Island Paddlers: Alert Bay 360 ~ Race Report

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Alert Bay 360 ~ Race Report

Arriving on tiny Cormorant island for the
2nd annual Alert Bay Eco Paddle Race,
one can't help but quickly become peacefully overwhelmed
by the incredible natural and cultural beauty
combined with the unbelievably unending kindness of the
extraordinarily friendly locals.

That is until another sense is jolted as one listens to the
updated marine forecast on the VHF radio!

With gale force winds forecast for the morning of the race,

many paddlers were left nervously pondering
or excitedly anticipating their final boat choices
for this very off-the-beaten-path

and now potentially
prevailing windy paddling race.

Most in town rose early on this blustery, blue sky summer
Saturday morning to join hundreds of other
fellow paddlers and spectators
gathering at the waters edge for a
rootsy fun race around this ruggedly small island.

Sharing smiles, we all watched in awe at the vast array of colorful boats continuing to line up along this gem of a Johnstone Straits islands shorelines.

Joining 'Team USA' this year as a volunteer race photographer,
I happily jumped aboard one of the safety boats
with Alert Bay locals Herman and Sandy and gave
last minute, pre-bumpy race seas departure
cheers to my fellow Sound Rowers companions-
Seattle rowing and paddling racing club president Steve Bennett,
former Olympic rower Sherri Cassuto,
and my ultra adventure lovin' athlete hubby, Jim Zimmerman.

One last look back at them on the beach and I could tell they were pretty pumped up.

But then again, who wouldn't be totally jazzed to be racing

for a chance at $12,000 in cash prizes and random draw donation giveaways, eh?!

As the start of the race neared the winds had steadily increased to about 15 ~ 20 knots, with white caps dotting the sheltered bay where approx. 130 racers bounced up and down while lining up in preparation to sprint into a strong and unyielding headwind until they made the first turn at a blink horned point. ~ NBZ

Going into the shallow waters, dodging rocks and beam seas

I couldn't wait to make the turn so the wind would be on my back.

Within a few good rides I find my rhythm- synchronizing my breathing, my strokes, connecting waves and reading the water ahead of me...I fall into the zone.

Then suddenly a blow from a gray whale
quite close by grabs my attention
and puts a smile on my face!
I usually spend a good deal o' my free time attempting
to photograph whales in the wild from my sea kayak...

but today I'm on the water with a different purpose-

so don't allow even one extra second to

linger with this massive marine mammal.

Instead I immediately go back to focusing on chasing down

the next paddler in front of me.

As we continue circumnavigating tiny Cormorant island,
the wind subsided and the currents collided!

Paddling as tight to the shoreline as possible while finding the right line between the thick kelp beds and numerous rocks becomes the predominant strategy
for this years Alert Bay 360 kayak race.

With opposing currents and a headwind making the final push to the finish seem further and further away, I found the break I needed in the last stretch provided by the pilings from the old docks as I returned to finish line.

Fueling me on even more is a loud thunder from a roaring crowd... ~JZ
~ ~ ~

Kudos to 'Team USA' for all finishing in the top 20,

with Jim placing 10th, Sherri 14th and Steve 18th overall! ~

We also really enjoyed watching
Sherri make us proud
as her victory

earned 'er $1000 in cash for finishing
FIRST PLACE FEMALE OVERALL!

CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS Sherri!!

We offer big thanks
to 360 Race Chairman Eric Gregory,
to Donna and Norman Stauffer for exceptional catering
of the freshly caught traditional seafood dinner,
and to the Gwa'wina Singers & T'sasala Cultural Group
for extending a special invitation