I saw that they had quite a few options to run with, to meet the conditions on the day. I heard they had a good DW run across the bay a year or two back. I will add, well planned, with support, etc.

The Outriggers await you JC!

Great effort fellas,
I dont supose you could see the other side for quite a bit of the paddle.
Now Port melb to Portsea, North to South in calling to be done, 64k or there abouts
Dave

Some photos and charts of the paddle.












Beautiful morning, VERY still! We had actually discussed pulling the plug if there wasn't any wind, but as Jarad said "you are here now and if you don't do it it'll just be soft" hard to argue with that!





We stopped every hour and had a little to eat, you can see from the charts that the stops got shorter and our average speed faster the closer we go. We both started off pretty cautiously but the sight of land got us fired up Sounds silly but it actually wasn't that hard, really just a matter of pluggin away and we both pulled up fine the next day.

I chose to use a shorter paddle than usual, 13 inches over head instead of my usual 15, I think it's a little bit kinder to the shoulders over that sort of distance, both Kialoa Methanes, didn't even end up with a blister. I spent a few days the week before digging and holes in clay with a crow bar and shovel, hardened the old hands up just fine.

Compared to the big St Kilda to Mornington paddle from a couple of years ago it was very easy, a lot to do with plenty to drink, good quality energy bars and I had some gel packs - oh and of course an extra 4 or 5 feet of board length!

Funny how a couple of years of experience changes your approach to something like this, I've become much more conscious of safety aspects and while having all the gear was a bit of a pain it was also reassuring. Jarad is an elite extreme athlete and professional and his attention to detail and safety is impressive.



Paul about half way taking a breather on his beautiful F16 - those runners were pretty hard to catch...

Just for interests sake here is a list of what I took with me.

Glide 17 (Thanks DJ!)
Kialoa Methane paddle
Gas cylinder inflating PFD type 1
Whistle
Leggie - coiled DaKine
3 litres of water with electrolyte - had about half a litre left
1 600ml Gatorade - drank it and one in the car before we started
Marine radio
Spot epirb
Compass
Tiny torch and very small swiss army knife with scissors
2 flares
Roll of duct tape
3 Power Bars - ate 2
Fruit and nuts scroggin mix - which i didn't eat
Cheese and vegemite sanger
4 Gel packs - I have small plastic bottles that I can squeeze two into and some water, makes them much easier to drink.
5 metres of 3mm rope.
4 Panadol

Had a North Face backpack with a 3l water Camel Bak type water container, also a waterproof bag strapped to the board.

Seems like a lot! But I'm not actually sure I'd leave anything behind if I did it tomorrow, after you have paddled offshore for three hours, cant see land in either direction and realise there is no point turning back you do get sense of just being a tiny speck out there...

Great job Jonathan and Paul.. I had my board on the car ready to join you guys but I pulled the pin due to the variable and unpredictable conditions.. That's a hell of a long paddle and I'm glad all went well for you guys.. It was also unexpectedly hot so I'm glad you had heaps to drink and sun protection.. I'm guessing you could do it in well under half that time with a good tail wind and lots of runners.. I hope we get those perfect conditions one day because I'd love to do it.

DJ

Outstanding effort. I was thinking of you both while paddling around on Sunday with the family at Half Moon Bay - noticed the flags on Cerberus going south and then north but never east. So I doubt you got any assistance at all. Kudos.

Forgot, I also had my phone.

The surf ski guys had the small waterproof strobe lights with them, strapped to their pfd, think I'll get one for next time.

Interesting to see how hard it was to see the surf skis until they were relatively close, it was a slightly hazy day but it makes you realise how difficult it would be for anyone searching from a boat, particularly in bad light/rough conditions. And in the dark...wow, how do they ever find anyone!

thats a great effort JC, has anyone sup surfed quarantine?

LyndaLim said...

How about Shoreham to Phillip Island - or Flinders downwind to Somers or Hastings?

Well done guys - on getting safely across and doing it with the requisite safety gear.

We've done those.. .. and keen to do them again.

DJ