Ride the Bull, A Race Worth Doing!

It was a spectacular day for this year’s race, clear skis, 70’s, not much wind. Don’t let little wind fool you. This course does not need wind to be intense. Tim and I changed the course this year so Tim would not have to drop two buoys and then retrieve them in his motor boat. So we launch from the same spot at Ft Wetherall, over to turn rock at Mackerel Cove and then out to the famous Can/buoy of Beavertail Light House. I clocked it at 9.17 miles while others taking a different line got 9.33 etc. Thanks for the pictures by Chun.

Ride The Bull 2016 by Wesley Echols from Wesley Echols on Vimeo.
Ride Bull Pictures by Chun

Pre Race

Warming up.

Looking out toward Beavertail Point

Even though only 9 miles, this course and the Double Beaver Race are the some of most difficult races on the schedule. Your rough water skills or lack thereof will be exposed on either of these courses. No time to relax and only seconds to get a gel or a sip of water, just paddle hard and try to keep the power up and concentration.

John Hair, Wesley, Tim Dwyer

Jan, Greg, Eric, Top 3

For some of us it was not our best race, mine included. Some though, like Greg Lesher, Jan, Tim Dwyer, and Big Jim Hoffman had excellent races. I changed my paddle tape to a new more restricted grip that proved very troublesome. After 50 minutes, I had hand and forearm cramping from lack of rotation of paddle in my hand. Andrius after the race, gave me a mini hand massage when he noticed my fingers splayed in an unusual manner. You can see my stroke in the video is somewhat jerky due to this. Bob C, paddled his Swordfish vice one if his Epics and ended up with some cramping due to a different cockpit. Eric was on call, so lack of sleep, a 4 hour drive, and newer boat, proved painful. He held on to 3rd place only seconds ahead of Tim and Jim who in the last mile put a gap on me like I was standing still. Jim loves this race he told me afterwards. His lack of training was not evident in this race.

JIm chasing down Tim after house on the rocks.

Andrius who finished a minute behind me, was seen draining water from his ski. Eric and I confirmed for him that the leak would have to be in the rudder post with that much water in his hull.

Wesley exiting Mackeral Cove in SEL 2G Excel

We were joined by John Hair from upstate New York who got a taste of the course. John faired well I thought and seemed to enjoy himself. He paddled part of the course the day before. Greg has made a statement this year with his results that he is the man to beat in flatwater or ocean. Mary Beth was in good form and appreciated my orange on orange color coordination!  Bill K represented the North Shore paddlers with his happy attitude thinking about his next musical gig.  We discussed the Blackburn at our round table at Spinnakers. We can’t believe it is only 4 weeks away of Misery if you are not trained up for it with a capital M. I better get on the stick. My 3 hour training sessions are due the next 2 weeks.

Rough water paddlers at Ride the Bull.

Once you completed The Ride the Bull, you know you have done something. It is an intense race with all the undulating, sloppy, refractory waves compounded by boat traffic. I was playing chicken headed for the Green Can at House on the Rocks with a 50 foot sailboat. I skimmed past him like he was not even their. It is true I did not see him until he was on top me zoning out in fatigue and boat wash. So thanks to all that came down. The numbers are small but, those who Ride the Bull are better paddlers for doing it. Next race is SeaIt Downwinder in NJ then the almighty Blackburn!