There is an awesome chance to mix with some new people, learn some new paddling techniques and have a great time in the Burley Griffin Canoe Club (BGCC) 24 hour race which is coming up at the end of November. It’s a 24 hour relay over a 5km course and you can have anything from one to six people in a team.
The purpose of the race is purely to get people involved in the sport of kayaking, give different kayakers a chance to mix and have some fun, and give those who want to take it seriously a chance to stretch their legs (or arms as the case may be).
In the past it has included flat water racing boats, surf skis and sea kayaks but no fishing boats. I think this is something that needs to be rectified . If I can get a couple of fishing kayak teams involved, I’ll hit up the club for a specific division or two.
The details:
- The cost will be something like $5 per person to participate and $10 for a single race membership to the club – fees pretty much cover stuff like insurance.
Teams can have one to six members and you can take it as hard or as soft as you like.
The course is 5km along Molonglo River and marked by buoys with the main marshalling/camping area at the BGCC shed opposite Duntroon.
There will be prizes for various things – I’m not sure exactly what yet.
It will be an excellent opportunity to road test your fishing boats over longer distances.
The main contingent for the race will be race boats of various classes so there will be no pressure to keep up – unless you really want to give it a crack .
Both the club and Wetspot Water Sports have boats for lend/hire in need but they are limited so if you’d like to go down that path, I’d do so quickly.
It doesn’t matter if you share boats but I would suggest having at least two per team so you can have the next person ready to go by the time the previous one comes in.
I will be paddling my race boat but will have at least one other fishing kayak team entered with my Malibu X-Factor and Extreme.
There is a toilet and shower block there and there will be a mix of people camping and going home over night – the idea being to keep someone from the team on the water at all times.
There will be plenty of people there who will be more than happy to help you out with advice and tips on paddling technique and since most of them will not have seen many fishing kayaks, your boats will get some attention.
Over the course of the 24 hours I would expect the fishing kayak contingent to average somewhere around the 4 – 6km/hr mark. If your team averages about 5km/hr and you have six people which alternate, you’ll get four laps each with 5 hours in between.
There are no restrictions on the order or regularity with wThe cost will be something like $5 per person to participate and $10 for a single race membership to the club – fees pretty much cover stuff like insurance.
Teams can have one to six members and you can take it as hard or as soft as you like.
The course is 5km along Molonglo River and marked by buoys with the main marshalling/camping area at the BGCC shed opposite Duntroon.
There will be prizes for various things – I’m not sure exactly what yet.
It will be an excellent opportunity to road test your fishing boats over longer distances.
The main contingent for the race will be race boats of various classes so there will be no pressure to keep up – unless you really want to give it a crack .
Both the club and Wetspot Water Sports have boats for lend/hire in need but they are limited so if you’d like to go down that path, I’d do so quickly.
It doesn’t matter if you share boats but I would suggest having at least two per team so you can have the next person ready to go by the time the previous one comes in.
I will be paddling my race boat but will have at least one other fishing kayak team entered with my Malibu X-Factor and Extreme.
There is a toilet and shower block there and there will be a mix of people camping and going home over night – the idea being to keep someone from the team on the water at all times.
There will be plenty of people there who will be more than happy to help you out with advice and tips on paddling technique and since most of them will not have seen many fishing kayaks, your boats will get some attention.
Over the course of the 24 hours I would expect the fishing kayak contingent to average somewhere around the 4 – 6km/hr mark. If your team averages about 5km/hr and you have six people which alternate, you’ll get four laps each with 5 hours in between.
hich you have to send people out.
BGCC contact:
Helen Tongway
m: 0418 861 613
e: dtongway@iinet.net.au
Wetspot Water Sports (main sponsor) contact:
Scotty Hunter
P: 02 6239 1323
E: info@wetspot.net.au
