|
Saturday, December 12th at race time it was in the low 40s, 10 – 15 mph NW wind blowing in to our faces, 3+ knot current ebbing out (again, in to our faces!) and 20+ paddlers with big grins out in it and ready to go!
Jeoff Nathan and the crew at Coastal Urge, Wilmington NC, put on a well organized and very challenging race. The Dockside venue was a perfect location; a great way to kick of an inaugural event.
This was one of the safest races I have ever
competed in. There was a huge contingency of Coast Guard Auxiliary and
they seemed happy to be there, allowing us to focus on the task at
hand. Many mahalos to the “Shallow Water Sailors”!
The start was pretty much like any outrigger race I have ever been in…chaotic! Every one was holding their position as the water leaving the Harbor Island area tried to flush us out backwards to sea.
At the starters “GO!” it was every paddler for themselves, with paddles flailing in an ill attempt to gain purchase against the wind and ebbing tide.
The first half of the 4+ mile course was as much a mental workout as a heart stopper. Once we made the turn down the south facing channel, grimaces turned into smiles. The fast moving tide and wind pushed us along to the leeward side of the island and the mile or so slog to the finish line. This sounds twisted, but I had fun. The 18 foot Joe Bark missile is amazing!
There were some very fit paddlers from Florida, South Carolina and points north to VB; the issue was in doubt as to who would win, especially with the weather conditions. Right from the start I knew this was going to be a really tough paddle.
I completed the course in 42 minutes, close to outrigger speeds over the same distance, and it felt great. My lungs and body still hurt but that was amazing. Testimony to the Joe Bark design, more than my capabilities for sure.
The next paddler, Gary Wise, (Team YOLO) on his 14’ Sandwich Island Composite race sled, came in a few minutes later. Anne raced the Joe Bark 14’ production prototype, placing third in the over 14’ class and mid-pack overall…against the guys!
Hats-off to all the paddlers on the “stock” boards they paid the proverbial man without the benefit of the purpose built speed machines.
Bill “Corky” Graf had the toughest paddle, competing in the largest division, the 12’6” “Stock Board” class, he paddled his ass off and sprinted it out against a determined group at the end of the 4 miles, only to finish second by seconds! Don’t feel bad for him though; he scored a new Pata-Gucci, wool-lined R3 or R4 wetsuit for his efforts! (1st place, Mike Owens from Charleston South Caca-lacky, won a Surftech/Laird SUP board!)
Speaking of “Hats-off”; I will say that I had a secret weapon. I wore a hat given to me by a friend that is forward deployed, defending our freedoms, and the mana from all of these brave guys pushes me. Because of this alone, it wasn’t a fair contest and that’s how they like it.
We WILL be paddling through out the winter to keep our sanity (loose definition of) with the goal of cranking up an SUP training races in Feb – Mar depending on what Mother Nature offers up with the weather. Come by E Komo Mai and try out these two beautiful boards from Joe.
Aloha,
Bill “Dukey” Gassett
 |
Event Reports 
