Ex-Toti resident and Kingsway High School old boy, Quinton Rutherford, 50, has paddled his way into the Guinness World Records book. To honour Mark Perrow’s memory, his paddling partner and friend who died earlier in the year, he set off from Cape Vidal on Friday, 13 November to see how far he could paddle in 24 hours.
“I started paddling at 4.30am and went 34km out to sea to catch the current running through. I had to paddle my ski, which weighs 10kg and is six-metres-long, through 34 knots winds and 6m high waves. “During lockdown the idea (to break the record) grew, but I had no idea how much preparation had to be done other than training. I have over 30 years experience and drew a lot on that. I did a few longish paddles before, the longest being 160km from Richards Bay to DUC.”
He reached Perrow’s house in Ballito at about 7pm after paddling a gruelling 227km. “Mark and I had a good connection. As Friday was also his birthday, I did this to say goodbye. When I reached Thompsons Bay, I got out to let off a flare for him, but when I tried to get going again, I couldn’t get past his house I was so tired.
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I had planned to finish at DUC with about 250km, but staying in the boat in the huge swell was taxing on my body, particularly when the sun went down. After setting off the flare, I fell out of my boat a few times and realised I was done. The duck loaded me up and took me to DUC, where I was overwhelmed by the support on the beach.”
Even though he had only paddled 14-and-a-half hours of the designated 24, he had surpassed the previous record of 214km that was set by New Zealand’s Tim Taylor in 2015. “The record didn’t belong in New Zealand, but here in South Africa, because we have the best surf-skiers in the world and we make the best crafts in the world. It is fitting that the record is now in South Africa and I hope it will inspire more local guys to attempt to break the record.”
Quinton was born in Pretoria and attended Toti Primary and Kingsway, where he matriculated in 1988. He is married to Cindy and they have a son Reece, 26, and two daughters Summmer, 19, and Ryleigh, 15. The family moved to Salt Rock about eight years ago. He started paddling at 20 and has been a member of Amanzimtoti Watersports Club since then. He also wanted to do a Dusi and his best finish to date is 52nd.
“I prefer endurance surf-ski events and I am a regular at all the events on the local circuit. I have also participated in 25 Dusi Canoe Marathons, but it took all my years of skill and love for the ocean to break the record on Friday. Going as far as 34km out to sea is probably the limit for paddling, but us surf-skiers enjoy the adrenaline rush and freedom of being in the ocean, with the wind whipping across us. Friday was an extreme challenge, with me against nature.”
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In order to make it into the record books, Quinton had to raise about R250 000 to pay to fly out the Guinness team from the UK, which he did with help from the local paddling community and businesses. The four adjudicators had a wild ride in a six-foot rubber duck with waves breaking in the boat, to monitor his progress all the way and certify that he had adhered to the strict criteria Guiness insisted on.
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