Offshore Series Doubles Race #1 – Results

Baby its Cold Outside!!!

By Rob Mirlenbrink

Race #1 of the New Offshore Double Series was definitely something to remember.  Many paddlers awoke to freezing temperatures and ice, even on the beach! Harry Mountain had to scrap ice off his canoe while Karen and I had blocks of ice fall out of the foot wells of our double.  This just does not happen in Florida! With the freezing temperatures, strong N winds and wind chills in the upper 20’s, many of the normal paddlers actually sat this race out.  However, Ed Francavilla and his brother-in-law Larry Melat actually came out just for the cold.  It seems they both have a bunch of cold weather gear they were just dying to try out. 

After the very brief pre-race meeting everyone hit the water and paddled to the race start just off Clearwater Pass.  Unfortunately, this required us to spend about 10-minutes heading into the freezing cold wind.  The feeling of pins and needles greeted the hands and faces of all involved.  From the Pass, the course was a straight shot south, roughly 9.6 miles, to Redington Shores Park.   The winds were blowing about 20-knots from the N with a 2-3 foot ground swell from the NW.  This made for some great runs and fast times down the beach.  Most paddlers averaged over 8 mph throughout the race.  Courtland Reilly and Derick Bez (I know Derick in an OC-2???) actually hit over 14 mph on one run in their canoe.  Karen and I also had an incredible run that was over 15 mph and lasted close to 1-minute.  By the half-way point in the race, most of the final race positions were decided.  Harry took full advantage of the short wind chop that proved to be very advantageous for the single boats that did race.  Harry was first overall, roughly 1-minute ahead of the doubles.  Karen and I, in our M&M double, took first overall in the doubles.  Nearly avoiding a huli at the finish, we were able to hold off a charging Reilly and Bez team that were closing fast in the last stretch.  Likewise, the Raas and Raas team held on despite and finished just behind Derick and Courtland.  Last but not least, Ed and Larry,  brought up the rear, surfing an incredible wave into the finish!        

Overall it proved to be quite an exciting day.  We were all happy for the winds, but hope to never see these kinds of temperatures again!  It has actually been over 20-years since the coastal Tampa Bay area had seen such weather.  BUT, it’s going to be 75 today and I’m heading out now to hit the water…    

Offshore Doubles Series