G’day all, if anyone’s keen to come along for a 50km SUP paddle this Sunday you’re quite welcome, especially the guys & girls training for the Hawaiian Molokai Race. Conditions are looking very good with 25 knot winds with a south swell. See you at Brunswick Heads boat ramp around 9:00am. Paddle back to Currumbin Alley. Don’t come alone, it’s a big ocean out there and you need a support boat for this run.
Had a good paddle back today from Brunswick Heads to Currumbin Alley, this was the conditions.
Wednesday 5/19 Morning Windy conditions with choppy seas. Small craft advisory. Moderate short period wind waves. Winds: S 18 to 25 knots Seas: SE 7 feet at 9 sec. Afternoon Windy conditions with choppy seas. Small craft advisory. Moderate short period wind waves. Winds: S 16 to 22 knots Seas: SSE 7 feet at 9 sec.
I nearly smashed the 5 hour mark for 50km - was averaging 58 minutes per 10km, at the 35km mark my watch said 3 hours 25 minutes & it was right at that time conditions went really s##t about 2km out from Cook island that slowed me up big time, dealing with 2 swell directions (washing machine) bizarre cross currents that really works you, the next 5km was punishing. Those conditions give you the real Molokai Kaiwi Channel Effect & with no runners from Cook island to Currumbin Alley it took me 5 hours 19 minutes.
Yep 50km is a long SUP paddle (you need rocks in your head) from Brunswick Heads to Currumbin Alley (at the 40km mark my body is feeling like death by ounka-bounka) but without talking it up too much, that’s a walk in the park compared to the Molokai Kaiwi Channel.
P.S. How FUNNY is this, on my way home Scott Franzmann from the Gold Coast Lifeguard Service rings and says they’d had a call from an old lady at Bilinga, who had spotted a SUP paddle boarder in trouble out to sea. Greenmount was advised and had their jet ski out ready for a rescue. Scott’s in the know and spoke to Greenmount and says “hang on guys, that’s no one in trouble that’s just two lifeguards training”. Good to know people are watching and on the ball.
DW
Nice work, Phil - you should be more than ready for a good Molokai crossing by the time you get there.
Yes, those waters around Cook Island are always a bit unsettled. I don't think it makes too much difference whether you go inside or outside - it's pretty much the same either way.
Dale and I are tapering our training down so 50km is not for us right now. We plan to do our Ballina to Burleigh paddle on the weekend of the 29th/30th. Good luck and have a safe paddle.
Anyone with a boat or ski keen for a day out as a support boat? I'm happy to cover the fuel. (Or if you've got a ski and want to alternate paddling thats an option too.)
I'd love to give this paddle a crack, and the conditions are looking good, but I reckon it'll take me 6+hours to complete solo so you'd have to be prepared for a long day out to sea.
Mate I got tired just reading this.
I only paddled Potty to Casuarina yest but that was a blast at around 9am. I love that stretch after you come around Caba point, is laid out in front of you like a dinner table.
G'day Ali Cat,
This is a serious offshore paddle so if you have a crack at it please do not take any shortcuts with safety. The wind is expected to be in the 20+knt range and there should also be a lot of swell around (over 3m). If you want any assistance wrt safety tips please do hesitate to ask. Good luck.