Echo Clas34th Annual Singles
The Isles of Shoals Race was held Saturday the 22nd of July under clear skies and a light west wind, perfect conditions for an open ocean rowing race. The race is a 6.5 mile row to the Isles of Shoals off Kittery Point Maine, reserved for any sliding seat boat under twenty four feet in length.
Rich Klajnscek -1st place Men's
The rowers ranged in age from 35 to 70, men and women. Until this year, which is the 34th annual, the race has been reserved to just shells built by Alden Rowing Shells and sponsored by the Alden Ocean Shell Association, an owners group of enthusiastic rowers.
Dana Gaines-3rd place Men's
This year the race was opened to
other shells in the interest of
expanding the sport of open ocean
and recreational sliding seat
rowing. With the representation of
Maas 21s from Maas Boats, Wintech
21s from Wintech Racing and Echo 18s
from Echo Rowing in Maine, the field
was quite well rounded and the list
of entrants more diversified. There
was also a kit boat called the Merry
Sea by Wayland Marine rowed as a
double. It was interesting to see
the variety of designs in one event.
This is one of the first times all
these boats have competed against
each other in one race. And, in the
midst of all those designs and the
heavy competition,
Echo
rowed to victory, placing 1st & 3rd
in men's and first in women's!
Kinley Greg- 1st place Women's
The race started promptly on
time at 8:00 am with 24 shells and
31 rowers, as some were double
shells. The contestants were
surrounded by ten chase and follow
boats volunteering to keep them
corralled on their 6.5 mile row to
the Isle of Shoals finishing in
Gosport Harbor. It is very easy to
get off course with the wind and
current on the way to the islands.
A leisurely row back by some added to an exhilarating row out, as the chase boats brought back others spent from their effort rowing out.
All in all it was a successful event, with lunch and awards waiting at Fort Foster in Kittery Point upon their return.
The results:
Men's Singles
Raw Elapsed Time
Shell
----------------------------------------
1:02:45 in Echo 18
2nd
place: Scott Johnson
1:03:00 in Wintech 21
3rd place:
Dana Gaines1:04:24 in Echo 18
Women's Singles
Raw Elapsed Time
Shell
------------------------------------------
1:10:13 in Echo 18
2nd
place: Beverley Lysobey
1:14:01 in Alden 16
Doubles
Raw Elapsed Time
Shell
--------------------------------------------
1st place: Gary
Piantedosi & Dan Bakinowski
1:06:25 in Merry Sea Dbl
2nd
place: Deb Arenberg &
Jeanne Thorvaldsen
1:07:23 in Alden 18
3rd place: Gary
Jarvis & Greg Parker
1:10:25 in Alden 18
Brook Sulloway won the Barnacle Cup, a perpetual trophy for the fastest Alden 16, this year with a time of 1:12:17 and finished 9th in elapsed time.
Hargy Heap was also awarded a special trophy for being the only participant to row in all 34 races. He says he is retiring at age 70, but we don't believe him. See you next year Hargy along with all the rest.
For complete results go to
www.aosa.us