A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to participate in the Inaugural Anacapa Classic Canoe Race of a newly formed club in Oxnard Ca. Out of Channel Islands Harbor 11 miles to the island of Anacapa, 4 miles along side of it and 14 miles back. 12 man/woman race format with escort boat.
30 minute changes 6 men start the race, after 30 minutes 6 women change in. Officials monitor and flag a 5 minute window when changes are allowed. A lot of back and forth and plenty of strategy along the way, especially the race to the last change buoy before the finish inside the harbor
It was overcast for the whole race and water temp was 58 degree.
Anacapa is very isolated, rugged and without fresh water. We were actually retracing the ancient routes of seafaring Indians who used to paddle the Santa Barbara Channel in swift, seaworthy canoes called "tomols". The Chumash or "island people" had villages on the northern islands and traded with the mainland Indians. The Gabrielino people lived on the southern island of Santa Barbara. Anacapa is part of an island group which has been made a National Park of which half is under water.
The wildlife around there is unbelievable. We raced straight into a pod of about 100 dolphins traveling across our line and a group of 5 peeled off and swam along next to our ama for a couple of changes to check us out.
The race format was cool. Not the usual coed throw together, but every crew was matched female/male as ranked within their club (first, second, third crew etc.) No hanging around waiting for the women to finish and then start racing. We were all done by the early afternoon. Small kine event for first time. Maybe 25 crews, but very intimate that way.
Happy to have been there.
Video is from bow of escort boat
Submitted by painteur on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 10:21am
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to participate in the Inaugural Anacapa Classic Canoe Race of a newly formed club in Oxnard Ca. Out of Channel Islands Harbor 11 miles to the island of Anacapa, 4 miles along side of it and 14 miles back. 12 man/woman race format with escort boat.
30 minute changes 6 men start the race, after 30 minutes 6 women change in. Officials monitor and flag a 5 minute window when changes are allowed. A lot of back and forth and plenty of strategy along the way, especially the race to the last change buoy before the finish inside the harbor
It was overcast for the whole race and water temp was 58 degree.
Anacapa is very isolated, rugged and without fresh water. We were actually retracing the ancient routes of seafaring Indians who used to paddle the Santa Barbara Channel in swift, seaworthy canoes called "tomols". The Chumash or "island people" had villages on the northern islands and traded with the mainland Indians. The Gabrielino people lived on the southern island of Santa Barbara. Anacapa is part of an island group which has been made a National Park of which half is under water.
The wildlife around there is unbelievable. We raced straight into a pod of about 100 dolphins traveling across our line and a group of 5 peeled off and swam along next to our ama for a couple of changes to check us out.
The race format was cool. Not the usual coed throw together, but every crew was matched female/male as ranked within their club (first, second, third crew etc.) No hanging around waiting for the women to finish and then start racing. We were all done by the early afternoon. Small kine event for first time. Maybe 25 crews, but very intimate that way.
Happy to have been there.
Video is from bow of escort boat
Submitted by painteur on Mon, 08/23/2010 - 10:21am