“We’ve been so lucky with the conditions,” said Gary Kroukamp, the inspiration behind the Cape Town Downwind Series.  “And Saturday was no exception.  Fantastic downwind, great turnout.”

Here's a great video of the 2010 Dubai Shamaal, created by the Three Monkeys crew.  Australian Ben Allen won the race, after an epic battle with South African Dawid Mocke on a hot, flat sea.

Two hours into the race, just 4km from Cape Point, the 8-man pack hit the hit the kelp beds and everything changed. Hank McGregor and Dawid Mocke lurched to a halt, their rudders caught on the thick rubbery stems; Tom Schilperoort, in clear water, accelerated away, rounding the Point a clear 100m ahead.  A good gap for the downwind leg but would it be enough?

Two humble Zulu paddlers have made history in one of the Cape’s toughest annual adventures.

Aussie Ben Allen won the 2010 Dubai Shamaal in an extraordinary display of skill and strength today.  South African Dawid Mocke kept coming back, but in the end couldn’t answer Allen’s final push to the finish.

Cape Town - Sean Rice exploited the mild conditions off Camps Bay and the absence of ISPA World Champ Dawid Mocke to win his second race in the Discovery Sunglass Hut Surfski Series, powering past Simon Van Gyssen in the closing stages of a thrilling race to claim the title.

Dawid Mocke made no mistake in bagging the third Discovery Sunglass Hut Series race in Fish Hoek on Sunday.  Nikki Mocke ran in an easy win in the women’s race.

My heart sank a few days ago when I saw the forecast...  and sure enough, for the first time in six years, the opening race in the Discovery Sunglass Hut series was held on a flat sea, with barely a whisper of wind to help the paddlers.  

Race of Champions took place on 4 September and the South Africans dominated the 25km from the start.

As we hit the final stretch to the finish, my shoulder muscles were in agony; my fingers felt as though they were about to fall off; my breath was coming in short gasps.... and I was just typing the commentary...