The predicted thunder storms did not roll in until late afternoon, nor did the predicted 10-15 mph winds southwest winds. However, the oppressive heat and humidity was with us. Driving to the race on Friday, stuck in the Boston traffic, Betsy, my wife, would call out 109, 115, 122 every [...]
Every ocean race is a unique experience. This is the excitement of ocean racing; there are so many unpredictable factors to take into account. The usual weather conditions; wind, current, tide, water/air temperature, fog and surf, if applicable. This day’s race forecast was initially for a small craft warning with [...]
The Blackburn Challenge has been on my “to do” list of races since I began racing in a sea kayak with the Mid Atlantic Paddler’s Association in Virginia back in 2002. But even with all the racing and travelling I’ve done since then I’d not yet made the trip up [...]
The Casco Bay Challenge was designed as a rare New England paddling treat - an extended downwind race across the entire bay, amidst dozens of striking Maine islands. While the forecast initially looked good for such a race, a cursèd fog befell us. An elderly salt on the beach warned [...]
Nobody finishes the Blackburn Challenge or the Essex River Race and says aloud "Man, was that fun!" That was the universal refrain after the inaugural Ride the Bull race, however. Actually, one of the paddlers did tell me mid-race that he "wanted to go home", but since said home is in New [...]
