The 2020 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek – an annual ocean ride for charity – has raised $312,000 to help sick and disadvantaged kids.
The week-long, 600km open-water run from Coffs Harbour in NSW to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland was held from 16 March 2020 to 21 March 2020.
Up to 90 Jet Skis and personal watercraft participated in the event, which is not a race, rather it is a test of endurance.
The riders from across Australia – split into nine teams to ease congestion on the water and at boat ramps – were supported by more than 100 road crew and organisers.
The support group went ahead of the Jet Ski convoy to meet riders at their destination and retrieve and refuel the watercraft at the end of each day.
On some long legs, the Jet Ski riders also need to refuel on the water, hence the need for large custom-made fuel racks. Most skis carried an additional 60 litres of fuel, almost doubling their watercraft’s standard tank capacity.
In a first for the event, which was held just before the coronavirus sent Australia into lockdown with harsh interstate travel restrictions – two days of ocean riding had to be cancelled due to severe weather.
The first 107km leg from Coffs Harbour to Yamba via the ocean and then inland to Grafton was called off due to high winds and massive sea swells.
With winds ranging from 25 to 35 knots, and ocean swell ranging from 2 to 4 metres, the Jet Skis were taken by road to Grafton for an inland river run.
As part of the permits for the event – given by marine safety authorities – organisers are obliged to cancel stages due to severe weather or when the wind exceeds 30 knots.
The next day, with the weather easing and riders keen to hit the open water, organisers gave the green light for the second leg, two 70km stages back-to-back, from Grafton to Iluka on the coast, and then via the ocean heading north to Ballina.
Although conditions had eased in the morning, by the afternoon the riders encountered large swells and strong winds.
The Jet Ski riders made it through the challenging conditions, however a medic on the support boat was injured as the crew navigated the difficult bar crossing into Ballina.
Once all support crew and Jet Ski riders were safely back on dry land, organisers made the decision to cancel Day Three – a 124km leg from Ballina to the Gold Coast – due to threatening weather conditions, and to ensure the safety of officials and participants.
This effectively gave the 90 riders or their road crews two lay days in the middle of the event on the picturesque Gold Coast, with many choosing to hit the water and take in the sights as the weather eased.
After two days of rest, Day Five was a 140km run from the Gold Coast to Redcliffe, via the vast Moreton Bay.
Fortunately, the winds had eased and Moreton Bay – which is a notorious crossing in bad weather – delivered a smooth run for the majority of the journey.
However, some riders got caught out by the shallow waters near the headland on the approach to the Scarborough boat ramp.
Day Six was the shortest leg of the week, a 70km ocean ride from Redcliffe to Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.
The fund-raising total of $312,000 – after costs – for the 2020 running of the Yamaha Variety Jet Trek was allocated to critical equipment for kids in need.
The 2020 event was the 22nd running of the annual charity ocean ride.
The 2019 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek raised a total of $404,708 – after costs – the highest ever recorded for the event.
By comparison, in previous years Jet Trek has raised $380,000 (in 2018) and $270,000 (in 2017).
Over two decades the Jet Ski event has raised more than $2 million – after costs – to buy computers and other special equipment that goes towards helping sick or disadvantaged kids.
Photos by Yamaha Variety Jet Trek and Watercraft Zone.