The Harbour Masters Challenge is an annual multi water sport event held at Tahunanui beach.
The Nelson Ports harbourmasters are keen to gather those water sports that use the harbour, to encourage some friendly competition and co-operation but to also spread the message of being safe on the water.
A fun day with terrific representation by MOCC and a wonderful presentation of Waka Ama.
As thought, racing events were done adhoc, but in the end, we all had great fun, the weather was kind and everyone mixed in and gave their best. Prizes were won, free coffee drunk, sausages eaten and competition went into to overload, especially on the rowing ergs. Members of the CoastGuard and Tasman & Nelson Harbour Masters were introduced to waka ama, as were senior member of the Rowing club.
The event started with an OC6 race with 2 Maitahi Waka and one from Whakatū Marae (the ‘I Roam’ crew who are training for the Rarotonga event in 3 weeks). Whakatū came first and Maitahi second and third.
There were not a lot of individual paddlers so a relay was organised with 4 teams of 3 paddlers (an OC1, a paddle board and a surf ski). After finishing we all had to do 330m on the rowing machines! The water conditions were not as bad as yesterday but challenging for some of the SUP. None of the OC1s huli’d.
The assistant Harbour Masters raced with some of the Maitahi crew helping them out. Josh’s waka won much to his delight. Plenty of spot prizes were given (dry bags, radios, vhf radio courses etc). The Personal Locator Beacon winner was decided in a full on race on the rowing machines with teams of 4 was won by the Maitahi men.
Many thanks to MOCC members who gave up their Sunday to help paddle 2 x OC6 waka to and from the beach and compete in the various events: Rongomai Flavell, Greg Buck & Christopher Sheldon (steerers). David Johnston, Lynette Campbell, Evan Hodson, Paula Meer, Linda Heath, Jenny McKay, Claire Parrott, Gill Harker, Carol Hunter, Graham Payn ( Kereama), Jan Blythe and Tracey Kingi.
Well done everyone. Thanks to the Harbour Masters for organising a great event.
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- Dave going hard
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- Kereama finishing it up to win the PLB
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- Evan for Maitahi Men
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- Jan starting for Maitahi women
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- Pull Carol Pull
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- Tracey finishing it up
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- Dry bag winners
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- Individual trophy (not sure how that happened!)
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- Maitahi wins the PLB
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- VHF Radio course winners
Its never too early or too late to start paddling waka ama
We always welcome new members to the Maitahi Outrigger Canoe Club.
We have social and racing waka ama crews catering for a wide variety of ages and abilities.