Last week some of our people played in two vastly different challenges, the 10 in 1 and the Harbour to Harbour.
Thursday evening saw another running of the infamous 10 in 1, with the 2025 edition including a new option for the racing snakes; paddle the 10km Time Trial and down 4 beers in under an hour. Clint Cook was first home on the water in 45 mins and then finished his 4 beers in under 3 minutes, which suggests it was too easy for him. He was followed by Benji, Guns Piero and then Skid, who needed 59 minutes to finish. Then it was the real drinkers turn. 14 boys and the always game Karen lined up for their 10. Down Downs have always been easy for Flem Pup, but he showed his commitment and went to the Zambezi River for intensive training which worked wonders as he shattered his previous best of 5 mins 50 to finish in just 4 mins 10. Yoh! Raoul was good with a sub 20, while Sheldon just missed the 30 minute mark. 5 other boys finished; Kevin Hunt, J-Bay, Frank Geiger, Jaydon Hunt and Piero, who finished both challenges. Karen, playing off the ladies tee of 7 beers only needed 50 minutes to win. There were also 5 DNF’s – sorry boys – next time. Fun and games. For some.
Friday then saw the second running of the Harbour to Harbour, a 100mile downwind expedition from Richards Bay to Durban. Yes miles, or in the end 164 km. In one hit. 10 boats went out into the easterly that was gusting at well over 30 knots. Some went deep, well over 20km out to sea, while others remained within a kilometre or two of land. For the first 100 kilometers it looked like Zack Preyser was well in the lead, but with 40 to go Bevan Manson got ahead and was first home in a time of 10 hours 43 having averaged 15km/h with a top speed of 31km/h. Brett Hardais was second and Zach was third. Young Troy Jacobs appeared to call it a day at Salt Rock, some 120km from the start. Six other boats including Moolies Moolman did ‘The Half’ through to Zinkwazi; a mere 85km. Yoh! Fun and games at another level all together. As the TVL Navy’s Admiral said: “Crazy, not for mere mortals. Well done all, we salute you.”
Moolies paddled with Jason Ekstrand and this is what he had to say about their day:
Moolies arrived yesterday full of flu / some virus 🦠 feeling kak. 27 effervescent vitamins & minerals later, plus a zol biscuit to ensure a sound sleep, the okie is so keen he wakes me up before my alarm at 2am! Needless to say, it was definitely a false start. He hit the back seat of the cab so hard for an hours drive to RB. He flukes me blue blind when with half an hour to go to start, & after several unsuccessful attempts, he finally kicks into frenetic mode (2 X speed). Unfortunately this didn’t manifest much further than the start line, whereafter 3 minutes in, he’s already stopping to adjust some story hanging from his lanky frame. This was not the 1st stop, as I watched all the other members disappear out the ecommi. We rallied hard, & at some point early on we took the lead with ease. As I started to sweat & regret wearing a long sleeve, so Moolies started tuning me how cold 🥶 he is! With his tunes banging at full blast (another few minute stop to adjust the volume), the vomiting starts in the backseat! I’m blind to the goings on as I’m razor focused on the wild ocean in front of me, but it sounds alarming. Despite the sounds at every turn, he firmly reassures me alles is lekker (between dry hacking non-productive vomits now – nothing left inside). Well so I thought. How wrong I was when 5 minutes later he needs a groot kak. Nou se ek, “Moolies, fok man, I’m not stopping AGAIN! Jy moet maar jouself bekak in jou FunkyPant, en ek sal die boot volmaak me seewater. En dan sal die kakwater deur die bailers gaan.” It didn’t get much better, in fact it got waaay worse. Now over 20km out to sea (land nowhere to be seen). This oke comes with heavy chest pains now! Followed by hypothermia (almost). He spots a straw deep sea fishing boat, behind him at like 7 o clock, & now for 1st time he tells me he’s about to die. We turn around & paddle UPWIND in 25kn NE to save his life. They see us & recognize I madness (upwind & 20km out), & come to our rescue. I duly ask them for a jersey, & Moolies gets his life saving raincoat. He nearly proposes marriage to the guy, he’s so stoked, & off we go again. He’s feeling so warm en happy, that he now ecommits to DUC, a mere 100km away. This was short lived, when now he’s overcome with total body cramp & failure. Game off again. Now the new plan is not even Zinkwazi (40km away), it’s straight to the beach at 90 degrees to the howling wind & swell (still 20km away)! Been an old seadog I know this Is the worst possible plan / situation to be In or attempt. Sideways with breaking foamies for 2.5 hours is madness, but now I’ll do anything to save this okes life – he totally f&c$d. Everytime I get on the left pedal to catch a run at 45 degrees , he tunes me “More Aggressive” ie square / 90. Life choices were questioned! Yet he never gave up! We never gave up! And you guessed it, he came right again. With 15 to go, on a very shallow line now, he starts steering from the back & paddling me up & over runs. How’s this madman. We do our fastest km with 2km to go at around 3:30s. Ongelooflik! Hierdie ou is mos “special”! Moolies loved it sooo much, he made sure we did 95km instead of the straight line course at 85km. Why not do an extra 10 especially when you’re hypothermic, vomiting, kakking jou broek, cramping uncontrollably, & experiencing severe chest pains. Fok! Only Moolies 🤣
Hard core men – busy getting ready for the PE2EL. Back at Emmies we had Brad Fish, Wayne and Jack stirring the tea cup as a 50km qualifier. Raoul only did 2km’s saying he plans to use day 1 as training for day 2, and day 3 as training for day 4. We hope he stays on the beach, or that he can talk Jason and Moolies into going in an S3, now that the guys at Carbonology have said they can’t build him an S4 in time for PE2EL, although who knows who would have gone in that? Fok! Also only Raoul 🤣
Up next, another calendar clash with The Lions River Descent and the Orange River Descent both happening this weekend – who’s going where?
Till next time – Go Dabs!