After a week of steady rain and a forecast calling for showers and fog, August 16 dawned sunny and clear at Nahant Bay. Eighteen paddlers disregarded the weather predictions and turned up at Fisherman’s Beach in Swampscott to compete in light wind and moderate seas. The 10kt southwest breeze and a 2′ east swell provided some interesting conditions and a few rides, but no real excitement.

A fast Start out of Fisherman’s had Cooper leading a tight pack to the first buoy with Alex McLain in second place for much of the way. After the Little Nahant turn, Lancaster led for most of the second leg, followed closely by Cooper, Tracy, McDonough and Echols. Cooper regained the lead at the East Point buoy and the leaders firmed up their positions on small runs between Egg Rock and Dread Ledge.

After rounding the Dread Ledge buoy, a mile sprint into the wind did little to change the overall order, with Cooper, Lancaster and Tracy topping the men’s division, and McLain, Manizza and Stewart taking the women’s . ~Mike