NOC the Rock 2023

This week has been a very busy time here on Norfolk Island with the 2023 NOC the Rock Wa’a Outriggers competitions, which have been held from 15 to 20 January.

On Sunday I attended the blessing and welcome ceremony which was very special with blessings in Tahitian, Norfolk, and English languages. The beautiful music with the local Papahaia drummers playing their traditional beats and the Bauntii Byuutii dancers were dressed lovely, and I am I sure all of the visitors enjoyed watching their beautiful dances.

Each of the Wa'a outriggers are named after the Tahitian mothers and during the ceremony they were given blessings with outriggers team steerers and Norfolk Island elders laying of wreaths as respect to our Tahitian foremothers.

The first day of races was on Monday 16 January, the V6 team races “Around the Island”, the outriggers were launched at Kingston Pier. Starting at Kingston, the races headed south towards Ball Bay and then up the coast past Cascade Pier, rounding Anson Bay and back to Kingston. The morning races were the Men and Women teams, and afternoon were the Mixed teams.

Tuesday was a well-deserved rest day, for the paddlers and they were back on the water the next day. The Wednesday races launched at Cascade Pier and races paddled up towards Captain Cook lookout, a stunning coastal area with small islands along the shoreline.

On Wednesday evening was a Party theme night, “dress for a beach party”, a fun social evening was held at the Norfolk Island Leagues Club. Thursday was the next rest day, a chance to relax and enjoy beautiful Norfolk Island.

Friday morning the final day of races, the Kingston Sprints were held in the Kingston lagoon, a great place to watch the racing and skills of these athletes, including Ada Nebauer, from Norfolk Island, last year, she was a winner of a Silver medal paddling at the 2023 London World Championships.

Thanks to the paddlers and their supporters, over 100 paddlers and their supporters have attended the 2023 NOC the Rock with V6, teams, and V1 singles.

Thank you for the many helpers, volunteers, competitors, community groups assisting with food and refreshments. Thank you to those who organised the NOC, moving the outrigger boats, the sponsors and the long list of volunteers and committee members that made the week possible.

Here are some of my images, but local photographer Jolene Oliver has taken hundreds of beautiful images which have been posted on the Facebook pages.

Norfolk Island Wa'a Outrigger Club:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/128105963914344

The full details will be published by the Norfolk Island outriggers, but during the week I enjoyed attending the opening and blessing, watching the races, and chatting to the competitors and supporters.

Betty Matthews

January 2023