Outrigger Canoeing and

Outrigger Canoeing and Coastal Rowing at Shelter Cove

WORDS AND IMAGE: NICK CRABB

OC6 passing Tung Lung Chau

Sai Kung is a natural location for water sports in Hong Kong. The Sai Kung region has many outlying islands, rugged coastlines and boasts incredible water quality throughout the year. The bay within Sai Kung is relatively sheltered but lumpy conditions are easily accessible for crews wanting to test their abilities in the swell. The region is arguably the most beautiful in Hong Kong and therefore is a fantastic location to develop rowing and paddle sports courses and programmes.

On Good Friday, 2 April Club Paddle Sports Coach Melissa Davis, several Club Members and I moved the Club’s oldest six person outrigger canoe (OC6) ‘Tin Hau’ from Middle Island to Shelter Cove. The conditions were absolutely perfect, with little to no wind ensuring a very smooth 33km journey. With the support of the Club’s Protector RIB, it allowed a total of 13 paddlers to participate in the move that took just over three hours.

Moving the canoe to Shelter Cove is one of the first steps planned to activate this facility for rowing and paddle sports operations. The OC6 will join two coastal double sculls that were rowed to Shelter Cove last year providing members the opportunity to explore this incredible region. Currently, the use of these boats is restricted to Club Members who have completed the respective sculling and outrigger canoeing courses however, we are planning on organising a regatta this coming summer and preparing to operate introduction courses for both sculling and outrigger canoeing soon.