Lighthouse to Lighthouse Race

Today I paddled in my last kayak race of the season in the 14 mile  L2L  This race is in Norwalk Ct. and begins off of Sandy Beach, just next to Calf Beach on the Long Island Sound. I've never actually paddled  on the Long Island Sound but it is very beautiful. After everyone was staged on the beach they had a short captains meeting and by 9 a.m. were starting the first wave of paddleboarders. Sea Kayaks were in the second wave followed by the surf skis, rowing shells and OC1 - 6. The weather was beautiful but the wind was up.

 Here is a shot of the beach from near the starting line. We rounded Sprite Island and headed toward Pecks Ledge Lighthouse. The water was very choppy between tide and waves and we had fun surfing and some flipping (not on purpose).

 There are many small island right off of Norwalk. This is Goose Island I think.

 I loved this lighthouse on top of the house/church or whatever it was. This is on Sheffield Island

 I was making good time averaging about 4.4 mph. Here is Greens Ledge Lighthouse that was our turnaround bouy.

 The return course was the same and the wind died for a bit. Then as we rounded Pecks Ledge we headed right into a 15-20 knot wind right on our nose. I was proud of myself for passing a OC1 and surfski in the final push to the finish in that headwind.  I don't have my exact time but it was under 3 hours. The first place Sea Kayaker did it in about 2:35. We had a great beach party including raw oysters & clams, chili and hamburgers & hotdogs. A good day for all

 The yellow lines are this years race.

Huron Cruiser Maiden Voyage

The Huron Cruiser I built for Paterson Habitat for Humanity to auction off has not sold. It has been up at the boathouse at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo NY and in some online auctions. Since I had to pick it up from Tuxedo and it was now in my backyard I decided that it was time to take it for a paddle.  Last night my friend and deacon of our church Terry Harbison took it over to the Passaic River launch we use in Elmwood Park. 

 When both of us got in, with Terry in the front, it felt very tippsy. I took to a kneeling position and that helped. We paddled a bit up river but still felt quite tippsy. Finally we returned to the launch and I took it out solo. While sitting in reverse in the front seat I felt quite stable. I was told this was a stable canoe, for 32 1/2 wide, however that may have been in comparison to the narrower racing canoes. It is not near as stable as the Old Town rotomolded that we use up at the cabin.

 I'm not sure what this means for still trying to auction it off but I would not want anyone to buy it without trying it. Otherwise I'll just keep it and learn how to paddle it with whoever is daring enough to come out with me. Debra is waiting for her inaugural paddle in it as well