Mike Tracy(3rd), Joe Glickman(1st), Wesley Echols(2nd)

We had an excellent turn out for the Double Beaver Race held in Jamestown, RI, hosted by Tim and Alyse Dwyer.  4 of the top 10 Blackburn finishers were there, including myself, Joe Glickman, Chris Chappell and Eric McNett.  The weather cooperated today so we had a mix of everything: grinding upwind/current for 5 miles,  1.5 miles of surfing, then 1.5 miles of a never ending upwind/current, and then oh yes,  3 miles of joy surfing the waves.   We finally got our ocean race this year!

The gun finally went off  and I was determined to get a fast start unlike the Blackburn where I was slow out of the gate and missed catching the train.  Today was different.  I was first out of the block with Joe right there to my right. In a half mile I asked Joe where was everyone.  I fully expected a few more to be with us.  Joe pulled ahead and I was able to get a ride for about mile before I decided to throttle it back some after looking at my heart rate.  We split the gap between House on the Rocks and headed out to Beavertail in Rhode Island Sound. Joe took a more protected  line getting out of the wind and current.  I took a more direct line looking over to my right occasionally to see how far Joe was ahead; 10 seconds.   We continued on our separate lines to the Beavertail can with Joe having about a 30 second lead.  Getting to the can and around it is 5 miles down with 8 more to go but more importantly,you could relax some going downwind now catching the best rides of the day.   I relaxed some,  but Joe thankful like all of us to get out of the super strong current and finally going downwind.   Joe opened up a 30 second lead to 2 minutes in this 1.5 miles of downwind.   At the half way mooring,  Eric McNett was in 3rd place about 2:30 minutes behind me, then there Mike Tracy or Tim behind Eric.  Tim by the way had a very good race despite having been recently diagnosed with Lyme’s 5 days ago.

The hardest part of the race with the 1.5 miles back to the can at Beavertail.  It was a totally grind.  However, once you get to the can and make that turn with all the slop it has to offer,  downwind and with the current.  Yeah!!  By this time Joe put another 2 minutes on me and I could just barely see him.  I check my HR and pace and I was doing my normal race pace for this course having done it many,many times with Tim.   I was able to maintain my speed with in the sloppy,yet runnable waves.   Mike Tracy by this time had pick his way from back of the pack to the 3rd position.   He said he still could not see me though. I took a very outside line trying to get all the course had to offer without being run over by the sailing boats and the occasional motor boat doing 40 mph.

So by the time we hit the house on the rocks,  you only have about 2 miles to go but it is a long 2 miles back to the finish.  You want to relax some but the Doublebeaver course will have none of that.  The Jamestown Harbour is choppy!!  Finally after 2:04:36, the race was over for me.  Joe came in at 1:59:55. He won the Stellar sponsored $100.00. The Beavertail course conditions are much different than the last few years of the Blackburn.  Hence it is much more difficult despite being only 13 miles vice 19 for the Blackburn.  Everyone that started finished which is great despite some capsizes, weeds, etc.

The next big race for us is the Jamestown Counter Revolution, East Coast Surfski Championships in 3 weeks, again in Jamestown,RI.  Hope to see everyone there!!!

 

Pics    https://picasaweb.google.com/Surfski14/DoubleBeaver2011

1. Joe Glickman, 1:59:55, V10

2. Wesley Echols, 2:04:36, Stellar SES Excel

3. Mike Tracy, 2:07:59, Mako Elite

4. Tim Dwyer, 2:09:53, V12

5.Eric McNett, 2:13:03, V10 Sport

6. Mike Mcdonough, 2:15:20, Huki S1X

7. Kirk Olsen, 2:17:21, mako elite

8. Mike Chamness, 2:18:37, Huki S1x special

9. Tom Kerr, 2:19:52, V12

10.Chris Chappell, 2:23:.47, Stellar SR

11. Joe Shaw, 2:35:34, V10L

12. Dave Grainger, 2:35:35, Mako 6

13. Bob Capelline, 2:35:41, Huki S1X

14. Jim Hoffman, 2:35:50, Mako Elite

15. Steve Delguadio, 2:35:51, Mako Elite

Bob Wright, OC1, 2:16:59, partial course