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Re: Inquiring minds……
Dean Bumstead
08/15/10 #9026
OK - I'll give you my version. Feeling adventurist, I opted to go with Mike G. on his boat along with Veronica, Julie, and Devon. First thing in the morning I get a call from Mike, my truck battery is dead, can you give me a jump? Oh yeah, I forgot about the “ Gregory Factor ”. After loading all the boats that I had understood were to be already loaded, and then waiting for a guy at the boat launch that couldn't get his boat on the trailer straight, we were finally off about an hour behind schedule. Julie and I shared piloting duties, and the trip was uneventful other than me doing acrobatics trying to pee off the stern of a rocking 25mph speed boat. We got there in 45 -50 minutes and were informed that the race start had been moved up to 10:30. Well there was some mad scrambling as we threw the boats overboard and they delayed the start for another 15 minutes till we were ready.
Most of us went counter clockwise with the exception of Shane B. and a rower. They were slow getting to the NW point before turning into wasp passage but then they really rode the current. The other way, Adrian and Rainer took it out first with Debbie and Morris glued to their stern another double shell, a couple of singles, Ludovit in his fenn elite then myself. The entrance to wasp passage had a huge rip and the rest of it was like paddling up river until it widened. I caught Ludo in wasp passage and he got on my side wake and proceeded to tell me the entire history and times of the Hungarian Sprint Team, and the fact that he had never race a distance this long, but at 500 meters he could beat anybody. Well, you can imagine the thoughts going through my head - the most prominent - how do I get rid of this guy? As we shot way out in the San Juan channel it got just a little bumpy for a short section and I was able to catch a few waves and surf away from him as well as a double rowing shell that we had been reeling in. I stayed way out in the channel then cut in at last moment, which I think was a good move, caught another rower while surfing small rollers into the finish and ended up third overall. Debbie and Morris nipped Adrian and Rainer who were frantically looking for the finish line for first place. I believe it was a single rower behind me, then either Ludo or a double shell, John Day was the next ski, followed by “Sore Butt” Mike G., then Michael Dee ……
Mike drove on the return trip home, and all I can say is that he drives like he paddles his ski - need I say more.
Thanks for the adventure Mike!
Dean
My Version….
Shane Baker
08/15/10 #9028
Man, what a long day! Up at 3 am, leave home at 3:50, catch ferry from Anacortes at 7:20. Spend time on Shaw and doing the race, waiting in line for the ferry to leave Shaw almost 3 hours behind schedule, home at 11 pm. Bill Jaquette, a fella in a lapstrake wherry and myself went clockwise around. It was the correct choice, results will prove it as I managed to have a faster time than Dave Halpren by 5 minutes or so. I was all alone with Bill out ahead of me spotting the severe sections of current. I hugged the rocky shoreline inside the kelp beds in most of places and maintained contact with Bill until we turned into Wasp Passage.
There were a lot of loose eel grass blades everywhere. I stopped and backed off them a few times. It was hot, probably 90 degrees. I elected to place my PFD under my deck bungies instead of wearing it. As I passed the ferry terminals at Orcas and Shaw, a Sheriff Safety and Enforcement boat passed me at high speed going in the other direction. I was concerned about the two ferries backing out into my space. A loud shout from behind got my attention. It was the Sheriff asking me if I had a PFD. I answered that of course I did, and that it was on my rear deck. He asked if it was am inflatable, I answered yes. He insisted that I put it on as they are not legal unless worn. News to me. I might have a short fuse but starring at that 50 mm caliber machine gun (Homeland Security probably provided the craft) I was obedient. My racing frame of mind was disrupted.
They left and I resumed racing, my focus shot. Two minutes down the tube? It was fun to watch all the ccw racers go by and try to figure out if I was ahead or behind them on time. From the Shaw Island ferry dock to the finish I didn't get the push from the current that I expected with an ebb tide. Dave's outrigger canoe club based on San Juan Island provided post-race soup and goodies.We sat in line at the ferry dock for hours telling lies about past race experiences. I enjoyed watching Morris and Debbie's children playing with paper airplanes and trying to outdo each other. There are signs posted at the Shaw Ferry landing stating no beach access to kayaks. Apparently some locals pooled some money and bought the piece of land adjacent to the ferry dock to stop human powered watercraft from putting in there. Next week the Bainbridge Marathon. Who is up to it?
Shane.
