CCBC 2015

[stoneaxe]

We have contingency plans but we would hate to have to implement them. We have to submit detailed plans to Coast Guard. The Plymouth Harbor Master will also have some say on launch time if conditions warrant. Up to mother nature now.

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

2:54 AM. I should be sleeping peacefully, but I've been wide awake for half an hour. So very nervous right now, but at the very least I'm not going to miss that 3:15 alarm. I think I got about 4 1/2 hours sleep, which isn't terrible, considering.

I had a strange dream that there was a group of SCAers at our same hotel leaving to an event. I was sorely tempted to join them as an archer. Then I had to hurry and gobble down some power bars before the big paddle.

It's funny, these moments by yourself before a big event. Some people probably sleep soundly. I wish I was one of them. All I know is that I have to be at this beach in an hour, unpack my board, and get ready for the paddle of my life. The chance of rain has increased but the forecast for that headwind is a little better, 3-5 mph. Fog may delay us too. Apparently the Plymouth harbor master won't let us leave the beach if it's too much of a pea soup.

Best of luck to everybody. Next entry on this thread will probably be on the other side. Think about us!

[stoneaxe]

When you read this Ian you'll have finished your 1st CCBC. The nervousness is good, its what got you ready for this.

The crew is off and paddling. They launched on schedule...maybe a few minutes late with the rain. Conditions actually aren't too bad. Wet but no fog, lightning or wind.

[freetobeme]

Good luck everyone. I admire the people making their first attempt and I have max respect of those making it for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th........Don't get in that boat!! 

[freetobeme]

SHoot! Looks like major mess out in the Bay!!! Hope it calms down and hall can continue.

[mrbig]

NEWS FLASH! Ovah. Major bummer. Ferry boat has the entire crew.Bah humbug..

[freetobeme]

NEWS FLASH! Ovah. Major bummer. Ferry boat has the entire crew.Bah humbug..

check that! no fat lady singing today. sky cleared. back in the h20 and headed. 

[mrbig]

I stand corrected. My spies were right - they all got on the boat. I am sure the participants will tell the full and complete narrative.

Thank the Lord I do not work for ESPN!     

[addapost]

Word I got is that they were all pulled off the water at mile 15 then placed back on the water with 6 miles to go, all due to really bad water conditions and strong head/side winds.

[PDLSFR]

Hats off to all this years paddlers, worse conditions yet !! Raised over $70k for Christophers Haven!!

[freetobeme]

Raised over $70k for Christophers Haven!!

That is AWESOME!! I know the work it takes to raise 70K as thats the exact amount my wife and I raised for our own non profit this year. not an easy task. GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!! Those kids deserve your blood sweat and tears. CONGRATS!

Howz the paahty?

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

We got pulled out at mile 15. Conditions were good for a while, but then the rain and wind started hitting us from the north. It got worse and worse as we headed east. Everyone was getting knocked off their boards because of the side swells, consistently 2-3 feet.

I have to admit, it was sucking out there. I took a fall where a swell dumped me off my board, then lifted it up as I came down, slamming into my hip. It was rough. And everyone was getting cold.

We ended up paddle behind the Angler, which was the whale watching boat escorting us. That calmed things down a little, but most of us had trouble keeping up with it after a while. Those side swells just kept pounding us.

The fourth rest came much quicker than the other three. I heard the paddle captains talking, but I paddled up to the Angler so I could have a good position when we started again. Everyone was looking beat. I was starting to shiver. It was that point where you have to start working on your head to keep yourself from losing it. It was a relief when the call came to get on the boats!

I got on one of the small cabin cruisers with two other paddlers, young guys from Harvard. My god, that boat was rolling! Then we motored for about half an hour towards Wellfleet.

It was such a pleasure to get in the water again. The water was calmer. The sun was out. The sea was warm. It was easy getting our boards off the small boat, but they were tossing the boards off the Angler's deck! It was funny to watch, but hopefully no boards were harmed in that operation. Then we downwinded (downwind, what a blessing!) towards Jeremy Point, which was the sandbar at the head of Wellfleet harbor.

We pulled up our boards on Jeremy Point, seeing a few seals and a load of birds. Then we headed north towards Wellfleet. But Mother Nature was not done with us. That was a three mile paddle upwind, waves breaking on the noses of our boards, hulls constantly slapping. Sometimes a wave would break over my board and slam into my deck bag! Not as bad as before, but still something.

We stopped a few hundred yards out from the landing point to gather everyone so we could hit the shore together. I have to admit so cried a little when I saw my wife. Crap, was I beat.

Fun party afterwards! I'm really proud of that fishhook pendant. It's now my profile pic on Facebook. Sorry I missed the Zoner pic, but Kirsten and I had to check into our hotel by eight. After we got in, she says I fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.

[stoneaxe]

Great job Ichabod and everybody.

So proud of the whole crew yesterday. I know folks were disappointed that safety plans had to be implemented. But I was talking to our safety director Jody Craven and he said it was getting sketchy out there. To hear that from Jody who is a lifelong lifeguard in Wellfleet and about as hardcore a waterman as you can find (also the only person to do all 8 CCBC's) you know it was a tough day out there.

I'm very happy we talked these things out ahead of time. We've tried to plan for whatever might happen but I always feared a cluster@#$% on the water if we ever had to do it. It sounded like it took too long to get everyone off the water though. We need to figure out a better approach.

Glad you had a good time despite the interruption on the water. Welcome to the family.

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

It was the right call, pulling us out. I was not bothered at all. I temper any disappointment with the idea that we took a more of a beating than almost any other crossing. So, we earned those boats!

[kayadogg]

Great job Ichabod and Board Stiff. Nice meeting you guys out there. There wasn't really any other choice than the way it played out. Even if we had the physical ability to sustain that entire paddle, we would have finished in the dark. Jody and the crew made the right call. We still got in 22 solid miles with about half of those being total hell. And the kids at Christopher's Haven still won. Thanks Stoney and Chaser and the rest of the directors for all you do to make this happen.