Kia Orana & Welcome to the Nepean OCC web site where you will be able to find information you need to help find your way through "The Club"
How we started? Who we are & who to contact? What we do? Where we are? Where & when we train? How to get involved?
In the Beginning... (through the eyes of the President)
Nepean Outrigger Canoe Club's (The Club) creation came about way back in December 2011 with a discussion between the club's major sponsor (QC Comminucations) Director Peter Colley and the (now) Nepean OCC President Bob Bob to secure funding to purchase a canoe & trailer so that a few selected paddlers in the Nepean region could train together with the ambition to compete in the Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association's (AOCRA) Ocean Series for the 2012/2013 season. After a few beverages, the negotiations started and a deal was struck and it was now time to find the paddlers. Having paddled Outrigger Canoes & Dragon Boats over the years I managed to enlist 8 promising and experienced paddlers willing to embark on this journey with me. A meeting was held at the Peach Tree Inn in Penrith where First Eight met and the question was put forward,
"Do you guys want to paddle outriggers this coming season?"
With speculation in the air and the main question being "How are we going to do it?" I told them that I have secured funding for the venture and with your help & willingness we can make this work. It wasn't long after the room was filled with excitement and the search was on for us to find our canoe & trailer.
With many Outrigger Canoe Clubs looking at updating their current fleet, we decided there and then to look up the Ausoutrigger Forum to see what was available. We then posted on the Ausoutrigger Forum "New Club looking for an OC6". The responce was immediate and a plan was put into place of how we would commence negotiations for our new aquisitions. A month later we confirmed the purchase of 2 canoes & an OC6 trailer from Mackay (Malanuka OCC) & Currumbin (Outrigger Australia) Queensland.
How do we get the canoes & trailer from Queensland to Penrith (1,741 km, 21 hours 19 mins)?
Recently I meet with a young fella who told me that he was from Mackay. I asked if he knew of anyone that would be heading south and wouldn't mind towing a trailer with a canoe and then stop off at Currumbin and pick up another canoe... Fortunately luck happened to be on our side and the trailers and canoes were dropped off at Newcastle we they were picked up and taken to Penrith.
The Club is now in full swing with a permanent spot at the Nepean Rowing Club & training is 3 days a week (until it gets cold) The Club is growing extensively with new people trying out the sport & getting hooked.
The Future for this new venture is looking very solid & exciting. I am looking forward to our first official club race... See You On The Water!!!