Top paddlers converge for Impossible Race

Alana Johnson dismounts for the run to the finish line. Photo: MICK DE WIT

THE tenth edition of the Impossible Race has gone down as one of the best yet, with some of the highest quality paddlers in the event’s history taking part.

Two paddlers in the field, Tim Munro from Sydney and Todd Boreland from Wollongong, were gold medal winners at the recent world championships in South Africa.

Under-19 male place-getters (L-R) Campbell Batchelor (3rd), Charlie Cornwell (1st) and Jono Punchard (2nd). Photo: KIER OSBOURNE.

Australia’s best marathon kayak paddler Rebecca Mann swapped her K1 for a surf ski to comfortably win the women’s elite category, while Casey Haynes won the men’s class.

For only the second time in the event’s history, organisers reversed the direction of the race, with easterly winds meaning a shift to a Barwon Heads starting point rather than Torquay.

More than 50 paddlers took on the Impossible Race from Barwon Heads to Torquay. Photo: PAUL CARNEGIE

Winds were light, which presented no problems to paddlers other than slower than normal times.

Up-and-coming paddler Charlie Cornwell from Port Melbourne broke the under-19 single ski record, last set in 2016.

19-39yrs paddlers leaving Barwon Heads. Photo: PAUL CARNEGIE

Event director Pete Currie said the event went down as one of the best, with a top field converging on the Surf Coast and Bellarine for a great day of ocean racing.