A Huge Summer Ahead in Tasmania

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Wednesday, 08 September 2010  |  Written by Ian Cooksey

Twilight Series Tasmania

Twilight Series

The twilight series consist of 6-10 km races designed to take advantage of the 15-25kt seabreeze that blows up the river into Hobart most afternoons in summer. The upwind leg hugs the lee shore and is usually nice and calm with the return leg straight down wind back to the start. The 2 lap races start and finish at the Derwent Sailing Squadron where we have purpose built ski storage racks for 50 boats 20m from the water, grassy wash down facilities, car parking, change rooms and club rooms for refreshments. These races are designed with the novice paddler in mind with safety boats in attendance.

Ocean Series

The Ocean Series consists mainly of downwind races ranging in length from 10 to 40km on courses that take advantage of the summer seabreeze. There are 2 races being held at Boat Harbour on the north west coast and 2 at Bicheno on the east coast. The rest of the races are held close to Hobart.

Surfski in Tassie

The standard of racing continues to improve. Last years series winner and national surfski legend, Jamie Stubbs, is keen to repeat his efforts. Training hard through the cold Tasmanian winter, in 10 deg water and freezing air temperatures are a talented group of challengers. These include Olympic K1 finalist, Peter Genders, world cup DR paddlers Matt Dalziel, Stew Bennett and last year’s State Champion Ben Maynard, Molokai competitors Angus Sprott and Adrian Petrie. There are even paddlers having private lessons with Olympic coaches on a regular basis to improve their performance. We have also had commitments from some of the state’s top Surf Life Savers and 2 of the world’s best ocean paddlers going to compete this year.

Events

12 October  Twilight Race 1 6km

23 October  Ocean Series 1 12km

26 October   Twilight Race 2 6km

6 November  Ocean Series 2 15km

9 November  Twilight Race 3 6km

12-14 November  Cold Water Regatta 250m 10km 20km

23 November  Twilight Race 4 6km

4 December Ocean Series 3 14km

7 December  Twilight Race 5 6km

18 December  Ocean Series 4 13km

21 December Twilight Race 6 6km and Christmas Party

4 January  Twilight Race 7 6km

15 January Ocean Series 5 15km

18 January Twilight Race 8 6km

27 January Ocean Series 6 15 km

1 February   Twilight Race 9 6km

12 February  Ocean Series 7 15 km

15 February Twilight Race 10  6km

26-27 February Ocean Series 8 & 9 (Eastcoast Double Header)

12 March  State Title 25km

15 March Twilight Race 11 6km

26 March Peninsula Marathon 40km

29 March Twilight Race 12 6km

For more information on the races, results and photos visit www.southernpaddlers.com