Impossible race to open ocean paddling season

THE first weekend of November sees the start of Victoria’s ocean paddling season.

About 100 Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) and surfski paddlers will converge on Torquay for an 8km paddle on the Friday night at Torquay’s Fishermans Beach. This is a circuit course starting and finishing at Fishos.

The next day, on November 3, competitors will return for the 18km Torquay to Barwon Heads downwind race.

Competitors in the 18km race, affectionately known as “The Impossible” because it passes Point Impossible, will be hoping for westerly winds to help push them along towards Barwon Heads. In the event of north-easterly winds, the race can be reversed.

Paddlers can reach speeds of 20 kilometres on the unbroken swells out beyond the surf zone.

Race records for surf skis over the 18-kilometre journey are held by locals: Tim Altman 1 hour 15 minutes in the men’s division and Wendy Reyntjes for the women with 1 hour 24 minutes.

In the stand-up paddle board section, Hawaiian Robert Stehlik holds the men’s record with a finish time of 1 hour 51 minutes and Jean Ringrose’s 2 hours 15 minutes is the fastest women’s time.