---

Pulling a Fast One

Rob / 17.11.2002

Day one of the Southern Traverse began with support crews scraping ice off of the truck windows and the local vineyards using the downdraught from helicopters to try and warm their precious grapes in the unseasonal early summer frost. It was cold, but clear with the promise of a fresh and hot day ahead and the sun soon rose high enough to light the Taylor River Reserve on the banks of the Opawa River.

It was a colourful scene with the banners lining the narrow rivers and teams assembling their kayaks on either bank, ready for the 8am start. With 180 competitors in bright red race bibs, support crews seeing them off, race officials, spectators and media the banks were buzzing with nervous activity.

On such a narrow stream, maybe 3m across, the idea was to have a processional start to the first bridge before the real racing began. Teams set off in number order but it wasn’t long before the jostling began in earnest, with everyone trying for pole position on the first bend. In the end though it wasn’t brute force that won out, but sheer cunning. Some teams, led by Land Rover, had figured out they could take a much more direct route than the winding river course. They hauled out and portaged to reach the a drainage channel and took an effective short cut, coming out at CP1 on the coast at Cloudy Bay on the bigger Wairau River.

First there were local favourites Sportzhub.com and in second place were Land Rover. Ski Sharp just said ‘top route choice’ as he paddled by the small jetty that served as CP1 and into the surf breaking across the Wairau Bar. It was a smart move and a dozen other teams took the same route, including Lythgoe, who had their kayaks tied and were 6th through CP1. Some 40 minutes after the first group passed, the second appeared out the mouth of the Opawa River, paddling fast but stunned to find they were well behind 13 teams already! Race favourites Seagate.com were in this group and as locals it’s amazing they hadn’t figured out the short cut.

The day was perfect for paddling, with little wind and crystal clear weather lighting up the surrounding plains, hills and coastline, so there were no problems with the sea kayak section going ahead. This took teams across to White Bay, the place where North and South island were first linked by telegraph back in 1866. Teams were pushed into the surf as they arrived and a few turned over, including Nathan Faa’ve and Kathy Lynch of Seagate.com, who were hit by another boat. Nathan was hit in the ribs and was in some pain.

See All Stories On This Race