Just a few weeks ago we had the HASSC where Ricki Talevi & Mike Arthur took the bragging rights ahead of Wayne Jacobs & Matt Coetzer, after which there was some talk as to what might happen at the next showdown, which happened on Sunday…
While some were enjoying the Easter break there were two big surfski races down in Cape Town, the first being the SA Surfski S1 Champs on the Friday. From Simons Town to Millers Point and back to Fish Hoek on a hot, calm day; the racing was anything but calm, with Nic Notten just edging out Kenny Rice in the final sprint, followed by Uli Hart, Hank McGregor and Mark Keeling, in what some called a ‘warm-up’ before Freedom Day.
Sunday was more of a doubles race with 243 people in 136 boats competing for the honours of the Prescient Freedom Paddle – the 27km race around the iconic Robben Island, in celebration of Freedom Day. The same big names in surfski paddling were there, along with a few paddlers from our little pond in the old Transvaal. It was another hot day with a slight cooling breeze on the water, which was almost flat with a tiny swell, so there was little assistance from the ocean, and lots of honest, hard work for the paddlers. After the initial charge there was a fairly feisty front bunch of 6 boats taking shots at each other trying to stay at the front. Six kilometers into the race Nic Notten & Kenny Rice put in a big interval and dropped everyone. Matt Coetzer (the U23 S1 Champion) & Wayne Jacobs chased hardest and caught them just before the Island, after which it became a two boat race. They traded blows in a cat and mouse game until two kilometers from the end when Kenny & Nic put in an interval that snapped the elastic, so they went on to win 50 seconds ahead of Matt & Wayne, who were happy with the result but also a little disappointed not to have won. Some two minutes behind them were Shaun Rubenstein & Riccardo Talevi; fourth was the Mixed Double pairing of Georgia Singe & Uli Hart and fifth was Hank McGregor & Josh Fenn (who had been sick all week) – so having Dabulamanzi men on the second and third steps of the podium was absolutely fantastic. 12th overall and 1st Sub Grand Masters were Ian Trautmann & Brad Fisher; this was Brad’s best ever sea result. Also from Dabs we had Dylan Browne & Louis Eksteen, and we also had some ex-members, who have defected to the Cape. Well done to Jess Lee & Mike Harrisson, Graham Neate & Alan Neate, and the newly-wed Tarryn Dietrich & Bronwen Jillings – Tarryn is clearly living a good new life down there. Dabs also had Rob Macfarlane on the podium for the S1 short course race. Well done to all, you won the respect of, and a salute from the TVL Navy’s much admired Admiral.
Brad the Fish is now super amped and along with Raoul the Goose, they are trying to get as many Dabs guys and girls as possible to the World Surfski Champs being held in Durban from 17-19 October. Hopefully the likes of Wayne and Ricci will be on the podium again – but the event is open to all, even the slowest of the slow from our pond. Nice warm water, one way, downwind fun awaits (and if the sea is too big, then there’s always the drinking option) – so put it in your diary now! Warmer still will be the Turtle Tour, departing on May 29th – speak to Raoul or Moolies. PS: There are still a few Dabs/TVL Navy caps left; get yours before they’re all gone.
Till next time – go Dabs!