Today (Sunday 29th May) saw the Hekili Outrigger Canoe Club host the inaugural Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge, a 40km downwind race from Palm Cove to Port Douglas in Northern QLD.  The race began at Palm Cove Cairns from the beach, headed 3kms to Scout Hat and Double Islands, then turn North to make the most of the following sea to finish on Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas.

NSW paddler Dean Gardiner took out line honors ahead of Townsville’s Mick Deroy with Mark Anderson ‘Ando’ also from NSW coming in 3rd place. All first three paddlers across the line paddling on the FENN ELITE Ocean racing skis.