Rough seas, hypothermia, dehydration, and sea sickness are just a few of the challenges Bonnie Hancock has faced as she nears the halfway point in her attempt to be the youngest, and hopefully the fastest, person to paddle a surf ski around Australia.
The Gold Coast ironwoman set out from Mermaid Beach on December 19 heading south, and is attempting to complete the more than 10,000-kilometre journey around Australia, excluding Tasmania, in just six months.
To do that she will be paddling an average of 10 hours per day. But it is not just about breaking the record.
Her team is also raising money for mental health charity Gotcha4Life, a cause that Hancock said was a huge motivator during the tougher days.
"When I was out there I realised that this project is about so much more than the record. This is bigger than me," Hancock said.
"When you're raising money for a cause that's so, so important. It's a very big source of motivation.
Shortcut took a bight out of time
It has not been all smooth sailing for Hancock and her team who have faced several unforeseen challenges, particularly in the past two weeks.
To cut time, the crew crossed directly across the Great Australian Bight rather than follow the coastline.
With the current record set at 10-and-a-half months, by crossing the bight Bonnie saved 1,000 kilometres — the equivalent of two to three weeks.
"From the start we've always said that the Great Australian Bight would be the toughest part of this journey," she said.
But the decision meant facing nearly two weeks of two-to-five-metre swells and brought nausea and sea sickness to both Hancock and her crew.
"Sea sickness is not something I anticipated too much to be a problem, [but] it's been one of the biggest influences on my energy and paddling ability," she said.
"I ended up very, very malnourished and dehydrated and had to go to hospital."
After taking two days off in Albany to rest, Hancock and her team have set off north towards Perth, eager to reach warmer seas.
"I tell you something — I'm really looking forward to a bit of a warmer climate," she said.
"There was an evening, close to midnight, and I fell in the water and had a bit of trouble getting back on my surf ski and was near hypothermic (sic) getting back on the boat.
"So moving up towards Perth, and up towards Broome certainly, the weather is going to get warmer."
