The Harbour Racing Series offers paddlers new to open water unique courses in the lower risk racing environment of enclosed harbour and lake waters. Long courses are generally between 14 and 18kms, while short courses are between 8 and 12kms.

Calendar

Round 5: Iron Cup - Sat 31 Aug

• Results (via webscorer)

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Round 4: Central Coast Harbour Classic - Sat 28 July

• Results (via webscorer)
• PNSW Flickr photos

Race Report from Esther W
"Blowing the milk out of your tea"

"So windy it would blow spots off a Dalmatian"

"So windy there are waves in the toilet bowl"

I barely even need to write anything else about my attempt at racing the short course on a SUP on Sunday 28th July in the Central Coast harbour Classic, 4th race in the Paddle NSW harbour Series. I say attempt as less than 1km from the finish I requested a pick-up from the safety rib and DNF'd.

It took me 50 mins to race 5km on a borrowed 24" SUP. Which is 4" narrower than anything I've ever paddled before. I managed to crack the top of the board as I fell at the 4.5km point, in some wind generated side chop and knee + leg leash fitting + carbon fibre = crack. I then raced on my knee as I couldn't get up in the bumpy water and my knee wasn't happy with me.

All in all, though - you should all come and race this event next year. It's a cracking location for a race. Start off Patonga beach, head south-west and then turn east towards Lion Island. Long course goes around the island, short course across the bay and then back to Patonga. For those good paddlers on the long course, they got some awesome downwind waves. Us short course racers got about 4 mins of surfing, and then short, bumpy side chop as we headed to the cliffs. It was a beautiful sunny day. The race organisers, Brisbane Water paddlers, did a great job in setting up, race briefing, good on the water safety especially considering conditions were beyond quite a few people. There was also a raffle afterwards, free with entry, and they had some good prizes from sponsors. A nice touch I thought as this is a series when many people aren't interested in a medal - even when they earn one.

Neither of the women SUP paddlers finished unfortunately. Too significant a side wind roaring down the valley took out my other racer and after I spent 5 mins paddling forwards and going backwards, I grabbed a nearby RIB! I thought I was one of the last people on the water, turns out I wasn't so next time I will just take the extra 30 or 60 mins to race the final 1km!!!

Patonga is a great place for a weekend as well. Only one pub (fairly expensive though tasty), fairly bad internet access, but beautiful, quiet and well worth staying over for the race next year.

Course details are here

Round 3: Jervis Bay Run - Sat 29 June

• Race info including maps
• Results (via webscorer)
• PNSW Flickr Photos #2 SSCC

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results for LCRKers