[Editor: Anton Erasmus sent this latest information on the PE to EL Challenge]

Thanks for the many responses to the Challenge questionnaire. Here is a bullet summary of the feed back.

1. Having a reserve day was a big no no. Race must be over 4 days (some felt that the race should be held a week later)
2. Check points, varied opinions. Majority wanted to keep them but with stop in race time. Also if surf is dangerous then turn around a buoy of ducky - i.e. a safety call.
3. Woody Cape - majority want it in but not if it is a mega boat breaker of a day - again a safety call.
4. Head butt vs. turning days. Most felt that the race should be PE to EL BUT if the wind is forecast to be in excess of 15 knots (some said 10 others 25) then turn it. A number suggested a there and back if the wind is hectic and also changing start time to accommodate the wind prediction.
5. Two paddlers said the race should be from EL to PE.

The record breaking (well the Cape record anyway!) Discovery Men's Health series race 1 took place on Sunday 15th October.

The 14km race took place in near ideal conditions, sheltered from the howling southeaster that was lashing the rest of the Cape Peninsula.

These photos are courtesy of surfski.co.za and Hazel McQueen.

Anton Erasmus of East Cape Canoe Union confirmed that the PE2EL Surfski Challenge race is still on.

"The guys mustn't worry," he said, "the race is definitely still on.  It'll be lower key of course, but we'll have safety, we'll have guys on the beach to start the race and take times." 

Due to lack of sponsorship, Sports World have had to withdraw from organising the PE to EL Surfski Challenge.  Michael Zoetmulder of Sport World sent out this email confirming the news: 

"At the end of May 2006, Sports World reached an agreement with East Cape Lifesaving whereby it was appointed as the professional event organiser for the 2006 Surfski Challenge - PE2EL, which included being responsible for raising sponsorship. One of the conditions of this agreement was that if Sports World were unable to secure a sponsor by the end of September 2006, they would lose this appointment and the management of the race would revert back to East Cape Lifesaving.