A cache of the best ocean paddling exponents in the country will converge at Tutukaka on Saturday for the annual Bo Herbert Memorial marathon race.
More than 100 waka ama and surf ski paddlers have regisitered for the event which will see competitors racing along the picturesque Tutukaka Coastin a 30km test of skills and fitness.
But it is the standard of paddlers lining up that will give the race an edge with at several paddlers with impressive sporting resumes on the start line.
The waka ama field is spearheaded by Kingi Gilbert of Auckland who won the 35km Bhutty Moore Memorial race in Tauranga three weeks ago.
Gilbert will be chased hard by the likes of fellow Aucklanders Kisione Fonua and Troy Dolman with local Whangarei paddlers Shane Hohaia, Stephen Roulston and Richard Pehi also rated as contenders.
The surf ski field has been spiked by the entry of several top rated racers from Auckland including veteran Simon Mclarin, Mike Walker, Tim McLaren and former Bo Herbert champion Paul Wilford.
Depending on the prevailing conditions tomorrow, which are predicted to be dominated by a strong south westerly wind, paddlers will start at Kowharewa Bay in Tutukaka, head south towards Pataua then turn north and head to a marker buoy several kilometres past Matapouri. Competitors will then turn south to the finish line on Matapouri Beach.
The race, now in its fourth year, commemorates the death of Pawarenga waka ama paddler Bo Herbert who was one of the founding members of the national waka ama scene.
The event is organised by members of the Herbert family. His son Conan Herbert, who is listed among the competitors alongside his brother Sean, said the race was always a true test of paddling as the Tutukaka Coast was an unpredictable piece of water.
"We are hoping for a bit of tail wind conditions that will help push the paddlers a bit, but even without that the cliff faces and rocky outcrops always makes for interesting water to paddle in," Herbert said.
"It could be a bit of a slog this year though, so it will be a bit of a grind for most and the racing at the top of the field will be pretty fierce. It's going to be a tough day."
The race is scheduled to start at 12 noon with race briefing at 9am at Kowharewa Bay.
