Last Sat. we took a break from school work to go canoeing. Thanks to Dan for supplying the canoes and organizing the trip. We paddle/floated down 5.8 miles of the deep river in NC and stopped along the way to visit the Endor Iron Furnace, a civil war era relic that was used to produce cannonball for the confederate army. Here is the trip video, enjoy.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
You are an Ironman
We did it. Team Norsa members Adam Domanski and Alan Stewart...You are Ironmen. I am finally able to post due to some computer problems. Here goes.
We left for Louisville around 1pm on Thursday and arrived to the friendly greeting of David Wicks also known as PaddleMaker on watertirbe and a multiple time EC finisher. He graciously offered his basement to 5 crazy college studnets. Thanks for everything David. Our party consisted of Adam and myself, my girlfriend Taylor, fellow EOTW crew member Anna Blount and Julie who flew out to Louisville on Sat. Both Adam's and my parents and sister also made it out to the race to cheer us on.
Thursday:
Before we left Raleigh we created the first official "NORSA Mobile". It was a great success and Team Norsa rode in style all weekend.
Master painter Taylor applies tape to the NORSA Mobile
Go TEAM NORSA
Friday:
We spent friday checking in at the Galt House Hotel signing our lives away and receiving our race bags and information packets. We couldn't help but notice that there was not nearly as much swag as we thought there would be for the athletes but we took advantage of what was there and Taylor and Anna took full advantage of the large magic markers and made some beautiful signs to cheer us on. Afterward we walked the streets of downtown and spent some time at the world-fest just a few blocks down with live music and beer. Later we walked down to the swim finish and took a look at the transition area before heading back to the hotel to attend one of the pre-race briefings which was very informative but also somewhat intimidating. There was definatety no turning back.
A side note: while driving around on friday and saturday we enjoyed watching the serious looking racers running or biking around obviously getting in that one last ride or whatever. We especially enjoyed yelling out the window..."SAVE IT FOR SUNDAY!!"
Later Friday night we readied our official Team Norsa Jerseys and also managed to get in a night paddle on the creek just behind Davids house. Anna, Taylor and Adam piled into the multiple EC finishing Pygmy triple kayak that David built and David and I paddled single kayaks. We went about 3 miles total down the river navigating around logs and trees and spiders and had a great time. I'll bet we were the only Ironman competitors that went paddling that night.
OOOooo free sign making!
Horaay for world-fests
T-E-A-M N-O-R-S-A
Tadaaaa
Saturday:
We slept in and then drove over the transition area in the great lawn to drop off our bikes at the mandatory bike drop off and gear bag check in. We were not able to get to our gear bags after this so we had to be ready the day before. After dropping off our bikes and gear we went back to the galt house to pick up a few more signs for Julie and ourselves and then it was off to the airport to pick Julie up.
With a few hours to kill we drove the 12 mile run loop through downtown and then North around LaGrange around the bike out and back and along the LaGrange loop just so we knew what we were in for. We came to the somewhat useless conclusion that this was going to be hard.
Later we finally met up with my parents and sister and Adam's parents at Carrabas and had a great pre-race meal and got to bed around 10ish.
Sunday:
Race Day!
Up at 4:30am. Adam and I redied our final special food bags and donned our swimsuits. We piled in the Norsa Mobile and headed to the Transitions area to pump up the tires and turn in our special needs bags. My parents where there watching which was awesome. We walked to the swim start (about 15 min away), went to the bathroom and waited in line for the elietes to start. Then the groupers. And there we were shuffling toward the end of the dock. There was definately no turning back now. Ironman Louisville is the only Ironman so far to use time tirals starting for the swim as oposed to a mass start. This made the swim infinately less crowded and even enjoyable. A side note is that the finish times don't account for your actual start time so you have to subtract the offset from the final time.
Getting our heads in the game. Waiting in line for the time trials start.
The swim went by very fast. I was out of the water just ahead of Adam but he was out of T1 before me and I never even saw him until around mile 20 of the bike when I led him for about 15 min. I didn't see him again until the first our and back of the run. I felt good throughout the bike except for a little twinge in my knee that went away after a few miles and didn't bother me again.
I kept reminding myself to focus on nutrition and downed goos and powerbars like it was my job. I met my goal bike time of around 7 hours. averaging about 16mph. Adam was about 20 min ahead at T2.
Coming into T2.
The run was shit hard. First was over the bridge in to Indiana and back. I was glad to have a heart rate monitor on as it warned me on several occasions to back the *%$# off in the first 3 or 4 miles with a loud beep beep beep. I listened. It was very hot. about 93 degrees and the best thing in the world was ice cold sponges squeezed all over me. I put sponges under my hat and stuffed ice cubes in my armpits at every aid station for the first 5 miles until I felt ok.
Adam begins the run...walk...run
Alan begins the run...walk....run.
We both ran/walked the marathon. I walked through every aid station and sometimes then some. But I never walked competely from one to the next. I saw adam on the first out and back and again on the second out and back. I felt the best on the marathon in the last 5 miles when I knew it was almost over and I KNEW I was going to make it. Having a massive fan club there cheering us on was easily the best part of the whole race.
Adam Domanski...You are an Ironman
Alan Stewart...You are an Ironman
Goals:
Finish...check
Finish without injury...check
Finish somwhere around 14 hours...close enough...check
Stats:
Alan's Stats
Adam's Stats
Post Race:
Having everyone there at the finish line was amazing. Knowing that you didn't let them down and everyone cheering you one and yelling for you was incredible. After I got out of the finish zone I felt a little weird and said "i think I'll feel better if I go throw up now" and then I did. Into a trash can. Yeah it was hard core. They took me to the medical tent where I proceeded to feel ok and then not so good again and finally was given an IV and took an hour long nap. When I woke up I felt 100 times better and ended up staying with the rents that night in the hotel while Adam, Julie, Taylor and Anna went back to David's place. Monday was a day of driving and recounitng tales on the course. And tuesday we proudly wore our finishers t-shirts for all to see.
We left for Louisville around 1pm on Thursday and arrived to the friendly greeting of David Wicks also known as PaddleMaker on watertirbe and a multiple time EC finisher. He graciously offered his basement to 5 crazy college studnets. Thanks for everything David. Our party consisted of Adam and myself, my girlfriend Taylor, fellow EOTW crew member Anna Blount and Julie who flew out to Louisville on Sat. Both Adam's and my parents and sister also made it out to the race to cheer us on.
Thursday:
Before we left Raleigh we created the first official "NORSA Mobile". It was a great success and Team Norsa rode in style all weekend.
Master painter Taylor applies tape to the NORSA Mobile
Go TEAM NORSA
Friday:
We spent friday checking in at the Galt House Hotel signing our lives away and receiving our race bags and information packets. We couldn't help but notice that there was not nearly as much swag as we thought there would be for the athletes but we took advantage of what was there and Taylor and Anna took full advantage of the large magic markers and made some beautiful signs to cheer us on. Afterward we walked the streets of downtown and spent some time at the world-fest just a few blocks down with live music and beer. Later we walked down to the swim finish and took a look at the transition area before heading back to the hotel to attend one of the pre-race briefings which was very informative but also somewhat intimidating. There was definatety no turning back.
A side note: while driving around on friday and saturday we enjoyed watching the serious looking racers running or biking around obviously getting in that one last ride or whatever. We especially enjoyed yelling out the window..."SAVE IT FOR SUNDAY!!"
Later Friday night we readied our official Team Norsa Jerseys and also managed to get in a night paddle on the creek just behind Davids house. Anna, Taylor and Adam piled into the multiple EC finishing Pygmy triple kayak that David built and David and I paddled single kayaks. We went about 3 miles total down the river navigating around logs and trees and spiders and had a great time. I'll bet we were the only Ironman competitors that went paddling that night.
OOOooo free sign making!
Horaay for world-fests
T-E-A-M N-O-R-S-A
Tadaaaa
Saturday:
We slept in and then drove over the transition area in the great lawn to drop off our bikes at the mandatory bike drop off and gear bag check in. We were not able to get to our gear bags after this so we had to be ready the day before. After dropping off our bikes and gear we went back to the galt house to pick up a few more signs for Julie and ourselves and then it was off to the airport to pick Julie up.
With a few hours to kill we drove the 12 mile run loop through downtown and then North around LaGrange around the bike out and back and along the LaGrange loop just so we knew what we were in for. We came to the somewhat useless conclusion that this was going to be hard.
Later we finally met up with my parents and sister and Adam's parents at Carrabas and had a great pre-race meal and got to bed around 10ish.
Sunday:
Race Day!
Up at 4:30am. Adam and I redied our final special food bags and donned our swimsuits. We piled in the Norsa Mobile and headed to the Transitions area to pump up the tires and turn in our special needs bags. My parents where there watching which was awesome. We walked to the swim start (about 15 min away), went to the bathroom and waited in line for the elietes to start. Then the groupers. And there we were shuffling toward the end of the dock. There was definately no turning back now. Ironman Louisville is the only Ironman so far to use time tirals starting for the swim as oposed to a mass start. This made the swim infinately less crowded and even enjoyable. A side note is that the finish times don't account for your actual start time so you have to subtract the offset from the final time.
Getting our heads in the game. Waiting in line for the time trials start.
The swim went by very fast. I was out of the water just ahead of Adam but he was out of T1 before me and I never even saw him until around mile 20 of the bike when I led him for about 15 min. I didn't see him again until the first our and back of the run. I felt good throughout the bike except for a little twinge in my knee that went away after a few miles and didn't bother me again.
I kept reminding myself to focus on nutrition and downed goos and powerbars like it was my job. I met my goal bike time of around 7 hours. averaging about 16mph. Adam was about 20 min ahead at T2.
Coming into T2.
The run was shit hard. First was over the bridge in to Indiana and back. I was glad to have a heart rate monitor on as it warned me on several occasions to back the *%$# off in the first 3 or 4 miles with a loud beep beep beep. I listened. It was very hot. about 93 degrees and the best thing in the world was ice cold sponges squeezed all over me. I put sponges under my hat and stuffed ice cubes in my armpits at every aid station for the first 5 miles until I felt ok.
Adam begins the run...walk...run
Alan begins the run...walk....run.
We both ran/walked the marathon. I walked through every aid station and sometimes then some. But I never walked competely from one to the next. I saw adam on the first out and back and again on the second out and back. I felt the best on the marathon in the last 5 miles when I knew it was almost over and I KNEW I was going to make it. Having a massive fan club there cheering us on was easily the best part of the whole race.
Adam Domanski...You are an Ironman
Alan Stewart...You are an Ironman
Goals:
Finish...check
Finish without injury...check
Finish somwhere around 14 hours...close enough...check
Stats:
Alan's Stats
Adam's Stats
Post Race:
Having everyone there at the finish line was amazing. Knowing that you didn't let them down and everyone cheering you one and yelling for you was incredible. After I got out of the finish zone I felt a little weird and said "i think I'll feel better if I go throw up now" and then I did. Into a trash can. Yeah it was hard core. They took me to the medical tent where I proceeded to feel ok and then not so good again and finally was given an IV and took an hour long nap. When I woke up I felt 100 times better and ended up staying with the rents that night in the hotel while Adam, Julie, Taylor and Anna went back to David's place. Monday was a day of driving and recounitng tales on the course. And tuesday we proudly wore our finishers t-shirts for all to see.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
More EYE progress on the Rhodes Reliant
A week of hard work on the boat by the EYE crew has left everyone satisfied that much had been accomplished. In addition to getting the V-berth and main cabin freshly painted the aft cabin, engine compartment and aft storage lockers are all de-greased, scraped and ready for some epoxy paint. With Anna back from China, she was able to hang out with Adam and Ian and I all week and it was the first time that all 4 of us were able to work on the boat at one time. We decided not to hold back when it came to the paint colors and while we left some of the nicer hardwood and brightwork in the cabin unpainted, much of the veneer we decided to brighten up. In the end the V berth became yellow and green and the main cabin a cheery orange and blue with a yellow accent wall! Adam and I put the first coats of color on on friday and after a few minutes once we had a few walls done we just stopped and started laughing for a long time. We decided that that was the reaction that we were shooting for so i think our paint scheme was a success. Photos of the new paint job are on the way. Here are some pics from the week.
In other news, Adam and I managed to get a long ride and a long run in this week in between boat work and also went for a swim at a local pool. We are both still going strong and are very exited. 13 days left.
In other news, Adam and I managed to get a long ride and a long run in this week in between boat work and also went for a swim at a local pool. We are both still going strong and are very exited. 13 days left.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Weekend of Racing Rafting and Fun
Veteran NORSA members Adam Domanski and Alan Stewart along with Brian Stynes and his girlfriend Julie (now also a NORSA member) returned Sunday evening from an awesome evening of racing, paddling, camping and hiking in the beautiful NC mountains.
Friday evening the crew left Chapel hill after picking up Brian and Julie and headed west to Canton, NC. Arriving late we pitched our tents in the back of the parking lot of the race venue for the 2008 Lake Logan Triathlon (Olympic distance) that Adam and myself were competing in the next morning. We awoke very early to music playing and parking cars slowly creeping toward our makeshift campsite. By the time the cars filled the lot, Adam and I were headed to the check-in after scarfing down a few honey buns. The race start was at 7:00am and we were all ready to go and waiting by the lake with time to spare.
The race went without a hitch for both Adam and myself which was a relief since this was our last planned tri before Ironman Louisville. I saw Adam at T1 about 1 min behind me and then he was right behind me on the bike in the beginning which caused me to pedal faster. On the run I saw him again right after the turnaround at the 3 mile mark which caused me to run faster. We finished almost exactly 1 min apart and both feeling really strong. I finished in 2:39:01 and Adam in 2:40:09. Full results here. Everyone said that Lake Logan was a great venue and we definately agree.
We didn't hang around long after the race and had planned to drive further west on sun and run the Nantahala river on sunday but we were feeling really good so we decided to just go for it and were on the river by 2pm on Saturday. Adam had his ww kayak and Brian and Julie and I rented duckies. We took our time down the river stopping and playing wherever possible.
Saturday night we camped on a dirt road near the put in and in the morning left with plans to check out Mt. Mitchell state park on the way home. On the way we ran into a road block on the blue ridge parkway so we stopped at a picnic area and hiked up a trail called craggy pinnacle to a small meadow summit. Lots of butterflies and blueberries kept us pretty busy.
Another successful weekend in the outdoors. Tomorrow begins the last week of summer camp for me and countdown to Ironman Louisville is T-miunus 28 days.
Friday evening the crew left Chapel hill after picking up Brian and Julie and headed west to Canton, NC. Arriving late we pitched our tents in the back of the parking lot of the race venue for the 2008 Lake Logan Triathlon (Olympic distance) that Adam and myself were competing in the next morning. We awoke very early to music playing and parking cars slowly creeping toward our makeshift campsite. By the time the cars filled the lot, Adam and I were headed to the check-in after scarfing down a few honey buns. The race start was at 7:00am and we were all ready to go and waiting by the lake with time to spare.
The race went without a hitch for both Adam and myself which was a relief since this was our last planned tri before Ironman Louisville. I saw Adam at T1 about 1 min behind me and then he was right behind me on the bike in the beginning which caused me to pedal faster. On the run I saw him again right after the turnaround at the 3 mile mark which caused me to run faster. We finished almost exactly 1 min apart and both feeling really strong. I finished in 2:39:01 and Adam in 2:40:09. Full results here. Everyone said that Lake Logan was a great venue and we definately agree.
We didn't hang around long after the race and had planned to drive further west on sun and run the Nantahala river on sunday but we were feeling really good so we decided to just go for it and were on the river by 2pm on Saturday. Adam had his ww kayak and Brian and Julie and I rented duckies. We took our time down the river stopping and playing wherever possible.
Saturday night we camped on a dirt road near the put in and in the morning left with plans to check out Mt. Mitchell state park on the way home. On the way we ran into a road block on the blue ridge parkway so we stopped at a picnic area and hiked up a trail called craggy pinnacle to a small meadow summit. Lots of butterflies and blueberries kept us pretty busy.
Another successful weekend in the outdoors. Tomorrow begins the last week of summer camp for me and countdown to Ironman Louisville is T-miunus 28 days.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Ramping up
Back in full swing now after having my wisdom teeth taken out just days ago. Yeah it sucked. I still have some holes in the back of my mouth but that can't keep me from training. Running yesterday and biking to work today and all felt good. Just a few weeks to go.
This weekend is the Lake Logan Olympic Triathlon in Canton, NC. Adam and I are both signed up for this one. This will be out last "shakedown" tri before Ironman.
Excitement...yes
Anticipation...yes
healthy respect for the human condition....definitely
fear...NEVER!
This weekend is the Lake Logan Olympic Triathlon in Canton, NC. Adam and I are both signed up for this one. This will be out last "shakedown" tri before Ironman.
Excitement...yes
Anticipation...yes
healthy respect for the human condition....definitely
fear...NEVER!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Lazy Weekend
This weekend is a lazy one for me since I got sick on friday and missed work. I'm home and probably going sailing on Saturday with the fam. Last weekend, Adam and I were back to the grind in VA. See the EOTW site (in IE) for more details but we managed to wrangle the old engine out ourselves and save a couple hundred bucks on travel lift fees.
Friday night we also found an unopened blackberry pie while dumpster diving as well as some bagels and rolls that someone had thrown out. We then stumbled across one of those mobile beer trailers in the parking lot that was being used for some club function during the day. There were even cups. Needless to say, a pie fight ensued, we filled up on questionable bread that passed the smell test and we continued to enjoy free beer courtesy of crown pointe marina for the rest of the weekend.
In all seriousness, we got a lot of work done and are very exited about getting the boat back in shape. The next big work week on the boat is scheduled for Aug. 9-17. Feel free to come help out!!
Friday night we also found an unopened blackberry pie while dumpster diving as well as some bagels and rolls that someone had thrown out. We then stumbled across one of those mobile beer trailers in the parking lot that was being used for some club function during the day. There were even cups. Needless to say, a pie fight ensued, we filled up on questionable bread that passed the smell test and we continued to enjoy free beer courtesy of crown pointe marina for the rest of the weekend.
In all seriousness, we got a lot of work done and are very exited about getting the boat back in shape. The next big work week on the boat is scheduled for Aug. 9-17. Feel free to come help out!!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Catching my breath
So, lets catch up. There are 8 weeks to go till Louisville. Since my last update plenty has happened so I'll try to give the highlights.
Adam and I took a weekend trip up to Frisland later in June and met up with Graham who agreed to survey the boat with us and inspect the damage done to the boat when we were hit by a motor yacht on the trip up the coast. This has since been resolved and owner of the other boat has settled with us. Here are pics from that weekend. We are headed back up this coming weekend for more fun work including replacing a bulkhead in the bilge and more scraping and cleaning prep-work for painting and also engine removal.
The weekend before last Trey and I headed up to Kerr lake for the annual Governors Cup Regatta with the Carolina Sailing Club. I talked my dad into taking the CS20 up to the regatta and he and Ken Potts sailed together on Saturday (the first day of racing) and had a lot of fun. Trey and I sailed the I-20 in open multi with one other I-20 (a friend from raleigh and Trey's roommate from Australia, Brad). Here are pics from both sides.
Kens Photos are here
This weekend Trey and Jen and I were up in New Jersey for the annual Statue of Liberty Regatta. We were defending champions from last year but the wind did not cooperate this time and when it was clear that no one would make it back until well after dark and we saw people starting to pull out and head home we did the same. It went like this....
Trey: how fast are we going
Alan: 6.5 konts
Trey: whats our VMG?
Alan: 0.7 knots
Trey: this will take forever!
Alan: yeah and thats 0.7 knots backwards by the way.
Trey: oh
Needless to say there was no wind and a ripping current under the Verrazano narrows. Not to mention barges, ferrys, dead things and giant logs floating the water all of which we didn't really want to be around when the sun went down. Still a great party though and we sailed out of sandy hook to watch a great fireworks show on Fri. night.
Adam and I are still on the path to the gold for Louisville. I ride to my summer camp job almost every day and we have been recently involved more regularly in the local hashing group the Sir Walter Raleigh's Hash House Harriers which also turned us on to a local open water swim group that swims every wed. on Jordan lake. Many of the regular hashers are also tri-athletes and competitive runners in the triangle. So we have started attending their swims regularly and also did another OWS on Sunday after a day of sailing on the CS20 with my dad. Now don't waste your breath, we know Hashing is not usually considered to be "Ironman Training", but.....well frankly we disagree and find it to be excellent training so to each his own. ON-ON
Also! if you are not following Mike's progress then you must check out his blog clockwork O. He and two others are currently on an epic bike ride across the country. Last update has them in Wild Horses, CO. Mike's girlfriend Alice has been updating his blog with their progress and is donig an AWESOME job.
I will try to be better about updating the blog this month. To the 8 people still reading, please bother me with emails and messages to remind me to post.
Adam and I took a weekend trip up to Frisland later in June and met up with Graham who agreed to survey the boat with us and inspect the damage done to the boat when we were hit by a motor yacht on the trip up the coast. This has since been resolved and owner of the other boat has settled with us. Here are pics from that weekend. We are headed back up this coming weekend for more fun work including replacing a bulkhead in the bilge and more scraping and cleaning prep-work for painting and also engine removal.
The weekend before last Trey and I headed up to Kerr lake for the annual Governors Cup Regatta with the Carolina Sailing Club. I talked my dad into taking the CS20 up to the regatta and he and Ken Potts sailed together on Saturday (the first day of racing) and had a lot of fun. Trey and I sailed the I-20 in open multi with one other I-20 (a friend from raleigh and Trey's roommate from Australia, Brad). Here are pics from both sides.
Kens Photos are here
This weekend Trey and Jen and I were up in New Jersey for the annual Statue of Liberty Regatta. We were defending champions from last year but the wind did not cooperate this time and when it was clear that no one would make it back until well after dark and we saw people starting to pull out and head home we did the same. It went like this....
Trey: how fast are we going
Alan: 6.5 konts
Trey: whats our VMG?
Alan: 0.7 knots
Trey: this will take forever!
Alan: yeah and thats 0.7 knots backwards by the way.
Trey: oh
Needless to say there was no wind and a ripping current under the Verrazano narrows. Not to mention barges, ferrys, dead things and giant logs floating the water all of which we didn't really want to be around when the sun went down. Still a great party though and we sailed out of sandy hook to watch a great fireworks show on Fri. night.
Adam and I are still on the path to the gold for Louisville. I ride to my summer camp job almost every day and we have been recently involved more regularly in the local hashing group the Sir Walter Raleigh's Hash House Harriers which also turned us on to a local open water swim group that swims every wed. on Jordan lake. Many of the regular hashers are also tri-athletes and competitive runners in the triangle. So we have started attending their swims regularly and also did another OWS on Sunday after a day of sailing on the CS20 with my dad. Now don't waste your breath, we know Hashing is not usually considered to be "Ironman Training", but.....well frankly we disagree and find it to be excellent training so to each his own. ON-ON
Also! if you are not following Mike's progress then you must check out his blog clockwork O. He and two others are currently on an epic bike ride across the country. Last update has them in Wild Horses, CO. Mike's girlfriend Alice has been updating his blog with their progress and is donig an AWESOME job.
I will try to be better about updating the blog this month. To the 8 people still reading, please bother me with emails and messages to remind me to post.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Summer begins
I signed up to be a counselor at Camp Ranoca, a city affiliated summer day camp, just as school ended and have been herded through the various training sessions required by the city for the last 3 weeks. Monday kicks off the start of the 8 week day camp that is based in Umstead and Durant Nature Parks in Raleigh. Camp was an obvious choice for a summer job since I needed to stay in Raleigh to continue Ironman training (11wks to go) and it beats lifeguarding or working indoors. Plus I can ride my bike to work (about 17 miles round trip). I worked at a summer day camp in Chapel Hill for years after going there as a camper myself and was even the director one year so I know the game. No doubt in my mind that working with kids is appropriate Ironman training in itself.
Wednesday, Adam and I made a second trip in 2 weeks to the Bonsal train station just south of Jordan Lake and a good 55-65 mile (depending on if you get lost the first time) ride for our "Long Rides" for the week. We are averaging about 17 mph with stops which I think is pretty indicative of what our actual race pace will be. Running is going steady with no knee problems to report. Wishing I had a stronger base but what can you do except use what you got. I have definately improved since the shamrock 1/2 marathon. Swimming is going swimmingly. Tues. was another long swim (~2miles) and a recovery swim yesterday after the long ride. Overall feeling good. A little sore today and SLEEPING A LOT lately all of which I hope are signs of getting faster and stronger. My goals thus far with 11 weeks to go are to finish injury free and, if I pace myself successfully, maybe even run/jog the whole marathon.
Frisland is out of the water as of last week and Adam and I are still on for a trip up to Crown Point Marina next friday to begin work. Ian has been making friends with other sailors at the marina who are also on the hard and all have been admiring our boat. A special celebrity appearance on Sunday is also planned as Graham Brynes of B and B yachts has agreed to come up and survey the boat with us as well as help us a little with the in's and out's of cruising and all that other stuff that only a true salty dog knows and only a guy as nice as Graham would tell us newbies. We are looking forward to spending time with him on the boat. Thats all for now. Off to the gym.
Wednesday, Adam and I made a second trip in 2 weeks to the Bonsal train station just south of Jordan Lake and a good 55-65 mile (depending on if you get lost the first time) ride for our "Long Rides" for the week. We are averaging about 17 mph with stops which I think is pretty indicative of what our actual race pace will be. Running is going steady with no knee problems to report. Wishing I had a stronger base but what can you do except use what you got. I have definately improved since the shamrock 1/2 marathon. Swimming is going swimmingly. Tues. was another long swim (~2miles) and a recovery swim yesterday after the long ride. Overall feeling good. A little sore today and SLEEPING A LOT lately all of which I hope are signs of getting faster and stronger. My goals thus far with 11 weeks to go are to finish injury free and, if I pace myself successfully, maybe even run/jog the whole marathon.Frisland is out of the water as of last week and Adam and I are still on for a trip up to Crown Point Marina next friday to begin work. Ian has been making friends with other sailors at the marina who are also on the hard and all have been admiring our boat. A special celebrity appearance on Sunday is also planned as Graham Brynes of B and B yachts has agreed to come up and survey the boat with us as well as help us a little with the in's and out's of cruising and all that other stuff that only a true salty dog knows and only a guy as nice as Graham would tell us newbies. We are looking forward to spending time with him on the boat. Thats all for now. Off to the gym.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Kerr Lake Try....
Last weekend I successfully completed my first triathlon, an Olympic distance, at Kerr lake. It was a small one with just over 300 participants in all. I came in 113 out of 188 men overall and 7th out of 9 in my age group with a total time of 2:47:56. Here are the male age group results.
My breakdown was as follows and the averages for my age group.
Swim: 30:37 (avg time- 28:20)
T1: 3:04
Bike: 1:13:46 (avg time- 1:10)
Run: 1:00:31 (avg time- 55:30)
As you can see, I was just slightly below average in all cases but I am getting faster every day. I averaged just over 18mph on the bike and felt strong on the swim. I had the second slowest T1 in my age group so thats something to work on but I'm not really racing anyone but myself and for Ironman, it will be worth the extra time to get comfortable. I also passed a lot of bonkers in the last mile and a half of the run when I felt really strong having held back in the beginning not knowing my limits completely which paid off I think.
Training continues for the Louisville Ironman in Aug. Just 12 weeks left!!!!
My breakdown was as follows and the averages for my age group.
Swim: 30:37 (avg time- 28:20)
T1: 3:04
Bike: 1:13:46 (avg time- 1:10)
Run: 1:00:31 (avg time- 55:30)
As you can see, I was just slightly below average in all cases but I am getting faster every day. I averaged just over 18mph on the bike and felt strong on the swim. I had the second slowest T1 in my age group so thats something to work on but I'm not really racing anyone but myself and for Ironman, it will be worth the extra time to get comfortable. I also passed a lot of bonkers in the last mile and a half of the run when I felt really strong having held back in the beginning not knowing my limits completely which paid off I think.
Training continues for the Louisville Ironman in Aug. Just 12 weeks left!!!!
Friday, May 30, 2008
What now you ask
To pick up where the story left off, Adam and I successfully sailed Frisland up the Alligator river leaving Bellhaven at O-gawd-hundred and picked up Alan Witt and Andrew just north of the Alligator River Bridge (which is on channel 13 not 9 by the way) late Saturday afternoon. Then after crossing the Albermarle Saturday night we continued our way up and arrived in Coinjock Sunday before noon. Continuing into the Pungo river area we motor sailed up the windy river and navigated the numerous bridges and even went through the Great Bridge Lock that dropped us down a somewhat disappointing 12inches.
On the home stretch to Hampton we got an up close and personal look at the VA waterfront industry before sailing past Portsmouth and Norfolk and the Theodore Roosevelt Norfolk Naval Station. After crossing Hampton Roads we pulled into a slip right next to the Hampton Marina Hotel, settled her in and hit the local bar for some drinks. We also met up with Adam's girflfriend Julie here who would accompany us on the final stretch to Crown Point.
Alan and Andrew departed here and we really enjoyed having them on board to help us with the journey. Adam, Julie and I shoved off around 6am and with Julie still sleeping, we hoisted sail over the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. We bore off North with a south wind and Julie awoke to be handed the wheel while Adam and I set the spinnaker which we happily flew with the favored wind. I conked out around this point in the quarter berth and woke to Adam's voice on the walkie talkie next to me telling me to fire up old faithful so we could pinch it up past a channel marker that we over stood. I asked where we were and like magic Crown Point was dead ahead and we pulled in within minutes. What a nap. Upon arriving, we began the task of unloading EVERYTHING from the boat in preparation for the hauling. After all was removed she had lost a full 6 or 7 inches on her draft. It took two heaping truckloads to transport it all to Ian's garage.
Tuesday was spent at Ian's Dad's place on the York river doing some wake boarding and wed. morning I sorted all the stuff in the garage cataloging stuff we are keeping and other stuff for sale. Adam and I made it back to Raleigh late Wed night.
In case I have not mentioned yet, Frisland is the boat that Adam and Ian recently purchased and that will be home for Adam, Ian, Anna and I on our 3 year circumnavigation that begins in November of 2009. The project is called EYE (Expedition in Youth Education) and was developed by Adam and his friends while at William and Mary. Time changes things and the original crew of 8 or 9 has been paired down to just 4 but the goals are the same. To circumnavigate and connect with schools in the US in a pen pal type relationship hopefully utilizing technology to allow us to produce monthly documentaries of our travels as well as update blogs and send emails.
On the home stretch to Hampton we got an up close and personal look at the VA waterfront industry before sailing past Portsmouth and Norfolk and the Theodore Roosevelt Norfolk Naval Station. After crossing Hampton Roads we pulled into a slip right next to the Hampton Marina Hotel, settled her in and hit the local bar for some drinks. We also met up with Adam's girflfriend Julie here who would accompany us on the final stretch to Crown Point.
Alan and Andrew departed here and we really enjoyed having them on board to help us with the journey. Adam, Julie and I shoved off around 6am and with Julie still sleeping, we hoisted sail over the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. We bore off North with a south wind and Julie awoke to be handed the wheel while Adam and I set the spinnaker which we happily flew with the favored wind. I conked out around this point in the quarter berth and woke to Adam's voice on the walkie talkie next to me telling me to fire up old faithful so we could pinch it up past a channel marker that we over stood. I asked where we were and like magic Crown Point was dead ahead and we pulled in within minutes. What a nap. Upon arriving, we began the task of unloading EVERYTHING from the boat in preparation for the hauling. After all was removed she had lost a full 6 or 7 inches on her draft. It took two heaping truckloads to transport it all to Ian's garage.
Tuesday was spent at Ian's Dad's place on the York river doing some wake boarding and wed. morning I sorted all the stuff in the garage cataloging stuff we are keeping and other stuff for sale. Adam and I made it back to Raleigh late Wed night.
In case I have not mentioned yet, Frisland is the boat that Adam and Ian recently purchased and that will be home for Adam, Ian, Anna and I on our 3 year circumnavigation that begins in November of 2009. The project is called EYE (Expedition in Youth Education) and was developed by Adam and his friends while at William and Mary. Time changes things and the original crew of 8 or 9 has been paired down to just 4 but the goals are the same. To circumnavigate and connect with schools in the US in a pen pal type relationship hopefully utilizing technology to allow us to produce monthly documentaries of our travels as well as update blogs and send emails.
Friday, May 23, 2008
A month of sailing
Well, its been a while since I have done much more than sail up the east coast. This month I have sailed from Key Largo, FL to Tybee island, GA then I hopped aboard Frisland in Beaufort, SC with Adam and Ian who left from Fort Lauderdale the weekend prior.
Tomorrow I am headed back out to Belhaven where we left the boat on Tuesday and will be completing the move to Crown Point Marina in Virgina. Where we will haul the boat for the summer. Pictures can be found on the NORSA blog. I'll be sure to fill in all the details upon my return.
Tomorrow I am headed back out to Belhaven where we left the boat on Tuesday and will be completing the move to Crown Point Marina in Virgina. Where we will haul the boat for the summer. Pictures can be found on the NORSA blog. I'll be sure to fill in all the details upon my return.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Tybee Carnage
Alan called in today to check on the status of Frisland, but he also had some Tybee 500 updates.
So after Day 1 of the 2008 Tybee 500 Team Velocity was sitting in 3rd place. After Day 2 they had fallen back in the standings, but still within an hour of the leader. The major catastrophe for the day occurred when Captain Trey fell off the boat and broke the rudder linkage, so Alan had to grab the rudders, one in each hand, and go recover Trey from the chop. And to top it all off this was caught on video from a helicopter!
I'll keep an eye out for the video and put it up here...it sounds like a blockbuster.
So after Day 1 of the 2008 Tybee 500 Team Velocity was sitting in 3rd place. After Day 2 they had fallen back in the standings, but still within an hour of the leader. The major catastrophe for the day occurred when Captain Trey fell off the boat and broke the rudder linkage, so Alan had to grab the rudders, one in each hand, and go recover Trey from the chop. And to top it all off this was caught on video from a helicopter!
I'll keep an eye out for the video and put it up here...it sounds like a blockbuster.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Rolex Video
Training for Ironman continues. Tybee approaches. Exams are almost over. The summer is on its way. Parents are in Cedar Key this weekend for the Boat meet with the CS20 and my mom will finally get to try out HER boat.
In other news, my awesome crew Hudson made this sweet video with footage from the Rolex Regatta. Take a look.
In other news, my awesome crew Hudson made this sweet video with footage from the Rolex Regatta. Take a look.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Training
Training is in full swing for the to-be Ironmaner's for the upcoming Louisville Ironman in August. Last weekend we did a 116 miler to Virgilina. This weekend, Mike and I drove over to Chapel Hill to ride with Sandybottom and her friend Kim Ring and we did a nice 43mile ride around Jordan lake averaging a cool 15mph. Yesterday I got in a mile at the pool before a thunderstorm rolled over Raleigh. With 20 weeks left to go, it is training "prime time".
Monday, April 14, 2008
Welcome to Virgilina
"On Sunday, April 13th, NORSA cyclists Alan Stewart, Mike Rhodes, Tim Josey, and Adam Domanski successfully completed the epic Raleigh to Virgilina, VA road ride - a 116 mile trip from central North Carolina, north to the Virginia border town of Virgilina, and back.
NORSA had attempted the trip back in December but was hampered by 40 degree temperatures and cold rain. The cyclists made it only halfway to Virgilina and turned back at the town of Stem, NC. Virgilina remained in their sights however; and April 13th proved to be the day when the weather and everyone's schedules cooperated.", and Adam said it best,
"The only disappointment from the trip was for Alan and Adam, who experienced a painful revelation of exactly how far the Louisville Ironman will be."
Here are some GREAT pictures.
NORSA had attempted the trip back in December but was hampered by 40 degree temperatures and cold rain. The cyclists made it only halfway to Virgilina and turned back at the town of Stem, NC. Virgilina remained in their sights however; and April 13th proved to be the day when the weather and everyone's schedules cooperated.", and Adam said it best,
"The only disappointment from the trip was for Alan and Adam, who experienced a painful revelation of exactly how far the Louisville Ironman will be."
Here are some GREAT pictures.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
The Tybee Approaches
The Tybee 500 is nearly upon Trey and I once again. We have liquidated used parts from Trey's Garage in hopes of scraping together some extra cash and have been calling in all of our sponsors for help with the hotels, gas and boat expenses this year. We have some great sponsors this year including Dry Inc. that will be donating dry-shits, T-shirts and team collared shirts. Very nice. McLube has given us some hot new product to try out on the hull. WilderGFX is back with us again this year as is Atlantic Boat and Supply and FRE Robline. Also with us is Murrays who also helped my Dad and I with some hardware on Dawn Patrol for the EC. Even with all that it is still a great challenge to keep funding in the green and we are busting our butts. Anyone near the eastern shore of florida or SC should not hesitate to come out to the finish or Start of one of the legs. Here are some shots from the Tybee last year. Can't wait.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
International Rolex Regatta 2008
Back from the International Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas and back to the grind. Trey and I flew down to the virgin islands to participate in this cool race for the second time. This time, Trey raced with another sailor friend of ours John Casey an experienced cat sailor and multiple year winner of the Tybee 500 in past years. They raced on a 22 foot Supercat catamaran with a modified "tall rig". I raced with our sponsors son Hudson on a Hobie 16. Here we are on the second day of racing.
Friday was very rough and very windy. Seas 5-7 feet and winds gusting to the high 20s. Hudson and I made to the start of the first race, a 13 mile distance race, but about 15 min. in a gust pitch-poled us and we went straight into turtle (completely upside down) where we promptly lost a rudder pin to the deep. With one rudder, we righted the boat and headed in by necessity. It was a good call and many other beachcats had also headed in that day.
Trey and JC on the suffered worse luck. They were cut off by a cruising trimaran just after the start and with F18s above and below them at the downwind start, pitch-poled badly. They tore their jib and lost their mast rotator. Nonetheless they completed the first race but retired from the second unable to sail to windward effectively without the jib that had to be taken down. With an 18 boat fleet of beachcats. We were both taken out of contention on the first day. Oh well.
Here Trey and JC after getting their Jib repaired and finally getting somewhere on the last day of racing.
On Saturday, I got in 2 races with rock star crew, Hudson before we flipped in a downwind mark rounding and had trouble righting the boat with water in our mast. We retired after a long struggle to get back upright. Trey and JC blew out a second jib this day on the first race and went in for repairs but did not come back out.
Sunday, Hudson was recovering from some burned legs from trapeezing all day and I crewed for another friend of ours, Mark Chong on his I-20. We did alright but mostly just had fun. Trey and JC had more problems when their wire Jib halyard blew up on them on the last upwind leg. Sigh.
We took Sunday evening off and went down to a small public beach bay for some food and swimming. I had a snorkel and goggles with me so I went exploring. I saw Trey an JC entering the water and right as I was yelling to warn them about the HUGE sea urchins I had seen there....you guessed it. JC ended up with 19 urchins spines in his heel. OUCH. We couldn't hardly believe the bad luck we had had. But by now we could only just laugh at it. Except for JC who was in pain and not laughing that much.
It was hard to feel beaten too long though. We had beautiful weather and the water is crystal clear. Overall we all had a great time even though the race did not exactly go as planned.
Thanks to Eric Tillet and Alan Friedman from the BUZZ radio station for the great time again and making it all possible. Thanks to everyone who helped us while we were down there.
I'm still working on my write up for the EC but it IS coming along. Right now my focus is school, with sponsorship for the upcoming Tybee on the side.
Trey and JC on the suffered worse luck. They were cut off by a cruising trimaran just after the start and with F18s above and below them at the downwind start, pitch-poled badly. They tore their jib and lost their mast rotator. Nonetheless they completed the first race but retired from the second unable to sail to windward effectively without the jib that had to be taken down. With an 18 boat fleet of beachcats. We were both taken out of contention on the first day. Oh well.
Here Trey and JC after getting their Jib repaired and finally getting somewhere on the last day of racing.
On Saturday, I got in 2 races with rock star crew, Hudson before we flipped in a downwind mark rounding and had trouble righting the boat with water in our mast. We retired after a long struggle to get back upright. Trey and JC blew out a second jib this day on the first race and went in for repairs but did not come back out.
Sunday, Hudson was recovering from some burned legs from trapeezing all day and I crewed for another friend of ours, Mark Chong on his I-20. We did alright but mostly just had fun. Trey and JC had more problems when their wire Jib halyard blew up on them on the last upwind leg. Sigh.
We took Sunday evening off and went down to a small public beach bay for some food and swimming. I had a snorkel and goggles with me so I went exploring. I saw Trey an JC entering the water and right as I was yelling to warn them about the HUGE sea urchins I had seen there....you guessed it. JC ended up with 19 urchins spines in his heel. OUCH. We couldn't hardly believe the bad luck we had had. But by now we could only just laugh at it. Except for JC who was in pain and not laughing that much.
It was hard to feel beaten too long though. We had beautiful weather and the water is crystal clear. Overall we all had a great time even though the race did not exactly go as planned.
Thanks to Eric Tillet and Alan Friedman from the BUZZ radio station for the great time again and making it all possible. Thanks to everyone who helped us while we were down there.
I'm still working on my write up for the EC but it IS coming along. Right now my focus is school, with sponsorship for the upcoming Tybee on the side.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Spring Fever 2008
Back from Spring Fever 2008, Team NC State had a respectable showing this year bringing 4 boats to the line. Trey and I made out with 3rd place this year. There was a 3 point spread for 1st 2nd and 3rd in the I-20 class this year so it was very close racing. Once again Spring Fever proved to be one of the best regattas of the season and I think also the largest catamaran regatta in the south east. Here are some pics but there are more on the way from the on-the-water photographer.
Team Velocity is headed to St. Thomas this weekend for our second International Rolex Regatta. Trey is sailing with past Tybee 500 and Altercup champion John Casey on an bigger go fast catamaran while I will be living the good life sailing a hobie 16 with our sponsors son. Should be a fun time.
Team Velocity is headed to St. Thomas this weekend for our second International Rolex Regatta. Trey is sailing with past Tybee 500 and Altercup champion John Casey on an bigger go fast catamaran while I will be living the good life sailing a hobie 16 with our sponsors son. Should be a fun time.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Shamrock Marathon/Half Spectacular
I am working on a trip report for the EC (unlike last year) with pictures like my mom is doing so look for that in the near future. But in the meantime...
Team NORSA just returned from the annual Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, VA. NORSA members Adam Domanski, Alan Stewart and Bethan Haaga participated in the event and Julie Brockman, Adam's girlfriend who wasn't able to register in time was official team cheerleader, nurse, driver and all around helpful person. Adam and Bethan both completed the Full Marathon in 3:58:04 and 4:08:46 respectively and I finished the half marathon in 2:14:59. For not training near as much as I should have I finished mostly injury free, able to walk (the next day too) and feeling great despite being in the back of the pack for my age, who's counting.
On Friday after classes Adam and I drove up to Richmond to meet up with Julie at her place and spend the night. Julie cooked up some Portobello mushroom, grilled chicken dinner amazingness and we went out to a bar with Andrew, another of Adams college friends before getting a good nights sleep. On the way up, Adam and I spent a lot of time talking about "our circumnavigation" and Saturday morning we were doing some casual research on budgets for circumnavigations and general big boat cruising. Warning, digression ahead.
Adam and 7 or 8 friends of his planned a 3 year circumnavigation a year or so ago scheduled for departure on November 2nd of 2009. The whole endeavor is based around a project backed by the Mariner's museum in Newport News, VA and is called "EYE of the world... an expedition in youth education". The basic idea is that this group would sail around hitting about 84 cities around the world in just over 3 years while in communication with schools in the US who could track their progress, send them e-mails, and during their journey, learn about other countries economy, history, religion, and even help map out the sailors route that they take. They came up with the idea and since then some of the original members have had life changes (job, family) that make the trip... less feasible. In short, Adam and his good friend Ian Harris are the only ones currently 100% a go on the project informally searching for a 3rd or 4th member with experience and commitment. Adam had told me about the project in the past but only recently was it more of a reality that I might be able to participate. Needless to say, I am... shall we say DOWN. I will graduate in May of 2009 and then... do it! At least that is my current plan. I am getting up to speed on the project and will be helping to secure funding through sponsorship and Adam may have found us a blue water 37 footer that has the potential to be donated to the cause. We shall see. Anyway, back to the weekend.
Saturday around noon, the three of us drove to Newport News to meet up with Ian who we would be staying with that night. Ian is in the military and soon to be out of the service and works as a chaplain's assistant on base. We drove into VA beach and dropped Ian off for a couple of hours on base and went to pick up our event packets as the VA beach convention center. There we found Bethan, another of Adam's school friends from the William and Mary days and we got our packets and explored the various novel products that race sponsors had in the following expo at the center. Back at Ian's we ordered pizzas and rocked out with some Rock Band.
The Half marathon start was at 7am followed by the full at 8. We woke up at 4:30 and were walking to the line around 6:30. We took shelter in a 7-11 next to the start with about 100 other runners. It was blowing about 10mph steady and in the low 50s but it didn't rain on us thankfully. During the run, I ran into a bunch of friends who had also come up from state for the race and I ran with them for about half the distance. After finishing, I met back up with them and we hung out in the finishers tent with hot soup, bananas, water, a live band and lots of beer. We all watched Adam and Bethan finish and not soon after, Ian and Alan (a different Alan) and his wife? (also college buddies of Adams) came down to hang out with us in the tent. Ian and them were waiting for Adam around mile 21 to..."cheer him on" which actually meant having a food fight with him with a lot of relish. yes relish. When he crossed the finish line we thought he had vomed on himself and thought, what a weenie until he reached down, grabbed some off his shirt and ate it. EEEWWW. No it's ok guys, its just relish. Apparently they wanted him to "relish" in his accomplishments of the day.
Although exhausted, we were surprisingly upbeat. Adam flew a kite that he had brought and the band was great so much dancing was done as well. I think I will be known as "wet suit dancing guy" next year at the race. After a while we decided that it was time to go boogie boarding in the ocean and I donned the rest of the wet suit that I had brought, Adam put on Julie's shorty and my balaclava and Ian had a wet suit as well. Ian took one for the team and bought us a boogie board thanks Ian. We sprinted into the water and were there for about 30 seconds. I got an almost instant cold headache like I had just downed an entire frozen slushy. We thought it must have been in the low 40s. I looked it up and found all reports say it was 53 but I'm not convinced. We did manage to get in a couple of good waves though. The surf was pretty big. Our 5 minute swim was plenty and returned to the warmth of the tent and packed up to hit the road but not before Adam and Ian had a good healthy beer fight mostly soaking each other. I think we were the either the clowns or the highlight of the after race party. Anyway, I think we had the most fun.
We retired to a seafood restaurant for a huge crab leg buffet before cleaning up back at Ian's, saying our goodbyes and getting a move on. We dropped Julie off (she drove back to Richmond) and made it to Raleigh around midnight fully sore and walking like old cripples. Another great trip for the books.
On Friday after classes Adam and I drove up to Richmond to meet up with Julie at her place and spend the night. Julie cooked up some Portobello mushroom, grilled chicken dinner amazingness and we went out to a bar with Andrew, another of Adams college friends before getting a good nights sleep. On the way up, Adam and I spent a lot of time talking about "our circumnavigation" and Saturday morning we were doing some casual research on budgets for circumnavigations and general big boat cruising. Warning, digression ahead.
Adam and 7 or 8 friends of his planned a 3 year circumnavigation a year or so ago scheduled for departure on November 2nd of 2009. The whole endeavor is based around a project backed by the Mariner's museum in Newport News, VA and is called "EYE of the world... an expedition in youth education". The basic idea is that this group would sail around hitting about 84 cities around the world in just over 3 years while in communication with schools in the US who could track their progress, send them e-mails, and during their journey, learn about other countries economy, history, religion, and even help map out the sailors route that they take. They came up with the idea and since then some of the original members have had life changes (job, family) that make the trip... less feasible. In short, Adam and his good friend Ian Harris are the only ones currently 100% a go on the project informally searching for a 3rd or 4th member with experience and commitment. Adam had told me about the project in the past but only recently was it more of a reality that I might be able to participate. Needless to say, I am... shall we say DOWN. I will graduate in May of 2009 and then... do it! At least that is my current plan. I am getting up to speed on the project and will be helping to secure funding through sponsorship and Adam may have found us a blue water 37 footer that has the potential to be donated to the cause. We shall see. Anyway, back to the weekend.
Saturday around noon, the three of us drove to Newport News to meet up with Ian who we would be staying with that night. Ian is in the military and soon to be out of the service and works as a chaplain's assistant on base. We drove into VA beach and dropped Ian off for a couple of hours on base and went to pick up our event packets as the VA beach convention center. There we found Bethan, another of Adam's school friends from the William and Mary days and we got our packets and explored the various novel products that race sponsors had in the following expo at the center. Back at Ian's we ordered pizzas and rocked out with some Rock Band.The Half marathon start was at 7am followed by the full at 8. We woke up at 4:30 and were walking to the line around 6:30. We took shelter in a 7-11 next to the start with about 100 other runners. It was blowing about 10mph steady and in the low 50s but it didn't rain on us thankfully. During the run, I ran into a bunch of friends who had also come up from state for the race and I ran with them for about half the distance. After finishing, I met back up with them and we hung out in the finishers tent with hot soup, bananas, water, a live band and lots of beer. We all watched Adam and Bethan finish and not soon after, Ian and Alan (a different Alan) and his wife? (also college buddies of Adams) came down to hang out with us in the tent. Ian and them were waiting for Adam around mile 21 to..."cheer him on" which actually meant having a food fight with him with a lot of relish. yes relish. When he crossed the finish line we thought he had vomed on himself and thought, what a weenie until he reached down, grabbed some off his shirt and ate it. EEEWWW. No it's ok guys, its just relish. Apparently they wanted him to "relish" in his accomplishments of the day.
Although exhausted, we were surprisingly upbeat. Adam flew a kite that he had brought and the band was great so much dancing was done as well. I think I will be known as "wet suit dancing guy" next year at the race. After a while we decided that it was time to go boogie boarding in the ocean and I donned the rest of the wet suit that I had brought, Adam put on Julie's shorty and my balaclava and Ian had a wet suit as well. Ian took one for the team and bought us a boogie board thanks Ian. We sprinted into the water and were there for about 30 seconds. I got an almost instant cold headache like I had just downed an entire frozen slushy. We thought it must have been in the low 40s. I looked it up and found all reports say it was 53 but I'm not convinced. We did manage to get in a couple of good waves though. The surf was pretty big. Our 5 minute swim was plenty and returned to the warmth of the tent and packed up to hit the road but not before Adam and Ian had a good healthy beer fight mostly soaking each other. I think we were the either the clowns or the highlight of the after race party. Anyway, I think we had the most fun.We retired to a seafood restaurant for a huge crab leg buffet before cleaning up back at Ian's, saying our goodbyes and getting a move on. We dropped Julie off (she drove back to Richmond) and made it to Raleigh around midnight fully sore and walking like old cripples. Another great trip for the books.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The good stuff
I have been asked to redirect all of my moms usual readers back to her blog. Shows over so to say.
Back in Raleigh now and thinking hard about the year to come. Chances are that I will have to sit out EC 09 due to my senior design project. And then what? Sailing sabbatical? Naval Architecture masters degree? Which to do first is really the bigger issue. I have found that, just like last year, I am slapped in the face with wanderlust especially where sailing is concerned and it makes it all the more difficult to focus on studying. I am not all removed from sailing however, in the coming weeks, Trey and I will be heading down to St. Thomas for the International Rolex regatta so I will no doubt "get my fix". But even so, stuck at school, you can only get so much of a fix from forums, and the internet especially after you've had the good stuff.
Back in Raleigh now and thinking hard about the year to come. Chances are that I will have to sit out EC 09 due to my senior design project. And then what? Sailing sabbatical? Naval Architecture masters degree? Which to do first is really the bigger issue. I have found that, just like last year, I am slapped in the face with wanderlust especially where sailing is concerned and it makes it all the more difficult to focus on studying. I am not all removed from sailing however, in the coming weeks, Trey and I will be heading down to St. Thomas for the International Rolex regatta so I will no doubt "get my fix". But even so, stuck at school, you can only get so much of a fix from forums, and the internet especially after you've had the good stuff.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Finished!
SandyBottom called in just a few minutes ago to happily say that she was in Key Largo and happy to be done. She slept just out from Flamingo (CP3) on Joe Kemp Key, while the rest of the Kruger crew paddled on further. They ended up sleeping in their wonderful Kruger sea canoes. SB caught up to them in the morning for the last push to the finish.
Congrats to everyone in this years Everglades Challenge!
Congrats to everyone in this years Everglades Challenge!
I Think They Can, I Know They Will.
SOS just called to say that SandyBottom and friends were in Jimmy Channel as of 11:30 today. The winds are fresh and in a favorable direction. The whole crowd should be in Largo before sundown!
Friday, March 07, 2008
Back to Civilization
Well I just got a call from DWSB saying that he had gotten a call from SB in Flamingo. It sounds like it's been a really rough time of it all, Sb said that it's the worst she's ever been physically in an EC (she is about to get her 5th sharks tooth necklace).
After leaving CP2 Wenesday morning at 9:30 SB and RiverJohn made their way to the Harney River campsite by 3:30AM the next morning. Shortly thereafter Trader & TroutHeart showed up to camp. SB & RJ got about 3 hours of sleep that night and then continued paddling on to CP3. They pulled up for the night at the South Joe River Chickee at 12:30 AM early Friday Morning. They got a well deserved full nights sleep there and made their last push for CP3 at 9:30 this morning (Friday). They made it in to CP3 at 11:50 AM.
Sb said that the winds and tides seemed to be against them all the time so the paddling was relentless. They plan to rest for the remainder of the day, wait out potentially dangerous weather, and then make it to Key Largo early tomorrow. SB and RJ were reunited with Boo, dabiscuit, and ManitouCruiser at CP3 and they are all going to finish together. The winds are supposed to favorable tomorrow, and RiverJohn doesn't have a sail rig. MC agreed to catamaran up and help RJ make the Florida Bay corssing with his Balogh sail rig. They all hope to be in Sunset Cove by mid afternoon at the latest.
After leaving CP2 Wenesday morning at 9:30 SB and RiverJohn made their way to the Harney River campsite by 3:30AM the next morning. Shortly thereafter Trader & TroutHeart showed up to camp. SB & RJ got about 3 hours of sleep that night and then continued paddling on to CP3. They pulled up for the night at the South Joe River Chickee at 12:30 AM early Friday Morning. They got a well deserved full nights sleep there and made their last push for CP3 at 9:30 this morning (Friday). They made it in to CP3 at 11:50 AM.
Sb said that the winds and tides seemed to be against them all the time so the paddling was relentless. They plan to rest for the remainder of the day, wait out potentially dangerous weather, and then make it to Key Largo early tomorrow. SB and RJ were reunited with Boo, dabiscuit, and ManitouCruiser at CP3 and they are all going to finish together. The winds are supposed to favorable tomorrow, and RiverJohn doesn't have a sail rig. MC agreed to catamaran up and help RJ make the Florida Bay corssing with his Balogh sail rig. They all hope to be in Sunset Cove by mid afternoon at the latest.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT
THIS AFTERNOON
SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH WINDS NEAR 20 KNOTS.
BAY WATERS CHOPPY TO ROUGH. ISOLATED SHOWERS.
TONIGHT
SOUTH WINDS NEAR 20 KNOTS...SHIFTING WEST LATE.
BAY WATERS CHOPPY TO ROUGH. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
SATURDAY
SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS NEAR 20 KNOTS EARLY...SHIFTING TO
NORTHWEST AND INCREASING TO 20 TO 25 KNOTS AND GUSTY. BAY WATERS ROUGH.
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING...THEN SCATTERED
SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON.
SATURDAY NIGHT
NORTHWEST TO NORTH WINDS NEAR 20 KNOTS AND GUSTY.
BAY WATERS ROUGH.
The 2008 Everglades Challenge is wrapping up in good fashion.
Wilderness...Waterway
Still no direct news from SandyBottom, but I did speak with SOS & DWSB this evening (Thursday) and learned that she and RiverJohn went to the Rangers station in Everglades City so that they could get the permits to go through the Wilderness Waterway (WW). I hope to post more about the waterway in the morning, but for now I'll just say that it brings a special reward to all WaterTribers who complete it in the EC.
I expect the SB will get into CP3 tomorrow seeing as KneadingWater also took the WW and got to CP this evening. He has been running ahead of SB.
Sleepy time!
I expect the SB will get into CP3 tomorrow seeing as KneadingWater also took the WW and got to CP this evening. He has been running ahead of SB.
Sleepy time!
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Where is SandyBottom?
I haven't heard anything from SandyBottom or any of her expected traveling party. They are all probably in the modern-world dead zone. It also sounds like storms might be rolling through. Eeek! Anyway let's hope for the best for all of the challengers.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
We have video
Checking the You Tube links and found on of SOS & DWSB sailing along. I don't know what is said because the computer I'm using doesn't have speakers, but live action is hard to beat. Enjoy.
Which Way Windy Wild Weather?
Right now the wind is shifting for the better of all challengers, but it won't last for long. The winds are continuing the shift from South to West and in the next 24 hours it's going to make it all the way up to North. But it looks like they will miss the brake pedal and keep on swinging back to the South; it think I hear a collective grrrrrrrrrr from the WaterTribers. I expet that everyone will put in a good push as soon as they can so that they don't get stuck like so many of them did today. If they don't make it in time now they can still fight the bad winds, and hope to make it to the finish line in time with a last minute shift to the West and North on Saturday/Sunday.
Here is the forecast for the southern Gulf Coast...
TONIGHT
Here is the forecast for the Florida Keys...
OVERNIGHT
Here is the forecast for the southern Gulf Coast...
TONIGHT
SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING WEST 5 TO
10 KNOTS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A
MODERATE CHOP. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
WEDNESDAY
WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR
LESS. WEST SWELL 2 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
THURSDAY
NORTH WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
THURSDAY NIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS BECOMING 10 TO
15 KNOTS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND INLAND WATERS
A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
FRIDAY
SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
FRIDAY NIGHT
SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTHWEST 10 TO
15 KNOTS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND INLAND WATERS
A MODERATE CHOP. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
SATURDAY
SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING NORTHWEST 15 TO
20 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND INLAND
WATERS A MODERATE CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
SATURDAY NIGHT
NORTH WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS BECOMING 10 TO 15 KNOTS
AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A MODERATE
CHOP.
SUNDAY
NORTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING 5 TO 10 KNOTS IN
THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A LIGHT
CHOP.
Here is the forecast for the Florida Keys...
OVERNIGHT
VARIABLE WINDS LESS THAN 10 KNOTS. BAY WATERS SMOOTH TO
A LIGHT CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
WEDNESDAY
VARIABLE WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A LIGHT CHOP.
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
VARIABLE WINDS NEAR 10 KNOTS...BECOMING
SOUTHEAST. BAY WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS.
THURSDAY
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A LIGHT TO
MODERATE CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
THURSDAY NIGHT
SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH WINDS NEAR 15 KNOTS. BAY WATERS
A MODERATE CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
FRIDAY
MAINLY SOUTH WINDS NEAR 15 KNOTS. BAY WATERS A MODERATE
CHOP. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
SATURDAY
WINDS BECOMING NORTHWEST AND INCREASING TO 15 TO 20
KNOTS. BAY WATERS BECOMING CHOPPY. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS.
SUNDAY
NORTH TO NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. BAY WATERS CHOPPY
TO ROUGH. ISOLATED SHOWERS.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
A quick but exciting post!
First news is that SandyBottom has made it to CP2 and is resting now. She is with RiverJohn now, but they expect to meet up with Manitou, Boo and dabiscuit in the wee hours and then head off from there to make a nonstop trip to Flamingo. Lets see how that plan pans out.
And!!! Team Dawn Patrol is now resting happily in the luxuries of the Sunset Cover Inn on Key Largo. They finished up at 19:40. They are pleased by their crossing of Florida Bay, and even came with in about an hour of catching Jarhead.
Way to go Dawn Patrol!
And!!! Team Dawn Patrol is now resting happily in the luxuries of the Sunset Cover Inn on Key Largo. They finished up at 19:40. They are pleased by their crossing of Florida Bay, and even came with in about an hour of catching Jarhead.
Way to go Dawn Patrol!
"Crazy!"
That's what SOS said in reference to the Twisty Mile Channel. They are now 11 miles from the finish line. It looks like they took Route #2 in reference to my last update. It sounded like they were under sail and having an exciting time getting through the Jimmy Channel as I talked to DWSB. I could also hear SOS yelling, "DRAGGING! DRAGGING! DRAGGING!" and the wind in the background.
Still no direct word from SB.
Still no direct word from SB.
Dawn Patrol is in Flamingo!
CP3 is in the books for Team Dawn Patrol. DWSB called in from a mysterious phone number to up date us all.
He said that they had sailed until midnight-ish and then dropped anchor for the short night. They fixed up a hot meal and got about 4 hours of rest from the relentless winds. The tide is coming in now which will help them in the treacherous Florida Bay; high tide is supposed to be at 14:00 today. The winds are still out of the ESE and should be shifting towards the West some in the next 24 hours. They aren't sure where Jarhead is, but they would love to catch up to them to make it a photo finish.
Only 30 miles left, but still half the race to go!
Good luck on conquering Florida Bay. Here are the top 3 routes to get through Florida Bay. Both #'s 1 & 2 require navigation through channels that maybe 40 yards wide and that are marked with only wooden fence posts with small reflectors on them...you know the kind of stuff you can pick up a the local hardware store. To make things even worse these markers are not too frequent along the channel, so at night you have to take a light and shine it all around looking for the markers. Once you find the edge of a channel (you are a wizard if you never have this happen) you are stuck in some very unfriendly mud that will suck you in if you hop out to push on your boat. The best bet in this situation is the rock free of the mud flat while giving up your hard earned headway. And one more thing to top it all off, you have been sailing/paddling in 15-20 kts. for days on end and you are sleep deprived. Once again good luck!
In other news...
I'm not sure what to make of a recent dabiscit post, but it sounds like they are setting up camp again!? If it is true maybe SandyBottom and RiverJohn are going to paddle on. We'll see how that turns out.
Also in other EC2008 news some more videos have been loaded to the internets. You can check them out here and here. There is one from Lugnut & Root, a couple from Chief, and a couple from the start. Enjoy!
He said that they had sailed until midnight-ish and then dropped anchor for the short night. They fixed up a hot meal and got about 4 hours of rest from the relentless winds. The tide is coming in now which will help them in the treacherous Florida Bay; high tide is supposed to be at 14:00 today. The winds are still out of the ESE and should be shifting towards the West some in the next 24 hours. They aren't sure where Jarhead is, but they would love to catch up to them to make it a photo finish.
Only 30 miles left, but still half the race to go!
Good luck on conquering Florida Bay. Here are the top 3 routes to get through Florida Bay. Both #'s 1 & 2 require navigation through channels that maybe 40 yards wide and that are marked with only wooden fence posts with small reflectors on them...you know the kind of stuff you can pick up a the local hardware store. To make things even worse these markers are not too frequent along the channel, so at night you have to take a light and shine it all around looking for the markers. Once you find the edge of a channel (you are a wizard if you never have this happen) you are stuck in some very unfriendly mud that will suck you in if you hop out to push on your boat. The best bet in this situation is the rock free of the mud flat while giving up your hard earned headway. And one more thing to top it all off, you have been sailing/paddling in 15-20 kts. for days on end and you are sleep deprived. Once again good luck!
In other news...
I'm not sure what to make of a recent dabiscit post, but it sounds like they are setting up camp again!? If it is true maybe SandyBottom and RiverJohn are going to paddle on. We'll see how that turns out.
Also in other EC2008 news some more videos have been loaded to the internets. You can check them out here and here. There is one from Lugnut & Root, a couple from Chief, and a couple from the start. Enjoy!
Dawn Patrol in full sail
I was looking through the B&B Messing About forum and found some nice shots of Dawn Patrol just after launching from the start line. There are also some pictures of Southern Skimmer, RidgeRunner's CS20, and Frontal Lobotomy (the crazy looking trimaran of Randy Smyth).
Here are the pictures of Dawn Patrol...
Here are the pictures of Dawn Patrol...
Monday, March 03, 2008
It's night nights for SandyBottom
I was just surfing the WT forum and saw that the dabiscuit had a entry log up saying that the whole gang was setting up camp for the early night.
I'll fill in more details later when I hear it from SB...
SB called just after 19:00 EST to update me. She was eating some macaroni and tuna that MC cooked up for the whole gang. What a champ! After the grub all of them were going to get some shut eye and then get up at midnight, or 1:00 and continue on to CP2 as much as possible. They are camping on the beach about 4 miles north of Marco Island. She was definitely in good spirits.
In other news Roo & Tinker (currently 2nd place) have been in the same spot in Florida Bay for the last 4 hours or so, and Jarhead & Waterscribe (currently 3rd place) are resting and drying out at CP3. So who know if Dawn Patrol play the cards right they have a chance at winning this thing. If you ask me I say once they hit CP3 they should head south and come up the ICW much like this years winning team of Lumpy and Bumpy did; however, it all depends on the winds so they'll have to make the call when the time comes.
It sounds like right now that the days of Easterly winds have drained Florida bay of most of its water, so the already shallow (and narrow) channels are even lower, which makes so bad sailing conditions.
That's it for now.
I'll fill in more details later when I hear it from SB...
SB called just after 19:00 EST to update me. She was eating some macaroni and tuna that MC cooked up for the whole gang. What a champ! After the grub all of them were going to get some shut eye and then get up at midnight, or 1:00 and continue on to CP2 as much as possible. They are camping on the beach about 4 miles north of Marco Island. She was definitely in good spirits.
In other news Roo & Tinker (currently 2nd place) have been in the same spot in Florida Bay for the last 4 hours or so, and Jarhead & Waterscribe (currently 3rd place) are resting and drying out at CP3. So who know if Dawn Patrol play the cards right they have a chance at winning this thing. If you ask me I say once they hit CP3 they should head south and come up the ICW much like this years winning team of Lumpy and Bumpy did; however, it all depends on the winds so they'll have to make the call when the time comes.
It sounds like right now that the days of Easterly winds have drained Florida bay of most of its water, so the already shallow (and narrow) channels are even lower, which makes so bad sailing conditions.
That's it for now.
Day 3 Checkins
More news from the waterfront!
Team Dawn Patrol called in it looks like just after they cleared the 10,000 Islands. They are currently making good towards CP3 and they are hoping to catch Jarhead & Waterscribe; they are sailing a Sea Pearl. Currently Dawn Patrol is in 4th place, Roo & Tinker are about a third of the way through Florida Bay, and Jarhead is somewhere between Dawn Patrol and CP3. It'll be interesting to see who takes what route in Florida Bay.
Anyway SOS said that they pulled up to Indian Key around midnight and the tides were not favorable so the anchored and caught several hours of sleep. They got under way at about 03:45 this morning and spent a while battling the tide still. Once it turned they had no problem getting in to Chokoloskee Bay. They hit CP2 at 09:36 today. On their way out they were fighting the tide that was till coming in, but now they are outside and sailing towards Cape Sable. The waters are fairly calm, but they have one reef in the main sail and are fighting the unfavorable winds.
I'm not sure at what time, but they talked to RidgeRunner & GreyBeard at Indian key and they were getting ready for more rest.
SandyBottom called in a couple hours later from a beach near Naples. She was beached with ManitouCruiser, Boo & dabiscuit so that they could take down the sail rigs. If you are paddling with a sail rig, it is much easier to make head way if everything is down; just the mast alone add a great deal of resistance and in a challenge like this you need to save every ounce of energy you can. RiverJohn wasn't too far behind either.
Her plan was to paddle in the group until sundown or there abouts and then rest up some more (they have been going since 3 this morning). And again they will make an "O" dark 30 departure. The night time seems to bring better weather for the paddlers. I think this group will stick together for the remainder of the challenge given the weather conditions, and that ain't bad at all.
I expect to hear from SB when they find a place to camp. As for Team Dawn Patrol I don't expect to hear anything for a good while, maybe CP3. Let's hope they can catch Jarhead. I'm glad Jarhead is having a good time this year, last year he had to drop out at CP1 because of a torn sail.
Here's the weather for the area between CP2 and CP3...
Team Dawn Patrol called in it looks like just after they cleared the 10,000 Islands. They are currently making good towards CP3 and they are hoping to catch Jarhead & Waterscribe; they are sailing a Sea Pearl. Currently Dawn Patrol is in 4th place, Roo & Tinker are about a third of the way through Florida Bay, and Jarhead is somewhere between Dawn Patrol and CP3. It'll be interesting to see who takes what route in Florida Bay.
Anyway SOS said that they pulled up to Indian Key around midnight and the tides were not favorable so the anchored and caught several hours of sleep. They got under way at about 03:45 this morning and spent a while battling the tide still. Once it turned they had no problem getting in to Chokoloskee Bay. They hit CP2 at 09:36 today. On their way out they were fighting the tide that was till coming in, but now they are outside and sailing towards Cape Sable. The waters are fairly calm, but they have one reef in the main sail and are fighting the unfavorable winds.
I'm not sure at what time, but they talked to RidgeRunner & GreyBeard at Indian key and they were getting ready for more rest.
SandyBottom called in a couple hours later from a beach near Naples. She was beached with ManitouCruiser, Boo & dabiscuit so that they could take down the sail rigs. If you are paddling with a sail rig, it is much easier to make head way if everything is down; just the mast alone add a great deal of resistance and in a challenge like this you need to save every ounce of energy you can. RiverJohn wasn't too far behind either.
Her plan was to paddle in the group until sundown or there abouts and then rest up some more (they have been going since 3 this morning). And again they will make an "O" dark 30 departure. The night time seems to bring better weather for the paddlers. I think this group will stick together for the remainder of the challenge given the weather conditions, and that ain't bad at all.
I expect to hear from SB when they find a place to camp. As for Team Dawn Patrol I don't expect to hear anything for a good while, maybe CP3. Let's hope they can catch Jarhead. I'm glad Jarhead is having a good time this year, last year he had to drop out at CP1 because of a torn sail.
Here's the weather for the area between CP2 and CP3...
THIS AFTERNOONIt's going to be a rough finish for the paddlers.
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS.
BAY AND INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. CHANCE OF SHOWERS THROUGH THE
DAY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY
AND INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TUESDAY
SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS THROUGH THE
DAY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TUESDAY NIGHT
SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING WEST 5 TO
10 KNOTS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A
MODERATE CHOP. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
WEDNESDAY
WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.
Where are they now?...
It's been over 24 hours since I last heard directly from Dawn Patrol, but no worries on this end. There was a sighting by RidgeRunner of the two heading in Indian Key Pass around 22:00 last night and this is the part of the race where cell phone reception is very sparse.
Also no direct word form SB, but some of her paddling group have reported in saying that they left as planned very early this morning and are making good to the finish.
I'll keep you up to date as soon as I know.
Also no direct word form SB, but some of her paddling group have reported in saying that they left as planned very early this morning and are making good to the finish.
I'll keep you up to date as soon as I know.
Some images from the start
The picture is from the starting sunrise.After Archangel dropped out he was able to uplad a video from his first day on the outside seen here.
I bet SOS & DWSB have some great video and stills, but those will have to wait until after the race is over.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Through the grapevine
I was just checking the WaterTribe website and saw a post from RidgeRunner saying that they had seen SOS & DWSB going in Indian Key Pass at 22:00 EST. Needless to say they are behind where they had hoped to be by this time...I think that's the case for most of the racers. This is the time when the land crews get anxious because cell phone reception is crummy at best.
If you haven't seen/heard we already have a Class 4 winner. Lumpy and Bumpy finished the entire 300+ miles in under 36 hours! Simply awesome.
If you haven't seen/heard we already have a Class 4 winner. Lumpy and Bumpy finished the entire 300+ miles in under 36 hours! Simply awesome.
Latest on SandyBottom
BREAKING NEWS
SB called in at 18:25 EST to say that RiverJohn showed up and offered a big hug for her worries. Shortly after that Boo & dabiscuit, and ManitouCruiser showed up offering even more support. Needless to say her worries have been calmed. The whole gang has probably eaten by now and is going to rest up for several hours. The hope is that the weather will be calmer in the wee hours of tomorrow where they will shove off for CP2. Lets hope it works out for them.
Original post...
She just called in after a day of battling the winds on the east side of Pine Island. She was hoping to avoid the wind some by staying more protected, but it didn't seem to help. When she called in she was on Picnic Island taking a breather and trying to figure out how to get back near the Fort Myers coast to seek more shelter.
She would sail, but she revealed that she had a little incident when coming in Venice Inlet yesterday. She said she wasn't looking where she was going and her aka (crossbeam) collided with a pole. She didn't think much of it at the time, but after the winds picked up today she has started thinking about it more. The winds sound brutal even through the phone, so good luck to her.
She called again a few minutes later to see where Boo, dabiscuit, and ManitouCruiser were, but there hasn't been any word on them since this morning.
SB called in at 18:25 EST to say that RiverJohn showed up and offered a big hug for her worries. Shortly after that Boo & dabiscuit, and ManitouCruiser showed up offering even more support. Needless to say her worries have been calmed. The whole gang has probably eaten by now and is going to rest up for several hours. The hope is that the weather will be calmer in the wee hours of tomorrow where they will shove off for CP2. Lets hope it works out for them.
Original post...
She just called in after a day of battling the winds on the east side of Pine Island. She was hoping to avoid the wind some by staying more protected, but it didn't seem to help. When she called in she was on Picnic Island taking a breather and trying to figure out how to get back near the Fort Myers coast to seek more shelter.
She would sail, but she revealed that she had a little incident when coming in Venice Inlet yesterday. She said she wasn't looking where she was going and her aka (crossbeam) collided with a pole. She didn't think much of it at the time, but after the winds picked up today she has started thinking about it more. The winds sound brutal even through the phone, so good luck to her.
She called again a few minutes later to see where Boo, dabiscuit, and ManitouCruiser were, but there hasn't been any word on them since this morning.
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