Torrens Island Race — 13 October 2024
Registering prior to the briefing at Garden Island
At 10am on Oct 13, Anne and Simon Langsford started 8 boats from the makeshift start/finish line between the beach and a yellow channel marker near the Garden Island Boat Ramp. The course was anti clockwise heading up Barker Inlet to the cutting and then out onto Port River and through the North Arm back to the boat ramp. The distance was about 16.5km depending on how close you paddled to the mangroves.
The Start
The race started in overcast conditions with a light Easterly wind blowing enough to make a slight chop on the starboard beam as paddlers tried to find deep water near the channel markers heading up to the cutting. Pavel had streaked ahead out of the starting blocks so he gave everyone something to aim for. The rescue boat manned by Jim Murphy and Ian Hume stationed itself outside of the cutting and even with low tide still a half hour away it was a slog to paddle through the bar at the entrance to the cutting. Once through and out the other side onto the Port River, paddlers had the advantage of the light breeze coming in behind them and soon the tide changed to give an extra boost. Great racing conditions.
Tug Boats
Mark and Berny on the Port River
Half way along the Port River paddlers watched two tugs shepherd a huge grain ship out of the Port, a reminder that we were paddling on a working river. The tug captains were very respectful and the leading tug even slowed a little as the lead boats approached it. Most boats stuck to the left hand edge of the channel so while they were technically on the wrong side of the channel they weren’t in the channel so not hindering other traffic. As the paddlers turned into the North arm the tide was giving a reasonable push to those out in the channel, until paddlers reached Swan Alley where the tide coming down Barker Inlet met the tide coming in the North arm and all assistance was negated. Paddlers had to paddle the last 1000m with no assistance apart from the adrenalin rush that seeing the finish line provided.
Mark and Berny in the North Arm
Finish Line
Pavel finished the race in 1 hour and 45 minutes followed closely by Hugh S and Hugh M in their sea kayaks and then Phil and Marina in their double not far behind. Greg just managed to pip Charlie on the line and then Mark and Berny crossed together a few minutes later. All boats were back on the beach by 12.05 so all negotiated the race at good speed.
Once the paddlers were changed and boats away, they gathered under the shelter and marquee provided by Paddle SA. Simon had the BBQ going, effortlessly grilling sausages organised by Greg Adams and Phil provided the coffee. Anne then presented her ‘medals’ which were delicious. We finished the BBQ watching 3 dolphins cruising out in the passage.
Next Year
Pavel and Hugh at the finish line
Next year we hope to have the event integrated into the Paddle SA long distance race calendar and have a few more paddlers attending, but we agreed that the ‘inaugural’ Torrens Island Race was a worthwhile and fun event. Thanks go the race organisers Greg Adams, Phil Doddridge and Hugh Stewart, Starter Anne Langsford, Scrutineer Simon Langsford, rescue boaters Peter Drewry, Jim Murphy, Ian Hume and Mark Bulmer and all those who participated.
Race Results
| Name | Boat | Time |
| Pavel Berdashkevich | Stellar Ocean Ski | 1hour 45m 05secs |
| Hugh Stewart | Mirage 580 Sea Kayak | 1: 45: 29 |
| Hugh MacMillan | Audax Sea Kayak | 1 : 53: 00 |
| Phil Doddridge and Marina Walker | Mirage 730 Double Sea Kayak | 1 :54:00 |
| Greg Adams | Audax Sea Kayak | 1: 55:05 |
| Charles Walker | Petrel Sea Kayak | 1:55:10 |
| Mark Loram | Prijon Sea Kayak | 2:06:03 |
| Berny Lohmann | Ecohezhig Sea Kayak | 2:06:14 |
The trip was listed as a leisurely paddle and that’s what we did. Anne, Simon, Peter C, Peter D, Phil, Abelardo and Mark set off from the Garden Island boat ramp around 10am to paddle around Torrens Island. The tide was suitable to paddle through the shallow cutting at the northern end of the island. Conditions were nearly perfect, and they improved as we paddled.
Launching from Garden Island boat ramp the group worked upwind across the Angus Inlet and some way up the Barker Inlet to get a fast downwind ride to the entrance to Hidden Creek. It has this name due to the entrance being indistinct and partially blocked by fallen trees. The entrance is on the eastern side of Eastern Passage just under the power lines. Once in the shelter of the creek conditions were ideal. Out of the wind it was much warmer, the water crystal clear and the winding nature of the creek made it feel adventurous! Phil and Bella were in a Mirage 730 double with Kaye and Stephen in their brand new Prijon double. Turning these longer kayaks to negotiate the ever sharpening bends tested sweep stroke technique, strength and endurance!
Hindsight is a marvellous thing! Well before reaching the back of the creek we ran out of water, the tide was not quite ideal! And this is where the Bog challenge began! Those in single kayaks were able to turn around (just) to begin the journey out. No so those in double kayaks.
There was no easy solution to get the M730 turned around so one end was shoved up onto the scrub and the rest lifted from the water to point it in the other direction. Phil and Bella then got in, taking quite a bit of smelly mud with them, and began paddling back. Well it was a mix of paddling, pushing off tree stumps and poling through the mud trying to weave through fallen branches and areas too shallow to float the boat!
The wind was still blowing quite strongly so after a quick discussion Kaye and Stephen opted for a direct route back while others wanting more punishment headed on to the “Ships Graveyard”. It was a fun ride downwind and into the North Arm to view the remains of the Dorothy H Sterling and Santiago. These two relics are a link to the maritime past of South Australia. The Santiago was one of the first iron hulled ships ever made and was launched in Glasgow, Scotland in 1856. The Dorothy was launched in Oregon in 1920 and was one of the largest commercial sailing ships of it’s era. Unfortunately, it became a victim of the Great Depression. Upon arriving in Port Adelaide in 1929 it’s crew found that the company that owned the boat had gone bankrupt and no money was waiting for them for wages and landing fees. Eventually the Dorothy was impounded and put to auction to recoup the losses. The stunning six masted schooner was sold off for £50 then dismantled for scrap. The full stories of these relics can be found online.
