| Florida Paddling Bulletin, 3/31/2009 |
|
|
|
| Written by admin | |||
| Tuesday, 31 March 2009 10:48 | |||
|
Number 27 newsletter
Topics:
Paddling News: Paddling workouts, WaterTribe Everglades Challenge, St. Johns River 310-mile paddling record Events and Races: FCPA races; Ultimate Hugh Heward Challenge; Blue Spring State Park "Paddle Battle"; Shark Bite Challenge; Suwannee River Challenge and Marathon, West and East Coast Offshore Series and more Equipment: StatKey, laser signalling device Marty Sullivan
------------------------------
PADDLING NEWS:
Paddling Workouts
We continue our paddling workouts on the Winter Park chain of lakes from Dinky Dock on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Email me for times. These are workout paddles, however the range of abilities and speed varies. All are welcome. WaterTribe Everglades Challenge
The 9th annual challenge from St. Pete to Key Largo is in the history books. Headwinds and variable winds made going more difficult for the sailboats this year, but still the 2-man crew blow boats did well. The weather and tides worked against us most of the way, however we were lucky this year in that there was no severe weather. A 2-man catamaran came in 1st overall, as they did last year -- Jamie Livingston and Steve Lohmayer did it in 2 days flat. However, Rod Price and Ardie Olsen paddled their way to a blistering 2nd place in 3 days and 12 hours in the Chesapeake Light Craft triple kayak. That's a 77-mile per day average, reportedly with 4 hours total sleep. I finished in 4 days, 10 hours, the first solo participant. Overall, 34 boats (53 participants) entered, including one 6-person ocean canoe, and 24 boats finished at Key Largo. All the folks listed in the last newsletter successfully completed the Challenge. The Ultra Marathon started with the Challenge from Fort Desoto Park, 65 miles to Placida, near Boca Grande. Thirteen boats entered and 9 finished, lead by Larry Melat in a Hobie catamaran, in 12 hours. Ed Francavilla was first Ultra Marathon paddler in 16 hours 42 minutes.
For full results see "Challenge Results" at www.watertribe.com.
A great slide show of the race was put together by Amy Natka, "Eight Days of WaterTribe." This video truly captures the spirit of the event and is very entertaining. See http://www.
St. Johns River 310-mile Paddling Record
Daniel Robison paddled the 310-mile length of the St. Johns River, finishing March 24, 2009, in 9 days. He started from Blue Cypress Lake, Indian River County, with his partner, David Heath, who had to drop out due to shoulder injury. You can read about it at http://www.beacononlinenews. EVENTS AND RACES: Florida Competition Paddlers Events:
April 4, 2009, 10:00 am, Rainbow River Race, Dunellon, FL, 10 miles. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 727-459-6366 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 727-455-9188 April 25, 2009, 32nd Annual Wild Hog Obstacle Race, Otter Creek, FL, 10 miles. Contact www.wildhog.wetpaint.com or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it May 17, 2009, Wekiva River Race, Sanford, FL, 14 miles. Contact Martha Carswell, 407-321-7188 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it June 7, 2009, 10 am, Wascissa River Race, Tallahassee, 10 miles, Contact George Blakely, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 850-385-4974 June 11-14, 2009, Sunshine State Games, Winter Haven, FL, sprint Saturday, marathon Sunday. Contact John Edwards, 727-459-6366 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it July 12, 2009, Mere Mortals Race, Suwannee River Park, FL, 10 miles. Contact Larry Frederick, 352-495-9846 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it August 11-17, 2009, USCA Canoe/Kayak Nationals, Warren, PA. Contact Jim Decker www.wccbi.org, uscanoe.com Sep. 19, 2009, Tarpon Springs Puffer Fish Race, Tarpon Spr., FL, Contact Karl/Cindy Vogel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 727-938-7685 Oct. 4, 2009, 10 am, Santa Fe River Canoe & Kayak Race, Rum Island Park, FL (near White Springs), 12 or 6 miles, Contact Tim Dodge, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 352-371-9428, 352-318-5877 Nov. 1, 2009, 10 am, Paddle of the Pass, Matlacha Park, Pine Island, FL, 10 or 4 miles, Contact Nancy MacPhee 239-707-7275 Dec 5, 2009, Silver River Race/Annual Awards, Silver Springs, FL, 10 miles. Contact Bert and Dick Kloss, 352-546-3950 January 24, 2010, Estero River Race, Estero, FL, 10 miles. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Paula, 239-992-4050 April 3, 4, & 5, 2009, Dragon Boat Festival, Wooten Park, Tavares, FL. For more info contact Martha Carswell 407-321-7188 www.wekivaadventures.com
April 17, Ultimate Hugh Heward Challenge (UHHC) 2009, Detroit, Michigan. We invite experienced and adventurous paddlers to participate in the retracing of an historic 1790 canoe journey from Detroit to Chicago via the Detroit River, Lake Erie, the Huron and Grand Rivers of Lower Michigan, and Lake Michigan. The trip will start at Detroit on April 17 2009 and end at Chicago approximately three weeks and 475 miles later. Contact Mark Przedwojewski,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or by phone at 231-266-2089
April 18 & 19, 2009, Shark Bite Challenge, 2009, 12 or 8 or 4 miles, Honeymoon Island State Park, FL, as part of Earth Days Festival. Contact Karen/Rob Mirlenbrink
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
727-510-3493
April 18, 8:30 (10-mile) and 9:30 (4-mile): 3rd Annual St. Johns River Paddle Battle, at Blue Spring State Park, Deland, organized by me in conjunction with the Park and the CSO. All proceeds go to benefit the park through the Citizens Support Organization. The 4-mile race will proceed upstream (south) from the Park for 2 miles then return downstream. The 10-mile race, as last year, will circumnavigate Hontoon Island including the twisty, wild Snake Creek. The major sponsor, Travel Country of Altamonte Springs, is donating a kayak to be raffled; raffle ticket is included with entry fee. Registration forms are available at http://www.floridastateparks.
April 18, 2009, 10 am, 7th Annual Safety Harbor Canoe & Kayak Festival, $25 pre-reg/$30 after Apr. 9, contact karmitage@cityofsafetyharbor.
2009 Florida First Coast Offshore Race Series, Surf Ski, Outrigger Canoe & Sea Kayak Divisions. Contact Ormond Beach Kayak Center: 386-441-0111. $10 Registration Fee for FCPA members; $15.00 non-members.
March 28 - Ormond Beach, FL / host: OBKC April 25 - Ormond Beach, FL / host: OBKC May 2 - Jacksonville Beach, FL / host: Jax Beach Patrol May 31 - Daytona Beach, FL / host: OBKC June 6 - Ormond Beach, FL / host: OBKC (followed by banquet at River Grille) April 25& 26, 2009, Carrabelle's Riverfront Festival, west of Perry, FL/ SW of Tallahassee. 2 Races: 8 mi. & 4 mi. Paddle to Dog Island (Open Water about 8 mi) & circle Timber Island (4 river miles). Contact: www.expeditionsinhell.com -
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- 866-797-2434 or 850-697-2434
May 2, 2009, 6:00 am (35-mile) and 8:00 am (8-mile): WaterTribe Cedar Key Marathon and Dash, at Cedar Key, Florida. Marathon goes from Cedar Key north to mouth of the Suwannee and return. Dash goes from Cedar Key around Seahorse Key and return. Marathon is pre-entry only; Dash is pre-enter or day-of entry. For details see www.watertribe.com. Open to canoes, kayaks, sail boats, and OC6 canoes.
June 6, 12th St Johns River Cleanup in conjunction with National River Cleanup Week. For more information please see: http://volusia.org/cleanup/
October 10, 2009, Suwannee River Challenge and Marathon, 52 or 26 miles. This is a fun one. White Springs, FL. More info contact Rod Price 407-227-5606
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
West Coast Offshore Series for OC1, OC6 and Surfskis: contact Rob Mirlenbrink,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Short races, generally downwind, in open water.
East Coast Offshore Series, every Saturday, Miami. Contact Tim Streeter
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
786-208-8458
EQUIPMENT Here are a couple of interesting emergency items.
The StatKey is a waterproof USB flash drive on which you can enter and save all your health and emergency contact information. This would be a great help if you were disabled and emergency technicians needed your health and contact info. See http://organizetheessentials.
The laser signalling device can be used in place of flares, which in my experience are doubtful. I got one for myself plus 3 for friends in the Everglades Challenge. It is a hand-held nighttime laser signaling device that provides a convenient, effective way to signal a rescue party 20 to 30 miles away, depending on atmospheric conditions. The waterproof, rugged design combines the safety of a laser signaling device with the convenience of a flashlight. Unlike flares, the Rescue Lasers are non-flammable, non-hazardous and can operate continuously for hours on replaceable batteries. They can also be used to find reflective markers like channel markers. Greg Stamer used one in his solo Newfoundland circumnavigation. They currently have a 4-for-3 deal, so you can get a good price break if you know 3 others who need one. See https://www.greatlandlaser.
The purpose of this newsletter is to help people get together for outings and to share information about gear, paddling locations and events, and anything else of interest to the paddling community. There will be no club, corporation, by-laws, or affiliation related to this sharing of information. Postings will be non-solicitous. Email addresses will not be shared without your individual, explicit permission. This approach to information sharing has been wildly successful in the bicycling community, and this newsletter is such an attempt for the paddling community. You may subscribe by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please include your first and last name with your request. Thanks for your interest. Marty Sullivan
|