Today we had a beautiful but flat day once again for the Nahant Race.  The course was changed this year to make it slightly longer and to use ocean buoys and rocks as the turn markers.  Today was the exact opposite of last week’s Double Beaver Race with super flat conditions.  Some of the paddlers prefer the flat conditions, namely Eric McNett who struggled last week, was on his game this week.  Eric came in 1st place by 30 seconds over Joe Glickman while Joe dominated last weeks race in true ocean conditions. Eric won for the 2nd time the Stellar sponsored $100.00 as part of the SurfskiRacing.com Race Series.

Link for Pics:   https://picasaweb.google.com/111670948231605580163/Nahant2011#slideshow/5640458782784765378

Kate, Francisco and Mike

Fransisco Urena, who missed last week’s Double Beaver to do a race in Canada, came in ahead of Tim Dwyer and myself by a few seconds to place 3rd.  Francisco will be even faster in the weeks to come after I gave him some boat set up tips.  Francisco and I paddled almost together for the whole race.  I drafted off him for the 1st few miles after we dropped the 3rd pack of guys at mile 3.  Joe and Eric were well ahead of us from the half mile mark on.  Just before the 1st turn buoy at mile 4.5, I got a boat length or 2 on Francisco and held this lead to just after Egg Rock.  I then jumped on his wash again until the final turn at mile 8.  Tim Dwyer, who took a better line than Francisco and I,  steadily closed the gap on us by upping the tempo as well.   Meanwhile Eric took a far left line while Joe took a far right line to the turn rock.  Just after this turn Francisco was a few boat lenghts ahead of Tim and I.   Tim pulled up beside me and said Iam going to close the gap on Fransisco.  So Tim dropped me, since I had nothing in the tank left, and Tim closed to within a length of Francisco at the finish. Race director, Mike McDonough came in a few minutes off the pace and ran a great race with help from Kate, his daughter and wife Carol.  Kate drew and designed Mike was the perfect host taking us out to view the new course before the race which was very helpful along with Bill K.’s instructions for me.

Bill K, Mike Chamness at the finish

Next RACE!!!!!!!!  EAST COAST SURFSKI CHAMPIONSHIPS.   Word on the street has it that not only Reid Hyle will be racing, but Rob Mirlenbrink, another fast paddler from Florida and predicted top finisher, and maybe Ed Joy from Hawaii.  The winner could get as much as $1000.00 donated by Stellar Surfskis and Kayaks and from The Kayak Centre in Wickford, RI.   I took a show of hands at today’s race of who is attending the ECSC and almost everyone will be there!!  Don’t be stuck at home wishing you were here.  Make the trip to Newport!!!!