Sport

Full steam ahead for big race

By Bransen Gibson

Oct 6, 2022

All aboard: (From left) Sweat vs Steam committee member Luke Barlow, Lachie Barlow, Harry Barlow, Hendrika Kirchhofer and *PS Adelaide* skipper Michael Snell aboard the vessel that will take part in the big race. Photo by Bransen Gibson

Race day for Sweat vs Steam 2022 is just around the corner, and it is not just the runners who are getting ready for the big event.

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The crew of the PS Adelaide are also working hard to make sure the vessel will be in ship-shape condition for the race on Sunday, with preparations well under way.

Michael Snell will be the skipper of the PS Adelaide for the race and he said the boat and the crew would be ready to go at full steam.

“It is always close, there are always a few that beat the boat, but we usually beat a lot of the other runners,” Snell said.

But it has been a couple of years, so we will see what happens.

“Usually when we do our cruises it is more of a leisurely pace, but she will be working harder than normal on Sunday.

“I reckon they will get a run for their money when the Adelaide is going downstream, we might leave them for dead.

“But it is when she has to turn around and go back up against the current that the runners might have a bit more of an advantage.

“We’ll ensure the engineer has plenty of steam up, we might have to rev the engines up extra hard on the way back,” he said.

The paddle-steamer will put up a tough challenge for the runners, with Snell estimating the PS Adelaide could hit speeds of 15-20 km/h with the current, and 10-12 km/h going back up river.

Snell, Jarrod Beer and Dan Gillingham will make up the three-person crew on the day, with Beer the engineer and Gillingham the deckhand.

Just like the runners, the PS Adelaide’s crew will be practising and warming up to make sure they are ready for the big race.

“She will be going out and doing cruises on Saturday to make sure everything is working,” Snell said.

“Because she doesn’t run all the time, it is good to make sure everything is working correctly and fine tune everything.

“The day before she runs we have to put a warming fire in the boiler to warm the engines.

“We’ll make sure we have plenty of firewood on the boat and make sure she is looking her best as well, we’ll give her a big wash down.

“On the actual day, the engineer will get in there about 5am on Sunday morning to fill up the boiler so we are ready to go for the race.”

The PS Adelaide is an icon of the paddle-steamer world, with a rich history.

Built in Echuca by George Linklater back in 1866, it is the oldest working wooden-hulled paddle-steamer in the world, according to the Echuca Historical Society.

After spending two decades on land, it took to the water once again in 1985 after being recommissioned by Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

Snell said it would be great to have a boat with so much history taking part in the race.

“The Adelaide is always the most iconic boat to use for Sweat vs Steam, due to her significance of being the oldest timber hulled paddle steamer in the world,” he said.

“She only really goes out for special occasions these days, so it is good that she will be out there on Sunday, it will be a sight to see.

“It should be a pretty spectacular day on both the river and the racecourse. And as long as everyone is having a good time, that’s all you can really ask for.”