Paddling: Race to venture into marine reserve

Rikoriko Cave could be the start line for a new paddling race from the Poor Knight Islands to Tutukaka.Photo/Kate Malcolm

One of the best ocean surf ski paddlers in the world has added an international flavour to a new endurance event to be staged at the Poor Knights Islands.

Australian Dean Gardiner, who has won the world title in Molokai, Hawaii several times, is one of a bevy of top line paddlers lining up to be part of the inaugural race in August.

Leading the Kiwi contingent will be former Olympic kayaker Mike Walker who will be joined by Aucklander Andrew Mowlem, who won his age group at the Molokai world championship event in Hawaii earlier this year.

The waka ama paddlers most likely to feature are Tupu King of Kaitaia, Troy Dolman of Tauranga and Steve Rouslton of Whangarei.

The first race specifically designed for all three of the major paddling disciplines, surf ski, waka ama and stand up paddling (SUP), has many intriguing features including a start line inside the Rikoriko sea cave, a course that includes quick navigation through a natural rock archway and an all-out dash for the mainland across 24km of open ocean back to the mainland and finish line in Tutukaka Harbour.

Race director Tim Eves, a keen surf ski paddler and multisporter, had long believed a race from the Poor Knights Islands to Tutukaka Harbour could be a successful event.

The chance to paddle inside a world renowned marine reserve and the challenge of a downwind dash across what can be a very moody piece of water were two classic ingredients.

"It is a very special place at the Poor Knights Islands, significant these days for the fact that it is a no take reserve with an amazing marine ecosystem, but notable also for its history with the tangata whenua," Eves said.

"It has a brutal history of occupation but now holds special status with everyone in Northland and beyond now it has marine reserve status. Paddling there is a privilege for a start, then comes the challenge of making it safely back to Tutukaka."

Paddlers will be ferried out to the startline by Dive! Tutukaka and escorted home by the seven boats in the Dive! Tutukaka fleet. Sponsored by Strongarm, Power in the Water and Moana Nui the event is one of the banner events of the Tutukaka Winter Festival, a three-week celebration hosted at the coastal settlement.

The event has four different course options to ensure a majority of downwind racing , but all efforts will be made to stage the race over the preferred Poor Knights to Tutukaka course.