2023 Double Beaver, Double the Fun in a Double.

Last week Tim ask me if I wanted to paddle as he got ready for the race he hosted, the 10-mile Double Beaver Race that starts at Bay Voyage Inn, passes the House on the Rocks, to the Beaver Tail Lighthouse navigational can that sits a half mile off the coast marking the headland. We round the can and head back which is 10 miles. I have raced this course many times in training and on race day, mostly with Tim. I know it so well that I can point out the different segments of wave patterns along the course and know how long each segment will be.

This is a challenging course for the skilled paddler only. You have to focus for the entire race or you will be swimming. I have said often, this can be more challenging than the Blackburn Challenge due to the roughness of the course. If you can paddle this course with confidence then you can paddle anywhere on the East Coast.

One of my best races ever was on this course in 2011 in my Stellar SES 1G on a bigger day. I chased the late Joe Glickman on a different line until the 5-mile can drawing almost even with him. That day we extended the course around to the cove on the other side of the Beavertail and back. He surfed away from m in fine fashion on this section. I finished 2nd behind him that day. On another day, my paddle became unglued(Onno), and I paddled into Mackerel Cove with one blade and DNF.

Mike Tracy(3rd), Joe Glickman(1st), Wesley Echols(2nd), 2011 Double Beaver

I had not planned on doing this DB(Doublebeaver) since I have been enjoying cycling and running more for the last 1.5 years. However, after Tim and I complete our 8-mile paddle on the Sakonnet in our skis, Tim mentioned the BB(Blackburn). So we agreed to race the BB in a double and I suggested we do the DB in a double as a tune-up. Bob Wright, let us borrow his V8 (1G) double for both races. Tim and I had planned on racing the 2015 BB in a double but this BB was the BIG ONE, so we opted to race singles that day. We also paddled from Narragansett Boat Club one year in double if memory serves me correctly with the rowers.

It did not take Tim and I long before we were in sync in the V8 double since it is so stable for two experienced paddlers. We paddled 4 miles in Jamestown Harbor a few days before the DB, prepped the ski, and felt like we were ready for the race four days later. Despite paddlers not pre-registering, Tim had a great turnout with OC, SUPs, 4 doubles skis, single skis, and even a dory. The race drew many first-time racers on this course including Jesse Lishchuk(USA National Champion and coach) and even Vadim(Jesse’s father), OC 1’s and OC 2.

Vadim, Wesley, Greg

As Tim and warmed up, with the air quality poor due to the Canadian Fires, Tim repeatedly told me, we would go out moderately and maintain a consistent pace throughout the race even if Max and Andrius were ahead of us which they were for half of the race. Despite not paddling much, I am fit from cycling and running so I was chomping at the bit to close the 15-second gap before we reached House on the Rocks only 1.5 miles into the race. This has been my strategy for too long, go out hard. Tim on the other hand, typically reserves more for the later half of races where he closes well. So we compromised, knowing our rough water skills and familiarity with the course would come into play later on. We chose not to close the gap. On the way out we chose a direct line with the outgoing tide to the can. Jesse, Greg, and Ed were to our right. We paddled alongside Greg for about a mile hoping we will get some video action. Max and Andrius were about 60 seconds or more ahead of us. Kirk and Mary Beth in their double were always trailing us only a minute behind. We saw them at the turn and realized we need to up the pace some.

North Shore Strong-Kirk and Mary Beth apply pressure the whole race.

I was consistently at a 140 heart race while Tim was at 150. Tim’s HR always runs higher than mine. 140 HR after cycling and running, was a tempo pace for me. I slowed my stroke rate to match Tim’s and focused on delivering my power with a slower cadence. The key to doubles racing is to be in sync which we were the whole race except when I had to open and close my bailer.

As we made the turn on the DB can, we noticed Kirk and Mary Beth were closer than I thought they would be, only a few boat lengths behind. Greg told me pre-race they were “North Shore strong” as opposed to “Narragansett weak”. Well, I may have slightly misquoted him but it turns out Greg knows a thing or two about strong paddlers!

Once you round the can, you have a few choices to make: take a direct line back, head closer to the cliffs, or follow those in front of you. We headed to the cliffs to get out of the current knowing the waters would be more turbulent. Within a half mile, we passed Max and Andrius, 50 yards to our right, who chose the direct option. When they saw us passing them, they made a beeline for us. Mary Beth and Kirk chose our line too but fell off the pace during this section. We continued keeping an eye on Jesse who surge for a few minutes, rest, and then surge again. At first, I thought he was getting weeds but it turns out he was just doing some interval with the race in hand.

Max and Andrius

Tim and I continue to hold our pace finishing second only to Jesse and first in out of the four doubles, Max/Andrius, Kirk/Mary Beth, Igor/Robin. Ed places 2nd in the singles with Greg(3rd) within a minute of him. Other notable finishers were 1st timers, Ronald Rivera, Joel Pekosz, Jerry Madore, Vadim Lishchuk, and John Redos. I am always super impressed and amazed with the skill and fitness of the ocean SUP paddlers like Carly Tillotson,
Will Bomar, Mark Lengows. After the race, Jesse, living in Tampa now, gave a clinic drawing on his many years of competing for USA National teams.

Wesley, Mary Beth, Tim, Ronald, Jesse. Thanks to Epic for the raffle gifts.

Jerry Madore

As Robin told me after the race, she got into doubles racing years ago realizing how much fun it was. I was late to the party with doubles racing but boy did I have a great time at this race. Now Tim and I will double the pleasure at the Blackburn Challenge, a 20-mile ocean race held in Gloucester, MA. on July 15th. Combined I think Tim and I have raced the Blackburn over 30 times. We will see how we go! Head to New England Surfski for Greg’s recap and their Facebook page for more photos of this race.