Downwind all the way
The first edition of the Ballito Downwind saw pre-race favourites Hayley Nixon and Sabina Lawrie as well as Stott and Bouman take home the spoils at Tiffany's beach on Sunday.
World number one paddler Salt Rock’s Hank McGregor had to settle for an unusual second place behind Ant Stott and Matt Bouman in the Ballito Downwind last weekend.
The first edition of the Ballito Downwind saw pre-race favourites Hayley Nixon and Sabina Lawrie as well as Stott and Bouman take home the spoils at Tiffany’s beach on Sunday.
The 18km course from Blythdale to Tiffany’s was always going to be frantic with a handful of combinations eyeing the victory, but it was Bouman and Stott, who won the Scottburgh2Brighton doubles race the week before, that combined well to edge out Hank McGregor and Lee Furby in a strong battle to the finish.
“Matt and I have spent a lot of time in a boat together but usually with me in the front,” Stott said.
“It was a privilege to sit in the back of the surfski and see how these guys operate and the skill that they have to find runs and use the swell.”
Bouman and Stott came home in just over one hour and five minutes while second placed McGregor and Furby finished just over 30 seconds behind them. Luke Nisbet and Steve Woods finished third just under 20 seconds later.
The ladies race was as exciting with Hayley Nixon and Sabina Lawrie edging Jenna Ward and Donna Winter in a thriller finish, clinching the win by only a minute.
“The conditions were quite mild and easy to handle and big shout out to Barry (Lewin) on putting on a great show at the first Ballito Downwind,” said Nixon.
The pace set by the ladies teams was quick with Nixon and Lawrie finishing in eleventh place overall and Ward and Winter were just behind them in 14th.
“We had quite a clean finish and we were really stoked to come away with the win and it was a brilliant day paddling with Sabina, she is an absolute rock star in the back of the boat,” Nixon added happily.
Clinton Cook and Christie Mackenzie were the first mixed double across the line while it was Todd Borland who came home as the first single ski.
More information can be found at www.ballitodownwind.co.za.
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