Jade Wilson claimed the 2026 South African Ocean Racing Championship women’s title when she won the Pete Marlin Surfski Race from Yellow Sands, finishing at Orient Beach in East London on Saturday, 31 October 2026.
Wilson, who learned her paddling in the waters of the Eastern Cape, dedicated an emotional victory to her aunt, who passed away on the morning of the race. Nix Birkett, another former Eastern Cape paddler, took second place, with Spain-based Chloe Bunnett completing the podium in third.
Wilson crossed the line in 1:46:50, one minute and 39 seconds ahead of Birkett, with Bunnett home in 1:49:06.
The result capped a remarkable week for Wilson, who won a bronze medal at the World Marathon Championships in Argentina less than a week before the race. Despite the victory and the national title, her thoughts were with her family.
“I am pretty sad because my mum’s sister passed away this morning,” said Wilson, who won the race in 2024. “Cancer is a really terrible thing and there are a lot of people out there that are fighting cancer every single day … I dedicated this paddle to her today.”
Wilson turned to happier thoughts as she described a demanding race into the wind.
“That was the really tough race.”
2026 South African Ocean Racing Champion, Jade Wilson
“The wind was against us and the runs offered very little assistance because they were going into the shore,” said Wilson. “We got one or two runs out there but it was pretty technical and tricky and you had to work quite hard to catch some of the runs, so it wasn’t an easy race at all.
“I didn’t see the other girls besides Nix on my inside, I think we both took quite a shallow line and were always within about a kay of the shore, but I just tried to go point-to-point. Maybe it was a bit too shallow, but it still paid off.”
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Saskia Hockly of Dolphin Coast Paddlers finished fourth in 1:53:04, with Peninsula Canoe Club paddlers Holly Shirley Smith and Angie Austin fifth and sixth.
The championship continues on Sunday, 1 November 2026 with the S2 doubles race, which the expected weather conditions will send in the opposite direction, from Orient Beach to Yellow Sands.
Pete Marlin Surfski Race Women’s S1 Results at Orient Beach in East London on Saturday, 31 October 2026
1. Jade Wilson (Peninsula Canoe Club) 1:46:50
2. Nix Birkett (St Francis Paddling Club) 1:48:29
3. Chloe Bunnett (International) 1:49:06
4. Saskia Hockly (Dolphin Coast Paddlers) 1:53:04
5. Holly Shirley Smith (Peninsula Canoe Club) 1:57:10
6. Angie Austin (Peninsula Canoe Club) 1:58:29
7. Mikaila Brown (Kingfisher Canoe Club) 2:00:56
8. Kirstin Scott (Blue Water Canoe Club) 2:01:20
9. Mila Watson (Strand Surf Lifesaving Club) 2:04:04
10. Kerry Louw (Blue Water Canoe Club) 2:06:37
Original Copy: Tim Whitfield for Gameplan Media, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Jade Wilson claimed the 2026 South African Ocean Racing Championship women’s title with victory in the Pete Marlin Surfski Race, finishing ahead of Nix Birkett and Chloe Bunnett on a demanding, wind-affected course from Yellow Sands to Orient Beach in East London on Saturday, 31 October 2026. All Photos: Craig Giese / Gameplan Media
Photo 2 Caption: Wilson, pictured with Nix Birkett (left) and Chloe Bunnett (right), dedicated her Pete Marlin victory and national title to her late aunt.
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