Northland paddlers up for race series

Northland paddlers are gearing up for a the next season of races in the Northland Ocean Paddlers Summers Series set to kick off.

The series, in its third season which starts tomorrow (Wednesday Oct 12), will this year be based exclusively at Kowharewa Bay in Tutukaka and staged fortnightly offering the chance for competitors to experience paddling in the highly rated waters off the Tutukaka Coast.

There are three main race courses set out, a northerly course that heads from the Kowharewa Bay start line to the Tui Diving Wreck and return, a southerly course that will take paddlers to Motutara Island just off the entrance to the Ngunguru Estuary and return and a sprint course inside the Tutukaka Harbour.

Conditions on race days will determine which of the race courses will be used.

Series organiser Tim Eves said the often testing conditions of the Tutukaka Coast were a big drawcard for ocean paddlers. He was expecting strong support from an enthusiastic fleet of waka ama paddlers and an ever growing flotilla of surf ski and sea kayakers. There was also a growing group of competitive stand up paddle board exponents who are also expected to join in the action.

"The enthusiasm for a local race series seems to be growing and we have formatted some unique races to make sure everyone feels included and has a chance to taste line honours at some stage of the season," Eves said.

"Most ocean paddlers are now looking for downwind conditions to race in so we have designed race courses that will enable for at least one leg of downwind paddling in each race," he said.

Race formats include "Hare and Tortoise" races where paddlers will all head in one direction and all turn at a set time and then race for home.

"So the slowest paddlers will have a distinct advantage in a mad dash for the finish line."

Races are open to all paddlers. All race briefings are at Kowharewa Bay. Races will start at approximately 6pm.

Race dates- Race One: Oct 12, two: Oct 26, three: Nov 9, four: Nov 23, five: Dec 7, six: Dec 21. Entry is by gold coin koha.