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This story has a few threads: Lucky 13, Chicki does “An Al”, Janine Earns a new Scout Badge, Podium Trifectas and #makomojo.
13 Rookies Reign Supreme
They say 13 is an unlucky number. Not for Mako. 13 is the number to celebrate, the number about which tales are told around campfires.
Mako kicked off their first regatta of the season today, and there was fever pitch excitement around the camp. For today was The Day. The day that 13 Mako Rookies got to wield their paddle in battle for the very first time.
Did they get a glassy paddle on the sunny Bay with dolphins splashing? Hell no.
Did they get a professional rowing course with grandstands, timing systems, merchandise and clockwork races? Why no.
Did they get a nice little 200m dash to ease them into racing? HA! Too funny. Nope.
What our fabulous rookies got was a true Dobroyd Experience complete with monsoon, lagoon, typhoon and buffoons. The weather was woeful, with about 100ml of rain bucketing down from about 6am.
Janine the Girl Scout
It didn’t help matters that when Chicki arrived with the large tent, erected the frame and unfurled the bright white Mako cover, it turned out to be an umbrella (sans base) and not the top to the tent at all. The interim solution involved Janine producing tape and tarps out of her ….??? ….. and saving the day to create our very own Mako Hobo Camp reminiscent of Wodonga Nationals. Nice save J.
Who Doesn’t Love a Casey?
One phone call later, and our trusty and resourceful Casey mates show up with the Taj Mahal of tents, and enough shelter to huddle the penguins and bring out the smiles.
Onto Racing
And now onto the good stuff. Supposedly 2000m racing (more like 3kms) it was Premier Mixed 20 up first with 8 prems and 12 (er, not prems) to paddle Braille-style in the rain, somehow pinball our way around the Island twice, and blister around the course to finish in 3rd place in some of the most mighty competition in Aus.
Senior A were up next with half the crew brand new paddlers who have never racing a 2km before and only 18 in the boat. What a crack-a-lacking run by Mako to pull another 3rd place in one of the biggest upsets in Dobroyd history.
And once the ripples had barely settled, our ladies hit the water again and boy do our Mako Chicks know how to rock. This is where things get funky. Taking to the course 3rd away, Mako expected to be monstered by the biggest and best clubs that NSW has in the arsenal. However, that was not the tale of this day. On this day the ladies found their mojo, overtook Boat 2 quickly, kicked up a gear, smelt oestrogen in the wind and went for it. To the roar of the crowd the chicks appeared from around the island the last time closer to Boat 1 than going in, and proceeded to mow down the Sloths each stroke with newfound aggression to almost finish neck and neck over the line. A silver medal in the premier category to make history for Mako ladies. Well played gals. Well played indeed.
Opens was last up with the Jack and Shane Bromance reunited (nawwwwwwwwwwww) and lads put in a monster performance with 14 men, 8 of them first timers, some ladies helping and hypothermia setting in to pull a 5th place in super distinguished company. Just inspiring to watch.
For those rookies who came, who paddled, who rocked. We Salute You:
- Jake
- Clare
- Ben
- Kerry
- Garry
- Mel
- Bill
- Neridah
- Tim
- BigJake
- Wendy
- Tim
- Brad
And as the tired campers trek back to Jervis Bay tired, happy, chaffed and sore, there is one takeaway from this day. A great day. #Makomojo is here to stay.
