by Ingrid Juchem

Round 4 of NQ Outrigger Grand Prix series was held at Mission Beach with 16 paddlers form Port Douglas Outrigger canoe club attending.

They were greeted by 25 to 30 knots for the first race of the day. An unusual beach start created carnage amongst the field as athletes were washed off their craft and got entangled with other paddlers.

"I've never paddled an OC 2 in big seas like this, so I did not know what to expect. I just went out to have fun" Sonya Jordan said, who together with Ingrid Juchem came fifth in the Master Women followed by the new combination of Danielle Bellero and Jan Ward in seventh place.

But the first medal of the day for the club went to Mia Messenger and Monique Johnston in the same category with a third placing.

In the men's race, Justin Whyte came fourth in the Master Men OC1 and Glen Thorp fifth in the Open Men.

The Golden Master Women OC1 race was won  by Faye Lilly with Ingrid Juchem coming second in the Senior Master Women race.

With the weather conditions improving during the day, everybody was looking forward to the OC6 racing.

Wendy Morris, Faye Lilly, Leanne Griffith, Denise Lee Long, Jan Ward and Jacky Cooke, the Senior Master Women team, dominated the sprint and long race, winning both.

The Master Women crew of Lili Jensen, Ingrid Juchem, Mia Messenger (Monique Johnston in the long course race), Danielle Bellero, Sonya Jordan and  Cecely Ridderhof came third in the sprint.

The second place in the Long Course race behind Magnetic Island and in front of Hekili (Cairns) and Cairns Beaches was the highlight of the day for the crew.

"There is a friendly rivalry between the two Cairns' clubs and us, so beating them both was great" steerer Lili Jensen said.

Other results from the day were:

Justin Whyte/ Glen Thorp fourth in the open Men OC2
Mia Messinger/ Glen Thorp fourth in the open Mixed OC2
Cecely and Bill Ridderhof sixth Master Mixed OC2
Open Mixed OC6 seventh in the sprint
Open Mixed OC6 sixth in the long course
 
The club is now looking forward to their own regatta in October. A relay race for OC1and OC2 from Ellis Beach to Port Douglas.