Long Distance Race on the Water?

[gcanyon]

Just curious if there is anything like this for rowing:

http://www.catalinachallenge.com/

It's a race in California, US, from Catalina Island to the mainland in either canoes with outriggers or on stand up surfboards. And maybe a few other configurations, but no racing shells as near as I can tell. I'm going to ask if they would accept one of us next year.

In any case, do people hold long distance (i.e. open water) races for our kind of rowing?

[TomR]

"The Blackburn Challenge is a 22-mile open water rowing and paddling race in the Atlantic Ocean held in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It is named after Howard Blackburn, the famous fisherman who survived five nights at sea with his hands frozen to the oars after his dory became separated from the mother ship during a winter gale in 1883. The race is one of the longest and best attended open water races on the East Coast."

http://www.blackburnchallenge.com/Blackburn.html

Outside magazine had a short article about it a year or two ago.

All manner of craft compete: kayaks, dories, shells.

Never done it. Don't intend to. But fun to read about.

Tom

[calonius]

Welcome to the worlds biggest rowing competition Sulkava Race, with approx 10 000 participants, 65 km
http://www.suursoudut.net/

[Andy Nield]

http://www.bostonrowingmarathon.org.uk/

[Bob S.]

Just curious if there is anything like this for rowing:

http://www.catalinachallenge.com/

It's a race in California, US, from Catalina Island to the mainland in either canoes with outriggers or on stand up surfboards. And maybe a few other configurations, but no racing shells as near as I can tell. I'm going to ask if they would accept one of us next year.

In any case, do people hold long distance (i.e. open water) races for our kind of rowing?

There used to be an annual Catalina to Marina del Rey rowing race held in the early Fall, sponsored by one of the yacht clubs at MdR. I have a hunch that this is still in operation, but I moved out of the area three years ago and have not kept up to date on it.

There was another race, around Naples Island and out into the bay, that was open to all kinds of human powered craft. That was in mid-Summer, but I haven't heard anything about it for several years.

Bob S.

[gcanyon]

There used to be an annual Catalina to Marina del Rey rowing race held in the early Fall, sponsored by one of the yacht clubs at MdR. I have a hunch that this is still in operation, but I moved out of the area three years ago and have not kept up to date on it.

Maybe this is it:

http://www.calyachtclub.com/cms/index.c ... SubNavID=0

Quoting: For 2006, our open water race will be the 30th Anniversary Catalina Crossing on September 10th. The 32-nautical mile course runs from CYC to the Isthmus of Catalina and is open to experienced open water rowers. Entries will be available July 1st.

I don't think I qualify as an "experienced open water rower," so maybe I should start practicing

[Spectre]

The CPR (Corvallis to Portland) in Oregon is not open water but its still 104 miles of FUN FUN FUN along the Willamette river (rhymes with Dammit). here is the link http://www.newworldrowing.org/cpr/index.htm.

[DonS]

gcanyon,

You found it. Until this last year I rowed out of Cal Yacht Club. Some years the race goes from the mainland to Catalina, and other years from Catalina to the Marina. A couple of years they've done a two day around Catalina row. I've done both a MDR to Catalina and an around Catalina row both in a Maas ocean double. Those self-bailers can really come in handy. The crossing usually starts very early in the morning in the dark. All rowers have their own motorized escort boats and lots of lights on board. It really helps to get used to rowing with a GPS so that 32 miles doesn't turn into 50 miles of zig zags. I hope you enter and give us a full report.

-Don

[gcanyon]

I hope you enter and give us a full report.

I can't say I'm not interested, but given that:

a. I've been on an erg for less than four months;
b. The last time I rowed on the water was ten years ago in a fishing boat;
c. I've done exactly one marathon so far;

I think I have a ways to go before I should send them my entry fee

That said, if I eventually do, I will definitely record the whole experience.

[TomR]

Mr. Canyon--

http://outside.away.com/outside/feature ... nge_1.html

A bit of reading on the subject.

Tom

[gcanyon]

Mr. Canyon--

http://outside.away.com/outside/feature ... nge_1.html

A bit of reading on the subject.

Tom

Yikes! I think I ought to take this one step at a time -- like at least getting on the water first...

[Kinley]

I think I have a ways to go before I should send them my entry fee

This year's Blackburn entry blank arrived in the morning mail

July 22, 2006 --- save the date & see you there

>>>-----> Kinley