The Port Stephens Outrigger Canoe Club (PSOCC) faces a major setback after a crucial piece of equipment was stolen from their Shoal Bay compound, leaving their fleet of competition canoes stranded and their racing season in jeopardy.
Custom-Built Trailer Targeted in Night-Time Theft
Club members discovered the specialised trailer missing last week. Head coach and world champion Tony Compton reported the trailer was present after a training session on Saturday but was gone by Tuesday. He believes thieves struck at night, dragging the secured trailer from its spot. "They have probably come in at night and taken it away," Mr Compton said.
The custom-built trailer, valued at $14,000, was constructed just two years ago. It is a substantial 7.5 metres long and uniquely designed to transport the club's four 13-metre, six-person outrigger canoes, along with their outriggers and rigging, to regattas across New South Wales and Australia.
Season in Jeopardy Despite Insurance
While the trailer was insured, the theft deals a crushing blow to the club's immediate plans. Mr Compton explained that replacing the custom unit could take at least six months, effectively wiping out their competitive season. "We probably won't be able to get another one made for at least six months which takes us out from the whole season," he stated.
The club's next scheduled competition, hosted by the Newcastle Outrigger Canoe Club, is just weeks away. Without their own transport, PSOCC paddlers will be forced to rely on borrowed equipment from other clubs, depriving them of the familiar canoes they train in every weekend.
A Pattern of Theft at the Shoal Bay Compound
This incident is not the first time the club has been targeted. In a previous theft, a storage container filled with lifejackets and equipment was dug up and stolen from its concrete footing. A propeller was also taken from a safety zodiac used during training and regattas.
Mr Compton noted the stolen trailer had limited use beyond transporting the specialised sporting equipment. "It doesn't have much other use," he said, suggesting the thieves may have taken it to cut up for scrap metal. He confirmed the trailer was secured with a robust lock that couldn't be simply cut with bolt croppers, indicating significant effort was made to steal it.
The club, which hosts significant events and has held state and national titles attracting hundreds of paddlers to Port Stephens, is now appealing for information. The theft has been reported to NSW Police, who are investigating. The thieves left behind only the trailer's oversize signage and drag marks in the sand at the Shoal Bay compound.
