Lindsay Wilson's paddling Sydney Harbour III

[QF WP]

Following on from my re-launch into TR's last year, I am again paddling Sydney Harbour with my cousin and a couple of ring-ins from Macquarie on Sunday, 24th March. We have a lot of pressure, having won the Corporate Cup last year (see below).

For those of you that don't know me as well as others, or weren't around the last 2 years (or don't want to click on the link above to see what it's all about); I can almost hear you ask "what is it all about" and "why is he doing that?". Superb questions, ones that deserve an answer...

My cousin Andrew was the CEO and Chairman of the organisation Lifestart. His daughter Grace, has Downs Syndrome and I thought it would be a great idea to do a couple of things at once - help Lifestart's funding, see my cousins in Sydney (as we are all getting together after the paddle for a picnic lunch) and spend some time doing some physical exercise around the beautiful Harbour.

To quote their website and initial emails to me, here's the sell:

Kayak for Kids is a unique paddling challenge on beautiful Sydney Harbour for everyone from beginner to serious kayaker. It is also a great opportunity for kayakers to raise money for kids with disability whilst paddling past the city's icons including Luna Park, the Opera House and Fort Denison before heading into middle harbour and on to leafy Clontarf for the Lifestart family picnic. So get your family, friends and workmates together and come out for a fantastic day on the water." Guy Leech, former World Ironman Champion and Kayak for Kids ambassador.

An event for all Sydneysiders… Lifestart Kayak for Kids is Sydney’s own one-of-a-kind paddling event that attracts competitors and spectators from all over the state to benefit children with a disability or developmental delay. Set to take place on Sunday 24 March 2013, competitors will face the challenge of paddling in a variety of paddle craft in an exciting 17.5km race from Blues Point to Clontarf.Get in the race… The race has been running for the past five years and 2013 will again expose participants to what kayak racing is all about with the inspiring backdrop of the harbour. Serious kayakers are welcome to participate in this exhilarating time trial as it hugs the northern shores in solo or double craft. And, for the novice kayaker, the course runs in four stages of approximately 4.5km for competitors to form relay teams of 3 to 12 people. Join in the Corporate Challenge Cup… The race in 2013 will see participants extend their paddling accomplishments while promoting a friendly rivalry amongst competitors in the quest to win the Corporate Challenge Cup, an extra category for businesses that are entering teams to compete against one another in the paddle. To win the Corporate Challenge Cup, teams compete in both the time they take to complete the course and the amount of fundraising income they raise.

And after the paddle, please stay around for presentations and then join us at the annual Lifestart family picnic with lots of fun, food and entertainment for the whole family.

I am especially proud of supporting my cousin and his daughter, Grace; so hopefully the lack of training that I have done for this year won't hold me back (or more likely, have me in agony over my desk on Tuesday next week when my triceps, quads and lower back are likely to be complaining about what I forced them to endure) .

The course is shown here and the course bio is:
START: Lavender Bay. Event registration will take place at Blues Point Reserve.
Stage 1: Lavender Bay to Little Sirius Cove, Mosman Bay (TA1) = 4.2km
Stage 2: Little Sirius Cove to Clifton Gardens, Chowder Bay (TA2) = 4.7km
Stage 3: Clifton Gardens to Balmoral Beach, southern end (TA3) = 4.6km
Stage 4: Balmoral Beach to Clontarf Beach = 4.0km
FINISH: Clontarf Beach. Award presentation will take place at Clontarf Reserve.


For those at any of these places in Sydney or crossing the Harbour Bridge around the 9.00am start time on Sunday, look out for the flotilla of yellow craft (kayaks) and think of me flogging myself mercilessly for charity (my thoughts are likely to be on the lunch at the end ).

 

[QF WP]

So now that I have set the scene, back to the TR. In a July 2012 email I was initially reminded that the Kayak for Kids was on again and given the date (7 April). A quick email to rally support again fell on deaf ears - too early for them to organise themselves. Then in December there was another email with a date change - 2 weeks earlier. Thankfully i hadn't booked my flights . Another rally of support met with one cousin pulling out (Golf at Barnbougle in Tassie with the boys was already in his diary) - the cousin I'd normally stay with and start the paddle. Right, I'lll just have to drink more of his fantastic cellar when I see him next .

Registration opened in February and I rallied the paddlers and supporters by email. Made sure that I included Kath; who is an outrigger paddler and I really enjoyed paddling with somebody who understood rythym, teamwork and had enough breath to keep a commentary going :mrgreen:.

So, after confirming with my wife that I was able to come down, I booked my flights. Given that I am now in the second month of re-qualifying my VA Plat and I am again taking my family overseas later this year, I needed to find a cheap alternative, so ended up booking a Saver Lite fare down and Save fare back ($307 all in). Alas, it was also to be a quick up and back:

Sat 23 Mar DJ958 BNE/SYD Depart: 3.00pm Arrive: 5.35pm
Sun 24 Mar DJ997 SYD/BNE Depart: 9.00pm Arrive: 9.30pm

Hand luggage only given it's only an overnight - but gloves, rashie, tape (to ward off blisters), cap with neck protection, sunglasses and sunscreen are a must.

My cousin Andrew graciously offered for me to stay at his place, so looks like he's stuck paddling with me again (and this time, he won't be able to slack being the closest to the starting line (plus he and I will be two of the 3 person team starting the paddle, no doubt).

Should any of you feel you'd like to donate to the cause...tax deductible donations can be done by CC to the following website: http://www.everydayhero.com.au/macquarie_private_wealth_sydney and you can "credit" the donation against my name and there is a really unique kicker this year:

We have a double matched giving which gives Lifestart particularly good value from your donation. My cousin Andrew has pledged to match donations dollar for dollar, up to $25,000 (his cap). As most of our team paddlers is with Macquarie, they have applied to have Macquarie Foundation match all money raised on our boat up to $50,000 (their cap). Thus tax deductibility and gearing

Now, I'd love to see my cousin have to front up with double all our donations (up to his cap of $25K), then have Macquarie Foundation double it. Am I excited, hell yes! A $100 donation that I just gave is a $63 out-of-pocket expense to me (after the tax deduction). This becomes a $200 donation (after the doubling by my cousin) and a $400 donation (after doubling by Macquarie Foundation). Not too shabby - it does show that sometimes it's who you know ;You can also leave some comments against your donation - no profanity please but some AFF or FF-centric comments would certainly be a cause for discussion on the paddle or later at the lunch

 

[AVC]

Does annual training count as training? It's no longer a "once off".

Good luck!

 

[MissBurrill]

Lindsay, my computer doesn't like the link. I've found your page on the Everday Hero website and love the photo of Grace!

 

[AVC]

Lindsay, my computer doesn't like the link. I've found your page on the Everday Hero website and love the photo of Grace!

I thought that was Lindsay!

Seriously, looks like something my daughter would wear. i.e. all pink

Their search engine sucks. I typoed Linday Wilson and it didn't give me a hit.

I hope Sydney puts on a great Harbour day for you!

 

[QF WP]

AVC, what training - I warm up on the day and off I go.

Hmmm, link was working for me using Chrome? Many thanks for the donation MissBurrill

AVC, the first year I did it was pristine weather and out near the Heads even got the old tub surfing the swells going into Balmoral Beach. Last year was cold, grey and rainy. Not easy

 

[QF WP]

Sorry for the delay in advising the results…no it wasn’t because I was paddling back to Brisbane

They actually got the results out to us on the day:

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Sunday, 24 March 2013 1:15 PM
To: Lindsay Wilson
Subject: Kayak for Kids 2013 Results

[TABLE="width: 700"]
[TR]
[TD]Results for Kayak for Kids 2013[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Hi Lindsay,[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Interim race results are now available for the Kayak for Kids 2013 24 Mar 2013[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Your position was 39 out of 59 finishers in Team of 4-12 category. Your time was 02:51:34[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Kayak For Kids 2013 Race Results

---

​

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

So we didn’t fare as well as previous years – wonder if that has anything to do with the training schedule

However, we (the Macquarie Private Wealth team) are the leading team on the fundraising side: Everyday Hero Australia: Lifestart Kayak for Kids 2013. With the doubling from Macquarie Foundation still to happen, I think we have that title in the bag - as it is a combination of amount raised and race position.

Many thanks to my supporters (family and cousins) and to my generous donators – without whom there would be no ongoing support for the kids.

Race Numbers 301-320 | 2013 Lifestart Kayak for Kids Photos (number 30132, I’d be the one on the right and my cousin Andrew is in the middle, James “superhuman” Purdie from Macquarie on the left).

Gee, I haven't even posted flight photo's for this TR - what have I been doing (oops, I realised I deleted them)