The top outrigger paddlers are often in among the top 20 skis, and a bit like sea kayaks they’re really suited to this big bad stuff, especially with a skilled operator. They’re hard work though, same speed for heaps more effort.

Here's the link to the official event video, which is about 50 times more spectacular than our effort. Pretty bloody awesome.... https://www.facebook.com/makaipaddler/videos/1555440787966094/UzpfSTE3MTkwMjYzNjQ3NjcxNjpWSzo1MTY4NTA1ODg5NDM3Mzg/?notif_t=admin_plan_mall_activity¬if_id=1581560344677510

rockhopper wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:43 pm

Fantastic !!.

Looks like the main hazard was getting hit by another boat..

Rog.

Yep for sure. When they got steep it was really hard to hold a line. No injuries on the day though.

Yes mate, the line from the turn can back to harbour was straight over a big bommie. There were several word ranked top 10 paddlers in the race and most of them took the Pepsi challenge and got through, and fast. The problems were with us mortals who also had a go!

We took part in an annual ocean race here in Australia on the weekend, and for the first time in a long time sea kayaks were allowed to enter. Conditions arced up past the point where it couldn't be run as a downwind 25km race as is normal, and we went out to a can 3km off a safe harbour and back, i...

We've loaded another podcast, this one a tale of two mates getting together to spend a bit of bloke time together, and having a crack at the local ultra marathon race series, which culminates in a 111km overnighter. It's blokey.... https://www.buzzsprout.com/353102/2210609-episode-8-axe-and-sundo-sm...

Take a look at the Rockpool Taran, the Tiderace Pace 17, the Audax, the new Epic V10 and V12, any of the top Fenn and Carbonology surfskis, they all feature a lot of rocker, a lot of volume, all designed by different people, all of whom have arrived at the same conclusions. Granted the boats mention...

Not at all. Heaps of rocker, in fact the latest and greatest ocean racing skis have a lot of rocker, as do the best fast touring sea kayaks. Modern designers have recognised that rocker and buoyancy are your best friends when things get really big and bad. I think the old ideas that X+Y=Z in kayak d...

We introduce new paddlers to the ocean on stable double surfskis. They sit in the back seat, get to see when we paddle (especially downwind), and when we don't, they get to see big moving water up close without getting intimidated, and when they get their timing right the thing rocks along at 15kmh+...

Our latest podcast episode is up and live, the tale of the latest sea kayak we have designed and are now building here in Australia, the Audax Azure. If you've ever been curious about what's involved in designing and then bringing a design to life, this is a short chat about our journey. Hope you en...

Episode 6 just loaded, titled Big Swell, Big Seas, Big Wind, Big Risk & Big Consequences. A shorter listen contemplating the things you should consider if you're looking to take on really demanding sea conditions. https://www.buzzsprout.com/353102/1620010-episode-6-big-seas-big-swell-big-wind-big-ri...

Episode 5 is up, the Dawson’s account of the 700km Yukon River Quest in Canada. Kate and Steve paddled a double sea kayak down one of the most gruelling race courses in the world.
Hope you enjoy the yarn.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/353102/15673 ... eve-dawson

Correct Link! Episode 4 is up online, our mates Kate & Steve Dawson's tale of competing in the Texas water Safari. Although I figured I knew what this ultra event was all about, I'll admit that as they spun their yarn I was genuinely surprised by the challenge. Hope you enjoy it. https://www.buzzspr...

Episode 4 is up online, our mates Kate & Steve Dawson's tale of competing in the Texas water Safari. Although I figured I knew what this ultra event was all about, I'll admit that as they spun their yarn I was genuinely surprised by the challenge. Hope you enjoy it. https://www.buzzsprout.com/353102...

Here's another good reason.....! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI73iFo6wlo&feature=youtu.be https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66836435_10157377094085477_6725928805694701568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQnEl3VLqnJVA8bWMTqlAtodt-JkdQhFrLUoo6-jx2iKjyl6M5uKVcbeSN-s0AZ1pTI&_nc_ht=scontent-syd2...

Our most recent podcast is live, a chat about our very favourite sea kayaks over the years. There are lots of British designed and built boats discussed, as well as few views on why our kayaking in Australia has maybe evolved slightly differently to your in the UK. Hope you enjoy our ramblings. Link...

Thanks mate!

G’day again, our second podcast episode has just been posted, this time an hours chat about our 2011 North Reef Expedition. This was the first big trip undertaken in our part of the world in the newly released Rockpool Taran. Hope you enjoy listening. https://www.buzzsprout.com/353102/1222241-the-20...

G'day Folks, We've entered the world of podcasting, with a relaxed hour or so of tall tales from paddlers in our part of the world. The first episode is up, a chat over a couple of bottles of red with Kate & Steve Dawson, two of our sea kayaking, surf ski'ing, marathon paddling mates who are about t...

Thanks mate, glad you enjoyed it. The inspiration for the title came from another mate who circumnavigated South Georgia a couple of years ago. At a very po-faced gathering of outdoor types a chap asked him, in many more words, what cause he was promoting, what charity or issue. He just laughed and ...

Last month the oldest 60% of our Bass Strait crew reunited for a mini-expedition of note, the 100km or so from Eden to Mallacoota traversing the Nadgee Wilderness. This paddle has plenty of challenges in amongst some of the most pristine & wild coast on the eastern seaboard. This is a cup-of-tea-lon...

Mate I'm glad you gave Kari Tek a shout. They'll sort you out, good people, part of the community.

Kari Tek are about to land a big lot of 0.8m Trade Wind sails. As far as we can see, buying from us in Australia and paying freight and your local taxes shouldn’t be any cheaper than buying from Kari Tek, and they’re local, a lovely business, and well and truly worth supporting. As to copying the sa...

A collapsed sea cave on the Beecroft Peninsula, about 150km south of Sydney, on one of the rare days you can get close.

Youtube struck & removed our video, here's the new link....

G'day Guys, Just a note to let you all know that the latest sail from Flat Earth is due to land at Kari Tek later this month. It's a design based on the original sails we used back in the '90's, refined with Mick's unique hardware & sailmaking prowess. It was the last project Mick was working on bef...

Mate sorry to say, but that's a terminal problem. Most of the more recent skis have drastically lowered their 'hump' so that doesn't happen anymore, but I can't think of a satisfactory work around, and haven't seen anyone manage it.

Yes on land about 1200m away, watching it all on an iphone screen. Very clever piece of tech.
Mark.

A short video of the biggest sea kayaker's gathering in Australia, this year on the NSW South Coast.

Thanks all, and nice to hear from you Douglas, hope you're getting out on the water!