We've just had our last Eastern area Hasler race for this season before the Hasler finals at Bedford in October, as a club we won the overall event with loads of first places for team members.
Decided to have a crack at racing the K2 with club member John, were both about the same ability and both at the same stage with the wobblier boats, staying in them but not quite getting the power and speed out of them for a full blown race.
Me and John have crewed together once before for a short club race and 200mtr sprints, that was done in a bath tub K2 and considering we didn't do too bad and stayed in it,
with the race approaching we needed something a little faster, but as with these boats faster also means wobblier with the addition of a second person wobbly can get wobblier sometimes.
John has his own K2 but I cant get on with it sitting in the back and prefer the front but we've also got on well in the club "Regina", so we put both of them to the test over a set distance and found we were faster by 10 seconds in the Regina and more comfortable so with decision made the Regina was the boat for the first race.
Race day: weather was British summer with threats of rain, normal lol, as much as were both stable in the boat sitting around stationary on the start line is not our forte, didn't help there was quite a delay getting the races under-way, a quick scan around to see who else was in the division 6 teams, John pointed out a couple of known quick teams, perhaps finishing this race may be a good enough result.
Finally got on the start line and thankful to get moving, well for at least for 2 seconds as the crews either side of us seem to converge across our bow off the start line and with all the wash I found out how un-responsive the steering was in this K2, there was no choice but to back off which put us in the thick of the wash, I was finding it impossible to correct the steering and get it straight, the front of the boat seemed to be permanently under the water, John was the dedicated back seat driver as hes had experience at racing K2's, the instructions coming from the back were loud and clear but just couldn't get the steering under control until the wash had settled and got some clear water, with all the muck about we were still with the group with ease, John instructed to take the clear wide route around them which was starting to work but just as a canal boat came round the corner they all dived in front of us to avoid it and so went the steering again, but back on the clear water we took the lead quite easily, mmmmmm wasn't expecting this, we had one crew to our left hanging of our wash and couldn't shake them off, by this time we had settled down to a decent rythym, it was very noticeable that when the catch was as far forward as possible and the paddle in full depth how much more power was in each stroke.
I was woken out of my trance for the first portage by John as I was ready to cut left for a corner and hadn't recognised the portage, mmmm I've been there before lol, we had been warned the portage was high and the weren't wrong, but must admit with 2 of you its easier with one out first then the other, this was a long portage compared to what we normally have, this is an area I normally like and can make up a lot of ground but running was not Johns fastest area, in the boat hes a V8 powerhouse, back in the other side again nice and high with no problems but we hadn't shaken off the other crew and there sticking like glue in the wash, I started to squeeze across to them but John reminded me they were a young girl crew, dammed quick ones too,
We still kept to lead but with the turn point ahead and with them on our left we felt it wasn't worth trying a possible suicide tight turn so we kept put wide which allowed them through on the inside but we also got tangle with some division 4 K1's on the turn, so by the time we got straight we had lost at least 50yds, we went past team mate Sophie and John was having a chat as we went past as if we were on a leisure cruise, had a chuckle at that, quick look behind and he WAS paddling lol, we pulled in the 50yds quite easily and were neck and neck coming back up to the portage, we had an option of going for the high portage or a cut away on the bank, John quickly decided the cut away and this time we had the advantage being on the left and planted the nose of the boat to the right hand side making it a little harder for the other crew, quick as a flash before we planted into the bank I'd lent back and brought both legs out of the cockpit and had my feet in the water and on my feet with the cockpit grabbed and was off, think I'd caught John out as the boat wasn't going forward as he was half in and half out on his side, with other crew getting out I just grabbed the boat and went, he had to follow but had put him on the wrong side for the entry back in, we'd taken water in and had to bail it before we got back in, off we went and had got away first, the ground made up was enough to stop them getting back on to our wash and we both realised that we had to start digging a lot deeper and concentrate hard, keeping up the encouragement to each other we were gaining on anything in front.
Past the start line and out to the final turn, my arms were starting to hurt now which wasn't helped by the first time using some new extra large wing paddles, John was in the same position with the top of his legs killing him and finding it hard to get comfortable, there was some confusion as to whether the first bridge was our turning point, we couldn't see anyone else turning there, I hesitated and Johns scream echoed under the bridge to keep going, that woke me up,
we had caught a small group of division 4 paddlers who made good use of our wash for the next mile, I could see the boat nose's either side of us in our wash, I had to be reminded a few times not to cut too close on the corners as they were there and it was easy to forget that there was someone else and a lot more boat behind me, it mad life difficult for John as his paddle was going under the K1's bow and in danger of pulling us over, the mile out from the start to the turn was getting narrower and busy with traffic returning from the last turn point, was a pain with the steering as it was unresponsive and very sluggish so keeping to the middle was the best option and others would just have to avoid us,
At the final turn it was perhaps on the narrowest part of the river with very little room, turning was not our strong point and we had no choice but to go as wide as possible, John told the K1 on our right that were were going wide for the turn, it seemed to take forever to turn and not helped by a K1 having difficulties getting round the turn, the second place team were only about 50 yds away from the turn after we completed, I knew that would open up after they had completed but by no means was the race in the bag yet, we got a little sloppy for a while, Johns legs were hurting even more now and tiredness was creeping in, with encouragement we picked it back up and dug as deep as we could, 1/4 mile to go, 500yds the 100 and over the line to take the win, couldn't believe we had our first win in the bag on our first race together, we were both over the moon with it and it such a relief to stop, the last 2 miles had really been a slog.
Couldn't have done it without the V8 powerhouse John nor his back seat driving instructions to which I was greatfull for and needed, and we've now got the promotion to division 5, a great day and very enjoyable.
We've opted to do the Hasler final in October in K2 together to finish of the series, we've found a more comfortable and faster boat than what we used for the race and for me its got responsive steering, now I know what I'm up against and with the time available before the finals I'm sure we can produce another good result..............................cheers for the race John
Decided to have a crack at racing the K2 with club member John, were both about the same ability and both at the same stage with the wobblier boats, staying in them but not quite getting the power and speed out of them for a full blown race.
Me and John have crewed together once before for a short club race and 200mtr sprints, that was done in a bath tub K2 and considering we didn't do too bad and stayed in it,
with the race approaching we needed something a little faster, but as with these boats faster also means wobblier with the addition of a second person wobbly can get wobblier sometimes.
John has his own K2 but I cant get on with it sitting in the back and prefer the front but we've also got on well in the club "Regina", so we put both of them to the test over a set distance and found we were faster by 10 seconds in the Regina and more comfortable so with decision made the Regina was the boat for the first race.
Race day: weather was British summer with threats of rain, normal lol, as much as were both stable in the boat sitting around stationary on the start line is not our forte, didn't help there was quite a delay getting the races under-way, a quick scan around to see who else was in the division 6 teams, John pointed out a couple of known quick teams, perhaps finishing this race may be a good enough result.
Finally got on the start line and thankful to get moving, well for at least for 2 seconds as the crews either side of us seem to converge across our bow off the start line and with all the wash I found out how un-responsive the steering was in this K2, there was no choice but to back off which put us in the thick of the wash, I was finding it impossible to correct the steering and get it straight, the front of the boat seemed to be permanently under the water, John was the dedicated back seat driver as hes had experience at racing K2's, the instructions coming from the back were loud and clear but just couldn't get the steering under control until the wash had settled and got some clear water, with all the muck about we were still with the group with ease, John instructed to take the clear wide route around them which was starting to work but just as a canal boat came round the corner they all dived in front of us to avoid it and so went the steering again, but back on the clear water we took the lead quite easily, mmmmmm wasn't expecting this, we had one crew to our left hanging of our wash and couldn't shake them off, by this time we had settled down to a decent rythym, it was very noticeable that when the catch was as far forward as possible and the paddle in full depth how much more power was in each stroke.
I was woken out of my trance for the first portage by John as I was ready to cut left for a corner and hadn't recognised the portage, mmmm I've been there before lol, we had been warned the portage was high and the weren't wrong, but must admit with 2 of you its easier with one out first then the other, this was a long portage compared to what we normally have, this is an area I normally like and can make up a lot of ground but running was not Johns fastest area, in the boat hes a V8 powerhouse, back in the other side again nice and high with no problems but we hadn't shaken off the other crew and there sticking like glue in the wash, I started to squeeze across to them but John reminded me they were a young girl crew, dammed quick ones too,
We still kept to lead but with the turn point ahead and with them on our left we felt it wasn't worth trying a possible suicide tight turn so we kept put wide which allowed them through on the inside but we also got tangle with some division 4 K1's on the turn, so by the time we got straight we had lost at least 50yds, we went past team mate Sophie and John was having a chat as we went past as if we were on a leisure cruise, had a chuckle at that, quick look behind and he WAS paddling lol, we pulled in the 50yds quite easily and were neck and neck coming back up to the portage, we had an option of going for the high portage or a cut away on the bank, John quickly decided the cut away and this time we had the advantage being on the left and planted the nose of the boat to the right hand side making it a little harder for the other crew, quick as a flash before we planted into the bank I'd lent back and brought both legs out of the cockpit and had my feet in the water and on my feet with the cockpit grabbed and was off, think I'd caught John out as the boat wasn't going forward as he was half in and half out on his side, with other crew getting out I just grabbed the boat and went, he had to follow but had put him on the wrong side for the entry back in, we'd taken water in and had to bail it before we got back in, off we went and had got away first, the ground made up was enough to stop them getting back on to our wash and we both realised that we had to start digging a lot deeper and concentrate hard, keeping up the encouragement to each other we were gaining on anything in front.
Past the start line and out to the final turn, my arms were starting to hurt now which wasn't helped by the first time using some new extra large wing paddles, John was in the same position with the top of his legs killing him and finding it hard to get comfortable, there was some confusion as to whether the first bridge was our turning point, we couldn't see anyone else turning there, I hesitated and Johns scream echoed under the bridge to keep going, that woke me up,
we had caught a small group of division 4 paddlers who made good use of our wash for the next mile, I could see the boat nose's either side of us in our wash, I had to be reminded a few times not to cut too close on the corners as they were there and it was easy to forget that there was someone else and a lot more boat behind me, it mad life difficult for John as his paddle was going under the K1's bow and in danger of pulling us over, the mile out from the start to the turn was getting narrower and busy with traffic returning from the last turn point, was a pain with the steering as it was unresponsive and very sluggish so keeping to the middle was the best option and others would just have to avoid us,
At the final turn it was perhaps on the narrowest part of the river with very little room, turning was not our strong point and we had no choice but to go as wide as possible, John told the K1 on our right that were were going wide for the turn, it seemed to take forever to turn and not helped by a K1 having difficulties getting round the turn, the second place team were only about 50 yds away from the turn after we completed, I knew that would open up after they had completed but by no means was the race in the bag yet, we got a little sloppy for a while, Johns legs were hurting even more now and tiredness was creeping in, with encouragement we picked it back up and dug as deep as we could, 1/4 mile to go, 500yds the 100 and over the line to take the win, couldn't believe we had our first win in the bag on our first race together, we were both over the moon with it and it such a relief to stop, the last 2 miles had really been a slog.
Couldn't have done it without the V8 powerhouse John nor his back seat driving instructions to which I was greatfull for and needed, and we've now got the promotion to division 5, a great day and very enjoyable.
We've opted to do the Hasler final in October in K2 together to finish of the series, we've found a more comfortable and faster boat than what we used for the race and for me its got responsive steering, now I know what I'm up against and with the time available before the finals I'm sure we can produce another good result..............................cheers for the race John
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