Bridge to Beach Photos
Contributed by
admin
on
11/03/2010
Registration at Blues Point
Swimmers entering the water. Robert Barry and Darren Lee - Winner Open Double
Jeremy Cotter takes line honours in the paddle race.
Photos courtesy of Beachead.com.au.
Please check the photo gallery soon for more B2B photos.
Bridge to Beach 2010 wrap up
Contributed by
admin
on
8/03/2010
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written by Dean Gardiner
Tough conditions
Tough, was how most competitors in this years B to B explained the race. “Really hard work, a lot different to previous races” said many.
Yes that was the way the 6th instalment of the B to B unfolded. A strong headwind and incoming tide made the 11K race the toughest yet.
Initially a 20k tailwind was forecast for the race which put a smile on most ocean paddlers faces. Unfortunately the weather gods changed their minds and threw down a 15-20k north easter creating havoc for many of the back markers.
Whilst the majority of the race is within Sydney Harbour this body of water still has enough fetch to generate decent size chop. What makes it even tougher is the chop is short and comes from all angles due to the reflection off the steep cliffs that surround the harbour. Throw in the various washes created by ferries and recreational boaters and you have considerable movement in all directions.
The prominent direction this year was in your face.
The contenders
As expected this would be a race in three. Cotter, Eckstein and Tim Jacobs were the three but a new facet was added to the fray this year. Due to time constraints and starting between ship and ferry movements under the harbour bridge, doubles started with the singles.
With popularity in the doubles gaining traction here in Australia there were a lot of the two person boats on the harbour for the race this year. And for the first time some very decent crews who really wanted to stamp their authority on the event.
The race is on
The start of the race is something to behold even for me who has seen and done most of these types of events. Watching such a large number of paddlers blasting off the line under Australia’s most prominent landmark is a true spectacle.
All the top guns got away cleanly and the pace was hotly contested up front as single paddlers tried to secure a position behind the faster moving doubles. Out early the combo of Rob Barry and Darren Lee with a bunch of singles resembling remoras (sucker fish seen on the side of sharks) close by.
Included in the remora’s were the usual suspects along with a couple of unknowns. Former swimming champ Tim Fydler was in the lead pack along with Italian kayaker Mattia Colombi and Cape Towns favourite son Julien Calibut.
Woolongong veteran Ian Timbrell wasn’t going to let the leaders get away as he Michael Clues, Cade Barnes Tom Woodriff, Tim Bird and the doubles combo of Jason ‘Matty Newton” Cunningham and Glen “Apples” Orchard made up a formidable second pack.
“The doubles really added another facet to the race today” said Clues. “It made it a lot more interesting than just a hard slog upwind, you could work a bit harder and get the speed reward from getting on the back of the bigger boats.” he said.
Top 3 battle it out
Midway through the race Lee and Barry put the hammer down dragging Jacobs, Eckstein and Cotter with them.
“I really wanted to be in the best spot in the long stretch from Bradleys Head to Manly, so I worked hard to be on the first wash directly behind the double” Said Cotter. It felt pretty good there as they were breaking up the short chop and I was just hanging in on their tail”
Directly behind Cotter sat Eckstein with Tim Jacobs picking up the last bit of the wash on Eckstein’s tail.
“I knew Jeremy was in the hot seat but it was going to be hard to take him on is these conditions” said Eckstein. I had to bide my time on the second wash and hope that I could make a move in the final stretch ”he said.
The last 3k
Round Middle head and with just over 3 k to go Jacobs fell off the wash and it was left to the two Gold Coasters and the double combo to battle it out for the prestigious line honors.
Nearing the finish and in the protected water of Manly Cove Eckstein made his move, Cotter went also and the three boats raced for the shoreline. As they hit the sand it was Cotter, Darren Lee (running from the double) and Eckstein for the final 150 meter sprint.
Cotter made amends for his narrow loss last year beating Lee in the run and Eckstein made a very solid comeback to surf ski racing finishing 3rd overall and second single.
Tim Jacobs came in about a minute and a half behind cotter with the second pack led by Timbrell a further two minutes behind.
Ladies race
In the ladies event Mel Pelly continued her good form in the local races with a well earned and big win from Angie Nicotra and Naomi Countryman.
It was a big effort for many of the back markers in the race to get to the finish and a tough initiation for many new comers to the sport. Cotters record of 40 minutes flat was un challenged yesterday when he completed the course in just over 49 minutes showing just how tough the race was.
Results
The top twenty are listed below all results can be found at:
|
1
|
Jeremy Cotter
|
Fenn Elite
|
|
2
|
Barry/Lee
|
Fenn Elite Double
|
|
3
|
Caine Eckstein
|
Fenn Elite
|
|
4
|
Tim Jacobs
|
Nelo
|
|
5
|
Ian Timbrell
|
Fenn Elite
|
|
6
|
Cunningham/Orchard
|
Fenn Millenium Double
|
|
7
|
Mattia Colombi
|
Robberg Express
|
|
8
|
Michael Clues
|
Fenn Elite
|
|
9
|
Julian Calibut
|
Fenn Elite
|
|
10
|
Tom Woodriff
|
DD3
|
|
11
|
Cade Barnes
|
Epic
|
|
12
|
Matt Blundell
|
Epic
|
|
13
|
Paul Smith
|
Ski unknown
|
|
14
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Leech/Stewart
|
Fenn XT Double
|
|
15
|
Middleton/Middleton
|
Fenn XT Double
|
|
16
|
Tony Mal
|
Ski Unknown
|
|
17
|
Tim Fydler
|
Fenn Elite
|
|
18
|
Tim Bird
|
Fenn Elite
|
|
19
|
Will Hardman
|
Think Uno
|
|
20
|
Gary David
|
Fenn Elite (Over 50)
|
Ladies
|
1
|
Mel Pelly
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Fenn Mako 6
|
|
2
|
Angie Nicotra
|
Think
|
|
3
|
Naomi Countryman
|
Ski Unknown
|
Manly Wharf Bridge to Beach Sunday 7th March 2010
Contributed by
admin
on
22/02/2010
The final event of the Australian Ocean Racing Series will take place on March 7 on Sydney Harbour. The Manly Wharf Bridge to Beach is expected to draw well over 600 paddlers, a host of swimmers and stand-up paddle boarders. This is the last chance for paddlers to lift their national ranking for next year’s series.
The 11 kilometre event starts under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishes at Manly Beach. For the front runners it’s a sprint but for some it’s a scenic day out on one of the most beautiful harbours. This event attracts all types of paddle craft and is regarded as the “City to Surf” of ocean paddling.
The HORIZON Ocean Ski
Contributed by
admin
on
11/02/2010
The Horizon has arrived and is the perfect ocean ski for the beginner to intermediate paddler or those new to the sport.
At 48cm wide and 5.6m long the Horizon offers good stability which guarantees you will enjoy your paddling both on the flat water and in the choppy conditions. This ski is very similar to the popular Fenn XT in specifications and paddling comfort.
The hull design from the back of the ski to the sitting position is a little flatter which aids stability, whilst the design from the nose to the start of the cockpit has a sharp V section that maintains speed allowing the paddler to pick up ocean swell easily.
The Doctor 2010 Race Video
Contributed by
Yanda Nossiter
on
30/01/2010
The Doctor 2010 Race Video. Another awesome race report from Rambo. From all the team at Oceanpaddler THANK YOU! Great job.
The Doctor Race Report by Dean Gardiner
Contributed by
Deano
on
30/01/2010
Which way is the wind blowing?
There are many factors that influence the success or failure of an event. We have control over most of these but the weather is the one thing that will always be a thorn in the side of the organizers and has the potential to completely destroy what the particular event and its managers had set out to achieve.
Downwind ski paddling is a hot potato when it comes to making the right decision. It’s a gutsy call for organizers to say that we are going to have a downwind ski race. We have seen the whole thing turn to custard in recent Molokai’s and various other events around the globe.
Waiting periods and reversal of courses take the pressure of the organizer if they have the ability and flexibility to be able to pull either or both of those off. But even these can’t help the organizer if the weather is simply not playing ball.
Saturday January 16 Perth Western Australia saw something like the 56th straight day of no rain and a predicted 39 degrees Celsius with little to no chance of an afternoon sea breeze.
Cotter paddles with McGregor to win Finn Kayaks Coastal Challenge
Contributed by
admin
on
20/01/2010
In blistering hot conditions the Gold Coast’s Jeremy Cotter and South African world champion Hank McGregor have joined forces to grab an unlikely victory in 25km Finn Kayaks Coastal Challenge teams relay from Fremantle to Sorrento Beach in Perth on Sunday.
The event, staged in temperatures approaching 45 degrees, witnessed competitors of all shapes and sizes, from the elite, like Olympic kayaking gold medallist Kenny Wallace, to social once a week paddlers, sharing the picturesque journey along the coast, transitioning from the first to the second paddler at City beach.
Cotter had intended to partner race organiser and former world number one Dean Gardiner in the event but made a last minute switch to paddle with McGregor at Gardiner’s suggestion.
South African Dawid Mocke wins The Doctor
Contributed by
admin
on
17/01/2010
South Africa’s Dawid Mocke has upset Australia’s best ocean paddlers, beating more than 200 competitors home in The Doctor downwind race from Fremantle to Rottnest Island in Perth on Saturday.
With more than $30,000 on offer The Doctor attracted the globe’s very best paddlers and Mocke trumped them all, controlling the race throughout before pulling away from Australian number one Jeremy Cotter over the last kilometre of the 20km event to win by over ten metres.
Cotter’s fellow Gold Coaster Bruce Taylor upset some bigger names to finish third ahead of Mocke’s younger brother Jasper, while Hawaiian star Lauren Bartlett beat former Australian Ironwoman champion Kirsty Holmes and Perth doctor Ruth Highman in the women’s event.
The Doctor - IMPORTANT RACE INFORMATION
Contributed by
admin
on
14/01/2010
****IMPORTANT CHANGES TO ‘THE DOCTOR’ RACE
After much deliberation with numerous bodies and individuals we have made the difficult decision to reverse the course. Our decision has been made for two reasons:
1. Off shore winds predicted all day on the 16th
2. Extraordinary amount of shipping movements between the afternoon hours on the 16th.
Australian Ocean Racing Series
Contributed by
admin
on
8/01/2010
The Australian Ocean Racing season has kicked into full gear in the new year with 6 of the 10 major events being played out this month.
Fenn Cup 3 and The Twist got the year off to a good start waking the very best Aussie ocean paddlers from their Christmas hibernation.
Jeremy Cotter continued his domination of local races with a clean sweep in the Fenn events taking out the series from Tim Jacobs and Shannon Eckstein. Haley Bateup pulled out a big one to knock off Kirsty Holmes for the ladies event with Mel Pelly taking the final place on the dias.