Records Abound at 2011 Blackburn

This was the 25th year of the Blackburn and it ushered in many records in attendance, course, and personal.  The first record broken was for the overall course record in a single powered boat. Dan Gorririan who has come close many times , chose to race his flatwater rowing shell vice his ocean going shell in hopes of breaking the record, which he did in a time of 2 hours and 29 minutes.   Dan has won the Blackburn numerous times.  We know Dan well as the Race Director of the Jamestown Counter Revolution (JCR) which is hosting the East Coast Surfski Championships on August 28th.

Click on the following links for pictures taken by Leslie Chappell and Betsy Echols.

https://picasaweb.google.com/Surfski14/Blackburn2011

https://picasaweb.google.com/ccchappell/Blackburn2011ByLeslieChappell#

The second record broken was by Tim Dwyer and Mike Tracy who shattered the tandem record in a surfski double (SE2).   Tim and I had talked about paddling the SE2 for this race, and I decided to paddle my single in hopes of a PR based on my training.  So Tim asked Mike to join him.  Over the past several months Tim, Mike and I would get together for training paddles.   Based on these training runs, I knew these guys would break the old time of 2:46. It was just a question of how much.  These guys look fluid from the first time they got in the boat.  Add some padding to the buckets and they were flying.  I had figured they could push the SE2 45-60 seconds faster per mile than my training pace which turned out to be accurate.  Putting two of the best paddlers in New England in a light weight tandem, on a course they have done at least 20 times between them and what else would you expect.   They kept their pace up all the way without missing a stroke as Tim told me after the race.   Tim told me the doubles are way more fun than paddling singles.  This was evident by the number doubles in the race: Jim/Steve, Mark/Sean, and Timmy/Chris K.  I expect to see even more next year with the age of the paddlers and the pure fun factor of paddling a double.

While it was not a course record, Sean Brennan, Olympic level paddler, put in a time of 2:34, which is the second fastest time recorded I believe in a surfski on this course.  In today’s race there was no one on his level since the second and third place finishers, Joe Glickman and Barend Spies were 8 minutes behind.  Sean won another $100.00 on behalf of Stellar as the top local winner.

Today’s conditions set up the many records that took place today.   Everyone was thankful that the oppressive heat of Friday was limited on Saturday by overcast skies and breeze that kept us cool the entire race.  The tides were in our favor as well.  Typically on the backside of the course we are paddling slightly against the current but for the race, it was slack.  Oh, did I mention how flat it was!  Unlike three weeks ago when Tim, Mike, and I did a training paddle on the course in 3 foot confused seas, it was truly unbelievably flat today.  I was shocked.   So the combination of these factors came together for many of the racers who achieved their own personal records.  I know there were many, but here are just a few I am aware of.

Chris Sherwood completed the Blackburn in a ski that he only bought 2 months ago making the transition from a sea kayak.  Get a stable ski and it can be done.

Bob Capellini put in a PR by over 2 minutes.

Jay Appleton broke the 3 hour mark for the second time and this was his first in a ski.

Chris Chappell chopped 30 minutes off his time from last year and broke the 3 hours barrier which is a one of the goals of most paddlers.  This was Chris’s 3rd Blackburn.  Chris already is one of the top flatwater paddlers in New England and is the web master for this site.

Francisco Urena, who watched last year’s Blackburn from the beach, broke through with the race of his life.  He has only been paddling a ski for less than a year!  I knew it would be only a question of bucket time, a few stroke lessons including one from Ben Lawry, and tips from the more experienced paddlers,that Francisco would rise to the challenge.   A 2:50:29 qualifies as meeting the challenge.

Greg Lesher also had an astounding race.  While not quite breaking the 2:50 barrier in my old S1R, no doubt once he gets more bucket time in his new ski he will do so.   Greg had been making great strides in the past year also making the transition from kayaks to surfskis in the past year.   Greg was locked on to my stern wash for most the race and  I was not able to drop him until the 2 mile sprint home once we entered the Gloucester Harbor.  My line was spot on while I was able to catch some nice tiny bumps that Greg was not able to catch fortunately.   Once I finished the race I looked back expecting to see Greg but I was surprised it was Francisco who evidently had crawled his way back to Greg and me without us knowing it.  He over took Greg in the Harbor.

A big part of a big race is that you get to meet many paddlers.  It was great to finally meet SS Weyers from Bermuda.  We have traded emails over the past several years and missed connecting at the Mayor’s Cup and at the ROTC.  SS brought his family with him, so it was even better to meet his wife and kids.  SS maybe one of the happiest guys I have ever met and I am thankful for some advice he gave me a year ago that was very helpful to me.   I also had to pleasure of meeting another South African, Barend Spies.  Barend was on the US marathon team years ago and resides in Atlanta.  I was able to supply both with boats for the race.

So next race is August 6, the Double Beaver Race.  I can assure you, it is almost never flat and I for one am hoping for a big water day.   Hope to see most of you there.  The next major race is the East Coast Surfski Championships.  Top US marathon paddler Reid Hyle will be here and Sean Brennan hopes to make it as well.  This will be an event you will not want to miss.  Like the Blackburn we will have some of the top rowers and paddlers on the East Coast participating. See the tab on this site for all the info. Registration is open!!

Thanks to all the members of the Blackburn Committee who did a truly wonderful job and incorporated many changes to this year’s race like the nice wicking shirts, even quicker posting of results, and much more I am not aware of to make this a great celebration of the 25th Blackburn!!