Masters make it look easy

Less wind and sea chop made for smooth paddling on Monday morning in the first race of the day for the masters and senior masters men 12km V6 iron races.

The uniting power of oe vaka came to the fore as crews coordinated their strokes to get their vaka across the line.

It was the Aotearoa Natives that held a strong lead line to take out the masters mens division in an impressive time of 0:59:21 followed three minutes later by local crew Te Tupu O Te Manava in 1:02:13 21 seconds ahead of third place getter Mana Menz from New Zealand.

In the senior master mens division it was an all Australian affair with team Te Ika Nui taking out the race in 1:04:123 ahead of team Noosa (1:04:47) and TOFs Sunshine Coast crew who finished in 1:08:36.

The Crown Beach Belles crew from Australia were in a league of their own when they blitzed the masters womens 12km V6 race in 1:13:40 to win just over three minutes ahead of Cook Islands Crew Toa Moana (11:16:37).

The North Queensland masters womens team took out third place in 1:17:52.

The senior masters womens division was dominated by the Australians who took out the top three spot lead by team Mooloolaba who finished in 1:15:00, Currumbin Creekers in second with a time of 1:17:28 and Te Ika Nui in third with a finish time of 1:20:23.

Masters and senior masters paddlers will take a breather from paddling today and dig out their togs for the charity Boiler Swim this afternoon from the Trader Jacks beach starting at 5pm.