Recap: Race #2, Sausalito (Seatrek) 11/11/06

With uncertain weather conditions, the day started with the novice race to/from the end of Tiburon. Next was the short course race that went around the end of Tiburon to the bay at Belvedere and back again. The racing concluded with the long course. It was an out-and-back through the Golden Gate and around one our safety boats parked between Point Diablo and Point Bonita. We always try to find challenging conditions for the long course, and we were able to again. As I passed close to Point Diablo on my way out the Golden Gate, some big swells were bouncing off of the vertical cliffs. (It gave me a brief flash-back to the waves bouncing off "The Wall" at Koko Head near the end of the Molokai to Oahu solo race. If only our water was 20 degrees warmer....)

All the races concluded with a short run up the beach to the finish line between the two WaveChaser banners. This added a little extra excitement to some of the close finishes, added viewing pleasure for the spectators, and relief for the timers. In the short course there was a photo finish between Andy and Jane Toro in an OC2 and newcomer Ken Kortkamp in a surfski, with the Toros beating out Ken by 1/36 of a second despite Ken's valiant leap at the finish line. In the long course Steve Kaspar felt so inspired he carried his ski across the finish.

After their race, paddlers were treated to hot pasta with meatball spaghetti sauce, bread, Caesar salad, and drinks. The day concluded with the awards ceremony and raffles. Alan Levine, who comes down to the WaveChaser races all the way from his home in Mendocino County, won the iPod Nano. Will Geordias won the $20 iTunes gift card, and Tim Herring won the $20 Starbucks gift card. Tim Herring also won the $200 in the Scott Kelly sponsored "do a favor for a friend" contest by bringing the most new WaveChaser paddlers to the race.

Last month's race in Half Moon Bay had a very good level of participation with 133 total entrants amongst the three races (novice course, short course, and long course). Our race #2 numbers (76 paddlers) were down as compared to race #1. Did the rainy weather forecast keep some paddlers at home? Or maybe it was the memories of the wicked currents in the 2004 edition of this race's long course. As it turned out, there was some overnight rain, but all was clear throughout the day and the currents were mild. Thanks to everybody that came out and raced. And thanks for those that volunteered their time to help with the races. We need both of you in order to have successful events.

The WaveChaser racing schedule is taking the month of December off for the Holidays. Hope to see everybody at our first race of the new year on January 20 in Santa Cruz.

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