Deception Pass Dash report

I know the spirit of a blog is to have frequent and timely write ups. This one is a little late. We’ll work on that! In the mean time, enjoy:

By Jeff Knakal

12-4-10 Deception Pass State Park. Over 150 human powered watercraft gathered at Bowman Bay for this year’s edition of the Deception Pass Dash. The day was cold, but calm and sunny.  The organizers debated a start time of 1:00 or 1:05, trying to put us in the pass exactly at slack. If I can guess Deception Pass currents within an hour, I figure I’m doing pretty well. But their calculation was spot on making for perfect conditions (for the rowers anyway)

Theresa and I were in our Maas double rowing shell, so we positioned on the far end of the starting line to stay out of the tangled mass. We got off fast and had an amazing view of flying paddles against the green trees and blue sky.  Morris and Debbie Arthur came into view behind us and picked up their paddle rate to catch us for a draft.  We picked up our stroke rate to hold them off.  My only thought was, “are they pulling on the same water we’re pulling on?” They soon caught us and were joined by Brandon Nelson and Gabe Newton, and “we had us a convoy” as the old 70’s song goes.  I caught a glimpse of Robert Meenk in his rowing single out in front and thought our group would probably be racing for second place.

The paddlers took an inside line around Deception Island while we swung wide of the kelp, coming back together at the gap in the kelp promised in the pre-race meeting. They graciously let us through first and hopped back on the draft.  Morris and I stared each other down at close range on the long crossing to the bridge.  Brandon and Gabe jockeyed for position just behind. Morris suggested a few minor course corrections as we rowed through the pass and they made another move, taking the inside line around Strawberry Island. We swung wide, our hull clunking loudly against the kelp.  We were now a boat length behind the pack and slowly inched our way back, passing through canoe pass almost together.  We diverged in our course back to Deception Island. Us to the south, the paddlers to the north, each guessing at the best current. When we came back together, Brandon and Gabe tucked in behind us again, we didn’t see the Arthur’s and the biggest surprise, Robert was well behind us.   The water got a little choppy on the outside of the island. Brandon followed us wide, while Gabe took an inside line.  As we swung onto the final straight to the finish, Brandon and Gabe pulled up even just behind us, the Arthurs close behind and Robert further back and charging hard. Was this really turning into a sprint to the finish?  We rode a few swells on the way to the finish, frantically trying to hold off Robert.  As we neared the finish, Gabe made a move to pass us.  We countered with a sprint, chasing Robert from behind at this point. He finished 4 seconds ahead , followed in rapid succession by us, Gabe, Brandon and the Arthurs.  We all finished within 30 seconds.  An exciting finish to a great race.