Already a growing list of paddlers in all three disciplines (ocean ski, waka ama, SUP) are booking limited spots on the ferry craft as they eye the chance to paddle from an internationally renowned marine sanctuary back to one what has been rated by National Geographic as one of the top ten most scenic coastal settings at the finish line inside Tutukaka Harbour.

There is also a unique list of prizes up for grabs this year, including Poor Knights lillies (a plant unique to the islands) from event sponsors Tawapou Coastal Natives and art work of the islands from Tutukaka artist Steve Moase.

Dogged by a weather bomb in its first year, this year race director Tim Eves has redoubled efforts to attempt to get the Poor Knights Crossing completed, including adding two more race course options to the existing three and building custom designed craft racks to help ensure the race runs as seamlessly as possible.

“We all learned some valuable lessons when the race fleet was greeted with 40 knot winds and 6 metre seas last year.  We needed what we thought were robust systems to be upgraded even further and have set about doing just that,” Tim said.

 “Safety is always paramount but the appetite from the paddlers for the chance to test themselves in big water was a big factor in our discussions since last year’s race.  In the end the inaugural event was all but a wash out, but paddlers still got the chance to get some big water action.  Some of that water was a marginal for paddling at best, but those who braved the conditions came back exhilarated.”

That got Tim and his team thinking that, if they could get the craft and paddlers to the startline safely, the paddlers were going to be keen to test themselves in big water for the paddle home.

The Poor Knights Islands provides a mythical aspect to the race, including a race start inside the world’s biggest sea cave (Rikoriko Cave), a paddle through massive natural rock archways before the race fleet even start the 24km to the finish line. 

“In tailwind conditions it won’t be a slog,” Tim explains, “I’ve been out there in conditions that are quite mind blowing from a downwind paddling perspective. There are ramps of waves just lined up and they just keep coming.”

The history of the  Poor Knights Islands is fascinating - the site of an infamous 1820 Maori massacre, and a place shrouded in mystery and spiritual significance to this day, the Islands act as a focus point for all who live in the area.

Sponsored by Strongarm, Power in the Water, Dive! Tutukaka, Tawapou Coastal Natives, Fox Construction and Moana Nui, the event is set for Saturday, September 5. Entries close on August 20.

Race director Tim Eves, a keen surf ski paddler and multisporter, had long believed a race from the Poor Knights Islands to Tutukaka Harbour could be a successful evet. The chance to paddle inside a world renowned marine reserve and the challenge of a downwind dash across what can be a very moody piece of water were two classic ingredients.

 " Paddling there is a privilege for a start, then comes the challenge of making it safely back to Tutukaka."

Paddlers will be ferried out to the startline by Dive! Tutukaka and escorted home by the seven boats in the Dive! Tutukaka fleet.

All paddlers will be vetted before entry is accepted, with evidence of open ocean paddling a requirement for registration.  Paddlers can submit their names for registration by emailing [email protected] .

The event has five different course options to ensure a majority of downwind racing, but all efforts will be made to stage the race over the preferred Poor Knights to Tutukaka course or, in a westerly, from Tutukaka Harbour to a finish line inside Rikoriko Cave at the Poor Knights.

 Click on the event link for more information - http://wakaama.co.nz/racecalendar/lookup/1136