Surfski Knowledge Base

Morris Arthur <marthur@…>
06/17/08 #4523

Yesterday, I set the course record for the Whiskey Run: 33 minutes 08 seconds.

Ok, let me back up:
Yesterday evening (Monday), inspired by Larry G's description of his mid-day paddle, I paddled out to Whiskey Rock. It was ho-hum, weedy 1-2 ft bumps on the way out. But after I turned north, I caught these wonderful 3-4 ft rollers back to Marine Park. Sweet, well-connected rides! …After whooping it up (by myself), I was sad that I didn't get to share the experience… and I lamented that we had very few downwind races around here. And, heck, I didn't know if I was paddling well or not.

Anyway, I dreamed up this course and I challenge you (and myself) to beat the record… or just use it as a measuring stick.

So here's the challenge:
-Search for the perfect conditions: Flat water with current? Raging S wind? Fast rollers?
-Get yourself to Whiskey Rock: either paddle from Marine Park, or shuttle to Larrabee (sissy!).
-Line yourself up with the south edge of Whiskey Rock and the south edge of the “gym house”. ( I guess you can go out into the bay as far as you want.) This is the start.
-Race your clock north until you pass the north end of the dry dock near Marine Park (line up the two north edges.)
-Stop your watch.

Post your attempt here, especially if you set a new record. (Hey, we can even have different classes.)

Here are details of my run:
4.87 miles
33:08 minutes
8.9 mph average speed
10.8 mph max speed (over 3 seconds) …GPS said 11.9 mph (over 1 second)
Bay cam indicated 10 mph WSW winds, and it seemed I was bucking a current.

Come on, you can beat that!

Morris

Re: The Whiskey Run: Course Record
lori & beau whitehead
06/17/08 #4524

What a coincidence… My wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday today. I said that all I wanted was a ride to Larrabee so I could surf my stand up board back to Fairhaven. Of course I checked the internet for wind direction etc. and Lori dropped me off at the boat launch around 1:15. It was a bit of a battle to get out of the little cove at Larrabee, but once I got far enough out past Whiskey Rock and turned north… sweet!! Like Morris said; 3-4 foot rollers perfectly spaced for rail-roading a stand up board home. Of course I went swimming about 8 times, but that's what makes a board fun (plus I'm not sitting on my arse)
So, from Larrabee to Marine Park took me 52 minutes… a bit slower than a surf ski obviously. I'm guessing it will be awhile before another stand-up paddler gives me a run… Brandon?

Re: The Whiskey Run: Course Record
Morris Arthur <marthur@…>
06/18/08 #4525

Sounds like Beau just set the record for the standup board division.
It seems Monday and Tuesday were great bay-paddling days…

For those of you who don't get email attachments, I created a new folder in the Photos section of the website:
“_Race Courses”. I put the gps track map of the Whiskey Run in that folder. (Hopefully, others can post different “race courses” that they create.)

Morris

Thursday nooner 'Whiskey Run'……
Larry Goolsby
06/19/08 #4544

Hammer and I met at Marine Park at 11:30 in order to establish a
record time for doing the Whiskey Run in an outrigger. The tide was
due to start coming in shortly after 12 noon and the water was flat.
Not the conditions we hoped for when establishing a downwind record
time. As we paddled towards Whiskey Rock, a slight NW wind picked up
and we knew that this record time was going to be for an 'upwind'
Whiskey run. I was not going to make a record attempt myself and I
was only there to keep Mike honest. Frankly, I would rather kiss my
sister before you would catch me paddling an outrigger (but that's
another story).
We started back from the south edge of Whiskey rock and I could see
that this was going to be a painful all day event if I didn't do
something to assist Mike with his goal. I quickly paddled up in front
of him and forced him into drafting on me. Still, if I paddled more
than 40 strokes a minute, Mike would fall behind and I would have to
stop and wait. I was tempted just to paddle home and leave him there
but, there was a stiff 2-3 knt headwind so you have to imagine how
rough the conditions were becoming. So finally we arrived at Marine
Park and set a new standard for all outriggers to try and break. Our
time was 52 minutes and 45 seconds. Maybe we will go back and try it
when the wind blows from the south and see if we can improve on this.
LG