Geraldton on Daphne the duck alert

We have it on good authority – a source associated with The West’s Inside Cover no less – that a giant inflatable ducky called Daphne could be headed our way. As told by Inside Cover today, the inflatable was last seen about 5am on Sunday, swimming out to sea at a fair rate of knots. It was supposed to be the main attraction at Sunday’s annual Coogee Jetty to Jetty Swim. But, while organisers were moving her from the surf club to the beach, a strong easterly picked up and Daphne’s handler couldn’t maintain his grip, allowing her to blow into the ocean. The wind was so strong, in fact, that no one could stop Daphne before she drifted away, fast becoming a yellow speck on the horizon. Event co-ordinator Nick Wyatt hopes a search and rescue campaign may result in Daphne’s return. “We are hoping someone may have found her,” Wyatt told Inside Cover. A reward of complimentary entry passes to next year’s swim and some event merchandise are on offer to the person who brings Daphne home. But University of WA professor of coastal oceanography Charitha Pattiaratchi says don’t hold our breath for a happy ending. “Even assuming a low rate of drift, it would have passed Rottnest in a couple of hours,” Professor Pattiaratchi told Inside Cover. “As we have prevailing southerlies, it will end up somewhere north, but where is anyone’s guess — could be as north as Geraldton.”