THE Heli400 Bega to Bondi epic sea kayak marathon being undertaken by the pilots and crewmen of the Westpac Life Saver helicopter service kicked off at Bermagui immediately after the Anzac dawn service.
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Fairfax media plans to bring you a running log of the the nine day marathon ski paddle, so stay tuned to this website for updates and more photos!
Day 9:
The epic nine-day paddle from Bega to Bondi has been completed, to the delight of paddlers and supporters alike.
"We've finished!," an excited team spokesperson said on Sunday after the crew reached the finish line at 12.45pm.
"Well done, Bega to Bondi officially smashed!
"Great effort by all our team - thanks everyone! In at 12.45pm."
BTB Day 9 The home stretch has begun folks!
The boys left this morning around 7 from Quibray Bay near Cronulla Sharks headed to La Perouse. Here we come! Come and say hi at Malabar at 10.30am!!
BTB Day 9 The Team at Malabar getting ready for the FINAL LEG!!! Yeehaa!
BTB Day 9 WOOOOOOHOOOO!!!!
We've finished! Well done boys, Bega to Bondi offically smashed!
Great effort by all our team -thanks everyone! In at 12.45pm.
Dont forget to donate! www.begatobondi.com.au
From Stephen Leahy the CEO:
Well, the inaugural Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters - Official SiteHeli400 Marathon from Bega to Bondi is done and dusted. Nine days, 400 kilometres, 34 legs and a heap of interesting anecdotes! And we should raise $10,000! Congratulations to an amazing group of people - very proud to work with you all! Here's the team arriving at Bondi by fatbikes and skis!
Day 8:
BTB Day 8 Lemo at Cronulla (Wanda)
Hi Folks, here's Lemo paddling today with shock horror, a bit of blue! Tomorrow we kick off from Cronulla around 6.30am (exact point depends on conditions in the morning) across to Malabar, Matt will be back on the bike, with everyone heading to Malabar for the final run into Bondi at 10.30am. Fingers crossed for a weather reprieve and a safe run home....Come on Team Heli400!
BTB Day 8 Matt is on the fat bike into Stanwell Park, raining and chilly but he loves it!
Mike is paddling in Wollongong, keeping up our distance committment folks. We wont be in the ocean for obvious reasons today. Lemo is hitting the water at Bundeena. Keeping it safe but real!! Nearly there folks! Get down to Bondi around 12.30 tomorrow and celebrate in the rain with us!!
Day 7:
BTB Day 7 Cold, Wet, Tough Conditions
Leg 1 Kiama to Windang on the Fat Bikes.
Good Morning Everyone, we're heading into the heavy conditions forecast north to Sydney. For safety reasons Matt jumped on the fat bike today at Kiama Harbour heading to Windang. We were greeted by Kiama Westpac Branch Manager Matt Cooney, thanks for the support Westpac! We will reassess at Windang for next paddle leg to Shellharbour, Honeycomb Rock into North Wollongong. The safety of our crew is priority one. That's why we have the fat bikes! Stay Tuned.
BTB Day 7 Windang to Port Kembla (Hill 60)
Seems no one had actually heard of Honeycomb Rock, but it is infact a notorious fishermans spot underneath Hill 60 at PK, it's been an educational journey! We had a real presence in the water today - Lemo, Craig, John & Matt paddled into Hill 60.
BTB Day 7 DONE AND DUSTED!
Well done Team Heli 400 in Wollongong. Now the run home!
Thanks to Lemo, Craig, John, Sammi and Matt for putting in another great effort!
Day 6:
BTB Day 6 - Gerroa to Kiama
The Magnificent 4 going hard to Kiama Harbour.
Matt, Wade, Lemo and John. Wade has completed 84km's in 2 days - and has now passed the next legs officially on to the SYDNEY CREW! Stay tuned for more action tomorrow as we kick off Day 7 from Kiama around 6.30am to Kiama Downs, then on to Windang, Honeycomb and finally North Wollongong!
BTB Day 6, Gerroa, Kiama
Hi Everyone, cold day out there, but again we've been relatively lucky with the sea conditions. Wade continued on today and was joined by the Sydney crew contingent of John Molnar, Tony Le Marseny & Matt O'Brien finishing at Kiama Harbour. Big thanks to Matt Scott who hands the Jet Ski reins back to Steve Leahy.
Another fantastic effort by all. Hot showers the order of the day!
Day 5:
The Heli400 Bega to Bondi team departs Sussex Inlet today for their next leg - stay tuned for updates! Westpac Lifesaver Helo CEO Stephen Leahy tweeted that Day 5 saw the paddlers going from Sussex Inlet to Currarong doing the big 42km stretch across Jarvis Bay. Wade Coster was doing the big stretch. That's committment - good luck guys!
Day 4:
BTB Day 4 Leg 3 - Mollymook to Conjola
Tandems up for this leg with the SS Captain Smallhorn on board with Ken Bellett. Air Crewman John Costin backed up with them in a single kayak and they were outstanding! Well done boys!
On Day 4, Jet Ski Safety Operators Steve & Matt, and joined the team to paddle out of Mollymook, as did pilot Chris Smallhorn paddling!
From Twitter: At Lake Tabourie, paddlers about 20 mins away, kicking back with this view! @Westpac @StanGorton @Lifesaverhelo
Day 3:
The boys are heading into Bawley Point around 1.30pm , perfect day from Maloneys Beach to Durras. Skis and fat bikes getting a work out!
CEO Stephen Leahy reported: "TheWestpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters - Official Site #BegatoBondi Ski Challenge is well underway with Day 3 kicking off from Batemans Bay with Harley Dengate starting today's relay at 6.30 am - and 4 degrees!! We've seen some big seas, lots of marine life and some interesting paddling skills. Five more days to go. Latest updates are at www.facebook.com/lifesaverhelo
"Day 3’s weather and ocean forecast was predicting strong winds by mid-morning and swells up to 4 metres offshore.
"So the first paddler, South Coast Rescue Crew Officer Harley Dengate started early at 6.30 am to take advantage of the calmer conditions. Leaving Malua Bay, Harley paddled into Batemans Bay then over to Maloney’s Beach.
"A team of three Rob Wildman, John Costin and Mike O’Brien - decided to continue paddling up the Clyde River, covering another 11 kilometres before returning to the Coachhouse Resort late morning.
"The Coachhouse have been very generous hosts over our four days on this part of the Challenge.
"To make sure we achieve the northern part of the today’s planned leg, another group of Westpac Life Saver helicopter pilots and crew jumped onto the fat bikes and headed up along the coast to Bawley Point, staying off the chopping seas for the rest of the day."
Day 2:
Worsening weather condiions on Sunday had the paddlers off the water for their leg from Tuross Head to Moruya. As a back-up, the guys take to a the "fat bike" mountain bike on the beach when the weather rules out the kayaks. "Day 2 BTB in Congo, conditions worsening, Euan now on the Fat Bike to Moruya." was the tweet from the group.
Day 1:
The start of the epic, marathon ski paddle saw the paddlers and support crew gather on Horseshoe Bay beach after the Bermagui Anzac dawn service.
Conditions were perfect with a flat ocean and no swell, a marked difference to earlier in the week when the East Coast Low storm slammed into the NSW coast.
The first two paddlers to take to the water were Matt O’Brien and Euan McKenzie who paddled off into the distance toward Tilba Beach around 12km to the north where the first change over would take place.
Shepherding the sea kayaks was Westpac Life Saver CEO Stephen Leahy on the jetski.
The paddlers are expected to get to Tuross Head by around 2pm and are basing themselves in Batemans Bay for the next few days.
The 370km marathon to Bondi is expected to take nine days with 10 paddlers, all Westac Life Saver chopper pilots and crewmen from the Sydney and Moruya bases, take turns in legs of 10 to 20 kilometres.
Stephen Leahy longest and most challenging section should be across Jervis Bay, with some on-water changes expected on that 42km leg.
BACKGROUND STORY:
THE wet weather and big surf hitting Sydney isn’t deterring the Westpac Life Saver helicopter crew who kick off their nine day marathon ski paddle – Heli400 Bega to Bondi – this weekend.
The East Coast Low has whipped up seas in the Sydney and Illawarra region but the weather system is gradually weakening.
Ten pilots and crew for Sydney’s and South Coast’s helicopter bases will start a 370 kilometre ski paddle this Saturday morning. The crew will paddle from Bermagui in a relay format finishing at Bondi Beach nine days later.
On their way up the coast, the crews will stop overnight in local communities and a number of fundraising events are being planned.
“We’ve been watching the weather systems for that last few days obviously, because our rescue teams are on standby to assist with flood rescue efforts around the state,” said Westpac Life Saver Helicopter CEO, Stephen Leahy.
“We are anticipating that the system will move south but will weaken.”
“Nevertheless, the safety of our staff is paramount and we have a number of contingency options to ensure that the paddlers can complete the course safely,” said Mr Leahy.
Both helicopter bases are monitoring weather patterns and speaking with other emergency services in order to accurately predict ocean conditions over the next week.
“If the ocean conditions are such that it is dangerous to have the paddlers in the ocean, we will be able to cover the same distance using inland courses. We have a number of contingency plans in place to ensure we cover the distance safely”
A rescue jet ski will escort the paddlers the whole time they are on the water. The jet ski and each paddler will have tracking and GPS devices that can be monitored remotely. A radio communications network has been activated through the surf lifesaving State Operations Centre.
The fundraising ski paddle will not affect the rescue operations of the helicopter service.
“Our crews have trained hard for this event over the last few months but we are committed to ensuring that our rescue helicopter operations are not affected by Heli400,” Mr Leahy said.
“Should the extensive flooding continue into next week and our helicopters are required to be relocated elsewhere in the state to assist with flood rescue, this is our priority and we will reschedule the paddle if we have.”
Heli400 Bega to Bondi kicks off at Bermagui beach this Saturday morning, immediately after the ANZAC Day dawn service.
To support our crews in their fundraising efforts go to www.begatobondi.com.au
All funds raised go to replacing engines on Lifesaver 3 – the South Coast’s Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.