By JO SEARLE
THE Noosa Outrigger Canoe Club (NOCC) recently hosted the fifth OC6 race regatta for the South Queensland 2014-15 season.
Club members were at The Woods before the sun rose over the Noosa headland, ready to assist visiting teams to unload canoes and prepare for racing.
As a first, the race organiser chose to run the long course at the start of the day, and this was supported by the visiting clubs, some stating that they hoped this would continue at future regattas.
The men’s long course was the first event, and began in calm conditions in Laguna Bay. However, after rounding the point, the waves offered a challenge or two, but the sighting of dolphins added a magic moment to the race.
The Noosa crews battled hard with the Senior Master men’s teams coming in second and fourth, and the Golden Master men’s team second in their respective age categories.
Shortly after, the women’s long course started, but as the weather had picked up the course was shortened a little to ensure the safety of all crews. The Senior Master women’s team competed well, coming third in their category.
The Master Women’s crew had a fantastic start and hit out very strong in the tough conditions. They were the first master women’s team to the half-way mark, and were just beaten in the swells on the way back, missing first place by only one minute. The crew of Susie Blumentals, Raquel Hamnett, Pascale Hegarty, Jane Coveny, Kathleen Gentry and steerer Stacey Phillis felt that this was probably their best and strongest race of the season.
When the short course commenced in the early afternoon, the swell had increased to such a level that the course was shortened from one large lap to two short laps of a triangular course.
The Novice Women’s crew continued their winning style, paddling so well that they beat all of the Master Women’s teams, and were first over the line out of all the Noosa crews. The novice crew of Lisa Phelan, Jill Bingham, Angela Pickering, Tania Donahue, Kylie Cirillo with Stacey Phillis steering said they had a great race and enjoyed the whole regatta.
Other short course results for Noosa included the Master Mixed team fourth, Senior Master Women first, Senior Master Mixed fourth and the Golden Master Women first in their age categories.
Overall, feedback from the many clubs competing in the Laguna Bay Challenge was that it was a great regatta which was very well run.
This weekend, the Noosa teams travel to Bell’s Beach, Clontarf for the final race of the OC6 season and are once again hoping to do well.
NOCC paddlers continue to train all year, and always welcome new members both recreational and competitive.
For more information visit the website at www.noosaoutriggers.com.au.
