Voost Forster Ocean Classic - Race 2 of the Voost Shaw and Partners Forster Race Week 14 May 2021

[@johncadwallader4361]

Loved the choice of music 👍👍👍

[@daz-downwindpaddleactionz1551]

Thanks John, thought it was a good fit. That was a tough paddle and it seemed like the finish was at least a thousand miles away 🙃

[@pokeypickle3]

Well done. Four of my friends did this race as well.

[@daz-downwindpaddleactionz1551]

Thanks. Good on ém, it was a tough one but awesome.

[@paulreavley5900]

"and risk losing my Forster Race Week cap" - a man's got to know his priorities 🤙 🤙 🤙

[@daz-downwindpaddleactionz1551]

There was one in the water in front of me!! No way mine was suffering the same fate Paul 🤣

[@jordanr991ify]

Great video as always! Looked like tough conditions. Just wondering if you could shed some light on what version of the Fenn elite S the top guys were using? It seems Hank was using the Fennix version at SA champs, but was definitely then using the old elite S at a recent race in Durban. From the pictures Cory, Tom and Boothy look like they are still on the older elite S at the Voost week? Any insight into why would be useful. Torn between a secondhand elite S and the new Fennix version. If the top guys haven't migrated over to the Fennix version, I'd be interested to know why. Cheers

[@daz-downwindpaddleactionz1551]

Thanks Jordan. When Jim Walker says it was one of the toughest paddles of his life, it gives a pretty good indication of how hard it was. Certainly character building and has given me something to think about and focus on when prepping for future races for sure - some flat water training required 😜 Cory was paddling the Hi-Cell layup of the original Elite S, Boothy the carbon vacuum layup of the same boat and Tom too I'm pretty sure. I didn't ask the boys why they weren't paddling the Fennix, so don't know if it's an availability thing or just personal preference. I paddled Dean Gardiner's Fennix Carbon Vacuum on the Wed before Race 1. That was a 13km flat water paddle on the race course and I really rated it. Very comfortable cockpit, better seat ergonomics and the sleeker profile from the hip area of the cockpit to the nose is great. Brendan Rice paddled Dean's boat in both races finishing 10th overall in Race 1 and 5th overall in Race 2 (before he was unfortunately DQ'd for going off course). Having now paddled the Fennix in both downwind and flat conditions, I told Dean I'm keen to grab a Hi-Cell when he get's one in - hopefully by this years WA Race Week. As for which one you should get, best advice I can give is, paddle them both and then decide as I have. A friend of mine from Wollongong, Michael McKeogh who is a very accomplished ocean paddler, has the Hi-Cell Fennix Elite S and is doing his best downwind average speeds ever.