Yannick LaRousse, French Open Water “Vice Champion” paddling to finish on final 3K flatwater section. PFD is below yellow vest. 

Below is a link to some really great pics of the race.

30km course from Capesterre to Basse Terre. Wind and seas were from East, ~15knots, 5-6ft seas

http://www.gwadanature.com/Karukera_kayak_challenge_2011/

 Attached below an online-translated article describing the race in heroic French style, with touches of google-translator to keep the reading interesting. The race was the featured article on the sports pages of all three Guadeloupian newspapers for the two days leading up to the race, including TV interviews and the works. There were apparently three TV crews filming and covering the event. 

The race featured two top Surfski paddlers from France, Yannick  Laousse and Roudault Stephane, two world champ K1 and K2 marathon paddlers Ben Brown (UK) and  Walter Bouzan (Spain), top Portuguese paddler Luis Ventura, and of course Franck Fiffils, who is himself an accomplished paddler.  There was a solid contingent from St Maarten, one paddler from Puerto Rico, and one from Trinidad (me). All in all over 50 participants, including, a fair number of youth (they all paddled faster than me), 6 double skis, and amazingly, three stand-up paddlers. Conditions were perfect, with east running seas of 4 to 6ft and a steady easterly wind of around 15knots increasing to over 20 for the last 10km of downwind. The final 3km was in the lee of the island, with perfectly flat conditions. 

Interesting to see how the flat water guys handle the surf. They had all paddled in open water before, with Ben previously having spent over a month in Cape Town training with Dawid Mocke.  Ben and  Walter had both recently returned from Singapore world Champs the week before and were still worn from this event. The Europeans all favoured the Nelo surfskis (Portuguese), Guadeloupians used mainly Epics.  Top 10 positions as follows:

Surfski Monoplace Homme (men’s Single Surfski)

1  LAOUSSE, YANNICK (Fr)                                                             2:14.38

2  BOUZAN,WALTER        (Sp)                                                        2:15.58

3  ROUDAULT STEPHANE  (Fr)                                                     2:16.22

4  FIFILS, FRANCK (Guad)                                                              2:22.08

5 VENTURA, LUIS (Port)                                                                  2:23.04

6 BROWN, BEN   (UK)                                                                       2:23.44

7  LEBEAU, ROLAND (Fr)                                                                 2:24.13

8  TANTON, OLIVIER  (Guad)                                                         2:26.56

9  KNAGGS ,STUART (St Maarten)                                              2:38.47

10  PISCIONE, JUAN PABLO (St Maarten)                                2:40.07

Franck won the Caribbean Series, having recently placed first in the Soualiga Challenge in St Maarten. Top Stand-up paddler came in after 4 hrs.

My own time was a disappointing 3hr 05min, I was aiming for 2h40. In spite of this, great downwind conditions for over half the course made the race very enjoyable.

Interview of Johan Sydow a paddler who live in Trinidad and Tobago :

 Made a strategic mistake in first 10km with swell beam on by taking a line close to shore, and getting bogged down in bumpy conditions with reflected swell. Followed by open reach with very little relative wind and overheating. Relied on gels to get me going, but had only brought two packs, of which the first pack most leaked out !! Managed to make up time once got away from shore in cleaner swell conditions and started catching good runs.  The main swell was coming in from aft quarter, and so was cutting across the main swell direction, and running on smaller secondary swell which were easier to catch (this is usually the case in large swell, smaller 2nd generation swell will run at about 45deg to main sets). For the last 10km of downwind, near Trois Rivier the wind and swell picked up further, and conditions were perfect. Managed to link 3 to 4 sets of swell at a time, zig-zagging along downwind to link the runs, aiming for the “holes” that develop offset from the run you are riding, and running on secondary swell if not on a main run, trying to preserve energy as much as possible resting my arms and cooling off with dousing of water on the runs. Was now passing paddlers that had picked the cleaner outer course in the beginning. Then turned the corner into flat water, and had to dig for the last 3km. My left arm was blown, so landed up paddling one-arm-style to the finish, and could not pass the three skis in front of me that were also limping along to the finish.

Hats off to the organizers of the Karukera Challenge, led by Franck Fiffils. Great organization, great race, great hospitaility and logistical assistance. Y’all should see their facilities in SW Basse Terre ! And this is one of three active club houses on the island, plus a new Surfski center in St Francois. All the schools participate in paddling for part of their curriculum. Very organized, and of course, good funding from the state.

 Yesterday was held the final of Karukera kayak challenge. More than 50 participants and two winners. Yannick Laousse needed on the race and Franck Fifils becomes champion of the Caribbean- by Franck Fifils

It was billed as a favorite and won the second edition of Karukera kayak challenge, Yannick Laousse proved. It is necessary after 2h 14min running 30 km long between the beach and marina of Roseau River Sense. At the start of the race at 9 o’clock yesterday morning, Britain’s Ben Brown, world champion in marathon canoeing in 2010, from strong, can be a bit too strong given the strong swells. But the Englishman wants to mark the occasion. He continues to lead in the first km and soon, another favorite, Spanish Walter Bouzan, world champion in marathon kayak double in Singapore last week, is in its wake. In Capesterre-Belle-Eau, it doubles its competitor and takes off at the driveway of the Manor. Walter very quickly suffer from heat and bad sea conditions, because he is an expert in kayak in calm water. Yannick Laousse which, as and when the strokes, found the form, the opportunity to slip in the lead ahead of Spanish. “I took a good path, and I run the race,” said he.

The race for the podium

Vice-champion of France on course in mind throughout the race, while remaining concerned to see the competition return. Behind the podium contenders succeed. Walter Bouzan, Franck Fifils, Ben Brown and Stephane Roudaut. It’s a fight to try to take one of three places. The sun is high and the sea very rough, but kayakers have the tail wind, some choose to shave the other side and take the broad to tame the sea and the best energy management. At this stage of the race, fatigue is felt. But nothing is done!

The last 3 km …

“The race does not stop the passage of Lighthouse Old Fort is in the last quarter of the race that all can play,” Franck launched Fifils, kayaker member of Yacht Club of Basse-Terre, and organizer of the event, during the presentation of the event. Indeed, the last 3 kilometers between Old Fort and Marina have been fatal to many. The podium places were played at this level. Difficult when you are champion of Ocean Racing, which is run in the open sea to paddle in calm water. What is the benefit of Spanish. “My specialty is the calm water at the start of the race, conditions were difficult but now I could come back. “It is about Stéphane Roudaut, a member of the France team, which has struggled over his limit. “The last mile was hard. The Spaniard was able to enjoy it, he has a technique that I have not, “says he. The only one to succeed at the game seems to be Spanish, to the regret of Ben Brown, who sees him on his escape from the podium last kilometers. “I saw him move, I said oh shit! I was too tired at the end. I am a little disappointed, but we always learn. “The Briton finished fifth at Franck Fifils. “My goal was to manage my race to win the championship in the Caribbean. The lighthouse, I was dead, I wanted to take and there was a little wind. I knew I was ahead of the pack, but I did not know how I was. “Franck finished in fourth place and won the Championship and the Caribbean Ocean Racing in front of Olivier Tanton Yacht Club of St. Francis. Yannick Laousse needed more than one minute ahead of Walter Bouzan and Stephane Roudaut. 

Next great event in Guadeloupe it’s end april 2012 with world oceanracing series.

with the legend race across of channel of desirade with the passage of pointe des chateaux

the top 10 paddlers of ocean racing are announcing , we hope to see many paddlers of differents country.

Regards, Franck