff we didn’t need.
Push off to the start, and go!
Matty B and Mike launch off the start, and soon leave the field behind on their Red7 double ski. There’s a supersonic close behind, and Jay Wilson in hot pursuit.
They’re heading down-harbour, but Steve and I have decided to do the upstream points first. Only problem, we’re in the lead of the upstream bunch, and have to locate all the checkpoints unassisted.
‘What’s the next checkpoint, Steve?’
‘Can’t tell…don’t have my glasses’. Doh!
Rip the map off the front deck, but it won’t stick to the back deck because it’s all wet.
So, I lay it across my knees. It stays there for a couple of minutes before it slips off.
Mmmmm…
Race around the first few checkpoints, feeling great. Way out in front of our bunch.
Get to a checkpoint involving a short run up a hill. Rip the fittings off the drink system as I get out of the boat, and tear my race number in half. Excellent!
Back in the boat, up to the top turn, then a good no-stops slog back down to the major run checkpoints. Undecided whether to paddle or run to the top run checkpoint, we see two paddlers return looking all the worse for wear. Took them an hour to find it from the water, through mud and scrub, so we opt for the run, in increasing rain. Track has turned to slush, I cork the sole of my foot on a sharp rock, and we pass some friends going the opposite way. First time we’d seen them all day, great surprise. Jo has bloodied her leg, where she took a fall on rocks during the run. No slowing down, though.
Other club friends come down the hill, shouting encouragement and advice, well received.
We’re not runners, so we lose a little time on these checkpoints, but soon enough back on the water and making good time down to Spit.
My navigation skills have already showed some flaws, and we head under the bridge and straight for a group of kayaks on the opposite beach. That must be the checkpoint! Searching, searching, along with several other paddlers. No checkpoint. Frustration building, we go to the next checkpoint, and overshoot it by a kilometre. Doh!
Map is looking very sorry for itself, all wet and falling to bits, and I have a good long look at it to try and get us back on track. Head across the harbour, and the map disappears over the side. Double Doh!
Remember the locations and find them easy enough, but time is running out. Back to find the missing checkpoint 17, but have to leave it out to get back in time. Don’t realise that it has a bonus checkpoint attached to it, so we lose a mass of points.
Belting back to the finish, catching wash rides with the cruise boats, and we make it in 50 seconds over time.
So, we get all the checkpoints except for the one that became two.
Feeling great to have made it entirely around the course and then some, and the sun comes out for the presentations.
We had a great day, learned heaps, and enjoyed the variety of scenery and the company. What more could you want from a Saturday morning?

Tony Hystek, Team Sinking Feeling