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Date: Dec 4, 09
From: Don Mulhall
Club: Penticton RCC
Vaka Eiva Report #4
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November 23, 2009 Iron Races
Today we raced mixed masters. Races were a little behind schedule
all day, our race started about 4:15 pm. It's odd hanging out all
day trying to be ready to race. Hot (maybe 30 degrees), a little
humid and flat -as in no wind but still 1.5 to 2 m swells. After
every race they safety check each hull coming out of the water,
then place a ribbon onit that gets removed by a volunteer as the
boat goes back in the water. They don't let you out without bailers
(which we had to provide - leading us to search the cleaning closet
at the hotel.....) and spare paddles lashed to the iakos (or "kiatos").
Raced right along the reef break to a turn buoy and back. Had a
couple of opportunities to see the waves crashing, with one huge
swell turning to white water only a paddle width away from our
ama. Crew was a little sluggish on the way out, but picked it up
after a good turn put us in with couple other crews. Caught a few
little rollers on the way back, finished in about 1:04 according to
Liam, who we left at the bar/swim area/race headquarters while we
raced. He hung out with the open mens crew so he's got the team
handshake all figured out, and was wired on papaya slurpies when
we got back.
We recovered with a cold Steinlager and a can of vanilla-flavoured
Wattles' creamed rice (mmmm, carbo loading!)
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