Moonlight Paddle

Hi Peeps,

Last night on the full moon, Stand Up Paddle Perth organized our third planned Moonlight Paddle event on the Swan. We expected around 15-18 people to show up and join us. To our surprise, we got many more enquiries than usual.

We decided to cater big at the risk of overkill in the food department, just in case! Lucky we did Paddlers came out of the woodwork and we ended up with one of the biggest social gatherings of paddlers in WA that I know of. All the food bar one slice of pizza was devoured. Nice

At approximately 8.45pm we all set off for a paddle and assembled on the water for a head count and general briefing. That done, 34 paddlers set off in the dark armed only with glow sticks and a paddle and aided by the full moon, we paddled across the blackness of the Swan hugging the cliffs to stay out of the light wind. The temperature was balmy and the paddling conditions were very good.

We had all types of paddlers men and women and some younger paddlers as young as 10 y.o. and a few that were much younger as pillion passengers on board larger boards with parents, all soaking up the darkness and the display of shoreline lights. All types of boards, old and new, race and surf. It was all about the experience and a great social family fun event.

It was amazing to look around at the group of paddlers which extended over a couple of hundred metres at times. I've never seen so many paddlers together at the one time and in the dark to boot! Coloured glow sticks silently gliding over the water is quite surreal to see. Such a sight! We paddled a tad over 6 km according to one of our regular paddlers with a GPS.

Pleased to say we didn't lose anyone and everyone enjoyed the paddle. We were even followed back into the bay where we started by Dolphins. What a way to end, and then a few drinks back at the beach amongst friends. Excellent!

Many thanks to everyone who has supported us with our events. A big thanks to Luke, Rob and Kent who aided us as shepherds keeping our flock together and kept an eye on everyone. Many thanks also to Todd whom stayed at the van and assisted people with boards and paddles.

If you would like to come on our next Moonlight paddle, "Like" us on Facebook to be kept up to date with our events. www.facebook.com/standuppaddleperth

Unfortunately we didn't get any piccies of the on-the-water event itself, but have a couple of the "before" pics. I've added a couple from our last night paddle too.

Cheers,

DM

Thanks for organising it Darren and anyone else that helped.
I worked a twelve hour shift and raced straight from work to just make it in time.
What a great way to end the day, just cruising around paddling casually and chatting amongst ourselves or at times just listening to the ripple of the water on the hull in the smooth black water.
A magic night shared with friends, old and new.