Surfski Knowledge Base

Gabe's Caribbean Misadventures
gabe newton
04/27/12 #12366

[Guadeloupe Race Report]

They are a bit race crazy down there, I found myself competing in 4 races in 6 days! Friday was a warm-up sprint TT, Saturday was a 16km D-Category World Series Race, Sunday was the 26km main A-Category World Series Race, and Wednesday was a 35km partially downwind race.

I followed the whatcom paddler protocol and stopped midway through Saturday's World Series Race to help a local paddler regain his gear. Luckily they gave me back my lost time and ended up 9th. The course was designed to be downwind, but the wind was really light, and the heat was something to be reckoned with. We're talking paddling in the cauldron hot.

Sunday was looking better as we headed out, but the wind died, we took the swell on beam and it was another hot pepper grind. My rudder cable gave out early in the race, so I had to turn around and fix the boat on the beach before trying to salvage the big race. 14th was my resting place. It does blow regularly down there, and did after both big races, but they seem intent on holding the races in the morning!

Wednesday offered some solace, as we finally got some downwind conditions for a third of the race, and without Dawid to put on the pressure, the Aussie's were taking it easy and I was able to keep up with them for most of the race. Cory Hill got me by a minute, Bill Bain got me by 20 seconds and I beat the Belgian Sprinter/Marathoner named Vincent on the run up the beach for 3rd!

You say there's another race Sunday? Ye-haw!

Gabe