Ahead of this weekend’s OC6 race in Rosebay, we were out training on Tuesday night with two boats of 5 in windy (but beautiful) conditions.  Having an empty seat always makes powering a 600 KG canoe (including the cargo of us) a challenge.

Scenery

The picture, taken in the (slightly) protected waters of Sydney Harbour, shows North Head and Middle Head in the background, beyond which the word “choppy” springs to mind when describing the waters.  However, it can still rough inside ‘the heads’

The training

‘Ins and outs’.  Some of the hardest and most enjoyable training you can do.  When conditions are a little rough, you paddle out 1.5 KM across the bay straight into the wind, fighting the swell and driving your legs almost through the bottom of the canoe to maximise every bit of forward force you can muster.  By the time you turn around, your muscles are seriously starting to complain.  Then the canoe turns and you fly back at nearly twice the speed, surfing the boat down the runners, paddling your heart out to keep with the swell.  By the time you stop, the muscles in your arms, back, shoulders and sides are having a meeting about whether to go on strike or not, you’re struggling to breathe, and feeling an odd mix of elated and exhausted.  Then some git at the back of the boat says “and again”.  Twice more.

No one ever said outrigging was easy, but it’s worth it.

By Fraser