Bonnie Hancock to paddle around Australia in six months and break record

For six months, Bonnie Hancock will paddle clockwise around Australia, doing up to 100km a day to break a previous record set in 2009.

Paddling around the coast of Australia, Bonnie Hancock will be completely at ease.

Nary a shark fin nor a yellow, slitted crocodile eye could deter the former Iron Woman from achieving her most challenging feat yet.

At 8am, December 19, Ms Hancock will climb into her ocean ski off the Gold Coast’s Mermaid Beach and head south.

For six months, she will paddle clockwise around Australia, breaking a previous record set by German woman Freya Hoffmeister, who completed the feat anticlockwise in 11 months in 2009.

“It’s been in the works for two-and-a-half years now,” Ms Hancock said.

“I read Freya Hoffmeister’s book, Fearless … and was incredibly inspired.

“I thought, ‘could I do it, but do it a bit quicker?’.”

With a team of nine, land support, a 40-foot catamaran and a jet ski, Ms Hancock will be provided with safety during her mammoth adventure.

But on every other day, she knows she must push through, no matter how fatigued, drained or fed up - it will push her to her limits.

If successful, Ms Hancock will not only be the fastest person to complete a paddle around Australia, but also the youngest.

“I’ll be paddling around 80-100km a day,” she said.

“It’s more than I’ve ever paddled in a day and it’s certainly more than I paddle in a week training.

“It will be a big load on the body, particularly on my shoulders, and it will take a lot mentally and physically to do it.”

While bracing unfriendly critters in the water may leave most squirming, Ms Hancock has been practising “desensitisation” towards marine life so she can keep a clear head when she encounters them.

With the help of her partner and Mackay export Matt Palmer, a strength and conditioning coach, she has been working on building her strength in the gym, and through swimming, running and paddling.

“Matt has been a huge part of my training and in guiding me. He’s responsible for a lot of success I’ve had on the surf ski with the strength component,” she said.

“He’s all about pre-hab - strengthening the body to limit the risk of injury and making parts of the body that might have been weak strong so I can handle the big strain.

“Having my support boat there will be crucial. I’ll have access to shade, food and water, and I can come aboard if needed.

“If there are days I physically can’t paddle, I’ll think about a day off, but ideally the rest days will be planned around the weather.

“I’ll have to go against everything in my body that normally tells me to rest and push through when the weather is good and I have a tail wind.”

To stay entertained through the 10-hour stretches, Ms Hancock will listen to podcasts and music on her waterproof Speaqua.

Mackay’s NQ Car and Truck Rentals is supporting Ms Hancock with a donated jet ski.

“I’m really thankful. It will play a big part in keeping me safe.”