Douglas Shire competitors take part in Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge

A strong OC6 iron men’s crew from Rockhampton lost nothing at all with powerhouse Kyelee Stanley stroking in seat two to take line honours in 3:31:21 in the epic 45km Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge recently.

It is regarded as one of the most rewarding – and gruelling – downwind ocean runs in Australia.

About 150 paddlers in 60 craft of single, double and six-man canoes, skis and SUP foils paddled the 45kms from Yorkeys Knob to Four Mile Beach.

Prior to that event the Port Douglas team of Lee Foster, Kev Bellero, Mike Schuck , Jacob van den Brink and Glen Thorpe steered by FNQ coach Tuki Brown took line honours in the mini G – a prelude to the big event – after paddling 22km from Yorkeys to Ellis Beach in the OC6 open men’s division (1hr43mins). 

These paddlers have been training for months over much shorter distances – 500m and 1000m – in preparation for the World Va’a Sprint Championships in Helo, Hawaii this month.

A women’s crew including Port Douglas paddlers Ingrid Juchem, Jan Ward, Maya Bridges and Danielle Bellero completed mini G in two hours and nine minutes.