I have been getting a few questions about Saturdays race so will just address these as they come up in the forum as I am sure others are thinking the same things:

Race direction
will be decided no later than 10.15am on Saturday although it may well be decided earlier. The late time is because of the current weather prediction of a very ESE wind followed by a strong NE wind some 12hrs after, if this NE wind arrives early it will change the direction of the race.

Start/Finish - either:
• start at the northern corner of freshwater beach registration on the grassed area at the end of oceanview rd. with the finish in the middle of the beach at Palm beach in front of North palm beach Surf Club with the presentation to be held under the marquee on the grassed area south of Nth Palm beach Surf Club. Parking is free all day at governor Phillip park only (palm beach)
• Registration at Nth Palm beach Surf Club with the start directly in front of the surf club. Finish at the northern corner of freshwater beach with the presentation at Freshwater Surf Club as per last year. Please note that we could not get free parking at Freshwater beach with Pay and Display parking operational all day.

or a clubby comp

OK - now the PFD thing.
This is still coming up.
Please don't shoot the messenger but "you must wear your PFD". No bum bags and no blow-ups (unless they are self inflating).
Please don't try to cheat the system by wearing a camel back under the shirt as if it is a PFD.
Apart from the fact that Waterways, surflifesaving and the race insurers require the over 300 paddlers to wear PFDs, there is over $7,000 in prizemoney, trips and draws involved so everyone needs to play by the rules.
At the briefing (1.20pm) there will a scrutineering to ensure everyone has a compliant PFD.
If you are not wearing it in the race, your number will be taken and you will not be eligible for prizes.
- If you need one to loan let me know and I might be able to get you one.
- If you want to buy one call Sam at WSS or Dean at Oceanpaddler

Disclosure: I personally hate wearing them and have fought the good battle agst them for years. The battle has been lost but the upside is that we can have serious offshore downwind races without risk of being sued for breach of duty of care...

yippee yipper

Field is looking pretty hot.
Out of towners looking to take the title include:
Danny Ching, Kai Bartlett, Aaron & Riggs Napolean, Lincoln Dews, Annabelle Anderson.
Local crew who are looking to do well and also take out the series pointscore include:
Andy Davies, Sam Parker, Stevie Morrison, Chucky Domin, the Petes (Meyer and Morgan), Terrene and Fletch
Word is that Danny is having a crack on the 12'6. If he wins the race he takes both winners cheques ($1,200).
Likewise, AA will be pushing for top 3 and a prizemoney double dip.
Should be interesting

Was a tough day at the office. Wind had a lot of East in it but Sam and Kai seemed to be finding runs out there. Danny had a real crack and actually hit the lead after about 10km. Very gutsy to try and beat these guy on a 12'6.
In the end Sam showed amazing determination to hold off 2 of the big guns in the sport. Sam also took out the series and will be going to compete in Perth.
Congrats also to Ali who finished second in the womens race and won the series - and a trip to the Doctor.
I counted around 24 on the start line which was pretty good considering the conditions.
Official results should come up (on oceanseries site) on the Monday.

Top 8 were:
Sam Parker
Kai Bartlett
Danny Ching (12'6)
Dave Kissane (12'6)
Chucky Domin
Lincoln Dews
Steve Morrison (12'6)
Annabelle Anderson

I think Ian took some photos...can you put them up Ian?

**** hot Sambo, thats one hell of a feat!!!
He seemed pretty relaxed at the shop before he left[}:)]

Here the overall results & times from the Ocean Series website:
1st___Sam Parker_________2:35:57 (Unlimited)
2nd___Kai Bartlett_________2:37:44 (Unlimited)
3rd___Danny Ching________2:38:34 (12'6)
4th___Dave Kissane_______2:41:15 (12'6)
5th___Charles Domin______2:41:37 (Unlimited)
6th___Lincoln Dews________2:45:13 (Unlimited)
7th___Peter Myer__________2:49:34 (Unlimited)
8th___Steve Morrison______2:52:47 (12'6)
9th___Annabel Anderson____2:55:27 (Womens)
10th__Will Anido__________2:57:36 (Unlimited)
11th__Andy Davies________3:03:46 (Unlimited)
12th__Alison Fullagar______3:15:37 (Womens)
13th__Steven Floyd________3:21:14 (12'6)
14th__Jamie Loveridge_____3:22:01 (Unlimited)
15th__Terrene Black_______3:27:33 (Womens)
16th__Matt Worley_________3:29:53 (Unlimited)
17th__Josh Fletcher________3:35:05 (12'6)
18th__Geoff Dews_________3:43:02 (Unlimited)
19th__Corey Doccisson_____3:54:46 (12'6)
20th__John Brockhoff_______3:55:27 (Unlimited)
21st__Lanee Beashel_______3:56:24 (Womens)

There were also 3 or 4 other sup's who started the race but weren't permitted to finish after the cutoff time, but big congrats to you guys for having a go and paddling for 4hrs+ in tough conditions before being picked up by the escort boats - you guys deserve a medal too!

...and the category results
Mens Unlimited
1st Sam Parker
2nd Kai Bartlett
3rd Charles Domin
4th Lincoln Dews
5th Peter Meyer
6th Will Anido
7th Andy Davies
8th Jamie Loveridge
9th Matt Worley
10th Geoff Dews
11th John Brockhoff

Mens 12'6
1st Danny Ching
2nd Dave Kissane
3rd Steve Morrison
4th Steven Floyd
5th Josh Fletcher
6th Corey Doccinsson

Womens (unlimited)
1st Annabel Anderson
2nd Alison Fullagar
3rd Terrene Black
4th Lanee Beashel

Thanks Ali.
I guess I am still in the dark ages thinking they would get results up on Monday.
Nice to see the technology working.
I'll work out final pointscore placings for everyone in the next few days.
Just one correction I could see:
Lincoln Dews was "unlimited".
Everything else looks OK but if anyone sees anything that is not right, just let me know.
thanks
Dave

what a awesome event.

yes there where points during the race where i thought, WTF am in doing out here, but catching that wave into the beach and running to the finish made it all worth while.
And of course, with a race hangover of jelly arms and blisters, i was greeted with glassy surf this morning.
The paddle out thru the lineup was wobbly to say the least, but it ill shows why we all are invovled in such a unique and great sport.

Thanks to Kissa and sam for putting up prizes every week and of course Ian from Starboard for putting up a board and some tickets to the doctor.

The bar is set for next year.
time to start training.

cheers

Final Pointscore based on best 2 races from series including 20 Beaches which was double points. Good to see solid representation from SPSC crew:

Unlimited
Sam PARKER 1st 300
Dave KISSANE 2nd 294
Charles DOMIN 3rd 290
Peter MEYER 4th 286
Steve MORRISON 5th 283
Andy DAVIES 6th 280
Will Anido 7th 278
Steve Floyd 8th 270
Matt Worley 9th 262

12'6
Dave KISSANE 1st 298
Steve MORRISON 2nd 296
Steve Floyd 3rd 294
Josh Fletcher 4th 291

Women
Alison FULLAGOR 1st 298
Terrene BLACK 2nd 296
Lanee BEASHEL 3rd 293

pete joseph said...

SO SORE

Me too, training hurt a lot this morning :-)

Great looking event. Tough race for all by the sounds of it.
Congratulations to all who participated.
And Dave K for getting the SUPs working hard.

Hello All,

Well done Sam! Thanks Kizza for organizing things.

Wow that was a long way. What was it 24km or something?

I got a bit depressed when got past long reef and saw how far it was....

Started having fun after 2 hours when I got use to the pain of only paddling on the left side.

Here are some photos. (Sorry mainly of me.)

Can't wait till the next race.

See you all there.

Well done to everyone - I piked it when I saw the forecast

Amazing effort from Sam and Dave Kissa you guys are machines!! As well as being full time workers, dads, etc, hats off to you