SOUTH Africa’s most decorated paddler, Hank McGregor, and his paddling partner, Hamish Lovemore, won the national double ski title in stormy weather at the Bay Union King of the Bay in Durban on Sunday.
McGregor’s win completed a hat-trick of victories in the national double ski title decider, after back-to-back wins with Andy Birkett in 2018 and Pete Marlin and the Freedom Paddle in 2019.
After they completed the 11km flatwater haul across the Durban harbour from the start at the Bayhead, McGregor and Lovemore found themselves racing two other double ski crews: Tyron Maher and Gene Prato and the Pietermaritzburg duo, Brandon van der Walt and Dave Evans.
Once in the open ocean, the two metre swell, whipped up by the north easterly onshore winds, split up the bunches and McGregor and Lovemore ground away to a handsome lead by the time they reached the turn at the Mngeni River mouth.
“Conditions weren’t ideal,” said McGregor afterwards. “It was quite unforgiving and quite messy out there. You have to pick your own lines and hope for the best and gun it. I felt there was good power from the back of the boat, and we enjoyed it and feel happy to get here first,” he added.
Prato and Maher wrapped up second and veteran surfski ace and lifesaver, Matt Boumann, and rising star, Connor Botha, took third place.
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The women’s race was thrown on its head when it was confirmed the former winner, Michelle Burn, fell ill and couldn’t partner with Saskia Hockly, a team that was billed as the boat to beat. Hockly then partnered up with Jenna Ward and they competed in their first outing in a ski together and proved a comfortable win for the duo.
“Once we got out into the ocean, everyone spread out,” said Hockly. “Jen (Ward), being the awesome driver that she is, got us onto some runs and we felt comfortable coming back.”
Ward, a school teacher by profession, said, “I knew that we combine really well, and we have very similar body shapes and size which helps. I woke up this morning with completely different intentions, planning a day of reports and marking.”
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