OUTRIGGER RACING
If you were nearby a beach on Saturday, January 29, you may have been rewarded with the sight of outrigger canoes battling the waves from Patonga to Terrigal.
The Ettalong-based Outrigger Canoe Club, Te Ika Nui, hosted the annual event for the second year running with eight canoes and 16 teams lined up to clinch gold.
The Maui Jim 50-kilometre Head2Head OC6 relay race involved a return trek from Patonga to Terrigal with teams tasked to swap at either end.
Race director, Bob King, said the event went off without a hitch.
“The weather gods were on our side… it was a stunning day,” King said.
“There was a moderate swell, a bit of wind – we were pretty happy with the turnout.
“It’s the longest outrigger race in NSW … it’s only for experienced paddlers.”
The Cronulla Outrigger Canoe Club’s men’s crew was named the overall winner, recording a record time of four hours and three minutes.
The club said they debuted their ‘brand spanking new’ canoe on the day, the ‘Niuhi’, which is Hawaiian for the ‘Man Eating Shark’.
Other teams involved included Bondi, The Lakes, Northern Beaches, Port Hacking, Pacifica, Ik Ai Ka, Newcastle and Mollymook.
Event sponsors Maui Jim and Sharkskin donated prizes for the event.
Maisy Rae