It is about 9.30am and team pontoon has just finished setting up on the slab of concrete we are to call home for the rest of the day. It is warm and sunny with just a few clouds hanging about, I sit back in my fold out chair, pick up my bottle of water and think; “this day is going to be a breeze despite being stranded with Magoo (3 hours of sleep) and Brad (too much sleep)”.

The team in high spirits before we get down to work

About an hour before, Lachie kindly agreed to head up marshalling with his expert but hungover team of Gav and Aron, and hopefully, a few sloth friends. Gav and Lachie were perfectly equipped with their ‘Don’t mess with us’ hats, and stares that none of the rest of us could achieve. As we got on the boat to head to the Isle of Concrete (Pontoon) it was the last we were to see of the boys throughout the day, but we continued to experience the amazing job they did as the boats flowed up to meet us at the start line and we could hear Lachie’s voice over the radio, guiding the rest of us volunteers through everything from marshalling announcements to race scratchings.

Even when Aron and Mark switched places, marshalling never skipped a beat. This was all done without the assistance of boat loaders or additional boats to speed things up. Thanks guys, I could not have been more proud, you had a tough job and you kept it going.

Happy and awake nearly	Tough life on the Isle of Concrete

Back out at Isle of Concrete, we made friends with the Start Tower, lined up the ‘fingers’ and watched the first boats head up to meet us. After a few races, we pronounced ourselves experts and looked for something else to keep us going; unfortunately the only entertainment hanging around was the walkie talkie. A few more races later, a few too many rude comments between the Start Tower, Finish Tower and Pontoon, and Jason decided he could not stand it and he swam for the mainland. After he came back, without the sausage rolls but with a carefully stored race draw, Magoo felt inspired to take in the water as well, although he had additional ‘requirements’.

From then on everyone on the Pontoon team periodically cooled off in the SIRC water. The boys had thought of wearing boardies unlike Sian and I, but us independent girls managed anyway. A few more races later and Sian decided she needed a break too, unfortunately after she went MIA (as she was getting the sausage rolls) we were one down for the next race so Slothies lent us a friend, and although he only came for 5 minutes, he seemed glad to go.

Life on the Isle of Concrete

As lunch turned into the afternoon, a few things happened, we lost Mark to marshalling, and I lost my beloved Ray Bans to the watery floor. After staring into the water for 15 mins praying/begging to anyone who might listen, my angel came in the form of a tall, blond Water Safety boy who dove into the drink to save them. Thanks Waterboy I will never forget you!

The afternoon wore on and the radio talk got worse, Sian and I received some very improper offers from the Finish and Start towers and the commentators had turned to impersonations to keep the crowd going. The real people keeping the whole thing moving though was Marshalling, and after Lachie and Gav had to do a runner late in the afternoon, Mark got through the finals with only 2 others (remember: no boat loaders). 

It was finally nearing the end of the day, with only a couple of races to go we began to think; ‘we made it, everybody is alive and nothing is lost’, until news came from Lane 6 that Jason’s deck chair had gone over in the breeze, sending his phone into the water. Sorry Jas, we would have given it a wake with Brad’s beer but I had already given it to the Waterboy to say Thanks. It was a sleepy, weary team that climbed back into the boat and kissed the Isle of Concrete goodbye, until next year, when, according to Brad and Magoo we will be set up like Kings. Thanks to Jason, Mark and Sian for staying back to help pack up.

Finally and again, I cannot say how much I appreciate the following guys coming out to help, quoting Mel (DBNSW President) “ACCA was very generous to give up a day of paddling to help out”. Thanks for supporting ACCA and myself.

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