Rss/XmlARWC: Nice Day For A Paddle
The race started about 20 minutes late due to teams unable to get it together, it was mayhem with teams bringing boats down the boat ramp on top of each other. The day was beautiful by any standard and maybe a little more so since days like that are so rare here. It was certainly the best possible conditions for an open ocean paddle, even in good weather the seas are rough here but at least the sky wasn't unloading.
Merrell/Wigwam are strong paddlers, very strong, arguably the best, unfortunately they had a bit of an equipment malfunction. The boats they're using are made here in the U.K. and they are considered to be top notch boats, very fast in the water and they handle the rough stuff extremely well. They have a nifty set-up for raising and lowering the rudder, it's a hand controlled hydraulic pump that raises and lowers the rudder into a channel under the boat, well they raise and lower fine but they could'nt get them to turn. They worked fine during the check paddles but on race day they would'nt perform. The team was forced to paddle on one side of the boat only, which completely ruins the advantage of having a double bladed paddle, so it was hard steering all the way and only half as much stroke power. They did really well to keep the position they had.
This race is going to be brutal, so many teams have a chance to win. Aberdeen is fast and they have something to prove, Lundhags are fast and they love to run, Sole is fast and they've added Petri "the iceman" Forsman who is fast and is a fantastic navigator which bolsters Tom Zideks already sound navigational skills. 10 to 15 teams have a ligit shot, to include Merrell/Wigwam.
So you're a little bummed out that Merrell/Wigwam is back a little, you think "hey this is a bunch of crap", "we've been freakin cheated" you're saying outloud, well don't despair little ducky the adventure racing gods like to make things right. The top seven teams of yesterdays prologue have received a minimum 2 hour penalty each and there is an uncomfirmed (but increasingly believable)rumor that Nike got an additional 2 hours. Here's how it shook out:
1) Orion penalty 2 hr - incorrect kit
2) Lundhags 2hr - penalty not following mandatory route
3) Buff penalty 2 hr mandatory route
4) BV penalty 2 hr delay in shoes (3 mins) + incorrect kit
5) Nike 2hr 100m gap
6) Salomon Crested Butte 5:40:21 - mandatory route
7) Sole 2 hr not following mandatory route
The manditory route penalty is because the island is a nature preserve, teams were told to stay on specific trails. I don't know what a delay in shoes is but it'll get'ya a 3 minute penalty so I wouldn't do it if I were you. Incorrect kit was for a sleeping bag and a helmet. This barrage of penalties is interesting so early (or even before)in the race, it's sending a message that WE WILL CHECK YOU SO DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT TRYING TO PULL A FAST ONE. The Nike penalty for gap is even more interesting, the minimum gap rule is rarely enforced, in fact i've never heard of anyone getting a penalty from it although its in every race. Additionally Nike is the returning champs and its been noted (by me) that in other races obvious penalties have been overlooked when it was Nike because they are and have been the champs. I hope they enforce rules the whole way but its unlikely since some of the check points are remote and will only have an electronic device to plug each team members "key" into. The penalties are being served in suprise fashion at one of the first few checkpoints off the water. more later, Jeff Akens
