From its murky origins in 2013, the Casco Bay Challenge has quickly grown to be an important race on the New England calendar. In theory, the course is dead simple: Proceed northeast from Willard Beach in South Portland 16.5 miles across Casco Bay to the Mere Point boat launch. In [...]
Hubris, I've recently learned, is not a tasty Middle Eastern dish (which explains a lot about the odd looks I got when ordering Lebanese take-out the other day). Turns out it's a virulent strain of cockiness that can be cured only by by being surgically cut down a notch or [...]
As the first open water competition of the year, the Sakonnet River race always attracts an enthusiastic group of paddlers anxious to frolic once again in the salt spray. Twenty-some skis and assorted accoutrement festooned the beach at McCorrie Point, adding some color to the overcast and breezy morning. This [...]
The start of the Essex River Race is 2.74 miles from our front door - close enough that the acrid stench of a defeat there would prevent us from opening any windows for the next month. So it was with an increasing sense of panic that I surveyed the formidable [...]
Originally scheduled for April 4, the governors of the 10 mile Narrow River Race had granted us a stay of execution due to high winds and excessive whining about the excessive early-season length. Having exhausted our appeals, however, it came time for our final paddle (with the exception of a [...]
