Port Macquarie’s outrigger canoeists capped off a brilliant season with yet another podium finish at Saturday’s 42km Gold Coast Cup.
The young club placed second behind the top ranked Coffs Harbour team after 3 hours and 17 minutes, slashing nearly 30 minutes off their previous race times for the Coolangatta to Southport downwind race and earning them a share in the $20,000 prize money pool. Port Macquarie’s coaching team reflected on the result and rated the team’s start as one of their best yet.
The two strongest mixed teams in the field, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, shot to the front of the field ahead of all but three men’s teams.
Steerer Lauren Grant said her team revelled in keeping some of the strongest men’s teams at bay.
“Some of their steerers were quite vocal and not at all complimentary towards their all-male paddlers as they struggled to keep with us,” she said.
With a 2m swell and up to 20knot southerly winds, the race was fast, with plenty of runners.
“Coffs are all class, so we’re happy enough to run second to them. Our nearest rivals were five minutes behind, however there are some things we can improve upon, and certainly we had some heart in mouth moments,” Grant said.
During one steerer change, Coach Mick Wilson fell off the back of the canoe just as Grant jumped in, leaving her with no steering paddle. “Fortunately, he managed to hold the blade up enough for me to grab it. We’ve since named that paddle ‘Excalibre’, and Wilson the title of ‘The Lady of the Lake’.”
The club will host its annual presentation night on Saturday ahead of a break for a few months. Club President, Wayne Barnard praised the Club’s efforts this season and said the break will be a short one for some of its members.
“Lauren Grant has once again qualified to trial for the Australian Women’s Team and Wes Byrnes has been selected by a top mixed crew to compete at the annual Hamilton Island Cup race next month,” he said. “Furthermore, the club has entered a team in the annual Vaka Eiva Regatta in the Cook Islands in November.”
