In keeping with my resolution to try something new each week, I only needed a little encouragement from Mich & Churn to sign up for my first OC1 water trial. Having only done 1 trial in a dragon boat before, I was a novice to water trials especially 4 km ones. As for paddling an OC1, I met up with Billy & was introduced to the single craft on the Friday morning before the trials. In keeping with my resolution to try something new each week, I only needed a little encouragement from Mich & Churn to sign up for my first OC1 water trial. Having only done 1 trial in a dragon boat before, I was a novice to water trials especially 4 km ones. As for paddling an OC1, I met up with Billy & was introduced to the single craft on the Friday morning before the trials.
I arrived at Narrabeen Lake at 7.15am, excited to do this benchmark paddle. There was a chill in the air & the sun never peeped from behind the clouds but at least the water was pleasantly mild. Christian & Mich set off before me. With the wash of a passing dingy & wind picking up a little, I had to do a couple of loops to get my boat lined up beside the starting buoy. A distant call from the shore for âpaddle upâ followed by âgoâ. I powered the first few strokes & about the 5th stroke in, my right foot pedal felt a little sticky. Only a newbie, like yours truly, would think that itâs a good idea to adjust her right foot while paddling on the right side. Before you could finish saying âbad idea!!â, the ama was flying over my head & my greatest nightmare came true.. Huli!! I was shark biscuit. Iâm not sure if the natural reaction should be laughter, but that plus adrenalin helped me flip the boat back over with ease & I was back in my seat in 3 easy steps (as opposed to the struggle I had recovering the craft during the practice huli on Friday morning). The wind seemed to have died down a little by then too, so I decided to set off on my course without delay.
For the first ½ km, all that went through my head was the post mortem of the huli 
which kept me in giggles, while I zigzagged all the way to the first buoy. After the 1st turn, I knew that I had to get into the rhythm of the long paddle ahead before getting unnerved by how far 1 km looked!? Multi-tasking is not exactly my strongest trait. While trying to keep the boat straight & balanced, I lost count of the strokes. At one stage, I did 50 strokes on one side?!? After the 2nd turn, it was just the mental challenge of completing the course. By the 3rd turn, I caught up to Anne on her kayak & definitely welcomed her words of encouragement. I was half way home now. Turn 4 – Anne was at the buoy again, cheering me on! Final kick to the finish line was sweet beyond words!! It was definitely a fantastic experience to do the trial although next time, Iâll pass on the huli. Big thanks to everyone for their support & encouragement!!
– Sou
{mxc}