Surfski Knowledge Base

David Scherrer
09/01/08 #4850

Ok I am throwing down the gauntlet to all you paddling types out there. Why, only a few
years ago Dean B. and my self set out to see who could go around Lummi Island the quickest
and we did manage a time of 2:54.(Dean was a little behind)…. So here's the deal. Anyone
who can beat that wins a six pack of Dos Equis……yes quite generous! Only rule is that you
are given a chance for a break at Lummi rocks for up to 1/2 hr. (with timer off of course).
Start anywhere you like, but I suggest the beach at our family's cabin on the East side.
1/2 mile south of Ferry landing. On Seacrest. 1865.
David S.

Re: Dos Equis Challenge
Michael Gregory
09/01/08 #4851

Hmm????? David, you are clearly riding on the crest of a big idea. However, how about we up the ante just a wee big. Make it a race! Entry is a six pack. Proceeds go to Peter M's party. Launch and finish off your little beach at 1865 Seacrest. 10am start next Sat am. Gives us time to trash your record, lick our wounds, and come back to party down at Peter's that eve. Whaddya y'all say? Mike G.

ps: It's official, Dean is back! Yeah, judging by the way he hammered this am that 2:45 is already toast.

Re: Dos Equis Challenge
Larry Goolsby
09/01/08 #4853

Having paddled around Lummi no less than 20 times, I'm pretty sure that
I could beat this time. When I did my circumnavigations, I included my
rest stops on the timer and most the time I finished at 3:15 - 3:20
(and I start and finish from the mainland). Before we jump at making
this a race on Saturday, check the tides. The tide that day (9/06)
isn't favorable unless you leave at about 4 am. Most of the day is a
flood tide meaning that you will have to push against the current on
one side of the island. However, I am game to paddle around Lummi next
Saturday in lieu of our usual Saturday morning outing. Let's keep this
idea alive….
LG

Re: Dos Equis Challenge
Larry Goolsby
09/03/08 #4859

This morning I left Gooseberry point at 9:21 and went counterclockwise
around Lummi. I was taxed for time so I started my watch at Gooseberry
just to see how long it would take. The conditions were flat with an
ebb tide until about 2 pm, so I was going to have to push against the
current while coming back up Hale's Pass. Fought a strong current until
I went over the top of Lummi and then picked up speed all the way down
to Carter Point. I usually take the S1-R when I go alone but this time
I took the Special. After starting out, I wished that I had put my 4“
rudder on (had the 9”) because Eel grass was abundant in the north end
of Hale's pass and I stopped twice to clear my rudder. Besides, it was
looking like a pretty flat voyage. My first and only stop was Lummi
Rocks (10:43 to 10:51) and conditions were still pretty flat except for
some small wind chop going my direction. Just before Carter Point, I
went through my third small rip (two were at the top of Lummi) and
was 'launched' past Carter into the ebb coming out of Hale's pass. I
actually passed Carter point at almost exactly 2 hours after I left so
I had 54 minutes to get back to Gooseberry to tie the record. However,
I fought both current and a 10-15 mph wind all the way back to my car.
On top of this, the weeds were horrid. I stopped at least 6 more times
to back up and clear my rudder. When I was near the ferry terminal, I
could feel weeds on my rudder and both my arms were covered but I
didn't stop because I was so close to finishing and each time I did
clear my rudder, I would hit another eddyline of weeds and bog down
once again. I finished my trip at 12:46 for a total time of 3:16 (minus
an 8 minute rest stop). If I had taken my 4“ rudder, a GPS, and
started/finished on Lummi Island instead of Gooseberry, I might have
come pretty close to the 2:54 record. I will probably try again on
Saturday but I need to do this on a day that the tide changes about the
time I near Carter Point so that I can have a push going up Hale's pass.
I think that whoever breaks this record must be the one that coughs up
a 6 pack when someone else breaks it.
LG

Dos Equis Challenge
David Scherrer
09/05/08 #4874

Paddlers,
I suggest you start and finish your times in front of the cabin on the east side of Lummi,
around 1/2 mile south of the ferry landing. I have a mooring buoy 100 feet off beach. Cabin
sits on shore, overlooking Bumstead Spit (I kid you not).
Larry B knows the way.

David S.

Dos Equis Challenge Results……
Larry Goolsby
09/06/08 #4888

Weather was perfect with some cool temps and not much wind. There
were 5 single skis (me, DJ, Larry B., Reivers and Mike G.) and the
tandem with the 205 twins (Rick and Marc). We paddled over to David's
cabin where we started the clock and headed south going
counterclockwise. I thought that we would have had the current in our
favor but it hadn't started to ebb just yet so it was a slow push
down to Carter Point. DJ thought that it was another Wednesday night
and he took off like a race horse with me on his draft. I eventually
lost him and jumped on the tandem with the rest of the paddlers as we
passed the DNR. I happened to be the only paddler that was paying
attention to our surroundings when we passed the DNR and I noticed
that Don K. was on the bluff cheering us on. I yelled that we were
racing and that we would see him at Peter's party later that night.
By now we were all in one group except DJ who was still battling his
inner demons about 30 yards in front of us. DJ took Carter Point wide
while we hugged the rocks and we closed the gap to a few yards. DJ
then went out into the current while we hugged the shore and finally
he came inside and rode with the pack. About a mile before Lummi
Rocks, DJ broke away and sprinted ahead and the rest of us came in
behind him for an 'off-the-clock' rest period.
After about 20 minutes, we remounted and headed north with Reivers
and I going inside towards Legoe Bay and the tandem with the other
singles going way out into Rosario Strait. The guys on the outside
had the better current (high 7's) and slowly overtook Reivers and I.
At the end of Legoe Bay, I kicked it up and left Reivers and chased
after the double that only had DJ riding their tail. Around the top
of the island I noticed that DJ fell off his draft and team 205
stopped and let him catch up. I was back behind them about 100 yards
and my only hope was that DJ was going to hit the wall and let me
catch up. However, DJ reached Hale's Pass first and the current was
finally going our way. The tandem crossed the finish first but DJ's
actual time was almost the same as theirs, so both DJ and the tandem
did it in 2:50. I was next at 2:55 (1 minute later than the previous
record) with Mike, Larry, and Reivers finishing in that order.
The great thing was that David was still at his cabin and he had hot
coffee and chocolate waiting for us. Total distance from David's
going around the island was 19.6 miles, which is only about 2 10ths
shorter that if we measured from Gooseberry Point. The crossing over
and back was 1.7 miles each way so my odometer showed 23 miles for
the total paddled distance.
Next year, we need to make this a team race with two tandems. The
tandem and single ski record now stands at 2:50 and today was not a
favorable tide.
LG