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All crews hold. Ready. Attention. Beep….
The Racing
The Lunar Festival of 2023 kicked off this weekend, and Mako Paddle Club packed their freshly-napisaned white race singlets and trekked to Darling Harbour to battle it out with the biggest and best clubs in Australia.
With the race schedule kicking off at 7.30 am and finishing at 6.30 pm, the mercury topping at 35’c and 100% humidity and only 6 prem paddlers and 35 masters, it was always going to be a challenge. And Mako loves a challenge.
Premier paddling kicked off with a stroking debut of Court, Jack Stratton and Shane. Prems racing was where the action was at, with 35 clubs from around Australia battling it out for 6 places in the final. While Mako did not quite make the final, we raced harder and faster than we ever have, a testament to our amazing prems and their unflagging energy.
With the humidity rising and the midday sun beating down, it was time to switch to Senior A paddling, and in true Mako spirit, our masters rolled up their sleeves and readied for battle.
What a battle it was. In true Stephen Bradbury style, with 18 paddlers only battling heatstroke and having been in the sun for 12 hours on hot concrete, both Senior A Women and Senior A Open snagged a 6th place seat in the Final, coming out 4th/5th (no one knows we were all delirious by this stage). Pride of place was our plucky Senior A Mixed crew, who went into the Final in last place and raced like the boat was on fire to pull a Bronze Medal despite dragging a dragon tail behind the boat the whole race.
Celebrity Sightings
Jennifer Beals (in the form of Linds) was sighted on the pontoons bent backwards over a water hydrant in true Flashdance form, our very own Mako Maniac.
And there were rumours that Sir Mix Alot was seen ripping a groove for our very own ‘Big Butt Vics’ sporting a 12-inch augmentation…..Fraser is a happy man.
News from our Roving Reporter Annie
- As I rove around I’m proud to wear the MAKO colours. The iconic “Who the hell are Mako?” comment has been replaced by “Go Mako” Our secret to success? I asked around and the recurring theme is a culture of support and inclusion.
- Cheryl summed it up: “I am so honoured to be a Mako”.
- Val “ impressed with everyone’s grit and that everyone had each other’s back the entire day”
- Elizabeth echoed the sentiment of love and support within the team and reckons there’s nothing like hearing the “Go Mako” chants when crossing the finish line.
- Amanda: “Paddle like you have a mob of Piranha snapping at your bum”.
- Ron: “It’s got to be a thousand degrees out here”.
- John Gartner: “I’m wearing budgie smugglers next time because these shorts are giving me a terrible tan line”.
- Chicki: “If we make a final, I’ll climb a building naked”. (Time and place for that event TBA). BTW, if we make 3 finals do you complete 3 climbs? Asking for a friend.
- Kiwi’s typical laconic remark in response to calls that our tail was falling off: “Not my problem”. BTW – thank goodness for our drogue training which came in handy paddling with a dragging tail.
- Chicki (to a competitor after a race): “I promise you we’re nicer out of the boat”.
The Firsts
- First-time Lunar paddlers: Ellen, Allie, Lindsy, Carey-Anne, Jenny, AndrewG, Jack Stratton, Kerry, John Gartner, John Bot. Well played guys, awesome paddling.
- Stroking Debut at Lunar: Shane, Jack Stratton, Jac Smith – I have no words. You rock.
- Paddling at Lunar: Janita the Drummer, wtf? Is there nothing you can’t do? Well done honey.
The Thanks
Mako (especially Chicki, who was drooling and had an eye twitch) could not have achieved what we did at Lunar without our beloved Gavrick, Mako’s Commanding Officer and dear friend. Gavrick kept us in tight formation, briefed, de-briefed, situationally aware and running to operational tempo all day. The Mako gang were overheard whispering, ‘ can we break his legs so he can do this all season?’. You know what you did mate, we can never thank you enough.
To Lou “Sprinkler” Haynes, who kept the pontoons cool and wet with her exemplary thumb skills on the taps, we thank you.
To Macca, Ron and Daz, our members from (near) far away; we see you and thank you for your commitment and love having you in the boat.
To all Mako, we have something special going on here, let’s keep it. Heart. Loads and loads of heart.
Last but certainly not least, a huge thank you to Club Lervis Bay for the support that helps a grass-root community focussed club make their way to Sydney and share the love of our sport and put Jervis Bay on the map.
