===== A to B 2006... ===== (Was this the original iteration that was organized by Morris Arthur in part because the San Juan Challenge was canceled for 2006?) **Team Paddle Challenge: Anacortes-Bellingham\\ Morris Arthur** \\ 06/08/06 #1391 What:\\ Brad Clements and I challenge you to a one-way competitive paddle from Anacortes to Bellingham. The Twist:\\ Competition will be among *teams* of 2 or more paddlers. Logistics:\\ -We meet at Fairhaven Boatworks at 8 am.\\ -We put as many boats onto as few vehicles as possible and drive to\\ Washington Park on Fidalgo Island, overlooking Rosario Strait (or we\\ recruit shuttle bunnies to take us)\\ -We start in the water at 10:00 am and race to the yellow mooring line\\ in Fairhaven Harbor. (ooops, did I say "race" ? :)\\ -No ribbons, no T-shirts, just glory (and maybe a beer from me)\\ -We recover vehicles at Washington Park (if necessary) Rules:\\ -Choose any route, ride any wave.\\ -Teams are made up of 2 or more paddlers using similar paddle-craft.\\ -Finishing time is determined by the last team member to cross the\\ finish line.\\ -Each team should stay within a few boat lengths of each other (safety\\ and efficiency)\\ -Each team should have a VHF. If your team can't save you from the\\ Cypress Head rip, other paddlers will assist you. To do well:\\ -Choose team members of similar paddling ability\\ -Work well together (your team should hopefully be faster than any one\\ team member paddling alone)\\ -Choose the best route (waves, currents, and tidal rips are often\\ significant in Roasario Strait and Bellingham Channel)\\ -Go fast :) When:\\ Errr, that's the part I haven't figured out yet.\\ Sunday July 1 or Tuesday July 4 -- but the currents aren't very\\ interesting...\\ Saturday July 22 -- but conflicts with Sound Rowers' Elk River Race\\ Sunday July 23 -- there's a good flood current in the afternoon\\ Saturday July 29 (in memory of the San Juan Challenge)? -- there's a\\ good flood current in the late afternoon. We could also do an afternoon race, and then have a post-race\\ party/dinner in Fairhaven (Stanello's?) Tell me if you're interested and we'll set a date. Morris **Morris Arthur** \\ 06/08/06 #1392 \\ Another date possibility: Saturday June 24th in the afternoon would be a good time, too.... **mike Gregory** \\ 06/08/06 #1394 \\ Hmmm, sounds interesting. Mike \\ **"The Channel Challenge" Anacortes-Bellingham: July 29\\ Morris Arthur** \\ 06/29/06 #1476 The Channel Challenge will happen Saturday July 29, 2006. Here's the plan: \\ We meet at Fairhaven Boatworks at 3:00pm for the drive to Washington Park. \\ We launch from Washington Park around 4:30 pm and head up Bellingham Channel--with the current and hopefully a Southwesterly.\\ The team finishing first gets free dinner and drinks at Stanello's in Fairhaven. :) The distance is about 18 miles... but you'll be moving faster than Greg Barton at the Olympics... (OK, maybe.) Get your team together and plot a route... or plan on chasing the boats\\ in front of you! Morris **Brad Clements** \\ 06/29/06 #1477 \\ OH YES! Looking forward to it! Brad **Dale McKinnon** \\ 06/29/06 #1480 Morris-Once again, where is the finish line?\\ \\ **Morris Arthur** \\ 06/29/06 #1482 \\ Hmmm, good question.\\ I'll try to come up with some landmarks that make a line in front of Marine Park, perpendicular to a straight line from Eliza to Marine\\ Park. (I had originally planned something in Fairhaven Harbor, but we don't want folks cutting the corner at the end of Fairhaven Shipyard's dry\\ dock...) Morris **Dale McKinnon** \\ 06/29/06 #1485 Suggestion: A line between #2 buoy and the large elm (cottonwood?) at Marine Park.