Across the Bay to Conquer Cancer 2014 - 11 January

THE MIRACLE OF 11TH JAN 2014 - Cesar Portas

Event Photos - http://atholhill.smugmug.com/Sports/Across-the-Bay-for-Cancer-2014

10am the majority of the group left from PMYC in a big convoy intending to attract awareness along the way.
It was a great feeling, it was the Day! However,the winds were very light to be able to run the show.

By 12:30pm the big groups (FULL and HALF) were ready to hit the water, but the wind was still very light.

2pm was the first call, the wind was as light as it was an hr earlier. By that time, the rescue crew was getting very anxious since this was not looking so good and their radar was showing less than 10knot most of the time and we needed at least 15.

We managed to pushed it until 3pm when some wind was blowing but again far from being enough to go.

The pressure was great, we had everything we needed; riders, rescue crew, bbq in PM and a number of spectators waiting for the show to start???but the winds was not showing up.

The final call was at 3:30pm. If not wind by then, we have to postpone???In my desperation, I got a ride to 500mts off the shore to check the conditions and these were not so great but better than the shore. It was time to pull the pin.

We called an emergency meeting and the outcome was: LETS TRY!!! knowing that the wind was bearly strong to lift the kites in the air. We persuaded the boats giving us another 15 minutes.

Everyone, "firemen" style got ready and set to go in record time. Kites were in the water in less than 10 minutes and we can see that some of them could fly, we can see also that now the trees are moving more and the water is not as still anymore. We managed to get going and gradually start traveling NE towards Melbourne.

We were able to hear from the VHF radios how things were progressing and a look back made me realise that the sky was rapidly getting filled with the colours of the kites.

We had to move fast to get into the better wind pockets and wait for the rear group to get closer, that happened at Safety Beach. By that point a group of 15 kites were moving together and a big bunch was getting closer.

We kept moving along and the silhouette of the buildings in Melbourne became noticeable in the horizon and the whitecaps were surrounding us finally. It was safe to wait for the rear group to catch up. By then we can see a big line of kites followed by an spectacular rescue crew who kept everyone on track.

We could see that we were closer to"safe land" Ricketts point, were the shore was very close and the group of the HALF crossing will join us.

By that stage, the riders were smiling each other, moving as a pack, raising hands and screaming of happiness since we didn't think that it was going to happen that day. It was my time to look up the sky and say thank you.

Finally, our beautiful Spirit of Tasmania became very close. We can see the spectators at the beach and one by one we started to land to our final destination???

Lots of emotions were shown, starting from fatigue, happiness, pride and the thought of those who we did it for.

None of this would have happened without the spirit of the riders, the AMAZING rescue team, our sponsors, the help of our volunteers and of course the spectators.

Most important of all, an special recognition our families, that for months didn't have their husbands/wives/dads/moms etc. Without their support an patiences we wouldn't be telling the story of how Across the Bay was blessed with a summer MIRACLE.

Thank you Port Philip Bay.

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Great effort under trying conditions - well done all.

Sorry I couldn't be there (due to injury). Grrrr....

Great photos Saffer.