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BBRWR 2012
Monster Race, awesomeawesomeawesome!
Reivers Dustin
03/03/12 #12151
I hear four rescues took place, quite a few unplanned hull-checks, some really wild out of control rowing action. The Bellingham Bay Rough Water Race (BBRWR) was fantastic. I put a photo of the bobble-head-surfskier that Paul C did for all competitors. As the kids say, “SICK!”. It was just at the edge of being too rough for the average paddler. Of course Sound Rowers & Paddlers people ate it up. Race Director Peter pulled in the first mark to take it down a notch. It was bigger on the first lap so the short course people got into the worst stuff right along with the long course warriors. The long outside leg was the genuine downwind deal: full tilt boogie. The return trip along shore was kinder because it was in the wave shadow. Still that was a grind against the steady 15mph breeze. So the race showcased each persons weak side and strong side. I can tell you there was some merry pranks out there. Some highly talented rowers were coming in so full of adrenaline and seawater. Micheal L. ruled the waves in his peddle-boat. I hear that he got great shots as usual, but also did rescue assist duty. After the race Tom P. kept saying, “that boat is FAST!”.
In keeping with my 'first liar wins' approach: I had a wide-world-of-sports race with Dan W. It was the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat from one leg of the race to the next. We pounded on each other for every foot of the entire race it seemed like. I finally eeked out a boat-length on him at that side-wash stretch from the outfall buoy in the final lap and then thought to myself, “ok cowboy, now you have to pull lead on the final upwind - was that such a great idea?” But somehow I made it stick. One way I know it was max effort is that when I pulled my socks on after the killer effort, the cramps locked me up. Thank goodness I was in my car backseat so it didn't scare all the nice people around there.
I wasn't expecting such a hella-good race, but gracious heavens what excellent conditions. That was really quite something. I have to mention, it was weird to not have 'the larrys' in the race. But great to have such a huge turnout in the intimidating weather. Great job Peter & crew. Thank you Sound Rowers for race infrastructure and support hardware. Wow, man I'm just pumped right now. THAT WAS GOOD!
rd
njcooksey@ymail.com
03/03/12 #12152
It was definitely a good intro for me stepping up to the hpk category. I bought Duncan's V10 sport just a few weeks so I decided to stick with the short course. Had a great time and managed to stay upright, barely. Great to meet a few of you and looking forward to more racing.
-Nick Cooksey
debbie natelson 03/03/12 #12153
Awesome race indeed, in spite if my most humbling swim and not-according-to-practice drills remount. Thank you so very much Peter & awesome crew for lining up so many helpful rescue boats!!! While I was hoping I would not need one, I was never so happy to see them.
I forgot to put out some if the new 2012 Sound Rowers Race Schedule posters & SR business cards (w schedule n website on back). They are printed on water-resistant Rte-in-the-Rain paper. So you can keep some in your pfd, hatch, glove box in the car ( for the car parked next to you with the nice set of racks).
I'm still in Bellingham. Can I drop some off at one of your house – leave on the front porch or someplace safe out of wind & rain?
Sorry in excitement of the day, I forgot to announce I had them.
Great race. Thanks all,
Debbie
Reivers Dustin 03/03/12 #12154
Well now. Some of the more interesting stories are coming out. Not that many folks know that you can paddle under the south end of the dry-dock and come out near the Marine Park end. A gentleman would never do such a thing, but a wiley old barnacle would if they thought they might not be seen as they let the thundering herd crowd up on the start line. Maybe next year we can arrange for homeland securities to be waiting over there for anybody having a senior moment. DJ no longer holds the “most creative start” award.
I'm hearing that wasn't the only place where a corner was cut. Anyhoo, it doesn't appear that any awards would be affected. Another story is that rowing is sometimes a contact sport. In the running swell, a backwards facing rower might bury the nose and broach quick as a blink. In a tight pack this would be like roller-derby blocking. In one case the OC-2's amma went vertical and the paddlers horizontal. Rowers have no rudder, just a skeg - so it can all go pear shaped with wings.
hehe. I seem to love the dirt as much as the water! Can we have another race just like this one next week?
rd
babyrebozo
03/03/12 #12155
Hey, great job on the race, Peter (and staff)
I even got in on some of the action when I pulled a guy out of the water who lost his boat. It seems his V10L blew away before he could get back on…..have I seen this before?
And to you Larry G…….while it was so good to see you up and around already, it seems in the short time you were away, you have forgotten the lofty position of status I command here amongst the Whatcom Paddling group. It's MISTER Bobblehead to you, buddy…..and don't you forget it.
Bubbles
kathleen petereit
03/03/12 #12156
Hey what was the pecking order for ladies and gents? Did Heather kick butt as usual ? Sounds like a great race.
Kathleen
Rick Lingbloom
03/03/12 #12159
Said rower hit more than one boat :) Can't imagine rowing in that stuff though. And then there are those SUP guys … impressive! Quite a race! Thanks Peter (and helpers).
Rick L
Michael Lee <mlee@…>
03/03/12 #12160
Unofficial Results are up:
http://webscorer.com/race.aspx?raceid=1986
BBRWR
Erik Borgnes
03/03/12 #12157
Who was it that gave all the racers that surfski dude bobblehead thing? That was worth the price of admission alone - Thanks!
Geez, $13 buys a nice race, a tastefully done T-shirt, a surfski bobblehead, homemade cookies and the biggest bowl of M&M's I've ever seen.
We charged Canadians more because their tax dollars didn't pay to protect this way of life, right?
duncanhowat
03/03/12 #12158
Soooo Just so you all know I was requested by home land security to do a dock and piling inspection (which I'm certified for) and came out nicely placed along with the doubles and Kirk headed to Peters moving Green Buoy . I turned to look for Kim and the“ Snake” Reivers and then I was doing a water temp check. Twice. Good down wind run to the outfall and to GP. Back in the snow at 1:00. What a great place to be even if it's kinda cool. Darn good job Peter and all the other volunteers.
D
Rough Water Race
lori & beau whitehead
03/04/12 #12165
Another great race Peter! It was a bit too much work for me, but great race non-the-less.
I was already bringing up the rear at the first turn, which is my my usual strategy it would seem, when I came across a certain Mount Baker manager checking the speed coating on the bottom of his boat, and then came by Brian F. who was also in the water seeing what it's like to have the ama on the right-hand side of the boat. I passed a gal in a sitting-backwards-type-contraption who did not appear to be having a very good time. All this before the first turn.
The short downwind section was sweet and I managed to pass several craft that weren't surfing too well. My problems began when we had to turn at the outfall buoy and head toward Cornwall Beach. That south EASTERLY did not do my rudderless SUP any favors. My board just wanted to wether-vane straight to the Bellwether Hotel. At one point I seriously started exploring my options for who-to-call-for-a-ride if I were to just paddle straight into the harbor. Then I realized it would just be easier to finish the damn race.
So I paddled on the left-hand side all the way to Cornwall and did a water temperature check one time for good measure. I watched from quite a distance as there was a rescue of the leash-less surf skier. All the folks I passed surfing, eventually caught and re-passed me. The true upwind section was actually refreshing as I could now paddle on both sides.
I felt bad for Andy who was paddling a new race board, that was 2 inches narrower than mine, & I new he was looking over at Locust and kicking himself for not going kite boarding instead.
And Paul, kuddos on the bobble-ski. Very cool. Tell your Engineering Kids well-done.
Beau Whitehead
Bellingham race - Race Committee Review
Pmarcus
03/04/12 #12167
Well…..Thanks to ALL for paddling…I don't know about you but I'm exhausted, and I didn't even paddle…
Couple of minor BLIPS during yesterday, I forgot to turn up the water temperature so sorry to the wet entry participants…..of course, in the heat of the battle of assisting I told everyone to switch to Channel 80 for a talk around channel on the VHF….it might have been SMART for me let the paddlers know that!!! As one Spanish speaking Gent tried to have someone get a hold of us on 16, not only that, another Spanish speaking Gent tried to assist and they both couldn't figure out why they couldn't understand each other in English…if they had only used Spanish…..The windward buoy as the wind built did not want to stay in place with an anchor and a cinder block attached….have to use an old car next time! Those canoe guys…Holy &#@*%!! open canoe, no spray skirt, awesome Kudo's…I don't know about next year though, my pulse was twitching until they got to the North Buoy……Rescue/Safety boats were awesome, I thought!
On another note, great Herald pics in today's Sunday Sports section, although I couldn't find it online???? What about our Bobble-head Paddler, pretty COOL huh?? Thanks to Paul Clement for that and I think some paddlers were content to assemble it rather then race…..
All in All…no blood, no fouls (although someone did cut the Outfall buoy and someone did shorten the course by driving to Marine Park then launching but promptly went for a Marine Biology Study….and I even scored a piece of Debbie's Gram Mama's cake!!)
Thanks to Volunteers: Julie V., Kim W.,Christos.,Thom P., Mike Med., Mike M., George M., Jared H., Bob H., Pete W., Larry B.,Mike O and Nina., Traci C., Blaine P.,Alex M., Riley M., THANKS to the cookie makers!
Michael Lampi
03/04/12 #12168
It was quite a fun race, though by the time I left the guy who lost his boat there was no one to be found on the course. I had troubles finding my way back to the start, let alone around the course a second time.
So, I decided to just turn back and take photos of the long course finishers.
Photos are now online:
Michael Lampi
Gerardo Andaluz
03/04/12 #12169
No gentleman here… only the Spanish part!
Gerardo
debbie natelson
03/04/12 #12170
Mike,
What incredible action shots you have gotten – and so many really clear, high res closeups, that really capture the intense emotion (and lots of happy faces). Nice job – as always.
There are now, at only the second race of the season, so many terrific pictures that for next years Race Schedule Poster, we will have to just do one of those mosaic pictures, composed of hundreds of little pics. Kudos.
-Deb
