After paddling for 2 years as part of an OC6 crew, I finally got the chance to set out of my first OC1 journey.  Well, when I saw the chance, we had 7 people turn up for a 6-man session and I sort of volunteered.  A bit.

Out on my own

Heading from Balmoral over to Manly in the setting evening sun, 2 things were racing through my mind.  Firstly, over and over again, my little mantra of “please don’t huli, please don’t huli’.  Secondly, was the general pondering of how many sharks would be around when I did.  I’ve never seen one while outrigging, but being a Pom who’s only been in Australia for a little over 3 years, a healthy fear of sharks is still very prominent in most water-based activity.

Suprise suprise

Anyway, much to my surprise, and probably more to the rest of the crew, I didn’t huli and stayed the right way up all the way to Manly where I was happy to swap positions and hop back in the OC6 for the return leg.  Speaking of legs, after leaning left so much in fear of tipping, I couldn’t actually feel my left leg for about 15 minutes, which apparently is not the sign of a good technique, but it was my first go…

by Fraser Gordon