The Snow Row is an exciting race in many aspects. First of all, the weather is almost always very cold and very windy. There even was a tiny snow squall that went through just before I pulled into the parking lot. How exciting is that? This race marks the beginning of the race season, so everyone is a bit unsettled not sure how their off season training has helped them, or how stable they will be in their boats after not much seat time over the winter.  So this race is a wild card with many variables.

Most of the Gang

 

Start (Photo Jennifer)

 

Francisco at Finish (Photo Jennifer)

 

Mike McDonough

 

Post Race

 

Sean Milano

 

Stellars

 

Chris Chappell

 

Tom Kerr, Mark, Chris

 

Along with pre-race jitters, the actual start of the race builds the excitement/tension.  It is always too quick with barely enough time to paddle up to the start line and going off with the rowing shells takes a lot of effort not to have an oar planted on your deck.  We are  the last class to go off, so the water is churned up to the max by ferries, barges, whaling boats, dories, 4 person shells, etc, that went off minutes before we did. After our start  we  ran the gauntlet through all these massive boats as we steadily pass them while trying to steer clear of them and jockey for a good line. This can be exhilarating, dangerous, fun, skillful, EXCITING,  you pick it.  Then you are trying to negotiate the first turn around Sheep Island. Sean Brennan, the overall winner, got a whole lot of advice from me and others in what pitfalls to avoid. We all know Sean to be not only a superb paddler, but a quick study, so he heeded our advice and avoided the rocks rounding Sheep Island.  Mike McDonough, myself, Mark Ceconi, Tim Dwyer, ended up running aground.  Mike and Tim suffered no rudder damage, while Mark suffered some rudder abrasion and damage.  My rudder jammed against the hull and I paddled from this point on with limited steering capacity.  What were we thinking?

Normally in past races the skis could take the turn very close. Today happened to be an extremely low tide due to the near full moon.  So a few of us took our lumps around Sheep Island heading toward the 2nd turning structure.  With limited steering, I veered into Mike and pushed him into a 4 man rowing vessel.  I apologized both on the water and afterwards to Mike. Just a few minutes back before the rocks, I had 3 boats lengths on Greg Lesher, and afterwards Mike and Greg were 20 seconds ahead of me.  I closed the gap within a few minutes then Greg opened up a lead while Mike and I were taking different lines back to the finish.  About the same place on the course as three years ago, Tom Kerr slowly reeled Mike and myself in while Greg maintained about a 15 second lead over us.  Greg nipped Tom at the line for second place. So places 2-6, we all finished within 45 seconds of each other.  Sean was 5 minutes ahead of us waiting on everyone to come in.  I was surprised to see Sean at the race since NJ is quite along way from Hull, but similar to last year’s Sakonnet River Race, Sean said he had relatives in the area so he drove up with his family, dropped them off, and looked fresh and happy after a 29 minute race.  So the Snow Row delivers again: Excitement for all!!  Next  year we are going to advocate that we start first to avoid all the chaos. While the skis have been the overall winners with Sean this year, and myself last year, it is their race so we will see what happens.

 

Sean Brennan Winner

 

Surfin Dave Grainger

 

Chris Sherwood

 

 http://www.lifesavingmuseum.org/_fileCabinet/Snow_Row_2012_RESULTS.pdf

 

2012 SNOW ROW Surfskis
RACE RESULTS

1. Surfski – Single Sean Brennan Epic 0:29:54, Overall Winner of Race

2. Surfski – Single Greg Lesher Huki SIR 0:34:28

3. Surfski – Single Tom Kerr Epic V10 0:34:30

4. Surfski – Single Wesley Echols Stellar SES 0:34:44

5. Surfski – Single Mike McDonough Huki S1X 0:34:51

6.Surfski – Single Francisco Urena Stellar SE 0:35:08

7. Surfski – Single Timothy Dwyer Epic V12 0:36:24

8. Surfski – Single Ceconi Huki SIR 0:36:42

9. Surfski – Single Dave Grainger Mako 6 0:38:00

10. Surfski – Single Chris Chappell Stellar SE 0:38:50

11. Surfski – Single Ed Duggan Epic V8 0:38:52

12. Surfski – Single Sean Milano Mako XT 0:39:16

13. Surfski – Single Bob Capellini Huki S1X 0:40:08

14. Surfski – Single Chris Sherwood Stellar SR 0:44:22

15. Surfski – Double Timmy Shields & Rob Flannagan 0:36:11

There was an excellent turnout of skis for the race with 15 skis, so I am very excited that we will have more skis at the races than last year.  Afterwards most of us enjoyed a burger at the Paragon and talked about he upcoming race season with the next race being the Narrow River Race, a 12 mile flat water in Narragansett, RI.  It was great see everyone.  See  most everyone in a few weeks.