The Wilderness ARC
The Race is Underway
Rob Howard / 22.08.2005
Some early morning drizzle cleared away as teams assembled for the start, walking together from Race HQ to the official start line in Cameron Square. It was only a short walk, but Chris McSweeny of Team SleepMonsters managed to lose his map on the way! To cover his embarrassment when given it back on the start line he commented; “Well, we don’t need it for the first stage anyway�
At 8am sharp Race Director Phil Humphreys sounded the hooter and in number order lead by The North Face the teams jogged down the High Street to the kayak put in. This was false start in some ways, so the people of Fort William could see the racers leave, the true timed start of the race was after teams had assembled in a flotilla on the water, still in number order.
They gathered in their bright orange and yellow Malibu Two 2 person kayaks. These might not be the fastest kayaks, but they are exceptionally stable and safe. Everyone waited briefly for the film company helicopter to arrive, and started racing at 08.50 with a flurry of paddles and spray. The wind was against them and the water a little choppy as they left the mouth of the River Lochy, passing the pier at Fort William and moving out into the waters of Loch Linnhe.
The boats quickly spread out, with SleepMonsters leading the way and Nike ACG Endure soon dropping in close behind them. The teams then swapped, no doubt because SleepMonsters invited Nike ACG Endure to take their turn in front! At the back of the flotilla Halo and Alpine Bikes were bringing up the rear and could be in for a long, long morning on the loch.
All the kayaks are now heading for the Corran Narrows, where they’ll have to beware of the ferry which crosses this 500m stretch of turbulent water. They have the tide with them (they would not get through otherwise) but it could be choppy with the wind against the tide.
Beyond the narrows as they turn into Loch Leven the waters will be more disturbed and they will finish the stage paddling against the tide and with a swim across the loch to Transition area 1. The leaders are expected here in the early afternoon.
SleepMonsters
