| Paddlers | Angela Taylor & Bridget Boulle |
| Boat | Carbonology Boost Double Surfski |
| Course | Long Course |
| Year | 2026 |
| Finish Time | 3:40:23.6 |
| Category | 80–99 Women |
| Total Distance | ~30 km |
This is Angela’s account of the same race her paddling partner Bridget Boulle describes in her own story — told from the front seat. Read Bridget’s version here.
Until Monday, the biggest swell I had ever paddled in was just over two metres in False Bay, and neither of us had ever paddled on the Atlantic side before. I had only been paddling for a little over a year and had only driven a double a handful of times. It was also my first time driving a double in truly big ocean conditions. This was going to be the furthest distance either Bridget or I had ever paddled. Naturally, we decided to paddle around Robben Island.
Actually, that part really wasn’t my idea. Bridget twisted my arm to enter the Prescient Freedom Paddle. “I’ve heard it’s a bumpy race, Bridget… it’s side, side, side, side all the way!” I warned her. In the weeks leading up to the race I went from excitement, to dread, to obsessively checking forecasts and wondering whether we had lost our minds. Then Rob’s forecast really freaked me out and I hardly slept that night.
“Where’s my beanie…?”
Then race day arrived.
The Swell Was ENORMOUS
Thankfully the wind came in lighter than forecast, but the swell… the swell was HUGE. No, it was ENORMOUS. Going out, the waves hit us from the left and more experienced paddlers than us were falling out around us.
“Bridget, we’re staying in this boat!”
We just focused on staying upright and steady. “Just find a double your speed and draft them,” people had said. But in those conditions, one minute you are behind another boat and the next minute you are on top of them, so I realised very quickly it was each man for himself. At first it felt really tricky but surprisingly manageable. We averaged around 10 km/h heading out with the wind helping us from behind (I think), but around 5 km Bridget started feeling bad, and by 10 km she groaned that she felt sick. That was also about the point where things were about to get really serious.
The Wild Side
Around the east side of the Island we linked up with the S3 women’s crew and I was really happy not to have to find the right line around the Island on our own — we knew they were from Oceana so they would know the route. We followed them toward the “wild side,” where everyone had warned us about the breakers and rebound swell after the wreck.
“Go wide,” people had said. “Very wide.” As we passed the wreck and headed around the back of the island, we saw why!
“Go wide.” I kept hearing from the back. “Go wider!”
Wider.
Wider.
The swell became absolutely massive. At moments it genuinely felt like two- or three-storey buildings were moving towards us. Later Bridget’s surfer husband checked the buoy readings, which showed sets over 5m. Suddenly our experience felt much less surreal — it really was that big! The breakers started frighteningly far offshore. Bridget kept asking me to go wider. I did. We ended up at least 100 metres wider than the S3 in places, just to stay clear of the breaking water. One minute we were high above the ocean looking down into deep valleys between swells, the next minute mountains of water were coming at us from the right. Somewhere in the middle of all of this I realised…
We can do this! I loved it. I loved the giant swell. It was terrifying and magnificent at the same time.
Around the back of the island we slowed to around 6–7 km/h. The rebound swell was chaotic and confused, but I discovered that a long slow stroke gave us the most stability. Our Carbonology Boost double felt unbelievably solid. Bridget, meanwhile, was steadily turning green…
Paddling for Two
Poor Bridget. At around 15 km she started properly vomiting. For long stretches after that I was effectively paddling us home largely on my own while she tried to survive the seasickness in the huge swell. Yet somehow she still kept timing when she could. It’s in situations like these you are thankful for a resilient paddling partner who you know you can trust to do their best.
“I don’t know what to do to help you.”
Bridget: “There’s nothing you can do.”
“All I can do is paddle and pray… I’m feeling strong, hang in there, I’ll get us home.”
Bridget: “I know you will.”
We saw seals in the swell and possibly something larger disappearing between waves too quickly to identify.
“What was THAT?”
Bridget from the back: “I don’t know!”
The Cargo Ship
Then a giant cargo ship started blasting its horn at us, adding another layer to the drama. It was loud and scary!
“Is it coming towards us?” I asked.
“I don’t know!” Bridget shouted back in a miserable voice. “This is @#$%^&* scary!”
To me it looked like the S3 ahead of us might try to pass in front of the ship.
“Are they going in front of the ship??!”
Bridget: “I DON’T KNOW!!!”
All I knew is there was absolutely NO WAY I was going in front of that ship. We turned early and went well behind it.
Wreck & Back — We Can Do This
By about 20 km Bridget had absolutely nothing left in her stomach. I had forgotten to eat or drink since about 12 km. I took a sip and said:
“Bridge, we have 8km left… that’s Wreck & Back, we can do this!”
From the back: “Wreck & Back, we can do this!”
Bridget found her mojo and by some miracle we caught up to the S3. Then it happened — my body said no. My shins were cramping, my lower back was screaming, my shoulders were burning. I’ve never felt my transverse abs cramp. I completely emptied the tank in those final kilometres. And then, finally, we crossed the line in 3:40. We ended up doing 30 km total. I have to thank everyone who gave us the biggest cheer as we came in — it was so welcome because we were…
Utterly broken. Utterly happy.
(Well, after our hot chocolate and we finally realised we survived! And thanks to the guys for putting our boat away… so grateful.)
Many paddlers DNF’d that day or remounted repeatedly, especially in singles. I would not have wanted to do that race in a single ski. I’m deeply grateful we got around safely — but more than that, I’m grateful I got to experience it!
I do remember thinking at one point, “Well… looks like I’m off the hook for Cape Point Challenge.”
Apparently not.
— Angela Taylor | 2026 Prescient Freedom Paddle | Double Surfski Long Course | 3:40:23.6 | Category: 80–99 Women | Read Bridget’s side of the story →
