The channel crossing was bumpy with the wind shifting from different directions.We had fun chasing down swells, riding them looking for the next.Nothing big, mind you, but never the less, fun. It did bring a smile to your face even if you are accustomed to bigger stuff.The day before, we were watching the flags fluttering from the Harbor Master’s quarters.They looked promising as noon drew near and stood out about 5-6 knots.Yes we’ve become near professional flag watchers as a part of this sport.Soon we’ll be able to predict the exact amount of knots that makes a flag stand up straight or hang limply.Guys should be better able to predict that sort of science.
Juli Wolfe looking fresh and strong across the channel.
The day of the race began cold and gray. The sky matched the color of the sea.Have you ever heard of a white out?This was a gray out.To make things worse, we didn’t a have lead boat to focus on.If you broke into the lead, you were happy, but in reality you were screwed.Your only sense of direction was from verbal instructions behind you.Like musicians that play by ear, the leaders were paddling by ear.“Go right.Ah… go left a little.Nope too far.”
OC1 Team Justin Banfield and Danny Ching broke the old record 4:51:44 setting a new one in a time of 4:48:22.While going through the pack, they went straight ahead, but once they got into the lead, they started zigzagging.On one occasion, they made a change and when they returned to Justin, he was going like a bat out of hell, across their path from left to right.Seeing this and following in hot pursuit, Team Hawaii Team Mael Carey and Tapa Worthington jumped on it and closed the gap quickly. On the other side of the course Ray Shipman went off course too. After he and Molly Bishop worked so hard to finally pass an OC2, a change was made.When the escort returned looking for Ray, they discovered Ray heading south crossing in front of everyone.Panic time.
Danny Ching trying to hang on after the race.
Little cousin Heather Crayton, hanging with Danny and partner Justin Banfield at the awards at Hennessey's.
Breaking the record.
It was about halfway across the channel, when Justin and Danny began to realize they had a chance set a new record. So began their quest to break it. As the miles went by, skipper Jeanne Barrett kept up the pace and morale to the harbor, counting and recounting all the possible numbers.In the end it was Justin who shouldered the pressure to make the final run for the record, into the harbor.That harbor can look mighty dreadful when you have to complete it under a certain time.Imagine doing a time trial after doing Catalina. Ouch.But, Justin did a great job pushing his body to the limit and breaking the record for his team.Congratulations to OC1Team Justin Banfield and Danny Ching.This is the third consecutive year the record has been broken.Since 2002, Danny has raced with five different partners, which included, Thomas Shahinian, Mike Beyer, Dan Barbosa, Steve Sinkus (three times) and Justin Banfield.He has won the race six times. Walter Guild and Mike Judd held the record of 5:12:22 since 1999.In 2007, Danny and Steve broke the record in a time of 4:55:10.In 2008, they set a new record of 4:51:44.Incredibly in 2009, Danny and Justin set another record of 4:48:22. Congratulations Danny and Justin. As far as equipment goes, Danny used the Mudbrook XP in the last three record setting crossings. The XP Paddle is a result of information gained through the OC1 Mudlite. Two weeks before the race he hand picks two paddles, carefully fine tunes each, sands and adjusts the balance and refinishes them. No two paddles are exactly alike, carbon nor wood even though they are built using the same process. The Pueo is his favorite one-man canoe. Built by Kamanu Composites, it does exceptionally well in the bumps.
Mael Carey teeing off in the ONE HAND MUST HOLD A BEER division.
In what’s becoming an annual event, the Golden Buffalo Chip Golf Tournament took place on Saturday at Avalon’s miniature golf park.The trophy is as you may have guessed.A trophy made to look like a buffalo chip wrapped in gold tin foil, or was it the real thing sprayed?It is an anything- goes tourney, as one might guess by the photos shown here.Yes, there was no love.About the only rule was- the lowest score wins.The counting system has yet to be figured out.We had about 15 to 20 in our party.
Steve Cole lining up his shot.
Jeane Barrett lining up her putt with a slightly modified stance.
You may hit your ball, hit other’s balls and or use your ball as a clever device to prevent others from sinking a putt.One thing we will not tolerate is cheating… unless you happen to have brought the most beer.Richard Graham, “Happened” to be the grand winner this year.Everyone is still in heated dispute over that farce.Later we retired to Antonios Resturant for a quiet pre race dinner. "Please don’t throw peanuts".It tends to upset the customers, especially when it lands in their beer.Yes, some fool threw just one peanut across the room.And yes it started an hour long riot of peanut war.All this before dinner.The waiters weren’t spared either.We hope you’ll join us next time.
Ray Shipman left congratulating Richard Graham with the Golden Buffalo chip.
Pre-race dinner. Notice the peanuts floating in the beer. Collateral damage from the peanut war.
Largely through the coniving efforts of my brother in law Josh Crayton, I some how found myself paddling in the race instead of comfortably driving the escort boat as planned.After two easy practices during the week, I partied at Avalon on Friday and Saturday night. I was told, there was an extra OC1 on the escort. “It was Mine.”My paddle and jersey also showed up.Then my partner-to-be Moses Ramler showed up prompting Josh to say, “Hey maybe we can put you two guys in the race.”Before I knew it, the horn was sounding and my partner was sprinting off the line.As the escort wind blew through my hair, I was resigned to have a good time... even if it killed me.Boys and girls do not try this at home, unless you are a highly trained professional.
As the race proceeded I was surprised how well I was doing.My stamina and endurance was back and lasted well into the race.I really enjoyed it, “I may be onto something here”.I didn’t feel any pressure and the swells were easy to catch.I made a long thin rudder and it easily out-performed all my other rudders. Since the start, a tail wind kept pushing the swells in our general direction, but about mid channel, two squalls formed to our right pushing air across us. The wind shifted, driving us like so many leaves across a pond.Even though our skipper George Bishop had a red digital line to Dana Point, our canoes were crabbing sideways.
With less than 10 miles to go, we adjusted our reference point to compensate for swells and increased current.Still we found our immediate pack racing at a 45-degree angle to the shore.The last few miles reflected waves off the steep shoreline creating a washing machine sea.But if you focused hard, you could still see your predominant swell through it all.My last piece was planned for a total sprint for a mile to the buoy to give Moses the best advantage in the harbor. After finishing my sprint, I staggered back into the escort for the last time. Winded and spent, I sat my tired body down. George Bishop handed me a cold Tecate, " ... Aaaah. Cheers Josh".
Junior paddlers Pam Rigg, Bobbi Poppler and Taylor Kingsmill give a happy smile, relieved that it's over. They did a great job crossing the channel as a team. They also entered the World Sprints in Seattle last August.
Letter from John Taylor Open Women's race.
Hi Al-I used my sailboat as escort for the Open women’s OC1 team of Vicki Mills and Julie Wofle…and it was exciting!!Their competition was Aimee Spector and Shienlu Stokesbury, who broke out to an early lead at the start.The first few changes were a bit challenging as some of he larger escort ships were tossing a pretty large wake (which everyone seemed to enjoy after they got use to it).Somewhere about mid-channel these two teams were very close and it was anyone’s race.Soon Vicki and Julie pulled ahead and built a pretty comfortable lead…but it was not to last.Coming into Dana and just before the harbor, Aimee and Shienlu put on the charge! At the final red turn buoy it was tied…Vicki in a heads up battle with Shienlu…I think they both turned the buoy together…soon Amy was back in the canoe for the final stretch up the harbor…the fans were cheering all along the shore!Vicki was fortunate to just edge Aimee at the finish…My congratulations to both teams…This was the most exciting race/finish I think I have ever witnessed.And a big thanks to Chris O’Kieffe and his staff for hosting another great Catalina Challenge.
Sea’s ya on the water.
Your friend
John Taylor.
Women competitors and friends top left- Nohealani Hirahara, Vicki Mills, Juli Wolfe, bottom left Molly Bishop and Mindy Clark.
Lanakila Girls. Left-Agnes Regeczkey, Tanya Mulhe, Suzanne White-bottom, Katy Arnold- top, Lisa Wilson-top, Lise Fernow- bottom and the breathless Eric Lindberg.
Thanks to Chris Okeiffe for organizing and hosting the entire race.Also thanks to all the skippers without whose help we couldn’t have done it.Special thanks to our skipper George Bishop.
MahaloAL
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