October 20, 2024
A planned circumnavigation of the island of Gozo turned into an epic out-and-back challenge due to extreme weather conditions. Despite the change in route, the participants persevered, covering a total distance of 36.5 kilometers.
The grueling challenge began at 8 AM with a field of six paddlers: Michael Aquilina, Andreas Bohnsack, Matthew Schembri, Martin Dugas, Samuel Borg, and Mattea Micallef. Matthew quickly took the lead, followed closely by Martin and Samuel. However, the harsh conditions soon began to take their toll.
A formidable south-easterly swell, reaching heights of 2 meters, greeted the paddlers as they exited the port. The rebounding waves created a challenging environment, especially for those less accustomed to the sea. Martin, a flatwater paddler, struggled with the waves and was overtaken by Samuel, Michael, and Andreas. Mattea was hot on his heels.
Throughout the course, Michael and Andreas engaged in a fierce battle for third place behind Matthew and Samuel, who were locked in a thrilling duel for first. Ultimately, Andreas's superior wave-handling skills allowed him to overtake Michael.
Mattea, demonstrating incredible grit and determination, managed to surpass Martin at the 22-kilometer mark.
The final results saw Matthew claim victory with a time of 03:16:13, followed by Samuel in 03:42:58 and Andreas in 03:54:46. Michael finished fourth in 04:00:00, and Mattea completed the course in 04:19:12. Martin retired from the challenge after paddling 28km due to the unforgiving conditions.
In a post-race interview, Matthew expressed his admiration for all the participants who completed the challenging event.
"Conditions were incredibly tough," he said.
"Anyone who finished this is a true surfski paddler. I'm extremely proud of the group and the progress they've made. I'm also very grateful for the support crew who volunteered to keep an eye on us paddlers and ensure our safety."
Proud of you guys!