200 boats to raise $200,000!

Friday, 09 April 2010 09:13 | Written by Diane Chanut

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Credits: Alex Francois - www.alexfrancois.com

Sunday 28 March saw the third edition of Lifestart Kayak for Kids take place in Sydney Harbour.

As in the past couple of years, the weather gods were smiling on the event and the day started with beautiful views on the Sydney CBD, Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as paddlers busied themselves around Blues Point Reserve.

After registering, getting their kayaks ready and getting briefed on the unfolding of events for the day and the safety procedures, the teams started of at 9:00AM sharp, covering the water with yellow plastic kayaks laden with trios of yellow‐bibbed paddlers. Some were going to paddle the whole distance to Clontarf Beach, a whooping 17.5km, while others were relaying the course, swapping paddlers at one of the three transition areas: Little Sirius Cove in Mosman Bay, Clifton Gardens at Chowder Bay and Balmoral Beach.

Kayak for Kids

Pic: Alex Francois - www.alexfrancois.com

They did not stay in the lead for too long though as paddlers who had brought their own paddling craft, from outrigger canoes to surf skis, and sea kayaks to sit‐on‐tops left on their heels at 9:32AM with the firm intention to overtake them before the first transition area!! The course kept on hugging the Northern shore line of Sydney Harbour, with lighthouses, protected coves and quiet beaches, rock shelves covered with lush vegetation, until it hit dreaded Middle Head. This is typically where the swell and wind coming from the Tasman Sea through the opening of Port Jackson is the strongest and, in the past, it has put even seasoned paddlers in tricky situations! But that day, paddlers were greeted by a rather middle chop which made the rounding of Middle Head into Middle Harbour more pleasant.

Balmoral Beach and its myriad of boats moored in its bay made an interesting maze for kayaks to manoeuvre through before they pushed for the final stretch across to Grotto Point and to the landing at Clontarf Beach.

As the chicken kebabs were grilling and kids were jumping up and down in their castle at the finish area in Clontarf Reserve, the first paddlers made their appearance, running up Clontarf Beach after dropping their boat on the shore.

The fastest at this game were Mike Snell & Matt Blundell on a double surf ski completing the course in 1:13:24, beating last year’s record of 1:26 by Team SleepMonsters. The first team of 3 through was Team Sydney Ultrasound for Women 1 in 2:04:19 and the first relay team was Team Jonah & the Whales in 2:12:30.

But this day was not just about paddling, but also about recognising the fundraising efforts of the participants! To date over $175,000 has been raised for Lifestart’s early intervention programs for children with an intellectual disability or developmental delay. The winner of the Lifestart Challenge Cup – a weighted mix of fastest paddling time and most funds raised – was Team Mumble & Maddox with a total fundraising on the day of $13,746, an achievement to be proud of!

Kayak for Kids