Wild weather and high winds made for an unforgettable weekend at Whitsunday Outrigger’s 2025 Regatta, with competitors battling 30-knot gusts and choppy seas.
Saturday’s 20km downwind race from Shute Harbour saw the OC2 crews shine, two OC2s, one from Mission Beach in first position closely followed by Capricorn Coast from Yeppoon. Coral Sea from Townsville led the OC6 division, while fierce competition played out between Innisfail’s Coconuts crew featuring five male and one female junior and the all-female team from Mooloolaba.
All OC1 and OC2 paddlers completed the course without major incident, thanks in large part to the support crews. Local standouts included Maree Mullet, Michelle Lynes, and Stephen Lynes, each winning their respective divisions. Maree was the fastest local paddler, finishing in an impressive 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Due to extreme conditions, junior marathon events were modified into 500-meter sprint races on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, Whitsunday juniors Cody and Dean Lassau, Jai Dennison, and Matal Felix from Coral Sea were steered by Ingrid Juchem from Port Douglas. The young crew placed third, only 11 minutes behind an elite men’s team from Shute Harbour.
Special mention goes to the Whitsunday ladies OC6 team Maree Mullet, Sarah Rogers, Helen Pisarek, Joanne Ahern, Kate Harbison, and Rose Kemp who finished third in the Senior Masters Women event.
The Whitsunday Outrigger Regatta proved a true test of endurance and teamwork, and a memorable success despite the weather, and Outrigger Whitsunday thank all the supporters and competitors.
Contributed with thanks to Paul Tobias
Maree Mullett powering downwind to victory.
Choppy start from Shute Harbour.
The Outrigger event was a huge success
Photos supplied
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