Hi Joey,
My lovely wife, Mary Kay, Cindy Perry and Scott Tyrrell paddled a 4-person outrigger canoe in last week’s Blackburn Challenge. We belong to Boston Outrigger Racing Association and our club was well represented in this year’s event. The 4-person outrigger is called “The Duke” and had a couple of GoPro’s running. As you know, the seas were big and there was plenty of adventure! Our “ama” or outrigger filled up with water and we had to drain it on the beach in Gap’s Cove. We had a terrific race and hope Good Morning Gloucester enjoys our video!
Tag: 2015 blackburn challenge
Unofficial 34 DNF (Did Not Finish) Blackburn Challenge
Unofficially 34 DNF (Did Not Finish) Blackburn Challenge and some that did finish needed a little help. Jimmy T threw a double outrigger a line before they were kindling and hamburger on the barnacle coated granite of Halibut Point. The next point was just as messy.
Here a white Epic Surfski flips right at my feet at Andrews Point. My little iPhone 6 does not really capture the drama as the dude in the red sea kayak hears the splash and turns around. (1-2) By 5 he has pulled up even, steadies the Epic as Epic paddler thanks him for stopping and hops back up into the seat. In 8-9 fellow travelers stop by to see if they can offer assistance but red kayak has it well in hand.
Meanwhile they drift from about 60 yards out to about 20 yards which is getting very close to the surf zone. Blowing hard straight in with decent swells. I was getting ready to greet them as their boats turned into splinters on the granite. Just when it seemed like they took just a little too much time the Epic takes off. (11-13)
Red Sea Kayak back pedals a touch (14) to turn around then sweeps in close before heading off (15) to surf the waves across Sandy Bay. The wind and surf were roaring but he was so close that when I called out “nice job red kayak” he tipped his hat and was gone.
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Finish
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Blackburn Challenge this Saturday!
340 or so athletes will be paddling or rowing all sorts of high and low tech watercraft all the way around Cape Ann this Saturday. Click here for specifics at Cape Ann Rowing Club website.
If you are on shore:
Anywhere on Cape Ann facing the water is a good view of the race. Obviously a point sticking out will be a better view as the racers cut the corner. Good Harbor Beach on the other hand is not so good as they will just be dots on the horizon. 8AM staggered start and the Annisquam River is good, they will be starting to exit the river by 9AM. Then from there until 2-3PM the fastest boaters will be circling the Cape entering Gloucester Harbor and on to the Greasy Pole finish. But don’t forget to cheer on the slower boats, the SUP boards, the dories, and everyone else who just want to finish the challenge in under six hours.
If you are watching from a boat:
Again, anywhere along the shore of Cape Ann. Please be aware there are many serious racers in high performance craft in this race. That means some are in razor thin craft and your wake can easily flip their boat. Steer clear, view from a distance, and keep the speed down when near these fragile craft.
Click the map, 33 tidbits of new information sprinkled within, and don’t be like Rubber Duck and miss the race entirely. She is paddling the race on Friday morning the day before! Such an airhead.
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133 Days Until The Blackburn Challenge
Joey’s Christmas present was the deluxe GMG baseball cap. When he gave it to me he said, “I want to see you wear it in this year’s Blackburn Challenge.”
Joey. Mister Motivator. I did that paddle five times around Cape Ann and last year I took it off. So I was thinking instead of the GMG baseball cap I would wear a buttermilk pancake instead.
But I changed my mind. Why putter around the Cape in a motor boat when you can do it with a paddle? As of last week I am sixty years old. I already checked and there are no age brackets in the Blackburn. Not that I would have come close to even sniffing a ribbon since most of the leather and sinew paddlers in my kayak class are older than me and the last I see of them is around the Annisquam Lighthouse.
So it’s on. I have 133 days to fit into my kayak. Saturday July 25, 2015. Here is a map. Here is a timer. Here is a link to the details of the Cape Ann Rowing Club who do an awesome job on the race with food and beer at the greasy pole finish. And the warmup is the Essex River race on May 16, 2015.
May 16. 64 days away. I’ll do that too or I’ll eat my pancake.
Good Morning Gloucester 