Welcome to Coral Sea Outrigger Canoe Club! Established in 1995, the Coral Sea Outrigger Canoe Club Inc. is a vibrant and passionate sports club located in Townsville, Australia. Originally based at Magnetic Island, the Club relocated to the prime location on the beautifully redeveloped Strand in 1998.
Our canoes are located on the beach near the Rockpool end of the Strand, offering easy access to the stunning Coral Sea.
The sport of outrigger canoe racing holds deep roots in Polynesian traditions and culture. Our canoes, known as va'a, feature a slender hull connected to an ama for balance and lift through two wooden spars called iako. Outrigger canoes have been traversing the Pacific Ocean for over 4000 years, with the earliest models originating around 2000 BC as ancient Polynesians settled the remote islands of the Pacific Rim.
Since its inception, Coral Sea Outrigger Canoe Club has achieved numerous successes in the sport. In 2019, our ladies' team secured the OC6 women's championship for the North Queensland zone. We take great pride in our accomplishments and are always looking to welcome new paddlers to join us in experiencing this exhilarating sport.
Our club comprises a diverse and inclusive community of paddlers, ranging from Juniors to Golden Masters, hailing from various corners of the world. With members from Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Hawaii, France, Asia, Europe, and continental Africa, we truly embrace a global perspective. We engage in both social paddling in Townsville and regular competitions in the AOCRA NQ Zone Regatta series, which spans from Port Douglas to Gladstone. Additionally, we have sent teams to national and overseas races, including the prestigious Hamilton Island Cup, Savaii Crossing, Takapuna, Norfolk Ocean Challenge, and Vaka Eiva in the Cook Islands.
Our club committee, consisting of dedicated individuals, guides the operations and development of Coral Sea Outrigger Canoe Club.
At Coral Sea Outrigger Canoe Club, the safety, and enjoyment of our members are of utmost importance. We have established various policies and documents that all paddlers must familiarise themselves with to ensure adherence to our Club's goals, expected behaviour, and personal responsibility.
These documents can be downloaded from the AOCRA website, accessed through our members-only Facebook page, or obtained by contacting the Secretary.
If you're interested in joining Coral Sea Outrigger Canoe Club, whether as an experienced paddler or someone new to the sport, we encourage you to reach out to us through our website, Facebook page, or Instagram. We would be delighted to provide you with all the information necessary to come down for a paddle and experience the incredible world of outrigger canoe racing.
Come and discover the thrill of paddling on the pristine waters of the Coral Sea with Coral Sea Outrigger Canoe Club!