This past weekend, the world’s best paddlers, including current World Surfski Series Champ, Hank McGregor, took part in the largest international surfski competition, the 2017 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships (ORWC) in Hong Kong.
The ICF ORWC downwind route traversed the Hong Kong island, starting at Clearwater Bay Second Beach, Sai Kung, and finishing some 22km away at Stanley Beach, the same course as the Hong Kong Dragon Run – a playing field South African paddlers historically perform well at.
The ten-time World Marathon champ and three-time Dragon Run winner, McGregor, was confident heading into the race, with a strong chance of coming out on top against a strong field including long-time rival and defending champion, Australian paddler, Cory ‘Chill’ Hill.
The day presented windy conditions with a 3m swell for a test of pure downwind racing skill – a tough race ideal for big wave runners. With the pressure mounting, McGregor chose a risky inside line and got swamped, losing some 60 to 70m at ‘Kissing Whales’, the final turn to the downwind sprint to the finish.
McGregor put on a brave face to make a comeback and catch Hill. Despite his valiant efforts, McGregor had to settle for second, just 25 seconds behind the Australian paddler. Fellow South African and McGregor’s World Canoe Marathon Champs K2 partner, Jasper Mocké, finished in third.
Other top South African performances over the weekend included Hayley Nixon taking the Women’s Open title ahead of Michelle Burn. Kenny Rice took the win in the Men’s u23 race, while Kyeta Purchase finished second in the Women’s u23 category; and Sabina Lawrie became the women’s Junior champ with a win in the u18 category.
Results – 2017 ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships
Open Men
| POS | NAME | COUNTRY | FINISH TIME |
| 1 | Cory Hill | AUS | 01:31:55 |
| 2 | Hank McGregor | RSA | 01:32:20 |
| 3 | Jasper Mocke | RSA | 01:32:53 |
Open Women
| POS | NAME | COUNTRY | FINISH TIME |
| 1 | Hayley Nixon | RSA | 01:55:25 |
| 2 | Michelle Burn | RSA | 01:55:41 |
| 3 | Teneale Hatton | NZL | 01:56:16 |
RESULTS – SOUTH AFRICA ONLY
| POS | NAME | CATEGORY | FINISH TIME |
| 4 | Sean Rice | Open Men | 01:34:35 |
| 6 | Matt Bouman | Open Men | 01:35:55 |
| 15 | Bevan Manson | Open Men | 01:40:27 |
| 17 | Herman Chalupsky | Open Men | 01:41:48 |
| 18 | Ian Black | Open Men | 01:41:56 |
| 19 | Stuart MacLaren | Open Men | 01:42:46 |
| 4 | Lee Furby | Master Men (40-44) | 02:02:05 |
| 6 | Russel Sadler | Master Men (40-44) | 02:05:47 |
| 4 | Billy Harker | Master Men (45-49) | 01:56:15 |
| 5 | Andre Wood | Master Men (45-49) | 01:58:28 |
| 3 | Colin Simpkins | Master Men (55-59) | 02:00:40 |
| 3 | Johan van Rooyen | Master Men (60+) | 03:31:01 |
| 4 | Bridgitte Hartley | Open Women | 01:56:35 |
| 6 | Nicole Russell | Open Women | 01:57:24 |
| 8 | Jenna Ward | Open Women | 01:59:25 |
| 1 | Kenny Rice | U23 Men | 01:33:53 |
| 5 | Mark Keeling | U23 Men | 01:42:17 |
| 2 | Kyeta Purchase | U23 Women | 02:04:17 |
| 4 | Joshua Fenn | U18 Men | 01:42:12 |
| 5 | Ulvard Hart | U18 Men | 01:48:11 |
| 1 | Sabina Lawrie | U18 Women | 02:05:25 |
| 3 | Zara Wood | U18 Women | 02:18:29 |
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— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) November 19, 2017