I decided to take part in the race at the last minute. Derek's post made it sound just like a normal Sunday Kayaker's Race (in his defence the Paddlers Website made an obscure reference to something called a "Surfski"). You know the one I was thinking about - the usual friendly faces of laid back, happy -go -lucky Sea Kayakers in Epics, Kazkazi's,Perceptions, Paddleyaks...Big mistake. These guys are not laid back. Even their designer cars are colour coded with the "Ski". The girls are all blonde.
The turnout is 4 Sea Kayaks and about 4000 Surfskis. Ok - maybe 400. Barbara was cowering behind her little Corsa when I got there. She was trying to avoid being run over by a black X5 driven by a very serious guy and his blonde girlfriend. We were both scared and the sea was very angry.
Thank God Derek and Margaret then arrived. We parked in our little corner of the Car Park. We registered and carried our boats to the beach which was just one big surfski. Nothing that you could climb into (except maybe the blondes).Maybe Not. Loud Pop Music blared over a huge sound system under a huge Energade inflatable archway type thing.
They then decide to run the race the wrong way ie. with the wind to the wreck and back to Seaforth against the wind. Problem is the wind is pomping S.E at about 55 -60 km/h. Fine for Surfskis running downwind. Not so fine for Sea Kayaks. Except Mr. Goldman. He disappears to the front and I lose sight of him. Some twit (in a surfski) can't steer his boat at the start and almost takes me out. I hit him with my paddle and he disappears too. Posing time was over and the blondes were looking for new friends.
The first boat to go over is a Surfski driven by a blonde. I try to surf into her but I miss. At least it would have cheered me up. Seriously though I found the run down to the wreck horrendous. I am sure that I barely hung on. I say this because it was one of those experiences where you can't really remember what happended. I have not paddled with such a big or fast swell before. It was really hard to prevent a broach. Except for Goldman.
But those surskis are stupendous in these conditions. Some of the guys look like they are on a surfboard the way the ride the swell. And the speed...
At the wreck I saw Barbara again. She had stayed ahead of me (courtesy of good paddling and the rudderless twit mentioned above). Margaret also surfed bloody well and was about 50 metres ahead of me. Good paddlers those girls. The turn around the wreck towards the harbour was hairy. The swell was big and breaking at or just beyond the wreck so you had to time your turn to avoid the break. Nice.
After the turn I went ahead of the 2 ladies. I think Sir Goldman was having his first beer. We went through the yacht club, under the bridge (flat water) and around the bullnose. The wind was now S.E about 700km/h. Suicide. Miracle we stayed upright. Hardened surfskiers were crying around me. I passed the bugger who had passed me on the flat water. He was crying and I laughed at him.
The paddle to Seaforth was just a question of hanging in. There was no question of actually racing anyone. It was just survive and finish the race.
All in all? I think that racing is racing. Surkskis, if you can use them well, are better at surfing and big seas. Surfskiing is very big, very popular. Their races are well organised by really nice people. Our race series is just as well organised. Hats off to Margaret and Derek.The big difference? Well, I think that it is that Sea Kayaking has a different emphasis, a different heritage. Surfskis are about racing. Sea Kayaking is not. Perhaps that's it?
Will I take part again. Yes. Many thanks to the Surfski Fraternity for having us. The guys have got something.Regretfully I think it could be infectious.
Paul
