Getting Ready
Well the first day of the Adirondack Canoe Classic started well. I got up early and rode my bike to the start, which for the record was about a mile away and all down hill. I am sure I got some strange looks heading down the road with a kayak paddle held like a lance and a spray skirt around my waist.
After I unlocked the kayak, I carried it to the start dock to try it out for the first time. At this point - about 7 AM - the whole start area was covered in boats and paddlers waiting for the paddler's meeting to begin. I negotiated my way to the docks and dropped it in the water when I heard someone yell "Jake, I thought you we going to run with that!". I turned around to see Susan who had seen me carrying her purple kayak through the crowd. She had come over to introduce herself and ask if I had any questions. She recommended that I make all of my adjustments out of the water. After taking the boat out of the water she helped me adjust the rudder foot braces and explained the rudder system. Thank goodness she did because I had planned on making all of these major adjustments while on the water and that would have been a disaster. Once everything was adjusted I put the boat back in the water and climbed in. 20 min before the paddlers meeting and I was in the boat for the first time. I started out on the water to get a feel for how the boat tracked and to see how the rudder would help. Since the Solctice is a Sea Kayak it tracked very well in the open water and the water made turning easy. After paddling for 10 min or so I saw my dad and son standing on the shore of the Old Forge beach and paddled over to see them. My son wanted to climb in the boat and once he was on my lap we paddled onto the lake. After a few minutes I returned him to dock where my dad was. He was not happy to get out of the kayak but I had make a few more adjustments before starting and he couldn't stay with me all day. While I made final adjustments to the boat and my equipment, Brian McDonald from Mac's Canoe conducted the paddlers meeting and announced the start. I was in Wave 5 and it would be about 30 minutes before I started. The Adirondack Canoe Classic goes off in waves starting with the "Open" class in Wave 1 and finishing with the "Unlimited Kayak" class in Wave 10. This way the slower boats have extra time to finish the day and to make the time cut-offs.
The Start
At about 8:30 I was lined up with the other kayaks and C-1s and after Brian completed the start-line check to verify all of the paddlers were there he started us. Immediately a pack of 6 kayakers were out in front and quickly distancing themselves from the rest of the wave. At that point I knew I wasn't going to be in the top three but I had figured that would be the case before I even got in the water. I started the race with the rudder out of the water and after the first 5 min I reconsidered and dropped it in the water. It took me the first 30 mins of the race to feel comfortable in the boat as I made small adjustments to my seat, paddle, and rudder.
The Race
I was pleased to start catching boats from the first wave by Second Lake and I was able to hold off getting caught by other waves until the channel between Third and Fourth Lake. The first boat to catch me was a mother/son team in the C-2 Stock Mixed class, as they went through the channel she was saying 'Good Morning' to all of the spectators like she was out for fun day on the lake.
By the middle of Fourth Lake I was really looking forward to the first portage and the chance to stop paddling. I am glad Fifth lake is not much more than a pond since the first portage is at the end of Fifth Lake. The first portage went well, I carried the boat out to the road before putting on the wheels. I learned a lesson right way though - secure the rudder as soon as the portage starts! After getting the rudder secured and the wheels on I took off running, trying to make up time. I didn't realize that towing a 17+ foot boat behind you would make steering so hard. I had to learn to take corners really wide. My dad and son were waiting for me at the end of the portage and I got a fresh Camelback full of Gatorade and I was off on Sixth Lake. The break from paddling was good but not long enough. Portage #2 of the day was coming up between Seventh and Eighth Lakes and this would be my chance to make up a lot of time. This portage is long and flat through a campground so with the wheels and my ability to run I was able to make up a lot of time. In fact I passed two kayaks in my class shortly after the beginning of the portage. I ran the entire portage before putting in at Eighth Lake. This would be a short trip in the water before the Brown's Track carry.
I will post the rest of the day's race info in my next post
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