2009 Nahant Bay Race – by Wesley Echols

Despite the predictive poor weather from the storm “Bill”, the weather was fantastic, sunny and flat. Mike McDonough(Race Director did a super job with his organization of the race providing chase boat, setting turn buoys, providing laminated charts of the course, big race numbers, and had expert help from his wife, daughter, and friends. The post race food was excellent as well with chicken wings, sausage, corn salad and more, all homemade!!!

Chris(webmaster) who paddles with the “Beverly Boys” on Tuesday, was hinting to me to pay close attention to Graham Rocket(yes, that is his name). I may change it to Cowboy Rockett with the addition of his hat. Graham is a South African who has been living in Swampscott, Massachusetts for years, and had been paddling off and on at the local races. I heeded Chris’s advice by riding Graham’s wash for the first two miles feeling great. I forgot my Heart Rate monitor so I was going on perceived effort vice relying on my Heart Rate Monitor. It was a good wake up call not to become over reliant on technology but I felt a little adrift without it. Mike McDonough, Tim Dwyer, and Mike Tracy were not too far behind at this point.

At one of the ledges at about the 2.5 mile mark, you had 3 choices, go through the ledge as the wave came over them, or go right or left. Graham hesitated for a few seconds thinking he was going through it, but decided better of it, not wanting to damage his V12, and he went left. I went right and caught back up to him before the next buoy turn. The second pack was only 5-8 boat lengths back at this point. As we made the turn headed to Egg Island, Graham made the turn more sharply and gained a boat length on me. I tried to catch him for a quarter mile, when Mike Tracy(who by the way is doing the Chicago Marathon this weekend) flew by me. I tried to catch Mike but could not and then I realized, WEEEDS! I backed up shredding the weeds and was off again. By this time Graham was had increased his lead by about 45 seconds. I maintained the gap behind Mike and actually closed it by a boat length or two by the time we got to the last buoy turn. With the home stretch only a mile to go, I noticed Graham taking a different line and Mike taking another. Turns out Mike and I were confused as to which beach was the finish beach. We should have realized Graham knew where he was going since he lives there! Mike or Tim whistled at us from behind seeing our confusion. We pursued Graham’s line. Graham had finished a 1st with a super fast time, with Mike 2nd, and me 30 seconds behind with 3rd place. Tim edged out Mike Mcdonough by seconds as those two were together most of the race. ~Wesley