(Editor: Don't even think about trying this unless you're very experienced in extreme conditions...) 

Three downwind records were broken in the last 24 hours as a gale-force southeaster blasted Cape Town. 

The Milnerton to Blouberg downwind route is well beloved here in Cape Town and has been paddled for 25 years or more.  The paddle was formalized 11 or 12 years ago and became known as the Downwind Dash - and Richard Kohler has been running it since 2000.

Cape Town's Downwind Dash Route

A whole series of firsts occurred at 10:00 on Saturday 19^th January 2008 in Trinidad, West Indies. First ever Surfski race in the country, first International Surfski race, first race organised by the 5 week old Trinidad Surfski Club, first time in big open water seas for many of the racers. Also first time sponsors Anthony P Scott with Dewlands Juice and Hawaiian Tropic sun lotion hoping they get their money's worth!

Stuart Knaggs (2nd), Derek Bezuidenhout (1st) and Ryan Mendes (3rd)

Stanwell Park, NSW, Australia: 12^th January 2008 The Racing Line & Ford Civil Contractors 2008 NSWCI Single Ocean Racing Championship started in NE swell at Stanwell Park (south of Sydney).

Tim Jacobs paddled his V10 Elite

The "Dial before you Dig" George Bass Ski Marathon was held over 7 days, 7 legs, 182km on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia between the 30^th of December 2007 and the 5^th of January 2008.

Hi and happy New Year to all from a windy Caribbean. Surfski paddling is starting to mature nicely over here and we have a full lineup of races for the year. So, here's a head's up for those who live locally, those who want to do some serious racing and for those who are planning a holiday in our area and would like to join in.

Stuart Knaggs negotiates the surf during a 2007 race in the Caribbean

Feeling that Surfski.Info has focused on some illustrious efforts throughout 2007, your Antipodean correspondent feels compelled to file this report about the previously unheralded, annual ‘Tupperware' Dare held at City Beach, Perth, Western Australia - between Christmas and New Year's Day - to provide some balance and light relief for your readers.

'Big Kev' powers home at the Tupperware Dare in Perth, WA over the Christmas holiday

The Racing Line & Ford Civil Contractors 2008 NSW Canoeing Inc. Ocean Racing Championships will be held in Wollongong (Australia) over two days on the 12^th & 13^th January 2008.

It's not often that the first three places in a 25km race are separated by a mere 15 seconds, but it certainly did make for an exciting end to the Ocean Series in Sydney last Saturday. 

After playing second fiddle to Tim Jacobs earlier in the series, Jeremy Cotter showed his true strength to take out his first 20 Beaches victory. 

Jeremy Cotter - winner of 2007 Twenty Beaches (Pic: Hanson Media)