That race had some wild moments. How about the downpour blasting us around Makapu'u? Several of the ski guys were cleaned off their boats at various points in the race. The section from Hanauma Bay to Portlock had some really deep holes, I felt like I was jumping off a high dive on some of them, and I would have backed out on a lot more if it weren't for the loud rumbling of the white water right on my ass...
I could be wrong Rambo, but the only craft I noticed out there were the jetski safety guys. Our documentation out here is pretty spotty, it's more or less limited to the racers swapping stories over beers at the post-race lunch. From what I heard/saw, here's the race from my point of view in a nutshell: Ed and Zsolt went out fast and disappeared from view when a driving rainstorm hit the pack as we were rounding the Makapu'u lighthouse. The rain flattened out all the little wind chops and you could clearly see the steep, smooth swell ricocheting everywhere, it was pretty surreal.
At Allen Davies, Karel Jr. and Will went past me going hammer and tongs neck and neck on a fairly wide line, and Jr. started opening the gap going across Maunalua Bay to win by a few minutes. Ed and Zsolt were more or less together going down the wall from Hanauma Bay, and Ed had a yard sale near portlock, donating most of his gear to the current heading back out to Molokai. The Hawaii Kai run was a lonely one for a lot of guys who couldn't see anyone else nearby. It was strong wind, but somewhat crossed up, not a sleigh ride. Zsolt felt it was a little sticky and difficult to connect the runs.
The pack converged again at Black Point, the wing blades started popping into view in rapid succession, and by the time we rounded the lighthouse it was apparent about half the kayak field was within shouting distance. The final stretch across Waikiki had some swell wrapping around going our direction, but the strong cross wind made us suffer greatly trying to pull into the troughs.
The award party on Magic Island was greatly enhanced by an endless stream of bikini-clad co-eds filing past, carrying pool toys and booze down to a spring-break flotilla event at the lagoon. Hours later most of the racers had left when the flotilla debauchery came to full blossom and someone torched a plastic garbage can. By the time Ed and I doused it out, the first bikini casualty was being wheeled down the path, crumpled up in a shopping cart. The poor lass' color improved greatly as soon as she was laid out on the ground, her pool toy air mattress served as a cushion to keep her nice and comfy until the ambulance showed up. It was a classic scene when the paramedics showed up and tried to sort out how the shopping cart, the passed-out-girl, and the smoldering garbage can all fit together. So a very rich day in all, and I'm sure there are dozens of good stories yet to surface- Patrick
It's true, Rambo, that when going downwind the best OC1 guys aren't much slower than the best ski guys out here, if at all. The course for this race started with a 10-15 minute side wind/ reflected chop section and finished with a 15-20 minute hard cross wind. If it was all downwind the OC1 guys would go even faster. Another way to look at it: Going under 4 hours in the molo ski race is a well respected goal to shoot for if you're not an elite paddler and last year finishing in 4 flat would have let you edge out Lauren Bartlett for 19th place. If you did 4 hours flat in last year's OC1 Molo solo you would have come in 24th.
PEGASUS TOP 15! YEAH YAH!
#1 Sun, 03/20/2011 - 11:11am
That race had some wild moments. How about the downpour blasting us around Makapu'u? Several of the ski guys were cleaned off their boats at various points in the race. The section from Hanauma Bay to Portlock had some really deep holes, I felt like I was jumping off a high dive on some of them, and I would have backed out on a lot more if it weren't for the loud rumbling of the white water right on my ass...
#2 Sun, 03/20/2011 - 3:24pm
Video ???
#3 Sun, 03/20/2011 - 7:02pm
I could be wrong Rambo, but the only craft I noticed out there were the jetski safety guys. Our documentation out here is pretty spotty, it's more or less limited to the racers swapping stories over beers at the post-race lunch. From what I heard/saw, here's the race from my point of view in a nutshell: Ed and Zsolt went out fast and disappeared from view when a driving rainstorm hit the pack as we were rounding the Makapu'u lighthouse. The rain flattened out all the little wind chops and you could clearly see the steep, smooth swell ricocheting everywhere, it was pretty surreal.
At Allen Davies, Karel Jr. and Will went past me going hammer and tongs neck and neck on a fairly wide line, and Jr. started opening the gap going across Maunalua Bay to win by a few minutes. Ed and Zsolt were more or less together going down the wall from Hanauma Bay, and Ed had a yard sale near portlock, donating most of his gear to the current heading back out to Molokai. The Hawaii Kai run was a lonely one for a lot of guys who couldn't see anyone else nearby. It was strong wind, but somewhat crossed up, not a sleigh ride. Zsolt felt it was a little sticky and difficult to connect the runs.
The pack converged again at Black Point, the wing blades started popping into view in rapid succession, and by the time we rounded the lighthouse it was apparent about half the kayak field was within shouting distance. The final stretch across Waikiki had some swell wrapping around going our direction, but the strong cross wind made us suffer greatly trying to pull into the troughs.
The award party on Magic Island was greatly enhanced by an endless stream of bikini-clad co-eds filing past, carrying pool toys and booze down to a spring-break flotilla event at the lagoon. Hours later most of the racers had left when the flotilla debauchery came to full blossom and someone torched a plastic garbage can. By the time Ed and I doused it out, the first bikini casualty was being wheeled down the path, crumpled up in a shopping cart. The poor lass' color improved greatly as soon as she was laid out on the ground, her pool toy air mattress served as a cushion to keep her nice and comfy until the ambulance showed up. It was a classic scene when the paramedics showed up and tried to sort out how the shopping cart, the passed-out-girl, and the smoldering garbage can all fit together. So a very rich day in all, and I'm sure there are dozens of good stories yet to surface- Patrick
#4 Mon, 03/21/2011 - 10:28am
Thanks Patrick, sounds like a video would have been a classic with all that going on.
Not much time difference between the Ski and Oc1?..wow
#5 Mon, 03/21/2011 - 1:51pm
It's true, Rambo, that when going downwind the best OC1 guys aren't much slower than the best ski guys out here, if at all. The course for this race started with a 10-15 minute side wind/ reflected chop section and finished with a 15-20 minute hard cross wind. If it was all downwind the OC1 guys would go even faster. Another way to look at it: Going under 4 hours in the molo ski race is a well respected goal to shoot for if you're not an elite paddler and last year finishing in 4 flat would have let you edge out Lauren Bartlett for 19th place. If you did 4 hours flat in last year's OC1 Molo solo you would have come in 24th.
#6 Wed, 03/23/2011 - 3:04pm