Mud Monsters and More….

The Mako Mud Monster is a predatory creature that lives in water. It is made out of mud and weighs over a tonne. Mud Monsters remain submerged at night until dragon boats come close to the water, in which case the large monster will come out of the water and suck the paddlers into it’s large round mouth. And what a splendid time the Mud Monster had today….eeeeeeek

With a grand total of 22 paddlers, Mako took to the muddy swamp flats of Dobroyd with gusto. The mixed crew were first, smashing out 3 back to back heats to hold our own with 7 men and 13 women. The aim of the day was to get better throughout the day and the times certainly proved it. Mako Mixed took out 2nd in the minor final with a thumping, pulsing demonic race and trimmed seconds off the time to finish 54 secs.

Then it was the battle of the Mud Monster and trying to get crews swapped while sucked in the mud up to our knees. Chaos reigned in the second half of the regatta with opens and women’s racing, the only way to load boats being to lie across the top of the mud like quicksand. Angie was perhaps the only paddler to perfect the dismount into the mud, the German judges awarding her a perfect score for the triple twist backflip.

Opens crew were up next, comprising of exactly the same paddlers as mixed, with Bear and Simon in the drivers seat and Fi drumming like a woman possessed! True to the Mako way, the crew performed better and better throughout the day and ended the opens major final in 5th place with a cracking 53 seconds (a boat length quicker than the heats). That may have been chicki’s crash-test dummy sweeping (sorry PDS) which had the crew scared for their lives and wanting to get to the end ASAP).

The plucky Mako Maidens (all 14 of them) sucked their way out of the mud to the delight of the onlookers with Bear on the stick and Simon drumming. What started as snickers and banter on the start line turned to respect as the plucky 14 ladies smashed down the racecourse and again peeled a huge 5 seconds off to take 5th in the final. With Bear in his gardening hat practising 90’ turns over the finish line, and our beloved Frodo-footed drummer on the front, the ladies crew was the must see event of the day

Huge kudos to Duncs, Aaron, Tye, Sally, Claire, Amanda and Honey for their first regatta; you guys smashed it. Thanks to DBNSW for an amazing regatta yet again, COVID safe and run beautifully in challenging winds. Most thanks to Mako, a little club with a massive heart who brings smiles to the faces of all who watch us race and bring joy and love of paddling.

What’s next? A well earned beer, a lot of nappi san and some time to reflect on this awesome sport and our club of wonderful people. Well done Mako. Well bloody done.