Record number of ocean paddlers

A record number of paddlers entered the James Moore memorial race paddled this year from Maketu to Pilot Bay.

The down wind race has about 100 entries this year, says organiser Paul Roozendaal.

“I think we have gone over the 100 mark which is the most we have ever had in the four years that we have been running it,” says Paul.

“We’ve got mixture of guys and girls and three different types of canoes.”

Simon McLarin from West Auckland finishes first in, 2 hours, 7 minutes and 26 seconds.

There are about ten stand-up paddlers on boards, with most of the paddlers choosing single person outriggers and surf skis. The start from Maketu was staggered at 15 minute intervals with the stand-up paddlers getting away first, followed by the outriggers and then the surf skis.

“Pretty much every year the surf skis come in first,” says Paul. “They start last and come in first, they are a lot faster.”

The race has been held over four years and celebrates the life of James Bhutty Moore who was lost at sea while paddling from Maketu to the Mount in 2008.

The race is a downwind paddle with the start at Waihi Beach or Maketu, depending on conditions.

“It’s a good south east wind today,” says Paul. “The swell’s picking up at the beach, and looking straight out you can see the water just pushing to the left, so we have chosen to go to Maketu.

“It should be right at everyone’s backs so it should be a nice little breeze, it’s not blowing as much as they want it to be, but it there will be a slight breeze at their backs to help them get back to Pilot Bay.”

The surf skis paddlers are expected to do the 30km distance in about 2hrs 30min or 2 hrs 45 min, says Paul, finishing about 1pm.

The paddling continues on Sunday with relay racing in Shark Alley.




First woman to finish the race is Dene Simpson from Auckland in, 2 hours, 18 minutes and 16 seconds.

Dion Mair and Alan Kirkpatrick from Mount Maunganui celebrate Dion’s birthday by finishing first in the double ski event.

Garren Cooper from Auckland.

Mike Walker from Waiheke Island finishes second in the mens surf ski race.

Kingi Gilbert finishes first in the outrigger race.