MAIDEN VOYAGE

Did a maiden voyage downwind SUP paddle from Brunswick Heads to Currumbin Alley total kilometres 50kms. I haven’t paddled that distance since the 2008 Molokai Race. I want to go in the Salt Water Festival 30km downwinder in May, organised by Legendary Trevor Hendy so I’d thought I’d better do some training for the race. Going out through Brunswick Heads was bulk scary - lucky it was high tide I was s##ting myself getting towed out by jet ski holding a 17ft SUP. From Brunswick Heads to Cudgen Reef was very ordinary with two different swell directions, some swells looked in the 6 foot range & some really weird currents - like paddling in a washing machine. But got some all time runners from 50 to 200metres, I fell about 4 times from burying the rails.
This was the Marine Forecast: 28.0ºS/153.75ºE Monday 4/5 Breezy white capping conditions with moderate choppy seas. Moderate long period swell.
Winds: S 15 to 20 knots Seas: SE 9 feet at 10 sec
From Cudgen Reef to Cook Island was all time - I needed a seat belt on my F-16 I was going that fast, again got some all time runners some of the best I‘ve ever had. The runners just kept linking up, thinking to myself how good is this I‘m just surfing my F-16.
From Cook Island to Currumbin Alley was like a mini escalator ride I’m thinking thank f##k for that, because my body felt like Wallaby Ted’s brother Roo Ted. I was cramping up in my obliques & inner quads but my shoulders felt fine. I fell twice around Tugun because my body felt F####d. It took me 5 hours & 5 minutes to paddle the 50kms. I’d like to thank Ray my support boat driver for coming along & staying close by. I’m going to do this course again if anybody is keen to come along you’re quite welcome but you’ll need a support boat though because as soon as we start you’ll be on your own, you may see some big fish out there.
see ya in da ocean
DW