AR World Championship 2005
Washed Ashore
Rob Howard / 13.11.2005
Boats were broken, paddles and gear lost, boats with rucksacks in were sweep down the coast, safety boats capsized, teams were separated and racers were washed ashore on their own ... but thankfully everyone came ashore safely. It was like watching the aftermath of a shipwreck.
The paddle along the coast wasn’t difficult, but coming ashore was a different matter and an early crisis for many teams to deal with. Most teams capsized in the surf, some bow-stalling and virtually standing on end in the waves, and it was this which caused the breakages. Kayaks were cracked and in some cases damaged beyond use, one of the Cranksports boats was laying on the beach broken in half, and Greg McHale of Supplierpipeline shook his head and said, “We just tipped up, crashed down and smashed the boat.� He was shivering and looking out to sea. “We still have not found our other boat� he added.
This was a problem for several teams. Brazilian team ‘Try On Landscape’ were looking for a boat and two team members, and like many they washed up on the beach north of the river. Well, the racers did, and they had to swim back across the cold river to rejoin their team at the Transition Area. There was no sign of the kayak at that stage.
Both British teams lost a boat. Ruth Metcalfe of Aberdeen Asset Management just said, “I nearly drowned!� and for a long time after they were searching for their missing boat. It had their rucksacks and mandatory gear in, so they could not continue, but race officials later relaxed the rules and let teams in the same position continue on the next mountain biking stage.
Salomon GB were in the same situation. Jim Davies and Ben Bardsley had numerous capsizes when they launched, and both kayaks capsized coming ashore. “We nearly made it� said Phil Davies, “but once in the water the tow from the surf was powerful. It just sucked my shoe and trousers right off.� He was standing on the beach naked from the waist down!
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