Surfski Knowledge Base

(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.