The Marine Grading Race, race one of the 2022 Durban Winter Surfski Series, saw recently crowned national ocean racing champion Hank McGregor claim the honours on Sunday.
McGregor continued where he left off after the national championships last week and finished over two minutes ahead of Matt Bouman in second while young Matthew Coetzer ended in third.
Given the focus was on grading paddlers for the series, there was also a focus on the men and women racing each other for the overall title. Michelle Burn was unable to finish with the stipulated percentage of winner McGregor’s time which gave the veteran the overall race honours.
For McGregor it was a good first hit out of the series and he was happy with his efforts in some good conditions off Addington Beach on Sunday morning.
“I had a great race against a quality field that came together for this season opener,” Euro Steel’s McGregor said. “I had to go out hard and make sure that I was ahead of the leading female.
“I got away early from Matthew Bouman, Matt Coetzer and Luke Nisbet on the first downwind leg of the two lap course and then just worked on the gap and it increased throughout the race.
“It was great to start with a win and I am looking forward to the other races in the series.”
Michelle Burn confirmed her return to competitive surfski racing by winning the women’s race by a significant margin. Tatum Botha finished the women’s race in second while it was Debbie Gillet in third.
The Short Course saw the pair of Cameron and Matthew Lock take home the overall honours ahead of the sigle ski of Adrian Tunguy-Desmarais in second and Megan and Gary O’Conner in third spot.
The second race of the 2022 Durban Winter Surfski Series is the Marine Golden Mile Challenge on 22 May.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS – Marine Grading Race (Race One of Durban Winter Surfski Series)
Long Course
Overall
- Hank McGregor 1:04:05.41
- Matthew Bouman 1:06:10.42
- Matthew Coetzer 1:08:36.38
- Paul Rabinowitz 1:09:41.21
- Brad Pearse 1:10:07.59
- Bryce Lawson 1:11:05.37
- Luke Nisbet 1:11:08.69
- Brendon Waters 1:11:18.78
- Andrew Cairns 1:11:56.61
- Benjamin Maehler 1:12:42.20
Women
- Michelle Burn 1:12:46.72
- Tatum Botha 1:28:16.62
- Debbie Gillet 1:30:05.32
Doubles
- Lungelo Gumede/Kwanele Banda 1:09:49.84
- Trevor Maher/Glenn Hilliar 1:11:51.26
- Bruce Wenke/Paddy Strickland 1:12:08.90
Short Course
Overall
- Cameron Lock/Matthew Lock 0:38:33.07
- Adrian Tunguy-Desmarais 0:39:16.09
- Gary O’Connor/Megan O’Connor 0:39:42.54
- Fuzz Goble/Zoe Goble 0:40:12.26
- Monique Boshoff/Deirdre Bentley 0:40:32.18
- Matthew Allen 0:40:34.38
- Adrian Thomas Truter 0:40:36.56
- Reece Tredoux Truter 0:40:52.93
- Mikaila Brown 0:40:55.70
- Dayna Deeble 0:41:08.19