Sunny day in Essex, Massachusetts with a record turnout for the race. The race committee(Donna,Rich,Bill,Chris,Dave, and many more did a wonderful job of putting on this event again so thanks to them from all us who did not thank them in person.

Annemoon van Erp, Mike Chamness, Chris Chappell, Bill Kuklinski

 The High Performance division which includes K1’s, Unlimited boats, and of course surf skis, had some newcomers to this division including two women, Mary Beth Gangloff, and Beata  Cseke, paddling surfskis for the first time in a race.  This field also saw Boris Markin, shatter the previous record  that was held by Tim Dwyer.  No slight to Tim, Boris was an Olympic Class paddler and he also holds the record for the 19 mile ROTC race as well. Safe to say until a Reid Hyle, or a Sean Brennan show for  a race, Boris will be far ahead of the rest of the pack already showered by the time the rest of us get in.  Boris brings with him a great group of K1 and surfski paddlers as well, including his girlfriend Beata who beat half the field today men and women.  Maybe the tag line for this article could be Tim’s phase ” Beaten by Beata”, you go girl!!  

Beata Cseke, 1st Female, Rich K presenter

High Performance Kayak Class,Unoffical, Joe Shaw finished ahead of Hugh.

Just a few of the many boats.

 

Stellars

 

Achilles Team Does Yet another RACE!!

Boris Markin, Yan Lupinski

The start was chaotic for me.  It was an incredible sprint start where I found myself  side by side with Hugh Pritchard unable to put my paddle in the water since we were literally rubbing against each other. The start has a sharp turn within 30 yards so everyone is bunch together.  I stopped to let Hugh get by and in seconds I found I was at the back of the field of the first and second pack of paddlers,not a place I have ever been in race. Typically, I go out strong and fad some so today I got a new perspective with some very good flat water paddlers.  I actually enjoyed seeing the rest of the field but feared if I don’t work hard to get on someone’s wash, I will be off the back for good.  So I caught Francisco, Dave Furniss, and Tim within the 1st mile and passed them.  Now I was trying to catch Greg Lesher who had a great race off his not so good performance at the Plum Lighthouse race.  Tim and I ended up well ahead of Greg two weeks ago, but today was a much different for Greg since he finished 40 seconds of me today. Well Done Greg!!   I never caught Greg although at mile 4, I thought I was closing the gap but Greg picked up the pace trying to close the gap of the second pack made up of Hugh Pritchard, Joe Shaw and Eric McNett(3rd).  This group paddled together for the whole race until the final minutes of the race where Eric pulled ahead.  Boris was on his on from the start, while Vadim(2nd place) paddled his K1 was a few minutes behind Boris. 

Meanwhile on the backside of the island, Greg had dropped Yan for good, and I trying to catch Yan while trying to stay ahead of Tim who was just a few boat lengths back.  I finally reeled in Yan and stayed on his wash the rest of the race.  With Tim yelling at me to Go! Go! with a half mile to go, Yan must have thought Tim was yelling at him, because suddenly I was trying even harder to stay with Yan. Yan finished seconds ahead of me with a stroke that makes mine look like I just started paddling.  Tim finished a few boat lengths behind me.  

Quite a few folks after the race were able to try different surf skis trying to figure out what boat they will be more stable yet fast in.  I saw some folks in the V10 double and V12’s and  some in the new Stellar 18S, some in my SES. So afterwards the results were up licky split and Bill K was making the awards presentation with his side kick Rich K.  I took fewer pics this year trying to do 4 things at once but there will be tons more to come that I will post when I get them. 

World Famous Boat Designer Ted VanDusen and Chris Chappell

Dave Furniss and his Father Paul, both raced today!

Vadim(2nd) trying my SES Ultra

Yan,Boris,Beata

The race season got kicked off today and continues in 3 weeks with my Race, the Sakonnet River Race, Saturday, June 2,12:30 start time vice 10am in hopes of bigger conditions.  After talking to some other racers, come prepared to shuttle and have a downwind if the conditions cooperate. Shuttles are super easy since all launch areas are within minutes of each other.  The Sakonnet River has some of the best downwind for every level of paddler, consistent, smooth and manageable from 1ft to 3ft on any given day.  Nevertheless be flexible this year.  I will try to make the race about the same distance.  We have the potential to have 10 miles of straight downwind, how cool is that!! See most of you there.

 

 

P.S. 

 Molokai World Championships tomorrow, May 20!!!

Wesley