XPD 3rd Edition
Day 2 – the storm after the calm
Lysanne de Graaf / 23.08.2007
Search and rescue teams were busy all day. Here are a few SAR stories that made their way through:
* Team 70 Canada Post and team 16 Who Are These People? were both assisted off the water in order to make it to Bowen before nightfall.
* Team 17 Fire, Ice, Dynamite and Holmsey used emergency contact to request assistance when one team member sustained a wrist injury paddling in the rough conditions. The team continue to race and will monitor the injury situation.
* Team 54 Homebrew arrived at Dingo Beach too late in the day to be permitted to start the Leg 4 kayak and were assisted to Bowen. They will continue unranked and were reported to have taken the penalty well.
* Team 53 Taggart became separated out on the water – possibly an early case of the sleepmonsters …? The story that came in explained one boat was following another team’s boats thinking they were following the other half of their own team. This wasn’t the case and the other half of the team could not catch up. Wind and rough conditions further separated the two kayaks before the first boat realised they had lost their team mates - SAR assisted in reuniting the team. Funnily enough this team was heard exchanging heated remarks over paddling technique only 2 hours into the race on day one!
A checkpoint located at Cape Gloucester Eco Resort enticed many a team into its fittingly named ‘The Oar’ venue for caffeinated beverages. Team 22 Keen TORQers settled with take away orders … not wanting to impact their timing plans too much.
Tempers were raw within many teams as they made their way off the water at Bowen. Patience had been stretched to the limit by rudderless boats, weather, paddling technique / skill and a leading team finding out standby times could be served during transition in Bowen were reported to be the major points of aggravation.
SleepMonsters
