XPD 3rd Edition
Perfection in Paradise – the calm before the ‘storm’?
Lysanne de Graaf / 22.08.2007
From Shute Harbour competitors paddled over to Tancred Island for the official start at 0800. After several overcast days with showers and winds up to 18 knots, idyllic Whitsunday weather seemed a far fetch for today.
Stage 1 commenced with a rogaine-style kayak leg (14 optional CPs) allowing competitors a full day to paddle around paradise (e.g. Long Is, Daydream Is, North Molle Is and South Molle Is). Snorkelling and trekking was also required to reach several checkpoints.
The crystal calm conditions provided little opportunity for teams to employ their improvised sails (able to be constructed from two broom handles and a small tarp), but many teams did see whales early in the day and this was probably an easy compromise for the effort teams focused on sail-making during pre-race preparation.
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