Deception Pass Dash 2008: A Totally Epic Race!
December 08, 2008
Here is a picture of my new kayak. It is the first production kayak I've ever owned. All my others were skin-on-frame or homemade wooden composites. So yeah I actually did make that paradigm shift after all. I think the whole time I was looking for that perfect playful low volume rough water kayak I must have really wanted a fast touring boat. When a friend let me try his Epic Endurance I was so impressed by the comfort, speed and maneuverability that I knew that this was the type of kayak I needed to go farther and faster. Hey if it's good enough for Freya Hoffmeister it must be good enough for me! I know this kayak is ugly as hell but I think once I start covering the deck with corporate logo stickers it will look much better.
"The strongest conditions of the last 48 hours reported by Smith Island were: Sun 12/07/08 SW 7 @ 956, W 14.77 G20.855 @ 1056, SW 13.9 @ 1156, SW 19.11 G26 @ 1256. That was right about the time of the race and probably consistent with the carnage, including a jet skier at the end. Patrol boats reported 5' breaking at that south end of Deception Pass Island before the last boater came though and we all came back through 6+' cresting waves from all directions half the way back into Bowman at about noon."
The steep waves reflecting off of Deception Island demanded a lot of bracing. Just after rounding Deception Island I pulled out into a protected spot and switched to my Greenland paddle. That cost me a couple minutes but WOW did I feel so much better! I felt like I was ready for anything and I was finally able to take advantage of the Epic 18x's speed on flatter water. Pushing against the ebb current was not a problem this year compared to last and being able to precisely control tracking with the rudder was a real pleasure.
Third Annual Deception Pass Dash (2008) Part 1 from Baby Seal Films on Vimeo.
Third Annual Deception Pass Dash (2008) Part 2 from Baby Seal Films on Vimeo.
Great photos, and I'm looking forward to your video Andrew. One more result for you- 4 out of 5 of us in skin on frame boats made it to the finish, including the final finisher. :)
Posted by: paul | December 09, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Hi Paul,
Were you the one in the transparent Yost-style baidaika-type kayak? That was one fast kayak!
Posted by: aelizaga | December 09, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Yep, that was me. It's a fast boat in certain conditions, although I sure spent a lot of time w/ my bow buried on Sunday, both upwind and down. I also got stuck when my bow went under some kelp, which wedged between my boat and my spare paddle quite solidly. That was pretty funny, paddling backwards, upwind, outside of Deception Island. Sounds like you saw me out there at some point. ps- i'm the same guy who drove down to see your baidarka about a year ago. decided to build the clear boat instead. :) i bet the dimensions are pretty similar.
Posted by: paul | December 10, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Epic seems kinda skinny..got no backend..like you Andrew..but ugly? When it grows older like me it will shorten...thats were the new Coasters come from...I LOVE my Coaster..it would have been grrreat in the DASH
cheers Tom
Posted by: Tom Sharp | December 12, 2008 at 09:01 AM