Our first ever Kayak race was exciting but tinged with trepidation. We had no idea what to expect. We met Nick & Len (Crew2) on the way to get our race number from the village hall. The competitors generally looked well kitted out, young, in good shape with fast boats. Today, we were going to have a good crack at trying to get a fast time and not stick to our long distance DW pace.
As we left Great Bedwyn for the start line there were a couple of young lads floating in the canal with an upturned racing K2. We were thankful at the time for our stable sea kayak. Our start was not very professional as we didn't know what to expect. Do you start stationary, nose on the line or try for a running start? We were released in batches of boats every minute or so.
We were off and soon at the first portage and as we ran along the towpath we passed Len & Nick. Len looked awfully hot and told me later he had far too many layers on.
Occasionally there was a jam of boats at a lock all trying to get out or in at the other end at the same time. Thinking ahead for a good portage is key and you can make up or lose a lot of places during portaging.
We kept our boat above 5.6mph through the water at all times. Sometimes our speed would be up to 6mph and very occasionally drop to 5.5mph. We use the speed as an effort meter. It takes no account of flow on the canal. The small digital display has a mount for the front cockpit and the rear. As I am steering, Rob gets the effort meter to watch and shouts if we are slacking.
I reckon our boat is between 1 and 1.5mph slower than a sleek racing K2. What really surprised us was how long it took us to pass a Canadian Canoe with two big blokes in it - they were shifting.
A guy came past us in a racing K1 and when we asked him "why are you going faster than us" he politely said that his kayak weighed 7KG. We think he was also paddling harder and his BMI was significantly lower.
Light hearted moments included:
a couple of young girls in pink bobble hats chatting as if they were on oxford street shopping. No sign of stress and still moving at pace.
what looked like a military crew in a fast K2 with the superfit sergeant in the front and the not so fit Major in the back. The guy in the front was awfully polite when asking him to keep in time paddling. They looked like a dragonfly the timing was so bad. Ordinarily we reckon the guy in front should have given him a wallop.
The fisherman were all good except one. You always get one. We were in the middle of a wide section and he said "can't you move over" we ignored him and said there 400 more like us on the way. "Great that will make my day" he said. "We suggest you go home then and come back another day" was our reply. Didn't hear any expletives but we were well gone by then.
The only problem we had was that we damaged our rudder at Newbury and bounced off of several walls in strong currents with no steering to eventually float across the finish line.
We had worked hard and we were pleased with coming 12th in the K2 Seniors. We really should have been in the Veterans where we would be placed 13th. Results are here:
http://www.watersides.fsnet.co.uk/current-a-res.htm
Rob is skiing this week so James stepped in at the last minute for this race. Here we are at a busy start in the Waterman. James is a paddler of many years so the time on the water was straight forward for him. We maintained a high average speed through the water for our boat and enjoyed having a boost from river flow. Amongst the Senior/Veteran men we came 30th out of 39. We were very happy with our time of 2hrs 7mins. The last section upstream on the Thames was slog to Reading Canoe Club at Caversham. Congratulations to the guys in the Klepper - incredible effort.
