2015 Blackburn Challenge, A Race to Remember with Video

At the Captains Meeting Rich K., the Race Director, went down the line asking the 300 plus paddlers: ” Who is here for the first time?” hands raised and cheering ensued. ” Who has done this 5 times”, 10 times, 15, 20, 28 times. I raised my hand on 15. I lost count. Yesterday made for my 13th time, 2 in racing kayaks, and 11 in surfskis. Dana Gaines has 24 times including yesterday in a racing kayak double with Tucker. So a big round of applause for everyone including the Cape Anne Rowing Club who puts on this race and the Essex River Race. They had a busy day yesterday with many DNF’s, so our hats off to them. This race is a massive coordination of town permits, insurance, safety, etc. and is done on a volunteer basis.

Start of Blackburn

Racers in different classes, towed the line of the 2015 Blackburn Challenge with instructions shouted from the race directors, “4 foot seas at mouth of Annisquam”. At this point of race course, 3 miles of flat water on Annisquam, you have another 16.5 miles to go in true ocean conditions. That is a long race. Forecast called for a steady 13-15 mph gusting to 17 with 2-3 foot seas. Many racers had underestimated the conditions and their skill level for such a race. I had planned on racing a double surfski if conditions were 12 mph or less. So at registration, I changed to my new Stellar SR as my back up, due to conditions and the fact, I just raced the Canadian Surfski Champs in Squamish, British Columbia, last Saturday (more to come on that race). I knew I would not be fully recovered and stability would be key. This was evident by the 20 DNF’s in the combined surfski classes along with 2-7 DNF in virtually every other class. The surf skis along with the OC’s faired well of those who finished with the fastest overall times.

Sean Brennan, an olympic class paddler, winner of the 2011 Blackburn in a time of 2:34:24, posted a 2:37:50 for a great win in big conditions. Sean is no stranger to big conditions having lived in California for a time. Sean resides in NJ. I helped Sean align his surf rudder before the race which he needed today. A BIG congratulations to Sean. In second place was long time, top Blackburn finisher Brian Heath. Brian the outlier in this class by paddling the only racing kayak(Westside Boat, Marauder) in the HPK class, had a tremendous race as well. Greg Lesher, got on the podium with a well deserved 3rd place finish with Matt Drayer, another local, finishing 4th. Matt has come along way since paddling his wooden sea kayak! Word has it Matt had a number capsizes during the race, but still managed a 4th place. I imagine Matt has his remounts down at this point.

Winner 2015 Blackburn Sean Brennan under Greasy Pole

Brian Heath, 2nd Place Blackburn

Greg Lesher on get 3rd Place and on the Podium at Blackburn!

Greg Lesher earns 3rd Place and on the Podium at Blackburn!

Greg Lesher and Hugh Pritchard at finish

Everyone who finished this race deserves tremendous credit but a few of my friends deserve a shout out. Robin Francis and her paddling partner Ann paddled an OC2 with no capsizes and completed the race. Mary Beth Gangloff completed the race despite numerous capsizes and had the perseverance Howard Blackburn, himself would be proud of. Dave Thomas, co-designer/owner of Stellar Kayaks and Surfskis completed his first Blackburn with limited ocean training in a boat he designed, the new Stellar SR. Hugh Pritchard despite a poor toe pedal angle stayed upright and had a respectable time. The surfski tandems class all deserved a big hand as well, Jim/Steve, Tom, Mark/Sean and kayak doubles Dana/Tucker and Phil Sachs/Rick Silverman, and Rich K, race director, won his class in single sliding seat rowing shell. These rowers in the singles and doubles are amazing. Rowing in these conditions going backwards is truly an awesome feat.

Dana Gaines and Tucker at Finish.

Phil Sachs and Chris Silverman

Mark and Sean at finish

My Race

I started out conservatively on the Annisquam paddling with my friend Richard Germain(5 time Molokai racer, 9 time Blackburn finisher). I was keeping an eye on Dave Thomas who was pulling Tim Dywer as they had a substantial lead on me at this point. However, once out into the big water, I passed many paddlers including Dave, Tim, Joe Shaw and others. Joe commented after the race, I was looking strong when I passed him, putting a gap on him like he would put on me at mile 15.5 when he passed me to my left in the downwind section. During this six mile stretch made up of 4 foot seas to Straitsmouth, my strategy was to see if I could gain an advantage in the rough water.

Wesley, Halibut Point, Photo: Chris Chappell

Wesley, Halibut Point, Photos: Chris Chappell

Just as I approached Straitsmouth(half way point), I passed Mark/Sean in their double. Looking forward to some respite on the back side of Straitsmouth, I first had to negotiate the washing machine waters at this gap. Relief was just on other side, water, gels, stretching of my right hand, and a sigh of relief having completed six miles in the biggest conditions I have paddled in. It was at this point I saw the rower capsize but remount in seconds. My thought at the time was holy moly, did he just do that! Yes indeed! Refueled, I paddled in much flatter conditions for about a mile and then it started to get rough again at Emerson Point. It was was here, I rode the biggest wave I have ever been on. While my GPS says I was not going that fast 10.2 mph down this rogue wave, it was so steep, I thought I was going to pitch pole at any given time. I thought can this be happening, this should be the easy stretch. I rode the wave to the cheering of a dory rower who was just ahead of me. Remember he is rowing backwards so he got a full view of me on this wave. Yes he was actually cheering me. Once off the monster wave, I smiled momentarily, knowing I have 8 more miles to paddle.

This next four miles there were some good downwind runs, so I was able to relax now. Typically though, this would be the roughest section of the race. Only on one other occasion, the long time racers, said it had blown in a NE direction. Another way to put it, it there is never any downwind on the Blackburn course. At mile 16 during this downwind section, Joe Shaw and Tim passed me erasing the lead I had built at this point. For the last few Blackburns, Joe, Tim and I have been close to each other. What is normally a rough spot, Dog Bar was flat, very flat. Once we turned the corner into Gloucester Harbour we were hit with head wind and outgoing tide. What is typically a long 2 miles to the finish was made even longer. My time of 3:10:10 officially, was good enough for a 12th place. I will take it. Looking forward to next year’s Blackburn.

Wesley Echols, finish 2015 Blackburn Challenge, my 13th Blackburn.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/844467026

On the way home, Betsy said “Well you got the rough Blackburn you wanted”. Yes I did, a Blackburn to be remembered by all!

Below is a super video by Chris Chappell make at Halibut Point, mile 7 of the 19.6 mile race. It is 34 minute video but well worth seeing all the different type paddlers in their craft manage the conditions. You will see the more skilled rough water paddlers look more relaxed and have a higher stroke rate keeping the pace up. Thanks Chris!