Our annual regatta is almost here! Paddlers from up and down the coast, as well as interstate, are joining us at Memorial Park on March 9-10 for two days of great racing.

The race to Peanut Island is on Saturday afternoon followed by dinner at The Crown Hotel at 5pm. Sunday sees the noise and colour of the boats as they compete in a series of 200m races.

View this spectacle from the tiered seating as the paddlers dig their paddles deep in the water and the drummers and sweeps encourage their crews to put in more as they approach the finish line.

Food, drinks, coffee and ice-cream will be on hand.

We’d like to thank all the local businesses who provided prizes for our raffle which will be drawn on Sunday afternoon. Thanks also to our major sponsors; Clarence Valley Council, the Crown Hotel and Grafton Toyota.

This week we give a big cheer to Desley who passed her practical and written tests and is now a Level 1 Sweep. Robert, who was testing her, gave her the thumbs up after she negotiated some difficult manoeuvres on the water, including reversing the boat so it sat alongside the wharf. Desley will be sweeping for the first time in competition in our upcoming regatta and we wish her all the best.

Debbie Scattergood