Blackburn Challenge: Cooler Heads Prevail I apologize for the delay in posting my Blackburn Challenge race report. I've spent the last week immersed in an ice bath, mainlining chilled Harpoons and listening to the cool, cool vocal stylings of Mr. Lionel Richie. They say that you haven't felt real heat until you've [...]
Quickie Quiz Question: What do the following have in common? a.) habaneros b.) Mount Kilauea c.) the plastic slipcovers on Grandma’s furniture d.) the 2013 Blackburn Challenge Answer: the ability to produce overwhelming, oppressive heat For the 27th running of this infamous east coast event in Gloucester, MA (Say ‘GLAW-stah.’), the [...]
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 [...]
