Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 28

Norfolk Ocean Challenge

Photos by Zach Sanders, Neil Tavener and Alan Hamilton

-

2017 saw the Norfolk Ocean Challenge
enter it's 3rd year on the outrigger events calendar.
The NOC event consists of 3 race formats, including
27km Marathon, 12km Mid-distance and 1km sprint
time trials. The event opened with a traditional
canoe blessing conducted by island elders followed
by an island fish feast put on by the Norfolk Island
Wa'a Outrigger Club. Norfolk Islanders are the
descendants of the English sailors that mutinied on
the Bounty, and their Tahitian wives. The descendants were moved to Norfolk Island after the population outgrew Pitcairn Island, in 1856.

The first race conducted was the Norfolk
Island Travel Centre Iron Marathon event. A sizeable swell hitting the entrance to the protected
lagoon waters made for a challenging paddle to
the race start. The round island race takes paddlers
through the picturesque North east coastline and
under a natural rock arch if conditions permit.
Spectators and supporters can follow the race
around the island by car, viewing from clifftop
vantage points. Noosa Oceanswell SM men were
first home with a time of 2:26:37 followed by local
crew NIWOC Open men, 2:32:41, and Capricorn
Coast SMM in third place, 2:38:28. In the mixed
division, local crew NIWOC Open mixed grabbed
line honours in 2:36:55 from 5 Islands (Woolongong
Australia), 2:42.46 and Fatu SMmix, 2:56.56 in
3rd. Arthritica SM women from Sunshine Coast
Australia drew on their world wide paddling
experience to win the women's division, 2:45:31
with Pacifica Open women, 2:48.19, second and
Bundaberg SM women, 2:50.52, in third place.

The second event was the Pacific Direct
Line Mid-distance 12km race, which traversed the
sea to nearby Philip Island, situated 5km offshore.
Strong currents and Northwesterly winds challenged the crews to the finish, again with NoosaSM
men, 1:03:42, Arthritica SM women, 1:16:44, and
NIWOC open mixed, 1:06:27, taking out their
divisions in a much closer race than the marathon.
Something really interesting about this race is the
need to use cranes to lift and lower canoes into the
water and retrieve them (see photo).
Following a much needed rest day, the
Mokutu Chalet 1km sprint time trial commenced

in high tide conditions within
the only lagoon protected waters
around Norfolk Island. Each crew
completed two time trials in the
rough conditions. NIWOC Brad
Open men's crew fought hard to
take out the sprint from Noosa
Oceanswell men by the smallest of
margins, with MNOCC5 in third.
Bundaberg OCC SM women dominated the women's sprint finishing
in the quickest time in their second
attempt ahead of Pacifica open
women and Arthritica SM women.
NIWOC Matt Open mixed crew
called it a hat trick taking out the
sprint event in the mixed division,
ahead of 5 islands Te Raihe and Noosa Oceanswell Bodo in third place. No race would be complete without
it's fair share of drama. A spectacular huli in the women's sprints saw 5islandNorfolk women's SM crew
get too close to the surf hitting the reef and were bowled over by a wall of white water.
Local paddlers, Jane Rutledge and Beau Rutledge took out the 50m V1 lagoon dash in the
women's and men's division respectively. The closing ceremony and medal presentations concluded the
event with a sumptuous buffet dinner featuring signature Norfolk Island dishes, and entertainment by local
musicians.

Dates for the Norfolk Ocean Challenge 2018 are January 22-26. Email maria@travelcentre.nf to
book a canoe, and check out the Norfolk Ocean Challenge facebook page. Entries are limited to 12 canoes
per race event, with the U19 division included for the first time in 2018. You haven't paddled the world
until you've paddled Norfolk Island.
By Louise Donald

28

PACiFiC PADDLER JUNE 2017



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pacific Paddler June 2017

Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 1
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 2
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 3
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 4
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 5
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 6
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 7
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 8
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 9
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 10
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 11
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 12
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Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 15
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 16
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 17
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 18
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 19
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 20
Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 21
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Pacific Paddler June 2017 - 28
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