The L2L is the best attended race outside the Blackburn Challenge. It is one of my favorite races due to the venue and the race direction of Wayne Lysobey, Gary Williams and crew.  It also caps off the race season for many paddlers and is the final race in SurfskiRacing.com Race Series.  The race was moved to Shady Park which is even better the the previous setting in Westport, CT that was great also. The new venue is just off 95 and has parking, restrooms, display areas, and has other events going on as well.  The beach is expansive with plenty of room and you can see a lot of the course. So it feels like a “BiG event” one that you don’t want to miss next year which should be even Bigger!  Gary and Wayne delegated the Timing Results to Race Menu so they could focus their efforts on the overall direction of the race, paddling their race, and Achilles.  The weather cooperated with sunny skis and some wind that produced some small beam chop for most of the race interspersed with some flat water at the start and finish. 

Course, Yellow is 2012, Red is 2011

Link to pictures. Thanks to Virgina Atkinson for pics of everyone below on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/LighthouseToLighthouseRace/photos

https://picasaweb.google.com/111670948231605580163/L2L2012

Spirit Island in background

 

Gary Williams Co Race Director

There was a good turnout of Northeast paddlers including a new contigent of paddlers that have joined us this season made up of Boris Markin, Beata Cseke, Yan Lupinski and Flavio Costa, and Vadim Belyakov. After talking to Yan we hope to have more of his paddling club join us next year.  They have been a welcomed addition to the races.Vaughn Smith from Stellar Kayaks  was on hand as well as Outdoor Sports Center Manager, Mark Bodian.  Stellar for the third year in a row provided the prizes for the SurfskiRacing.com series. I will post a separate article on the winners of the Series, however, Boris won the series, with Francisco and Greg Lesher in the next positions after a super competitive season.  Missing today were racers Greg Lesher and Mike McDonough both on vacation and Dave Furniss.  Tim and I left his house at 4:30 making sure we had plenty of time to set up, meet and greet, and in my case, take some pictures,take delivery of my Mohican, and try a one of my paddles that Chris trimmed down for me.  So it was already jammed pack two hours before the race!  Getting on the water is the easy thing. 

Tim with L2l wicking shirt

 

Jim Hoffman helping Achilles Paddler, Robin Francis in foreground

 

Vaughn from Stellar Kayaks setting up

The surfski class was in the fourth wave to go off.  Virtually the first mile is flat water rounding a turn buoy and Spirit Island before heading out into the ocean. This made for a very fast start. Within a few strokes I was at the back of the main field watching the pack separate as we got out of the flatwater to the ocean.  I watched Tim, Joe Shaw, and Craig Impens, and Francisco Urena paddle in one pack for the first few miles all taking an inside line.  This was similar to last years race with them on the inside line, in the lee and me on an outside line trying to see if I could catch a few rides. This pack was overtaken by Eric McNett about about mile 4 or so while Tim dropped off the pace significantly(probably weeds) as I passed Tim easily.  By the time we got to the Green Ledge Lighthouse(halfway turn), Eric was leading this group with Francisco opening up a gap on Joe Shaw and Craig.  I was closing the gap on Craig and Joe Shaw slowly but steadily.  After the turn, I could no longer see Eric and Francisco took an outside line and had probably a good 2-3 minute lead on Craig and Joe on the inside line. I split the gap with Tim, having shred the weeds and quickly catching up to me as I was to Joe Shaw and Craig.  So by the time our group  reached Goose Island, there was confusion about the course.  Eric well ahead of everyone chose to go inside(left) of Goose Island while Francisco went right(correct course).  At this point we could see Francisco. Joe pulled up next to me asking which way to go and I was confused also.  Meanwhile Tim having studied the course passed within a few boat lengths of us headed to the right of Goose Island.  Craig decided to go left while Joe and I decided to go right catching Tim.  So from this juncture Joe rode my wash as Tim and I were virtually side by side on slightly different lines.  As we three rounded Goose Island Craig rejoined us making it one of my memorable finishes ever. (Lesson Learned: study race course and don’t rely on others in front of you).

Joe was still on my wash while Tim had a slight lead going around the final island(Spirit) headed for the half mile flatwater sprint to the orange buoys. Craig had a slight lead on me at this point.  Several times I thought had dropped Joe. I should have known better.  Joe Shaw is a expert at wash riding from his extensive paddling career in canoes and K1’s.  Joe has explosive sprint speed and employs precision timing in leap frogging from wash to wash, boat to boat.  I got to watch it all unfold.  With less than 1/2 mile to go, Joe leapfrogged around me and Craig with his sights set firmly on Tim.  Tim leading with 100 yards to go, told me later he relaxed a tiny bit thinking he would take it home in our group.  No relaxing on Joe’s part. He passed Tim about 50 yards from the finish with a mere 2 second lead.  Meanwhile in this span of time, I was neck and neck with Craig trying to up the tempo which I did.  However, Craig upped the tempo even more with 20 yards to go and nipped me by 3 seconds!  It was an exciting finish. Very exciting!

Finish, Joe,Tim,Craig,Wesley, photo Virginia Atkinson

 

 

Joe Shaw and Tim after Exciting finish

 

Chris and Steve after race

 

Flavio and Vadim getting ready

 

Francisco Urena, 3rd Place

 

All the double guys!!

As other racers from all classes came in, it was clear based on the honor system that about roughly20% of the overall field took the left turn at Goose Island cutting the course short.  So Gary and Wayne in the spirit of the race chose to access a 4 minute penalty on the racers who took the wrong line not wanting to disqualify anyone, hence the current results.  Boris Markin took first place while Joe Glickman placed second with Francisco taking third.  There were three doubles in races, Yan Lupinski and Alex Ambotus took first in this class while Beate Cseke(female) place 11th overall in the singles race.  Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable event.  Next year promises to be even more FUN and EXCITING!

Borys 1st

All race results can be found below.

http://my4.raceresult.com/details/index.php?page=4&eventid=12516&lang=en

1. Borys Markin 1:52:33, Nelo Ocean Ski

2. Joe Glickman 1:53:22, Epic V10

3. Francisco Urena 2:01:56, Stellar SE Ultra
4. Joe Shaw 2:02:06, Stellar SES 
5. Timothy Dwyer 2:02:08, Epic V12
6. Eric Mcnett 2:02:11, Epic V8 
7. Wesley Echols 2:02:16, Stellar SES 
8. Tom Kerr 2:04:12 17:45, Epic V12
9. Jim Hoffman 2:04:48, Fenn Elite
10. Craig Impens 2:06:13, Epic V12

11. Beata Cseke 2:06:16 (1st Female), Nelo Ocean ski

12. Mike Tracy 2:07:14, Fenn Elite
13. Chris Chappell 2:07:51, Stellar SR Ultra
14. Steve Delgaudio 2:08:04 , Fenn Swordfish
15. Kam Truhn 2:16:57, Think Legend
16.Bob Capellini 2:21:29, Epic V12 
17. Simon James 2:48:41, ? 

Wayne Lysobey, Gary(in chair,co chairs of race)

L2L 2012

(Good Deeds Will be Punished!)

 

Damn it went well!

We’ll have to do it again next year

Thrilling competition!

We’ll have to race it again next year!

Damn it was exciting!

We’ll have to do it again next year!

We got lots of thanks!

We’ll have to do it again next year!

Damn good volunteers!

You’ll have to do it again next year!

Chowder and chili well liked!

I’ll have to make it again next year!

Damn good food crew!

They’ll have to do it again next year!

Wonderful safety boat team!

They’ll have to do it again next year!

Damn good sea breeze!

It doesn’t have to do it again next year!

Wonderful raw bar a hit!

Ed has to shuck ‘em again next year!

Damn good turnout!

You’ll have to come again next year!

Great massage people!

They’ll have to massage again next year!

Damn good venue!

We’ll have to use it again next year!

Nice roving minstrel!

He’ll have to sing it again next year!

Damn good co-chair!

Gary must do it again next year!!!

 

Damn,

 Guess I’ll see you again next year!

 

Wayne Lysobey  9/16/12