Reposted with permission from New England Surfski(NESS)

Twenty-one paddlers gathered at Island Park Beach in Rhode Island on Saturday for the 15th running of Wesley Echol’s Sakonnet Surfski Race. The 9.4-mile out-and-back course had competitors starting just off the beach, heading south 4.7 miles to a red can, and then returning to the start. With an extremely light wind from the north, conditions were extremely calm, with temperatures in the mid-60s.

Rob Jehn and Greg Lesher, who had finished 1-2 in the last couple of New England races, would face off once again. They’d be joined by Tim Dwyer, who finished 4th and 3rd in those same races. Making their first appearances of the season, Matt Drayer and John Redos would be attempting to disrupt the status quo. In the women’s competition, Leslie Chappell and Mary Beth Gangloff would be squaring off once again. Three doubles would also be competing – Bill Kuklinski & Kirk Olsen, Robin Francis & Igor Yeremeev, and Chris Sherwood & Patty White.

Although Chris Chappell had a fast start, Rob established the lead within the first few seconds of the race. Greg latched onto Rob’s port side draft from the beginning. He would remain locked there for the first half of the race. Matt and Tim got off to solid starts, passing Chris relatively early but soon falling off the pace of the two leaders. Matt pulled free from Tim and would spend the rest of the race by himself in 3rd place.

Rob pulled Greg all the way to the turn-around buoy but managed to drop him at the turn. For the next couple of miles, Greg stayed within a half-dozen lengths of the leader. After his, however, Rob pulled steadily away, finishing 35 seconds ahead for the win at 1:15:58. Matt took third at 1:21:31. and Although John kept Tim in his sights the whole race, he was never able to reel him in to claim 4th. Leslie took the women’s crown in 1:34:00. Bill & Kirk won the double’s race, just beating out John for 5th overall. Igor & Francis crossed the line as the first coed double.