Blackburn Challenge

[philb Junkie19]

Jas, Bristol and Bob I opened this topic over here as we got away from that very interesting Cp27.  Bob, I would love to be there and see you and the other rowers, who must ship a pair of brass ones, circuit Cape Ann with the varying challenges you face. That is no afternoon scull through the lagoon.  Apparently Phil Bolger started the event years ago and it now honors the man whose fishing schooner lost him and his dory in winter and he rowed half frozen to Nova Scotia. 

I always thought Halibut Point was named for the fish but I can see how that could be a place to change direction and so haul about. The day after getting out of the Camp Lejune hospital with Pneumonia and traveling all night  I was having a cold one with my girlfriend (now wife) at Halibut Point, about an hour beyond home. I guess you could say I liked it there.

For two years I've toyed with the idea of sailing down to Ipswich and Gloucester but it's probably a 10 day or more round trip, most likely upwind on the way down.  With my keel stepped mast, trailering is more than I want to get into beyond once in spring and fall. That's a trade off I made keel stepping the free standing junk rig mast instead of building a tabernacle. I haven't wanted to leave my wife with all the chores and garden work that long. Maybe if I broke it up by leaving the boat on a mooring in Ipswich and returning home for a time it could be more doable

[Bob23]

Hey Phil: My first Blackburn was in 2014 and it had been a goal that I desperately wanted to reach. I was really doubtful I could complete such anventure not being anywhere close to a professional rower. But I received lots of encouragement from 2 different people: my oldest friend here in NJ and a longtime participant of the Blackburn who lives in Orono, Maine.
  I read and trained and rowed and after almost 5 hours of nonstop rowing, I passed under the Greasy Pole, pulled up on the beach and welcomed 2 cold Ipwitch beers into my thirsty body. I only wanted to finish and I was quite pleased to find out I didn't come in dead last!
  Next was 2015 which has rightfully earned the name as "the most treacherous Blackburn to date" with allegedly 1/3 of the boats either not finishing or dropping out. From the time we rowed out of the Annasquam making the turn toward Hallibut point, we faced 3 to 6 foot breaking waves the entire way! I was scared shitless as no one was prepared for these conditions. Even the pre race meeting didn't prepare us for this. There was no way to turn back so I pushed the trusty Guideboat onward. and turning back would've been an insult to Mr. Blackburn!  It's a strange feeling rowing up a wave looking down at the stern of my boat!
  Rounding Hallibut point found  a favorable current for the next leg which was much welcomed. I was so beat that I actually dozed off while not missing a stroke and only woke up when my oar struck a lobster pot.
  Missed 2016 due to lack of training but 2017 presented it's own challenges as I'd retorn my left rotator cuff and snapped a tendon on my right. The doc gave me the go ahead so I went ahead and completed my fastest yet. Go figure!!
  2018 is on July 21st and who knows what fun will be instore?? If you're around, maybe we down a cold one together. I may extend the trip and visit JT (longtime member here) who lives in Mt. Desert Island these days.

[philb Junkie19]

Bob, You clearly have honored Mr. Blackburn's memory. What are you rowing?  It looks like it took good care of you. Is it the boat you brought from the Maine Boat Builders Show some years back? I  very much admire you're willingness to take that initial risk and go for it, as well as taking on all that takes to train and row the race. While in high school I had the chance to row in a little bit in a single and four man for a boat club. Never got to racing. No Boy's In The Boat, just the joy of using strength to fly through the water.

[Bob23]

  "The Boys in the Boat" is a must read for everyone, not just us rowing fanatics.
  Phil, yes I row the boat that I picked up at the Maine Boatbuilders Show in Portland 2013. it was my 60th birthday present to myself! I'd looked at Adirondack Guildboats at boat shows for 10 years then one day, I realized I wasn't getting any younger and the time to live is now!!
  I bought the 15 foot Kevlar boat in Burgundy and have never regretted that move. Extremely fast, faster than my old Alden Ocean Shell, even though the shell is rowed sliding seat and Straggler is rowed fixed oar. And very dry. Even after the Nantucket Sleighride of 2015, she shipped only about 2 quarts of water!
  For me, the Blackburn is a sort of personal challenge and because I don't enter to quit, I train and train before hand which unfortunately steals some time from sailing but I enter to complete, not so much compete. Have you read the book about Howard Blackburn "Lone Voyager"? In an age where true hero's are getting scarce, it's a breath of fresh air!!
 

[philb Junkie19]

Boys In The Boat is a gritty and inspiring story. I haven't read Lone Voyager, but will when I finish my current book. The google excerpt hooked me. Man, in one year 17 fishing vessels and over two hundred men of the Gloucester fleet lost. The monument overlooking the Gloucester Harbor has new meaning for me.

With all the rowing and training you are going to be one tough old bird. What about trying the greasy pole?

[Bob23]

Not sure about tough old bird, more like cranky old fart!
Seeing the monument and reading the names of those lost at sea, year by year...so many with the same last names was such a moving experience for me. I must have spent an hour there the first year, just reading and re-reading the names of the lost. many people just walk right by it without a second thought. I could not and will not...it would seem to me to be most disrespectful.

[crazycarl]

So, you were 60 way back in '13?

That would put you at 65 this very day!

Happy birthday curmudgeon!

[Bob23]

Ah...that'd be correct, ya fellow curmudgeon!!! Like you, I make it look easy!! And Thank You!!

[Tim Gardner]

All the New England Crew teams were at SML today for spring training.  They were rowing in 60 degree weather yesterday and through snow and freezing temps today.  No hard water , though.  Happy Bday Umberto!

[Bob23]

Thank you St. Timothy of the South!