2013 GMG Blackburn Challenge Live Blog

Follow Our Boy Paul Morrison on his journey around Cape Ann aboard kayak via his cool Rubber duck tracker (works great on smartphones too)

For The Paul Morrison rubber duck tracker Click Here

Send in any photos from the race and I’ll post them to the live blog.

Look for Mr Rubber Duck and Paul he’ll be wearing a bright orange shirt-

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Paul writes-

Park in front of Gloucester High School at 7AM tomorrow and go out back and check out these boats! High Tech SUP paddleboards, tandem canoes, sliding multi rowing boats, fixed multirowing boats, Banks Dory, Workboats, fixed and sliding doubles and singles, outrigger canoes single and double, sea kayaks single and double, fast sea kayaks, high performance kayaks, even Hawaii Five Oh outriggers with everyone yelling hut! hut! hut! 225 boats all told.

Or hang out somewhere on the shoreline or on Pavillion beach after 11AM and watch these boats race to the greasy pole finish line. Whatever you do, do not stay inside on this beautiful weekend clicking on the Rubber Duck Tracker! OK, maybe once, then get in a boat and get out there.

Cape Ann Rowing Club (website) puts on a great circumnavigation of Cape Ann Race every year. This is the 27th running.

7:17AM Update:

Looks like Paul and RD have made their way to the Race Start out behind GHS-

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7:40Update:

Looks like he’s in starting position just off Dun Fugin.

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8:09AM Update:

Aaaaand he’s off!

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8:56 Update:

Up The Annisquam they go-

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9:42 Update:

Working their way toward the tip if the Cape-

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10:33 Update”

Heading Southeast Off Rockport-

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12:32 Update-

Approaching Brace Cove

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1:57 Update:

He Made It!

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Live Community Blogging The 2012 Gloucester Waterfront Festival

We will be posting updated pictures all day long from the Gloucester Waterfront Festival.

If you wander down there snap a picture or two. if you are a vendor down there send in your photo in front of your booth and we will post it.  Send in your iphone/android phone pics from the waterfront festival to goodmorninggloucester@yahoo.com

If you don’t have a camera or the ability to take a picture head to our GMG booth(Booth 88) and Amanda will take your picture and send it in.

9am to 6pm each day

Where to Park?
Free parking along Stacy Boulevard or at the High School.
However, please note that there is small fee to park across the street at Beach Parking.

Directions … Stage Fort Park, Hough Ave, Gloucester, MA
Easy to find … From Route 128 North, take Exit 14, follow to end.
Weather … Held Rain or Shine! …and it’s gonna Shine!
Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Area info dining, shopping…

Meet the Artisans at the Gloucester Waterfront Festival …

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7:30AM getting set up.

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There are a limited number of the new GMG T Shirts for sale in these sizes-

M, L, XL Pink

L and XL Sunwashed  Blue

L and XL Navy

S, M Lg Youth

Dri Fit Long Sleeve Navy (Bad Ass)  Limited number of these and once they are gone we probably wont be getting more.

Mason Jars with Iced Tea

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8:45AM:

Report From The Waterfront Festival and Rotary’s Pancake Breakfast From Ron Gilson

 


12:00PM Update From Bill O’Connor

Taken from High above on Tablet Rock

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www.northshorekid.com


12:20PM Update Latest Mason Jar Iced Tea Customers- The Melvin Family

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12:40PM Update

B represents at GMG Live!

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Pictures From Around The Waterfront Festival Taken By Amanda

2012 Community Blackburn Challenge Live Blog and Paul Morrison GPS Live Tracking Map

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Most Importantly before we get into the meat of the Live blog I’ll provide a link to Paul Morrison’s Live GPS Location Tracker Here  (The GPS Tracker will be turned on at 8AM to save battery but you can still check it out now. This is a real time tracker so if you see him coming up to where you are on Cape Ann run out to the water’s edge and give him a holler.  I’ll randomly draw a name from people that submit photos of Paul on the Race Course before the end of the day for a Real Deal GMG T Shirt $20 value.  His GPS Tracker even works on smartphones so there’s no excuses.  Bookmark that cool ass link and track his freaky Rubber Duck Toting Around Ass down on your smartphone.

Send in your pictures from the start middle or finish and I’ll add them to this post which I’ll keep stickied at the top of the blog and regular scheduled posts will update below this one.  I’ll also give regular updates from our Paul Morrison’s GPS Tracking Map as to his whereabouts around the Cape.

A note to all Blackburn Challenger Competitors and their families-
Swing down the dock after the race to get a free Good Morning Gloucester Sticker and have your picture taken for these pages Representing!

The Blackburn Challenge – July 14th, 2012

Click to View Current BBC 2012 Registration by Group

New – Click to View Current BBC 2012 Registration by Class

From The Blackburn Challenge Website:

Time Limit Update – 6 Hour limit to complete course. Chase Boats and Timing will finish after 6 hours. Racers are paddling at their own risk after 6 hours on the course. Please plan appropriately if you believe you can not complete in 6 hours.

The Blackburn Challenge is a 20+ mile open water circumnavigation of Cape Ann. Participants row or paddle small boats in the open ocean waters around Cape Ann, and conditions can vary dramatically throughout the day. Occasionally the water can be very rough, with strong winds and high waves.

Paul Morrison writes this pre-race entry-

Saturday: Give a Hoot and a Holler to the Blackburners

Good Luck Paul and All the Other Brave Contestants in this year’s 2012 Blackburn Challenge from the team here at GMG!

Google Map of path around Cape Ann different than Paul Morrison’s GPS Live Race Position Tracking Map Found Here

Here’s Paul Morrison from last year (you can see the Rubber Duck Tracker mounted to the bow of his Kayak)-

Paul Frontiero Photo

Here is our 2011 Blackburn Challenge Coverage

Below this line begins our Live Race Day Coverage-

Last Update from the Live Tracker Was A Test At The High School Launching Area at 6:38AM- Looks Good For The GPS Tracker Paul! –

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Update 7:39AM: Paul Morrison Rubber Ducky GPS Live Tracker Is Live

Click here for live ,tracking map so you can stalk him like the stalker freak that you are

Donna Ardizzoni posts live shot of Paul Morrison’s 2012 Blackburn Challenge Rubber Duck GPS Tracker-

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Paul Morrison and Rubber Duck Tracker Pre Race From Ed Collard-

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Update 8:11AM:

He is In The Water Just Past The Train Bridge-

Click here for the live map

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Update 8:24 Rubber Ducky and Paul are off- averaging between 4 and 5 mph

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Our Paul going under the A. Piatt Bridge photo from Donna Ardizzoni-July 14, 2012 Paul going under the A Piatt 

8:37AM Update:

Well past the A Piatt Andrew Bridge and approaching the first entrance to Jones Creek.  Speed 5mph Uploading video from the starting area now

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8:52AM Update:

At The Mouth Of The Annisquam River 4mph

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9:25 Update:

Coming Up On Lane’s Cove

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Mary Page submits-

Blackburn challenge from Rust Island

Pictures I took this morning of the challenge looking across the Annisquam at the frog rocks

10:16 Update:

Just off Pigeon Cove and maintaining that 4mph pace.

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11:23 Update:

Passing Good Harbor Beach

Click here for live GPS Rubber Duck Tracking

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Update 12:21:

Approaching Eastern Point Lighthouse and Dog Bar Breakwater

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12:43 Update: 3mph

Heading For Home Stretch and Pavillion Beach! C’mon Paul Finish Strong!!!!

Click here for live GPS Rubber Duck Tracking

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Blackburn triumph!

from Crescent52

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