PEAKS ISLAND RACE, 2006
The forecast for the 48 hours prior to the race may have explained the low turn out of surfskis. Only four showed, but there was a strong contingent of sea-kayaks and two outriggers (the first to enter this race) that produced a good overall turn out. In the end, the promised 25-30knt and heavy rain didn't show. Only light breeze, 2 ft swells and showers.
The skis got away from the rest of the field quickly at the start, with the outriggers close behind. Ken Cooper put the pressure on with Cory Lancaster chasing his stern. Mike Tracey and Andrew Binks followed behind as the race ran along Cushing Island.
As the course entered the ocean around Ram Ledge, Cooper had already established his lead. Onto the ocean Cory's V10 took weed on the rudder and the slow down let Binks overtake. The OC2 (Colleen Moore and Cindy McNett) took both the trailing skis before they past Rams.
Small quartering rides kept the ride out quick and Cooper increased his gap on the rest of the field. Tracey pulled away from Lancaster and Binks - now also chasing the OC2. Lancaster, feeling more comfortable on a borrowed V10 pulled ahead of Binks. Closer to Outer Green, Eric McNett (OC1) pulled through up to the two backfield skis and over took through the lumpier water around Junk of Pork.
As the head of the field passed Outer Green for the return leg the low cloud descended producing a thickening fog. Racers were spread out enough that only the boat immediately in front was visible. The out-going current from Hussey sound picked up the waves giving a clue that the islands were close. As racers hit Peaks island they headed north, the positions not changing after the three mile crossing from Outer Green; Copper, Moore/McNett, Tracy, McNett, Lancaster then Binks.
The fog was still thickening as a moment of abject stupidity then struck and Binks, maybe 100 meters behind Lancaster, turned around believing that Hussey sound was behind him - it wasn't and his race was over. The rest of the field looped around the North end of Peaks Island and made the last slog through flat water back to Maine Islands Kayak company's beach.
This was another great race with more challenges of being on open water than most other events in our calendar. Big thanks go to Tom Bergh of Maine Island Kayak Company for organizing another successful event.
GPS data of Ken Cooper's route.
