Not to let Rhode Island one-up the great Garden State in the first official weekend of summer, New Jersey hosted the 2021 Destanick Fountain’s “Around the Cape” on Sunday, June 25th. Formerly known as the Cape to Cape Race – before COVID put a stop to the two-state logistical challenge – this race circumnavigates Cape Island, which most notably includes the City of Cape May. At a bit over 24km, this race is just long enough to hurt you but not quite long enough to fall into the “suffer-fest” category (I’m looking at you, Blackburn). This race is well run and has a great purpose: raise money for the Desatnick Foundation, a non-profit that directly helps folks with spinal cord injuries. The post-race party also has beer and bacon-wrapped scallops but more on that later. Please look them up and donate if you are able as they are good people doing good work www.desatnickfoundation.org).
As race day approached, the weather conditions were forecast to be a bit on the sporty side (a bit of a Bull-ride, one could say); 10-15kt south wind with gusts to 20kt coupled with a 3-foot southeast swell were projected for the day. The winds proved to be a bit lighter on race morning and the projected patchy fog didn’t materialize, so we got off on time. The pre-race signups were seamless, which is impressive with the myriad craft (paddleboards, SUPS, rowboats, skis, and OCs) and people everywhere. We received our timing chip and our GPS tracker which allows spectators to real-time track where their favorite racer is on the course. My wife let me know this feature was particularly nice as a spectator as she was able to time her arrival in some great viewing spots by using the location app.
The race is well supported with a lot of motor craft to ensure a safe race. The surf ski and outrigger start spotted the lifeguard boats about ten minutes. The various paddleboard divisions were behind us by about a minute. While the safety crew wasn’t needed while we blasted past the Coast Guard Training Center and exited the Harbor they earned their keep as we reached the end of the inlet. I was the first ski to the inlet mouth and was boxed in a bit at the turn by two lifeguard boats (picture a 17’ 500lb boat with two beefy rowers and limited maneuverability) and had to make the turn a bit earlier than planned. This resulted in me hitting the rips at the end of the rocks and getting totally swamped. By swamped, I mean boat stopped, submerged, and me in chest-deep water (still sitting in my boat) with no sight of the entire front of the ski. Like a cork, the V14 was not to be held down and popped up with me still (somehow) upright. At that point, I was out of the danger zone and headed downbeach. As I learned after the race, Rob Jehn, along with a seeming majority of the OC paddlers, had the opportunity to practice their rough-water remounts in this area. For future reference and for those who want to take a less aggressive line, one of the safety jet skis let me know at the post-race party that a wider turn at the end of the rock (going out to sea another 50-75 yards) would have avoided a lot of this drama. Good to know for the future.
2021 Around The Cape Race from Bob Mina on Vimeo.
The next 10km in the ocean was a push against a front quartering wind, a side rear quartering swell, and a slight push from the tide as we raced along the beach and headed toward New Jersey’s southern tip. Challenging conditions but the rebounding waves off the beach and jetties provided some fun. After passing the lighthouse the next 4km were the downwind and “downhill” as the current really accelerated the pace. I was able to surf past the lead lifeguard boats right before the concrete ship (S.S. Atlantus, look it up as it is totally worth the Wikipedia rabbit hole) and take the run to the canal inlet. From the end of the rocks, there was an against-the-current ~6km slog to the finish. Other than dodging the random sea mammal and playing limbo with a fisherman’s line (I’m not going into that current!), the paddle in the canal was uneventful. The upside to the canal was the pop-up cheering sections of race supporters that lined up at little beaches and outcroppings. Much more fun than most of the races that are less spectator-friendly. The only downside I really heard about the canal was a few folks getting chewed on by the greenheads. If you have not met a Jersey greenhead you should count yourself lucky. They are big, tenacious, and pretty tough. When the wind is wrong, they will swarm and inflict painful and infuriating injury on places you just can’t reach (I can imagine that the same may be said of the Jersey Paddling crew). I learned the hard way that the best way to keep them from snacking on you is to spray your kit (particularly your back) with repellant prior to the race(Deep Woods Off is my go-to spray).
Upon exiting the canal, it was about 750m across the harbor to the finish. Very manageable and definitely not a 3 km against the wind, against the current, uphill in the snow, barefoot paddle that we all have experienced in other races (still looking at you, Blackburn). In a few minutes under 2 hours, I came in first followed by Rob Jehn and Pete Elbert. Pete is a young lifeguard from Long Island who paddled a spec ski around the island; very impressive. I don’t think we have heard the last of him. John Costello took home the trophy in the Master’s Division in another impressive showing.
While the race and the conditions proved to be ideal for a surf ski race, the after-party is really the highlight of the day. As Cape May hosts the East Coast’s third-largest commercial fishing fleet, the seafood was not to be denied. The buffet of bacon-wrapped scallops, shrimp cocktail, ribs, wings, and some other things that were good for you but didn’t get onto my plate coupled with the beer truck (two free craft beers for every racer) was excellent as always. The bacon-wrapped scallops are a staple of this race and are worth the entry by themselves. The race organizer Chad does a great job of showing where the funds raised for the foundation go to help those in need along with congratulating the racers for their performances.
Overall, I would recommend putting this race on your shortlist for next year.
https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/89489
Race Video from an OC-1 (some colorful language so be warned)https://vimeo.com/569224607
Pictures from the Race:Click HERE to view Gallery by Adam Tormollan.
Click HERE to view Gallery by Gregg Strauss.
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