Yes it's a mad,mad,mad,mad world.. 
.. and the Mad Paddle is back on March 20
Four years ago we had our first mad paddle and the plan was to raise money for the local Sandy hospital.. and we were hoping to paddle right across the bay (with plenty of escort boats) dependin on the weather on the day.. We ended up with a very light southerly so we started at Frankston and finished at Sandringham.. It was a huge success.
Two years later it was on again.. This time we got a light nor'wester and we paddled from Altona to Sandy (across the top of the bay).. and it was another huge success and we raised more money for the Sandy hospital.
Now the two years are up again and we are hoping for that beautiful Autumn weather and heaps of paddlers joining in.. More info soon.. 
This was our first Mad Paddle..
and this was our second Mad Paddle..
Awesome! Wouldn't miss it!
And I know someone who has a board for every kind of weather condition...
Select to expand quotemagillamelb said..
That's if you make the cut...
It's a charity paddle. How is there a cut? And what is the criteria?
Select to expand quoteRosscoe said..
I want to be on the USS Enterprise again!
Rosscoe apparently Capt has sold that boat...for a much, MUCH bigger one!
Organisers are getting ready for an even bigger Mad Paddle - 3rd time lucky we get to leave from the other side of the bay. As you can imagine there is a lot of work that goes behind making this happen. We are very lucky to have Sandringham Hospital and the Sandringham Yacht club helping with the setting up of the fundraising, and organising the bbq and silent auctions. We have lots of support boats to escort us from the start to finish, we have on boats medical staff (a precaution that is needed but hopefully never used). We organise a bus to get you to the start of the paddle. It's an early start as we aim to arrive back at Sandy yacht club by lunchtime.
We will be running, with the help of our POD organisers, some distant paddles, down winders etc just to make sure you feel comfortable on the water. If you have only paddled in flat water now is the time to push yourself. It will be a challenge, depending on the weather we won't know where it will start from, how long it will be, whether you will be partnered with someone else or doing it yourself - that's all up to the weather gods. We have raised approximately $60,000 for the Sandringham hospital from the last two events. To register, please go:
www.gofundraise.com.au/
Great work that some training has been arranged via SUP Vic for those less accustomed to open water and that by all accounts the training has been so enthusiastically welcomed.
Just to answer some of your questions -
Here are the Q&A that I posted on the event page:
Q: How long is the paddle?
A: Don't know until 2 days prior when we have an idea of wind
Q: Where does the event start from?
A: Don't know, depending on the wind, a westerly will have us starting from Portarlington
Q: How do we get to the start?...
A: Skybus have donated a bus or buses - we leave from Sandy Yacht Club, drivers are organised to take all our boards to the beginning
Q: Do I need a partner?
A: We will organise this and work out the most suitable board to share, and we will accommodate requests
Q: How do the teams work?
A: We have escort boats that can hold up to 5 paddlers on deck and 5 paddlers are in the water, then you transfer in the water, this could be every 30 mins
Q: How much training will I need to do?
A: Getting out on the water a couple of times a week - in rough and windy conditions will help you be ready
Q: Where are the training sessions?
A: We will be posting up on this event page training sessions - Facebook Event page - SupVic Mad Paddle 2016
Q: Is it a race?
A: No it isn't, its a lot of fun
Q: Can I just come along for the BBQ
A: Of course, more the merrier
Q: Can I donate for the silent auction
A: Absolutely, we are looking for auction items right now
Q: How much do you hope to raise for the Sandy Hospital
A: Ideally at least $30,000
HI guys,
i'd love to do the journey with you but i only have a wave paddle board.
Heard the race is done in teams of 2; is there a possibility to team up with someone and share the board? Maybe there is also a possibility to hire a board for the event?
That'd be a good challenge :)
Thanks.
I've heard there's plenty of spaces for many more paddlers.. Remember it's for a good cause..
Hope some more people jump on board so the big SkyBus and many support boats get used to the max..
very interested in getting involved. Iam looking to buy a board soon so would think its a great opportunity to try and see if this is what I would enjoy. Currently do mostly sup surf but living in Melbourne and running a business etc etc dont get away enough. So feel this could be a good filler and get out on the bay once or twice a week.
Any possibility of joining as en extra paddler or would any shops allow me to demo a board or two????
Select to expand quotemagillamelb said...
Out. Busted ankle...
Bummer...
btw.. Miss this and it will be two years before the next one..
The biennial Mad Paddle is back for 2016!
Stand up paddle boarders will join forces with SUP Vic and the Sandringham Yacht Club to raise much needed funds for Sandringham Hospital.
The Mad Paddle will see 100 paddlers set out on Port Phillip Bay for a 30km+ downwinder ending at Sandringham Yacht Club. This is the third time the Mad Paddle has been held in support of Sandringham Hospital.
The 2016 Mad Paddle fundraising target is $30,000 which will go towards the building of a new Day Procedure Centre at Sandringham Hospital. In the last two years Sandringham Hospital has seen a 50% increase in same day surgical procedures with more than 4,100 patients now having surgery each year. This significant increase has stretched our current spaces to the limit.
If you love to paddle and love a challenge register now as numbers are limited.
The 2016 Mad Paddle will culminate with a community barbeque at the Sandringham Yacht Club. Help us to build a better community hospital by joining the paddle, supporting a paddler or come down to Sandringham Yacht Club on 20 March 2016 and take part in the fundraising activities.
Sandringham Hospital needs our help to raise funds, with your support, we can help improve care for everyone in our community. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
For further information about the Mad Paddle please contact the event organisers on 0411 406 927 or
Select to expand quoteakesy said..
HI guys,
i'd love to do the journey with you but i only have a wave paddle board.
Heard the race is done in teams of 2; is there a possibility to team up with someone and share the board? Maybe there is also a possibility to hire a board for the event?
That'd be a good challenge :)
Thanks.
This is a very good point. It would make sense for most pairs to share one board. I have a 14' x 26" and unless we are going dead downwind I might be swimming a lot. But if I paired with some who owns a wider board we would have fewer boards to transport and I would swim less (and I would not have to come up the day before to load my board on the trailer - I live down Mornington Peninsula).
Select to expand quotecantSUPenough said..akesy said..
HI guys,
i'd love to do the journey with you but i only have a wave paddle board.
Heard the race is done in teams of 2; is there a possibility to team up with someone and share the board? Maybe there is also a possibility to hire a board for the event?
That'd be a good challenge :)
Thanks.
This is a very good point. It would make sense for most pairs to share one board. I have a 14' x 26" and unless we are going dead downwind I might be swimming a lot. But if I paired with some who owns a wider board we would have fewer boards to transport and I would swim less (and I would not have to come up the day before to load my board on the trailer - I live down Mornington Peninsula).
Wait till we get closer before working out what board's best.. We might get Autumn glass.. 
With regards to teams of 2, you are absolutely right. You share one board. We have 3-4 people on the boat then every 1/2 hr or so you then all swap to the water and the paddlers then jump back in the boat. It is a social morning with plenty of laughter to go around. If we end up leaving from Mornington then it makes sense for us to team you with someone here in Melbourne, use their board and you can just meet us at the beginning. Everyone needs to be wearing a PDF - this is mandatory, when swapping onto the board the leg rope must be used. Message me - Kathy Naoumidis if you would like any other information.
We currently have 10 escort boats ready to help out with the teams and the individuals. We are trying to accommodate everyone with their requests for teams, the boards they are going to share etc.
Lots of auction items are coming in - keep an eye on Supvic for all the donations.
If you are new to supping please join the crew that will come out and meet us and escort us into the Sandringham Yacht Club. Stu Thomas will be there as President of Supvic to let you know the timing - we are hoping to arrive at midday, just in time for the first sausage off the BBQ. I'm sure Mike from SHQ will lend a hand with his crew of Wednesday women who are coming out to meet us as well as some of the Brighton Sea Scouts on their large inflatable board.
