MEDIA RELEASE | The race commenced today with 36 teams sea kayaking 8km from The Stand, Townsville, to Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island in near perfect conditions. Team Raidlight set the pace for the day arriving first to Picnic Bay. Followed closely by Peak Adventure and Team Mountain Designs, one minute apart.
Raidlight then extended their lead during the 30km coasteering leg by boulder hopping around the first major headland, whilst other lead teams climbed high up along ridge lines avoiding the swims.
The boulder hopping proved testing for many teams. Team Mountain Designs describing the course as “bloody rocky”. Many teams chose difficult inland routes through scratchy bush terrain as an alternate.
Teams completed two snorkelling sections where they had to use team work to find check points located under the water. The snorkels were a welcome relief from the heat.
There as also a 2km SUP (Stand Up Paddle Board) section. Many weird and wonderful technics were employed to keep them moving forward. Most tired standing to start with then after a few swims, chose to kneel or lie down.
Most teams enjoyed the day that included sighting turtles, rock wallabies and koalas while racing.
Teams bank up at West Point, CP13, over night before commencing leg 3 of the race, a 60km ocean paddle back to the mainland. This is the first and last “dark zone” on the course where teams are not allowed to be on a leg when it is night time. There are no time credits for winning the day, only the chance for more sleep.
The race will be on in earnest tomorrow as teams start the rest of the course uninterrupted.
The tough race has proven too difficult for some already. 5 teams are now out of the race after failing to obtain all of the CPs on the island. In order to ensure they are ready to start the leg 3 paddle at 6am, they have chosen to follow roads to CP13, avoiding some tough cross country navigation. They will be allowed to continue in an unranked capacity.
Live Tracking – http://live.xpd.com.au
Photos – https://www.flickr.com/photos/geocentricoz/sets/72157655439521368/with/19676408955/