Third race of Cape Town Downwind Series

Photo: Cape Town Sport Photography

The third race of the Cape Town Downwind Paddle Series was held last Saturday at Cape Town area (RSA), from Miller's Point to the usual finish line at Fish Hoek beach, with a total course of 12 kilometres.

Conditions were reported to be very mild in the morning, so the scheduled start at 14:00 wasn't clearly going to be kept, but the South East wind finally appeared and got to the point of risking the competition, with a speed of 50 km/h.

Finally, the paddlers were anxious to enjoy the downwind and the start was given in time to all the categories and modalities (SUPs doing the same course as the surfskis). After the first hard line to turn at Bakoven Rock, the great swells let the paddlers go for a fast and fun downwind.

The absolute winners were Dawid Mocke and Gabe Newton, paddler from Seattle (USA), who declared at the finish: "I have never had a paddle craft move so fast across the surface of the water! Dawid (Mocke) basically kept our double ski on a wave for almost 90% of the time! It felt like we were running! When we got to the beach we had averaged 18km/h with max speeds just below 28km/h. It was insane".

In the singles category, with a growing participation, victory was for the promising young paddler Simon van Gysen, followed by two experienced veterans like they are Paul Marais and Ian Trautman.

Next competition will be held next Saturday 25th from Gordon's Bay to Monwabisi.