FENN KAYAKS

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The view from the Cape Point lighthouse is always spectacular – and this was no exception… Massive swells were rolling in from the South Atlantic, erupting in explosions of spray as they smashed against the sheer cliffs. I peered vainly through my binoculars, waiting to see the first signs of the paddlers fighting their way towards the Point.

Conditions were daunting: apart from the 3-4m swells, there was a brisk southeaster kicking up white horses – which would be smacking the paddlers head on. The notorious southwestern reefs were a maelstrom of white water and the skis would have to navigate well out to sea to avoid them, adding more mileage onto an already challenging 56km.

After long planned arrangements to get onto an escort boat fell through, I’d decided to watch the race from the Cape Point lighthouse – but as I waited and waited, I realized something must gone wrong. Could the race have been cancelled altogether?

Change of course – of course!

The route had already been changed at the briefing on Friday. 3m+ swells were breaking heavily at Scarborough beach with more forecast for the next day so the race start was moved back to the protected slipway at Soetwater, adding some 4km to the route, but ensuring that the paddlers would at least get out to sea without breaking their skis.

But early on Saturday morning, race director Peter Cole went online to the live weather report at Roman Rock – a good indicator of conditions on the course. The wind speed was 14m/s (27kts) and increasing.

“With wind speeds like that I had no choice,” Cole said. “I had to make the call to move the race inside the safer, more protected waters of False Bay.”

The race was now to start at Long Beach, Simonstown and take the paddlers into the teeth of the wind all the way out to Buffels Bay where they’d have to portage around a flag on the beach. From there they’d make their way out to a buoy moored off Cape Point and then 22km downwind home to Fish Hoek.

Outward Bound

The paddle from Simonstown was one long grind into the wind and waves. Long lines of skis formed as the paddlers rode each other’s slips.

The more experienced competitors hugged the shoreline, passing mere metres from the rocks as they sought shelter from the wind. 12km from the start, however, the coast line curves south towards Cape Point… From here to the safety stop at Buffels Bay, the paddlers scratch their way through extreme, confused seas caused by waves refracting off cliffs and rocks.

The lead group was still together when they reached Buffels Bay. “I knew the race would only start at Buffels,” said Dawid Mocke. “Scott Rutherfoord was with me when we arrived and he came around the flag right behind me.”

Sets of 6ft waves were coming into the beach at Buffels Bay and while no skis were broken, there were plenty of casualties as the unwary took unintended swims either on the way in or the way out.

Tom Schilperoort’s race ended in the surf – as his ski reeled backwards the rudder touched ground and snapped off. (A few minutes later a double came in with a weary front seater who retired and let Tom take over to have at least the satisfaction of paddling the rest of the course.)

Buffels to the Point

Many paddlers commented the most challenging section was from Buffels out to the Point. “The roughest water I’ve ever been in,” said an exhausted Dale Lippstreu after the race.

“As I left the beach I went through a set,” said Dawid Mocke. “I looked behind me and couldn’t see the other guys so I put the hammer down and dropped them by about 200m.”

From the car park at Cape Point, we could see the skis, hundreds of feet below, moving rapidly – Mocke was increasing his lead; Sean Rice in his distinctive yellow-decked Think was slipping Scott Rutherfoord while Jasper Mocke and Paul Marais were further back, chasing hard.

“It’s a huge advantage being ahead when you reach the turning buoy,” added Mocke. “When you take off downwind you can straightaway convert that 200m into a 400m lead.”

Downwind

“It wasn’t an easy downwind leg,” Mocke said. “It was quite technical because of the direction of the swell.” There were seldom runs that allowed the paddlers to put their paddles down and relax – the wind died gradually and didn’t offer much in the way of assistance.

Sean Rice flew past Scott Rutherfoord as they turned downwind, but he wasn’t able to haul in Mocke who eventually arrived at the finish some 4 minutes ahead.

The best of the runs were from the Roman Rock lighthouse to Fish Hoek. “As long as you still had the strength to accelerate onto them!” said Chris Grinton.

Women’s Race

Michele Eray saw no other women paddlers and won yet another superb victory. Rebecca Newson came second. “I absolutely loved it,” said Newson, “but it was very tricky – especially the section between Millers and Buffels where it was so rough. It was like going through the ‘washing machine’ below the Sentinel in Hout Bay, only worse – and much longer!”

Truest Test

“For me, this race is the truest test of a paddler's ability,” said Mocke at prize giving. “You have to have fitness, endurance, strength upwind, skill downwind. You have to navigate reefs and chaotic seas. And then you still have to race your opposition!”Results