eneumeier

Group Paddling - LONG I was spurred to post this after talking with Suzanne and others about last Saturday’s SNG to see Queen Mary II and Peaks, and beyond. We had such a wide variety of paddling levels and interests that day, with 21 kayaks, it was not surprising - after we split into 3 groups of 7 - when a variety of things happened. ) I would like to hear what options people see for this type of situation. “You are responsible for your own safety.” I keep thinking about the relationship between the individual and the group. Those words, which we often say to one another, seem to me to fall short of what really happens when people paddle together. So I turned, as I often do, to John (Tsunami Ranger) Lull’s book “Sea Kayaking Safety & Rescue.” In Chapter 15 he talks about group safety through teamwork and relates that concept to “kayak teams,” “guided trips,” “club trips,” and “private groups.” I’ll skip the part about guided trips. KAYAK TEAMS Lull’s description of a kayaking team seems to fit some of our members who have found paddling buddies they go out with regularly, like Rick S. and Ciro: “… each team member is fully competent for the task at hand, is entirely self-sufficient, and knows the strengths and weaknesses of the other members. Each member can also fill any necessary role but may specialize in one or two roles, such as lead paddler or navigator. There must also be shared awareness, good communication, and a common mission. Each paddler knows where the others are and what the overall plan is. The paddlers might not always be within sight of one another, but they know whether someone is behind or up ahead.” So, when a “team” gets ready to leave the beach, only a quick update is required: “my shoulder is feeling sore,” “my radio is in the shop,” or “I forgot my tow belt,” etc. to let your teammates know about anything out of the ordinary. A more detailed beach briefing is not required because everyone already has the necessary information. CLUB TRIPS Lull’s description of “Club Trips” sounds like us: “… in most cases, the group will be a mix of paddlers (some of whom may be new to the club) with varying skill levels. This mix of paddling skills will make it impossible to implement all the teamwork concepts. … On a club trip, the group will usually require a slightly more rigid structure than the experienced team, stronger paddlers must be prepared to look after weaker paddlers. However, the more a kayak club uses the team concept and promotes personal responsibility, the safer and more enjoyable its trips will be.” On official club trips the leaders do the planning and set the trip level, although paddlers will still have varying skill levels. There is a float plan left with a responsible person, a beach briefing to cover communication issues and more, see below, and methods of keeping the group together, like the "lead" and "sweep" paddlers Lull talks about. PRIVATE GROUPS This sounds a lot like our show ‘n goes, but we add elements of greater numbers and some people who do not know one another: “Private kayaking trips with two or three friends probably allow the most freedom on the water and provide the optimal opportunity for applying the team concept. This is especially true if you are all at about the same skill level and know one another well. … Although private groups enjoy a great deal of freedom, problems can occur when they are too loosely organized. Teamwork is effective only if you use it. When you go out with a group of friends on an “unofficial” trip, there is a tendency to toss the kayaks on the water and take off, without any real plan. Most of the time you can get away with this, especially if everyone is an experienced paddler. However, if you all go your separate ways, you are essentially paddling solo. If you want to paddle as a group, everyone should know the general plan and pay attention to the others in the group.” People posting show 'n goes, and doing private paddles, do varying amounts of planning and communicating. “TOSS THE KAYAKS ON THE WATER” Boy did those words leap off the page at me. How many times have I just wanted to do just that? Skip all the gear and talk and just GO. After re-reading Lull, I realize once again that only a true “team” has that luxury. For everyone else, we need to take the time - with our paddling mates of the day - to pause on the beach and cover the items every group on the water needs to know: about each other and the plans for the day. And, have enough respect for the ocean to be fully prepared - as individual paddlers - every time we launch. So, take a look at this list. How much do people do for show ‘n goes? Briefing on the Beach 1. Introductions a. Name and paddling background b. Goals for the trip 2. Location and Conditions a. Route 1) Show route on chart and discuss risks 2) Backup plans and escape routes 3) Bailout procedure b. Conditions 1) Weather forecast 2) Wind and waves 3) Tides and currents 4) Boat traffic 5) Hazards c. Features (optional) 1) Flora and fauna 2) Geology 3) Human history 3. Risks a. Hypothermia and clothing b. Skill levels: review, question, screen, observe c. Personal limitations: contact leader (privately if preferred) d. Physical requirements: hydrate, food, fatigue 4. Safety and Group Procedures a. Leadership roles b. Expectations of participants c. Importance of staying with the group d. Conditions and procedure for leaving the trip e. Importance of communication with trip leader f. Speaking up (let us know if you are having a problem) g. Paddle formations to be used h. On the water signals i. Emergency routine j. Review wet exit k. Human Wastes 5. Trip Administration a. Responsibilities of individuals b. Trip Leader roles c. Liabilities and waivers d. Emergency contacts Liz N.

Sorry, but for a variety of reasons this is not coming together. I'll try it again in May. I am exploring posting official trips for Oct. 16-17 when I will be staying at a friend's house in Wellfleet. That is the weekend of the Wellfleet Oyster Festival, so it may be crowded down there. I know this is fairly short notice, but is there interest in: 1) paddling from Wellfleet to, say, Jeremy Point, on Saturday and 2) Monomoy to check out the seals on Sunday, before driving back? I don't have time to check into places for others to stay so folks would have to self organize. Liz N.

I am only 1/4 Swedish and also have wide feet. My mother (1/2 Swedish) had to have foot surgery. Hmmm. I wear Technica Shandals in the summer, hard sole - I once hiked in them for 3 hours. They do pick up sand. In winter I love my Chotas. Liz N.

HIGH SURF ADVISORY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 500 PM EDT FRI SEP 24 2004 ...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON... SOUTHEAST SWELL ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES KARL AND JEANNE WILL CONTINUE TO BRING DANGEROUSLY HIGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS TO BEACHES ALONG THE ENTIRE MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTLINE THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY AFTERNOON. SWELLS HAVE PUSHED INTO MOST OF THE BEACHES ACROSS CAPE COD AND THE SOUTH COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS THIS AFTERNOON. LONG PERIODS...UP TO 17 SECONDS...WERE REPORTED. THESE SWELLS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE BREAKERS AS HIGH AS 10 FEET...ESPECIALLY ON SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST FACING BEACHES. WITH THE HIGH BREAKERS...RIP CURRENTS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. RIP CURRENTS ARE STRONG...NARROW CHANNELS OF WATER THAT FLOW AWAY FROM SHORE. REMEMBER...IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...REMAIN CALM AND TRY TO SWIM ON A COURSE THAT IS PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL YOU ARE OUT OF THE RIP...THEN SWIM TOWARD SHORE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE CURRENT. IT CAN EXHAUST EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER...WHICH COULD RESULT IN DROWNING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. Have fun! Liz N.

This is a great idea. The Mystic Lake clean up has become an annual event, and lots of fun. Hopefully the Misery one will too. And, I am going to talk to the Gloucester Clean City folks about doing this in Gloucester Harbor - the area near the breakwater "collects" trash. Liz N.

>we're all eagerly awaiting the >results of Liz's efforts to dehydrate an entire watermelon. Ya' know. I gotta try it. Not a whole one, in one piece. As much fun as it was to speculate about creating a watermelon jelly bean that could be rehydrated out on some island - it won't fit in the dehydrator. But I do have to dehydrate some slices of watermelon to see what, if anything, is left. I'll report back. I'll pass on the suggestion to dehydrate ice cubes though. Liz N.

And with more volume and greater amplitude: Gloucester native Patty P. won the gold in the lobster eating contest! 'nuf said about that one. :-)) Saturday a group of 9 paddled together from Lanesville to Rockport, on a classic late-August dog day. Several had not paddled that stretch of coastline so we hugged the shore to sightsee, then we dipped into Back Beach to use the restrooms, taking care to avoid the many divers. Al was able to raise another group of 4 who left Lanes Cove after us and were heading to Adam's hideway on Straightsmouth, so we joined them there for lunch at really fun landing/launch spot. A bit of swimming for those so inclined, and a decision to circumnavigate Straightsmouth for those getting restless. That group met 3 more NSPNers coming 'round the other way, including one very happy fellow in his new Explorer. After a bit of socializing while everyone got on the water we headed back, straight across Sandy Bay. That was the first long crossing for one of the group and she did great. Many sailboats to weave through and we could have surrounded and captured a couple easily but chose to let them cross our path unmolested. Paddling to Halibut Point we talked about the weather and how it did not look threatening, despite the forecast. Hah! After turning at Halibut Point the western sky nearly blended with the water surface. Hog Island was barely visible. Slightly south of Hog the sun broke through, surrounded by blue sky. It was quite amazing to see the storm form up right before our eyes. The group wisely decided to head straight to Lanes Cove and get their boats on their cars. The later took place in the deluge. (Lucky for me the rain ended quickly so the weed pulling could begin.) I really would like to thank everyone for their help. I'll be posting a couple more trips soon, having been freed from hours of solo tedium amongst the mosquitos. And I will have a huge load of mulch delivered to keep things more under control in the future. Liz N.

Did you take out your kayak seat and make a new one? If so, is the new one centered in exactly the same place? If not, the reference charts manufacturers use to see which skirt fits which boat may be off. I bought a Snapdragon for my KS Viviane. But, since I made my own seat I sit a bit farther forward. The Snapdragon will not work because the tunnel is farther back and pulls me backwards. I will have to make (when I find time) or order (when my gear kitty fills back up) a custom one. My advice is to try it on you and your kayak - before you buy. Liz N.

I wish I had known sooner. I have friends who live on Knox Street. Liz N.

That was the second group buy. The first one, which I have also, was the year before and the 350S model. Liz N.

Actually Karen's was in the first group buy, organized by Shelly Saunders, from Voyager Marine Electronics in Essex. I mailed her a copy of the group receipt, dated March 2001. Liz N.

Suzanne, You really have to stop getting out of your boat for cheap gear. Remember the $20 chart? I'm glad you folks got off the water. If finally occurred to me that being in my yard with a steel shovel was not the smartest thing, and I went inside. Liz N.

How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb? 1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed 14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently 7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs 1 to move it to the Lighting section 2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section 7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs 5 to flame the spell checkers 3 to correct spelling/grammar flames 6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid 2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp" 15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct 19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum 11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum 36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty 7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs 4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's 3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group 13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too" 5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy 4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?" 13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs" 1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again. Liz N.

>Posting an idea is great, but letting a bad or flawed idea >go uncorrected or unqualified would be irresponsible. Right. We should have a discussion about the pros and cons, and when one thing works and another does not. I want to emphasize that even people who cannot do rescues in the optimal way, e.g. holding the coaming, swimming onto the back deck, etc., should try to figure out a way to make a rescue work. They should persevere and practice as many different things as they or anyone else can think of. In this example, which is only one of many, since she has tried so many different things, Dee now knows what her best option is. In really rough water, it probably will be more risky. So, if there is someone else around who can hold on to the cockpit coaming, letting them do that rescue might be Dee's best option. If it is only her out there, at least she has figured out how far she can go. Liz N.

Sorry to be late jumping into this discussion, but I have been away and am just catching up with reading this message board. >There are a lot of ways to reenter a boat, but, we >know that there are certain ways that work all the time. NOT. Rick, I beg to differ. There are no ways that work all the time. What works is very dependent on the rescuee and rescuer, the conditions, the kayaks, and many other factors. Whenever I watch you demonstrate getting back in your kayak using a classic T rescue with such tremendous ease and grace I think "yeah right, nice for you." My Viviane has a VERY high back deck. I have what Alex refers to as lots of "natural flotation" up top which causes my pfd to snag on it. You simply will not see me slithering up on Viviane like a seal. Reading this thread prompted me to go to my bookshelf for "Sea Kayak Rescue: The Definitive Guide to Modern Reentry and Recovery Techniques" by Roger Schuman and Jan Shriner. Although described as "definitive" in the subtitle, the authors ask for people to send in suggestions so they can keep the guide up to date as "techniques evolve." (I hope that those experimenting with new techniques will continue to post their lessons learned on this message board so NSPN's learning and techniques can also. Dee, Cathy, etc., please heed.) Schumann/Shriner have a chapter on "Rescues for Special Circumstances" in the intro to which they say "This chapter deals with strategies for handling situations that are beyond the norm -- those that involve tired or incapacitated swimmers, rough seas, sinking boats, and any number of complications. We laughed when we wrote that last sentence because our normal rescue scenarios are often 'beyond the norm'." They describe a "real life rescue" under the Golden Gate Bridge, in which a sling was the solution to a large man, tired at the end of a strenous paddle, being able to get back in his kayak. They describe lots of ways to rig and use slings. For people who don't want to carry another piece of equipment: you don't have to. You can use your short contact tow if it is rigged correctly. >Because you have a limitation with regard to your thumbs is >not to say that there is not something that you can do to >counteract that limitation, that is all well and good. >However, I have seen folks who don’t take the proven way of >doing things seriously and as a consequence are practicing >and conducting not-so-serious, considerate rescues. What >will happen when circumstances are critical? Casual works >for the casual paddler, but let’s have serious actions for >the serious paddler. Combing verus slick boat, deck lines, >or bungies, no question. I've observed just the opposite: "serious" paddlers so intent on doing things the "proven way" that they do not recognize quickly that the person they are trying to rescue simply cannot do what they are asking. Telling such a "victim" to try again, try again, can demoralize the victim, who IS trying as hard as he or she can, while wasting valuable time and energy. In such circumstances, whipping out a sling (or stirrup) to get the victim in the kayak can be the better option. A serious rescue is any type that works. IMHO everyone should start learning with the classic solo and assisted rescues. From there, each paddler should figure out what works best for him/her: as the "victim" and the rescuer. Brian has found that the between the boats works for him and Suz has her technique. That's great. Dee has figured out a way to hold onto the victim's kayak, despite her gimpy thumbs. That's great too. Might there be a circumstance when I need to get someone back in a kayak NOW, even though our boats are bow-to-bow? I practice putting my kayak on edge to move it into a bow-stern position, but that does take a few seconds. I think I'll try a few practice rescues, bow-to-bow, to see how it feels and if I can do it so I'll be prepared for that, just in case. It may add one more tool to my toolkit that I will hopefully never need to use. > Suz, I’ve practiced your method several times to see how it >works and I agree that it does the trick (bow to stern) with >no compromises. But you are SUPPOSED to swim your legs to the surface and kick yourself onto the back deck. It is proven. It always works. Just kidding. :-)) Suz: Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" was dedicated to those of us who carry our own balast and hence can paddle tippy boats with relative ease. Did you know? Liz N.

>Our trip up the Back River was at a considerably faster >pace. For a few minutes Liz stowed her paddle and opened >her umbrella and kept up with the group. During a lull she >started to fall behind, then a gust abruptly inverted the >umbrella, so she went back to paddling. This was the first time I had used the umbrella in a kayak with a rudder. In the fully loaded boat I was doing between 4 and 4.6 knots. Pretty cool. Staying with the group was no problem. Avoiding running into them when a gust came along was, since I could not see in front of me. >The Sasanoa spreads out into a shallow bay just before it >meets the Kennebec. Part of the group decided it was time >for a bio-break here. As she had several times before, Liz >demonstrated her ability to find the deepest muck to land >in, twice. You know, landing in deep muck - and getting out of it with both shoes, is an important sea kayaking skill that we don't get to cover in trip leader training since Cape Ann is solid granite. Rock landings, hah! Anyone who cares not about gelcoat can do that. Try getting both feet unstuck without falling down! (I recommend floating your kayak bow between your knees to sit on and digging out one foot at a time. Also, reaching under the mud to lift the toe will help break the suction.) Try getting back in your kayak in water so shallow it won't float if you add 2 pounds and mud so deep you can't walk to deeper water. Now that is a challenge! (Thanks for the tow, Bob.) Practice, practice. Liz N.

>We came close to needing a lawyer when we charged the iron >works... To clarify the reference for those who were not there, and illustrate the down side of NSPN's conscientious method of crossing channels: Sunday we were heading to the takeout (just south of the Bath Iron Works on the Kennebec River) via the Sasanoa River. Naturally, when we reached the Kennebec we paused to confer about the crossing, wait for the boat traffic to clear and form a neat little line. Ready set go - straight for the Iron Works' largest crane which some of the group wanted a closer look at. As we made our bee line straight at them, at a quick channel crossing pace, I noticed some guys in uniforms getting in a small vessel and heading out to meet us. What we thought were "No Wake" bouys turned out to be "Keep Out" markers, setting a rather large perimeter around the Works, where 2 destroyers were being worked on. Hmmn. They had not been bothered by the kayaker who was paddling right up the middle of the river, amongst all the boat traffic. Liz N.

Ditto. I was listed as the assistant leader for this trip, but Dee did all the work. Studying the tide and current tables for this complex area of rivers, bays and islands to work out routes required a rocket scientist, not a lawyer. :-)) Liz N.

Paddling out to see the puffins at Eastern Egg Rock over the 4th, Mohegan was just off the east, okay about 5 miles. It looked REALLY tempting. How hard it would be is totally related to the conditions the day you paddle. Alas, I have a family obligation that weekend. :-(( I see an array of NSPN trips coming out of this: - January down south for those who like warm water. - Summer up north for those who like whales and ice bergs. - Tooling along the Maine Island Trail for those who want to stay closer to home. Liz N.

In the long "Classes and Courses" thread the idea came up of NSPN teaming with outfitters to offer expedition training that culminates in a trip to Newfoundland for those who've gone through the training together. Is there much interest? Liz N.

>So, if others are interested, I'd be glad to draft an RFP >and submit it to several outfitters. So, to get things >started, let me know if you're interested, and, more >specifically, what kind of training/trip you'd be interested >in. You can reply to this message or send an email to >tom@casepeople.com. This is what makes NSPN work: people who step up and move a project forward. Tom: I am starting a new thread on this idea to make sure people see it and get some more detailed suggestions on what people might be interested in. (Some folks may have stopped reading this thread.) Please reply to it with your contact info. I'll be glad to work on this with you. Liz N.

I agree with Greg on the posture point. I have noticed that paddling the KS Viviane, but not in other boats for some reason, I have a tendency to want to lean and reach forward at the catch phase of my stroke. This results in the symptoms you describe. When I sit up and relax, they go away. Check it out. Liz N.

This might be something for NSPN and outfitters to explore together. I have had a number of conversations with members recently about "international" trips, or extended kayak camping trips. Such undertakings either involve going with an outfitter or a really broad skill set: planning, navigation, weather, and paddling skills, etc. Perhaps NSPN and outfitters could put together a series of classes leading up to taking a major trip together. Personally, I really prefer paddling with people I know so going on a trip to Baffin Island, Newfoundland or the Shetlands, or Alaska, etc. with an NSPN group would be great. Liz N.

>what Binks is too modest to point out, being Binks, is that >he broke the top 10 in men's touring. In fact, he finished >eighth, just a bit over 9 minutes behind the winner, and in >this race, that is a remarkable achievement! Maybe the gin he was sipping through that tube helped! Jolly good show! >Liz- an hour? I think you have been sandbagging us all. Holy >cow, between you, Dee and Sharon Barbano we actaully have >got some good women's touring racing going on! The paddle you loaned me had something to do with it. Thanks! You need to watch out for Susan Beachum - if she trades that Pintail in for a long boat. >Congrats to all the NSPN present and former racers! >You know who you are... >Alex And to 4-time women's champ: Alex! Liz N.

>Preparing for this race involved a lot of time at the 'Y' doing >cardiovascular workouts and weight training. I really didn't get the >opportunity to start training on the water before the Mystic and >Chebacco Lake sessions started. At Mystic, Adam would lead me through >a bunch of training exercises that ran me ragged, and then I repeated >these exercises at Chebacco. I got to the Y an average of once every other week in the two months before 7/10. >This went on for a few weeks, and then about two and a half weeks >before the race, I finally got out on the ocean. Liz and Rick Crangle >and I launched from Back Beach one Wednesday evening, and paddled to >the Greasy Pole. Rick kept dashing ahead, while I stayed back with >Liz. It was a slow pace taking us 3 hours to go 10.5 miles. Heh. Heh. >The following Sunday, Rick and I did a partial circumnavigation of >Cape Ann that Rick called the Blackburn the Hard Way. We paddled from >Lane's Cove to Brace Cove and back. The following Sunday I joined Jeff Casey for his lazy beach trip. Good food was served. (I had to build up my strength.) > I was really spent afterwards and had nasty raspberries 3 inches >across on the back of each thigh from the front of my seat. I probably spent more time perfecting my seat than training, but I had no nasty raspberries on my thighs. :-)) >The next Saturday, I failed to find someone to paddle the entire route >with me. I went anyway. Way to go, Dee! I went to Maine for the 4th with Bob and Geri and paddled out to watch the cute puffins. Actually, I'm discovering that hard training is not really my thing - having fun paddling is. But I am good at the determination thing once I get going. >The day of the race I had to get up at 4:30AM (ugh). I was on the >road by 5:15, I got up and had coffee at 5:15. I do love that home court advantage. >There was also a woman in a lace shirt with a Pintail from Connecticut Now I must track her down. Doing that time in a Pintail is impressive! >After checking in, I dropped Liz's boat at the Pole and walked back >with plenty of time for the skipper's meeting and a last trip to the >bathroom. Actually Dee drove my car over to the finish line area, which was really nice of her. She didn't try to hide my boat, which would have been really mean. >Much to my surprise, Liz was staying right beside me. I tried not to >look surprised, Heh. Heh. Ah Dee, you failed - to not look surprised. I wish I had a camera to capture your expression when you said, "you are paddling a lot faster than when we went out before" and, after looking at your GSP "you know, you are going well over 4 knots." I decided to stay with you as long as I could just for the fun of watching you wonder if you were going to be able to beat me - even though I knew pretty early on that I would not be able to sustain that pace. I was actually surprised I was able to keep it up to Sandy Bay. >and then I noticed that she wasn't using the Little Dipper. She had a >serious looking wide-bladed, high angle paddle which she had borrowed >from Alex. It was a Kauai. Thanks Alex!!!! > We passed Jim Fessenden and his girfriend after the 128 bridge and >Walter and company as we approaced Wingearsheek. Great to see friends out there! >The men started passing us at Wingearsheek. I didn't recognize the >first 10. Chick and Jill started slowing down a bit at that point and >not longer stretched the gap between us. Andrew passed us at the >mouth of the Annisquam. Muttering something about his Gin in his Camelback being too warm, or was it too cold? > I started recognizing some of the other men after we passed the >lighthouse. Ken, Paul, Jed, and Ciro. I kept telling the guys to smile. Mark Jacobson asked "when?" I replied "the finish line." I trust he did: he was third when he passed us, and first across the finish line. Ciro and John Leonard were the only ones smiling. I think we need a smiling workshop. >Liz dropped back with Jill, Jill and I had a nice chat for a while. She lives in Annisquam, is a real athlete - VERY strong - although paddling is not her sport. As Dee started to pull away she asked if I was going to catch "that girl in the green kayak." I said no - I knew Dee was gone from my reach. She said she would. I said go for it. She didn't make it. >Oh, and then there was the guy in the blue SOT with a large cooler >strapped to the deck. I asked him if he had brought his own beer, he said no, it was his lunch. Big appetite! > Unfortunately, I didn't notice Rick, Janis, etc. on Straitsmouth >Island. Liz told me about it later. Great turnout out there!!!! >We passed Land's End and I pointed my bow at Brace Rock (god it looks >so much farther than 4 miles.) The boats were again spread out to my >starboard side. I started ferrying, but by watching the lobster pots >I realized that not much was required. As the land dropped away to me >right, the wind started to feel a bit cooler - a welcome relief. That breeze really was welcome. A bit to cool us off, but not enough to interfere as last year's headwind did. I could not get over how much more quickly I paddled that stretch this year. >As we crossed Brace Cove I looked for the boomer at the middle. I was watching for Bemo too, and remembered it being closer to shore than it is. All of a sudden I heard this sound, looked left and thought oh s**t. If I had been 5 yards more to the left, I could have reinacted a certain end-o from last fall. As it was, I got a bit of a push along my way. > Again, I looked back and sure enough it was a Pintail! Susan Beachum paddled that Pintail WAY out the whole course. I'm not sure why. She must have covered an extra 2 miles. Without that, she would surely have placed. I kept watching her silouette in the distance. > Three women behind and ahead, but the Pintail was slowly catching up. >I felt like I had enough in me to sprint to the finish, but as I tried >to push harder and rotate more, my bladder shrieked in protest. Maybe we need a how to pee in your boat workshop. :-)) >Liz is right, that Harbor has to be at least 6 miles long, maybe 8. >The boat wakes make it the choppiest part of the trip. The chop seemed to be slowing Jill down a bit so I decided to try to catch her. I had swallowed my last packet of "Carb Blast" at the Dogbar light so it was in full force: glucose and caffeine. Can there be a better combination? Unlike last year when I limped across the finish line, this time I sprinted the last mile. I would have caught Jill but she saw me coming and kicked it up too. I caught my only good ride of the day from a fishing boat zooming in past Ten Pound Island, so I'm not complaining about the chop. (There were some folks fishing off a small boat right there, who looked horribly alarmed when they saw the wake heading at me. I think they were surprised when they saw what I did with it.) >If we started on time (I forgot to check), my time is 4 hours and 15 >minutes. 15 minutes faster than the previous week. I forgot my watch and had no idea of my time until the preliminary results were posted. Am I happy with my time? Yes. >The next day, my body is barely sore. Only my calves were a bit sore. And I was much less tired tha last year. Full strength Gatorade and Carb Blast mixed in water, both sipped frequently all along the course helped, I'm sure. >Update: It looks like we started late. My time was 4 hours >and 6 minutes. Liz was only 6 mintues behind me. The first >and second place finishers (Alex and Sharon) were only 30 >seconds apart. The spread between 3rd and 7th was less than >14 minutes. An exciting race for the women in general. Definitely getting to be more competitive. Alex beat her last year's time by 30 minutes. So, if I attribute 30 minutes of the improvement in my time to conditions, I did meet my goal of taking 30 minutes off my 2003 time. Hopefully more women will come out next year! Liz N.