Being new to Sea kayaks, I've just learned of a great annual race called "The Hawkesbury Classic". It's a canoe and kayak marathon starting at Windsor in New South Wales, Australia, and covers 111km (a bit under 70 miles), it's an over-nite paddle, taking place on the weekend closest to the full-moon in october. Starting at about four in the afternoon and finishing sometime early next morning, the average time taken is about 15 hours. Sounds cool huh? (might not sound so cool 3/4 of the way through tho). I don't have the figures for last year, but the year before they had 530 paddlers and raised $70 000 for medical research.

This year I'm thinking of entering with my guillemot stitch and glue, which I still havn't finished, just to see what it's like, and then build another boat for next years race.

My Question is: Can anyone recommend a fast stripper, it's got to be a single (cause I'm the only paddler I know), 19 feet or under because it won't fit in my workshop if it's any bigger. I also have to get it on the roof of my car. I was also going to say it has to look nice, but show me a stripper that doesn't. Oh, and it's not a freshwater river, it's more a calm tidal estuary.

Most of the kayaks I've seen around here seem to have rudders, I'm not sure if it's because of local conditions or because people are more inclined to buy one that has a rudder. I'm not too keen on the idea of a rudder myself.

Thanks in advance. Paul