The 2015 Ride the Bull race was intense. A few years ago, I thought we should have a moderate distance race(9 miles) but make it ROUGH. The course runs along the small cliffs of Bull Point, Mackeral Cove,Short Point and into Hull Cove. The course even encompasses a tidal rip with small standing waves by the famous House on the Rocks if conditions are right which they were. We had a small group of paddlers since the SeasIt.org Downwind was scheduled on the same day. Next year it will be on a different day so everyone can enjoy both races.
Ride the Bull Pre Race
Taming the Bull
With very bumpy conditions we had a few DNF’s and a few capsizes that slowed folks down. Jim Hoffman had his best New England Race that I can remember. After warming up on his way out to Hull Cove for the second loop, he got his groove on. Greg helped his cause practicing a few remounts and providing directions to Jim along the way enabling Jim to capture the win. Make no mistake though, Jim looked in fine form pulling away from Chris, Tim, and myself off Short Point in very confused conditions on his way to track down Greg. Tim D placed third by using his home course experience and rough water skills to gain a few seconds on fourth place finisher Chris and myself(5th). Tim and I were together most of the race until Tim slipped by me paddling next to the wall at Short Point where Chris and I were 30 yards off the wall. Chris and I drew close to Tim on the second to last buoy turn before Tim put in another surge to hold us off. Chris and Tim Hudyncia had excellent races despite very limited ocean time.
Start of Race
Bruce the “Torch” admitted he needed more ocean time. Training on a pond for the ocean rarely pays off as Bruce and Greg found out. Unlike most races where you are looking to find a rythm if only for a few minutes, the Bull course offered no respite, none. You had to focus the entire time or pay the price of being bucked off, or a DNF, or a slower time than expected. Congrats to Jim showing us how to tame the bull and looking like a Champ in doing so.
