Saturday April 12, 2025
Koa, the TP52 owned by Andy Kearnan and co-skippered by he and Mark Griffith, has taken line honours in the 2025 Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Yacht Race that started off Barrenjoey Headland on Friday at 1pm.
Koa finished the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s annual east coast classic at 11.10.21.46pm this evening, in the time of 1 day, 10hrs 21mins 46secs. It was well outside the record time set by Peter Harburg’s super maxi, Black Jack, of 17hrs 10mins 31secs in 2022, but Koa’s crew sailed an exemplary race.
Line honours to Koa. Photo: Alex Dare/ Pittwater Coffs.
Koa also currently holds top spot for overall honours and will be hard to beat. Behind her, six yachts are battling for a podium finish, the order changing throughout the race so far. Shortly after midnight, Richard Hudson’s modified Farr 45, Pretty Woman, had assumed second place overall, overtaking Geoff Hill’s Santa Cruz 72, Antipodes, from Hong Kong.
Anarchy (Grant Pocklington), Sticky (Richard Harris), last year’s line honours victor, XS Moment (Ray Hudson) and Khaleesi (Sandy Farquharson) are also in the picture with the first two-handed entry, Verite, sitting eighth overall.
Full reports by Di Pearson HERE
Newport SLSC excelled again this year, finishing the championships ranked 2nd on 249 points, with their Newport Kinghorn Academy Surf Racing Academy accounting for a swathe of those - although all local clubs had members winning points for their club in each Age Division or ensuring their club's colours were front and centre on the sand or in the water.
The peninsula also saw a large crew of officials heading north to ensure the championships could take place, happily giving their time, energy, and a fair amount of money, to be where they could support the events.
On a special note during the week of Aussies, Newport's Life Member Gary Cook received a recognition award for his 30 years of service as an official which is an outstanding contribution to his club and lifesaving as a whole.
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Gary Cook at Newport SLSC's 2025 Pool to Peak swims. Photo: A J Guesdon
2025 Surfboat Officials. Photo: Malcolm Trees
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2025 Surfboat Officials - ABSLSC's Melinda Akehurst in the centre. Photo: Malcolm Trees
Three great peninsula March Past teams made the Finals with the Collaroy Ladies being awarded the Gold, the Freshwater Maroon in 5th and the Collaroy Bears in 8th.
The Collaroy Ladies Team have been judged the best of all the March Past teams at Branch, State and Nationals over several years, with the Collaroy Bears also always among the best of the best. These two teams are excellent exponents of the traditional event that dates back to the pioneering days of Surf Life Saving. Ladies March Past was first held in 1946 and Collaroy competed and won the first NSW Ladies March Past Championship in 1947. In those days the team comprised a total of 20 marchers.
The Collaroy Ladies weren't the club's only Gold on the sand with Kerry Armstrong winning the 70-74 Female 1km Beach Run and Miho Kawasaki winning the 60-64 Female 1km Beach Run.
Some of the biggest smiles came from more than 30 athletes hitting the beach for the Adaptive Program events on Day Eight of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
With most competitors tackling all events – beach runs, beach sprints, flags, swim, board and wading – the competition was fierce in front of a loud and energetic crowd at North Kirra.
In its second year of operation, the Adaptive Program at Aussies aims to give people of all abilities the opportunity to experience the exhilarating thrill of surf sports, whilst growing participation and competition opportunities nationwide.
John Baker AM ESM, President of Surf Life Saving Australia said, “This shows that Surf Life Saving is for everyone. We pride ourselves and our Surf Clubs on being really open and it doesn’t matter where you come from, what your ability is, what your background, everyone is welcome at a Surf Club, and everyone can find a meaningful place and rewarding experience.
“This is a great example of what we want to be as a movement which is open to all Australians.
“We are seeing growth in numbers from last year and we would like to grow those numbers further. Our aim is to make this a showcase every year and be an example to other sports on what they can do with inclusivity and adaptive programs.
“There is a huge amount of interest from those here at the Australian Surf Life Saving Champs and the support has been great to see.” Mr. Baker said
Gold, Silver, Bronze, points and 'having a go' is still brimming over across all ages - it's a good thing everyone has an Autumn School Holidays break to wind down in.
Profile of the Week The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships 2025: Finals Results + 'Wrap' This year's Australian Surf Life Saving Championships 'wrap' of members efforts from the Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches Branch is a compilation of Surf Lifesaving Australia, Surf Life Saving New South Wales, Avalon Beach and Newport surf club reports.
Newport SLSC excelled again this year, finishing the championships ranked 2nd on 249 points, with their Newport Kinghorn Academy Surf Racing Academy accounting for a swathe of those - although all local clubs had members winning points for their club in each Age Division or ensuring their club's colours were front and centre on the sand or in the water.
The peninsula also saw a large crew of officials heading north to ensure the championships could take place, happily giving their time, energy, and a fair amount of money, to be where they could support the events.
On a special note during the week of Aussies, Newport's Life Member Gary Cook received a recognition award for his 30 years of service as an official which is an outstanding contribution to his club and lifesaving as a whole.
Three great peninsula March Past teams made the Finals with the Collaroy Ladies being awarded the Gold, the Freshwater Maroon in 5th and the Collaroy Bears in 8th.
Some of the biggest smiles came from more than 30 athletes hitting the beach for the Adaptive Program events on Day Eight of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Gold, Silver, Bronze, points and 'having a go' is still brimming over across all ages - it's a good thing everyone has an Autumn School Holidays break to wind down in.
This Issue the full list of Finalists across all Age Divisions and Events.
Inbox News Pride and preservation: The Imperial Hotel listed on the NSW State Heritage Register, New free TAFE courses to deliver Australia’s manufacturing workforce, Do I need another COVID booster? Which one should I choose? Can I get it with my flu shot?, Reform clock is ticking – the big policy challenges the next government must urgently address, 3.5 million Australians experienced fraud last year; This could be avoided through 6 simple steps, New research shows digital technology is linked to reduced wellbeing in young kids. So what can parents do?, Selling your old laptop or phone? You might be handing over your data too, Albanese and Dutton both say they will return the Port of Darwin to Australian hands, Without women Australia’s defence force will struggle to recruit enough people, ‘Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber’: nutrition experts on the viral TikTok trend, MyMedicare promises better health care; But only 1 in 10 patients has signed up, From flowers to stalking: how ‘nice guy’ narratives can lead to male entitlement and violence against women, American liberators of Nazi camps got ‘a lifelong vaccine against extremism’ − their wartime experiences are a warning for today
Pictures McCarrs Creek Public Jetty, Brown's Bay Public Jetty, Rostrevor Reserve, Cargo Wharf, Church Point Public Wharf: Site Investigations for Pittwater Public Wharves History series 2024-25
Community News Autumn School Holidays - Easter Break, Public Meeting: Hear the Candidates Speak, Meet + Greet 2025, Little things, Avalon Quilters 'The Sum of Us' Raffle Quilt for Mito Foundation, Narrabeen Lakes Sailing Club Last Sail for the Season, Wedding Island, Have your say on the NSW Freshwater Fish Stocking Plan, Island Café: Catherine Park, ACMA welcomes commercial radio code of practice consultation, Pittwater Vessel Thefts: Appeal for Information, Showbags given green light for 2025 Royal Easter Show, Marine Rescue Broken Bay News, Partnership Expands Drone Operations Out of Sight, Classics, Hot Rod and Bikes Show 2025, Expert youth crime panel announced for Applied Research in Crime and Justice Conference, Monika's Doggie Rescue Pets of the Week: Hera + Doris, Consultation on Bus Stop Relocation: Barrenjoey Road Palm Beach, 2025 Environmental Art & Design Prize Entries Now open, Proposed Road Reserve Closure - Council Land Sale Avalon Beach, Renewing the water main in Old Barrenjoey Road: Update, ANZAC Day 2025 Commemoration Services, Nominate a Volunteer Today: 2025 Awards, New Wyong Safe Haven offers mental health support, National worker registration scheme feedback, Pittwater Offshore News, Pittwater Organisations, Sports, Social, Environment, Residents Associations and Groups
Environment Noisy Friarbirds Spotted in Local treed suburbs for the first time, Good boy or bad dog? Our 1 billion pet dogs do real environmental damage; NSW Pet Laws (dog and cat regulations) go under the microscope - Have your say until May 4, Kudos to Council workers: Blue Groper Rescued from Rockpool, Aussie Bird Count 2024 Results, Pittwater Natural Heritage Association - Autumn 2025 Newsletter, Have your say on the NSW Freshwater Fish Stocking Plan, Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 Recycling Batteries: at Mona Vale + Avalon Beach, ‘1080 pest management’, Reporting Dogs Offleash - Dog Attacks to Council, Plastic Bread Ties For Wheelchairs, Volunteers for Barrenjoey Lighthouse Tours needed, Stay Safe From Mosquitoes, Friday essay: in an uncertain world, ‘green relief’ offers respite, healing and beauty, Coalition plan to dump fuel efficiency penalties would make Australia a global outlier, Peter Dutton’s climate policy backslide threatens Australia’s clout in the Pacific – right when we need it most, We study ‘planktivores’ – and found an amazing diversity of shapes among plankton-feeding fishes, Reality check: coral restoration won’t save the world’s reefs, Fresh details emerge on Australia’s new climate migration visa for Tuvalu residents. An expert explains, Batteries for all, not just the rich? Labor’s home battery plan must be properly targeted to be fair, 98% of Queensland prawn areas at risk of inundation by rising seas this century, Biosecurity policies can be annoying – but a century of Antarctic data shows they work, Antarctica’s hidden threat: meltwater under the ice sheet amplifies sea-level rise, New satellite data shows NZ’s major cities are sinking – meaning rising seas will affect them sooner, Earth’s oceans once turned green – and they could change again, Drug pollution in water is making salmon take more risks – new research, Wave energy’s huge potential could finally be unlocked by the power of sound – new research, Mountain Bike Incidents On Public Land, Report fox sightings, marine wildlife rescue group on the Central Coast, Watch out - shorebirds about, Possums In Your Roof?: do the right thing, Aviaries + Possum Release Sites Needed, Bushcare in Pittwater: where + when, Friends Of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Activities, Gardens and Environment Groups and Organisations in Pittwater, Ringtail Posses, Are turtles not safe in the estuary?, Pittwater Reserves: histories + Walks, Birds, +
Aquatics Risk of rip current deaths highest among young men at unpatrolled beaches: SLSA - UNSW's New Research
Children Sunday Cartoons: Paddington goes on Holidays, School Holidays film - Abner the Invisible Dog - Full Family Adventure Movie by Family Central, The sydney Royal Easter Show showbag Began as an Australian Sample Bag, Curious Kids: why is the Sun orange when white stars are the hottest? + why are there waves? + where are all the other galaxies hidden? + why do eggs have a yolk?, Stories this Issue: Jim and the Beanstalk + 'Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick' read by Zach Braff, groups, clubs and fun and more for you
Youth Happy Dance Time! Narrabeen Sports High School to receive new Performing Arts Hall as part of major upgrade, The Sydney Royal Easter Show Showbag Began as an Australian sample Bag, Out Front winner announced, Forest High School opens NSW’s first in-school op shop, Killarney Heights High gets a dose of Tahitian culture, Are you thinking about doing an SBAT?, Good Day Sunshine - A Winter's Tale (1974), Opportunities: New free TAFE courses to deliver Australia’s manufacturing workforce + Band Comp. at Palm Beach + SHAPE 2025 + Council's 2025 Environmental Art & Design Prize Entries open now + Youth Week creative arts competition: ACYP + NSW Youth Week 2025 + Youth Advisory Council + 2025 Game Changer Challenge + Learner drivers benefit as more resources become available online +School Leavers Support, Word Of The Week: Rest, Friday essay: in an uncertain world ‘green relief’ offers respite, healing and beauty, Social media before bedtime wreaks havoc on our sleep − a sleep researcher explains why screens alone aren’t the main culprit, 3.5 million Australians experienced fraud last year; This could be avoided through 6 simple steps, 47% of Gen Z mainly vote to avoid a fine; It’s a sign of younger Australians’ discontent with democracy, Do I need another COVID booster? Which one should I choose? Can I get it with my flu shot?, Tools like Apple’s photo Clean Up are yet another nail in the coffin for being able to trust our eyes, Do Inuit languages really have many words for snow? The most interesting finds from our study of 616 languages, Can we really resurrect extinct animals or are we just creating hi-tech lookalikes?, Next generation computer chips could process data at the speed of light – new research, The ‘morning shed’: a brief history of the sometimes dangerous lengths women have gone to look beautiful, Babe at 30: why this much-loved film is one of the best cinematic translations of a children’s book, Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350 at the National Gallery is a remarkable achievement, local services for you
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Park Bench Philosophers: Roderic Quinn's Poems and Prose For Manly, Beacon Hill, Dee Why and Narrabeen - some Autumn School Holidays inspiration to enjoy our great outdoors
DIY Ideas BOM's Autumn 2025 Forecast Makes this Season Great for Garden Care + What to Plant Now
The Bureau of Meteorology has released its long-range forecast for Autumn 2025 indicating coming weeks are likely to be warmer than usual across most of Australia and warmer nights are also likely in coastal areas of the mainland.
While Autumn is often a time for cooler weather to begin, this season is very likely to be warmer than average across Australia and summer heat may persist into early autumn, the BOM stated
Most of NSW (including the ACT) is likely to have rainfall in the typical range for autumn. Average Autumn rainfall in recent decades has been between 100 and 400 mm along most of eastern NSW, while western and central NSW have between 25 and 100 mm, and up to 600 mm in parts of the north coast.
Warmer than usual Autumn temperatures are very likely across the state.
This makes the coming weeks a great time to get outdoors and enjoy your own home garden - with great specials from Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 running until April 27 and in time for the Easter and Autumn School holidays break.
This Issue a few tips to help keep your garden healthy this Autumn plus what Native plants you can put in and what Winter veggies to plant now for harvesting food from your own place.
Food The Waterfront Café & General Store: Lunch at 'On The Deck'
The Waterfront Café & General Store
1860 Pittwater Rd, Church Point
Website: www.waterfrontstore.com.au
Phone: 9979 6633
Open: 7 days a week
Breakfast Menu is available from 06:30 - 11:30 daily.
The ‘On The Deck’ Menu is available for lunch and dinner service from 11:30am daily.
Please note: Slight variations on the menu may occur depending on time of year / seasons.
A fine day, the smell of the estuary and the gentle sounds of commuter boats putt-putting over the still waters inspired seafood fare - and here, after searching everywhere else in Pittwater, the Oysters Kilpatrick fan was able to get a dozen done just as he liked them. Requests elsewhere had been fruitless, but at the Waterfront Cafe they are part of the permanent menu.
Verdict - absolutely excellent - the best he has had in over a decade done the traditional way and with a little something extra that elevated this traditional dish above the splash of Worcestershire and bacon usually applied.
Events Election Events, Band Comp. at Palm Beach, Talk Forums, Concerts, Music, Markets, Social Groups, + lots more.
