Surfski Knowledge Base

Dean Bumstead
08/15/10 #9026

OK - I'll give you my version. Feeling adventurist, I opted to go with Mike G. on his boat along with Veronica, Julie, and Devon. First thing in the morning I get a call from Mike, my truck battery is dead, can you give me a jump? Oh yeah, I forgot about the “ Gregory Factor ”. After loading all the boats that I had understood were to be already loaded, and then waiting for a guy at the boat launch that couldn't get his boat on the trailer straight, we were finally off about an hour behind schedule. Julie and I shared piloting duties, and the trip was uneventful other than me doing acrobatics trying to pee off the stern of a rocking 25mph speed boat. We got there in 45 -50 minutes and were informed that the race start had been moved up to 10:30. Well there was some mad scrambling as we threw the boats overboard and they delayed the start for another 15 minutes till we were ready.

Most of us went counter clockwise with the exception of Shane B. and a rower. They were slow getting to the NW point before turning into wasp passage but then they really rode the current. The other way, Adrian and Rainer took it out first with Debbie and Morris glued to their stern another double shell, a couple of singles, Ludovit in his fenn elite then myself. The entrance to wasp passage had a huge rip and the rest of it was like paddling up river until it widened. I caught Ludo in wasp passage and he got on my side wake and proceeded to tell me the entire history and times of the Hungarian Sprint Team, and the fact that he had never race a distance this long, but at 500 meters he could beat anybody. Well, you can imagine the thoughts going through my head - the most prominent - how do I get rid of this guy? As we shot way out in the San Juan channel it got just a little bumpy for a short section and I was able to catch a few waves and surf away from him as well as a double rowing shell that we had been reeling in. I stayed way out in the channel then cut in at last moment, which I think was a good move, caught another rower while surfing small rollers into the finish and ended up third overall. Debbie and Morris nipped Adrian and Rainer who were frantically looking for the finish line for first place. I believe it was a single rower behind me, then either Ludo or a double shell, John Day was the next ski, followed by “Sore Butt” Mike G., then Michael Dee ……

Mike drove on the return trip home, and all I can say is that he drives like he paddles his ski - need I say more.
Thanks for the adventure Mike!

Dean

My Version….
Shane Baker
08/15/10 #9028

Man, what a long day! Up at 3 am, leave home at 3:50, catch ferry from Anacortes at 7:20. Spend time on Shaw and doing the race, waiting in line for the ferry to leave Shaw almost 3 hours behind schedule, home at 11 pm. Bill Jaquette, a fella in a lapstrake wherry and myself went clockwise around. It was the correct choice, results will prove it as I managed to have a faster time than Dave Halpren by 5 minutes or so. I was all alone with Bill out ahead of me spotting the severe sections of current. I hugged the rocky shoreline inside the kelp beds in most of places and maintained contact with Bill until we turned into Wasp Passage.

There were a lot of loose eel grass blades everywhere. I stopped and backed off them a few times. It was hot, probably 90 degrees. I elected to place my PFD under my deck bungies instead of wearing it. As I passed the ferry terminals at Orcas and Shaw, a Sheriff Safety and Enforcement boat passed me at high speed going in the other direction. I was concerned about the two ferries backing out into my space. A loud shout from behind got my attention. It was the Sheriff asking me if I had a PFD. I answered that of course I did, and that it was on my rear deck. He asked if it was am inflatable, I answered yes. He insisted that I put it on as they are not legal unless worn. News to me. I might have a short fuse but starring at that 50 mm caliber machine gun (Homeland Security probably provided the craft) I was obedient. My racing frame of mind was disrupted.

They left and I resumed racing, my focus shot. Two minutes down the tube? It was fun to watch all the ccw racers go by and try to figure out if I was ahead or behind them on time. From the Shaw Island ferry dock to the finish I didn't get the push from the current that I expected with an ebb tide. Dave's outrigger canoe club based on San Juan Island provided post-race soup and goodies.We sat in line at the ferry dock for hours telling lies about past race experiences. I enjoyed watching Morris and Debbie's children playing with paper airplanes and trying to outdo each other. There are signs posted at the Shaw Ferry landing stating no beach access to kayaks. Apparently some locals pooled some money and bought the piece of land adjacent to the ferry dock to stop human powered watercraft from putting in there. Next week the Bainbridge Marathon. Who is up to it?

Shane.

Post-Shaw report
Michael Lampi
08/15/10 #9035

The Shaw Island photos are going online as I write this.

I made sure that I took a lot of extra “touristy” shots so all you racers would see some of the things that might have been missed in the heat of the race.

http://soundrowersphoto.org/photography/2010/Round%20Shaw%20Row%202010/index.html

After being the last across the finish line, and having missed the soup and other food, and getting a flip book instead of ribbons, we rushed to the ferry terminal - only to find we were 3rd in line for the ferry AFTER the next one to arrive.

Well, the ferries were running over an hour late on Saturday, so everyone hung out at the waiting area next to the beach. It was pretty nice and shady, with beer, chips and cheese to go around. After the preceding 10 vehicles got on the ferry to Anacortes we figured out that if one took the inter-island ferry to Lopez, and then got onto the dedicated Lopez-Anacortes ferry we could get to Anacortes an hour earlier than if we waited on Shaw for the direct ferry to Anacortes. An hour saved would be a good thing!

We finally got on the inter-island ferry to Lopez, which was supposed to get there by 7 for the 8 PM dedicated ferry to Anacortes, arriving an hour before the Shaw to Anacortes ferry would arrive. Well, the inter-island ferry delayed leaving Shaw for a while, went back to Orcas to pick up cars they left there, went back to Shaw to drop some more cars, and finally made it to Lopez close to 8 PM. There we discovered the 8 PM ferry was delayed until about 9 PM.

We were hungry, and the stand next to the ferry dock closed an hour earlier. The ferry worker recommended that we drive to Lopez Village and get something and return. We got to Lopez Village just in time for the market to close, and almost everything was closed, too. However, a cafe on the water was open, and we got a table for three (me, Joe and Carrie Weisse, who drove on the ferry with us). One look at the prices on the menu and we each quickly decided to just order appetizers for ourselves.

They were actually quite good, and almost a meal by themselves. We drove back to the ferry, and now the line stretched back down the road. It was no problem, as the ferry could take up to 150 vehicles! Shortly after we loaded and left, the much delayed ferry from Shaw made its appearance at Lopez. It followed us by about 15 minutes, so I guess we saved a little time - and had dinner as well.

I made it home just before midnight.

Re: Post-Shaw report
debbie natelson
08/16/10 #9036

Mike,
Thanks for the super speedy posting of the race pics (as is your most wonderful habit).

But I was shocked and saddened to hear that there was no soup for you when you guys returned. I feel terrible. I was one of the later paddlers myself and inhaled the bottom of one of the almost empty soup pots. But I know there was lots more, at least a half pot of minnestrone – plus bags and bags of still unheated soup. There was somehow a miscommunication. David's Friday Harbor OC Club, Hui Wa'a put on this fabulous spread – with TONS of yummy soup and bread. They were all so helpful and efficient that somehow they must have cleaned up without first checking that all the racers were back in. So sorry; had I realized that I would have certainly pulled some bowls and bread for you both. Glad you finally got some good food.

We'll all have to make a better concerted effort to make sure that there is food left for ALL the racers – AND the VOLUNTEERS waiting patiently at the finish line for the last racers.

Thank you also for agreeing to take Jerry back to civilization. I hope you're agreeing to do so didn't cost you your place in line on the first ferry you were aiming for. Glad you got a nice tour of Lopez in the pursuit of food.
- Deb

Re: Post-Shaw report
Dale McKinnon
08/16/10 #9038

Mike, I'm glad you said something. Your concern was zero food when you got in, but given that the crew didn't know that there was still someone out there raises a safety issue. But, oh well, you're home (finally), safe and all is well…

debbie natelson
08/16/10 #9039

The “crew” most certainly knew that Mike and Joe weren't in. At least a few of us –including the timers“ were on constant lookout for them. And there was also ongoing discussion, like, Gee, it's taking Mike and Joe quite a while. They're probably not making much headway through the current.,etc. (course did not seem to have a weed problem so we didn't think they were bogged down by sea weed). However, there was concern and we considered going out in a kayak/OC to look if they didn't appear soon. The unfortunate situation of “no food left for them” was more that a particular “kitchen elf” was being perhaps, overly efficient and didn't coordinate with timers/race director, etc. before putting the soup away. There was a bit of a mad frenzy because most of the Sound Rowers were in a mad frenzy to leave on the next ferry. Where as, the OC group (who provided the food) brought enough for dinner as well. And so figured that they would bring out more of the larder in a few hours. But yes, we were all relieved that they made it back safe and sound, albeit, famished.

Michael Lampi
08/21/10 #9067

To be fair to David he did offer us food at their camp site up the road. However, we had decided even before reaching the finish that we were going to try to make the ferry, which was going to depart roughly an hour after when we expected to reach the finish, and getting food was secondary.

He also helped pull the boat and trailer out of the water so I didn't have to get sand on or in my car.

Thank you, David!

I was actually a little more unhappy for Joe's sake in him not getting his first Sound Rowers ribbon.

Michael Lampi