2024 ROTC REGISTRATION Link
2019 ROTC RACE SUMMARY-REPOSTED.
I was looking forward to the Run of the Charles, 6 mile, 2019 edition even with its changes. The start time for this year was 10 am vice 1pm for the 6 mile race and the course changed from two buoy turns to one, and went from up, down, up, the mighty Charles to a simpler up the river, turn on the buoy and return to the finish. The course was also shorten to 5.85 versus the 6.18 mile but who’s counting.
With an earlier start time, the race field was less for all classes of boats though the surfski class still drew good numbers. This race used to draw many of the fastest canoe paddlers in the Northeast but their numbers have dwindled. I don’t know too many young canoe paddlers getting into the sport. I do see new SUP and surfski paddlers both young and old. Even some kayakers are making the transition to surfskis. It takes some folks longer than others.
A few constants about the race are notable. Mark Jacobson, of Charles River Canoe and Kayak who is the Race Director, and long-time paddler does a very good job with the organization. The other constant is the weather; always in the 40’s, raw, chilly, and drizzling. We will take it. We are New Englanders after all. I do wish the Charles River Watershed Association(ROTC is a fundraising event for this worthwhile organization with its mission statement, ” Protecting, preserving and enhancing the Charles River and its watershed through science, advocacy and the law” would upgrade to a modern website where all the information is on one site and the registration site is updated too.
I was not sure I was going to make it the today’s race due to the a mild strain of the flu. However, I was feeling decent enough on race morning and decided to go. I did not want to miss the excitement of the race and seeing friends.
The ROTC 6-mile race is the second of the three flat water races many of us participate in before hitting the ocean races. This year’s race was won by perhaps the youngest paddler in the history of the six-mile race, Augustine Reboul, an Under 23 World Wildwater champion. I met Augustine a few years ago with his Dad, Pierre, at another ROTC 6-mile race. Augustine placed well in that race since we were in close proximity until mile 3 when he gave out of gas. Needless to say, he had plenty in the tank for this race. In a beater Epic V10L 1G, he shot off the start line and never looked back, putting a gap of 1:07 on top East Coast paddler, Greg Lesher. Good genes run in the family since Augustine’s father, Pierre, was ahead of me until mile 2.5 when I was able to drop him but Pierre was not far behind placing 9th and only 50 seconds behind me. Below is a video of Augustine in one of his races. So congrats to Augustine and we wish him a long paddling career. He attends college in Boston.
Behind Greg for a 3rd place finish was Rhode Islander Mike Florio, followed by Chris Chappell(Fastpaddler.com) and Doug Howard of Vermont. Chris got of to a slow start but he and Doug got warmed up after a mile and increased the gap on myself, John Costello and Pierre. Chris and Doug worked each other out for the entire race before Chris squeaked past Doug with a 2 second margin.
John drafted me for about 2 miles before dropping me and Pierre. At the 3 mile turn buoy, I thought I had enough of a gap to hold off under the weather, Rhode Islander, Tim Dwyer. With 1.5 miles to go Tim passed me and I was able to finish 9 seconds behind Tim. In the women’s race it came down to a 50 yard sprint between Leslie Chappel and Mary Beth Gangloff with Leslie pulling out the 2 second win on a fast closing Mary Beth. Thanks to Mark Jacobson and the CRWA for hosting another great race on the Charles River that winds through the great city and suburbs of Boston.
Also thanks to Mike Sachs, Phils Sachs’s son, for the incredibly detailed and crisp photos of the race. Phil is looking happy in quite a few of the photos! https://mikesachs.smugmug.com/Run-of-the-Charles-42819/n-HLRCFr/
Below are the full results of the 6 mile race. The SurfskiRacing Series points can be found on the respective tab. See everyone at Essex.
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